“My whole day has been disrupted. The children can wait a few more moments if you’d like to speak now.”
He met her gaze, uncertainty in his dark brown eyes. “My friend Mrs. Cooper made a suggestion that I thought I’d share with you.”
“Go ahead.”
“Since I have a housekeeper now, Charlotte thought you might be inclined to leave the Hubbards and board at my house.” He went on quickly. “You’d have to share a room with Mrs. Carver on the second floor, but it’s a big room, with plenty of space for your trunks. I could put a desk in there, and you could study to your heart’s content each evening.”
The thought of having more privacy to study made her want to cry in happiness—but then she paused. “Would it be seemly?”
“Charlotte assures me it would. With Mrs. Carver as a chaperone, no one would raise an eyebrow.”
Emmy nibbled her bottom lip. Even if people did think twice about the arrangement, she couldn’t deny its appeal. “I will accept.”
He blinked twice before responding. “You will?”
“When shall I move in?”
“As soon as you’d like.”
She reached out and shook his hand. “I will move my things immediately after school.”
Ben’s smile was wide and charming. “I’ll be over to help.”
A flutter filled her stomach at that handsome smile, but she pushed the silly notion aside and started to look forward to a quiet house after five days of chaos at the Hubbards’.
Ben pushed the last trunk against the wall of the room Mrs. Carver and Emmy would share and stepped out into the hall. He wanted to make sure Emmy had everything she’d need to do her work and be comfortable with them, so he’d brought in a desk he usually kept in his front room and placed it near the window. After supper, he’d be sure to help Mrs. Carver clean the kitchen, giving Emmy plenty of time to study.
Laughter and conversation filtered up the stairs and he paused a moment to appreciate the sound. Not only were Mrs. Carver and Emmy getting along, but the boys were also joining in on the fun. He shook his head at the sound of one of the boys laughing. It did his heart good to know this little band of people who were in need of family for one reason or another had found each other. He could hardly believe that just a week ago, his house was quiet and empty.
Ben walked down the stairs, across the front room and into the kitchen where they were getting supper on the table. Mrs. Carver was a jolly old woman, almost as wide as she was tall. She had dark gray hair and kind blue eyes, which sparkled when she spoke. Life had thrown her more than her share of heartache, but she was resilient and faithful, and had always been one of Ben’s favorite parishioners.
“Set the mashed potatoes over there, dearie,” Mrs. Carver said to Emmy. “Right next to my chair.” She laughed and the others laughed along, which made Ben suspect he’d missed out on a joke.
Zeb looked at Ben from where he was placing forks at the table and grinned. “Mrs. Carver says that potatoes help her keep her girlish finger.”
Emmy and Mrs. Carver laughed, and Ben couldn’t help but chuckle with them.
“Figure.” Mrs. Carver enunciated the word with a nod. “And that, they do.” She stood at the cast-iron stove, whisking up chicken gravy, and tilted her head toward Emmy. “We best put some by Miss Emmy’s place, too.”
Emmy’s cheeks turned pink as she glanced up at Ben while setting a platter of sliced bread on the table.
“It looks like we’re in for another feast.” Ben walked over to the stove and inhaled the scent of roasted chicken. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“You can have a seat,” Mrs. Carver said. “I’ll pour this gravy into a bowl and we’re ready to eat.”
“You did a wonderful job setting the table, boys,” Emmy said to Zeb and Levi as she held out a chair for each boy to take a seat.
The boys glowed under her approval, and for the first time since arriving at Ben’s, they looked comfortable to be there.
Mrs. Carver shuffled over to the table with the gravy and set it next to the potatoes. She stood for a moment, surveying the spread. “I feel like we’re missing something.”
“You!” Zeb said with a laugh.
“I think that’s it.” Mrs. Carver chuckled and took her seat closest to the stove.
Ben sat at the head of the table with the boys to his right. Emmy stood for a moment, as if she didn’t know whether to sit in the empty seat near Ben, or take the seat at the foot of the table.
“Why don’t you sit right here,” Mrs. Carver said, patting the spot next to Ben.
Emmy walked around the table and took the seat Mrs. Carver suggested.
“Shall we say grace?” Ben asked.
Mrs. Carver reached across the table and took Levi’s hand, and then offered her other one to Emmy, who sat to her right.
Emmy glanced up at Ben and their gazes met for a heartbeat before she slipped her hand inside his.
For a moment, Ben marveled at how soft and warm her skin felt, but then he reached for Zeb’s sticky hand to his right and bowed his head, trying to concentrate on his prayer.
“For this meal and our lives, Lord, we are eternally grateful. Amen.”
“And for Mrs. Carver’s potatoes. Amen,” Zeb added quickly.
Laughter filled the room again and Emmy gave Ben’s hand a gentle squeeze before she let go, turning her attention to Mrs. Carver’s savory food.
“It feels good to be cooking for a full house again.” Mrs. Carver placed a drumstick on each of the boys’ plates. “After my children grew up and moved away, and my husband, Stan, died, it was just me. I love to cook, but there was no one to eat my food, but me.” She smiled at the four of them. “Now look. Here I am, doing what I love most. I say this is a gift from God.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Ben said. “A gift for all of us.”
“I’m also counting my blessings.” Emmy took a piece of chicken and placed it on her plate before handing the platter to Ben. “Living here will be so much nicer than the boardinghouse.” She smiled at the boys. “And I get extra time with two of my favorite students.”
Levi’s cheeks turned pink and Zeb dipped his head in embarrassment, clearly pleased by her words.
“I put the desk in your room and brought up all your trunks,” Ben told her. “As soon as we’re done eating, feel free to get to work.”
Emmy looked around the table, sadness marring her features. “I would hate to miss out on all the fun we have planned.”
“Fun?” Ben asked.
“We’re going to make popcorn and hot chocolate with Mrs. Carver after supper,” Levi said to Ben. “And Miss Wilkes said she would teach us a parlor game if we’re good and help clear the table.”
“It sounds like you have quite the evening planned.” Ben took a bite of the fluffy potatoes, surprised by how creamy and smooth they were. “I can understand now why you love these potatoes so much, Mrs. Carver. I’ve never tasted anything like them.”
Mrs. Carver