“I will, of course, need time to get everything prepared for your stay.”
He spread his hands. “Understood. Will a couple of hours be sufficient?”
She’d like to have more time, but she supposed she couldn’t ask him to keep ten children standing around indefinitely. And besides, more time would not make her sold-off furnishings magically reappear. “I shall see that it is.”
His smile grew warmer. “Again, thank you. And please don’t go to a lot of trouble. All we really need is a place for everyone to sleep.”
If he only knew—she was going to have trouble providing very much more than the bare necessities.
“I don’t want you to feel like you’re in this alone.” Ivy’s words brought her back to the here and now. “Tell us what you think you’ll need, besides help with the meals.”
Eileen considered that a moment. She supposed she shouldn’t let the children suffer for her pride. “Some extra bedding would be helpful.”
“Of course. I’ll work with the Ladies Auxiliary to round some up for you.”
Eve Dawson approached them with a smile for Mr. Tucker. “After the children finish their meals at the restaurant, bring them down to the sweet shop and I’ll treat them to some candy.”
Mr. Tucker turned his smile her way, and Eileen felt an unaccountable stab of jealousy that it wasn’t still directed at her.
“That’s going to really perk up their spirits,” he said. “Thank you.”
Eileen took herself in hand. That little prickle of jealousy was a clear indication she’d let her guard down much too far. That wouldn’t do at all.
The meeting broke up, and folks were chatting in clusters or slowly filing out. He had his back to her now, releasing her from the strain of keeping her expression neutral under his gaze. Instead she had a view of the back of his head. His hair was worn shorter than what was usual for the men around here. But she decided it suited him.
Then she straightened. What in the world was she doing thinking of such things, especially about a stranger? Just because the man had looked kindly at her was no reason to get moon-eyed over him.
Mr. Tucker’s hand was being shaken and encouraging words said to him, giving Eileen time to gather her wits. A quick glance toward the front of the church revealed several members of the Ladies Auxiliary were already gathering.
She mentally winced. At one time she’d been head of the Ladies Auxiliary and now, despite the face-saving efforts of Ivy, guests in her home had become the object of their charitable efforts, and by extension, she had, as well. What a long way she’d fallen since her husband’s ignominious death two years ago. If her mother were still alive today she would be mortified, but probably not surprised, by her daughter’s loss of status in the community.
Time to get some air. “If you will excuse me, I should return home and prepare the house to receive guests.”
Mr. Tucker stepped out into the aisle to let her pass. “Please allow me to escort you home.”
She again felt that tingle at his friendly, dare she say approving, smile. And again she strove to ignore it. “Thank you, but it’s only a few blocks away and I’m sure you want to get back to the children.”
But Mr. Tucker didn’t take her hint. He raised a brow with a teasing look. “I insist. The kids are in good hands for the moment. Besides, not only will this allow me the pleasure of your company, but accompanying you will let me know where your place is so I can escort the children there when it’s time.”
Before she could protest again, he turned serious. “And there are probably a few things we should talk about before I bring the children around.”
There was no polite way to refuse such a request. “In that case, I accept.” Again she’d acted against her better judgment.
She would definitely have to watch her step with this one.
* * *
Simon allowed his soon-to-be-hostess to precede him from the church building. She had returned to the cool, aloof individual she’d been when she first stood up in the meeting. Usually he had no use for pretentiousness and haughty airs. He’d seen too much of that in the home of his Uncle Corbitt, the man who’d taken him in when his folks died.
But for a few minutes he’d seen behind the mask she wore to a warmer, more vibrant woman. And that intrigued him, made him think that perhaps she was a person worth getting to know better. And she had, after all, opened her home to him and the kids. He could forgive her a lot for that.
But which one was the real Mrs. Pierce—the ice queen or the vulnerable, warmhearted lady? It would be interesting to find out.
He’d sensed some uneasy undercurrents between this woman and the rest of the townsfolk, and that, too, intrigued him. Not that the situation was any of his business. Besides, he preferred to form his own opinions about folks rather than pay attention to hearsay and gossip.
And the fact that she wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about having them as guests—that just made it doubly generous of her to have done so as far as he was concerned.
As for that standoffishness she wore like armor—he was just going to have to go into this arrangement knowing he couldn’t count on the kids to get any warm motherly attention from her. But perhaps there was a housekeeper or someone else in her household who could supply that. And if not, then at least they would all be together.
Still, there was something about Mrs. Pierce that made him want to look deeper, to find out what was at the heart of this woman.
Then Simon took himself to task. What really mattered right now was how much help she’d be with the kids.
“You said we had something to discuss?”
Her dry words and tone brought him back to the present. Truth to tell, he hadn’t had anything specific in mind when he said that—it had just been a way of getting around her protests. But there were a few things he was curious about. “Do you live alone?”
“I have one boarder, Miss Dovie Jacobs.”
Boarder—not family. Interesting. “Is Miss Jacobs likely to be bothered when we all descend on your home this afternoon?”
“I don’t believe so. Miss Jacobs is a very motherly sort of woman. In fact, she is much like your Miss Fredrick, though on a smaller scale. She once took in and raised an orphaned child. If I’m wrong, however, she can always retreat to her own room.”
“That’s a relief—that our presence won’t bother her, I mean.” At least there’d be one person in the house who knew how to deal with children. Assuming she was willing to lend a hand.
If this Miss Jacobs was the only other person in her household, however, that would mean...“Forgive the personal question, but you were addressed as Mrs. Pierce. Is there no Mr. Pierce?”
“My husband has been deceased a little over two years now.”
There was no change in her expression and she didn’t expand. “My
