Love Comes Home by Ann H. Gabhart Page B

unless you live in Rosey Corner,” Jay said.
    Kate leaned over and kissed his cheek. It was good to have Jay home. He had a way of making everybody smile, even Tori. Everybody except Evie, who had stopped faking good humor and held her head in her hand. Mike stroked her arm and glanced down the table toward Kate as though asking for help. Kate pretended not to notice. She would not let Evie’s dramatics spoil this day.
    Samantha picked that moment to spill her glass. Tori jumped up to mop up the water. Daddy moved his chair back and started coughing.
    Aunt Hattie frowned over at him. “Is he taking that tonic I made up for him, Nadine?”
    “He’s taking it, Aunt Hattie.” Mama rubbed his back. “He’s getting better.”
    Daddy held up his hand and stood up. “I am,” he choked out. “Better.”
    That had to be wishful thinking. Or maybe just wishful talking. The cough didn’t sound better as he pulled out his handkerchief and made his way into the other room. Her mother stared after him with a worried frown, then pushed a smile back across her face as she asked, “More pie, anybody?”
    “We’re stuffed, Nadine. Couldn’t hold another bite,” Graham said.
    Kate pulled her hand away from Jay’s with regret. She wanted to be touching him all the time. “You go visit with Aunt Hattie and the men, Mama. We’ll do the dishes.”
    Mama took off her apron and handed it to Kate. When Samantha reached her hands up to her, she picked her up out of the high chair. “Her dress is wet, Victoria.”
    “I’ll change her.” Lorena jumped up to take the little girl. Then she slid her eyes back to Kate. “Unless you need me to help with the dishes.”
    Kate laughed. “You go hang out with Jay, Lorena. After all, I get to take him home with me.”
    “But you’re coming back Christmas morning, aren’t you? Or you could all just stay.” Hope lit up Lorena’s face. “Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve. We could go caroling and come home and drink hot chocolate while Daddy reads the Christmas story to us. Christmas morning we can have pancakes and cinnamon rolls and play Santa Claus for Samantha. You can’t miss that.”
    “Sounds like more heaven coming down.” Jay smiled at Lorena. “But let’s get out of here now before Kate changes her mind and gives us KP duty.”
    “I wish I could do the dishes.” Aunt Hattie pushed up from the table. “It ain’t a good thing to get so feeble a body can’t do a piddlin’ thing. Seems to be time to move on up when that happens.”
    “No, no, Aunt Hattie. You have to make Victor his tonics.” Mama helped Aunt Hattie through the door to the sitting room. Daddy had finally stopped coughing and was opening the stove top to load it with more coal.
    “I can do that for him if he’ll wait,” Jay said.
    “It’s better to let him.” Mama looked over her shoulder at Jay. “This cough has been hard on him, but it’s like Aunt Hattie said. Nobody wants to feel helpless.”
    Mike stayed beside Evie after the others were out of the room. He looked a little helpless himself as he asked, “Are you all right, honey?”
    “I’m just peachy.” Evie shook his hand off and stood up. She snatched up her plate and stacked it on his with a clatter. “Go.” She made a sweeping motion with her hands. “Do your man talking things.”
    He looked so troubled Kate wanted to give him a hug, but it wasn’t her hug he wanted. Tori raised her eyebrows with an unspoken question when she moved past Kate to put up the leftover pie. Kate shrugged. She didn’t have any answers, but she was going to. Just as soon as Mike went in the other room.
    Kate picked up some glasses and headed toward the kitchen, but that didn’t keep her from hearing Mike and Evie.
    “Do you want to go home?” Mike said.
    “Who said anything about going home?” Evie’s voice hadan edge in it. “I’ve got to help wash these dishes. Probably ruin my new suit, but who cares? The dishes must be done. Food on the