My Darling Melissa by Linda Lael Miller Page B

but he didn’t have to ask what they’d been talking about; he knew only too well.
    Fancy’s soft violet gaze touched his face briefly and then skittered away. “Banner tells me you’ve found Melissa,” she said.
    Jeff shoved a hand through his hair, distracted. A twisting sweetness moved painfully within him as he looked at Fancy; though much was wrong between them, he loved her as desperately as he ever had. “Yes,” he finally replied. “She’s—er—discovering life or something.”
    Banner was preparing to go; she set aside her teacup, got out of her chair, and reached for her cloak. She was looking at Jeff. “I suppose it’s too much to hope that the three of you have decided to stay out of this and let Melissa live her own life.”
    Jeff sighed, searching his soul for that quality that seemedto elude him more with each passing year: patience. “She needs looking after,” he said flatly.
    Banner and Fancy exchanged one of those looks of theirs, and Jeff felt his temper heating up.
    “Melissa’s a grown woman,” Banner protested, tying the ribbons of her fancy green bonnet beneath her chin. “She can take care of herself.”
    “Yes,” Fancy agreed, glaring at Jeff as though it were his fault that Melissa didn’t have the sense God gave a brass spittoon.
    Jeff glanced at the cradle beside Fancy’s chair where the new baby lay sleeping and struggled to keep his voice low. Caroline was his only daughter, and she occupied a special place in his heart. “It’s been four days since Melissa ran out of the church,” he reminded the two women evenly. “Since then she’s married a total stranger, and God only knows what else she’s done. Don’t tell me that my sister can take care of herself.”
    “There’s no sense in trying to tell you anything,” Fancy said.
    Banner hastened toward the door. “Don’t bother offering to see me home, Jeff,” she told him with sarcastic sweetness. “I brought the buggy.”
    As much to spite his sister-in-law as to ensure her safety, Jeff escorted Banner down the front walk and helped her into the waiting rig. Though the lights of gas-powered street lamps glowed all around them, the shadows beneath the bonnet of the buggy rendered Banner all but invisible.
    She surprised Jeff by reaching out to take his hand for a moment. Her voice when she spoke was soft and earnest. “You do love Fancy, don’t you, Jeff?” she asked.
    He was affronted. “You know I do,” he replied hoarsely.
    “Then let Katherine and the others handle this problem with Melissa. You’ve got enough trouble right here.”
    Banner had spoken with such cryptic import that Jeff was both alarmed and annoyed, but he had no chance to question her. She was gone in an instant, disappearing with the familiar horse and buggy into the foggy mist.
    Jeff went slowly back into the house, still puzzling overBanner’s remark. Sure, he and Fancy had problems—every married couple did—but it wasn’t as bad as his sister-in-law had made it sound.
    Was it?
    He went back into the parlor and stood before the fire with his back to Fancy, thinking.
    “I’ve ordered a set of twin beds,” Fancy announced with prim suddenness, and Jeff whirled to face her.
    “What?” he demanded in a gruff whisper.
    Fancy idly rocked Caroline’s cradle, all the while avoiding Jeff’s eyes. “I don’t think we should sleep together for a while,” she said.
    Jeff’s frustration and fury knew no bounds. “You can’t be serious,” he burst out. “Good God, woman, you’re my wife!”
    The baby started in fright and then began to shriek.
    “Now look what you’ve done!” Fancy cried, sweeping the baby up into her arms and starting toward the stairs.
    Jeff hesitated for a few moments, too stunned to move, then hurried after her. She was striding along the hallway toward their bedroom when he caught up with her. Caroline was still screaming; at this rate, the boys would soon be awake, too.
    The place would be