Mrs. Miracle 01 - Mrs. Miracle(14)

“I’m not going to interfere!” She reached for the brush and jerked it through the long, thick tresses. Tugging at the tangles brought unexpected tears to her eyes. She’d been married to Jerry all these years. Had loved him, borne his children, kept his home. Yet the man she’d married, the man she’d spent the last forty years of her life loving, didn’t know her. Not really.

It hadn’t been easy for her to hand her grandchildren back to their father. Jerry didn’t seem to realize or appreciate what it had cost her to send the twins home with Seth. The emptiness in her life had never been more pronounced.

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea,” Jerry insisted.

The hot surge of anger that assaulted her came as a surprise. She fought down the urge to throw the brush and shout. Her fingers tightened around the handle until her hand ached. Sharon wasn’t sure what would have happened if the phone hadn’t rung at precisely that moment.

“I’ll get it.” Grateful for the intrusion, she walked over to the bedstand. “Hello,” she greeted as if her world were in perfect order, when it felt as if the edges had crumpled beyond repair.

“Grandma, it’s Jason.”

“Jason.” Sharon’s heart gladdened instantly. She routinely talked to the twins once a week. She worried about them. Worried that they missed her and would have a difficult time adjusting to their new lives in Seattle. “How are you, sweetheart?”

“I miss you.”

She bit down on her lower lip at the swell of tenderness she experienced for her grandson. “I miss you, too. How’s everything?”

“Okay. You know Mrs. Hampston quit, don’t you?”

Jason asked this with glee, as if he were reporting a good grade on a school project. Sharon had heard that bit of unfortunate news a couple of weeks earlier. She realized the kids weren’t thrilled with Mrs. Hampston, but Seth was fortunate to have found someone dependable. Especially in light of what had happened with the other housekeepers.

“Judd and I didn’t like her.”

“Has your father hired a replacement?” Sharon could hear background noise and suspected Judd was demanding the phone. It was his turn to talk.

The sounds of a scuffle ensued. “Jason! Judd!” It did her little good to shout into the mouthpiece. A couple of minutes passed before Seth came on the line.

“Sharon, are you still there?”

“What’s going on?”

He apparently thought she was asking about the twins. “Sorry, the kids were squabbling—”

“I mean with the housekeeper.”

“Not to worry, I’ve got someone new.”

Sharon was relieved. “That’s good.”

“No need to concern yourself. Everything’s coming along nicely. No more mishaps, this one fits right in.”

“I’m glad to hear it, but do you need—” She stopped herself in time from asking if he needed her. She had decided that when the twins moved back to Seattle, she’d wouldn’t rush to the rescue the minute something went awry.

“Everything’s fine, you don’t need to worry. Mrs. Miracle stepped in as if she’d been with me from the beginning.”

“Mrs. Miracle?”

“Her name’s actually Merkle, but the kids call her Mrs. Miracle.”

“Does she know about Jason’s—” Again she stopped herself from speaking. She wasn’t the one responsible for the twins any longer. Matters were well in hand with Seth, and he’d see to it that the children’s needs were met. Then she cast a glance toward Jerry and sat up a bit straighter. It irritated her that he would tell her she couldn’t see the children over Christmas. “Have you made any plans for the holidays, Seth?”

“Not yet. If you’re thinking of paying a visit, the kids and I would love it.”

“You’re sure?” The relief was evident in her voice. She noticed Jerry glancing her way, but she ignored him.

“Positive. Judd and Jason would be thrilled. They’re involved in the church Christmas pageant and would love it if you and Jerry could be there to see them. I won’t say anything to the kids, of course, not until your plans are definite, but we’d love to have you.”

Even from where she was standing, Sharon could see her husband’s shoulders tense.

Hearing Seth’s enthusiasm, Sharon felt the faint stirring of her own. It wouldn’t be Christmas without Judd and Jason. Despite Jerry’s protests, she fully intended to spend the holidays with her grandchildren. Their sons, Clay and Neal, had both made other plans and wouldn’t be home. Sharon could see no reason to spend the day alone. Christmas was an empty holiday without children; she and Jerry hadn’t celebrated the season alone in years. Only when the boys or the grandchildren were with them had they bought each other presents or done much of anything. The thought of remaining in California when she could be with her precious grandchildren was intolerable.

“I’ll make the arrangements, then, as soon as I can,” she said into the phone.

“Wonderful.”

They must have talked ten minutes more before she replaced the telephone receiver. She released a soft sigh of satisfaction, but not because she’d decided to ignore her husband’s wishes. If the truth be known, she’d rather not defy Jerry. But it would take a lot more than her husband to stand between her and her grandchildren, no matter how many years they’d been married.