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Jack pushed to his feet and turned around. Reaching down for his coffee, he took a seat beside her on the couch.
They sat there, stiff and afraid, both staring into the dazzling display of fire. The smell of fire and woodsmoke filled the room.
He cleared his throat.
Tess leaned forward, waiting.
"So ... so you're teaching Katie to read."
Tess smiled. It was a start. "She's making some progress. I've found that if I draw the letter in the air, she sees it better than if it's written on paper."
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"She's a smart little thing."
The ache in his voice twisted her heart. Why? she wanted to ask. Why do you keep yourself so apart? What are you afraid of?
It was the only thing keeping them apart; she was sure of it. If Tess could break through his fear and force him to admit his love for his children, everything would change. They would have a chance. He would have a chance.
"She loves you, you know."
Jack stiffened but didn't say a word.
"So does Savannah. Even Caleb?"
"Don't." The word came out as an agonized whisper.
Instinctively Tess set her coffee down and turned to him. Taking his face in her hands, she forced him to look at her. The bleak despair in his eyes was like a knife in her throat. She found it difficult to breathe.
They were close, no more than a hand's span apart. She could feel his proximity like a layer of warmth against her body. The soft, commingled sound of their breathing melded with the crackle and hiss of the fire and filled the small room.
"We're here for you, Jack. All of us. All you have to do is open the door." "I ... I want to."
Tess's breathing stumbled. "You do?" He nodded. "But it's been closed for so long...." "Maybe ... maybe we could open it together." "Together." The quietly spoken word was filled with wonder. Tess smiled. Hesitantly Jack slipped his arm around her shoulders and drew her toward him. They leaned back against the couch's hard back and closed their eyes, each lost in thoughts of the other. They sat that way until the coffee turned cold and the
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for tonight, it was enough just to be together.
Chapter Seventeen
Savannah burst into the kitchen, clutching her side. "I'm back, Mama," she said breathlessly.
Katie looked up from her primer, which lay open on the kitchen table.
Tess was lying on the floor, with Caleb on her stomach. "Hi, honey," she said, curling her arm around the baby and getting awkwardly to her feet. "What did Minerva say?"
"She said she'd love to go for a walk with us. We're supposed to give her ten minutes, then come on over."
Tess smiled. Ten minutes was perfect. It gave her just enough time to set her plan in action. She'd told Jack she'd help him open the door to his heart. And she was going to do just that.
"Okay, girls, run into your room and put on your work dresses. I'll throw a few things in a basket and we'll be off."
Tess hurried into her bedroom and pulled a long, navy-striped muslin skirt and pretty calico scoop-necked blouse from her armoire. Dressing quickly, she braided her waist-length hair and threw on a serviceable white sunbonnet.
She was ready to begin.
"Okay, Caleb," she murmured softly, stroking his silky thatch of black hair, "it's time." Placing him gently in his cradle, she turned to leave.
