Mother's Day Miracle and Blessed Baby: Mother's Day Miracle / Blessed Baby

He shrugged, lips pinched tight. “I guess. I was sort of hoping to take them camping myself. I promised them a long time ago that I would, but I’ve never done it. Kendra probably could have used the break.”

She heard the self-condemnation in his tone and ignored it.

“Family camping! What a good idea. We could go back to the lake.” She fell into a daydream of the six of them splashing in the water, building a campfire at night, forming the bonds that made a family secure. And one day, maybe, just maybe…

“We’re home. Oh, boy!”

Clarissa jerked back to reality at the amusement in his voice. She stared at the huge banner that decorated the front gate. Welcome home Mr. and Mrs. Featherhawk.

“I’m afraid that’s probably due to Blair,” she told him with a sigh. “She always loved plastering signs all over our room at college.”

“I wonder what else she’s encouraged. It was nice of her to stay with them, though.” Wade helped her out of the car, then followed behind her with their suitcases, his voice filled with amusement. “She really steps in and takes over, doesn’t she?” He motioned toward the newly enlarged flower bed.

I’ve got to make sure he doesn’t feel overwhelmed by all of this. Clarissa made a mental note to have supper on the table when he came home at night. The house would be spotless, the children organized. Wade would only see the benefits of having married her. She would make sure he didn’t feel hemmed in or burdened with his wife. Far from being a responsibility, she intended to become an asset he couldn’t lose.

“They’re here!” The shriek of joy came from Pierce. Seconds later the door flew open and all four of the children bounded outside and down the stairs. “Welcome home.”

“My, what a welcoming committee! You all look like you’ve grown six inches.” Clarissa hugged each of them in turn, marveling at this family she’d been gifted with. “You’ve done wonders, Blair! You’ll probably need a month-long rest.”

“No way! I know all about the demands of motherhood. Remember?” Blair winked, reminding Clarissa of her young son who’d stayed at home. She hugged her close, then leaned back to survey her friend of ten years. “Is that a tan you’ve started, Prissy?”

Clarissa blushed. “If it isn’t, it’s not for want of trying.”

“Well, good for you. You look great. Marriage agrees with you. Both of you.” She made no bones about hugging Wade, too, then ushered everyone inside. “Come on, supper’s ready. And then I’ve got a flight to catch. Daniel wants his mommy back.”

They giggled and laughed all through the meal. It wasn’t until Wade left to drive Blair to the airport that disaster struck unannounced.

“Come and see, Clarissa. We’ve fixed your room up.”

She smiled and followed them up the stairs, only to stop, aghast, at the entrance to her bedroom. The room was the same, yet it was totally different. Her little vanity desk still sat there, but next to it, the chiffonier had been cleared of its photos and a host of male paraphernalia lay on its polished surface. Her closet had been altered to accommodate Wade’s jeans, chambray shirts and one good suit. In the adjoining bathroom, his electric razor lay beside the collection of perfume bottles she’d assembled from her grandmother’s stash.

“He’s going to need that razor.” Jared chuckled from his position on the edge of her canopy bed. “He didn’t shave the whole time, did he?”

“No.” Clarissa didn’t know what else to say. It was obvious that they expected her and Wade to inhabit this room together. And why not? Didn’t most couples sleep in the same bed, in the same room? How could she tell them otherwise without opening a new can of worms?

Better to let Wade deal with it when he returned.

“What is that heavenly fragrance? Don’t tell me the lilacs finally opened?” She whirled around searching, then stopped as she spotted her grandmother’s crystal vase filled to capacity with a mass of the tiny deep-purple blooms. “Thank you, children! This is just lovely.”

She hugged each of them again, taking care not to muss Tildy’s new, rather precarious hairdo. Only Blair could have sprayed that much goop on it and left someone else to get it out.

“We thought we could watch a video together. You know, kind of our first night together?” A flicker of doubt washed through Lacey’s young eyes. “Or maybe you’d rather not.”

Clarissa instantly changed her mind about shooing everyone off to bed. Sure, they needed an early start for church in the morning. But they needed time with her and Wade more. They needed time to assimilate the new family that they were now part of.

So did she. Lots of time before she climbed these stairs and shared her most personal space with the man she’d married such a short time before. She grabbed on to the diversion like a lifeline. “That’s a lovely idea! What’s the movie?”

They trooped down together, each child vying for the important part of telling her some tidbit about the show. Clarissa laughed.

“Sounds to me like you’ve already seen this. Why do you want to see it again? And why don’t we wait for Wade?”

They fell over each other trying to explain how long he’d be and how great it was and, rather than crush their joy, she joined in with the fun.

“All right, all right! We’ll watch it. How about some popcorn to go with those sodas?”

By the time Wade returned, they were settled in and Clarissa had tears rolling down her cheeks at the plight of the little boy on the screen.

At the kids’ urging, her husband flopped down on the sofa beside her, flicking away a tear from her sad face. “Really enjoying this, are you?” he teased.

She nodded, smiling at him through the mist. “It’s a wonderful show,” she sobbed.

“Shh!” The kids’ eyes were riveted to the screen.

Wade shook his head, took the can of soda she held out, and grabbed a handful of popcorn. “I’d hate to see it when you really like a movie.” He winked, then focused on the movie.

Caught up in the plot, Clarissa thrust the bedroom issue to the back of her mind. She’d tell him about it later, she decided. After the movie. When the kids had gone to bed.

They were all weeping by the time the credits rolled.

“Man, it’s good to be home. Nothing but happy faces to greet me.” Wade surveyed the mass of soggy tissues Lacey clutched in each hand and sniffed in sympathy.

But Clarissa knew he wasn’t unaffected by the trauma the family had suffered, or by the happy ending when everyone had been reunited.

“Oh, stuff it!” She pretended to tap him on the shoulder, then turned to the kids. “It’s pretty late. I think you’d better get to bed.”

They put up no arguments, merely bid her and Wade good-night, kissed each of them and trundled up to the rooms they’d taken over after the fire. There was some good-natured squabbling, of course, but nothing serious.

Clarissa had just breathed a sigh of relief that they’d left her in private to explain the bedroom situation when Pierce came rushing back downstairs.

“I hope you like the room, Uncle Wade.” A huge grin split his face. “Evan North told me you’re supposed to put cornflakes in the bed after people get married but I didn’t do it. There wouldn’t have been enough for breakfast.”

Wade’s lower jaw was approaching his chest, so Clarissa stepped in. “That was very kind of you, Pierce. It would be pretty hard to start a morning without cornflakes, wouldn’t it?” She smiled and patted his back, knowing how much the boy treasured his favorite cereal. “If you don’t mind, I think I’d like to show Wade your handiwork. Is that all right?”

“Sure. ‘Cause you’re married now, right?” His big eyes moved from one to the other of them with something like satisfaction glowing in their depths.

“That’s right. Good night.” She ruffled his hair, hugged him again, and gave him a little push toward the steps.