To Have and To Hold by Ruth Ann Nordin

trip,” her mother said, breaking her out of her thoughts.
    Mary blinked and turned her attention back to them, realizing she’d missed part of what they
    said. “What is it?”
    “I was about to take her upstairs to lie down,” Dave told her mother, bringing his hand up to
    Mary’s elbow for support.
    Her mother nodded. “That’s a good idea. Her father wil be up soon, and when he is, she’l be
    rested enough to see him.”
    “Wil you be coming back down while she rests?” Katie asked Dave.
    “No,” he replied. “I’m going to stay with her.” Turning to her mother, he added, “Wil you let us
    know when her father is awake?”
    “Of course,” her mother agreed.
    Everyone moved aside in the smal parlor while Dave led Mary out of the room. On her way to
    the doorway, she jerked right before she walked into a tal man.
    “Oh, that’s Chet, our oldest brother,” Grace cal ed out above the people behind Mary who were
    talking.
    “It’s been a long time,” Chet said with a smile. “Nice to see you again, Mary, and it’s nice to
    meet your husband.”
    Mary had no idea how she was going to keep everyone’s names and faces straight. As it was,
    her head was spinning. And to think she had more brothers and sisters to get acquainted with!
    She grateful y al owed Dave to take her upstairs to what he said was her old bedroom.
    She didn’t know what to expect from the old room. It wasn’t as comfortable as the one she and
    Dave shared in Nebraska. This one had bare white wal s, a couple of beds and a dresser.
    “That’s odd,” she said as she faced the area above the dresser where a mirror should be. “I
    wonder where the mirror is.”
    He shrugged as he pushed two of the beds together. “Maybe they needed to use it in another
    room.”
    For some reason, that didn’t seem right. On the edge of her awareness, something seemed to
    creep in, but the more she tried to draw it out, the harder it was to grasp. After a frustrating
    minute, she gave up and turned to Dave who was putting their clothes away.
    She didn’t know why it didn’t occur to her just how good looking he was before. Of course, she
    knew he was attractive. She’d have to be blind not to notice that. But he was more than just
    good looking. He was gorgeous.
    What is he doing with her? That’s what the look Katie and Leah exchanged meant.
    Dave glanced over at her as he finished tucking the last of their clothes away. Pushing in the
    last drawer, he smiled. “You’l feel better after you get a chance to rest.”
    She nodded and went over to the bed they’d be sharing. He was probably right. The trip to
    Maine had been a long one. Releasing her breath, she settled onto the bed and waited for him
    to join her so she could snuggle up to him. He brought his arms around her, and she closed her
    eyes, content to enjoy this moment of peace before she had to face her family again.

Chapter Ten
    “Mary?”
    Mary stirred in her sleep, reluctant to leave the peaceful world of dreams where she was back
    in Nebraska with Dave and their children. They were happy, and for some reason, the mirrors
    covering every wal didn’t bother her. She sensed there was something significant about the
    mirrors. She suspected her mind was trying to tel her something.
    “Mary?”
    There was the voice again. Deep, masculine, gentle. It belonged to Dave. She smiled and
    opened her eyes. He was sitting on the bed and brushing the stray strands of hair from her
    face.
    “I didn’t mean to fal asleep,” she said as she sat up.
    “You needed the rest.” He put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her. “Feel better?”
    “Yes.”
    She leaned into him and sighed. They decided to stay here for two weeks, but she wished they
    hadn’t agreed to stay longer than one. She wanted nothing more than to be back home.
    “Your mother was at the door right before I woke you up. She said your father’s awake. Are
    you ready to see him?” Dave whispered.
    She took a deep