He took her hand and her heart beat even faster as he turned her toward him.
“Meg, I want to thank you again. My mother’s been through so much, I just can’t bear to cause her any more pain.”
She looked up into his eyes. “I’ve told you before that I’m happy to do it. I want you to be happy.”
“And I want—“
Meg’s heart dropped as Mrs. Allen said from the kitchen, “Hello. Is anyone here?”
Sam dropped his hands and Meg’s heart dropped right along with them. She’d hoped that maybe they’d have a moment—a moment when Sam realized this was perfect, the two of them together.
Sam looked up toward his mother and smiled as he walked back into the kitchen.
“Hello, Mother. You look lovely.”
Mrs. Allen looked down at the dress she’d changed into, which looked to be the least fancy of what she’d brought. As Meg entered the kitchen, she couldn’t take her eyes off the pearl buttons and satin, in three different shades of green, all expertly sewn. She really was a striking woman, regardless of the dress.
“Oh,” she said as she quickly looked down and then back up at Meg. “I’m afraid I hadn’t thought to bring much more casual wear than my traveling dress. Maybe one other. I see you don’t dress for dinner.”
Sam looked down at his own brown trousers, suspenders and white shirt with his sleeves rolled up. He glanced at Meg, his eyes twinkling as he laughed. “No, mother, we don’t. But we’re quite comfortable with you over-dressed, as lovely as ever.”
Meg was growing a little more accustomed to Sam’s teasing, and as his mother was smiling as she pinched his arm, it appeared that they were both jolly and liked to laugh. All the more reason to make sure the visit went well.
“Why don’t you two wait in the parlor and I’ll have dinner ready on the table in no time?”
“My dear, I am perfectly happy to help. Have you an apron I might borrow?”
Meg waved her hand and said, “Goodness, no. Sam, take your mother and get re-acquainted. I’m happy to do this, but I very much appreciate your offer, Mrs. Allen.”
Mrs. Allen smiled warmly at Meg. “My dear, we absolutely must find something for you to call me. What is comfortable for you?”
“Er, I’m not sure. May I think about it?”
“Certainly. Of course. And there’s no rush at all.”
Sam nodded at Meg as he opened the door for his mother to precede him into the parlor. As his mother passed through, he turned and winked at Meg before he left, too.
Meg let out a whoosh of breath, happy that this had gone well enough. She quickly set the table in the dining room, relieved that she knew where the tablecloths, silverware and better dishes were so she didn’t need to fumble.
As she laid the final place setting and turned to search for some candles as a centerpiece, she stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth falling open.
From the dining room, she wasn’t able to see the parlor and she walked slowly toward it, wondering who was playing the most magical piano music she’d ever heard. It was even better than her mother’s playing which, in her mind, was saying quite a bit.
By the time she’d reached the parlor, she’d begun to hum along to the music, mesmerized, and hoping that Mrs. Allen would play for them every night, marveling at the coincidence that Sam’s mother and her own both played so well.
As she rounded the corner, she grabbed the doorjamb to steady herself for fear her knees might buckle.
The music stopped and Sam jumped up from the piano bench where he’d been playing. She did everything she could to regain her composure at the sight of her husband playing the piano, almost more beautifully than she’d ever heard.
“Are you all right, dear? You look pale.” Mrs. Allen walked to Meg and put her hand on her forehead. “No fever.”
“Meg?” Sam frowned and searched Meg’s eyes as she took a deep breath.
“I’m fine. I’m fine. It’s nothing at all.” She walked slowly to the settee and plopped down, unable to remove her eyes from the piano—and Sam.
Mrs. Allen frowned as she sat back down, looking from Sam to Meg. “Isn’t it lovely that Sam agreed to play for me. I’m sure you hear it all the time, but it’s been such a long time for me.”
“I…I…”
“Meg hasn’t heard me play, really, Mother.” Sam sat down on the piano bench, facing his wife and mother.
“It took some convincing to get you to play now, but I wasn’t aware that you’d stopped playing, Samuel. When I sent the piano, I thought surely you’d take it up again.”