Page 45 of Norah

With one last push, the settee slid into its new spot near the back wall of the parlor. Norah stepped back and brushed her hands together.

Thatwas much better. Now she only needed to rearrange the trinkets and photographs on the mantel, and the parlor would look just as she’d pictured it in her mind.

The front door opened, and Stuart stepped inside. He blinked at the rearranged furniture. “Did you change it again?”

“Yes. I think it’s much better this way. See, the settee faces the fireplace, and the two chairs your parents gave us look nice gathered around that little table. What do you think?” She turned an expectant gaze on him.

“I love it,” he said immediately.

It was such a quick response that Norah knew he’d never have told her otherwise. She grinned at him. “You can tell me if you dislike it.”

“Honestly? I don’t have much of an opinion on the arrangement of furniture, so long as I’m not tripping over it.” He hung his hat on a peg near the door, and slipped off his coat. “I believe it may actually snow tonight.”

Norah clasped her hands together. “Can you imagine curling up here on this settee and watching the snow drift down outside the window?”

Stuart crossed the room and took her in his arms. “I’m glad you’re happy with this house.”

“It’s perfect,” Norah replied, wrapping her arms around his waist. The home was small, but it suited them well. It sat near the edge of town, far away from the prison, but was still only a few minutes’ walk to reach their friends and families. “Jeremy looked rather wistful about it when he visited earlier. I suspect it won’t be long before he leaves Mama and Papa’s to find his own home.”

“That may happen sooner rather than later, now that our mothers have joined together to find him a wife.” Stuart gave a mock shudder, and Norah laughed.

“Ruthann came by with Caleb too. I suspect she’ll be asking Nate to find them a house with more room once Caleb begins moving around. She said that apartment over the studio was much too small for a growing family.”

“Thishouse will be too small for a growing family soon enough,” Stuart said.

“Oh? Are you planning for our family to grow larger?” Norah teased.

“I admit little Caleb is quite adorable,” Stuart said. “I believe it might be nice to have a baby or two around.”

“You know that babies wake up multiple times during the night?” Norah bit her lip to keep from grinning.

“That doesn’t last too long, does it?”

“And they have a tendency to spit their meals onto your clothing.”

A quick grimace crossed Stuart’s face. “Again, that wouldn’t last long.”

“Our mothers will visitallthe time.”

Stuart laughed. “Are you trying to talk me out of wanting children with you?”

“Not at all,” Norah said innocently. “I only needed to ascertain whether you were prepared.” She paused a moment and looked up into his eyes, which sparkled with joy at her teasing. “There is nothing I want more than to have a family with you.”

And with that, he lowered his head until his lips met hers. Norah closed her eyes, holding onto him as everything around them disappeared. There was only her and Stuart, together. She could stand here, kissing him all night, and not realize that time had passed at all.

But a knock on the door came all too soon, and Stuart pulled away. “Are you expecting someone?”

Norah smiled. “Our mothers. They were wanting to see how I’ve rearranged the parlor. And I’m certain they’ll wish to update us on their new possible matches for Jeremy.”

Stuart groaned. “Is it too late for me to return to the office?”

“Yes, and now please let them in.”

He did just that, and Mama and Mrs. Joliet burst into the room in a frenzy of coats and hats and hugs. They admired the room, and then Mrs. Joliet launched into asking Stuart about all the unmarried ladies he’d gone to school with.

He shot her a glance, and Norah covered her smile with her hand. She knew he didn’t necessarily mind, not after everything they’d almost lost just a few months ago.

She took his hand and smiled at him as he tried to tell his mother that Catherine Rader was not, in fact, widowed, and that her husband was alive and well.

The chatter and good-natured questions fell around Norah like a cozy quilt. It was so good to have family visit in their home.

And, if all went well, it wouldn’t be too long before they had new family to fill all of the rooms—and their hearts.

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