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.She’d never been so near to such grandeur in all her life.The house she grew up in had three bedrooms and 1600 square feet.It had been enough for her threesome of a family, but these houses were unbelievable.A great nervous feeling crept up her spine and traveled to the back of her neck as she thought about going inside and seeing Randy and his mother again.The idea that she was imposing on them took over.She almost suggested to Alice that she drop her off and then catch a ride to the train station tonight.She knew they’d never hear of it, but she almost wished they would.At the front door of the Steele home, they were met by a housekeeper who graciously welcomed “Miss Alice” home and took their bags.Kari walked into the vestibule to see a ceiling that seemed to go a mile into the sky.She found herself lifting her head up all the way looking to the left and to the right at all the beautiful crown molding.When Alice called to her, she dropped her head back down and followed her into the drawing room where Mrs.Steele was waiting for them.“Alice,” her mother called to her.Alice ran the rest of the way across the room to be enveloped in her mother’s arms.“Mom,” Alice said with a wavering voice into her mother’s cashmere sweater.“I’m so glad you’re here.When Randy said he let you drive that old car of his all the way here, I was so worried.”“Mom, there just was no other way,” interjected Randy who came to stand by his mother and sister.Alice moved away from her mother and looked behind her and then back to her mother and brother’s concerned faces.“I didn’t come alone.”As Kari moved into view, she was faced with Randy’s astounded expression.“I hope you don’t mind my intrusion.I …”“It’s no intrusion,” interrupted Mrs.Steele who took a step toward Kari and gave her a tight, loving hug.Kari thought she would just melt into her arms.She was so affectionate.Kari hadn’t had a mother’s hug in so long except for Aunt Patty and her aunt was just not all that mothering.“I’m so glad Alice didn’t take on this trip all alone.”Randy finally stepped forward and led Kari to the leather couch in the middle of the huge room.He sat beside her and just looked at her for a long moment with a serious look on his face, almost a frown.“I hope you don’t mind that I’m here?” Kari asked.“Mind? No.I’m glad Alice didn’t have to drive up alone.”Alice came and sat on the floor by Randy’s feet.“So, how’s Dad?” Her voice was touched with anxiety.“He’s resting well,” answered her mother as she approached the couch.“They’ve done a few tests, and it appears to have been a mild heart attack.It looks like he won’t need surgery after all,” said Randy to his sister.“Well, you girls must be exhausted,” said Mrs.Steele.“I’ll have Hayley turn down the bed in your room, Alice, and the adjoining room for Kari.”“I hope it’s no trouble,” said Kari.“No dear, no trouble.Now I’ll see to that and then turn in for the night.I am spent.I will see all you children tomorrow.”“Goodnight, Mom,” called Alice.Randy stood and walked over to his departing mother and talked to her in a low tone.She turned back toward the girls.“Have you eaten? Are you hungry after that long trip?”“No, we ate already, Mom,” said Alice.“Well, I’ll have some tea made.”“Tea sounds wonderful, Mrs.Steele,” said Kari.Mrs.Steele smiled, “Call me Amanda, dear.”“Thank you, Amanda.”“Goodnight children.”After their mother left the room, Randy returned to his spot on the couch.Alice leaned her head on his knee and yawned.“I’m so tired.I think I’ll head up to bed too.No tea for me tonight.I can’t wait to see Dad tomorrow.”Randy ruffled his sister’s hair, “I’m sure he can’t wait to see you either, Small Fry.”“Hey, don’t start the Small Fry stuff.” She got to her feet and smiled at them both.“I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” She yawned again and walked to the circular stairway that led to the second floor.It was Kari’s turn to yawn now.She tried to hide it, but Randy saw her.“You’re tired.”“I am.I should probably go to bed too.”She stood to follow Alice, but Randy grabbed her hand.She turned to face him, goose bumps forming on her arms.“Don’t forget about your tea.” His voice was low and his eyes were dark and brooding.He’d never acted so strangely before.“I almost forgot about the tea.I guess I could wait and have a cup.” She sat back down on the couch.“I can have it sent up to your room if you like.”Kari smiled and sat back into the couch.“I have to say this is quite some set up you have here, Randolph P.Steele.Now I see that your name suits you.”“It is a stuffy rich kid name, isn’t it?” He smiled and seemed to relax.She laughed.“Now you know why I go by Randy.”“No, really, this is a beautiful house.”“There is no denying it but it’s just too much.When you imagine your future home, do you see something like this?” He moved his hand in front of him making her look around the room.After perusing the grandeur of the place, she smiled and shook her head.“No, never even in my wildest imaginations.”“Like I said, it’s just too much.Once I became a Christian, it all just seemed excessive.I have money; I come from money.I can’t get away from it, but I can decide what to do with it.”“And what do you do with it?”“Whatever I can.I support several charities and not just with my money.I try to be actively involved as well.I support my church, of course, and several missionaries including some of my friends who I went to seminary with.”“And Angel Wing.”“Yes.”The maid who had opened the door, walked in with a silver tray containing a full tea service on it.She placed in on the Georgian-style cherry wood coffee table in front of them.“Is there anything else?” she asked.“No, Hayley.You can leave us now.”She exited the room with nearly silent steps, and Kari now sat alone with Randy.“We have two choices for the lady tonight and they are Prince of Wales Tea and Chamomile.”Kari smiled at him.“You have Prince of Wales Tea?”“Yes,” he answered with a modest grin.“When I came up here before Thanksgiving, I had Mom get some.It’s very, uh, soothing.”“Well, with it being so late, I think I’ll have the Chamomile tonight.”He poured the tea into an exquisite teacup with pink roses all around it and trimmed with gold paint.He handed her the cup.“I put one spoonful of sugar in there.That’s how you like it, right?”“Exactly.You remembered.”He smiled “Of course.”Kari took a sip and let the warm liquid glide down her throat, soothing her tired body.“You really were great coming with Alice today.”“Well, to be honest, she roped me into it so I didn’t exactly have a choice.”“My sister can be persistent.”Kari took another comforting sip of tea.“How’s your tea?”“The Prince is great.”“I really love that tea.I drank English Breakfast when I was in high school probably because that’s what Mom drank.Then in college I started in on the Chinese green teas especially with jasmine and oolong before I stumbled upon this one.”“A black tea.”“Yes.” Kari took another sip and finished her cup [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]