always been a good friend to us all. But if he ever wanted to court anyone at Heaton House, I never saw any evidence of it,” Violet commented.
“No, neither have I,” Rebecca’s mother said.
That revelation left Rebecca feeling...relieved. And yet, he’d been through so much growing up in an orphanage, surely he must long to have someone to love...and especially to be loved by someone.
“I like Mr. Ben,” Jenny piped up.
“We all like Mr. Ben, Jenny,” Violet said. “Maybe one day he’ll fall in love and there’ll be another match made at Heaton House.”
“Maybe...” Jenny looked at her mother. “Maybe you and Mr. Ben could make a match, Mama.”
Rebecca felt the heat rush to her face. “Oh, I don’t think so, Jenny. Mama isn’t looking to fall in love with anyone. And besides, Mr. Ben is my teacher now, and...” She didn’t know what to say next.
“But I sure like him, Mama.”
“He is hard not to like, Rebecca,” Violet teased with a smile and a gleam in her eye.
“Now, you all stop. Just because Heaton House is a bit empty at present doesn’t mean you need to start pairing people up.”
“At least not yet,” her mother said. “I hope I don’t lose as many boarders at one time as I did this past year. I’m all for seeing people fall in love, but I do need to bring a few more renters in first. I think Julia may be seriously thinking of going out west before too long and, I really hope I have a full house by then.”
“You really think she’ll leave, Mama?” Rebecca asked.
“I do. Every time I get a letter from your aunt Pauline, describing Oklahoma to us, she seems to get more excited about it. But it will be hard to see her leave. She was one of my first boarders.”
Rebecca could feel her sadness and realized it must be very hard for her mother to see her boarders go. She knew that they were like family to her and she was happy her mother had people to care for and who had loved her during the time they’d been apart. And once again, she hated that she’d put her mother through so much.
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