Chapter 19

"Kids, go in and wash up for lunch," Harriett said as she shooed them into the house. "You big boys too," she told them.

As Victor moved to obey, Mike put his hand on Harriett's arm to hold her back. She turned to face him with an inquiring look. "Harriett, do you know that he lusts after you?"

"Mike, he's been here a lot since Bud's death helping out and I just recently learned that he has been waiting until I was ready to begin dating again. I think he respects me too much to lust after me, but I think he has feelings for me."

Victor called out from inside the house, "Do you want me to serve the children or are you two coming?"

"Tell the children to behave or I'll take care of them," said Harriett as she and Mike walked into the kitchen.

Seeing the glances that Mike gave them over lunch Victor realized that Mike wanted some time alone with Harriett and the children. As soon as the meal was over Victor took his leave telling her he would be back the next day to do more work on the garden.

Once alone, after the children went back out to play, Mike helped Harriett clean up the mess from lunch. He asked her, "Do you love him Harriett?"

Victor had gotten as far as his car when he remembered he had left the tools out in the backyard. Not wanting to take the chance that they would be damaged if it rained he came back into the house without being heard. He came upon Harriett and Mike talking in the kitchen without them knowing he was there. "I think being around Victor has helped me to realize that I need the feeling of being connected to another human being. He's freed me enough to allow me to get in touch with my feelings once again."

"So it is love?"

"I don't know if it is yet Mike, but I know I've only felt this way once before in my life."

"With my brother?" he questioned.

"Yes, and I think he would approve of the person I have feelings for now."

"Harriett, you know I have always loved you more than a sister-in-law."

"Yes I know that Mike and over the years I've come to feel that way about you too."

From where he was standing in the hall Victor saw Harriett go into Mike's arms and with a heavy heart turned to leave the house.

Harriett was a bit surprised when Victor didn't show up the next day as he said he would, but when she called his home number and got no answer she figured he must have been sent out of town. She left a message for him to call as soon as he got back so they could talk.

During her break on Monday she tried to get hold of Victor at the office, but when the receptionist checked with Victor she was told to inform Mrs. Roberts that he was unavailable. When Wednesday had rolled around and she still had not heard from Victor she wondered if Mike might have said something to him without her knowledge and he was avoiding her because of it. Arranging for a babysitter that evening she decided to go over there and find out if her suspicions were correct.

Knocking on his door she waited to see if he was going to answer. A few minutes later the door opened and Victor stood there in jeans and a T-shirt. He didn't say anything, but stood aside for her to come in. She walked by him and turned to face him once she was inside. "You've been avoiding me," she stated.

"Yes I have and I'm not proud of it," he told her closing the door and walking across the room.

"Then why have you been doing it?" she demanded.

"Because I was feeling hurt."

"Hurt? Why?"

"Because I thought we were building something and instead you've found that you love another," he sighed and began to pace.

She watched him in bewilderment, wondering who in the world he could be talking about. Still not able to figure it out before he threw his next question at her, she was stunned when he snapped, "Did he spend the night?"

To be continued….