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"Oh Gabriel," Maria exclai his face "Your children love you--it’s plain as day to estures to them as what they really are, but they will, I proive up

You were terrific with them today, and they had a wonderful time with their father I know toet there was a time when they weren’t as close to you Children are resilient and forgiving, and their hearts are so, so big--they’ve just been waiting for you to come back to them"

"If my relationship with them is on the mend, it’s thanks to you," he said softly, and when she started to protest he held a finger against her lips, silencing her "No, it’s true For sixto connect with thehere, I’ some headith them, even Lizzie, who’s been the hardest to reach

It’s because of you--soe the distance between us and bring us together I can’t thank you enough" He grinned suddenly, a wicked gleam in his eyes "For obvious, very personal reasons, I’er a nun, but I can’t deny that you can work h from Maria, who shook her head in mock reproof "Mr Trentham, the nuns at the Sacred Heart Convent would be scandalized by your blasphe abilities"

His smile faded as he stared at her "All I know is that I and my family are all for the better because of you"

Maria’s heart nearly skipped a beat at the intense look in his eyes--it was so like passion, but that wasn’t it She was actually afraid to exa that couldn’t possibly be true His children weren’t the only ones who had been hurt too many times in the past and were now too afraid to hope

Except she suspected they were still braver than her

Suddenly, realization hit A wave of shaasped Dear Lord, she had cootten about his fiancée, Olivia! Her desire for Gabriel had overwhelmed her completely--all she could think about was her oild need for him and the way he made her feel Could she have put a stop to it if Gabriel hadn’t listened to her token protest? Or would she now be in his ar deep inside her? She hadn’t even been thinking of Olivia when she’d said they couldn’t have sex--it had beenherself and her own vulnerable emotions As it was, there was no doubt that emotionally and to so his fiancée, and self-loathing rose in her She’d have to corips with her own undeniable weakness

Wanting desperately now to escape frohtly, "Well I think you still give me too much credit--I think it was just a h to them And if today was any indication, I think the children ant to spend another active day out in the snow toht"

"Wait" Gabriel’s hand shot out and caught her by the wrist as she tried to leave "What’s wrong? I can tell so is off nohere it wasn’t before"

Maria faced hirip on her wrist was gentle but secure, and she kneasn’t going to let her go without an answer

"Gabriel, what about Olivia?" she asked quietly

His eyes widened, and she could tell that just as she had, he’d forgotten entirely about the existence of his fiancée Which somehow ed her hand free, rose from the bench and walked quickly to the door Her hand on the doorknob she hesitated, unable to resist turning for one last look at Gabriel He was standing, an unreadable expression on his face and his hands clenched at his sides

"Maria I know you don’t believe htened on the doorknob "You’re right, I don’t believe you," she said with a sad s ht"

Maria nodded, whispered, "Goodnight," and then slipped out of the rooet evenin love with hi to you--they belong to Olivia! You’ve already sinned ht hours than the last six h to resist Gabriel it’s going to get a lot worse You know you’ll be leaving at the end of the week!

Maria repeated this like a mantra all the way up to her room If only it wasn’t already too late…

SIX

MARIA WAS RIGHT--AS SOON as the children woke up early the next , they dashed downstairs to find their father and started asking excitedly if they could go outside to play in the snow again

Gabriel was alone in the kitchen having his first cup of coffee and had been staring out at the crystalline beauty of the snow-covered grounds, deep in thought, when his children burst into the room, still in their pajamas

"Daddy! I just woke up and want to see Mr Snowerly

Gabriel sh up in his ar the sound of her giggles "Good et, Sa, Daddy," Elizabeth greeted with a soft set echoed her older sister

"G’!" Saet and Elizabeth quickly retrieved their favorite cereals and set the boxes on the island and got the e

"How about I scra Sam would need more than just cereal

"Oh yes, thanks, Dad!" Saet added hopefully, "And ht, sos and bacon, he looked over at his children, nearly overwhelmed by a fierce, protective love for therief for far too long But no longer

"Good , everyone"

He looked up quickly at Maria standing hesitantly in the doorway She sain he was nearly overwhelmed by a wave of emotion as he stared at her He knew she was still determined to leave at the end of the week, and he was just as deteret her to stay--perie cried out and ran over to her, grabbing her hand "Can you sit next to s and bacon! Do you like bacon?"