Vera (Widows of Blessings Valley Book 2)
Page 9
Wally held on to the bouquet a moment longer than necessary. He wanted to linger in the warmth of her touch, its softness like cotton.
“Whatever is on the stove smells very good, Vera,” he complimented, shaking his head. “I hope you haven’t been put out in any way.”
“No, not at all.” She smiled at him, holding the door wide open. An invitation into her home. “Please do come in and have a seat. Supper will be ready shortly. I hope that’s fine with you.”
Wally nodded. “Yes, it is. I was hoping to be able to talk with you a bit before we ate.”
“Let me put these in water while you make yourself comfortable.”
Vera turned away from him. The skirt of her worn but serviceable dress swayed with the swell of her hips.
She’s your sister-in-law, remember that! he scolded himself. Even so, it was hard for him to do just that. Remember that Vera was his brother’s widow. He hadn’t been able to shake his attraction to her even before he found out who she was.
Vera placed the vase full of flowers in the middle of the table. “They make a beautiful centerpiece. Thank you, Wally.”
Wally sauntered over to the table, standing as close to her as he dared.
“I must confess, I thought you could use some brightening up today. My heart felt your sadness,” Wally admitted, not sure if he should reach out for her or not. Instead, he sat in a chair at the table and played with the soup spoon lying there.
A light pink blushed across her cheeks. “Very thoughtful,” she agreed, sitting across from him.
“I am going to be blunt.” She fiddled with her soup spoon then folded her hands on the table in front of her. “Why didn’t Thomas tell me about his family? He has—had—been nothing but a loving and caring man to not only me but also to my family. While they were alive, my father trusted him while my mother adored him.”
Wally swallowed the lump suddenly lodged in his throat. It was hard to hear how her parents felt when his own mourned the loss of their eldest son not once, but twice. “It’s a difficult story, but I’ll do my best to tell you what I know.”
Vera nodded then appeared to relax only slightly with the drop of her shoulders. He prayed he wouldn’t break her heart all over again. Nor tarnish the image she held so dear of her late husband.
“One day Mother told me what had happened. Father and Thomas came to blows over how to handle some of the company finances.” Wally sat back in his chair and felt himself drift back to the past.
“When Father finally retired, Thomas was to inherit the holdings under one condition. That he would always discuss any business transactions with Father first. That they both had to agree on any investments that required large sums of money. Father had to give his blessing. He thought it would help Thomas to understand the importance of thinking things through after gathering all the facts.
“Thomas agreed until he wanted to take out a rather large loan using the company as collateral. Father would have none of it, as you can imagine. Such a loan, if not repaid, could put the family in the poorhouse. Father wasn’t about to lose everything he’d worked so hard for.”
“Was the reason for the loan that risky?” Vera asked, going to the stove to stir the soup.
“In Father’s eyes, yes. Thomas wanted to invest heavily in a few questionable business consolidations. Father is an insightful businessman; he only wanted Thomas to wait until there was more information about the consolidation, feeling the odds were against the venture. He felt there was too much room for failure.
“After several harsh words and shouting, Thomas stormed out of the house with a packed bag. He saddled his horse and rode off as Mother cried, begging him to come back. He kept riding and never even looked back, not once.” Wally’s heart ached from the sorrow he’d pushed as far back in the darkness as he could. Little comfort emerged from the truth of finally sharing it with someone.
And that someone was Thomas’s wife.
“I don’t dispute your words, but that’s not the man I fell in love with.” Vera placed a large bowl of soup in front of hm.
The richness of the broth coaxed his uneasy stomach to rumble. “Tell me about him, Vera. Help me wipe away the black mark on my heart for my one and only brother.”
12
Vera sliced the loaf of bread, offering a piece to Wally. She eyed him as he nodded his thanks then dunked a ripped off piece into his bowl of soup.
Just like Thomas used to do, she thought, smiling to herself.
“Thomas would do that,” she finally said, spreading butter over her own slice.
“Would do what?” Wally asked, stopping mid-tear.
“Tear his bread apart before dunking it into his soup or gravy. Never did care to butter it first.” She smiled, the memory warming her soul. That was happening more and more these days. More smiles. Less tears.
“Something we learned by watching Father,” Wally chuckled, popping the soaked bread into his mouth.
They sat in comfortable silence, eating for several minutes. Slicing another chunk of bread, Vera passed it over to Wally. The feeling of normalcy enveloped her with unexpected pleasure.
“He was a gentle man, Wally,” she said softly as more memory images appeared in her mind. “And hardworking, as well.”
“Father believed in hard work, and he expected it from his sons, as well as anyone who worked for him.” Wally grinned, swiping the bread around the bowl. “I suspect that’s where Thomas got it from. Hard work can be a curse as well, as I have come to realize lately.”
“How so?” Vera was interested in his thoughts. She wanted to know everything about him—his thoughts about life mostly. “I have always believed that hard work came with a great joy of accomplishment. And the ability to care for your family as well.”
“I agree, but it’s a lonely life.” Wally popped the last bit of bread into his mouth. “I love what I do. Investigating and getting to the answers of unanswered questions. I travel more than I ever thought I would have. I’ve seen places I didn’t know existed. Lately, I’ve been wondering if the sacrifices I made are worth it.”
His eyes turned sad, then travelled far away. Vera immediately felt sorry for whoever it was he’d left behind. She was learning what lonely was all too well herself.
“I’m sorry. Leaving someone you love is one of the hardest things you can do.” Vera fought back the tears when images of Thomas being buried flashed in her mind.
“My parents understood, even encouraged me to find my own way,” Wally said, the twinkle back in his eyes. “I’m grateful there was no one else I had to leave behind.”
Vera’s heart stuttered. How is it possible he didn’t have a sweetheart back home?
“You mean you’re not—”
“Married? No, not even someone I’m sweet on waiting for me back home,” he answered. “Since coming to Blessings Valley, I’ve been thinking of what I might be missing.”
“Would you like more soup?” Vera asked, thankful for a reason to leave the table. It was strange to hear someone talk about Thomas’s family the way Wally did.
With love. Even a touch of desire.
“I have to say, Vera, Mother makes a soup similar to this,” Wally noted, giving her enough room to ladle more into his bowl. “I don’t know what it is about yours though that makes it taste better. Don’t tell my mother I said that!” he chuckled.
“I won’t,” Vera laughed. “Thank you, I take that as a huge compliment. When a man says another woman’s cooking is comparable to his mother’s, it is special.”
The silence between them returned, but something had changed. Vera felt it take root through her. A sense of commonality she’d not experienced before. Not even with Thomas.
“Was Thomas a good husband to you?” Wally asked, concern etched on his face.
“Yes, he was,” Vera answered, recalling the years living with her parents before coming to Blessings Valley. “After a few months, something changed once he started going down into the mi
nes more and more. He worked long and hard hours some days. Sometimes he came home so tired he went straight to bed as if I wasn’t here.
“Then there were times when—” She felt the heat on her cheeks when she realized her hand was caressing her swollen belly. “He was very loving and caring.”
To Wally’s credit, he appeared a little embarrassed by her words. Surely, he’d had experience with a woman before. How could he not? He was attractive and had a wonderful sense about him that would appeal to any woman.
He got up from the table, gathered the dishes, and put them in the sink.
“I’ll take care of cleaning up. You don’t have to do that,” Vera protested, pushing out of her chair. “You are a guest in my home.”
“Let me at least set them in water,” he offered, filling the sink. “Then I’ll be on my way so you can get some rest.”
“I’m fine,” Vera insisted, not wanting him to leave so soon. Surprisingly, she enjoyed talking with him about his family—Thomas’s family. But the look of worry he gave her silenced any argument for him to stay a little longer.
“Thank you for coming, Wally,” she said, finding she meant every word of it. “I hope we can do it again before you leave now that you have found the answers you were looking for.”
“I’ll see you before long. Maybe sooner than you think, I promise you that.” He gave her hand a light squeeze then walked out the door.
“Good night.” Vera closed and locked the door after he’d walked down the steps and disappeared into the coming night.
“What possessed me to tell her my thoughts of settling down?” Wally muttered, strolling along the path toward town. “She probably thinks I’m nothing more than a confirmed bachelor with a skirt in every town. At one time, she would have been right, but no longer.”
Tomorrow, he’d check the train schedule and figure out when his parents would arrive. A detail his mother had conveniently left out of her telegram. Maybe he’d go over to the Grand Hotel and ask when they were due to check-in.
He needed a plan, and fast, if he was going to convince everyone it would be in Vera’s best interest to move back to Ohio with his parents. If he succeeded, then he’d convince Father to let him come into the family business.
Since arriving in Blessings Valley, Wally realized how tired he was of traipsing all over the country. He wanted something more. Just what that was, he wasn’t sure, but the family business would be a great place to start.
Vera is a better place to start, little brother.
“She won’t have me. She loves you,” Wally muttered, nearing the edge of town.
You need to convince her. Use your detective skills.
“Easier said than done,” he uttered under his breath, reaching the town’s limits.
Shaking the impossible out of his head, he finally reached the boardinghouse. Lights in the windows were a warm welcome to his troubled soul.
“I hope you didn’t make dinner on my account,” Wally called out, the scent of fried chicken assaulting his senses as he opened the door.
“Not at all,” Willa answered, walking through the dining room. “Plan on making either chicken soup or chicken pot pie tomorrow. How was your time at the cemetery?”
“I saw Vera there,” he answered, taking a seat at the parlor window. He found it comforting to look out the window as Blessings Valley began to go to sleep. “She asked me to come for supper.”
“And you went,” Willa stated, sitting in the chair near the fireplace.
“I did,” he smiled, not wanting to go into too much detail. “She’s a good cook and good company. I learned a few things about my brother from her.”
Willa nodded. “Did you learn anything about Vera?”
“As a matter of fact, I did.” Wally glanced over at Willa, not a bit surprised to see the mischievous grin on her face. “She’s kind, which I already knew, of course. I don’t believe she’s happy Thomas didn’t tell her about our family.”
“She said that?”
“No, not in words. I could see it in her eyes. The way she looked sad and lonely when I spoke of Mother and Father. Of our growing up and our Christmas tradition.” Wally turned his gaze back to the street. “She needs a family. I can give her one, if she’ll accept us.”
“Well then, that says it all.” Willa pushed out of the chair, looking a little too pleased with herself. “I suspect you have some things to think about, so I’ll leave you alone.”
Wally nodded, watching her stroll back into the kitchen humming. She certainly was happy about something. He suspected Willa had something to do with Vera being at the cemetery while he was there. He’d been extremely careful not to go when he thought she might be there. It wasn’t proper for him to infringe on her time with Thomas.
He didn’t have time to figure out Willa’s meddling. He had his own life to put in order.
The sun rose in the east as Vera made her way to town, completely unaware that she’d passed by the cemetery without a second thought. There was no room in her mind this morning except for memories of last night’s dinner and Wally.
Inviting Wally over for supper ended up being an unexpectedly pleasurable and enjoyable evening. She found she loved hearing about the Baldwin family. And saddened by the rift between Thomas and his father. Her heart had gone out to Mrs. Baldwin as Wally described how she cried, watching her eldest son leave them all behind. How she never gave up hope that one day her son would return. Now he never would.
The way Wally described cutting down the annual Christmas tree with his father and brother. A memory that made her long for a big family Christmas that would never be hers to share with loved ones.
She’d just have to start a new tradition of her own once the baby came. She’d make sure the baby would have Christmas memories to share as Wally had shared his with her.
Realizing again just how lonely she was, furrowed brows replaced her smile.
Even as she’d slept fitfully, Wally crept into her dreams. She’d chase him away, but he always returned. His face smiling down at her with kindness. Eyes filled with an emotion she didn’t dare identify.
The dream stuck in her memory was of Thomas and her having a family Christmas. Christmas music played in the background. The scent of turkey in the oven and freshly baked pumpkin pie cooling on the windowsill. Under the tree were a number of wrapped gifts. A wooden rocking horse sat next to a large cradle filled with baby blankets and cuddly stuffed animals.
His arms came around her from behind, and she leaned against him as he held her closer. Enveloped in his warmth, she turned to tell him how much she loved him and found herself gazing into the loving eyes of Wally.
The dream had startled her so much she’d been afraid to go back to sleep. Instead, she’d dressed and gone down to the kitchen and baked several pies. One of which was in her hands now for Mollie.
Mollie was up to her elbows in the washing machine when Vera pushed open the back door of Nana’s.
“Good morning,” Vera greeted, placing the pie on a counter.
“Good morning, Vera.” Mollie turned her head, her gaze traveling over to the pie. “Did you do some baking last night?”
“This morning. Early this morning,” Vera chanted. “I couldn’t sleep, so I baked instead. There’s another one just like it at home.”
“Apple or peach?” Mollie asked, looking like a cat eyeing a bowl of cream as she dug out plates and silverware.
“Apple.” Vera poured two cups of coffee while Mollie sliced through the pie.
They sat for a few minutes enjoying the succulent, tart treat.
“I love it when you bake,” Mollie complimented, putting her fork on her empty plate. “Tell me what happened to wake you during the night. Is it the baby?”
“The baby is fine, if not getting more active at the most inconvenient times.” Vera smiled, her hand protectively on her belly.
Should she tell Mollie about Wally? How he’d invaded her dream world last night?
“I just couldn’t sleep, so I made a couple of pies. It was pretty close to dawn anyway.” Vera slid the last morsel of her pie into her mouth. “And I thought one of them would be a sweet breakfast treat for us.”
“Sweet, but not very healthy,” Mollie laughed, taking their plates over to the sink for rinsing.
“Sometimes, you need to treat yourself.” Vera smiled, licking her lips of the last bits of apple. “Have you gone over to Willa’s yet this morning?”
“No, I wanted to get some of the Grand’s sheets done. They have several guests arriving soon on the train,” Mollie answered, putting soap powder into the washer.
“I’ll go now then.” Vera breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ll be back as soon as Willa lets me out of the kitchen.”
13
Wally sat alone in the dining room, eating breakfast. He’d told Willa since he was the only tenant in the boardinghouse at the moment, he’d be happy to eat at Millie’s. Of course, she flatly refused his offer, insisting on cooking for him. Now that he was left to his own thoughts, he was thankful Willa was busy in the kitchen muttering about this or that the way some women do. The way his mother always did.
Did Vera? He’d never know, so what did it matter either way?
Drinking the last of the coffee, he mentally ran down the list of things he intended to do today. The problem was his thoughts would stray from the list of tasks at hand.
Visit the cemetery.
Vera smiling up at him.
Go to the telegraph office.
Vera’s hazel eyes twinkling with joy.
Check his parents’ reservation at the Grand Hotel.
Vera in his arms. Her mouth nearly…
This one shook him to the core. Could this be his deepest desire? To hold Vera in his arms, his mouth covering hers? Could his deceased brother’s wife become the woman who would finally be a special part of his own life?