Mail Order Blessing

by Maya Stirling

  Rachel lifted her head and looked deeper into Aaron's eyes. "Why won't you tell me what it's about?"

  "It's not something I want you to know about right now Rachel," he said, this time more firmly.

  "What do you mean? It must be important if you're going to have to do something about it so soon after our wedding."

  She felt a sob rise in her throat and wondered how she had gone from feeling so good a few moments before to feeling so bad right now.

  She saw the concern on Aaron's face. He leaned down and tried to stroke the side of her face but Rachel pulled away.

  "Why won't you tell me?" she demanded.

  Aaron turned away. "It's not important."

  "It is to me. I aim to start our marriage the way I want it to continue. I don't want anything held back between us. I can't abide secrets."

  "There is no secret. Right now isn't the time for us to talk about this. I don't want you to worry about anything."

  Rachel stood up and stamped her foot. Aaron began to smile but then changed his mind when he saw how serious she was.

  "Really, Aaron Caldigate. You can be the most infuriating man. Can't you see that you are making me worried?"

  Aaron seemed genuinely taken aback by the forcefulness of Rachel's reaction.

  "I'm sorry if I'm making you concerned..." he said.

  "Concerned?" Rachel interrupted. "I'd say it's a bit more than just concern. Ever since you came out of the room earlier all you've done is make me more and more worried."

  Aaron frowned and lowered his head. "I'm sorry Rachel. We can discuss it tomorrow."

  "I don't want to wait, Aaron. Why can't you tell me now. You look so worried."

  Aaron's lips tightened. Rachel wanted to sit down by his side and take his hand in her own and beseech him to confide in her, but she could see that even that would probably have no effect.

  Aaron's eyes rolled and he drew in a deep breath. He stood up and came toward Rachel. "Can't we just put this away until tomorrow. I was enjoying this evening so much."

  Aaron held her shoulders and tried to draw her close to him but Rachel turned away. She glanced at him and saw that he was crestfallen. His features had darkened into a mass of confusion. She could see the warring emotions written on his face.

  For a moment she desperately wanted to turn to him and ask for his forgiveness, beg him to excuse her lack of faith in him, her impatience. But she didn't. Her mind was already firmly set.

  The beginning of a marriage was the time when the rules were set for the future, and she knew that this moment was important in establishing her right to the truth in all things.

  "Rachel, please forgive me..." he began to say, but she turned from him, her resolve rising inside her.

  She felt him loosen his hold on her and she heard his footsteps behind her on the wooden porch.

  She turned quickly intent on saying something, anything, which would stop him, but all she could think of was that her husband was walking away from her after refusing to confide in her. And that above all else made her feel a stab of pain; a hurt which made it impossible for her to say anything; a single word which could possibly stop him from going straight back into the house and closing the door behind him.

  The thud of the door closing made Rachel's heart sink and for a moment she didn't know what she was going to do.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Aaron awoke, alone, next morning. For the first few moments after awakening he tried to tell himself that the events of the previous night hadn't actually happened. He didn't want to believe that he'd walked away from Rachel; he refused to accept that he'd climbed the stairs alone and come to this spare bedroom; he tried to forget how long it had taken him to fall asleep after hearing Rachel make her way to the other bedroom.

  But then, with a sinking feeling, he realized that it was all true. He'd made some bad choices in his life. But, the way he'd withheld what he'd found out in his father's office from Rachel was right up there with some of the worst he'd made. He'd foolishly thought he could keep the truth from her. He hadn't wanted to worry her, especially since she'd been so excited when she'd seen the house earlier that day. He truly didn't want to hurt her feelings.

  But, he'd misjudged her. He hadn't bargained for her strength of spirit and her determination to wrestle the truth out of him.

  As he lay on the bed, a slight smile of pleasure creased his mouth as he thought of the spirited young woman he'd taken as a wife. For someone so young, she sure had a fire inside her. And, he had to admit, he kinda liked that about her.

  The flash of determined energy he'd seen light up her eyes was truly something to behold. She looked so darned beautiful when she was like that. He wondered what it was going to be like, having to deal with that temper. It wasn't the petulance of youth. It was more like a refusal to compromise, once she'd decided she wanted something.

  Aaron found himself wondering if she would be as demanding in other things too. He felt his cheeks redden and decided it was time to get out of bed and freshen up. He had business to attend to. Until that was dealt with there would be a barrier between him and Rachel, and he didn't want that. He definitely didn't want that.

  The issue with the house would have to be sorted out, and fast.

  He got dressed and headed to the other bedroom. He was surprised to find the door open. Peering inside he saw that the double bed had been slept in, but there was no sign of Rachel. Maybe she'd be downstairs.

  He went down to the kitchen but Rachel was nowhere to be found. He went outside. The early morning air was fresh and the sky was blue. It was going to be a beautiful day, but it would mean nothing if he didn't sort out the mess he'd created. And that also meant finding Rachel.

  He grabbed some bread from the kitchen and made himself a coffee. The lonesomeness of being without Rachel took him by surprise as he sat at the kitchen table. It reminded him of his days back East. He'd had friends and he'd enjoyed the social circles he'd moved in. But all through those years there had been a soft ache in his heart. It had been a yearning for companionship which he'd hardly ever admitted to himself. He felt that ache again as he took one last sip of his coffee and headed for his father's office.

  The papers detailing the property were still on the desk where he had left them. He scooped them up and headed out. There was only one thing he had to do and he knew exactly what it was. His past with Beatrice needed to be put behind him where it belonged. He was a married man now and he wanted everyone in the town to know it. The first place to start clearing up the past was with and the mess around the disputed property.

  He wasn't sure just what he could do about Sweetheart Haven. The way things stood, it looked to Aaron like neither Beatrice nor anyone else stood to own the place outright. Aaron had lain in bed thinking it through, and he'd come to the conclusion that the only thing he could do was go to Beatrice and talk things over, and see if some kind of settlement could be reached.

  Every time he thought of the expression on Rachel's face when she'd seen the house, Aaron just smiled. He'd never seen anyone so thrilled and excited at the prospect of moving into a house. And wasn't that what his job was? To make sure that Rachel was happy. He sure felt that to the core of his being, in a way that he'd never felt about anything or anyone before.

  As he made his way towards the center of town he tried to think about where Rachel could have gotten to. Maybe she had gone to visit one of her sisters. He felt bad that she had been so affected by the events of the previous night. Why were there so many obstacles to them being close? He wanted that closeness more than anything. When he was next to her he felt things he'd never felt before. There was a rush of excitement, but also a desperate need for tenderness in his heart every time she was in his arms. He loved having her in his arms. It felt just...right. He couldn't explain it. They'd only just met. Yet, there were things happening between them both that Aaron would have expected only after they'd known each other a whole lot longer.

  Was
that a part of his reluctance? That things were going too fast? Did he fear the sudden rush into a new life, settling down in Sweetheart Falls, with a new, beautiful wife who was almost a stranger?

  Aaron realized he just wasn't sure. But he was sure of one thing. He desperately needed to make things up to Rachel. He didn't like seeing her the way she'd looked the previous night. The look on her face made his heart sink every time the memory of it came back to his mind.

  The disappointment of last night still churned in his gut. He'd desperately wanted to get a chance to speak with her, explain to her the problem with the house, get her to understand just how hard it was for him to come back to Sweetheart Falls and start a new life. He was sure she would understand. She was an amazingly mature young woman for her age.

  He figured it must be the result of all the hardship she'd had to endure, especially with those two awful relatives she'd been forced to live with. He admired the way she had put all that behind her, and taken on her new life with a determination and commitment that frankly made him feel ashamed of his own reluctant efforts.

  Beatrice's house was on the East side of town. It was a modest single story dwelling that had seen better days. Aaron had never been to the house before and he was, frankly shocked at the dilapidated state it was in. It looked like Beatrice and her husband weren't exactly prospering. It reminded Aaron that not everyone in Sweetheart Falls was living an ideal life.

  Aaron stood at the front door and straightened up the lapels of his jacket. He knocked and drew himself up as tall as he could. He heard voices from inside. Women's voices. He frowned, hoping he wasn't interrupting some kind of meeting. But who would be having a meeting so early in the morning?

  The door opened and Beatrice was standing there. Beatrice was dressed in a dull brown morning dress. Her hair was untidy. There were tired shadows under her eyes. Aaron swallowed and smiled.

  "Good morning Beatrice," Aaron said, tipping his hat.

  Beatrice's eyes widened. "Aaron. Good morning." Beatrice glanced back to the inside of the house. "What are you doing here?"

  "I wanted to call on you to discuss a rather sensitive matter."

  Beatrice raised her eyebrows. "Really. Personal or business?"

  Aaron was taken aback. "A little of both, I suppose."

  Beatrice cocked her head to one side. Once again she looked back inside the house.

  Aaron suddenly felt awkward. He took a step back. "If this isn't a good time I could call back later."

  Beatrice grinned and then frowned as if in mock confusion. "No. I guess this is as good a time as any."

  Beatrice stepped away from the door and gestured for Aaron to enter. "It seems to be my lucky day," she said with a thick tone of sarcasm.

  Aaron frowned and stepped into the hallway. He noticed the damp smell of the place and the absence of internal light.

  Beatrice closed the door, led Aaron across the hall and stepped into the parlor. She turned and stood with her hands clasped together and an expectant look on her face.

  Aaron stepped into the parlor. He glanced over at the sofa in the center of the room and froze.

  "Rachel!" he exclaimed when he saw his wife seated on the sofa.

  "As you can see I seem to be spoiled for visitors this morning," Beatrice said, fixing Aaron with a withering stare and gesturing casually toward Rachel.

  Rachel stood and looked at Aaron. "So you managed to come after all," she said to him.

  Aaron frowned. "What?"

  "I told Mrs Wilson that you would be along soon and that you'd been delayed in putting together the necessary paperwork. Just as we discussed last night," she concluded, her gaze locked on Aaron's face.

  Beatrice looked questioningly at Aaron.

  "Umm. Indeed," he said. "It did take longer than I'd thought but I have it all here," he said patting the breast pocket of his jacket.

  Beatrice frowned. "Really? It was that simple?"

  Aaron was still at a loss but his instincts told him that both women were two steps ahead of him and that he had some serious catching up to do. The need for improvisation had never been greater.

  "Please. Have a seat and we can discuss this further." Beatrice gestured for Aaron and Rachel to take a seat on the sofa. She took her place on a high backed, threadbare chair. "Your...lovely wife...and I have just been having a chat about Sweetheart Haven."

  "Such a beautiful house," interjected Rachel.

  Beatrice looked at Rachel and her eyes narrowed. "Indeed it is. A house my husband and I very much wanted for our own," she said, her voice becoming firm. "However your beloved father seems not to have...how can I say it without offending...done his job correctly."

  Aaron felt himself bristle. "I'm sure there were very good reasons why he did what he did..."

  "Professional failure, Aaron. That's what it was. It cost us money we could ill afford and we ended up losing the right to the house. I think you'd agree that wasn't exactly what he was employed to do."

  Aaron leaned forward and he felt Rachel place a soft hand on his knee. Aaron looked at Rachel and saw her eyes narrow.

  "My father has had some serious problems in recent months. I'm sure you understand that may have affected his ability to carry out his professional obligations."

  Beatrice waved a dismissive hand. "I know all about your father's difficulties. And I am sympathetic. I do recall the days when we were all a little younger. Your father was always kind to me and my dear, departed parents."

  Aaron nodded, remembering the carefree days of youthful, innocent friendship.

  Beatrice straightened in her chair. "But that still doesn't alter the fact that we do not have title to that house. And now I understand that you and your new bride plan to take the house and make it your home."

  Rachel fixed Beatrice with a firm look. "That was the plan Beatrice. I can't deny it. But that was before it came to my attention that there were problems with the ownership of the house. I had literally no idea until this morning," Rachel said.

  Aaron looked at Rachel in astonishment. Rachel turned and took in Aaron's puzzled expression.

  "My dear husband explained everything to me."

  Aaron tried to hide his consternation. What on earth was Rachel doing? It was clear that she must have gone to the office and read the papers and understood the situation with the house. But how had she come to the decision to visit with Beatrice and try and come to some arrangement. All without involving him!

  Aaron didn't know whether to be furious or filled with admiration for his new wife. She obviously didn't believe in hesitating when it came to taking action to sort out problems.

  Beatrice looked at Aaron and must have seen the expression on his face. "Really Aaron. That must have been very complicated to explain to your wife. Property laws being so complex and all," she said. Aaron had never heard such withering sarcasm before, not even from Beatrice.

  Aaron patted Rachel's knee. "She picks things up real quick," he said trying to sound as convincing as he could.

  Rachel nodded. "It's clear there has been a terrible mistake..."

  "That's putting it mildly Mrs Caldigate," said Beatrice. "Look around you. This is what we've been reduced to as a result of Aaron's father not following through on the purchase. I tried to reason with him. Tried to get him to fix it. But he wouldn't listen."

  Beatrice looked like she was about to burst into tears. Aaron glanced around the parlor. Like the rest of the house, he could see evidence of dilapidation in threadbare furnishings and worn carpets.

  Rachel leaned over and handed Beatrice a cotton handkerchief. Beatrice took it and wiped beneath her eyes, although Aaron couldn't see any tears there. Aaron pursed his lips, determined not to say anything. Beatrice always did like to act. He recalled the many times she'd confided in him that she wanted to be an actress. Well, now she was giving the performance of a lifetime.

  Rachel coughed, clearing her throat. "Mrs Wilson," she said and Beatrice looked at her. "Aaron and I are v
ery sorry that you have been put through such difficulty. We regret the disappointment that you have experienced as a result of the failure of Aaron's father to complete the legal details of your house purchase. That's right. Isn't it Aaron," Rachel said, looking purposefully at him.

  Aaron hesitated and then blurted out his agreement. "Yes. That's absolutely right. We regret this unfortunate situation."

  Aaron looked at Rachel to confirm that he had said the right thing. Rachel nodded imperceptibly.

  Aaron had the distinct feeling that his wife was in complete control of the situation and that he was simply required to agree with where she was leading them all. He was fine with that. He looked at Rachel and saw a flush of color on her cheeks. She looked like she was really enjoying this.

  "What we propose is that Aaron will take the documents, process them thoroughly and ensure that the property is correctly given over to you and your husband."

  Aaron felt his heart stop for a second. What was Rachel doing? She was giving over their future marital home to Beatrice. She was asking him to fix the mistake his father had made. Rachel hadn't even asked Aaron if it could be done. The truth was he wasn't even sure if it could be. But, she was placing him completely on the spot.

  Beatrice looked at Aaron. He saw that her jaw had dropped and the color had drained from her face. "Is that true, Aaron. You could do that?"

  Aaron hesitated. Beatrice's eyes bored into his. "I could do that. I'm sure the whole thing can be fixed. It's not too late," he said eventually.

  Rachel smiled at Aaron. "Of course it can be done. Aaron's a fantastic lawyer. Aren't you darling," she said placing a hand on his arm.

  Aaron had no choice but to nod in agreement. "Well I did study property law. It'll give me a chance to put it into practice, I guess."

  Beatrice stood and seemed almost dumbfounded. Aaron felt touched by the sincerity of Beatrice's reaction. She seemed genuinely taken aback. "I don't know what to say," she said. "I certainly didn't expect this. But what about you both. You were going to start a new life in that house. Where will you settle?"