Nadine Trades Her Partner

by Linda Hubalek

  “Nadine, this is what being married to Wesley, or whoever it might be, is like. Good, bad, joyful, and sad. But the best thing is that you get to do it all with a partner you love, and who should love you if he’s the right person. No matter what hits you as a couple, storms from the sky, or storms from heartbreak, you can stand together to face it together .”

  Nadine looked around the room, realizing everyone is watching her, hoping and praying she’ll make the right decision on choosing her life’s mate. She looked at her mother and older sisters, all wives who spoke of their love for their husbands, knowing that anything could happen to test or break their vows today, tomorrow, or in the future.

  Nadine had to grow up, so to speak, to become the woman Wesley deserves. That meant trusting and believing in Wesley, putting him first in her life.

  Not getting upset about silly things that don’t matter a whit compared to disasters and sorrows she and Wesley were bound to face in the next fifty-some years.

  Did she truly want to be with Wesley forever?

  Yes.

  Chapter 14

  “You have any coffee in here?” Wesley looked up to see Chet leaning against the open doorway of the office.

  “What are you doing down here this time of night, Chet? Isn’t your bed comfortable?” Wesley asked. It was almost midnight, and it was quiet now, considering the hotel was brimming with people enjoying the community dinner earlier today.

  “Bed and room are fine, almost up to the Smith Hotel standards,” Chet joked. “I wanted a chance to talk to you alone, and you had said you’d have night duty tonight.”

  “That I do. Help yourself to the coffee and cups on the side table. I just refilled it not too long ago, so it should be hot. I need coffee some nights to stay awake.”

  Chet filled a cup and sat down in a chair across from where Wesley sat at the desk.

  “It’s interesting to see a hotel this size in a little frontier town. I must say I’m amazed at the services, and at the community dinner you sponsored today.”

  “I’d like to visit Kansas City someday and see your hotel too. I didn’t plan to work in a hotel after leaving the army, but Gordon and I flipped a coin to see who got the mercantile or the hotel.”

  “That’s quite a story of how you came to Clear Creek and landed work, a home, and a wife.”

  “Yes, I can’t believe how well it’s worked out for everyone,” Wesley said, although he didn’t have a wife yet.

  “I’ve enjoyed talking to the Paulsons. Helen is a great hostess and runs a tight ship. Her daughters are well trained and could take over our hotel without any extra training.”

  “You have no idea how well they can organize and do anything. Watch out for Cecilia and Phoebe, though. I’m considered their brother, and they are always pulling tricks on me.”

  “And you love it?” Chet guessed.

  “I surely do. It was Phoebe cleaning out the trash can that led Nadine to find Lucy. I owe that girl lots of bags of candy for that.”

  “I liked Nadine the first moment I saw her sitting in our living room. She was poised and sure of her mission, even though she didn’t know who we were or what we’d say about her asking about Lucy. Pa still feels bad about the letter he wrote to you, by the way.”

  “He told me that more than once today. I’d probably write the same thing if some stranger was asking about my daughter.” If he had a chance to have daughters in the future, hopefully with Nadine.

  “I’d like to talk to Nadine about working in our hotel. She’d be an asset to our company, and maybe a future wife for me. I do like her looks,” Chet said approvingly.

  Wesley felt his fist ball up with jealousy, but then he told himself to relax his hand. Was this what Nadine felt when she saw him and Elise in the closet? He wouldn’t have walked away if it was Chet in the closet with Nadine. Nadine would step out, and then Wesley would step in to have a little talk with Chet.

  “She’s unavailable,” Wesley blurted out, not wanting to hear another word about how Chet was attracted to Nadine.

  “Didn’t see a ring on her finger, nor did she sit with a fellow during the meal today.”

  “She was serving coffee and didn’t sit down to eat until after everyone had gone through the food line,” Wesley said before taking a sip of coffee to keep his hands busy.

  “Ah. Nadine is the last woman available in this Peashooter Society Plan. And you’re the last bachelor. Why aren’t you two married yet?”

  Wesley sighed, the fight draining out of him. “Ethan named me the hotel’s assistant manager instead of giving the job title to Nadine. And she’s good at holding a grudge.”

  “In other words, to paraphrase the last line from William Congreve’s poem, ‘The Mourning Bride—hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

  “Exactly. But we’ve had some good times in the broom closet too if you understand what I’m hinting at,” Wesley said just to be sure Chet knew he was trying to court Nadine.

  “I heard Nadine was jealous of Avalee’s niece, Elise, too. The gossip chain, or should I say the informative little Paulson sisters filled me in on that story of jealousy.”

  “You have that problem of gossip among your help in your hotel too?”

  “Of course. And Lucy is the biggest gossip of them all,” Chet laughed.

  “I wish I could have grown up with her, Chet,” Wesley quietly said. “I’ve worried about Lucy for twenty years.”

  “I know, and I wish it would have been different for both of you. At least you know Lucy has had a wonderful life with our family. We couldn’t have asked for better parents.”

  “Yeah. I’m glad. And I hope we grow closer and stay in touch for the next fifty years.”

  “You will, especially since Ma is determined to adopt you and change your name to Smith,” Chet laughed as he stood up and put his empty cup on the tray.

  “Well, my last name was changed once from Wesley to Preston, so maybe she’ll talk me into changing it again.”

  “Watch out. It could happen. Ma and Helen Paulson are cut from the same cloth.”

  Wesley stood up too, sensing Chet was headed back to his room.

  “Thanks for visiting this weekend, Chet. I’m so glad you’re my sister’s brother.”

  Chet held out his hand, and Wesley shook it, glad to have contact with his friend.

  “We just as well start acting like brothers, because Ma is adopting you,” Chet pointed the finger at Wesley as he stopped at the office door to leave.

  “Okay, Brother Chet, don’t you think about courting Nadine.”

  “Ha! You better ask me to come back to Clear Creek to be your best man when you marry her, Brother Wesley. We’ll all be back when you marry, Wesley because you’re now part of the Smith family.”

  Chet tapped his hand twice on the doorframe. “See you in the morning before we leave?”

  “Yep, I’ll see you at the depot in the morning. Goodnight.”

  Chet raised his hand in a final salute, and Wesley listened to his soft departure up the steps.

  Never in a million years would Wesley ever guess he’d meet Lucy today, and that she’d be a sister to his old army friend. All because of a chain of events that started twenty years ago in New York City and ended in Clear Creek, Kansas.

  And because of Nadine’s determination to connect the two siblings together again.

  Chapter 15

  “Let me guess. I’m in the closet with you, Nadine?” Wesley asked, standing against the door with a cloth wrapped around his eyes so he couldn’t see.

  “Yes, you can take off your...dinner napkin, tea towel, or whatever it is, Wesley. I didn’t plan for the girls to kidnap you and haul you in here blindfolded.”

  Nadine watched as Wesley look off the dinner napkin and looked around the closet. She had cleaned it out to place lanterns on the shelves above them and two chairs in the tight floor space. She sat in one chair and motioned him to sit in the other.

  “Why didn’t you j
ust ask me to join you, instead of involving the girls?”

  “Well, the blindfold was a surprise, but I thought you’d do what they asked, whereas I don’t know if you would come in here if I asked.”

  “True. I’d do anything, well, about anything, for your little sisters.”

  “They’re very special, and I’m so thankful to have them, most days,” Nadine said with a smile.

  “Were the girls instructed to lock us in too? I hear them giggling on the other side of the door,” he said loudly against the wooden door, and then could hear light footsteps run down the hall.

  “No. They were instructed not to lock the door since I have lanterns lit in here.”

  “So, you beckoned me to talk about something?” Wesley asked as he sat down beside her.

  Nadine reached for his hand and was glad he didn’t pull it away.

  “Yes, I am truly sorry for the way I acted recently, and it won’t happen again.”

  “Well, Chet and I had a long talk while I was on night duty last night, and my jealousy roared alive when he talked about you.”

  “Oh, really? What did Chet say about me?” Nadine teased Wesley while squeezing his hand.

  “You’re pretty and smart. And wondered if you’d like to work at his family’s hotel with him. I almost planted a fist in his nose!”

  “And so, you realize how I felt, and how stupid that was because...we should have trusted each other,” Nadine said but then held her breath, hoping Wesley would agree.

  “Yes. Love means trusting each other.” But he didn’t say he loved her though, and her heart clenched with worry.

  “Your mother talked to me last night after Chet left. She told me about the Paulson sisters’ meeting.”

  Nadine gasped. “She didn’t!”

  “Oh, yes, she did. Every detail about how each sister told something about their marriage and how it pertained to a phrase in the marriage vows.”

  “Even Gabe sometimes passing gas after they make love?” Nadine whispered.

  Wesley chuckled and then looked at the ceiling. “Uh, no. I guess not every detail, fortunately.”

  “Oh, dear. Don’t pass that secret on to anyone else then.” Nadine said as she smoothed one hand over Wesley’s large hand holding her other. “I like it when you hold my hand. It’s comforting, protective, and promising.”

  Wesley squeezed her hand, and Nadine’s heart calmed at his gesture.

  “Your mother talked about your worries about marriage. I understand because it hit me like a hammer between the eyes when she talked about her past marriages, and hers with your father. Anything can happen, and now I see, knowing her background, why you were hesitant to talk about it.”

  “I hope that didn’t scare you out of marriage in your future, though.”

  “No, it just made me think how much serious soul-searching a person needs to do to pick the right spouse.”

  “And my mother promised us girls she’d never interfere in our love life like our grandmother did to her and Papa,” Nadine sighed.

  “No, I’m glad she did, Nadine. I didn’t see the best marriage between my adopted parents, and didn’t realize how it should be, until seeing how your parents work together, always, well almost always, showing love and respect at the same time.”

  “Okay, I’ll forgive my mother then,” Nadine said to lighten the mood.

  “I do want to talk to you about marriage. What do you see and want in your spouse?”

  Nadine took a deep breath, hoping this conversation would lead to something important in their future.

  “Someone loyal, loving, wanting to protect me, but give me space to be my own person too. I mean, I know I can always trust myself, even if I doubt myself about it anyway. I don’t care about gifts, but he must be tidy—”

  “No leaving socks on the floor, like Gabe?”

  “Oh, Iva Mae had a list of, shall we say grievances, about the man she loves and what she forgives him for.”

  “And your other married sisters? We can see if Helen spilled the beans about their marriages too.”

  “You understand nothing can be repeated out of this closet. Iva Mae and Gabe are a typical couple, combining work and a busy household with two young boys. Maridell and Frank struggling to pay the repair bills for their boarding house. Luella and Tate are coasting through life as happy as two larks.

  “Avalee gave me the most insight because of the physical and emotional injuries she’s seen working with Dr. Pansy. It made me stop and think of what I’d have to do if my spouse was injured and could no longer work.”

  “Luckily, you have family here to support you through any problems like that,” Wesley reminded her.

  “True, but the one thing I got out of last night’s conversation is that your spouse comes first. To love, to count on, to lean on when times get rough, not to run to someone else.”

  “I guess I count on my five friends for help, but I see I’d need to shift who I talk to first when a person marries. I’ve seen that with the men as they’ve wed, especially Peter and Maggie, and Tobin and Molly as they adjust to parenting.”

  They stared at each other for a few long moments, and Nadine wondered what to say next. Should she boldly say what she wanted to ask?

  “Where do we go from here, Wesley? Are you staying here or moving to York or Kansas City?” Nadine held her breath, wondering what his answer would be.

  “I thought about it, but I’d miss my friends, your sisters, and especially you. I like being part of the Paulson family and would like to make it permanent.”

  “Permanent, as in working here at the hotel?”

  “Your folks are good examples of how to work together, but I’d like to trade our status to partners in the hotel, instead of assistant and head housekeeper. Think your parents would mind?”

  “Um, no. Our titles are just job descriptions anyway. We all do everything when need be.”

  Wesley stood up and turned away from her a moment as he pulled something from his vest pocket but kept it hidden in his hand. And then he got down in front of her on one knee and took her hand again!

  “I want permanent with you. Will you marry me, Paulson sister number five?” Wesley said as he stared into her eyes.

  She was shocked speechless because Wesley was actually asking her to marry him.

  When she didn’t say anything, Wesley opened his hand to reveal a picture locket on a gold necklace.

  “The girls said I should be prepared in case the opportunity arose to… I had Fergus make small photos of us for this picture locket, thinking I’d give it to you for your Christmas present.”

  The dear man was starting to sweat, but she knew her answer would ease his worry if she could ever say the word.

  “Will you marry me and accept this locket as a symbol of my love? It’s got a tiny diamond in the middle. I can’t afford more than a wedding band at the moment, but I’ll add a diamond ring for an anniversary present when I can.”

  Nadine leaned forward to grasp his face and kiss him soundly on his lips.

  “Yes, I’ll marry you. And a wedding band is fine with me. I’d hate to lose a diamond while cleaning the hotel,” Nadine laughed, happy her future would include Wesley forever.

  Wesley moved back into his seat and pulled Nadine into his arms, celebrating their engagement with kisses.

  “I love you, Nadine, and hope we can have a happily ever after.”

  “I love you too, Wesley, and we’ll get through whatever life throws at us for the next fifty-plus years.”

  After a few more kisses, Wesley loudly said, “She said yes!”

  The door flew open, with her family hooting, clapping, and cheering.

  “When’s the wedding? Cecilia asked, probably ready to start planning it.

  “I don’t know. We haven’t talked about that yet. Shut the door, and we’ll discuss it,” Nadine said as she winked at her sister.

  “What? No! I want to help you decide!” Phoebe cried as her mother pulled he
r sister away from the door.

  “Also, pinky swear you won’t tell a soul yet. I’d like to announce it at our friends’ holiday potluck tomorrow night,” Nadine said as she held out her little finger to Phoebe. “Is that all right with you, Wesley?”

  Wesley held up his little finger and asked, “Cecilia and Daphne? Will you promise too? This is important to your sister.”

  “Can we help plan the wedding then?”

  “Of course, we’ll need your help. I heard something about all the kissing balls you put up in the hotel doorways for the holidays?”

  “Yes, we do,” Phoebe said.

  “Maybe your Christmas decorations will be used for wedding decorations too,” Wesley hinted.

  “Pinky swear!” the younger girls squealed with delight as their father ushered them out of the crowded closet and shut the door. Nadine still heard the girls talking on the other side of the door, excited about another sister’s wedding.

  “A Christmas wedding? That would be a short engagement,” Nadine said as Wesley fastened the locket around her neck. In their excitement, she hadn’t shown Wesley’s gift to her family yet.

  “We have a place to live already. The hotel will be decorated for the holiday parties and look festive for our wedding.

  “Christmas Day is on a Sunday this year. What would you think of being married after church that Sunday? The Smiths mentioned they’d come back around the next holiday. Maybe they could travel on Saturday and be here for Christmas and our wedding.”

  “I like that idea. And your sister, Lucy, could be part of our planning since she’s staying with us for a while.”

  “Thank you for including Lucy. I still can’t believe you found her.”

  “You’re welcome,” Nadine said after giving Wesley a promising kiss.

  “And instead of one sister, you’ll actually have eight, according to my little sisters. Do you know they called a Paulson sisters’ meeting a couple of weeks ago because they wanted you to be their brother? Of course, that meant figuring out a way for me to marry you.”

  “Aw, that’s sweet. They’re one of the many reasons I wanted to marry you, by the way,” Wesley said between kissing Nadine’s exposed neck.