She didn't want to say anything to anyone yet because it was too new, but Chrissy had slept through the night for two nights in a row. She was stunned and amazed. It was wonderful to sleep straight through the night and not wake up to a child crying hysterically.
When Micah came home from work that evening, she not only had supper on the table, but she had scrubbed every inch of the common rooms of the house, done all the laundry, and baked him a cake for dessert.
He stopped inside the kitchen, looking around him. "The house looks amazing. You two must have worked hard all day."
Chrissy removed the apron Katie had made her for her birthday before running to Micah and flinging herself into his arms. "We missed you while you were working, Daddy, and Mama and I worked really hard to make the house look good for you."
"You did such a good job. I thought I was in the wrong house."
Chrissy giggled. "You did? I told Mama she was making it too clean and you wouldn't like it."
"I do like it, though. I like living in a clean house. Don't you?"
"Yes, but I don't like having to put Sally into her cradle with all her clothes before you get home. Tell Mama you like to see what Sally is wearing when you come home." Sally had four outfits and a nightgown, and she wore every one of them at least three times per day.
"I think your mama is right. She needs to be in her cradle in your room when I get home. You can wake her from her nap after supper."
Chrissy sighed as if she was agreeing to something horrible. "Yes, Daddy."
Sarah Jane looked over her shoulder at Micah, laughing softly. "She wanted Sally to have her own chair at our kitchen table so she could eat with us. I told her it was Sally's nap time."
"You are a smart woman." He walked across the kitchen and kissed her softly. "Did you have a good day? You seem to be in good spirits."
"It was productive. I enjoyed not having to leave the house for a change. It was nice to stay here and get work done. Lewis brought over some food because I'm still cooking for their family, so I didn't even have to go to the mercantile to shop."
"It must have felt like a regular vacation."
She laughed. "Well, I still had Chrissy." She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. "That girl is hard work!"
"I am not! Tell him how much I helped, Mama."
"She helped me with the laundry, making the beds, sweeping, doing dishes. Why, I know I wouldn't have been able to get half of my chores done without her."
Chrissy smiled happily. "I'm a good helper."
"Yes, you are." Sarah Jane touched the tip of her finger to Chrissy's nose. "And now, if you'll sit down at the table, we'll show your daddy what a good cook you are." Her eyes met Micah's. "Chrissy helped me bake the bread as well."
"Well, aren't you a wonder?" Micah walked to the table and sat down. "Do you like helping your mama?"
"Sometimes. And sometimes we do what we must."
Micah laughed. "I appreciate you sacrificing your day with Sally to help out around the house. Soon, you'll have a house of your own, and we won't know what to do without you."
"You mean when I'm grown? Not when you find somewhere else for me to live?"
Sarah Jane's eyes widened. "He means when you're grown and have a family of your own. We're keeping you forever, remember?"
"Until Daddy gives me away to my husband. Maybe I'll marry Robert."
Sarah Jane bit her lip. "I don't know. Robert's your cousin. It might not be a good idea to marry him."
Chrissy shrugged. "No matter. I'll find someone better anyway."
"I'm sure you will. Why, you'll be the prettiest girl in school. Of course, you need to remember the important rule of being pretty."
"What's that?"
"Pretty is as pretty does. It doesn't matter how pretty you are if you act ugly."
Chrissy nodded. "I promise never to act ugly."
After Chrissy was tucked into bed, Sarah Jane joined Micah in the parlor. "You look better rested than you have since we married. I'm glad you decided not to work at the orphanage."
"I may go back once Chrissy is in school, but she seems a lot more settled now that we're not going there every day."
"Good." He opened his arms, and she climbed onto the sofa beside him, her head going to rest on his shoulder.
She knew she shouldn't sit with idle hands, but she didn't want to disturb the short time they had together every night by pulling out her knitting. "How was work today?"
He sighed. "Mr. Johnson is dying. I talked to Dr. Harvey today, and she said he doesn't have much time. I worry about what will happen to Mrs. Johnson."
"I had no idea he was so ill! Can Mrs. Johnson go live with her daughter in Wiggieville?"
"She has a daughter?"
"Yes. She's quite a distance from here, but the drive could be made in a few days. She's a lovely woman. She was here with her children last summer. She had four children and another on the way. I think she'd welcome the help her mother could give her."
"That sounds like a perfect solution. I'm glad you know the people here better than I do." Micah hadn't thought about this benefit of marrying. His new wife could help with problem solving when it was something like that. "I probably should have asked Mrs. Johnson what she thought she'd do."
"Oh, I wouldn't have. What if she had no children and nowhere to go? You did the right thing." She turned her head, looking up at him to find him watching her. "Do you think I should make her a meal or two? To help them out while she's nursing him?"
"That would be wonderful. Why didn't I think of that?"
She laughed. "Because you're a man, of course. You're worried about the long-term repercussions of him dying. I'm worried about where her next meal will come from. God made us to complement each other."
"That He did." He stroked her arm. "How long do you think it will be before Chrissy starts sleeping through the night? I'd love to be able to take Edna Petunia up on her offer to watch her sometime soon."
Sarah Jane hadn't told him about the girl yet, but she wouldn't lie to him outright. "She's slept the past two nights. I think that she's finally realized we're keeping her and not sending her back."
"That's wonderful! That must be another reason you look so well-rested."
"I haven't gotten my hopes up too high yet. If she makes it through Friday without waking up crying, maybe we can schedule her weekend with Edna for a week from Friday?"
He sighed. "I want it to be sooner, but I understand your reasoning."
She looked up at him with a smile. "Good things come to those who wait. Right?"
He leaned down to brush a kiss across her lips. "That's what I've been told. I sure hope it's true."
"Hopefully, Chrissy will continue to do well. I worry about her, but I worry just as much about leaving her with someone else. Her nightmares are difficult, and I'm not sure if she would calm down easily with someone else."
"Do you think things will be easier for you now that she's sleeping better? I noticed the house looked very good today." He didn't want to remind her that she hadn't been able to keep up before, but he needed to know if she could do it now.
She nodded slowly. "I'm sure I can." She felt like she had really let him down, and hated that he was stuck with her. "I'm sorry I couldn't do it before."
"You did nothing wrong. It was circumstances, I know. Taking care of Chrissy, dealing with her nightmares, working at the orphanage, and then fixing meals for an extra family, all while not getting enough sleep. No one in their right mind could ask you to do more."
She rested her head against his shoulder, wanting to believe he wasn't angry, but how could he not be? She'd done nothing but let him down since they got married. At least there was no orphanage he could return her to. Edna Petunia would take her back, though.
* * *
Shortly after lunch on Tuesday, Sarah Jane had an unexpected visitor. "Dr. Harvey. Come in. Is something wrong?"
Iris Harvey stepped into the small kitchen and
took a seat at the table. "There's nothing horribly wrong, but I came to ask for a favor."
"Of course! Would you care for some tea?" Iris Harvey and her family had been frequent visitors at the Sanders' house since they'd taken the girls in. Sarah Jane felt as if she was an old family friend.
"No, thank you. I don't have much time. I have several patients to check on this afternoon." Iris rubbed the back of her neck, obviously tired. She was the only doctor for miles in any direction, and her services were very much in demand.
Sarah Jane sat down across from Iris. "What kind of help do you need?"
Chrissy hurried into the kitchen and saw the doctor sitting there. She looked between the two adults and left again, Sally clutched tightly in her arms.
Iris smiled at the little girl as she ran off. "She must keep you busy."
"Busier than I imagined a child of seven would. That's for certain."
"I understand. Well, here's the situation. Ruby has started bleeding. It's still too early for the baby to come, so I've told her to rest as much as possible. She insists there's too much to do, taking care of the twins and keeping house, for her to be able to rest. I was hoping you could help her out. I'd ask Opal, but she has her hands full with Nathan and Samuel."
Sarah Jane didn't hesitate. "Of course I will. I've been cooking their suppers for a couple of weeks now, but I'll start going in and cleaning as well. I can bring the twins here so Ruby can nap every day. How much is she allowed to do?"
Iris shook her head. "I really don't want her to get out of bed except to take care of nature's call. That would help them out a great deal. It might even save that baby's life."
"I'll head over there now." Sarah Jane got to her feet, getting her wrap. She hadn't done the lunch dishes yet, but they could wait. Ruby needed her, and she was going to do what needed to be done. What else could she do? "Chrissy!"
When Chrissy hurried into the kitchen, Sarah Jane told her to get her coat. "We're going to go see Aunt Ruby and your cousins. Doesn't that sound like fun?"
"I suppose so," Chrissy said warily.
"You'll like it." Sarah Jane turned back to Dr. Iris. "Thank you for letting me know about the situation. I'll make sure things go as well as possible." She gathered what she'd need to cook supper for the two families, filling her arms. She'd cook at Ruby's house while she cleaned today. It couldn't be that difficult.
Chrissy followed along beside her new mama, Sally clutched to her chest. "Why are we going to Aunt Ruby's house?"
"Ruby is having a baby, and she's not feeling well. The doctor's afraid that if we don't help her, the baby could get hurt, so we're going over to clean and cook for them."
"Oh. That's nice of us."
Sarah Jane smiled. "Your job will be taking care of your cousins. They're very little, and they need someone to watch them. Do you think you could do that?"
"Oh, yes. I'm very good with babies. Just look at what a good mama I am to Sally!"
"Well, Jade and Crystal will need all the help you can give them." Sarah Jane went to the front of the mercantile rather than going to the door of Ruby's house. It would be simpler.
When Lewis saw her, he hurried across the store. "Thank heavens you're here. We need help!"
Sarah Jane smiled. "Dr. Harvey told me everything. Don't worry—Chrissy and I will handle it. I'd like to be home by quarter past six if you don't mind. Can you be upstairs by six?"
"No problem at all. Thank you!"
Chapter Ten
When Micah walked in the door at half past six, he was tired. Mr. Johnson had died, and Mrs. Johnson had been inconsolable. He'd spent most of the day with her, talking about funeral arrangements and trying to convince her to go live with her daughter.
When he stepped into the kitchen and saw Sarah Jane and Chrissy hurriedly finishing up the lunch dishes, he was flabbergasted. Most of Sarah Jane's obligations had ended, and she'd told him at lunch Chrissy had slept through the night.
"Why didn't you do these earlier?" he asked, his eyes narrowed. Now that she had nothing else filling her days, surely she could keep house.
Sarah Jane's eyes met his. "I had just started them when we received a visitor," she began.
"So you spent the day visiting with one of your friends rather than taking care of your duties? As a pastor's wife, it's your job to set an example of cleanliness. When people stop in, they should see an immaculate home. Lunch dishes in the sink at suppertime? I know you baked all morning, and I appreciate that, but did you even clean the bedrooms like you told me you were going to do today?" Micah knew his voice was harsh, but he was frustrated. Why couldn't she do the few simple tasks that all other wives did without complaint?
Sarah Jane closed her eyes for a moment, mentally biting her tongue. She knew keeping her voice calm in the face of his anger was really the only Christian thing she could do. "I didn't have time to get to the bedrooms. I'm sorry. I'll clean them as soon as I finish the supper dishes." She handed the last plate she'd just washed to Chrissy to dry. "Supper's ready."
She put the roast she'd made at Ruby's house on the table along with mashed potatoes, gravy, fresh bread, and green beans. She was thankful Lewis had driven her home. As they prayed, she added her own prayer. Father, please help me to keep my voice mild. He doesn't know what all I did today, and I don't know what he's done. Please help me not to judge him, and do better to meet his expectations.
As they ate, Chrissy chattered on and on about some new friends she'd made. Micah finally turned to her. He couldn't let his annoyance with Sarah Jane affect how he treated Chrissy. "What are your friends' names?"
"Jade and Crystal. Crystal's name is almost like mine, isn't it, Daddy? Christmas and Crystal?"
"Yes, almost exactly the same as yours. I like the name Crystal."
"I do too. Do you like my name? I don't know anyone else named Christmas Carol, but I like having a name no one else has." Chrissy ate quickly, spraying food in her excitement to talk to her father.
"I do like the name Christmas Carol. Where did you meet Crystal and Jade?" Micah asked.
"We met them at Aunt Ruby's house. They're twins, but they don't look exactly alike. I knew twins at the orphanage in Fort Worth who looked just like each other. They were both girls. I didn't like them, though, because they were mean to me."
"I'm sorry about that. Why did you go to Aunt Ruby's house today?"
Sarah Jane sat silently throughout the exchange. She didn't know if she should be ashamed for how little work she'd done or be angry with him for his accusations, so she simply ate her supper, waiting to see how things would play out.
"Well, Dr. Iris came over, and she asked Mama and me to go help Aunt Ruby. She's having a baby, you know!" Chrissy took a sip of her milk, dribbling a bit on her dress.
"I do know that. Why did Aunt Ruby need help, though?"
"She's really sick, and she can't take care of the house or Crystal and Jade. So Dr. Iris asked if Mama and I could do it. I took care of Jade and Crystal while Mama cleaned their whole house."
Micah closed his eyes. That was twice now he'd assumed the worst about his new wife. "How is Ruby?" he asked Sarah Jane, trying his best to convey his apologies with his expression and tone of voice.
"She's not doing well. The doctor is worried she'll deliver early and lose the baby if she doesn't stay in bed, so I said I'd help out."
"As you should have." He took another bite of his potatoes, his eyes meeting hers. "Mr. Johnson died today. I spent the whole day consoling Mrs. Johnson and trying to convince her it's time for her to move in with her daughter. She wants to make a go of ranching on her own."
Sarah Jane shrugged. "She might be able to do it. It would be hard, but she's strong."
"I had a difficult afternoon, and I took it out on you. I'm sorry. It doesn't sound like your day was any easier than mine."
"I don't mind hard work. I'm worried about Ruby and the baby, of course, but cooking and cleaning don't bother me. And I had a wonderful helper w
ho took the twins in hand, caring for them while I did the work. I'm going to spend mornings at Ruby's, and I'll come home to cook and clean in the afternoons. The girls will nap here, so Ruby doesn't have to worry about anything."
"I think that sounds logical. Let me know if there's any way I can help," Micah said. He felt like the worst husband alive, but he was willing to do whatever was necessary to help her.
"No, thank you. You have enough to do." Sarah Jane wasn't about to accept help from him. The more she thought about his assumption and anger, the more upset she got. What had she ever done to make him think she wasn't a hard worker?
Micah frowned, but he knew he'd be able to talk to her later, after Chrissy was in bed. He looked forward to their private time together more and more every day.
After supper, Sarah Jane did the dishes while Chrissy wiped them dry, and then she cleaned Micah's bedroom, mopping the floor and even scrubbing down the walls, while he played with Chrissy.
Once that task was completed, she went to the bedroom she and Chrissy shared and did the same. The bathroom was next. When it was finished, it was time for Chrissy to go to bed. She tucked Chrissy in and laid down beside her as she did every night.
Instead of getting up and going to talk to Micah once Chrissy fell asleep, Sarah Jane fell asleep as well. She didn't mean to, because she had a lot to say to her husband, but she was tired. Taking care of two families was a lot of work, even when she did sleep a full night.
Micah sat in the parlor until past midnight, waiting for Sarah Jane to come out and talk to him. While he waited, he practiced his apology over and over. Finally, at half past twelve, he went to Chrissy's room and carefully opened the door so as not to wake the girl. When he saw his wife asleep, he slowly tiptoed out of the room.
He frowned. Was she so angry with him that she wasn't willing to speak to him? Could he do nothing right in this marriage of his?
* * *
At breakfast the next morning, Micah decided to discuss what was bothering him. Stifling a yawn, he asked, "Why didn't you come talk to me last night? I waited up past midnight."
Sarah Jane (Countdown to Christmas Book 1) Page 11
