Stephanie Grace Whitson - [Quilt Chronicles]

by Shadow on the Quilt

  Cass reached over and gave her hug.

  “What’s that for?”

  “Does there have to be a ‘what for’?”

  Sadie shrugged. “Guess not.” She hugged him back.

  Cass had barely hung his hat and coat on the hook by the office front door when he caught a glimpse of the Sutton buggy pulling up outside. When he saw Alfred helping a stern-faced Miss Theodora alight from that buggy, he hurried outside to greet her.

  “You didn’t need to rush over,” he said. “I meant it when I said there wasn’t any particular hurry about—” But Miss Theodora didn’t even give him time to offer a proper greeting.

  “I also wish to speak with you about another matter,” she said and brushed by him. Once inside, she glanced at Christopher Finney, who’d just settled at his desk. “I wish to speak with Mr. Gregory in private.”

  Finney rose without hesitation. He looked to Cass. “I’ll mosey over to the telephone exchange and see what kind of progress they’re making on the Friendship Home service.”

  Cass nodded.

  Miss Theodora stepped back to let Finney pass. Cass invited her to sit down, but Miss Theodora ignored the invitation. “Show me the table you mentioned when we were talking at Friendship Home.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Cass led her out back and pulled the cover off the dining room table.

  “Heavens,” she said, as she circled it. “My nephew purchased this?”

  Cass nodded. “From New York. Said he saw it in a warehouse down by the docks. Imported by a company that brings in pieces from Europe.”

  Miss Theodora sighed. “It’s hideous.”

  “You’ll get no argument from me on that score. The thing is, what to do with it? Should I show it to Mrs. Sutton?” He paused. “It doesn’t seem right to open the wound, but I don’t feel comfortable not saying anything at all. Jessup and four other men on the crew helped haul it here from the station. They haven’t said anything, but I imagine they’re wondering why we didn’t use it at Friendship Home.”

  “It would nearly swallow up that dining room,” Miss Theodora said. “We’d never be able to seat all the residents if we used it.”

  “My thinking exactly,” Cass said. “I’m glad you agree.”

  The woman nodded then gazed back at the table, clucking her tongue and murmuring, “Sterling, Sterling, Sterling.” She leaned down and peered at the carved creatures clinging to the table legs. “Are those gargoyles or griffins?”

  “I don’t know the difference,” Cass said. “Whatever they are, they’re fearsome looking.”

  “I can’t imagine Sterling thinking Juliana would like this.”

  Cass bit his tongue. He didn’t think the boss had really considered whether Juliana would like it or not. He envisioned a savvy dealer stroking Sutton’s ego with a fanciful story about a great find in a ruined castle.

  “Do you know how much he paid for it?”

  Cass shook his head. “I’ve had Finney look, but I can’t find a receipt. Do you think he could have paid cash?”

  Miss Theodora shrugged. “I haven’t any idea.” She shuddered. “Cover it up. I feel like those creatures are about to attack.”

  “Should I show it to Mrs. Sutton?” Cass pulled the cover back on.

  Miss Theodora sighed. “At some point we’ll have to, but this isn’t the best time.” She sighed. “I suppose you know that Sterling’s monument was set in place last week?”

  Cass shook his head. “No, ma’am. I haven’t seen Mrs. Sutton since we all left Friendship Home at the end of the day a week ago last Thursday.”

  “Ah, yes. And you missed church yesterday.”

  “Mother and I accompanied my sister and her fiancé to Roca on the early train. They invited us to attend church with them.”

  “Forgive me,” she said. “I didn’t mean to sound like a Sunday school teacher scolding an absent pupil.” She sighed. “The point is, the monument’s arrival seems to have cast something of a pall over us all.” She nodded at the table. “Is it in the way? Can you just shove it into some back corner and let it be for a while?”

  Cass nodded. “Happy to. I just didn’t want to make the decision.”

  “Do you have difficulty making decisions, Mr. Gregory?”

  Uh-oh. He met her gaze. “We aren’t talking about the table anymore, are we?”

  “We are not.” She shivered and reached up to grasp her collar and pull it closer to her bare neck. “Let us continue this discussion back inside.”

  Cass followed Miss Theodora back to the office. He didn’t imagine Finney would show his face until the buggy out front was gone.

  Miss Theodora crossed the office to stand near the small stove. She tucked both hands inside her fur muff as she said, “I don’t suppose it’s any secret to you, Mr. Gregory, that I am not known for my tact. When I asked you just now if you have difficulty making decisions, I was referring to a topic that has been weighing on me for quite some time now. I thought perhaps I could avoid addressing it, but in light of events just last week, I have decided to face it straight on. And so I shall get to the point.” She took a deep breath. “Exactly what are your intentions in regards to my niece?”

  Stunned by the question, Cass stammered, “M–ma’am?”

  “In the weeks during which the two of you worked closely together in regards to the Friendship Home, it seemed to me that you were growing quite fond of Juliana. But then, suddenly, you began declining invitations to dinner and fluttering about Mrs. Harrison.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t—”

  She held up her hand. “Now, now. There is no need to protest. Mrs. Harrison is a fine woman. I have no objection to Mrs. Harrison. What I do have objections to, young man, is inconstancy.”

  “Inconstancy?”

  Her voice dripped sarcasm. “Do tell me you know the meaning of the word.”

  This must be what it felt like to be skewered by a displeased parent when asking permission to court a girl. “Of course I know the meaning of the word. But I haven’t been—”

  “Really, Mr. Gregory. Do we have to play at this? You’ve played the hero in our little drama very well these past months. We’ve all appreciated your dedication to the project. Your assistance with the bazaar. Your building that stunning model. Your willingness to go ‘above and beyond,’ as they say. We’ve appreciated you. But then suddenly”—she backhanded the air—”suddenly you were nowhere to be found. All business. Quite content to sit at the far end of our dining room table and charm Mrs. Harrison. Until two weeks ago, when there you were again, flitting about my niece.”

  “I don’t recall flitting about Mrs. Sutton that Monday.”

  “I will grant you that my eyesight isn’t what it used to be. I admit that I was quite taken with little Johnny that day. But it didn’t take keen eyesight to see you drawing Juliana aside and practically feeding her bits of pie off your plate.” Miss Theodora drew herself up. “Juliana is very fragile right now, Mr. Gregory.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I realize that. And I’ve tried to respect it.” He cleared his throat. “I don’t deny that I’ve entertained … thoughts. She’s a beautiful woman, inside and out. We share many of the same interests. I respect and admire her, and I enjoy spending time with her. But—”

  Miss Theodora actually stomped her foot. “I absolutely forbid you to toy with her affections.”

  “I’m not!” The protest was more forceful than he intended, but Miss Theodora didn’t seem to notice.

  “Not what? Not interested? Not sincere?”

  “I’m not toying!” Miss Theodora blinked. Other than that, Cass couldn’t tell how she was reacting to his admission. He took a deep breath and repeated—in a calmer voice, “I’m not toying with Juliana. I respect and admire her. Of course I’m attracted to her. She’s stunning. I love the way her eyes light up when she lets herself laugh. I love her generous spirit and the way she’s taken tragedy and found a way to make good come from it. I love that she isn’t bitter after eve
rything that’s happened to her.” He had to be careful. Miss Theodora likely didn’t know everything. “But somewhere in the middle of that is the fact my mother and sister have brought up: Juliana Sutton and I inhabit very different worlds. I’d be a fool. I have no right.”

  “Your own mother called you a fool?”

  Cass shook his head. “No, ma’am. She was just warning me.”

  Miss Theodora nodded. “Which means that I am not the only mature woman to observe what is happening between the two of you.” She paused. “Yet in spite of your own mother’s warnings, you have persisted.”

  “I have persisted,” Cass said, “in doing my best to be a good friend and to give Juliana time. It’s only been seven months.” And there’s been enough gossip swirling about the Sutton name without my encouraging more by romancing a new widow. Of course he couldn’t say any of that. He wouldn’t. There was no honor in breaking an old woman’s heart.

  Miss Theodora seemed to be thinking about what he’d just said. Finally, she spoke. “And so you have taken a step back.” She looked up at him. “But if I’m not mistaken, you love.”

  From being skewered to being under a microscope. Neither place in this conversation felt one bit good. Cass took a deep breath. “Yes, ma’am. I do.” He forced an embarrassed laugh. “Pathetic, isn’t it?”

  The old woman pursed her lips. “Oh come now, Mr. Gregory. Let us not play the role of the tragic hero in a melodrama. You know as well as I do that a desire for material possessions has never fueled Juliana’s decisions in life. In fact, you have recently experienced proof that just the opposite is the case.”

  He studied her expression. “Are you telling me you don’t object—when the time is right, of course?”

  “Are you asking my permission?”

  How to answer that. He looked away. Thought about it, and decided that in this case it was best to be brutally honest, even if it did make the domineering old woman angry with him. “With all due respect, Miss Theodora, I’m thirty-four years old. Juliana is but a few months younger. I don’t believe either of us should be expected to ask permission.”

  For a moment, her face was a mask of displeasure. But then he saw it. A distinct twinkle in her eyes. A failure to maintain the scowl. And finally, a little smile. She nodded. “Well done, Mr. Gregory. Well done.” She took a deep breath and looked about the office. “All right, then. I’ve said what I came to say. I shall look forward to your accepting the next invitation to dinner.”

  “You sound fairly certain there will be a next invitation. You can’t have failed to notice a decided chill coming my way from the lady in question.”

  “Have you noticed the inevitability of the seasons, Mr. Gregory? Personally, I’ve always loved spring best. We are sometimes tempted to forget that beneath the covering of ice, the current still flows. But with spring, that rushing water always wins and breaks through the ice. Blossoms rise up out of earth that has seemed lifeless.” She tucked her hands back inside the muff and took a step toward the door.

  “May I ask you a question before you go?”

  She turned back. “Out with it.”

  “I just want to make sure you realize the logical conclusion of what we’re dancing around.”

  “That isn’t a question, and I don’t believe I’ve taken one dance step this morning.”

  “I have the impression that you’ve recently changed your mind about me. Do you mind telling me why?”

  “Let us just say that my involvement in the Friendship Home and the arrival of my nephew’s monument have combined to encourage me to reconsider that the victims of tragedy don’t always have to give it power to ruin their lives.” She paused. “Juliana deserves a ‘happily ever after.’ The only real question here is whether or not you think you can give her one.”

  Cass smiled. “I intend to try. If she’ll let me.”

  Miss Theodora nodded. “Then we have an understanding.” She extended her hand. “Now give me your arm and walk me to the buggy. Poor Alfred is probably half-frozen, and Mrs. Harrison will think I’ve fallen down a well. She’s expecting me to help her set up a filing system.”

  Cass helped Miss Theodora into the buggy while Alfred gathered up the reins and waited for her to signal that she was ready to go. At the last minute, the old woman reached out and put her hand on Cass’s shoulder. She didn’t say a word, only looked into his eyes and smiled. “In the event that you don’t know very much about gardening, perhaps I should tell you that one plants bulbs in the fall if one expects to enjoy blossoms in the spring. When the ice finally melts.” She patted his shoulder, then sat back and called out to Alfred that she was ready to go.

  On the Sunday morning of Friendship Home’s public open house, Juliana woke with a familiar glimmer of anticipation that had little to do with the day’s events. He’s in love with you. She’d awakened to that thought nearly every morning since Caroline Harrison had said the words. As the days went by and Cass continued to be absent from her life, though, Juliana began to wonder if Caroline was merely a romantic who had jumped to a conclusion based on little more than a shared piece of blackberry pie. And yet … she dared to hope.

  As she slipped out of bed and padded across the room to open the bedroom drapes, Juliana pushed thoughts of Cass from her mind and focused on the day at hand. Please, Lord. Today of all days, we need sunshine. With her first view of the autumn prairie, she looked to heaven and said, “Thank You. This is the day that You have made, and I rejoice and am glad in it.” The words to the hymn that had come to mean so much to her in recent days came to mind. “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.”

  Humming to herself, Juliana dressed for the day. And what a day it would be. Welcoming citizens to see what the committee had done—with God’s help. And seeing Cass. First at church and later at Friendship Home. She smiled at herself in the dressing mirror.

  Juliana and the aunts had just slid into their pew at St. John’s when Cass rose from his place beside his mother and headed their way. At least that’s what Juliana thought was happening. But Cass only said a brief hello on his way to speak with Pastor Taylor, who had just stepped into the sanctuary from the vestibule. Chiding herself for thinking like a schoolgirl with a crush, Juliana ducked her head and didn’t look up when Cass passed behind them on his way back to sit with his family.

  At the close of his sermon, Pastor Taylor surprised everyone by inviting Cass up to the podium to make an announcement. Juliana glanced at the aunts. Both gave little shrugs. I don’t know.

  Cass stepped up on the stage and cleared his throat. “First, I have the honor of reminding you all that Friendship Home’s doors open to the public for the first time this afternoon. Those of us who have been personally involved in the project hope that you will come and see what your generous support has created.” He paused. “But before you depart for Friendship Home, it is my joyous task to invite you to linger and witness the marriage of my sister, Miss Sadie Gregory, to Mr. Ludwig Meyer.” When he motioned for Sadie and Ludwig to stand, applause erupted.

  Juliana saw Sadie blush and duck her head. But then she raised a hand and gave a little wave in her brother’s direction.

  “My mother and sister have prepared a light lunch, and we invite you to celebrate with us in the fellowship hall downstairs right after the ceremony. And I am reminded to emphasize that Mrs. Nash’s famous angel food cake will be served.”

  Laughter rippled through the congregation as Pastor Taylor stepped back up to the podium. “We will reconvene after a short recess of ten minutes or so to give those who cannot remain a chance to depart. Now, brothers and sisters, shall we pray.” He bowed his head, thanking God for what he called the “privilege of celebration.” He mentioned the blessing of sunshine and the completed Friendship Home, and asked God’s blessing on it. And then he praised God for creating love and for bringing Miss Gregory and Mr. Meyer together.

  The moment the pastor said amen, the sanctuary was abuzz wit
h conversation. Lutie Gleason, seated in her usual pew in front of Cass’s family, leaned over and gave Sadie a hug. Juliana caught Cass’s eye and smiled. During the ten-minute interlude, no one left.

  When it came time for the ceremony, Pastor Taylor called everyone back to attention by leading them in a hymn as Cass and Mr. Meyer, Sadie and her mother filed up to stand before him. The ceremony took only a few minutes, and then Pastor Taylor had the couple turn and face the congregation so that he could introduce Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Meyer.

  There was more applause as the newlyweds exited the sanctuary, leading the way to the fellowship hall. It took more than a few minutes for everyone to make their way down the narrow stairs. True to her nature, Aunt Lydia wasn’t content with a handshake. When the Suttons finally got their turn to congratulate everyone, she hugged Cass and Ludwig, Sadie, and Margaret, beaming with joy as she wished Sadie happiness.

  “You know everyone here wishes only the best for you two,” she said. “Everyone stayed. They all wanted to share in this happy occasion.”

  Sadie grinned. “More likely everyone wanted some of Ma’s angel food cake.”

  They all shared a laugh, and then Cass excused himself from the receiving line and drew Juliana aside. “Wonderful as Ma’s angel food cake is, I’m guessing you would like to be on your way out to Friendship Home to make preparations. I’d be honored to drive you out. We rented a buggy this morning, but Sadie and Ludwig are just walking over to the train station and heading home to Roca. They already have everything moved in. And Ma said she’d get a ride down to Friendship Home with Mrs. Gleason, who offered to help with cleanup here.”

  Juliana hesitated. She shouldn’t be deserting her aunts. “We have to go back by the house to fetch some framed prints they want to hang before the doors open.”

  Aunt Theodora overheard. “How kind of you, Mr. Gregory. My sister and I can help with cleanup and bring both ladies out with us in the town coach. The two of you can stop by the house and pick up the mottoes.” She smiled up at Cass. “You won’t mind helping Juliana hang them, will you? I’ll bring a plate of angel food cake for the two of you to share later.”