Mail Order Mix Up

by Kirsten Osbourne

  “That’s fine.”

  “Are we going to church this morning?”

  He nodded. “Of course. We’ll go to the same church we married in. There aren’t any others in town, I’m afraid.”

  She moved her eggs around on her plate with her fork. “What will we do after church?” She couldn’t wait to spend her first full day with him. A lazy Sunday together sounded like a perfect way to start their marriage.

  He sighed. “I’m afraid I’ll have to go into work after church. I didn’t get some work done that I was supposed to do yesterday. I’ll have to catch it up today.” He seemed genuinely annoyed he had to spend the day at work.

  She frowned and looked into his face for the first time that morning. “Do you usually work on Sundays?” There wouldn’t even be any servants at home to talk to. Her sister would be spending the day with her new husband. What was she going to do with her day?

  He shook his head. “I try not to. I have some paperwork I need to catch up on. I meant to bring it home so I could work on it here, but I forgot it at the bank in my rush to get everything organized yesterday. It’ll be easier to just do it there than bring it home.”

  “Will you come home for lunch first?” She could fix him something quick and delicious and have him in awe of her cooking skills.

  “I’ll grab something there. I keep crackers and jerky in the office for when I need to skip meals to get things done.”

  She sighed and looked down at her plate. She couldn’t believe their first full day as husband and wife would be spent apart. Why had she pictured days and nights full of him when they’d talked about marriage? She knew he had a business to run, and she shouldn’t be upset. “That’s fine. I’ll make sure I fix something for dinner.”

  He nodded absently. “I should be home by six or six-thirty.”

  She put the breakfast dishes in the sink to soak before going back upstairs to dress for church. She’d have plenty of time to do them later.

  After church, he walked her home, and with an absent kiss on her cheek, he walked back toward the bank. As she watched him go, she wondered if her life would always consist of being alone while he worked. Had she made the right choice?

  She made herself a light lunch, and boiled a chicken that she could debone for the chicken and dumplings she planned on making for dinner. Then she tackled the dirty dishes in the sink, and though it didn’t need it, she got down on her knees and scrubbed the kitchen floor.

  She went upstairs and stripped the bed as well as the bed her sister had slept in while she was there. Changing both sets of sheets, she washed the dirty and hung them on the line. Once that was finished, she stood and looked for something to do. She hated sitting around idly, but on Sundays, even the servants were off, and she was completely alone. She thought about going over to visit with her sister, but she didn’t think Wesley would welcome her presence so early in their marriage because it had gotten off to such a rocky start.

  Finally she curled up in the parlor and read a book on banking she’d found in his study. Maybe if she understood his work better, they could talk about it in the evenings, and he’d be more willing to share his day with her. She was only a few pages in when she realized that it was so dull there was no way she could make herself concentrate on it.

  Wandering around the house, she explored every room, something she hadn’t yet bothered to do. It was a pretty house, and she liked it. There were five bedrooms upstairs, and she knew that there were two servants’ quarters in the back of the house where Mrs. Smith and Alice lived. Alice had mentioned a gardener, who worked there, and she’d seen him a few times, but he didn’t live on the property.

  As she looked around, she searched for something she could clean, but the house was already immaculate. What was she supposed to do with her time?

  She wandered back to the kitchen and removed the chicken from the stove. She’d wait until it was cool before deboning it and making the dumplings. She lifted the chicken out into a bowl and washed the pot. Usually, she’d just use the pot for the dumplings without washing it, but she was so desperate for something to do, she decided to wash it instead.

  She wandered out into the back garden, looking for weeds she could pull. Certainly there was something outside she could do to make the house look nicer. She spotted only one, and pounced on it excitedly, pulling it with a vengeance. Ellen looked carefully but couldn’t find another. She’d so hoped there would be something more to do there.

  Finally at five, she deboned the chicken and mixed up the dumplings. She washed the bowl she’d had the chicken in during that time and remained in the kitchen as the dumplings cooked. The dumplings were done at exactly six, and she was glad they were ready on time. She slipped the pot into the oven to keep them warm, because he could be as late as six-thirty.

  Curling up in the parlor with another book, this one a novel by Mark Twain, she waited for Patrick. Glancing at the clock every five minutes didn’t speed up his arrival she found. She became entranced in the story of a young boy who manipulated people into doing what he needed, but still waited.

  At seven, she glanced at the clock again, and he still wasn’t there. She was thankful she’d had the foresight to put their meal in the oven, but wondered just how late he’d be working. Finally, at just after eight he came into the house, looking tired.

  She didn’t say a word about how late he was but couldn’t help but wonder if things were always going to be this way. It wasn’t a good way to start their marriage. “I’ve got chicken and dumplings keeping warm in the oven.”

  He nodded. “I’m hungry. Thanks.”

  He automatically went into the dining room and sat down, so she removed the pot from the oven and served them each a plate, taking it to him there. She gave him water to drink, because she wasn’t sure what he’d want. She couldn’t help but wonder why she’d been in such a hurry to start a marriage when he was so much more attentive when they were just courting.

  She took her seat to his right and picked up her fork. “Did you get your work done?”

  He nodded. “I finished up the project I told you about, but then remembered there was something else I was supposed to have done before tomorrow morning, so I did that as well.” He took a bite of the chicken. “This is good.”

  She hadn’t really eaten anything yet that day, but found her appetite was gone once again. What happened to the man who had been in a hurry to hold her hand and kiss her on the porch?

  “I’m glad you got it all finished.”

  He sighed. “Well, not all. I’ll need to go to my study for a little while tonight and do the last of it.” He reached out and squeezed her hand as if realizing she was there for the first time. “How was your day?”

  She simply shrugged, not willing to tell him she’d been bored out of her mind and had descended to cleaning things that were already clean so she’d have something to do. “It was okay. I missed you, though.”

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to be here today. Things happen sometimes and I need to take care of them.”

  After dinner, he wandered off to his study, and she took care of the dishes. She wondered if he would always be that way. She hoped not, but she didn’t feel like she had the right to complain. She’d chosen him, and that was that.

  After she finished the dishes, she looked in on him in his study, and he was bent over his desk, writing madly. “I’m going to go on up to bed,” she said. “It’s been a long day.” A long boring day.

  He didn’t even glance up from his work as he said, “I’ll be up soon.”

  She changed into her nightgown and climbed between the sheets staring at the dark ceiling for what felt like hours before she finally drifted off.

  *****

  When Patrick finally finished his work, he glanced at the clock and saw that it was already after midnight. He sighed. It wasn’t the way he’d wanted to start his first day as a married man, but sometimes work had to take priority. He walked up the stairs and tiptoe
d into his bedroom, doing his best not to wake Ellen. Would it be wrong to wake her up?

  He sighed, deciding it would be wrong. He’d practically ignored her all day, and she was sound asleep. There was no way she’d want to make love to a man who would do that on their first day married. He undressed and slipped into bed beside her, pulling her against him and kissing the top of her head. Tomorrow he’d find more time to spend with her, he promised himself.

  Chapter Eight

  Ellen was up before the sun as was her habit the following morning. She was as quiet as possible as she left the room, careful not to wake Patrick. She hadn’t even noticed when he’d finally gotten in bed, so it must have been very late. She went to the kitchen to talk to Alice for a moment like she always did. She sat at the table in the kitchen as the older woman worked.

  “You didn’t have to do the dishes. I always do the dishes from the weekend on Monday mornings.” Alice turned from the stove and gave her a scolding glance.

  “I didn’t really have anything else to do. And I hate to see dishes sitting in the sink. It always makes me feel like I’m neglecting my duties.” She shrugged, half embarrassed that she’d done them, but glad the woman hadn’t noticed she’d scrubbed the kitchen floor as well.

  Alice smiled. “Around here if you leave dishes in the sink, you’re just doing what you’re supposed to do which is leave them for me to take care of.”

  Ellen shrugged. “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do all day. I mean, I don’t know anyone, so I can’t exactly go visit people. You do all the cooking. Mrs. Smith does all the cleaning. There’s a gardener to take care of the outside of the house. What’s my job?” She was getting desperate for something to do, but she tried to keep the anxiousness out of her voice when she asked the question. She thought again about volunteering at the orphanage, but would Patrick have a problem with her doing that so soon after they were married?

  Alice laughed. “I can see you’re not cut out to be the wife of a wealthy man. Maybe you could go visit your sister? Or you could find some volunteer work to do?”

  Ellen bit her lip. “Patrick showed me where Wesley’s house is. I guess I could wander over there this morning and talk to Malinda.” She paused for a moment looking at the older woman. “Do you think he’d mind if I started volunteering so soon after we got married?”

  “I think that’s a good idea.” Alice glanced at the clock. “I’d wait a couple of hours, though. Your sister isn’t exactly an early riser. And no, I don’t think he’d mind at all if you started volunteering right away. Surely he realizes there’s little for you to do at home.”

  Ellen laughed. “No, she isn’t one to get up at the crack of dawn.”

  Patrick came into the kitchen then already dressed for work. “I wondered where you’d disappeared to!” He leaned down and brushed a kiss against her cheek.

  Ellen smiled up at him shyly. “Do you have anything you need me to do today?” Please think of something that needs to be done.

  He looked at her in confusion. “Like what?”

  She sighed. “That’s what I was afraid of. I’m going to go visit Malinda after breakfast.” He didn’t even understand she needed more to do with her time than sit around his house.

  He nodded. “That sounds like fun. I need to go into work a little early this morning.”

  She tried to hide her disappointment. “Will you have time for breakfast first?”

  He looked at the clock on the wall obviously torn. “If we hurry, I will.”

  Alice scooped some fried potatoes and eggs on two plates and added bacon. She handed both plates to Ellen. “Here you go. I’ll bring coffee in.”

  Ellen carried the plates through to the dining room and sat in her regular spot at Patrick’s right. “What time do you think you’ll be home tonight?”

  He shrugged. “I should be home on time, which is around six or six-thirty. If I’m not, go ahead and eat without me.” His mind was obviously already on the day ahead of him.

  Ellen picked up a piece of bacon and bit into it. “Could I bring you lunch to the bank and we could eat together?” She knew she was grasping at straws, but she didn’t want to spend the day alone, and she was sure Malinda didn’t want her underfoot all day.

  He thought about it for a moment, but the shook his head. “I have lunch plans with a client. Maybe tomorrow we can do that.”

  She nodded, trying to keep her resentment inside. Why had he sent off for a wife, when he obviously didn’t want or need one? “That’s fine. Maybe I’ll invite Malinda over here for lunch.”

  “Sounds like a fine idea. I’m glad your sister is here in town. She’ll be good company until you have time to make friends with some of the other ladies in town.”

  Ellen took a bite of her eggs. She shouldn’t be upset, she knew. Most of the men she knew worked all day and spent only an hour or two with their wives in the evenings. Why had she expected anything different?

  He finished his last bite and stood, leaning down to briefly kiss her on the cheek. “Have a good day.”

  “You too.” She watched him leave and picked up her plate of breakfast that was only half gone. How could she eat when her marriage was already falling apart after only one day? Shouldn’t they be doing their best to spend every waking moment together, instead of each of them rushing off to their own activities? Not that she had any activities to rush off to.

  She took both plates into the kitchen for Alice, and then went upstairs and made the bed. Mrs. Smith had told her last week that she didn’t mind if she kept her own room clean, so she was going to continue on that way. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was a little after seven. Surely if she walked over to Malinda’s she’d be awake by the time she got there.

  She went into the kitchen to let Alice know she was leaving. Alice glanced at the clock and gave her a look. “Malinda isn’t going to like it if you wake her.”

  “I’m sure she’s up by now. She has to get Wesley’s breakfast now!” At least she hoped she was. If her sister was still in bed at this hour after the rocky start their marriage had, she deserved to be horsewhipped.

  Alice just nodded skeptically. “Have a nice visit. Will you be back for lunch?”

  “I’m not sure. If I am, I can make something for myself.” She shrugged, not really worried about what she’d eat. She’d barely eaten anything for two days anyway. She was certain her appetite wasn’t going to suddenly come back while she was with her sister.

  Alice shook her head. “What are we going to do with you, Ellen? You’re going to have to get used to others doing for you.”

  Ellen shrugged. “I’m not sure if that’s possible.” She grinned and waved as she went out the door.

  She took her time walking across the small town, trying to give Malinda a little extra time to wake up. She hoped her sister had relented and apologized to Wesley, but was relatively certain she hadn’t. Malinda was never good about admitting when she was wrong.

  She knocked softly on the door of the sheriff’s house, just in case her sister was still asleep. Malinda came to the door immediately. She threw her arms around Ellen. “I’m so glad you’re here!” Malinda grabbed Ellen’s hand and pulled her into the house and back to the kitchen. “He wants me to make fried chicken for lunch, and I have no clue how to fry a chicken. You always did it at home.”

  Ellen laughed. “It’s good to be needed for something!” She looked at the whole chicken lying on the counter and the mess from breakfast still scattered everywhere. And were those dishes from last night’s dinner in the sink? How had her sister been raised in the same house she had? “We need to start by getting the kitchen cleaned. I’ll wash and you dry.” She happily warmed some water on the stove to do the dishes with. “So how are things going?”

  Malinda burst into tears. “He hates me. I told him I was sorry I asked for time before we consummated the marriage, and he said if he was that repulsive to me, then he didn’t want to touch me.”

  Ellen
shook her head. She wanted to tell her sister she’d brought it on herself, but she knew the words would do no good. “Well, let’s make him the best lunch he’s ever eaten, and you can beg his forgiveness.”

  “You think it’s all my fault, don’t you!”

  Ellen shrugged. She did think the problems were her sister’s fault, but she wasn’t going to tell her that. As the younger sister, she’d been cossetted more than she should have, and she needed to figure out what her husband needed and get things going well. She stuck her hands into the hot water and began scrubbing the dishes clean. As Ellen handed each dish to her sister, Malinda dried it and put it away.

  Once they were done with the dishes, she showed her sister how to cut up a chicken and how to make the batter for it. “Fried chicken is really very simple. It’s a flour based coating and we’ll just add a few spices to season it.” Once the chicken was coated, she asked, “Are you going to make potatoes with it?”

  Malinda’s eyes widened. “I have to make something with it?”

  Ellen laughed. “Where have you been all these years while we cooked together?” She stared at her sister in amazement. “Have we ever served only meat for a meal with no side dishes?”

  “I’ve been doing whatever you told me to do. I’ve never really planned a meal or done it on my own. You were always there telling me what to do every single step of the way.”

  “I’m sorry. I should have made sure you knew how to do more things around the house.” Ellen hadn’t really considered that. Her sister had always done everything she’d told her to do, but she’d never taken the initiative to do things on her own. Was it simply because she had no idea what to do?

  Malinda shrugged. “I’ll make mashed potatoes. I know how to do that.”

  “Do you have any vegetables in the cellar?” Ellen looked around for the trap door for the cellar she was certain was around somewhere.

  “Cellar?”