Kendrick

by Zina Abbott

  Caroline giggled. “Oh, Mama doesn't think well of almost everyone. That's nothing new.”

  Charlotte lifted a pointer finger. “Besides, Mama doesn't need to know all the details. We certainly won't tell her...”

  “... because with Aunt Lydia working here to help take care of Madeline…”

  “...it means we’ll be able to come over and visit her more often while you’re gone.”

  Caroline turned to Kendrick with a reassuring expression. “Although, we’ll still come in the morning and help you get Madeline dressed and fed for the day.” Realizing what she had said, she clapped a palm over her mouth and turned to her sister, who now stood with her hand on her hips and a frown on her face. “I wasn't supposed to say anything about that, was I? Sorry.”

  Her mouth hanging open and eyes wide, Lydia focused her gaze on Kendrick. “Mr. Denham? What is she talking about? Have you been allowing my nieces to come into your house unescorted?”

  Kendrick heaved a sigh and rubbed his forehead with his fingertips. How was he going to get out of this one? “Well, ma'am, I didn't exactly allow them. I heard someone knocking on my back door a couple of mornings ago. When I opened up to see who was there, the pair of them burst inside before I could stop them. They immediately took over caring for the baby. I would have had to bodily toss them out of my house to get them to leave.” Kendrick cleared his throat. “Mrs. Meyer, in case you’re not aware of this, your nieces are a force to be reckoned with.”

  A hint of a smile appeared on Lydia's face. “Yes, Mr. Denham, I’m quite aware of that. However, I fear that kind of conduct can ruin their reputations.”

  “As I warned them more than once, ma'am.”

  Charlotte jammed a fist onto her cocked hip. “You two are making far too much of it. After all, Caro and I were properly chaperoned.”

  Caroline nodded in response. “Yes, I chaperoned her, and she chaperoned me. So, you see, there was really nothing to be concerned about.”

  Kendrick turned to Jeb, whom he saw watched this scene while wearing an amused grin. Kendrick sent the man a glare, which if it contained knives, would have sliced the stoutest man to shreds. Don’t you dare repeat this to anyone.

  Jeb threw up his hands in surrender and then clapped one of them over his lips.

  Her gaze focused on the girls, Lydia smiled and shook her head. “I'm afraid most people would not look at it that way, my dears, especially not your mother. You mustn't do that anymore.”

  Expressions of dismay appeared on the faces of both Charlotte and Caroline. They looked at one another before they turned back to their aunt. Caroline spoke first. “But, Aunt Lydia, if we don't do that…”

  “... how will Mr. Denham have time to take care of Madeline and get ready to open up his business on time?”

  “He needs us…”

  “... and so does Madeline.” With that, Charlotte walked over to the crib and lifted a now-awake Madeline into her arms. “Good morning, Madeline. How was your morning nap?” She stopped and sniffed the baby’s soakers. “Ew, she’s wet.” Holding Madeline under the armpits, she swung her toward Caroline. “Do you want to change her this time, or do you want me to?”

  Kendrick, fearing what would come next, sprinted toward the door leading to his kitchen. “You ladies stay right here. I’ll bring a dry diaper to you.”

  Caroline twisted her body toward the door as she took Madeline from her sister. “Remember to bring the oilcloth.”

  Within seconds, Kendrick returned.

  Caroline grabbed the dry diaper and tossed it over one shoulder.

  Charlotte took the oilcloth and spread it over the end of the meat counter.

  Caroline next placed Madeline on her back, her feet toward the side edge. “Hold onto her, Lottie, so she doesn’t slip off. Aunt Lydia, do you mind holding the wet soakers and diaper until I finish and can take them to the bucket outside?”

  Kendrick cleared his throat. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll take Madeline’s wet clothes and toss them into the bucket. You girls stay out here with your aunt.”

  Caroline handed him the damp wool. “Here you go. And, when you come back from taking these outside, please bring another set of knit pants with you.”

  “I’ll see if I can find some. If they were only damp, I put them on the line to dry. However, I think I’m about out.”

  Charlotte turned to Kendrick. “You mean to say you haven’t washed her clothes yet? Even with as many diapers and nice gowns for Madeline that you have, babies need to have their clothes washed every day or so.”

  Kendrick cringed upon hearing her indignant tone of voice.

  Lydia stepped over and gently placed her hand on Charlotte’s arm. “Lottie, dear, it isn’t your place to tell Mr. Denham how to manage his affairs.”

  Charlotte huffed in resignation. “What you mean is, I’m acting like Mama again.” She turned to Kendrick. “Sorry, Mr. Denham, but you really do need to wash Madeline’s things often enough she doesn’t run out.”

  Kendrick rubbed his forehead with his fingertips. “You’re right, I haven’t washed Madeline’s clothes yet.” He glanced at Lydia, unsure what he should think about her. He had anticipated her being a harridan like her sister. Instead, she had displayed a gentle personality from the time she had entered his shop. “I had no idea how many clothes a baby would go through in a day. I planned to do her laundry this Sunday, since I’m only open for a few hours in the morning. Besides, I’ve only had her two days.” He glanced around the room. Now holding two wet items of clothing, compliments of Madeline, he turned toward the door leading to his kitchen. “I’ll be back with dry britches for her, if I can find some.”

  After retrieving the pair of wool soakers he had clipped to the line that morning which were already dried, Kendrick returned and handed the clothing to Caroline.

  Caroline slipped them over Madeline’s diaper.

  Charlotte picked the baby up while Caroline began to fold the oilcloth.

  Guessing her intent, Kendrick stepped forward and held out his hand for the oilcloth. “I’ll take that in back. You ladies stay out front.” Kendrick returned, his gaze first settling on Madeline. She had been with him only two days, but already, the sight of her warmed a place deep within him. He smiled at her.

  Madeline responded with a chortle as she leaned her body towards him and held out her arms to be taken. He reached for her and pulled her into his embrace. When he patted her back, she rested her cheek against his shoulder and tucking the top of her head under his chin.

  “You look mighty comfortable being a papa, Kendrick. I think you did decide to keep her.”

  Reluctant to admit the degree to which he had grown attached to Madeline, Kendrick turned to Jeb. “Like I said, for now.” He shook his head. “I don't know all the reasons why her mother chose me, a lowly shopkeeper, over someone who has far more money or a fancier house for her to live in. I’ll take care of her for now, but she does need more than me—she needs a family.”

  Kendrick hesitated as he watched the two Thompson girls look at each other and one of their mutual understandings passed between them. He could almost hear them scheming. A sense of dread welled up within him. If those two girls were not up to something now, they shortly would be.

  Wide-eyed with a look of innocence, Caroline smiled at Kendrick. “Don’t worry about finding Madeline a family, Mr. Denham. We’ve already got that figured out.”

  “No meddling, girls. You need to let Mr. Denham work this out on his own.”

  Kendrick smiled at the note of warning in Lydia’s voice.

  “Oh, we won’t meddle, Aunt Lydia.” Caroline turned to Kendrick. “We won't be able to come early tomorrow morning, Mr. Denham. With it being Saturday, Mama doesn't hold school. She'll be keeping a much closer eye on us—most of the day...”

  “…and Mama is bound to have chores for us, plus she’ll want us to watch our brothers while she goes shopping.”

  “She’ll probably expect us to wa
tch Cole and Will, too, even though Eddie and Cole are old enough to watch our brother Jimmy and our cousin Will…”

  “…but Aunt Lydia will be free to come work for you, at least in the morning, as long as no one says too much and Mama thinks she’s cleaning the house. Papa is busy with his work all the time, but he always comes home Saturday night…”

  “…and he comes to church with us every Sunday morning. We have a big Sunday supper afterward. Sometimes, he waits until Sunday night before he has to go back to the office to catch up on his work…

  “…but sometimes he has to leave in the middle of the afternoon. Either way, Mama insisted we stay around and spend time together as a family. I suppose that will mean she expects Aunt Lydia and the cousins to be there, too.”

  “We sure miss Papa with him being gone so much. I wish he could spend more family time with us through the week.”

  The wistful tone of Caroline’s sigh touched a soft spot in Kendrick’s heart. Simon Thompson had found a way to escape his wife’s continual verbal onslaughts most days of the week, but it sounded like his children paid the price.

  Charlotte turned to her sister and shook her head. “It does no good to wish, Caro. Papa is very busy with his work so that he can provide a nice home for us. You know how many times we've overheard him tell that to Mama.”

  “I know. Sometimes, I can’t help but think there’s more to it.” Her gaze sought out Kendrick’s. “We won’t be able to come Sunday morning, either, Mr. Denham. Mama will insist we go to church. Aunt Lydia, Cole, and Will are coming with us. But you’ve probably figured out how to bathe and dress Madeline by now.”

  Jeb burst out laughing.

  Kendrick shot him a warning glare. Figured out how to bathe and dress Madeline? That was the first day’s lesson—with no help from Jeb.

  “Maybe we'll see both of you both at church this Sunday.”

  Kendrick stared at the twins. Take Madeline to church? He cleared his throat. “With her still being a baby, I hadn’t considered taking Madeline to church. I don't know how she’ll behave around a room full of people.” I don’t know how the good church-going people of this town would behave around her, but I can just imagine.

  Folding her arms, Charlotte locked her gaze on his. “She slept all right while you were selling meat to your customers today, didn’t she? She didn’t wake up until after we got here.”

  Charlotte stepped over and tickled Madeline’s ribs. “Isn’t that right, Madeline?”

  The baby giggled and squirmed.

  Wearing a determined expression, Caroline stared at Kendrick. “You need to start taking Madeline to church.”

  Kendrick swallowed. He looked over at Jeb, who questioned him with a flicker of his eye. If you’re wondering what I’m going to do, Jeb, you’ll have to wait until I figure it out myself.

  Charlotte tapped her lips as she looked off to the side. “Caro, perhaps it would be best if Mr. Denham takes Madeline to the Methodist Episcopal Church South instead of where we attend.”

  Caroline sucked in her breath. “But, the pastor at that church supports slavery. That’s why Mama likes to go to the Methodist Church North.”

  Charlotte shook her head and sniffed. “No, Mama likes to go to the Methodist Church North because that's where her good friend, Mrs. Pender, goes to church.”

  Caroline rolled her eyes. “Lottie’s right. She and Mama are just alike.”

  Kendrick laughed, determined to keep his tone light-hearted. “I'm sure it doesn’t take much for your mother to have plenty to say about my situation to anyone who will listen.”

  “Oh, to be certain. We overheard her tell Papa how Madeline's mother is a whore, and that you are a man without morals for having spent time with her and being Madeline's father.”

  Lydia slapped her hand to her chest to suppress a choke. “Girls, I know you are just repeating what you’ve heard. You probably don’t know the meaning of the word, but….”

  The girls both looked over at their aunt.

  Caroline smiled. “Oh, we know what the word means. We looked it up in the dictionary.”

  Charlotte nodded. “We just haven’t figured out yet if it’s one we can say in front of Mama.”

  Kendrick and Lydia yelled in unison. “No!”

  Charlotte, her eyebrow raised in a challenge, turned to the woman. “Honestly, Aunt Lydia? We really can’t say that word? It was in the dictionary."

  Lydia shook her head. “That has no bearing on the matter. It would be best if you don’t say it again.”

  Caroline scrunched her face. “Mr. Denham, If you don't want us to use that word for Madeline’s mother, what one should we use? Is prostitute better?”

  Kendrick cleared his throat. “Ladies, I think there is something that we need to clear up. I prefer that you not use any of those words to refer to Madeline's mother. From what I understand, she might have been a fallen woman, but it’s possible circumstances in her life put her there. I’d rather not judge.” Judge others like we want to be judged—isn’t there something like that in the Holy Bible? I can’t afford to judge her.

  Her hand on her hip, Charlotte snorted. “Mama sure judges.”

  Kendrick sucked in a deep breath. “Perhaps I should make some things clear. If you girls wish to continue seeing Madeline, and if your aunt wishes to work for me, you must abide by a few rules. First, I will not allow you to say anything bad about Madeline's mother. And—" Kendrick paused and looked down at the baby in his arms. “Second, I will admit that I have not always behaved like a God-fearing gentleman the way I should have during my life. However, it has been a long time since I have conducted myself in such a manner that could have resulted in me being responsible for getting a woman with child. Although her mother did name me as Madeline's father, I did not father Madeline. I have no idea who did.”

  Both Caroline and Charlotte, their lips parted, stared at him.

  Caroline spoke first. “You mean, you aren’t really her papa? She has dark hair and eyes, just like you.”

  A scowl on her face, Charlotte challenged Kendrick. “Don’t you want to be Madeline’s papa?”

  “It’s not that.” Kendrick inhaled through his nostrils, every fiber of his being aware Lydia witnessed this entire scene. “Madeline was given to me, I believe, with the intent that I be her papa. I’m just not sure I’m the best person to provide a family for her. For the time being, I’ll take care of her the best I can. Part of that is to see that others do not look down on her or blame her for something she couldn’t control.”

  Charlotte shook her head. “We’re not like Mama. We would never blame Madeline for anything.” She stepped toward Kendrick and reached for the baby.

  Madeline responded with a giggle and willingly leaned toward Charlotte’s open arms.

  Kendrick glanced at Lydia. The twins were accepting of Madeline. Did she believe him, or, like her sister, did she assume the worst? He saw no judgment in her demeanor, only acceptance—that, and perhaps a touch of amused frustration over the antics of her nieces. Dared he hope for the best? Was she still willing to help him with the baby?

  Wide-eyed with curiosity, Caroline turned toward Madeline and then back to Kendrick. “Did you know Madeline's mother?”

  Kendrick stared over her head as he considered how to respond. “I did meet her once, but I didn't know who she was at the time. She came to my shop about two months ago and ended up buying two chickens.”

  Rocking Madeline side to side, Charlotte raised both eyebrows, a challenge in her gaze. “That was the only time you saw her or spent any time with her?”

  “Yes. I understand she lived in Sonora. I never saw her there or knew anything about her until she came here.”

  The two girls looked at each other for several seconds, and then Charlotte turned back to him. “We don't know much about how babies come into being, but even we know it takes longer than two months make a six-month-old baby.”

  Kendrick clamped his teeth together to keep himself
from saying something he would regret. You’d have a pretty good idea if you had been raised on a farm instead of in town.

  Caroline nodded. She studied Kendrick, her brow crease as if puzzling something out. “If you weren’t Madeline’s father, why did Madeline’s mother come see you two months ago? Just to buy chickens?”

  “Maybe she knew she was dying. She might have been looking for a good man she could name as the baby's father, one who would take care of the baby once she passed on. From what I recall Kendrick telling me at the time, she was already sick, even back then.”

  Until the man spoke up, Kendrick had almost forgotten that Jeb was still in his shop.

  With thoughtful expressions, both the girls turned to look at Jeb. They slowly rotated back to face Kendrick. Charlotte's face wore a look of curiosity, while Caroline’s expression revealed her concern.

  “What was wrong with her?”

  Caroline voiced the question Kendrick guessed was on both their minds.

  Kendrick shrugged and shook his head. “I don't know. At the time, I thought she might have bronchitis or was getting over pneumonia. I have no idea what caused her to be sick, just like I don't know what she died of.”

  A challenge in her voice, Charlotte turn to Kendrick. “Are you going to find out?

  Kendrick studied the girls as he considered her question. “I hadn't thought about it. The reason she died doesn't matter.”

  “Maybe she was really sick for a long time and passed on some horrible disease to her baby. Shouldn’t we know so we can find out how to take care of Madeline if she gets sick, too?” Caroline spoke so softly, Kendrick barely heard her. She reached for the baby. After Charlotte relinquished the child to her, she hugged her tight against her bosom.

  Kendrick looked off to the side. The thought had never occurred to him Madeline’s mother could have passed an illness onto her. As he watched the faces of both twins turn mournful at the prospect Madeline might be on the verge of becoming ill, he nodded in agreement. “You may have a good point. I’ll set aside a day next week to go to Sonora and see what I can find out. I also suspect there are some legal matters I need to check into.”