Bound By Grace

by Amber Stockton

  “Yes. But Grace was so excited to come see you again, and we had today free, so we decided to come.”

  “That’s not true, Uncle Richard,” Grace said. “You asked if I wanted to come today because you couldn’t focus on your work.”

  Amusement danced across Charlotte’s face. Richard shrugged and held out his hands in a hopeless gesture. What else could he do?

  “I suppose it’s a good thing I decided not to bring my lunch with me today.” Charlotte glanced at the picnic basket hanging from Grace’s chair. “I see you came prepared despite the change of days. So now that you are both here, shall we proceed as originally planned?”

  “Do you not have to close your shop?”

  “No. I haven’t had a customer in the past thirty minutes, and this is usually when I take time to have lunch, so there shouldn’t be anyone coming until later this afternoon.”

  Richard nodded. “Very well, then. I believe we’ll allow Grace to lead the way.”

  The three of them crossed the street and headed straight for the park. Grace chattered away as Richard pushed her chair, but her voice and words became nothing but noise with each step they took. His attention remained on Charlotte.

  The way she’d swept up her hair gave her a more feminine appearance overall. Not that she lacked femininity in any way. Her gown hugged her trim form nicely, and the rosy shade complemented her complexion. Richard mentally compared her to some of the women he encountered at social engagements back home and in Philadelphia. He sometimes spent more time there than at the shipyards in Wilmington. But those women were besotted with their appearance, and he was grateful Charlotte didn’t seem obsessed with having the tiniest waist or the gown with the most frills. No, she had substance to her yet remained trim and healthy.

  A second later, Charlotte turned and caught him staring. He quickly averted his gaze and looked straight ahead. From the corner of his eye, he caught her slow grin, but he held the answering one back from his own lips.

  “I like this spot. Right here,” Grace announced. “Let’s set up our picnic on the grass under the tall oak.”

  Richard glanced at Charlotte. “Will that meet with your approval?”

  “Of course,” she replied, not really looking at him. She stepped in front of Grace so that the girl could see her. “Grace, you picked a beautiful location.”

  His niece beamed at the praise. Charlotte was right. The place was perfect. Just enough shade, not a lot of passersby on this particular path, and near enough to the creek to hear the water rushing over the rocks.

  In no time, they had the checkered blanket spread on the ground and the food set out for lunch.

  “What an amazing meal your cook has prepared!”

  “Yes,” Richard replied, “she does tend to overdo it, or outdo herself, whichever the case may be.”

  “I smelled that fried chicken the entire carriage ride and all the while the basket hung on the back of my chair.” Grace pouted, looking much younger than her eleven years. “Can we please eat now?”

  “Of course.” Richard gestured for Charlotte to take a seat, and he lowered himself on the other side of his niece. “Would you like to bless the food, Grace?”

  “Yes.” The girl bowed her head and closed her eyes, folding her hands in her lap. “Dear Jesus, thank You for the beautiful day You gave us and for the delicious food our cook has made for us to enjoy. I’m especially grateful for Miss Pringle joining us for lunch and a walk in the park. Please help us to have fun and for Uncle Richard to behave himself. Amen.”

  Charlotte giggled and remained with her head bowed.

  “Just what was that all about, young lady?” Richard tried to sound firm, but the innocent expression on his niece’s face made it impossible.

  “Sometimes you make jokes, and other people don’t understand them. Or you try too hard to get people to like you. Miss Pringle already does, or she wouldn’t be here with us today. And you know I love you.” She shrugged. “So I prayed for Jesus to help you be yourself.”

  Spoken from the mouth of a babe, just as Scripture stated in the book of Matthew. He should listen more to his niece. It might help him avoid embarrassment. Of course in this case, it only made the embarrassment worse.

  “So shall we eat?” he asked, holding up the plate of fried chicken to Charlotte. It was easier to move things along than dig himself a deeper hole.

  Charlotte had her lips pressed in a thin line, no doubt attempting to hold back the mirth caused by Grace’s prayer. It didn’t bother Richard. His niece meant no harm, and he’d rather let Charlotte see the real him than some fake version with the real self buried several layers deep. She seemed to appreciate it and find enjoyment in it as well. And that set the tone for their meal rather nicely.

  “Tell me, Grace,” Charlotte said once they had served themselves food. “You have read ten or eleven books from my shop. Which one was your favorite, and why?”

  Richard had discussed this topic with Grace many times, so he mentally removed himself from the conversation and once again observed Charlotte. She seemed so at ease with Grace. Their interaction was effortless and natural. He was pleased to see his niece warm up to Charlotte so easily. Then again, Grace warmed easily to folks, and almost everyone had trouble resisting her infectious personality.

  Propping himself on his left side, Richard enjoyed watching the two interact as he ate his lunch. Every once in a while, Charlotte stole a glance in his direction, and he smiled in return. But for the most part, she remained focused on Grace, giving the girl her undivided attention. And Grace relished it. She needed a younger female influence in her life again. Richard wouldn’t mind at all if that person was Charlotte. He had to get these two together more often.

  ❧

  Charlotte kept her legs tucked beneath her and relaxed her pose as she looked up at Grace. The way the tall oak formed a canopy above them lent a sense of privacy to their little lunch. She wished she owned one of those cameras she’d seen a few times. It could capture this moment and preserve it forever as a photograph. But all those chemicals, and the fragile glass plates. Not to mention lugging the various parts of the contraption around. It was likely more trouble than it was worth. She’d just have to stick with preserving the memory in her mind.

  She smiled at Grace. “So Little Women is your favorite?”

  “I just finished that one on the way to and from my last visit to the doctor.” Grace ate her last bite of lemon meringue pie, wiped her mouth, and folded her napkin in her lap, placing her hands on top.

  “Was that appointment any better than the others?” Charlotte loved discussing books with Grace, but she also wanted to hear about the chances of the young girl walking again.

  Grace looked at her uncle, who nodded. Some unspoken communication took place between them, an understanding to which Charlotte wasn’t privy. Again, she marveled at the closeness the two obviously shared. Their relationship prior to the accident must have been special for that bond to have solidified so quickly. She’d met others in similar circumstances, and sometimes the ones thrown together never fully developed an intimate relationship.

  “Well, the one before this one was. We heard something new that time,” Grace began with hesitation.

  “And what was that?” Charlotte asked. “Good news, I hope.”

  “We aren’t sure,” the girl said with a tinge of dejection. “The doctor said he thinks there is a chance for me to walk again. And he repeated that at this appointment, too.”

  Praise God!

  “That is wonderful!” she said aloud. But Grace didn’t appear to share her enthusiasm. “Why do you not seem to be happy about hearing this?”

  Again Grace looked to her uncle before answering. “Because I have to have an operation, and it’s very expensive.”

  That shouldn’t be a problem. From his tailored clothing, to his personal carriage complete with a driver and footman, down to his mannerisms and speech, Richard had demonstrated signs that money was n
ot an issue. And he had to have substantial funds to be able to keep taking Grace to these special doctors so often. Unless of course, the money came from a trust fund for Grace, dispensed following the death of her parents. Still, if she had that, surely they could use those resources to cover the operation. From the looks on both their faces, though, that didn’t seem to be an option. Charlotte wanted to learn more, but she wouldn’t be discourteous by asking.

  “Yes, from what I have heard, operations do cost a great deal of money.”

  Richard leaned forward to lend his input to the conversation. “The profits from our family’s shipping business have been tied up in the transfer of ownership. I have been working on the details every day amidst overseeing the day-to-day running of the business. But some legal issues and personal concerns are causing several problems.” He ran his hand across his face. “I am trying to solve them, but each day that passes is one more day from the accident.”

  He didn’t have to say more. With each passing day, the chances grew slimmer for a successful operation. Something like that shouldn’t be stated in front of Grace, but the girl had likely figured it out on her own. The hope in her eyes had dimmed almost immediately after mentioning the operation. And the anguish on Richard’s face only made the situation more hopeless. Compassion filled Charlotte.

  She wished she could do something. But what? Any extra money she had went right back into the bookshop, paying the rent or restocking books. She didn’t have much left over, let alone enough to help with an expensive operation. And she certainly couldn’t ask her father for help. He’d already established a dowry along with her inheritance, but both of those were off limits until she married.

  “Isn’t there a way for you to pay for the operation in smaller amounts over time?” Charlotte ran through possible scenarios in her mind. “I would think it prudent for the hospital and doctor to work with you. At least that way, they would know the money is coming.”

  Richard nodded. “We did discuss that with the doctor, but their policy is payment in full at the time of services rendered.” He massaged an area just above his eyes. “So we departed with the promise we would look into the matter and get back to him as soon as possible.”

  “And this doctor is your only option? No other doctors perform this operation who might have a different payment policy?” They no doubt had gone through all the options, but Charlotte refused to believe the situation was this hopeless.

  “The only other doctors who have ever had success with this procedure live in Chicago, New York, and St. Louis.” Richard’s mouth drooped into a frown. “At this critical juncture with the family business, we simply cannot afford to make a journey of that distance. And even if we did, we have no guarantee their policy would be any different.”

  “That’s why we have to wait,” Grace said.

  Her quiet yet despondent tone sounded like all her hope had shattered. Charlotte longed to put a smile back on the girl’s face, but how? It was her fault she’d led them down this path in their conversation. The picnic had been going so well up to that point. They’d laughed, talked about books, shared a delicious meal, and enjoyed each other’s company. She had to make things right.

  “Look on the bright side,” Charlotte began. “At least while you wait, you can enjoy the fun of a wheeled chair to help you get around. I must confess, many days I wish I could ride in one. . .especially down a hill. It would be almost like sledding, only not as cold.”

  A little squeak of a giggle escaped Grace’s lips, and her eyes showed a faint glimmer of brightness. Charlotte smiled, hoping they were on their way toward more lighthearted topics. She wouldn’t forget about their need for funds, but right now, she wanted to enjoy the time they shared.

  “Actually, Grace has already experienced the fun of a hill not too far from where we live.” A sheepish grin showed on Richard’s face. “Of course, that little ride wasn’t intentional.”

  Grace covered her mouth with one hand and laughed. “No, but it was fun.” She cast a loving and forgiving glance at her uncle. “And it wasn’t your fault you forgot to stop the wheels.”

  “You’re right.” Richard offered a crooked grin. “I was still getting used to helping you get around. Everything was all so new to us both.”

  Good. She’d managed to help them get back to more pleasant memories and conversation. “I gather this experience was both memorable and beneficial to future travels.”

  “Yes, I have been overly careful ever since.”

  “Even when I wanted to go for a ride,” Grace added.

  Richard reached for their plates and started to pack them away in the basket.

  “Here,” Charlotte offered, “let me see to that.”

  She reached for a plate at the same time, and their hands touched, two of his fingers covering hers. Charlotte froze and stared at the plate. Richard froze, too, but when she looked up, his gaze was fastened on her, not the plate. She tried to break the hypnotic effect of his warm brown eyes, but it was no use.

  “If you two don’t move faster, we might have to eat what’s left for dinner.”

  Grace’s voice broke the spell, and Richard released the plate. A roguish grin formed on his lips as he handed Charlotte the other plates. He helped her gather the remaining food, and in just a few minutes, they had the meal put away. Once Richard hooked the basket on the back of Grace’s chair, it made the reality of the end of their time together come crashing in like a wave on the sand. Now would be a good time to extend her thanks.

  Charlotte stood and brushed off the loose grass blades from her skirts, sending the dirt to the ground as well. She bent to retrieve her straw hat, set it on her head, and tied the wide ribbon beneath her chin.

  “As much as I have enjoyed our time together, I do have to return to the bookshop.” Charlotte looked at Grace and Richard. “But I hope to see you both again very soon.”

  “Oh!” Grace sat up in her chair. “I almost forgot.” She withdrew an envelope from a little pocket sewn into her dress. After handing it to Charlotte, she continued. “I would like you to come to my birthday party next month. That invitation”—she nodded at the envelope Charlotte now held—“has all the details. Please say you’ll come. And Anastasia is welcome, too.”

  Charlotte turned the envelope over in her hand. She hadn’t expected this. Grace must consider her someone special to invite her to such a personal event. She looked first at Grace then to Richard. His eyes showed his desire for her to join them. How could she turn either one of them down?

  “I would be both pleased and honored to accept. Thank you, Grace.”

  The girl clapped and grinned like the Cheshire Cat in that book by Lewis Carroll.

  “It appears to be settled.” Richard placed both hands on the handles of Grace’s chair. “I’ll be sure to send a carriage for you on the day of the party. I’m not certain we’ll be seeing you again before then, as Grace has a substantial amount of work to complete to wrap up her studies for this year.” He looked down at her just as Grace tipped her head to look up at him.

  “He made me promise to finish it all before the party, or he’d tell everyone the party was canceled.” Her adorable pout gave her a pixie-like appearance.

  Charlotte pressed her mouth into a thin line to avoid laughing. Grace looked so serious.

  “Well, I suppose you’d better head straight home so you can get started. We certainly don’t want a party to be canceled. They are far too much fun.” Charlotte stepped forward until she was nearly toe to toe with Grace. She tipped up the girl’s chin with her forefinger and smiled. “And if I know you, you’ll have everything completed long beforehand. You’ll probably have time left over where you will be twiddling your thumbs, looking for something else to do as you wait.”

  The pout transformed into a smile, and Grace’s entire demeanor changed.

  She tapped the arms of her chair. “Let’s go, Uncle Richard. I want to get started on my studies.”

  Richard mouthed a th
ank-you to Charlotte over Grace’s head. Charlotte nodded. Anything she could do to help.

  “Shall we make our way back to the shop?” Richard invited.

  Charlotte nodded. “I believe we shall.”

  The trio walked along in silence. Only the thumping of the wheels on Grace’s chair against the cobblestone interrupted the stillness. When they reached the front of her shop, Charlotte turned to thank Richard, but the words died in her throat. He looked like he was about to say something. Instead, he stood and shifted from one foot to the other, alternating between licking his lips and looking down at Grace then back up at Charlotte.

  Was he going to say anything or not? She didn’t know. The awkward silence seemed to stretch for several minutes, when in reality it was only a few moments. This was ridiculous. She had to say something.

  “Thank you again for a truly delightful picnic. I very much enjoyed our afternoon together and look forward to coming to your birthday party, Grace.” Charlotte winked. “And I am certain Anastasia will be excited to come, as well.” She turned partway toward her shop then included both Richard and Grace in her parting words. “As much as I wish I didn’t have to leave such charming company, work inside needs my immediate attention. So, I must say good-bye.”

  Whatever Richard might have eventually said never happened. He did sigh though. Perhaps in frustration at being unable to vocalize his thoughts. Charlotte would likely never know.

  “Good-bye, Miss Pringle,” Grace called as Richard steered them toward the path.

  “Good-bye, Grace. Good-bye, Mr. Ba—I mean Richard.”

  He grinned and dipped his head. “Have a nice afternoon, Charlotte. Thank you again for joining us.”

  Charlotte opened the door and headed into her shop. As she shut the door, she looked out the window. After spotting Richard and Grace across the street, she started to turn away but caught Richard pivoting Grace’s chair toward the shop. An enthusiastic wave from the young girl accompanied a reserved but meaningful wave from Richard. She returned the wave and finally began her work.