Choices of the Heart

by Daniels, Julia

As if to emphasize her point, Rosie snatched one of her brother’s blue bandanas and raced off, with him shouting and chasing at her heels.

  “I guess I’m through in the fields for the day. I was almost done when Jacobson came down to get me.” Reese stood and stretched. “You need me to do anything?”

  “Check on Charlie, would you?” She reached up and grabbed his hand.

  “Sure thing.” He bent and kissed her. “I’ll put the sandwiches in the icebox. We’ll have them for supper. I don’t think the boys are hungry at the moment.”

  They were, in fact, running around like crazy beings. Long travel on the train was probably a lot to ask of three young boys. Reese went inside, and Chloe heard him rummaging in the kitchen. Maybe it was a good thing he’d been a bachelor for so many years. He was used to seeing to things around the house.

  “Okay children, come up here now,” Chloe called and clapped, feeling like a schoolteacher instead of a mother.

  She herded them into the house and made them sit at the kitchen table where she could see all of them.

  They would definitely need more chairs; at the moment there was only one unused.

  “I’m going to get my husband. No one move.” She pointed to each one. “We’ll be right back.”

  She walked upstairs where she’d last heard Reese’s footsteps. He was rocking Charlie, softly singing to him. The baby was gurgling, enjoying the attention. She cleared her throat, gently breaking into the room.

  “Hi.” Reese stopped rocking and stood up. He held out the baby. “I changed him already. He’s ready to go.”

  “Let’s go downstairs and meet our boys, shall we?” She took Charlie in her arms and cuddled him to her breast.

  “I’ll change out of these smelly clothes and be down.”

  When she reached the kitchen, it was deserted. She held on to the anger brewing inside and went out the door to find the little rascals. She didn’t have to go far; they were all sitting in a circle on the porch.

  “What are you doing out here?”

  “When Ma was drinkin’, we would all sit in a circle and hold hands. Our grandma told us that God would listen if we prayed together. She was right, but then she died, too. But we found you and your man, so we’re thanking God now.”

  How does a person argue with that?

  She waited as they went around the circle, each chiming in with something they were thankful for. When they had each had their chance, she asked them to join her back at the kitchen table.

  She and Reese exchanged glances, but neither said a word as the children scrambled inside. Chloe waited until they were seated and silent before starting. She had no idea what to say, where to start. She supposed she should at least get their names and ages.

  “Welcome to our home, boys. I want you to know that this is now your home, as well.” She met each of their eyes and then smiled. “Rosie has done very well with us, and so has Charlie. You three will be happy here, too.” She hoped. She had no idea how to make young boys happy.

  “Let’s introduce ourselves, shall we? I’ll start,” she said. “My name is Chloe Anne Lloyd. I was a nurse in Lincoln, a bigger city than Broken Bow, but not as big as Chicago, before we got married.” She glanced at Reese. “I grew up here in Broken Bow. I had one sister who was Bobby’s mama, but she’s in heaven with Bobby’s papa.”

  “My turn?” Reese asked.

  At Chloe’s nod, he started talking. He told the boys who he was, that he was happy they were there, but that they’d be expected to mind their manners, go to school and do some chores.

  “I’m Michael,” the oldest said, when Reese was through. His face scrunched up. “What will my last name be now? Michael what?”

  Reese looked at Chloe, who shrugged. She hadn’t thought that far.

  “You wanna be a Lloyd?” Reese asked.

  “I reckon if I’m gonna be calling you Pop, I best have the same last name, doncha think?”

  Chloe laughed. Quite a logical argument. “And how old are you, Michael Lloyd?”

  “You didn’t say how old you were.”

  “Oh, well, you’re right. But the thing is, Michael, women aren’t supposed to say.”

  “But you’re my ma now, right? Shouldn’t I know how old you are?”

  “Did you know your ma’s age?”

  “Twenty-eight. Her birthday was Christmas Day.”

  “I’m twenty-two. I’ll be twenty-three in just a few weeks,” Chloe said. So, their mother had only been twenty-eight. How could such a young woman drink herself near-to-death?

  “I’m eleven,” Michael continued. “My birthday is Christmas Day, too. We celebrated all our birthdays on Christmas Day. Ma couldn’t ’member when they all were, so we just did ’em at once.”

  How odd. Chloe would have to check the birth certificates.

  “I’m Mark,” the boy sitting next to him said. “I’m nine. And this here’s Lucas.” Mark pointed. “He don’t talk none, but he’s seven.”

  “Ever?” Reese asked.

  “Nope, not ever.”

  Lucas even shook his head no.

  “Rosie, is that true?”

  “Uh-huh. Lucas never talks.” Rosie took a big gulp of lemonade.

  “Michael, Mark and Lucas. That will be easy to remember.” Chloe said. “Have you boys been to school at all?”

  “Some,” Michael answered. “They made Lucas stay home cause he wouldn’t talk. Mark and me went sometimes. Rose was too little.”

  School would be a mostly new thing for them. At least they arrived before the term had gotten too far along. She could get them started right away with their studies. Surely attending classes would help with their transition, help them meet and get to know other children in Broken Bow. She hoped they would be accepted.

  “Are you hungry?”

  They all nodded at Chloe, and she went to the icebox and pulled out the sandwiches she’d made earlier and a pitcher of milk. She’d baked cookies the night before and set those out too.

  “Reece, you best call your Ma,” Chloe said.

  Charlie was fussing, ready for a bottle, so once the food was on the table, Chloe picked up the baby, went out onto the porch to rock and feed him. Enjoy the silence, she told herself. From now on, she had a feeling peace and quiet would be a scarce commodity.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “There, now. That should do it.” Randy Lloyd wiped his hands together and stretched tall, working the kinks from his back. “Everyone, even Charlie, will have their own bed now.”

  “Thanks for the help, Pa,” Reese said.

  “Just don’t be adding any more young’ins for a while. I reckon your ma will have a hard enough time remembering all these kids’ names.” He pulled a rag from a back pocket and wiped his brow. “At least school will be starting soon. Chloe would have too much to do, otherwise.”

  “Did we do the right thing?” Reese hadn’t voiced his concern out loud to anyone until now. To Chloe, he always wanted to seem strong and sure. He was more comfortable letting his guard down with his father.

  “Dang right, you did. You and Chloe will give them kids a fine home. Bobby, too. No need to be second-guessing yourself.” His father slapped him on the shoulder. “Too late anyway.” He laughed as they left the fifth and smallest bedroom in the house.

  They paused in the kitchen, where Chloe was making breakfast. She looked disheveled and sweaty. The whole kitchen was sweltering, with only a small breeze from the windows. With the stove lit, the heat was nearly intolerable.

  “Do you want to stay for breakfast?” she asked her father-in-law with a smile.

  “Best be getting on home. You have enough mouths to feed, as it is.” He patted Chloe’s shoulder and kissed her cheek. “You let us know if you need anything. Ma and I’ll be happy to help.”

  Reese watched him leave then turned to Chloe. “You going into town to register the kids for school today?”

  “I am.” She flipped the bacon and lowered the heat. “Do you ne
ed anything?”

  “I’ll make a list.” He laughed at her expression. “Just a few things from the lumberyard, honey.”

  “Sure.”

  She laughed, and he could tell she was relieved. Surely, having four children tagging along would make getting her own errands done an effort, much less run a bunch of errands for him.

  “I’ll telephone your mother and see if she’ll keep Bobby and Charlie.”

  “I can look after them. Just wait a bit ’til I get the chores done.” He sat at the table and pulled some paper out of his back pocket and a thick pencil from his shirt. “It’s kind of slow right now. Couple weeks we’ll be busy, but it’ll be nice to have the boys to help.”

  Rosie came bouncing into the kitchen to set the table. She readily took the dishes from Chloe and then the silverware. The ritual was becoming just that, second nature. After all the dishes were in the proper place, she scampered off to call the boys.

  “She sure is helpful.”

  “I think she is trying hard to please us, Reese. I think they all are.” Chloe moved the bacon off the stove and onto a plate. The eggs were ready to be put on the table, along with a dozen slices of toast.

  “I heard Michael telling Lucas they all had to be on their best behavior or we might send them away,” Chloe continued. “I told them it wasn’t true, that we were happy with them here.”

  Reese paused in his writing. “Well, I reckon once they get into school, that’ll all change. They’ll feel like a real part of the community.”

  Chloe rested her hands on his shoulders from behind and massaged his tight muscles. Her fingers were like magic, easing the tension away. What had life been like without a wife and six kids? The more time that passed, the more he realized how much he really had missed Chloe’s companionship. Just having her around to talk to made his days happier. He should probably get around to telling her that.

  Footsteps resounded on the wood floor, and soon all the kids came scampering in, crawling up onto their chairs. Pa had brought over another four chairs, and Reese found another leaf for the table, so now everyone had a spot. Only thing was, the table took up so much space, they hardly had room to breathe. And the noise! The only quiet one at the table was Lucas, who still had yet to utter a sound. Except a series of five sneezes. And he snored like a bear at night. But he’d yet to say a word.

  Chloe made sure everyone had food and then took her place across from Reese. When they made eye contact, she winked. Reese smiled inwardly. What a life!

  ~*~

  School registration day held some interesting memories for Chloe. It was the only day she and Daisy ever saw the doctor, and only because the law required a physical. She and her sister looked forward to the few days prior to registering, because they knew Pa wouldn’t be hitting as punishment. He couldn’t chance the doctor noticing any bruises. As Chloe herded her boys and Rosie into the large schoolroom, she pushed the bad memories from her mind. Time to make new memories—happy memories—for all of them.

  She looked around. Not much had changed over the years. Rows and rows of small desks sat empty, arranged before a massive oak one at the front of the room. Bookshelves, full of wonderful tales of mystery and suspense and biographies of famous people lined the walls on either side, broken by two sets of windows. The chalkboard, free of marks and dust, hung ready to be used.

  “Mrs. Rowen! How nice to see you.” Chloe stepped forward and embraced the other woman. “You aren’t still teaching, are you?”

  “Heavens, no.” Mrs. Rowen shook her head and gave Chloe a squeeze. “I’m just helping the teachers settle in. We’ll have two new ones this year. Come this way.” She motioned for Chloe to follow her to the front.

  Chloe’s old teacher took a seat behind the desk at the head of the classroom. A room where Chloe had stared at Reese from afar, until she was old enough to be with him. A room where she’d formulated her hopes and dreams. A room where she was safe from her father and all the ugliness at home. She swallowed back the fear, reminding herself she had lived through it, was probably a stronger person because of all she’d endured.

  “I meant to thank you again for coming to Daisy’s funeral and for the kind words.”

  “I spoke from experience, dear.” Mrs. Rowen laughed. “You chose wisely, too. Reese Lloyd is a very good man. But you already know that.”

  “Yes,” Chloe agreed.

  “I saw you two on the street a couple days back.” Mrs. Rowen giggled. “From the looks of things, not much has changed between the two of you, despite all the years that passed.”

  Chloe laughed to cover her embarrassment over having been caught mooning over her husband.

  “Now, now. That’s a good thing, dear. Love is a firm foundation for any marriage. When your heart is light, it makes everything else easier. Especially raising six children.”

  “If there’s anyone who’d know about what it takes to raise children, it’s you,” Chloe said. Mrs. Rowen had raised four of her own plus took a personal interest in all her students, whom she considered to be more than pupils.

  “Come forward, children.” Chloe turned back to the boys and Rosie with a smile. “This special lady is Mrs. Rowen. She was my teacher for many years when I was young. Your Pa and I both went to school in this very same room. And now all of you will, too.”

  “Welcome.” Mrs. Rowen gave them a wide smile, and the butterflies that had been sitting in Chloe’s stomach suddenly flew away.

  She’d been nervous the children wouldn’t be happy here, but with Mrs. Rowen’s kind, gentle reception, they all smiled.

  “I’m Rosie, ma’am.” Chloe’s only girl stepped forward.

  “Hello, Miss Rosie.” Mrs. Rowen paged through the book sitting in front of her. “I’ll bet you are six years old.”

  Rosie’s mouth dropped open. “How’d ya know?”

  “I’ve been teaching for a long time, child.” She laughed. “Rosie Lloyd.” She wrote the name in her book.

  The boys then introduced themselves and gave their ages. Mrs. Rowen asked about their background and their schooling. She was kind toward them, and they told her what Chloe already knew.

  “Lucas don’t talk, ma’am,” Michael said, ever protective of his brother.

  “Well, he will in time, son.” Mrs. Rowen didn’t even bat an eye. “And you wait until he does. Land’s sake, he’ll have a lot to tell you.” She laughed. “Think of all the tales he’s got stored up in that head of his!”

  Chloe watched Lucas’s face light up.

  “I’m all finished,” Mrs. Rowen said. “If you’ll just head on through those doors at the back, the new doctor can have a looksee.”

  “I’ve been so busy, I forgot about the new doctor!” Chloe said.

  “Oh, you probably didn’t hear much about that yet. I know I mentioned him to you at the funeral. His name’s William Babcock, and he came earlier this summer.” Mrs. Rowen leaned forward. “From Omaha. He and that Mitch Schroeder. You know him, dear. The attorney fellow? At any rate, they were chums in Omaha, so Bill decided to come here, too. He’s made quite an impression. Very well liked.”

  “Well, good! This town will benefit from medical care.”

  As soon as she and the children walked into the adjacent room, a tall, dark-haired, very attractive man dressed in a long lab coat greeted them. For a split second, he reminded her of Dr. Tom, and she flushed, feeling suddenly and irrationally guilty. She and Reese would need to have a conversation about Dr. Tom soon, get it all out in the open. Only then would she feel better about the whole situation and be able to put it from her mind.

  “Dr. Babcock, these are my children,” she said, introducing each of them by name. “We adopted them in Chicago, and I’m not sure what type of medical care they received there. I’m a trained nurse and found nothing physically wrong with any of them. Lucas”—she took his hand and led him to the front—“is mute. But physically, he seems quite fit.”

  Dr. Babcock tilted Lucas’s chin upward
and looked in his eyes, checked his ears and then examined his throat. Placing a stethoscope on Lucas’s small chest, the doctor listened to the boy’s heart and had him cough. Finally, he turned to Chloe. “Any other problems? Eating, walking, sleeping?”

  “No.”

  “How long have they been with you?”

  “Just a week, but his older brothers”—she pointed toward Michael and Mark—“tell me they have never heard him speak.”

  Dr. Babcock ruffled Lucas hair and handed him a stick of candy. “You go ahead and sit right over there,” he told him. “I’ve got to see if your brothers and sister have potatoes growing in their ears.”

  Chloe laughed at Lucas’ wide-eyed expression but was pleased when the boy did as he was asked. The doctor performed the same exam on the next boy in line and then on Rosie, giving each child candy when they finished.

  “What nursing school did you attend, Mrs. Lloyd?”

  “The program at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Lincoln.”

  “Ah.” He nodded. “That may be the very best in the state, you know. Did you finish the program? When did you graduate?”

  “I finished in May of this year, sir. I received top honors.”

  “And here you are, in Broken Bow, raising four children instead of caring for the sick.” He shook his head.

  “Actually, I have two more at home.”

  The doctor’s eyes grew as large as saucers. “Six children. My heavens.” He moved on to Mark. “If you need extra money, or even time away from the home, you are welcome to see me for a job. I could use help a couple mornings a week, and nurses aren’t really plentiful out here.” He looked in Mark’s ears and made him say, Ahhh. “Pay wouldn’t be high, but at least you could use your education.”

  “A job?” Chloe swallowed. The offer sounded far too tempting. What would Reese say?

  “Ask your husband, of course.” He wrote down a number on a piece of paper. “Here is the office phone number and my home number. I live in the apartment above the clinic for now. If you have any questions, about working or your family’s health, feel free to be in touch.”

  The air suddenly seemed lighter. A job! As a nurse. She tried not to float from the room, knowing her head was in the clouds.