Hopeful Hearts

by Diann Hunt

  “Your expression tells a lot.”

  She looked at the ground.

  “Do you still care about him?”

  His bold question surprised her. Eliza must have been rubbing off on him. She nodded. “But not in the way I did before.”

  He shoved his right hand into his pocket. “That’s good news.”

  Her head jerked up with a start. “It is?”

  “Yes, Abigail. It is.” His face broke into a happy grin. Their gazes locked, and they stood, lost in the wonder of the moment, neither saying a word.

  “I’ll get the carriage,” he finally said.

  Abigail smiled and practically floated back to the house, carried on the whisper of the wind.

  “Look at you,” Abigail said when she entered the Thread Bearer and saw Sophia stand and come toward her. “You are a beautiful mother-to-be.” They embraced, a glow emanating from Sophia’s face.

  “Thank you.” She grabbed Abigail’s hand and led her into the kitchen. Promptly she pointed to a chair at the table where Abigail could sit while Sophia started the kettle for tea. “So, tell me what brings you here today.” Sophia settled onto her seat and smiled at her friend.

  Abigail proceeded to tell her about the letter from Jonathan and finally her exchange with Titus before she left to come to Sophia’s shop.

  “What do you think of it all, Abigail?”

  “I don’t know what to think.”

  “Well, there’s no question of Titus’s interests. He’s made that quite clear,” she said with a smile. The water boiled, and Sophia got up and prepared their tea and poured it into thick mugs. She placed them on the table.

  “How do you feel about Jonathan?”

  Abigail toyed with a curl at the side of her face. “That’s just it. I don’t know anymore.”

  “It’s different now, though, isn’t it?”

  Abigail nodded. “Do you think I ever really loved him?”

  Sophia shrugged. “It’s hard for me to say. Only you can really answer that, but I’m thinking no. Another person could not take his place so soon.”

  “You mean Titus?”

  Sophia nodded. “He has, you know.”

  Abigail stared into her cup. “Yes, I know.”

  “Is that a bad thing?”

  Abigail looked up. “I don’t know. I mean, I know he cares about me, but it seems like something is holding him back. I just don’t know what it is.”

  “Maybe he’s afraid you won’t feel the same way. Does he know about Jonathan?”

  “A little.” Abigail looked toward the distant wall. “I suppose he could be afraid of my feelings for Jonathan. Although, I think I may have cleared that matter up for him in our conversation before we arrived here.”

  Sophia grinned. “Perhaps now things will get interesting.” She shot a teasing glance at Abigail, and they both laughed.

  “Are you going to write Jonathan back?”

  Abigail thought a moment. “I suppose I will. After all, he will always be my friend.”

  Sophia nodded. “How are things going with Eliza?”

  Inhaling a big breath and blowing it out, Abigail said, “Where do I begin?” She related Eliza’s antics and how the Lord was helping Abigail to work through the situation and try to be a friend to her cousin. After some discussion, the two women prayed together; then it was time for Abigail to go.

  “I’ll see you soon, Sophia. You know, I can’t wait to spoil your baby,” Abigail said with a laugh.

  “That makes three of us!” Sophia replied before shifting into her seat at the sewing machine. The hum of the machine started once again as Abigail slipped through the door.

  Not much later, Titus took Abigail to Barnabas House. She walked over to her station to check on the children’s progress with their studies. Julie Barnes, the woman who in recent days had volunteered to share responsibilities with Abigail, stood smiling.

  “Miss Abigail!” Katie O’Grady shot out of her chair and squeezed her arms tight around Abigail’s skirts.

  “Hello, Katie!” Abigail bent down and hugged the little girl. Soon the other children followed suit and gathered around Abigail.

  “We’ve missed you,” said a brown-haired boy with freckles sprinkled across his nose. The others nodded in agreement.

  “And I’ve missed you.” She took time to hug each one. She glanced up at Julie. “I’m sorry to disrupt, Julie.”

  Julie smiled. “No problem at all. They’ve been asking for you. I’m glad you came in.”

  Soon the children were back in their seats, busily at work. Abigail checked on their progress with Julie and found they were doing just fine. Truth be known, Abigail missed serving as she once had at Barnabas House, but Julie’s help freed Abigail to work more with Jenny Matthews.

  Once satisfied the children were in good hands, Abigail walked through the room to leave. Mary O’Grady stopped her.

  “Mary, how are you doing? It’s so good to see you!”

  Mary pulled her aside. The largest of smiles spread across her face. She took a deep breath.

  Puzzled, Abigail looked at her. “Mary, what is it?”

  “Christopher asked me to marry him.”

  “What?” Abigail said with a squeal. “That’s wonderful, Mary!” She pulled her into an enormous hug. “I’m so happy for you both. When is the big day?”

  “We’re getting married Saturday, February 1, here at Barnabas House.” Mary’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “We’re inviting the workers and the people who come in here most often. Just a little neighborhood gathering.”

  “Oh Mary, how wonderful for you and Katie!” Another hug. “Let me know if I can help in any way.”

  “Please tell your chauffeur, too. He and Christopher have become good friends.”

  “Really? I didn’t know that.”

  Mary nodded. “He slips out for coffee with him while you’re here.”

  Abigail laughed. “All right, I’ll see that he knows.”

  When she stepped out of Barnabas House, her heart was light with the good news and the thought that love could strike anyone at any moment. Life was good.

  “Hello, you ready to go?” Titus reached a hand to her as her foot landed on the last step.

  Her heart flipped as she nodded to him. Yes, life was good.

  Titus took Abigail for her visit with Jenny. When Abigail stepped into the house, she saw Jenny on the floor, clutching Laura, her rag doll, next to her. Jenny glanced up and smiled. She lifted Laura for Abigail to see.

  “Oh, I see you’re keeping Laura great company,” Abigail said upon entering. She turned to Mrs. Matthews. “Hello.”

  Mrs. Matthews walked over and gave Abigail a hug. “How are you?”

  “Fine, thank you. I want to see how my little friend is doing.” She walked on over to Jenny.

  “I’ll get you some hot tea,” Mrs. Matthews called.

  “Thank you.” Abigail hunched down to Jenny, who had pulled herself to an upright position, still holding Laura. She grinned and held Laura out again. Just then Abigail noticed one of Laura’s shoes was missing. “Uh-oh, I think her shoe must be in your bed,” Abigail said, glancing around.

  Jenny stopped smiling and looked down like something was wrong.

  “I’m afraid it’s not there. We’ve looked everywhere for her shoe.” Mrs. Matthews stood beside her, wringing her hands together.

  Abigail frowned. “Hmm, maybe I dropped it at home and just didn’t notice. If not, I’ve seen some shoes for rag dolls at the mercantile. I can take Laura into the store and find one that matches her clothes,” Abigail said brightly.

  Mrs. Matthews smiled and shook her head. “You’re too good to us, Abigail.”

  Titus watched the whole exchange between Abigail, his mother, and sister. As if truth had finally settled over him, he knew that Abigail didn’t befriend them out of guilt. She did so out of love. She loved them, and they all loved her. Including Titus. He stepped outside a moment to leave Abigail to teac
h Jenny. When he had fallen in love with her, he didn’t know. He only knew that it had happened. Whether he wanted it to happen or not, the fact remained. He loved Abigail O’Connor. Now what could he do? He couldn’t bring this family down after all the kindness they had shown his family, not to mention his love for Abigail.

  He took off his hat and scratched his head. Yet he couldn’t deny that a tiny part of him still felt uneasy, like a hungry wolf in search of food. He knew, too, if he didn’t let it go, the ultimate result would lead to sorrow. He wanted to release it so he could be free to love Abigail. Yet, could he? The wall of bitterness he had built against the O’Connor family was bigger than anything he could break down on his own.

  It would take an act of God.

  He stepped back into the house and spotted Abigail rising to her feet after she dropped a kiss on Jenny’s head.

  “I need to take Laura with me and buy her shoes. I’ll bring her back.” Abigail lifted Laura from Jenny’s strong hold. “It’s all right, Jenny. I’ll bring her back.”

  Abigail walked over to the door beside Titus and said good-bye to Mrs. Matthews. Titus opened the door, and they prepared to leave when Jenny’s voice cracked through the room, stopping them cold.

  “Laura!” she wailed.

  Chapter 12

  Abigail, Titus, and Mrs. Matthews turned to Jenny with a start. Jenny’s arms were stretched out toward her doll, tears streaming down her face. Mrs. Matthews ran to her. She fell at her daughter’s feet. “Jenny, you talked!” Tears flooding her own cheeks, Mrs. Matthews grabbed Jenny hard against her and rocked back and forth.

  Abigail and Titus exchanged a glance of disbelief. She walked over to return the doll but stood aside a respectable distance to give Mrs. Matthews a moment with her daughter. When they finally parted, Abigail returned Laura. “I’ll find shoes for her without taking her,” Abigail said as she gently placed Laura back into the sobbing child’s arms.

  Jenny’s tears slowed to a trickle as she held her doll close, patting her back, rocking back and forth. An occasional hiccup escaped her. Abigail leaned down. “I’m sorry, Jenny. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I won’t take Laura from you.”

  Jenny looked at Abigail. Her wide eyes pooled with tears, and her chin quivered slightly. “Laura,” she said simply.

  Abigail ran her hand along Jenny’s soft, blond hair and nodded. “Laura.”

  Titus waited close by. Standing to her feet, Abigail stepped out of the way so Titus could get near his sister. He immediately crouched down beside Jenny and began to smooth her hair away from her face. The tenderness in his eyes, the gentle touches made Abigail’s heart squeeze. The love he displayed for his family moved her more than anything. He would make a wonderful father someday. That thought made her blush. Seeing such affection coming from him for his sister made Abigail uncomfortable to be a witness. She felt the sight almost too sacred for her presence.

  Her footsteps whispered across the wooden planks to the front door. She turned once more and looked at the family then snuggled into her winter wraps and stepped into the open air.

  Huddled against a corner of the porch, she waited for Titus to come out. In a few minutes, he joined her. “You didn’t need to come out here.”

  “I wanted to give your family time together. It was a special moment.”

  Titus walked over to her, pulled her gloved hands into his, and looked into her face. “You are special, Abigail. And I thank you for what you’re doing for Jenny.”

  She felt herself blush under his gaze. He didn’t blink as he continued to stare into her eyes. Almost in slow motion, his head bent forward, and he pressed her waiting lips with his own. The tender kiss, moist and sweet as the morning dew, lasted a heartbeat, but Abigail knew she would remember it for days to come.

  By the time Abigail and Titus returned home that evening, her heart felt light as a feather. He helped her out of the carriage, his hand holding on to hers longer than necessary. “I had a wonderful day, Abigail.”

  She swallowed hard. “Me, too, Titus.”

  “I’ll see you in the morning,” he said, his voice low and soft. He released her hand, tipped his hat, and turned to put the carriage away.

  Abigail watched him a moment, wondering how she could feel this way toward him when she thought she had been in love with Jonathan. The thought frightened her a little. What if she wasn’t really in love? She had been fooled once. Yet something told her this was definitely different. An icy breeze whipped through her cloak, breaking her free from her musings. She pulled the wool closer to her neck and headed for her house. It had been a wonderful day.

  When she stepped into the house, a flurry of barks assailed her as did Barnabas’s paws as he jumped and pushed against her. He wouldn’t quiet down until she took the time to say hello. With affection, she rubbed him a moment; then she stood and shook the snow from her outer wraps and pulled off her boots. Placing her cloak on a nearby peg, she walked into the drawing room to find Eliza sitting in front of a blazing fire in the stone fireplace, studying the stitches on the cloth in her hand. The room smelled of pine logs and spiced cider. Abigail took a deep breath, thinking the scent heavenly.

  Eliza looked up with a scowl. “Where have you been?”

  The anger in Eliza’s voice took Abigail by surprise. “I went to see Sophia, Barnabas House, and then over to see Jenny Matthews.”

  Eliza’s eyes tightened to slits. “Well, how convenient.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Little Miss Charity Worker out spreading cheer to all around her. Of course, if her kindness happens to spill upon the sister of one handsome chauffeur, all the better,” Eliza said, her voice thick with jealousy.

  Abigail did not want to play into her hand. She prayed a quick prayer to get through the anger Eliza’s words had evoked. Taking a deep breath, Abigail walked over to her cousin. “Look, Eliza, I don’t want to fight with you. You’re my cousin, and I want—”

  “You want,” Eliza spat. “What about what I want? No one cares one whit what I want!”

  Abigail suddenly knew this was about more than mere jealousy. This was about Uncle Edward dropping his daughter off in their care. It was about Eliza feeling sorry for herself.

  Filled with compassion for her cousin, Abigail measured her words carefully. “I know things haven’t been easy for you coming here.”

  “Easy? I’ll say it’s not been easy! How would you like to be ripped from your home and stay with people whom you hardly know? And then Titus comes along, giving me hope of rescue from my eternal boredom, but he takes no interest in me whatsoever. Of course you’ve seen to that!” Eliza glared at Abigail as though she could chew her up and spit her out.

  Abigail stared at her, not knowing what to say.

  “You are in love with him, aren’t you?” Eliza said in a sneering voice.

  When Abigail said nothing, Eliza stabbed the needle into her cloth piece. “Oh, how nice for the both of you. Abigail, who always gets what she wants, has won once again.” Eliza folded her cloth and stood now, inches from Abigail’s face. “Just don’t turn your back, Abigail. You never know what a woman scorned might do.”

  Abigail drew in a sharp breath at the comment and stood trembling as she watched her cousin stomp across the room with resentment and anger guiding every step.

  A full moon sailed high above him as Titus made his way to the barn. It had been a long week, and he was glad it was Saturday. He was tired and ready to go home. Hearing the snap of a twig behind him, he turned around to see Eliza standing just inside the barn.

  “Eliza, what are you doing here?”

  Absently running her gloved hand along the door frame, she pouted, “Can’t I come and say hello?”

  “I just spent dinner with you,” he said, scratching his head.

  “Yeah, me and the whole O’Connor family,” she said, watching him closely.

  What was she up to? Eliza always had something up her sleeve. After she kissed him that night,
he’d stayed clear of her. Not one to beat around the bush, he stepped over to her. “What’s going on, really, Eliza? Why did you come out here tonight?”

  She looked up at him with an innocent look. “Don’t you know?”

  He shook his head.

  “I can’t seem to get you to myself for a moment.” She lifted her arms around his neck.

  “Not this time, Eliza,” he said, pulling her arms away from him.

  An icy glaze filled her eyes. “Why, because of Abigail?” she spat.

  “Listen, I don’t know what your game is, but I don’t want any part of it,” he said, turning toward his wagon.

  “Look who’s talking. As if you don’t have a game!”

  He stopped in his tracks and turned to her.

  She gave a hollow laugh and lifted her chin. “That’s right. I know you’re up to something. After catching you lingering outside the study that night, I decided to investigate and see if anything was amiss. So after the family went to bed, I came down and looked around.”

  His heart thundered against his chest.

  “I noticed a tiny edge of paper hanging outside of Uncle Thomas’s box by his chair. I opened the box and there was a letter to your father from Uncle. I figured there must have been a reason you wanted to see that.” She watched him closely, as if looking for any clues he might give her.

  “Now, I may not have all the pieces together in the puzzle yet, but don’t play innocent with me. I know I’m not the only one around here with a plan.”

  “It’s not like that, Eliza. At least, not anymore.”

  She stepped closer. “The way I see it, you need me, and I need you. We can work together and both get what we want.” Her eyes flickered with excitement.

  “I don’t want to bring them down, Eliza.” He couldn’t believe he was saying that.

  She ran a finger along his jawline. “Well, if you change your mind, I’m here,” she said in a seductive voice that made him sick. A laugh escaped her before she walked out the door. Fear gripped his heart. Eliza was the type of woman who would do anything to get her way.