by Zoe Matthews
Amanda sat down on the edge of the small bed and covered her face with her hands. She could faintly hear Craig explain to Jeremy how his new mom had a sewing shop and sewed dresses for some of the women who lived in town. She felt very confused. I shouldn’t be having these feelings for Craig, she thought. I was blessed to have love in my first marriage. I am not sure I can feel love for someone else again. When they were standing so close together, with Craig leaning close ready to kiss her again, she felt his closeness like a touch to her heart.
She did not feel ready to join Craig and Jeremy just yet, so she released her hair from her bun. She picked up her hairbrush and quickly brushed through the tangles and redid her hair. She then quickly made sure Grace was still sleeping and left her bedroom.
When Amanda entered her sewing room, Jeremy ran up to her. “Could you make Grace a new dress? She hasn’t had a new one in a long time. The dress she has on isn’t even hers. Someone gave it to her and it is very old.”
Amanda smiled at her new son and marveled on how much he cared and showed love for his sister. She walked over to her sewing table and picked up the dress she had finished the night before.
“I actually made this dress yesterday, hoping I would be able to give it to my new daughter today.” She showed the dress to Jeremy. It was made out of a light pink fabric with small red flowers all over it. She had added a ruffle around the hem and sleeves and ribbon at the neck. It had many little buttons that buttoned up the back.
“That’s mighty fine work,” Craig complimented her. Amanda smiled her thanks.
She picked up the rag doll with the matching dress to show them. “I made this, too. I think every little girl should have their own doll.”
Jeremy nodded his agreement. “Ma had made her one when she was a baby, but I don’t know what happened to it. Thank you, ma’am.” He looked down, his facing showing some concern.
“Is something bothering you?” Craig asked him.
“I just want to ask that if this doesn’t work out and you might decide you don’t want me, will you promise to take care of Grace and always be her ma?” Jeremy looked apprehensive as he talked. “I don’t think she remembers our ma, and she should have one.”
Amanda sat down on her chair she used to do most of her sewing. “Of course, Jeremy, but…”
Craig interrupted her. “You aren’t going to be sent back. We are a family now and you are an important part of it.”
Amanda nodded her head in agreement to Craig’s words.
“Maybe,” Jeremy didn’t look convinced. “But I sometimes can cause trouble and a lot of people don’t seem to like me.”
“We can work on that, Jeremy, but I agree with your new dad.” Amanda wanted to reach out and hug the boy, but did not think he would accept it. “We are a family now and we will stay together.”
Jeremy looked a little more relieved at her words, but she knew that they would need to show him they meant their words over time.
“Why don’t you come into the kitchen with me,” Amanda asked him, “and we can have something to eat. It’s almost dinner time and I bet you are hungry.” Jeremy voiced his agreement and followed her into the kitchen.
With Craig helping, she quickly made a stack of meat sandwiches and sliced up some apples and carrots. Grace woke up a few minutes into their meal, so Amanda gave her some food to eat, too.
While her new family finished their meal, Amanda quickly gathered up necessary supplies and clothes to last her a few days and put them into a carpetbag. She was soon ready. She allowed Jeremy to give Grace the new dress and doll. Amanda was relieved when Grace squealed with joy and hugged the doll to her chest.
“Thank you,” Grace whispered shyly to Amanda when her brother prompted her. Then she asked more boldly, “Can I wear the new dress now?”
Amanda consented and took her back to her room to help her change. As she slid the old dress off Grace’s body, she could see the scars and damage to her leg. She wished there was a way they could help her be able to walk normally. Throughout the afternoon, Amanda had been able to see that Grace could walk, but it was difficult. She seemed to tire easily and preferred to be carried.
The dress fit Grace almost perfectly. It was a little big, but Amanda knew Grace would grow into it. Amanda sighed with relief. She knew she had taken a chance making a dress for a child when she did not know the size and measurements.
Chapter 8
Soon they were on their way to the General store which was just down the street.
“Why don’t you go in with Jeremy and Grace and see if you can find what they need,” Craig suggested. “I have my wagon parked in front the Town hall. I will go get it and park it in front of the store. That way after we are done here, we can head to the farm.”
Amanda nodded her agreement and took both children into the store. She looked around, trying to see who was in the store to help them and saw Mrs. Davis. She noticed a young girl beside her who was listening to Mrs. Davis as she gave her instructions on how to stock a shelf.
Amanda walked up to the shop owner and smiled at the girl. “Hello, Mrs. Davis. We are here to get a few supplies for Jeremy and Grace.”
Mrs. Davis greeted Amanda and said, “I heard there was a quick wedding this afternoon. Didn’t know if I should have believed it though, seeing you have been rejecting poor Mr. Parker for so long. I see you finally came to your senses.”
Amanda sighed inwardly and decided not to respond to her broad hint for information. “I see you took one of the children.”
“Yes, this is Anna.” Mrs. Davis nodded towards the young girl. “It seemed the right thing to do, take in one of the orphans. Besides, it gets kind of quiet around our house, now that our three children are grown and gone, and not one of them staying in Maple Grove.”
“Children do seem to do that, grow up and leave to live their own lives.” Amanda answered, knowing that was what she did after her mother died. She looked at Anna. “It is nice to meet you. Are you going to work in the store a lot?”
Anna started to answer, but Mrs. Davis jumped in. “She will yes, when she isn’t in school and such.”
Amanda kept looking at Anna to see if she felt slighted at being put to work so quickly after being taken in.
“I don’t mind, ma’am,” the girl answered her unspoken question. “I’ve never seen so many things in one place before.” She looked around in awe.
Amanda turned to her own children. “This is Jeremy and Grace.” She introduced them. “Children, this is Mrs. Davis who owns the store with her husband. Did you know Anna at the orphanage before you came here?”
Jeremy shook his head, but Grace nodded.
“I helped with Grace sometimes at the orphanage,” Anna explained.
“You mean you weren’t with Grace at the orphanage?” Amanda asked Jeremy.
“No,” he shook his head. “Most of the time they kept the boys separate from the girls.”
“How awful!” Amanda exclaimed. “They should have let your sister stay with you.” No wonder Jeremy was so insistent on keeping Grace with him.
Jeremy shrugged. “It was just the way it was.”
Amanda decided to change the subject. “I would like to purchase a few things for the children and some fabric. I can sew most of their clothes, but they still need some clothes right away.”
Soon a small pile of clothing and other supplies were on top of the counter ready to buy. Craig walked in and looked at the growing pile. Amanda was a little worried that he would say it was too much, but she planned to pay for part of it.
“Looks like you guys are having fun,” Craig said, smiling at Grace as she showed him her new shoes. Amanda sighed in relief at his words.
“We are just about finished.” Amanda placed the last bolt of fabric on the counter.
“Did you each pick out something fun?” Craig asked the children.
Jeremy looked confused. “Fun? What do you mean?”
“You can pick out somethin
g you want that has nothing to do with clothes.” Craig looked at Amanda, as if hoping she wouldn’t disagree with his orders.
“What a great idea,” Amanda said, smiling at Craig. “I should have thought of that myself.”
“But you are already buying us a lot of stuff. We don’t need anything else.” Jeremy protested. He had never owned so much before.
“Jeremy, come here,” Craig motioned to him. The boy stood before him as Craig put his hands on his shoulders. “This won’t happen every time we come to the store. But for today, because it is such as special day for all of us, you can choose something just for yourself.”
Jeremy’s eyes lit up as if he finally realized his new dad was serious. “Come on Grace, let’s see what we can find.” He took her hand and led her away, keeping his steps to match her slower ones.
Amanda smiled at Craig and then turned to Mrs. Davis. “I think we have everything we need for now. How much do we owe you?”
Mrs. Davis started writing everything down to figure out the cost. Craig pulled out a wad of bills and Amanda placed her hand on his arm.
“I am planning on paying for some of this,” she whispered. “I know it might have been more than what you were planning to spend.”
Craig scowled at her. “I will be paying for everything. I realize they need everything you picked out. I wouldn’t have had a clue what to get them. It’s why I asked you to do it.”
“But I do have some money and I can help,” Amanda argued. “Don’t you think we should be paying for their care together?”
“No, I don’t,” Craig said firmly. “You are my wife and they are my children. It is my responsibility. I will pay for this.”
Amanda stood there trying to decide if she should continue to argue or let it go and talk to him about money in a more private setting. After all, he wasn’t aware of how much money she had.
Craig gave Estelle some bills and then said to Amanda, “In fact, I want you to pick out a ring, a wedding ring.”
Amanda looked at him in astonishment. A ring? But she already wore one. Then she realized she still wore her late husband’s ring and knew the time had come to remove it. She nodded her agreement and took off the ring she wore and slid it into her dress pocket.
“Amazing,” Craig joked to Mrs. Davis who was watching the exchange with delight. “She didn’t even argue with me. That’s a first.” He took her arm and led her to the display of rings nearby. “Pick out the one you want.”
Amanda found a simple gold ring that looked the least expensive and pointed to it. “I like that one.”
Craig immediately dismissed it, knowing she chose it because of the price. “Never mind. I will pick out the ring.”
He leaned over her and picked out a beautiful gold ring with a small diamond in the center with what look like a leaf wrapped around it, also in gold. He slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly.
“Do you like it?” he asked, all teasing gone from his voice.
“Yes, I do,” Amanda said and looked up into his eyes. “Thank you.” Her throat felt clogged, as if were hard to breathe.
She felt a tug on her dress and looked down to see Grace staring up at her with Jeremy standing nearby.
“Have you found what you wanted?” she asked them, hoping that her voice sounded steadier than she felt.
Grace was holding a storybook and Jeremy had a harmonica in his hand. They showed their prizes to Amanda and Craig.
“Those are great choices,” Craig said approvingly. “Do you know how to play the harmonica?” he asked Jeremy.
The boy shook his head. “I can learn though.”
“I’m sure you can,” Craig answered. “I actually know how to play and I can teach you if you want me to.”
He turned to Grace. “I’m sure your new mom will read to you tonight out of your storybook.” Grace nodded her head in agreement, still feeling too shy to talk.
Within a few minutes, all their purchases had been loaded onto the wagon, the children sitting among them, and they were heading towards their new home.
Chapter 9
It did not take long to get to Craig’s farm as it was located just outside the town. It would only take a little while to ride into town to take care of her shop.
As they got closer, Amanda started to get more apprehensive. She remembered what it was like living on the farm as a child. She had very few good memories living on that farm. She was always grateful that she was able to find a job so quickly after leaving when her mother died.
She remembered when she first saw David. He had come home from college, having just finished his schooling to become an attorney. It seemed trite to say it was love at first sight, but that was what happened, for both of them. They tried to keep their relationship a secret, mainly because Amanda did not think his family would accept her since she was just kitchen help and had grown up on a farm. Finally she agreed to marry him when she was 18. She could not live without David any longer and David had finally convinced Amanda that he did not care what his family thought. He loved her and he was going to marry her, with or without their blessing.
What Amanda feared did happen. His parents did not approve and they threatened to disown him if he married her. Instead of joining his father’s firm like his parents had wished, David had taken Amanda to Maple Grove and set up his own office for the town and surrounding community.
A few years later, his family decided to accept David’s decision to marry Amanda and they had a pretty good relationship with his family until David died. Amanda had had little contact with his family since.
The wagon came to a stop and Amanda was surprised to find that they had arrived. She felt a little guilty thinking about her past. She promised herself that she was embarking on a new life and she would accept all the changes that came with it, good and bad.
She looked around and then saw her new home. She sighed in relief. It was better than anything she imagined. It was a large two-story farmhouse. It had been painted white with blue shutters. There was a porch that ran the length of the front of the house with a few chairs sitting on it. Two large cottonwood trees on either side of the house offered shade in the heat of the day. It had many windows and the house looked like it was well cared for. Behind the house, there was a large barn with a few horses standing nearby, and a man was caring for them.
Craig looked at Amanda. “Does it meet with your approval?” He asked, his voice teasing her again.
All Amanda could do was nod. She could immediately see that she would not be living the hard life her mother had, and neither would the children.
“I didn’t expect your house to be so large,” Amanda finally said, knowing that Craig was waiting for her to say something.
“The previous owners had themselves a passel of kids, so there is plenty of room. They decided to move to Oregon and take advantage of the free land, so I got a good deal on it. They left most of the furniture and animals.” Craig jumped down to the ground and then reached up to lift her down. “There are six bedrooms upstairs. The downstairs has a parlor, a room I use for my study and a large kitchen. Lily sure enjoys working in the kitchen.”
“Who is Lily?” Amanda asked as she scooped Grace up and followed Craig and Jeremy into the house.
“Lily is my housekeeper. She cooks for me and helps keep the house clean. Her husband, John, helps me on the farm and is basically my foreman, though I don’t call him that.” He gestured with his arm to a small home some distance away. “They live in that house over there, but they both help me around the farm.”
Amanda closed her eyes and sighed with relief. She was starting to see that marriage to Craig was going to be very different than she had imagined. She followed Craig as he showed Jeremy and Grace the house. When they were upstairs, he allowed the children choose their own room from the five empty rooms available. Both children were thrilled with the idea of having their own room and not needing to share, although Jeremy was probably happier about the idea than G
race.
Each room had a bed and a small table next to it. Amanda noticed that neither room had curtains to cover the windows and knew that she would need to sew some. There was a chest at the end of each bed to hold clothes.
While the children were exploring their new rooms, Amanda walked into a room right across the hall from the room Craig was using. “I can take this room,” she announced to Craig. He looked at her and frowned.
“What do you mean, you’ll take this room?” he questioned. “You’ll sleep with me in my room.”
“Craig, I know we are married now, but we hardly know each other.” Amanda tried to speak her words softly so the children didn’t hear her. “Don’t you think we need some time to get to know each other before, you know…”
