They’d been home from shopping just long enough for her to put the groceries away when Adam came into the kitchen and slipped his arms around her from behind.
“Caleb and Jonathan are on their way, and they’re bringing Bernice with them.”
“Well, I hope they’d bring her with them as she is their wife.” Pamela grinned.
Adam shook his head, but she saw the slight embarrassment he wore. “Sweetheart, I am so glad you don’t get angry with my awkwardness.”
I couldn’t be angry with you. I love you. They hadn’t been married long, but oh, how she longed to tell them both just that. Despite what Maria and Grandmother Chelsea had said, she really didn’t think either Adam or James had slighted her by not asking how she felt about things. In her experience, as a daughter and a sister to two brothers, “feelings” weren’t something the males of this world thought about very much.
Men and women were just so different from each other.
Whether or not they loved her—or would even welcome her declaration of love—now that was another matter altogether. So she tucked those words away to be used when she was certain they’d be welcomed.
“It’s a good thing that your mother made us that huge pitcher of sweet tea yesterday, isn’t it? And that you picked up those six packs in Gatesville. At least we have something to serve our guests.”
“Well, if you recall, Caleb did threaten to visit us today and bring his wife.” Adam smiled. “So we thought we should provide for that eventuality.”
Pamela laughed then nudged Adam. “Yes, I recall that he did mention it. Let’s go await the arrival of our guests.”
“James can keep an eye out for them for another minute.”
Adam turned her gently so they were standing face to face. Pamela didn’t waste a moment. She slid her arms around Adam’s neck and stretched up. His kiss was soft and delicious and over way too soon.
“They’re here!” James’s announcement made Pamela sigh. She wouldn’t be surprised if the slight disappointment she felt showed on her face.
Adam’s smile warmed her heart. “C’mon, wife. Come meet your new cousins.”
Pam’s first surprise was that Caleb and his brother, while twins, weren’t identical. Caleb was blond and a bit glib—but charmingly so. Jonathan had dark hair and eyes and seemed a bit more reserved.
Her second surprise was meeting Bernice. Pam had never before experienced the kind of instant connection with another woman that she made with Bernice Benedict. The pretty brunette was a woman comfortable in herself and with her husbands and cousins. Pam recalled that Caleb had mentioned Bernice was from New York City, and that explained her lack of a Texas accent.
“I imagined that you wouldn’t have had time to settle in and do any baking, so I brought these.”
Pamela took the proffered plate covered in plastic wrap. “Oh, these tarts look delicious! And you’re absolutely right. We’ve actually just come back from buying groceries.”
“And with this having been the home of two bachelors, I imagine there weren’t even any baking supplies on hand.”
Bernice’s smile made her feel as if she was in on a secret. It was that sense of sisterhood she’d read about but had never felt, before now.
“You’re absolutely right. They were the first items on my list. Did you have the same experience?”
“Well, my mother-in-law knew I was coming, and we’d chatted a bit on the phone in the weeks before I flew down, so she was kind enough to stock the shelves for me.”
“There’s a little thing that happens in Lusty,” James said, “Called cousin-speak. We’re family, of course, and a lot closer than most of the families we observed while we lived elsewhere.”
“However, being family and close doesn’t prevent us from one-upping each other or otherwise hurling little jabs of wit at one another. Or,” Caleb said, “in the case of the women, at each other’s husbands.”
“Behave or I won’t bake for you for a month,” Bernice said.
Pamela had just looked back and forth at each of these people as they’d spoken. It only took her a moment to catch the thread of what Bernice had actually just told her.
She turned to look at Adam. “Your mother didn’t know I was coming?”
“Now, sweetheart, she certainly knew your name and how important you were to us. Contacting her in the days leading up to the wedding did slip our minds. Then, we tried to call her yesterday morning, but for some reason or other the call wouldn’t go through,” Adam said.
“But how…” The house had had an aired-out, fresh feel to it. Plus, those had been newly laundered linens on the bed and in the bathroom.
“Apparently, Adam called Maria from the airport in Dallas, and then Maria marshaled the troops.” Bernice grinned. “One of the things I love best about living here is that no one is left to flounder on their own, not ever.”
One of the things Pamela had been most impressed about was that Maria and Grandma Chelsea had been so welcoming. Knowing that they’d had to scramble to make the house presentable for her—heck, that they’d wanted to do that—just made her appreciate her new in-laws even more.
“Why don’t you ladies sit, and we’ll go fetch the tea?” James was giving a wide smile to both her and Bernice. “And if you’ve no strong objections, we’ll open one of those six-packs we bought.”
“That sounds lovely,” Pamela said. “It will give us time to learn more about each other.” It was all Pamela could do not to laugh at the slightly stricken looks on Adam’s and James’s faces. As soon as they were out of sight, she turned to the other woman. “Does their retreat fall under the heading of ‘distraction,’ do you think, Bernice?”
Bernice laughed. The two sat down, Bernice in one of the arm chairs and Pamela on the love seat kitty-corner to it.
“I do, indeed, Pamela. Though I must admit that my husbands have a habit of spoiling me.”
“I’ve had a little taste of that myself. I suppose I should find out who all came over to help prepare the house and invite them to coffee.”
“Well…as a matter of fact, a few of the women who pitched in were hoping to come and meet you on Monday. Since I do believe that Adam and James are planning on heading to the doctor’s office first thing, we thought it might be a good time, if you weren’t too…um…tired.”
Pamela had felt an instant connection to Bernice. But it was the way the woman blushed that made her feel as if she had a real friend in the other woman.
“I think Monday would be wonderful. Thank you, Bernice. I’ll be honest with you. I did worry a little about coming so far from all I’m used to. I had no idea what I’d find here…” It occurred to Pamela that to reveal just how much she hadn’t known about Lusty before she’d arrived might make the situation a little uncomfortable. She didn’t want to say anything at all that might discredit Adam or James in this good woman’s eyes.
Bernice reached over and clasped her hand. “My mother-in-law, Kate, believed you might not know anything. She said these particular nephews of hers were very good doctors but a little oblivious about some facets of everyday life.”
“Your mother-in-law has it right, for the most part. But I knew the most important thing. They didn’t want to return to their home without me. Kate knows them well, does she?”
“She’s a nurse and helps out part time at the doctor’s office. Uncle Warren, your father-in-law, was the main town doctor before Adam and James came home from medical school.
“Then he mostly just filled in if needed, until it was decided Adam and James should take advantage of the opportunity to spend a couple of years at Johns Hopkins. And in case you’re worried about him having to switch back to being the only doctor on call then, he wasn’t. Uncle Terrence, who’s married to Aunt Madison, has been splitting the time with him. He’d spent most of his career at the hospital in Waco.
“In the months she had worked with them, Kate said she got to know Adam and James very well. She told me we’ll all
be in very good hands, once Uncle Warren and Uncle Terrence retire for good.”
“I knew they were considered very skilled physicians. Johns Hopkins is an enormous institution, but that’s where we met. And you hear things, as we worked in the same area of the hospital. I was a lab tech, and would see them through the day. I also know that their superiors were sorry to be losing them, but they were determined on their course.”
“We all have to find our place, don’t we?” Bernice asked.
“From what they’ve said, this has always been their dream—to come home and serve their own community. Now I understand it’s not just a matter of community, but of family.”
“Family’s very important here,” Bernice said. “It’s another of those things I love about Lusty.”
Pam hadn’t realized just how apprehensive she’d been about beginning her new life here in Texas. Bernice Benedict, with her welcoming spirit and keen assessment of her new home, went a long way in easing her concerns. “I think it’s already one of mine, too.”
* * * *
Monday morning, Adam and James took themselves a few blocks from home—after getting very nice kisses from their wife—and entered their office for the first time in a couple of years.
“We’re getting close to that time when there’ll be another baby boom.” Terrence Jessop, M.D., looked over his glasses at them and Adam felt that long-ago sense that he was about to get a lecture. A quick glance at his brother told him James felt the same way.
Their father snorted and sent them a look that was not hard to understand. The veiled reference to their having come home with a wife and would likely be adding to that baby boom was hard to miss.
It was difficult sometimes to stand his ground in front of the men he’d grown up respecting as his elders all his life. Dad was dad, and Uncle Terrence was still his uncle—but Adam was a fully accredited M.D. in his own right. Just have to tell myself I’m speaking with a colleague.
“Legend has it one occurs here every few years,” Adam said. “That was one of the reasons James took on that extra residency in obstetrics.”
Uncle Terrence grinned. “The two of you, between you, have most of the bases covered.” He looked around the ground floor of the house that the town of Lusty had been using as a doctor’s office since before the Second World War.
“I’m just going to be here today,” their father said. “Terry is going to fill in until the end of the month, and then, gentlemen, you’ll be on your own.”
“Grandfather Dalton told us the Town Trust is revisiting building a clinic,” James said. “We’ve got three exam rooms and a large treatment room in back. The x-ray is new, as is the operating room. Looks pretty good to me, just the way it is.”
“Well, you know how the Town Trust likes to keep things as modern as possible—and keep the door open to whatever might be needed in the future,” Warren said. “We both let them know that we believe this place would do well enough for another five years. That will give them time to decide where they want the new clinic to go—though we figured they should keep it in this area. But they also want to look at building a new fire hall. We think that should be the priority at the moment.”
“I agree,” Adam said. “The fire hall should come first.”
Terrence shook his head. “Our little town keeps growing. I remember, when I was a lad, there weren’t more than a couple of dozen homes occupied here, and the pharmacy was the only business in town. I mention that because, along with the inevitable baby boom, comes a time when the population shrinks for a few years.” Then he gave them a sly look. “Although I know we’ve grown by one very recently.”
“You’ll like our Pamela.” James grinned. “We were a bit worried how she’d make out, coming so far from her home. But so far, she’s handling everything with…well, with the same kind of grace Amanda Jessop-Kendall and Sarah Carmichael Benedict displayed.”
“My Madison will have a report for me at supper, I’m sure. She’s good at taking a person’s measure.”
“Excuse me?” Adam thought he couldn’t have heard right, although that look his uncle had just sent them did belie that.
Warren and Terrence both laughed. “The women will likely be visiting with her about now, I expect,” Terrence said. He’d consulted his watch, which made Adam do the same thing. It was just after ten in the morning.
“Define ‘women,’” James said.
“Dinna fash yerself.” Terrence delivered one of Aunt Madison’s favorite sayings. Warren just folded his arms and grinned.
Adam had to admit his uncle had the Irish brogue down pat. Then Terrence reached over and patted Adam’s shoulder. “Women are stronger, and smarter, that we men want to believe. You need a little faith.” He nodded. “In your Pamela, and in the rest of the women of Lusty. And by women, of course, I mean most of the ones who are nearest and dearest to you.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “The last I heard, Pamela will be receiving Madison and our daughter-in-law, Joan, and your mother, of course.” He looked over at Warren.
“Maria wouldn’t miss it,” Warren said.
“Kate and Miranda were attending, as are Bernice and Samantha, Miranda’s daughter-in-law, who happens to be in town this week. Oh, and both grandmothers, of course.”
“Of course,” James said.
Adam thought his brother didn’t sound well. Adam himself knew one instant of panic. And then he shook it off. Uncle Terrence was right. He recalled how well Pam had gotten along with Bernice on Saturday. The truth was, he did have faith in Pamela. He’d set aside his concerns for now. The work day here would go quickly, and before long, they’d be with her again.
Come to think of it, she and Bernice had been as thick as thieves on Saturday. It wouldn’t surprise him if their woman was fully aware she’d be having a bit of a get-together today.
“Now, if we’re done our gossip session, let’s take a tour of the facilities, here,” Warren said. “We need your newly trained eyes to tell us what supplies we should order, and what improvements, if any, we can make to the patient flow. Our first one is due in an hour. There aren’t that many today, so it’s a good day to get you organized. Of course, you never know if there’ll be any emergency calls, either here in town or in the outlying region.” Warren looked at each of them. “I’ll still be available in a pinch.”
“Yes, sir. We noticed a few more farms in the area during the drive home,” James said.
More farms meant more farmers and, unfortunately, every once in a while, farming accidents. The custom was for the doctor on call to attend any emergency in the surrounding area, if possible. It was a custom he and his brother had already promised to uphold.
Doctor Adam Jessop looked around his new office. He experienced a moment—a sense of history as well as of continuation. Today, for all intents and purposes, was their father’s last day at work. In a few short weeks, Terrence Jessop would retire, as well, handing over the reins of this practice to them completely. Who knew? Maybe in some distant year in the future, he and James would have a son—or a daughter—who would, as they were now, begin to learn the ropes and, eventually, carry on from them. The sense of rightness, of destiny, that he felt in that instant was nearly overwhelming.
The circle of life. Lusty was a damn fine place, he decided, to be living his.
Chapter Ten
“These roses are officially called Marie Van Houtte, and they’re a tea rose,” Madison Jessop said. She gently stroked the deep green-colored leaves of the plant. “It’s also known as an antique rose. I looked this one up, because I do enjoy the way the blooms contrast with the dark green leaves. The buds look like they’ll be yellow, but once in full bloom, they’re deeper yellow in the center, but toward the tips, they show pink to lilac shades.”
“The shrub is certainly lush. Are they fussy to deal with?” Pam’s mother had loved roses but not the work involved in them. That hadn’t stopped her from having a couple of bushes, however.
“No, not
at all. Antique roses are my favorites for that very reason. I’d be happy to advise you through the seasons. It’s warm enough the year round, you don’t need to worry about your gardens being barren.”
“Over the years, we’ve planted a variety of flowering plants and ground cover plants in the gardens so that there’s always something showing life.” Grandmother Chelsea also caressed the flower. “This variety of rose is documented to have been introduced in 1871,” she said. “When we purchased this at the nursery in Waco and planted it, it comforted me to know that my mother, and mother-in-law, would have been living when this flower first became available.”
Pamela was thoroughly enjoying herself. Maria had brought over some recipe cards of a few of Adam’s and James’s favorite meals. Miranda and Grandmother Mattie had done the same. Kate, Bernice, Joan, and Samantha had contributed sandwiches and sweets, for their lunch.
“Let’s go in and have our lunch,” Kate Benedict said. “That second pitcher of tea should be nice and cold by now. And then Pamela can ask us any questions she has about life in Lusty that come to mind.”
“There’s something almost rewarding about the idea of enjoying a simple meal in the company of the women of my family, while my sons are likely squirming,” Maria said.
Some of those women chuckled, and the looks in their eyes said they not only understood but agreed with Maria’s sentiment.
Pamela tilted her head to one side. “Why would they be squirming?”
One Thanksgiving in Lusty, Texas Page 9
