An Inconvenient Marriage

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  Sue watched as Lydia poured the pancake batter into the skillet. “I have a play to direct tonight at the auditorium, so I will have dinner with Mrs. Walker. Since Mrs. Walker owns the library, she likes to thank me for putting on a play for the parents to enjoy.”

  “I heard about those annual Christmas plays. The parents do like to see their children having fun on stage.”

  “What’s wonderful about children is that even when they mess up their lines, they’re still cute. So it’s hard to destroy a play that they are in. Anyway, for the past five years, my brother Trevor has been writing the Christmas plays. Usually, he comes into town to watch them but he won’t be able to attend tonight. He has to help make up for the chores he didn’t get to do yesterday.”

  “What is this play about?”

  “It’s called The Path to Christmas, and it’s about six children who are traveling through a forest. As long as they stay on the path, they will reach their destination, but if they let one of the Temptations lure them off the path, then they will miss out on the true meaning of Christmas. The path leads to the manger where Jesus was born.”

  “How lovely. I would like to see it. What time is it?”

  “Five. It only lasts for thirty minutes but we’ll have refreshments afterwards, so usually it is a full hour event.”

  “I’m going to push dinner back then. I don’t want to miss it.”

  “Trevor’s thrilled whenever people tell him they enjoy his plays. Personally, I think this is his best one.”

  Lydia flipped the pancakes over. “Breakfast is almost ready. Mr. Mitchell likes to eat in the dining room. Will you be joining him?”

  “I suppose I should.” It felt strange to eat with someone. She was used to eating her bland foods by herself. “If you need any help, please let me know.”

  “I will.”

  Sue left the kitchen and walked into the dining room where Jake sat, dressed in one of his immaculate dark suits, reading the newspaper. “You’re a very odd person,” she commented.

  He looked up from the paper. “Excuse me?”

  “You never entertain guests, yet you have an oak table that seats twenty people. Why didn’t you just purchase a small table?”

  He grinned. “I like the impression it gives.”

  “You want to make people think you entertain guests?”

  “It’s nice to have the option though I don’t wish to exercise it.”

  She shook her head and sat by him. He sat at the head of the table. When she noticed that he hadn’t returned to his paper, she asked, “Should I sit somewhere else?”

  “No. It’s just nice to look at you.”

  She blushed.

  He cleared his throat and picked up the paper. “Our wedding made the paper. Usually, these announcements are boring but I have to admit that Justin was right when he said ‘The Wedding Folly’ was a memorable event.”

  “I must warn you that my family acts like that on a regular basis.”

  “So I’ll get to see more of this for a week?”

  She blinked. “You’re planning to go to the farm for Christmas?”

  “Of course. I believe Jeremiah gave me a personal invitation.”

  “But they aren’t your kind of people.”

  “They’re my family now. Besides, it’s not all pleasure. I’m going to teach your family how to adequately manage money. Tomorrow they will be debt free. I don’t wish to see them get back into trouble.”

  “That makes sense.” She couldn’t imagine him going out to the farm to enjoy himself. She chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. They’ll listen to you give your lesson on money, but I think Lydia is right. They’re going to give you a lesson in how to have fun.”

  “I have fun.”

  “That’s hard to imagine.”

  He set his paper down and folded his arms on the table. “You don’t strike me as someone who has fun either.”

  “I have lots of fun.”

  “And so do I. We just define fun differently, that’s all.”

  “Perhaps.”

  Lydia came in with two plates full of pancakes, ham and sausage. She set down two glasses of apple juice and two glasses of water by the plates. She set out a jar of honey and a jar of strawberry jam. “Would you care for anything else?”

  “You expect me to eat all of this in one sitting?” Sue asked. Her breakfast usually consisted of a bowl of oatmeal.

  “Mr. Mitchell eats all of it. I am not sure how much you’ll eat until I see what you do. I’ll adjust the portions as I notice a pattern.”

  “Are you going to church?” Sue asked as Lydia left the room. She took a bite of the ham. Lydia was a much better cook than she was.

  “Yes. Aren’t you?” He poured honey on his pancakes.

  She nodded. “I did go to the church on Jefferson Street, but I suppose since we are married, I will go with you. Which church do you attend?”

  “The one on Washington Avenue.”

  “Is the preacher there good?”

  “I wouldn’t go if he wasn’t. He sticks to the Bible.”

  She liked to hear that.

  They spent most of the meal in silence.

  When Lydia came in to announce Henry’s arrival, she added, “And I look forward to the play tonight,” before she cleared the table.

  “What play?” Jake asked.

  “Oh, it’s nothing major. Every year the library puts on a play that the children act in. Trevor wrote this one.”

  “I didn’t know you liked plays.”

  “I love them. When I read Shakespeare, I pretend I’m in the theater watching the actors on stage. I know the children’s play doesn’t compare to an actual theater, but it’s as close as I’ll ever get to seeing an on stage production. I do have fun directing the play.” She stood up. “Where is my coat?”

  He led her to the front door where Ralph was waiting with their coats, hats and gloves.

  She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her long black coat. At least she wouldn’t have to ask Mrs. Parker and her team to make another one. Ralph helped her with her coat. As she put on her hat and gloves, she noticed that Jake’s coat was similar to hers, though with a masculine trim. “Are we supposed to match?”

  “I figured we should look good together when we go out.”

  “I know. People are watching.” She marveled that he could be so concerned about what others thought of him. His whole world was about impressing people he didn’t care much for. And he was afraid a wife would control him when strangers already control most of what he does.

  Chapter Seven

  Out of curiosity, Jake decided to attend the Christmas play at the auditorium later that day. He was surprised by how many people went to the event. Mrs. Walker was at the table collecting donations. “You don’t have to give if you don’t want to,” she told each person who walked through the door.

  “Where do your donations go?” one man asked.

  “To fixing the library, costumes and other supplies for future plays and additional books,” she warmly replied. “My goal is to provide a fun place for adults and children to enjoy the thrill of reading.”

  “I can handle that.”

  “Oh, you can just slip the money into this box. I don’t want to know who gives what. I’m just pleased people offer so much. This donation takes care of the entire year most of the time.”

  “Well, I can’t wait to see Trevor’s play this year,” another man commented. “My son is one of the lead characters.”

  “Really? My little Annabelle is one of the Temptations. I believe she’s named Lazy Time.”

  Jake watched the scene in amusement. He saw people from all economic levels enter the auditorium. Some were dressed nicely and others were dressed poorly, but all of them were in good spirits and expected to enjoy seeing their children, grandchildren or nieces or nephews who were involved in the production.

&nb
sp; As he placed his donation in the box, Mrs. Walker stopped him. “Will you be joining me and my husband for dinner after the show?”

  “No. I have other plans.”

  “Oh. I thought since your wife was coming over that you would too.”

  He frowned. Sue didn’t tell him that she was going to Mrs. Walker’s house.

  “It’s a tradition we have. To thank her for all her work in putting the play together, I have her over for dinner. We only do it once a year,” she continued. “I suppose I should be honored she comes by that often because she already declined several invitations to luncheons and dinners. She’s very selective about who she chooses to spend her time with.”

  “She told me she looks forward to her quiet time at home.”

  “Yes. She always has her nose in a book when she’s not entertaining the children at the library.”

  “Is that what her job is?” He hadn’t thought to ask anything about it before.

  “It’s one of her jobs. She also updates the card catalogue, puts books back on the shelves and orders new books. Sometimes someone will come in looking for a certain book but they can’t remember the name of it, and as soon as they start describing it, she can name the title. I don’t know how she does it. It’s her gift I guess. She has an excellent memory.”

  “Apparently, she is well liked.” He was pleased by the observation. She was a completely different person from the one who stormed her way into his office at the bank.

  Mrs. Walker chuckled. “She isn’t boring, that’s for sure. If she doesn’t like someone, she let’s them know it. But she is loyal to the death for her friends.”

  “And her family too.” Why else would she confine herself to a marriage she didn’t want?

  “Yes, them too. I hate to end this conversation, but I do need to get back to the table. Mrs. Edwards will give you a copy of the program. If this play is as good as the show at your wedding, we’re in for a treat. I haven’t read the script but I know Trevor does a good job.”

  He thanked her and entered the auditorium.

  “Jake, I didn’t know you were coming,” Justin said as he walked over to him.

  “You come to these things?” Jake asked, surprised.

  “Of course. My two sons are in the play. Why don’t you sit with us?”

  He shrugged. “Alright.” He usually sat alone at the theater but decided to accept Justin’s offer since Justin wouldn’t bother him about dinner afterwards. He was relieved that Sue meant it when she said she didn’t like to do that kind of socializing either.

  After he sat down, he opened the program and read through the list of names of everyone involved in the production. Then he read the synopsis of the play: “Six children leave home to find their way to the true meaning of Christmas. The angel tells them not to stray from the path or they will get lost. The Six Temptations are determined to make sure they don’t make it.” It sounded interesting enough. He wondered what kind of writer Trevor was, and this would give him a good chance to find out.

  “If you have children of your own, they can be in a play too,” Justin whispered.

  “Will you stop? I already told you that’s not going to happen.”

  “Will you please leave the poor man alone?” Justin’s wife told Justin. “He and Sue know what they’re doing.”

  “Yes, I suppose you’re right.”

  Jake silently thanked her.

  The lights dimmed and the play started. Jake noted the children created the scenery and some of the costumes were poorly sewn together, but the audience didn’t care. He had to admit that the play was entertaining, despite the fact that the children had trouble remembering some of their lines.

  A seven year old girl wearing a pink dress was talking to the third temptation named Lazy Time. That must be Annabelle.

  Annabelle, who was fourteen, spoke her lines:

  “Tell me this, little Claire,

  Who did tell you to beware

  The joy of sleep where dreams await?

  Come with me now, for the hour is late.”

  The girl playing Claire said:

  “I do confess my eyes are falling,

  And...And...”

  From the side of the stage, someone whispered to her. She turned to the person. “What?” she loudly whispered.

  The people in the audience chuckled.

  “She’s so cute,” a woman told the person next to her.

  Claire nodded and continued:

  “I do confess my eyes are falling,

  And I hear the Sandman calling.

  With you, Lazy Time, I will go,

  Show me the way to your pillow.”

  At another point in the play, another angel appeared before the three children left on the path. “That’s my son, Ryan,” Justin told Jake.

  Ryan, dressed in white with wings and a halo, said:

  “Behold three are lost who started this way,

  Who now has the wisdom to stay?”

  The three children remaining made their reply though one boy was out of sync with the other two children:

  “We will stay on the path that was set,

  We promise that we shall not forget.

  Though temptation comes our way

  We do possess the wisdom to stay.”

  “Wasn’t he adorable?” Justin’s wife asked her husband.

  He smiled, obviously proud of his son. “He worked so hard on those two lines.”

  Jake marveled that despite the mistakes the children made, the audience thought those errors were endearing.

  Finally, there was one boy left. Jake recognized Mr. Walker’s twelve year old son.

  The Sixth Temptation called Doubt, a ten year old girl, called out to him:

  “Jesse, I hear your footsteps on the leaves

  What brings you here this Christmas eve?”

  Mr. Walker’s son replied:

  “I come seeking the meaning that eludes me,

  I wish to know the answer behind the mystery.”

  Doubt shook her head sadly and said:

  “Such an answer you will not find,

  The angel you spoke to was most unkind;

  He promised something that isn’t true,

  Come with me and I’ll comfort you.”

  The boy replied:

  “Though you cast doubts on my heart

  I will finish the path that I did start;

  Go your way for I will not turn aside,

  Though there is now no one by my side.”

  She gracefully left him, and he finished the path to find a baby in a manger with Mary and Joseph and shepherds. Jake recognized Justin’s other son who played Joseph.

  The angel who instructed the six children to start the path, showed up again and said:

  “Now find the answer that you sought,

  Your journey hasn’t been for naught;

  Behold the child when he is thirty three

  Will go to the cross at Calvary;

  And on the cross He will die to rise again,

  Lord and King, He will cleanse all sin.

  At Christmas we celebrate His birth,

  Praise Him all you that breathe on the Earth.”

  When the production ended, Mrs. Walker walked onto the stage and thanked everyone for attending. “I must say, Trevor Lewis outdid himself this year,” she said. “Of course, the children make the play come alive. I would like to thank our director, Mrs. Mitchell.”

  Sue looked shy but appeared on stage and smiled.

  “Is that Sue Lewis?” a man asked from behind Jake.

  “Yes,” another man answered him.

  “If I knew she looked that good, I would have married her.”

  “She’s only going to be with Jake Mitchell for six months. Their marriage is strictly business and platonic.”

  “Hmm...Maybe I should stop by the library and pick up a book sometime.”

  Jake turned around. “You enjoyed the play that much?” He smiled despite his irritation.


  The man’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry, Mr. Mitchell. I didn’t know you would be here.”

  “Why not? She is my wife.” He emphasized the words ‘my wife.’

  The man nodded. “I understand.”

  Jake nodded in return and turned back to the stage where Sue was announcing all the children and their roles in the production of the play.

  Justin snickered next to him. “You won’t last six months before you admit you want to keep her.”

  “Nonsense,” he snapped. It shouldn’t have bothered him that available, good looking, young bachelors were beginning to take note of her. It meant that he made a good choice. Why couldn’t he be happy with that?

  ***

  The next afternoon after Jake came home from work, there were five dozen flowers sent from different bachelors congratulating Sue on her part in the play. What are single men doing going to these events? It was clearly a family-oriented production.

  “Has Sue seen these?” he asked Lydia.

  “No, sir. She’s been at work all day,” she replied, her eyes wide. “Who knew she would become so popular after marrying you?”

  “Indeed. Who knew?” He scowled at the flowers. “Throw them out. This is my house and she is still my wife. Those men have no right to try to court her. They should at least have the decency to wait until May 21.”

  “Right away, sir.”

  “Wait!” He took the cards. “I want to know who I need to watch out for. And I don’t want Sue to know about this,” he growled before he headed for the den. He sourly sat at his desk and sorted through the cards.

  Dear Sue, I saw the performance last night. You did a wonderful job as director, and Trevor’s writing continues to improve. I have some important news to discuss. I will be by to see you soon. Donald Cline.