A Most Precious Pearl

by Piper Huguley

  In the protected circumstance of the Morson home, Asa could see that she was a crackerjack housewife, as he knew that she would be, and she knew he would be an amazing father. He took wonderful care of Solomon, and gave a great deal of relief to the household by keeping the energetic four-year-old occupied and distracted. He even started to teach him letters.

  One day two weeks later, Asa went to make his report to Ruby. Before that, he had ducked his head inside to tell her good morning and good night, but had not really visited with her, lest she get upset over his report. Adam did not want anything to upset Ruby too much and Asa understood his protectiveness.

  Mags made her sister a small bed jacket and put Ruby’s hair up on top of her head. She climbed off of her usual perch in the bed next to her sister. She tried not to stare at him, or to be moved by his handsome good looks. It wasn’t working.

  “Well, well.” Ruby’s look at Asa brooked no nonsense. “Please. Have a seat and make your report.”

  “I presume that you’ve read my reports.”

  Ruby sobered. “I have. It’s good that you went. It’s even better you are back. Sounds like things are getting even worse.”

  “They are.”

  “And these reports will let other people know the horrors that have been going on. Thank you.”

  Asa nodded. “Thank you, ma’am. You look well.”

  “You lie well. But I appreciate it.”

  “In the horror, I found succor, and I want to thank you for that.”

  Ruby nodded rather formally. “Yes, I have heard. Do you intend to marry my sister?”

  “If she’ll have me.”

  “No,” Mags did not hesitate. The two of them stared at her as if she were ready to be signed into the looney bin. “You’re a very nice man. You play well with Solomon. You write wonderfully. I’m not going to marry where I’m not welcome.”

  Asa looked down at his hands. “I’ll make her understand.”

  “People aren’t made to understand. They just do as they will.”

  “She’ll do as I will.” Asa spoke so forcefully, that she almost jumped out of her skin. She composed herself, resolved not to let him or his pretty words get to her.

  “Asa, please invite your mother to dinner tomorrow,” Ruby offered.

  “As you wish, ma’am.” Asa nodded back at her.

  “How’ll you make that happen when you are in bed?” Mags demanded.

  “I won’t. You will.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Ruby fixed her sister with a sharp look. “It’s my house. I feel that I have to consult with Elodie about the fall bazaar.” She stroked her belly.

  Mags felt a fist close over her heart, but she knew she owed her sister. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

  “Thank you.” Ruby leaned back on her pillows, appearing as a satisfied cat.

  “And now, you should go home to your mother, since that’s where you really belong,” Mags put in.

  “Mags! You should not speak to our guest in that way.”

  “I’m sorry, I did not mean to be rude, sister, only truthful.”

  “And Pearl knows how to be truthful with me.” Asa looked amused at her outburst, instead of angry, which made her angrier.

  “Pearl?” Ruby said looking between them.

  “That’s what I’m going to call her from now on. Mags doesn’t suit her at all as far as I can see.”

  Mags walked out of the room with clenched fists. She was resolved to do as Ruby wanted and then she would make it clear—Asa had to go. But even as she thought it, she had a horribly empty feeling that things would be too, too quiet after he had gone.

  Chapter Twenty

  To do what Ruby wanted in less than one day took all of her organizing skills. If Mags knew how to curse, she would have, but then she felt bad, thinking of poor Ruby with her big stomach, and dark circles under her eyes waiting for her baby to come, praying for the baby to be healthy. Adam told her that this baby, when it came, would be Ruby’s last.

  Please forgive me, dear God. Look out for my sister and little one.

  The dinner would be delicious, a beautiful roast with vegetables, a tall caramel cake and special summer peach tea. She woke early in the darkness, which in the summer was saying something, and began her day.

  When she organized breakfast, she was chagrined to see Asa was already there with Solomon, planning on what to do for the day. At about three o’clock, he would take Solomon for a ride and go retrieve his mother for the meal.

  The clock, then, became Mags’s enemy. The house required a thorough going over cleaning-wise as well, because Ruby had been sick and had not been able to see to certain tasks for a long time. She and the maid worked hard, polishing furniture, beating rugs and polishing silverware. At about two o’clock, she went upstairs to take a bath inside of the bathroom, one of those luxuries that she could not get over, and dressed in her best white dress, piling her hair up on top of her head in a puffy cloud. At precisely four o’clock, she heard Asa make his way into the foyer with his mother, Solomon in tow.

  When she finished her preparations and presented herself in front of her sister, Ruby told her, “Keep the door open so that I can hear.”

  “You owe me big,” Mags muttered.

  “You look just beautiful.” Ruby clasped her hands.

  “I appreciate the boost, but I don’t want to do this.”

  “When you are finished with dinner, ask Elodie if she can come upstairs. Adam should be home soon, so I’ll be all right.”

  “Call out if you aren’t. And if not, then I can check on you. Or I can just stay up here.”

  “Get down there and do what you know how.” Ruby waved her away as if she were a fly and inconsequential.

  Mags grabbed a handful of her dress and alighted the stairs. She was glad that this dress had shorter sleeves ending at her elbow, so that she could be cool in this hot late-July day. Walking into the parlor, she was surprised to see that Solomon had finagled Elodie into reading him a story. Asa leaned on his cane to stand but she stilled him with a hand. She sat down on the chair opposite him, and watched as Elodie read to Solomon in a high-pitched voice, explaining all that Solomon wanted to know. As usual the explanations were extensive, because he was an inquisitive child.

  When she was done, she sat back and folded the book over and gave Solomon a pleased look. “There you go, young man. What did you think?”

  Solomon focused his devastating long-eyelashes look on the older woman. “You did okay, but Mr. Asa does horse voices when he reads it. Maybe if you had done that, it would have been better.”

  She wanted to take Solomon away quickly at her nephew’s candor, but Elodie and Asa laughed. Elodie asked, “Well, who do you think taught him the horse voices, I would like to know?”

  “The horses?”

  They all laughed again and she joined in, despite her nerves. Elodie turned to her and nodded. “Miss Margaret. It’s good to see you under some different circumstances.”

  “Yes. The train trip was a tiring event. I wasn’t quite myself.” There was a period of silence and Mags stood, smoothing her skirt. “I apologize on behalf of my sister and brother-in-law, but Adam is out on a call, and Ruby is indisposed.”

  Elodie’s face took on worry. “I thought that she would be joining us.”

  “Given how stubborn she can be sometimes, she might have tried it, if she hadn’t had problems before with her health.” Mags put the situation in the delicate way that she knew an older woman would respond to.

  “Yes. I see.”

  “She asked if you would come up after dessert. If you don’t mind seeing her upstairs, that is.”

  “Highly irregular, but I haven’t seen her in such a long time. I would like to lay eyes on her myself.”

  “Fine. If you’re ready, the dinner ta
ble is set up for us in the dining room. Solomon will join us.”

  She could see her nephew’s gray eyes light up. “Gee whillikers,” he said.

  “But he must behave.”

  She wanted to laugh at the downcast look on Solomon’s face, but she kept her serious look as she guided them forward. Solomon took Elodie by the hand and escorted her into the dining room. The table was beautifully set and decorated with summer flower arrangements.

  Asa arranged for his mother to sit in a chair on one side of the table and made sure that Solomon was placed upon enough cushions on the other side of the table nearest to himself and Mags.

  “I’ll serve,” she announced.

  “The maid isn’t here?” Asa frowned.

  “I sent her home. She worked earlier today than usual.” And harder. She went into the kitchen donned a large duckcloth apron, and plated the roast and vegetables. The kitchen was hot, but she felt a cold trickle of sweat down her back as she lifted the steaming platter up and carried it through the door.

  “Should I carve?” Asa stood with an eager look on his face.

  Mags smiled at him. “If you wish.”

  “This is all very unusual,” was all Elodie could say.

  When Asa had served their plates, and said a rather sparse grace, they all began to eat in silence, except for small Solomon who was having a far easier time of it since Asa had cut his meat and vegetables.

  “I love this meat! May I have some more, please?”

  “I’m glad that you like it Solomon, but you need to eat your vegetables first.” Mags cut into her own roast and sampled the meat along with some vegetables. One of my best.

  “Your sister certainly sets a fine table,” Elodie said, the first nice thing to come from her.

  “Thank you,” she said, not sure how to respond.

  “Mother, as you know, Ruby has been on bedrest for almost a month. This is all Pearl’s doing. It’s wonderful, my love.”

  Later, upon reflection of the moment, she would laugh at the way Elodie’s head snapped around at the endearments Asa had put into his compliment, but at the time, it made her warm all over. “Thank you.”

  “Asa, I didn’t know that you were in the habit of speaking to young, unmarried women in such a fashion,” Elodie spoke around her food as she ate more of her dinner—which Mags noticed she had been doing nonstop since got her plate and grace was said.

  Asa gazed at her, his heart in his eyes this time. A thrill of joy went up her arms and she swallowed, pleased at his scrutiny, but somewhat chagrined at this close attention in front of his mother. “I’m in the habit of speaking that way to my fiancée. Pearl, will you be my wife?”

  Mags felt a little thrill as he said it and a bubble of delight worked its way up her throat and unintentionally come out of her mouth. She could see that Elodie viewed her as if she had two heads, but she couldn’t help it. “I’m so glad that you like the roast, Mr. Caldwell, but you don’t have to propose to me about it.”

  “Well,” Elodie said, pausing to lift her plate for more, “I’m glad to see that someone around here has some manners.”

  Asa laughed at what she said. “Pearl. It’s just that good. As are you.” He turned serious all of a sudden. “You’re worth it.”

  “If you marries him,” Solomon piped up, “then Mr. Caldwell can be my uncle and Mrs. Caldwell can be my, hmm.”

  Mags could see Elodie fixing him with a look of love and thought that she was a compassionate woman towards children, so she couldn’t be all bad. Maybe it might be okay, if she were to marry Asa. “I would be your great friend, Solly, as I always have been. But we would be family.” Elodie looked around. “Everything here is beautiful. You’re responsible for all of this?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Elodie had started to cut into the meat again and laid it down. “I wouldn’t be disloyal to my friend Ruby for anything, but she isn’t much of a housekeeper. If you turned this house around from what it was, speaks volumes for your skills. I have never seen it look this way before. I’ve had dinner here in the past, but the food has never been this delicious before.”

  “It’s all Pearl, mother. She helped her mother with boarders in their home in the South. I’m firmly convinced she can do anything.” Asa’s eyes sparkled at her.

  “Thank you.”

  “I didn’t know you when you first arrived, Miss Margaret, but I have to admit, you are a wonder to have turned your sister’s circumstances around. You are to be congratulated. If you’re what Asa wants, then…” Elodie picked up her fork and knife and ate some more of her meat, “…God’s blessings on you. Get him out of the house. He’s getting on to thirty, for goodness sake.”

  Asa stood, and Mags did as well, in spite of herself. She came to him and they embraced. Right in front of his mother, he kissed her, but quickly on her lips with a peck, not lingering as he had done before. She wanted to melt away, but when she looked back at Elodie, she was eating. Solomon had slipped away declaring that he was going to tell his mother.

  “I love you, my Pearl,” Asa declared, not caring anymore if Elodie heard.

  “I love you, Asa.”

  “So glad we’ve got that settled. No more Winslow for you. You’re never to go back to Winslow, ever.”

  “Whatever you say.” Mags sighed with happiness as she put her head on his shoulder.

  “That was wonderful.” Elodie wiped her mouth with her napkin. “What’s for dessert?”

  “She made one of her layer cakes, Mother.”

  “Caramel.”

  Elodie clasped her hands and gazed at Mags with, she thought for the first time, fondness. “Would you like to work our fall bazaar? Ruby will still be recuperating with the baby and we need someone with your talents there.”

  “I would love to.” She nodded her head. “Let me get the coffee started for the cake.”

  “Yes indeed,” Elodie declared.

  Mags hummed a bit more as went into the kitchen and started organizing the coffee pot when she heard Solomon’s fast footfall into the dining room and his piping voice sounded alarmed. She went to the kitchen door and looked out. Both Asa and his mother looked up at her. Elodie spoke. “Solomon says his mother is making some funny noises in her bed.”

  She had never run so fast up the stairs before. When she emerged in the doorway, she saw her sister lying on the bed, grasping at the sheets. Ruby’s face was red with embarrassment. “I wet the bed. The baby is coming, Mags. I need help.”

  “I’m here.” She stepped forward on shaky legs. She wasn’t a nurse. That was Ruby.

  “Where’s Adam?”

  She searched her mind, in complete and sheer panic. “He’s on a call.”

  “He could be anywhere.” Ruby’s eyes were panicked and large. “I’m scared.”

  To her astonishment, Elodie came into Ruby’s room, rolling up her sleeves, donning another duck cloth apron. “Fine way to get me up here to discuss the fall bazaar, Ruby. I’ve sent Asa and Solomon off in the carriage to find your husband. We’ll have to make do ourselves here, miss.” Elodie’s look down at Ruby was filled with love and affection. Was it possible that Mags had misjudged this woman?

  Tears, not sweat, ran down Ruby’s face. This was Ruby, the powerhouse sister who organized lynching drives and created unions out of nothing. “I’m scared. If I lose this one, I want Adam to be here.”

  Elodie grasped Ruby’s hand and used her other to grasp Mags’s hand. “We’re going to pray.” Mags fell to her knees along with Elodie. “Dear God, we need you in this room today. We need you to give strength to our beloved sister Ruby, who has had a hard time of it God. We need you to be here by her side, God. Give her strength at this time and be with her and this new life she is trying to bring into the world. Help her, Lord. In your name, Amen.”

  “Amen,” Mags answered, stunned a
t the tears on her own face.

  “Amen,” Ruby whispered and Elodie pulled her sheets down and she quailed to see sister’s propped up thin legs against her impossibly huge stomach and that the bedsheets were completely wet.

  “Please wash your hands and arms,” Ruby said.

  Mags and Elodie went into the bathroom and washed thoroughly. “What if Adam doesn’t get here?”

  “We’ll have to bring the baby ourselves,” Elodie said. “I have had five children and Ruby is a nurse. I have to believe that’ll be enough until Asa finds him and he comes.”

  “I see.”

  “You aren’t squeamish are you, Miss Margaret?” Elodie demanded.

  “I can do this.” Mags swallowed, but stiffened her spine. She would do anything to help her sister.

  “Wonderful.” Elodie’s face carried a new respect for her. “Let’s go.”

  Gratefully, Mags took her turn at the washbowl after seeing Elodie march into the room. Please, please let Adam come. Let him come.

  He didn’t come.

  Reflecting back on it, she knew that the birth of Ruby’s daughter was the closest glimpse she would get into the face of God. Her heart cried out for joy when, just an hour later, the long, skinny body of Ruby’s daughter slid into her hands. The little girl squalled and cried. Elodie came forward and cut the cord, bringing clean linen to keep the baby warm, taking her into the washroom.

  “Is she okay?” Ruby sat up, understandably dazed at what had just happened having lost blood and some of the life forces.

  “She’s fine,” Elodie called out. “She’s as beautiful as her mother, with a head full of black hair and as white as a cotton ball.”

  She wanted to step in the bathroom to get the baby herself, but Elodie came forward with the squalling baby swaddled in her arms and handed her to Ruby. Ruby’s face transformed. “Oh. Oh, she’s beautiful. Mags, she looks like Solomon.”

  “She does.” She tried not to sniff as she viewed the wonder of her little niece.

  The light that shone from her sister’s eyes seemed to calm the baby. She knew who her mother was. “I love her so much, already. I was afraid that, when she came, she would be all blue like the others, but look at her. She’s beautiful.”