Amelia decided to take a break from the dishes and collapsed onto the sofa. In a way, she was glad that she had a small break to be alone before Felix returned from work. Her mind was reeling after her long journey from Boston to Nowhere. She had hardly had a second to gather her thoughts.
From the moment Mrs. Thatcher had mentioned this opportunity, Amelia had realized that her life was about to change dramatically. Ever since her parents had died, her life had been a series of upheavals. First, she had to leave her family’s apartment to work at the factory Mr. Stanley had known about. She got a job. Just when she had settled in, a man showed up at the crowded boarding house she lived in with other factory workers. He had told her that she owed money to him on her parents’ behalf.
Even now, years later, Amelia’s heart beat faster as she thought about how the man had threatened her if she didn’t pay him what he was owed. Amelia’s parents hadn’t included her in conversations about money before they had died. She had no idea if what the man was telling her was true or not, but he seemed dangerous, and he had scared her.
Each month, a group of men came to the boardinghouse on the day Amelia was paid. Although her paycheck was very small, they took everything that was leftover. They told Amelia that her parents owed so much money, she would be paying them back for decades.
Amelia had thought about reporting the men to the police, but one day, she’d gone into the Boston Police Station. As she waited for an officer to meet her, she saw the very man who had come to her house and threatened her life if she didn’t pay.
After that, Amelia had kept to herself. She didn’t have any friends at the boardinghouse. She was afraid to get them mixed up in the debt she owed the men. She knew that eventually her debt would be paid off, but every time she asked about when that would be, the men never gave her a clear answer. She dreamed of one day escaping Boston, but she wasn’t able to afford a train ticket.
When Mrs. Thatcher had told her about Nowhere, it had seemed like a dream come true. The next train out was that very evening. Mrs. Thatcher had given her the remaining pay she was owed, and since it wasn’t a regular payday, the men hadn’t come and taken most of it.
Amelia felt guilty, but she’d had no way to contact the men. She knew what they looked like, and she knew that one of them worked with the police, but she didn’t know their names or where to find them. She had paid the men most of her earnings for years. Surely that would have to be good enough.
Amelia shuddered as she imagined Felix finding out about her parents’ debts and how she’d left Boston. She hoped he’d never find out. Although she felt honesty was important in a marriage, she was too ashamed to tell Felix about this. The secret about her parents’ behaviors and debts would have to stay in the past. Plus, she was in Texas. The debt collectors were miles and miles away. She hoped that soon, they’d forget all about her.
Amelia stood up with a renewed sense of purpose. She was committed to making sure her life with Felix was perfect. She’d scrub his clothes, polish his floors, and cook him gourmet meals. And though they hadn’t had a minute to discuss it yet, she hoped that he’d want children just as much as she did.
Amelia finished cleaning the dishes from breakfast. When she was done, she made herself a small bowl of porridge. She still wasn’t hungry, but she knew she should eat something. She knew it was going to be a hard day of work.
After she had eaten, she washed her bowl and spoon and put them away. She swept the floor, washed the windows, and organized the pantry. She took stock of the ingredients Felix had and decided that she would make a chicken pot pie for dinner.
She quickly got used to where Felix kept everything, carefully measuring the flour for the crust. Once she had fully prepared the crust, she filled it with chicken and vegetables. She hoped Felix would like it.
Besides preparing dinner, Amelia also unpacked all of her belongings. She didn’t have much, but she had managed to keep a few pieces of jewelry that had belonged to her mother and some clothes that still fit her from when she was in school. Everything else had been handed over to the men her parents owed money to. She tucked her clothes into the drawers next to Felix’s things, imagining that one day she would have to fit their children’s clothes into the same drawers. She hoped that day wasn’t too far in the future. She had always wanted a houseful of children.
Once she had cleaned the house from top to bottom and set the chicken pot pie on the kitchen table to cool off, Amelia turned her attention to dessert. She had made an extra crust that morning and searched the pantry for the perfect filling. She found a jar of strawberry preserves and filled the crust with strawberry, then braided the rest of the crust to form the top part of the pie.
As the pie was baking, Felix came home. “It smells fantastic in here!”
“Thank you.” Amelia blushed. “How was your day at work?”
“It was a pretty good day. Nothing unusual happened, which is just how I like it,” Felix explained. He took off his work boots and flexed his feet. “Looks like you were busy around here!” He noticed how the small home sparkled. Amelia had clearly done some deep cleaning.
Amelia shrugged modestly. “I don’t like to sit still.”
Felix came closer to her and gave her a kiss. He still couldn’t believe this kind, generous woman was his actual wife. He sniffed the air. “What is that? It’s so sweet and fruity.”
“I made a strawberry pie for dessert,” Amelia told him. “But first we’ll eat the chicken pot pie.”
“Mm.” Felix sighed with joy. “That’s my favorite! I think it’s because my mother used to make it all the time when I was younger.”
Amelia looked at the ground. She felt strange whenever Felix mentioned his mother. It made her remember that she was never going to see her own mother again.
Felix noticed that Amelia was acting strangely. “What’s wrong?”
Amelia shook her head. “Nothing. Are you hungry?”
Felix took her hand gently into his own. “Amelia. Something is clearly wrong. You can talk to me about it.”
Amelia pulled away from Felix. “I’d rather not.”
“You can tell me anything, you know,” Felix continued. He hated the idea of Amelia feeling like she had to hide anything from him.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Amelia said. “Come on, let’s eat dinner.”
Felix sighed and sat down at the table. “All right.” Eventually she’d have to tell him whatever was bothering her. He just hoped it didn’t take her too long.
Amelia cut the chicken pot pie and served it on two dishes. She placed one in front of Felix and one at her own spot at the table. “I hope you like the way I made the chicken pot pie.”
“Thank you,” Felix replied. He cut into his food and exhaled slowly. “This is delicious, Amelia.”
Amelia relaxed a little and tried to enjoy her food. She decided to try a topic that she was more comfortable with. “There are some ingredients I’d like to buy to have around the house. Where do you do your shopping?”
“There’s a mercantile in town, not too far from the church where we got married. I can take you there after work, or I can tell you how to get there,” Felix said.
Amelia thought for a moment. “I’d need a few of the things for the dinner I’m planning tomorrow, so I think I can go on my own as long as it’s not too complicated.”
Felix chuckled. “No, it’s not hard at all.” He stood up, found a piece of paper, and brought it back to the table. Between bites, he sketched out a map to the mercantile. “You shouldn’t have any trouble finding it. Once you get there, the owners are very kind. In fact, the owner’s wife is one of Edna Petunia’s adopted daughters.”
“Oh, wow! That family seems to be involved with everything in this town,” Amelia remarked. “It will be nice to meet her if she’s around.”
Felix nodded. “She mostly cares for their children, but sometimes she helps out in the mercantile, too.”
“I’m excite
d to meet more people in town. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet that I really live here,” Amelia admitted. She didn’t feel self-conscious or nervous about Felix. She felt like she could talk to him about almost anything. Perhaps one day, she would even tell him about her parents’ struggles and the debts she had worked to pay off for so long. But for now, she was determined to keep that part of her life a secret.
Felix smiled at his new wife across the table. He was glad to see her planning to go shopping on her own and being eager to make new friends. She’d fit into their little town in no time at all. He wanted her to feel like she was part of things, so she’d want to stay. He worried she would take off in the middle of the night with all her secrets.
Amelia smiled back at Felix, feeling peaceful and content. With each passing day, she felt more and more at home. Coming to Nowhere had been exactly what she had needed.
Four
The next morning, Amelia woke up early to cook and clean, and the new couple ate breakfast together. After Felix left for work, Amelia reviewed the map he had drawn for her. She had carefully listed out the ingredients she wanted to buy, and Felix had explained to her how to get the items charged to his account.
Once she had memorized the map, she tucked it in her apron pocket and left the house. The route into town was fairly simple, and Amelia followed Felix’s directions easily.
The day was sunny and dry, and the hilly terrain made Amelia grateful that the long hours she had spent in the factory had kept her in good physical condition. She found that she much preferred being outside and thought she might be able to fit in a walk each morning if she planned her time carefully.
For most of the walk, she didn’t see a single other person. Then, on the last turn before she arrived on Main Street, an older man suddenly approached her.
“Dear!” the man called. “Can you tell me how to get to Main Street?”
Amelia swallowed. She wasn’t sure why, but something about the man made her fearful and distrusting of him. “I believe it’s that way,” she said, pointing in the direction she’d learned from Felix’s map.
The man perked up at Amelia’s accent. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
Amelia folded her arms across her chest. Everyone she’d met so far in Nowhere had been nothing but gracious and welcoming. She probably had nothing to worry about, but this man was completely unfamiliar to her. And Amelia didn’t think her husband would want her speaking to a strange man she didn’t know. “Excuse me, but I need to be on my way.”
“I hope you find everything you’re looking for,” the old man called as Amelia hurried away.
Once Amelia got to the mercantile, she tried to shake off her bad feelings about the strange encounter. She took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
“Let me guess. You’re Amelia, right?” the woman behind the counter asked. She held a small girl on her hip, rocking her back and forth.
“That’s right!” Amelia was startled. “How did you know?”
“I’m Ruby. I know you’ve already met my adoptive mother, Edna Petunia, my sister, Sarah Jane, and my brother-in-law, Pastor Micah. Soon enough, I’m sure you’ll meet all fifteen of us.” The woman chuckled. Amelia saw that she had a beautiful smile.
“Pleased to meet you,” Amelia replied. “You’re the wife of the owner of the mercantile, right?”
“Yes,” Ruby replied. “I’m helping out today while he’s at the bank. Have you been there yet?”
Amelia shook her head. “This is the first place I’ve been to. I have a few things I wanted to pick up.” She took her list out and showed it to Ruby.
Ruby nodded. “Yes, we have everything on your list. Let me help you find them.”
“Thank you!” Amelia felt relieved. The negative emotions she’d experienced over her encounter with the strange man began to evaporate, and she relaxed, talking and joking with Ruby. She hoped she'd have a chance to spend time with Ruby, since she enjoyed her company and appreciated having someone who knew all about living in Nowhere.
Ruby guided her through the aisles, pointing out the exact items Amelia wanted.
When Amelia was prepared to check out, a look of concern flickered across Ruby’s face. She set her daughter down and lowered her voice. “Do you know anyone besides Felix in this town?”
Amelia’s heartbeat quickened. She could tell that what Ruby was talking about was serious. “No, except for the people you mentioned—Sarah Jane, Micah, Edna Petunia, Cletus, and Felix. They’re the only people I’ve met so far. What’s wrong?”
Ruby took a deep breath. “There were two separate men who came in here, asking about you. One said he was your uncle . . . but that didn’t sound right to me. Do you have any idea who they were?”
A chill ran down Amelia’s spine. First, the strange man in the woods. Now, two men had asked about her in the town mercantile. Had they followed her all the way from Boston?
Amelia shook her head, suddenly feeling shaky. “No, I don’t have any idea who that was. My parents are dead, and they didn’t have any sisters or brothers.”
“Are you all right?” Ruby asked, her face filled with concern.
“I should go home now,” Amelia said abruptly. She suddenly didn’t feel safe and wanted to be back in her own home. She spun around and walked toward the door.
“Amelia?” Ruby called.
“What?” Amelia’s heart pounded loudly as she turned around.
“Do you still want these?” Ruby gestured to the items Amelia had brought to the counter.
Amelia walked slowly back to Ruby. “Yes, I do.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? You seem upset,” Ruby said gently.
Amelia knew she was behaving strangely, and she didn’t want Ruby to worry about her. “I’m not feeling well,” she told Ruby. It was partly true. Ever since Ruby had mentioned that two men had asked about her, she had felt sick to her stomach. “I’d like to get home.”
“Of course.” Ruby put Amelia’s things into a small sack and handed them to her. “I’ll put these purchases on Felix’s account. You go on now, and I hope you feel better, Amelia.”
“Thank you,” Amelia said gratefully as she took the sack and hurried out of the store.
With every step Amelia took closer to home, she thought of the mysterious men who had asked Ruby about her and the stranger who had asked her for directions. She hoped that she was overreacting and that there was a simple explanation, but so far, she hadn’t been able to think of anything.
When Amelia reached Felix’s home, she set her items down on the front porch and walked all the way around the house. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for, exactly, but she felt more comfortable once she had made a complete circle.
When she was done, she picked up the groceries shakily and went into the house, moving slowly and quietly. Amelia poured herself a glass of water and sat down at the kitchen table. She tried to think rationally.
She had no evidence that the debt collectors had followed her from Boston to Texas. It seemed highly unlikely. Then again, who were the men who had been asking about her at the mercantile? And who was the man who had stopped and asked her for directions? Both occurrences seemed out of the ordinary. Was there a simple explanation for it all?
Amelia tried to think of one, but nothing came to her. She sat at the dining room table, sobbing silent tears, until Felix came home.
“Hello!” Felix called cheerily.
Amelia wiped her face quickly and tried to smile. “Hello, Felix. How was your day?” Her voice wavered a little as she spoke.
Felix rushed over to her. “What’s wrong, Amelia?”
“Nothing!” Amelia stood up and rushed to the stove. “I’m sorry dinner isn’t ready yet. I’ll get started right away. I suppose the afternoon got away from me.”
Felix shook his head. “I don’t care about dinner being late. I care about you, Amelia. And something seems wrong. Have you been crying?” Felix walked up close and put his han
d on her cheek delicately. “Oh, Amelia.”
“I’m fine,” Amelia insisted.
“You can tell me if something’s bothering you,” Felix told her.
“I know that,” Amelia said.
“Please, Amelia. Tell me what’s going on so I can help you,” Felix pleaded.
Amelia shook her head.
“It seems like there’s so much you’re hiding, Amelia,” Felix said, frustrated.
This sent Amelia into a wave of fresh tears. “I don’t want to talk about it. It’s nothing that concerns you!” Amelia clapped a hand over her mouth. She had probably said too much.
Felix’s expression softened. “Amelia, anything related to you in any way concerns me. How could you think otherwise? You’re my wife.”
Amelia took a deep breath. “I know that. But there are some things . . .” She trailed off.
Felix waited patiently for her to say more.
Finally, Amelia began to speak again. “There are some things that happened to me when I was younger, things that happened because of decisions my parents made. I want to put that part of my life behind me.”
Felix nodded. “I think I understand. You don’t want to worry about what happened in the past, because it’s in the past.”
“Exactly.” Amelia tried to smile. Her entire body felt weary and exhausted. “I want to focus on us and the new family we’re building together.”
“Family?” Felix tried to lighten his tone. He knew Amelia was upset, but he wanted to respect her wishes not to talk about it. “I like the sound of that.”
“I do, too,” Amelia agreed. “And that’s what I want with you. Soon.”
Felix grinned. “How soon, exactly?”
Amelia blushed. “As soon as possible. Assuming that’s what you want.”
“That’s exactly what I want, Amelia.” Felix felt so happy and content that he and Amelia wanted the same things. He was a lucky man.
Amelia tried to imagine what their children might look like. She hoped they’d get his easygoing manner and sense of humor. He was someone who put everyone around him at ease all of the time. But as much as she wanted to envision their perfect future together, thoughts of the debtors kept flooding into her mind.
Amelia’s Arrangement: Madame Matchmaker Page 3
