“Of course you could.”
“Pa, could we get our treats now?” Kate shifted on her feet, her eyes big as she looked up at her father.
Nathaniel chuckled, shaking his head. “Have patience, dear, but yes, go pick what you would like.”
As the children went to the display case, Adelia looked at Nathaniel and smiled.
“How has your day been?” he asked, sliding his hands into his pockets.
“Good, thank you. What about your day?”
“It’s been pretty busy, lots of work needing to be done around the farm.”
She nodded. “Yes, I can imagine there would be.”
Nathaniel walked to stand behind his children. “Do you know what you’d like?”
Adelia reached out to grab some plates off the stack by the display, as each child chose their sweets. She set each plate on the counter for them, and each said thank you before carrying their treats to a table by the window.
“Would you like anything, Mr. Ander—Nathaniel, I mean?” Adelia felt the color rushing to her cheeks as she stumbled over the new name she was allowed to use.
“I’ll just get a coffee please and get something for yourself too.”
She smiled, shaking her head. “I appreciate it, but I’m working right now.”
“There’s hardly anyone in here. Won’t you come sit for a few minutes with us?”
She looked to the table where the children were, and the mostly empty café before looking back at Nathaniel, whose light brown hair hung over his eyes slightly. “Oh, I suppose a short break wouldn’t hurt.”
Adelia counted up the total, and once he’d paid, she hurried to the kitchen to pour his coffee and get herself a cup of tea. “Is it all right if I take a short break, Mrs. Tiller?”
“Of course, dear, I always say you work too much anyway.”
“Thank you.” She picked up both mugs and pushed against the kitchen door with her hip until it was open enough for her to pass through. She made her way to where Nathaniel and his children were sitting and set the steaming cup down in front of him. “Do you want any milk or sugar?”
He shook his head. “I just drink it like this, thanks.”
Nodding, she sat down in the empty chair beside George who was more focused on licking his jam-covered fingers.
“Miss Mason?”
Adelia looked to where Kate was sitting and nodded. “Yes?”
“What is on your forehead?”
“Kate, where are your manners!” Nathaniel instantly snapped, and Adelia locked eyes with him as he cast her an apologetic glance.
Adelia just smiled, shaking her head. “It’s all right, I don’t mind. It’s a scar from where I hit my head when I was younger. I fell down some stairs.”
“It looks like it hurt.” Isabella frowned, taking a bite of her pie.
“It did. I was unconscious for a while and it took a long time to heal.”
Kate’s big, blue eyes looked up at her as she played with her hands. “I’m sorry I was rude, Miss Mason.”
Adelia reached across the table and rested her hand over Kate’s gently. “It’s all right. You were just curious, is all, and I don’t mind telling the story.”
For the rest of her visit, Adelia mostly sat quietly and drank her tea while she listened to the children tell detailed accounts of their days, and what they did at recess. By the time the children had left to get in the wagon, and Nathaniel helped her carry the dishes to the front counter, Adelia could tell that Isabella, George, and Kate were very well-behaved children with good hearts.
“Adelia?”
She looked up from where she was stacking the dirty plates and smiled. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry that Kate asked about your scar. I know you said you didn’t mind, but you know children. They don’t think before they speak sometimes.”
Adelia shrugged. “It’s okay, I’ve gotten used to it. It’s not going anywhere anytime soon, and I used to hate it, but it reminds me of how strong I was.”
“How old were you when it happened?”
“I’m not sure exactly what age. It was when I was in the orphanage. A couple of girls who didn’t like me very much actually pushed me, and that’s why I fell. Well, I did push one of them first because I was upset from them teasing me and—” Adelia trailed off, shaking her head.
She didn’t know why she had told him this detail of the “falling down the stairs” story. She’d purposely not told anyone before, but she felt like she could trust him for some reason. This trust scared her, and she instantly wished she could unsay it.
He raised his eyebrows, exhaling slowly, his eyes meeting hers. “I’m so sorry. That sounds like it was horrible.”
“It’s okay.” She stepped backward, plates in hand. “I need to get back to work. Thanks for the tea.”
Before he had a chance to respond, she hurried into the kitchen and let the door swing wildly back and forth on its hinges as she set the plates down by the basin with a clatter. Mr. Tiller jumped from where he was carving something in a piece of wood, and she cast him an apologetic glance.
She wasn’t sure what had come over her, but the way he’d been looking at her. And the way she’d told him not just that private thing, but other things she’d kept to herself for years as well—without even thinking about it—terrified her.
She just wanted to for once understand what was going on in her mind, and in her heart.
Chapter 22
It had been a couple of days since Nathaniel had taken the children for a treat, and to meet Adelia, and he hadn’t seen her since. He had considered going into the café as his normal routine as of lately had been. But every time he had reached the door, he had instantly turned around.
He knew he’d upset her by something he’d said during their brief conversation after the children had gone out to get in the wagon. He wasn’t quite sure what he’d done wrong, but he could tell by the expression on her face and her rushed exit that she was bothered by something.
Nathaniel now stood across the street, staring up at the Tiller Café, trying to decide if he’d left it too late to talk to her again. Heaving a sigh, he made his way across the road, realizing that this avoidance was silly. And that if he wanted whatever it was he wanted with Adelia, he needed to face whatever the problem was.
Stepping inside the door, the faint bell sounded, and he instantly looked to where Adelia was sitting on a stool behind the counter.
There was no one else in the café and the room seemed quieter than it normally did.
“Good morning,” he started, slowly walking to the counter. “How are you today?”
Her bright eyes looked at him from under her long eyelashes as she stood. “Good morning. I’m well, thank you.”
Nathaniel took a deep breath, deciding he wanted to get it over with. “I’m sorry that I upset you the other day.”
She widened her eyes, shaking her head. “Oh, Nathaniel, I wasn’t upset with you. I’m the one who ought to be apologizing. It’s not your fault. I…I got scared.”
“I made you feel that way, so that’s why I want to apologize.”
“Nathaniel.” She sighed, stepping out from behind the counter. “I was only afraid because I’d trusted you with something I’ve never told anyone. It scared me to give up parts of myself that were solely mine.”
He frowned, and hesitantly reached to take her hands. When she didn’t pull them away, he looked down at her small hands now in his. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to, but sometimes, I think it’s nice to share the burden of something painful with another person.”
“I know you’re right. Once I’d calmed down, it felt nice to have finally shared that with someone. It just scares me when I see myself going against everything I’ve done for so long to protect myself.”
“I’m not going to hurt you, Adelia. I won’t be like the people who hurt you before.”
“I want to believe you, I really do.”
He smiled, squeezing her hand gently. “It’s okay to be scared. I’m scared too.”
“You?” she said, shaking her head. “What are you afraid of?”
“I’m scared that I’m doing something wrong, and that I’m going to hurt the children. I feel like I’m betraying Isabella, and that she would be hurt by me moving on.”
Adelia’s blue eyes met his. “Based on what I’ve heard about her, I think she would have wanted you to be happy.”
“Yes, I know she would’ve. It still just feels like I’m guilty with something.”
“I understand. I can’t imagine how hard it was for you to lose your wife.”
Nathaniel shut his eyes for a few seconds. “Would you like to come for supper at my house this evening?”
“I’d love to. I finish work at four, so I could be there around five?”
“Five works for me.” Nathaniel smiled, looking down at her soft hands and for a few seconds he forgot he was standing in the middle of the café where someone could come in at any moment. He forgot that he had fences he needed to repair, and crops to check. All he could think of was the beautiful woman in front of him.
“Isabella, did you get the table set yet?” Nathaniel looked over his shoulder to the still empty table.
“I’m working on it, Pa.”
“Don’t forget the place for Miss Mason.”
Isabella sighed, reaching for the plates. “I won’t forget. You’ve told me a hundred times.”
Nathaniel scowled, turning back to the stove.
“Pa?”
“Yes, Isabella?”
“Do you like Miss Mason?”
He felt his eyes widen, as he turned back to face her. “Yes, Miss Mason is a good friend.”
“I just wondered because I don’t want you to feel bad if you find someone other than Ma. I know you’ll always love Ma, but I just want you to know, I’d be okay. So would George and Kate.” Isabella smiled, as she set a plate down.
“Thank you, dear.” He shook his head, feeling tears well up in his eyes. “When did you get so grown up?”
She laughed, moving to stand beside him as she stood on her toes to plant a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll always be your little girl, Pa.”
Nathaniel smiled and wrapped one arm around her. “Every day I see more and more of your mother in you.”
Just then, the door opened, and Kate came in, her cheeks tinted red as if she’d been running around. “I finished feeding the chickens.”
“Great, thank you. Did you happen to see your brother out there?”
“He went to get water.”
“All right, well, you two, go get cleaned up for supper.” Nathaniel smiled, as they both made their way up the ladder into the loft. He glanced at the table to make sure Isabella had finished what she’d been doing.
Sure enough, the table was set nicely, but his eyes were drawn to the vase in the middle with an assortment of flowers in it. Glancing up at the loft, he shook his head, realizing Isabella must have thought flowers were necessary for the meal.
Having Isabella say that she was okay with the possibility had made him feel a lot better about it, but he knew he still would need to discuss it with George and Kate. Perhaps nothing would end up happening with Adelia, other than friendship, but after getting to know her, a great part of him hoped she would remain in his life for a long time.
Chapter 23
Adelia stood inside the doorway of Nathaniel’s house, as he shut the door behind her. Kate and George were already seated at the table as she looked around at the room surrounding her.
“I brought a pie for dessert. It’s cream peach. I hope you’ll like it.”
“Ah, you remembered my baking skills,” he teased. “Thank you. The children will be thrilled.”
A fire was going in the stone fireplace on the other end of the room, and the smell of roasted chicken surrounded her.
“You can sit down there by Isabella. I just need to get the potatoes set out.”
“Can I help at all?”
“No, no. You’re a guest. Please have a seat.”
Adelia nodded, pulling the dark, wooden chair out from under the table and sat down next to the girl, whose blonde hair hung in two braids over each shoulder.
“Good evening, you three.”
“Good evening, Miss Mason,” they replied at the same time, and Adelia smiled, looking at each of them.
“How was school today?”
“Wonderful,” Kate began, a grin on her face, “We’re making family trees right now.”
Adelia nodded, glancing at Nathaniel who set a pot of steaming potatoes down in the middle of the table. “That sounds like fun.”
Nathaniel sat down at the end of the table and passed a pot of corn to Isabella before glancing up at her. “We usually just pass everything around.”
“All right, that works for me. Everything looks delicious. Thank you for having me.”
“You’re welcome. We’re glad you could come.”
Adelia smiled, looking around at the family around her. They all seemed to know their place within their home, and as soon as she’d stepped in the door, she could feel the warmth and love that surrounded the four of them.
Adelia had a few seconds where she found herself hoping she would have this someday, but as soon as the idea had come, it disappeared as she pulled herself back to reality.
“Miss Mason, would you like to come see the chickens?” Kate stood by the doorway, a bucket in her hands.
They had finished supper a while ago, and after George had declared the cream peach pie was the best he’d ever eaten, making everyone laugh, Adelia had helped Isabella with the dishes. While they were finishing up, the other two children had gone outside to do their chores.
“Kate, they’re just chickens. Miss Mason doesn’t need to see them,” Nathaniel said, as he set another log on the fire.
“Actually,” Adelia began, looking at Kate briefly. “I would like to, if that’s all right.”
Adelia noticed Nathaniel smile at her as she walked past him and followed Kate outside into the cool evening.
“My favorite animal is the chicken,” she explained, skipping over to the chicken coop on the far side of the barn.
Adelia soon caught up to her and looked into the pen where a few white chickens were walking back and forth, pecking at the ground. “Why are they your favorite?”
“Because they’re funny, and the sounds they make always make me laugh.”
Adelia watched one of the chickens turn its head at an angle that shouldn’t be possible, its beady eye seeming to look at her. “Yes, I suppose they are quite entertaining to watch.”
“A few weeks ago, we had a fox get into the pen and kill a few of them. It was really scary.”
“Oh dear, I’m sure that would’ve been scary. I’m glad they’re safe now.”
“Do you want to hold one?”
Adelia raised her eyebrows, trying to force a smile. “Hold the chickens?”
Kate nodded eagerly, already opening the door of the pen.
“Now, Kate, I just like to admire them from a distance.”
“They won’t hurt you. I’ll let you hold the nice one.”
“Kate…” Adelia trailed off, glancing to the house as if someone would come and stop Kate from pursuing this idea. Adelia hadn’t had much experience with animals, and it often made her feel anxious just to know that they could bite or scratch her at any time.
Kate stepped back out of the pen, a chicken held tightly in her arms as she kicked the door shut with her foot.
“Here, isn’t she so sweet?”
Adelia grimaced looking down at it. “She…sure is?”
“You can hold her now.”
Adelia glanced at the house one more time, unsure if this was really safe. Surely if Kate could hold it without having her eyes pecked out, she could too. Crouching down, she held her arms out as Kate passed the chicken to her, its wings beating as she did.
Adeli
a let out a small shriek, as she held the chicken at arm’s length with its wings still flapping.
Kate seemed to find this hilarious as she began to giggle. “Hold her wings down.”
Adjusting her hands, Adelia managed to stop the chicken from trying to fly away, even though she did know chickens couldn’t actually fly. Still, she held it as far from her as she could, noticing the red eye that looked at her intensely.
“Kate, what are you doing to Miss Mason?”
Adelia looked up at the house quickly, where Nathaniel was standing in the doorway shaking his head.
“She’s holding a chicken.”
“Yes, I can see that,” Nathaniel replied, walking over to them.
Adelia looked at Kate again, and held the chicken out for her. “All right, you’ll take the nice chicken from me now, won’t you?”
Kate effortlessly grabbed it and pulled it close, the chicken letting out a squawk as she did.
“Put the chicken back, dear.” Nathaniel now stood beside her, and Adelia looked up at him appreciatively.
As Kate carried it back to the coop, Adelia stood and wiped her hands on her dress.
“Sorry about that.” Nathaniel chuckled, shaking his head. “But it was funny to see you holding it as far away from you as you could. I wasn’t expecting to see that when I came out.”
“I’m glad you found it entertaining.” Adelia rolled her eyes, smiling at him.
“Thank you for coming again. I think the children enjoyed having someone else here for a change.”
“Well, thank you for having me. It was a lovely evening. I best be getting home now, because I have a few things I need to do around there.”
Nathaniel turned to face her, his dark eyes meeting hers. “Do you want a ride home?”
“No, thank you.” Adelia smiled, shaking her head. “I actually enjoy the walk. It’s not too far.”
“Well, all right. If you get eaten by a bear, though, you can’t complain to me.”
“If I get eaten by a bear, I don’t reckon I’ll be doing much of anything, never mind complaining.” Adelia laughed, and Nathaniel just smiled, glancing at Kate who now stood beside them.
A Chance to Love (Life's a Chance Book 3) Page 7
