“I feel exactly the same way,” she said softly, filled with admiration and love for him.
Adelia was so grateful she’d found Nathaniel, because he’d shown her that sometimes you just have to trust someone, even if it’s terrifying, because there was a certain magic about allowing people to see a little bit inside of you. Of course, Adelia also knew that there were some things she would keep to herself a little longer, and maybe even forever, but that it was okay to do that.
It was okay to have things that are solely your own, as long as they don’t stop you from connecting with the good people around you.
Chapter 29
Nathaniel laughed as Kate ran into his arms, and he lifted her up and spun her around a few times as she giggled wildly. He had decided to take the children to the creek today to fish and spend time with just the four of them before Adelia would be moving in and becoming a part of their family. He had proposed two weeks ago, and they were to be married tomorrow in the church. He was excited and nervous all at the same time.
All three children were beyond excited for Miss Mason, as they still called her, to live with them because as Isabella said, “She will be better at cooking than Pa.”
This Nathaniel knew was true, because likely anyone else would be better at cooking than him. And he did feel relieved to have the job taken from him since it had given him much stress over the past few years.
“Pa! I caught something!” George called from his spot on the bank.
“Do you need help getting it in?”
“No, I’ve got it.”
Nathaniel set Kate down as he watched his son lift a small fish out of the water with his line. He couldn’t believe how fast they had grown in what had seemed like such a short time.
Isabella leaned against a tree eating the handful of raspberries she’d found, and he sat down beside her.
“Want one?”
He nodded, holding his hand out as she dropped a few into his palm. “Thank you.”
Popping one into his mouth, he watched as Kate bent down to draw something in the mud with a stick. “How are you doing, Isabella?”
“I’m good, Pa. Why do you ask?”
He glanced down at her and smiled as she braided a section of her honey blonde hair. “I just wanted to make sure. You know, because things will be changing soon.”
“You mean when you marry Miss Mason and she becomes our step-ma?”
Nathaniel scratched the back of his neck. “Yes, dear, that’s what I mean. I just want to make sure you’re okay with it. I know it will be an adjustment.”
“I’m not scared, Pa. I’ll always miss Ma, but you deserve to be happy too.”
“Have your brother or sister said anything about being upset by it?”
She shook her head.
“Just if you ever want to talk about it, even once she’s living with us, don’t hesitate to talk to me, okay?”
“I know, Pa. We’ll be okay. You’re more worried about us, then we are.”
“You three mean the world to me. I would never do anything you weren’t okay with.”
Isabella stood, and he smiled as she gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. “I love you, Pa.”
Nathaniel watched after her as she walked over to George and sat down on the bank next to him, sticking her bare feet into the creek.
“This is for you.”
Nathaniel turned to smile at Kate who had brought a handful of dandelions to him. “Thank you, Kate. They’re lovely.”
“They’re as yellow as the sun.”
“They sure are.” Nathaniel held the flowers in his hand now as Kate ran off to catch up with her older siblings.
He tilted his head back against the tree and let out a long breath. A cool breeze ran by him and rustled the leaves above.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Anderson!”
Nathaniel quickly looked to the direction of the voice and realized it was Mr. Isaiah Colbert and his wife, as well as a young girl with long red hair. “Good afternoon to you too.”
“It’s a beautiful day for a walk by the creek, isn’t it?”
“Oh yes, the children and I wanted to come and do some fishing while the weather was nice.”
Mr. Colbert stood in front of him now, a smile on his face. “Well, it’s certainly a perfect day for it.”
“Indeed, and how are you doing, Mrs. Colbert?” Nathaniel pushed himself to stand up and glanced at her.
“Very well. Thank you.” Her long blonde hair sat in loose curls over her shoulder and she held the hand of the young girl.
Mr. Colbert moved to stand behind the girl, resting his hand on her shoulder. “This is my sister Millie. She’s come out to live here now because her school closed down.”
“Oh, it’s nice to meet you, Millie. Are you glad to be back with your brother now?”
“Yes, I’ve missed him, and Aunt Myra so much.”
Nathaniel recalled from stories he’d heard long ago from Mr. Colbert that the girl was blind and had been attending a school for the blind somewhere out east. It was a shame the school had closed down because he knew how helpful they were to set up young people who were blind to lead a more independent life.
“How old are you, Millie?”
“I’m eleven, sir.”
“Ah, you’re the same age as my eldest daughter, Isabella. Maybe you would like to meet her?”
She nodded eagerly, still holding Myra’s hand tightly.
“Isabella dear! Come over here for a minute, please,” he called out, watching as she turned to look at him, and then ran over.
“Hello Mr. and Mrs. Colbert.” She smiled, holding a large stick in her hand as she got closer.
“This is Mr. Colbert’s younger sister. Her name is Millie and she’s the same age as you. She just moved out here.”
Isabella smiled, looking to Millie. “It’s nice to meet you. Your hair is so pretty.”
“Thank you.” Millie smiled, her freckled face turning in the direction of Isabella.
“Well, it was nice running in to you, but we better continue on. I have a few more places I’m going to take her to.”
“Yes, good day to all of you.” Nathaniel waved as the three of them began walking toward the creek, and he looked down at Isabella. “She seems like a nice girl.”
“Will she be coming to school here?”
“Well, I’m not sure. She’s blind, and she used to stay in a school for blind children. I’m not sure whether she’ll attend your school.”
“Oh, I couldn’t even tell.”
Nathaniel ruffled her hair and she scowled, pulling away. “You just mind you be nice to her.”
“Of course I will, Pa!”
He smiled, looking down at her. “I know you will.”
And he did. He didn’t know how he had managed to raise such wonderful children, but he knew it hadn’t just been him. It had been the entire community of Burchcreek who had helped to shape the children into who they were today, and Nathaniel didn’t know what he would’ve done without the help of everyone in this little town.
Chapter 30
As the bell above the door rang, Adelia leaned across the table to finish wiping it off. Glancing over her shoulder, she gave a quick smile to the woman in a long yellow skirt, with her dark brown hair pinned back neatly. “I’ll be with you in just a second.”
The woman didn’t say anything, but just slowly made her way to the counter. Adelia quickly finished and hurried to stand by the cash register. “What can I get for you today?”
The woman furrowed her eyebrows and tilted her head to the side as their eyes met. It was quiet for a few seconds in the otherwise empty café, and Adelia glanced toward the kitchen door, willing Mrs. Tiller to come out before this woman could stare any longer.
“Adelia Mason?” the woman finally gasped, shaking her head.
Adelia raised her eyebrows as she nodded slowly. “Yes…do I know you?”
“I would recognize that scar anywhere.”
“What…” Adelia trailed off, searching the woman’s face for any sign of familiarity. Suddenly, the realization came to her. “Margaret?”
The woman nodded, and Adelia felt her hands begin to shake as she looked into the eyes of the girl who’d tormented her endlessly, and shoved her toward the stairs, many, many years ago.
“I see you’re still having to clean and do chores to earn your keep.”
Adelia scowled, shaking her head in disbelief. How had Margaret not changed all these years?
“I’m on my way out west with my hus…band,” Margaret drew out the last word and cast her a wicked smile. “He’s a very wealthy lawyer, and he’s setting up his own firm.”
“That’s…that’s good to hear.”
“Yes, and what brings you out to this dirty little town?”
“I’m living with my brother. He lives here.”
Margaret laughed a little. “Ah, I should’ve known the only one who would’ve wanted you would be a blood relation.”
“Stop. I didn’t ask you to come in here and bring up things from the past.”
“I just can’t believe I’ve run in to you after all these years. We were taking the stage to the train station and decided to stop for lunch. My husband just went to the mercantile briefly. He’ll be here soon.”
Adelia scowled, looking back down at the cash register. “What can I get for you?”
“Did you ever get adopted?”
“Margaret,” Adelia began, feeling her voice rising. “What can I get for you?”
“So, you didn’t then? I can’t say I’m surprised. No one would want someone who has that horrid mark over their face.”
“You’re the one who pushed me, Margaret. May I remind you of that?”
Margaret frowned, shaking her head. “I was only defending myself after you tried to attack me for no reason.”
“For no reason?” Adelia felt the tears burning in the back of her eyes, and she willed herself to not cry in front of Margaret again. “You had been nothing but cruel to me, and I was tired of it!”
“I see you still cry for the silliest of reasons.”
“Please leave, Margaret. I’m happy here, and I don’t need this right now.”
“You can’t just deny me service. This is a public building.”
“Well, then tell me what you would like and stop talking to me about things that have nothing to do with the café.”
“You’re going to be alone forever if you keep up this horrible attitude, you know.”
Adelia took a deep breath and shook her head. “I’m not alone. I have many friends here, and I’m going to be married tomorrow.”
“You’re marrying a blind man?”
“What? No, he’s not blind.”
“Well surely he must be. No man in his right mind would ever marry you.”
Adelia needed to get out. She wanted to run far away from Margaret, but yet her feet remained stuck to the spot on the floor. Heart racing, she glanced to the door, then to the kitchen door behind her.
She couldn’t stay here any longer.
“Excuse me, Miss.” The kitchen door swung open, and Adelia’s eyes widened as Mrs. Tiller walked over. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“What for? You have no right.”
“Actually, I do.” Mrs. Tiller stepped out from behind the counter and glared at Margaret. “I’m the owner of this café and if I don’t want you in here, I have every right to tell you to get out. I also have every right to tell you that you have the ugliest personality I’ve ever come across, and I hope someday you realize just how awful you are.”
Adelia stared at the two of them in shock, as Mrs. Tiller guided Margaret toward the door until she was left standing on the porch.
Shutting the door firmly, Mrs. Tiller looked back at her, and Adelia instantly noticed the pity written on her face.
“Are you all right, Miss Mason?”
“I’m fine.” Adelia bit her bottom lip, tears blurring her vision. “I think I need to take a walk.”
Before Mrs. Tiller could reply, Adelia turned toward the kitchen. She hurried inside, past where Mr. Tiller was sitting, and out the back door into the warm afternoon.
Once the door was shut behind her, she ran behind the café and toward the road that would lead her out of town. Adelia didn’t know where she was going, but she knew she needed to get away before she completely broke down. She knew she wasn’t the prettiest girl and didn’t have much to offer. Perhaps Nathaniel was blind, not only to her looks, but to her personality as well.
Mrs. Hansen had been right. She would never amount to anything other than a kitchen maid, and she didn’t deserve to have a family and friends. People in Burchcreek were only kind to her because they felt they had to, not because they actually liked her.
Adelia struggled to breathe as tears seemed to suffocate her. Why did Margaret have to come here? To Burchcreek, of all places?
Out of town now, she felt her pace slacken and she slowly sunk down on the side of the road, pulling her knees up to her chest, and shutting her eyes tightly.
You’re fine. It doesn’t matter what Margaret thinks. It doesn’t matter.
Still, the words were a fresh cut, and Adelia could feel the constant sting of them on her heart. She wanted to leave. She’d wanted to go to a new town, and not tell anyone about her past.
It had been a mistake to do so.
She could go somewhere new, under a new name, and make a better life for herself there. Adelia knew she could survive. She was strong enough on her own.
Chapter 31
“What happened?” Nathaniel shook his head, as Mrs. Tiller spoke so quickly, he’d missed half of what she’d said. “Mrs. Tiller, slow down. I can’t understand you when you’re so upset.”
“Miss Mason, she’s very upset. I don’t know where she went. Some woman came into the café who must know her, and she said the most awful things.” Mrs. Tiller’s hands were shaking as she paced along the edge of the creek.
“Did she say where she was going?” Nathaniel felt his heart racing, and the only thought on his mind was, I need to find Adelia.
“She said she was going to take a walk, but my husband said she went running past and looked like she was very distressed.”
“All right, all right.” Nathaniel pulled his hands through his hair as he tried to think of where Adelia would’ve gone. “You go back to the café in case she comes back there. Could you take the children with you? I’ll see if I can find her.”
His three children stood silently by his side, fear noticeable in their wide eyes.
“Oh, Mr. Anderson, you should’ve heard the horrible…oh I can’t even imagine being so cruel to someone.”
“Thank you for letting me know, Mrs. Tiller. It will be all right.”
Nathaniel began to run in the direction he hoped Adelia had gone. He hoped she had gone back to her house and had taken that road. Usually when people were upset, they took familiar routes.
As he ran, he tried to think of who it could’ve been that had known Adelia. Perhaps it had been Mrs. Hansen, or maybe one of the children from the orphanage.
Nathaniel hoped he never ran into whoever it was, because he had a few words he’d be speaking to them that wouldn’t be very nice.
His lungs protested as he fought against the hot summer afternoon, but he knew he needed to find Adelia as quickly as he could. He couldn’t leave her alone right now.
When he saw a woman sitting on the side of the road up ahead, relief flooded through him as he ran toward her.
As he approached, she didn’t lift her head from her knees, and it seemed like she was frozen in time.
“Adelia?” Crouching down in front of her, he reached for her hands, prying them from their tight grip around her legs.
“I’m sorry.” She sniffed, lifting her head slowly, revealing her red eyes, and wet face.
“Why are you sorry?”
She shook her head, her eyes full
of tears. “You don’t have to marry me.”
“Adelia, I want to marry you. More than anything in the world.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not. What did she say to you?”
“It’s not important.”
Nathaniel scowled, shaking his head. “If it’s made you feel this way, then it’s important to me. Who was it?”
“Has Mrs. Tiller told the entire town?”
“She came to me. She was worried about you.”
“I’m fine.”
“It’s okay not to be. Adelia, what happened? Please.”
She sniffed, seeming to fixate on something far behind him, her blue eyes distant. “Margaret came in. The girl from the orphanage, the one who pushed me down the stairs.”
“Whatever she said to you, was wrong. She’s just jealous that she found you doing so well here.”
“She said you must be blind.”
“Why would I be blind?” Nathaniel furrowed his eyebrows.
“To marry someone like me.”
Nathaniel pulled her into a hug, and he instantly felt her shoulders begin to shake, as her sobs broke out. “Adelia, you’re beautiful. Both on the outside, and the inside, with what makes you, you. Please, don’t believe her.”
“I’m trying not to.” She sniffled. “Oh, Nathaniel, why did she have to come here of all places?”
“Maybe this is your chance to show her you don’t care. To show her you’re happy, and don’t need her validation to be so. Maybe God sent her here, so you could have the chance to face your past and tell it that you don’t care what it has to tell you.”
“Well, I’m not doing very well at that, am I?” She pulled away, wiping at her eyes.
“You’re doing it right now. If you can find it in you, to remember the love this town has for you, and the love that I have for you. And even more importantly, find the love that you have for yourself.”
A Chance to Love (Life's a Chance Book 3) Page 10
