Roses for Mama (12 page)
He had been raised in Atlanta, his mother’s hometown. In fact, he was reared in the same house that his mother had been. He had no aunts or uncles, but he did have grandparents. It sounded to Angela as if they doted on the boy.
“How did they feel about your coming west?” asked Thomas.
“They weren’t very happy.”
“And your mother?”
“I’m not sure my mother still claims me,” he answered candidly.
“Then why did you come?”
“I had to. I had heard so many little remarks about my father over the years that I had to come and see for myself if he—if he was as they described him.”
“And is he?”
“I don’t know. I have been trying to piece things together. I think that many things might be accurate. But—I may never know. I still don’t really know the man.”
Angela felt it was a shame that his coming had been delayed until it was too late for both of them.
“Will your mother join you?”
“Oh no. She hated it out here. She would never come back.”
Angela moved out of earshot. She felt like an eavesdropper in her own home. There were better ways to get to know her guest. She would wait until he volunteered the information to her.
She did discover his name. It happened as she served the coffee.
“Do you take cream or sugar, Mr. Stratton?” she asked.
“Please—please call me Carter,” he quickly replied. “All of you, and I will call you Thomas, if I may,” he added, asking permission from Thomas with his eyes.
Thomas nodded, and from then on they referred to their guest as Carter.
It was a pleasant afternoon. Without Trudie hovering near, Angela was able to keep her resolve of not being foolishly flirty with the young man. She acted as a proper hostess, caring for her guest and family.
When he prepared to go, Carter found a few moments with her alone.
“Will you walk me to my carriage?” he asked, and Angela realized it was the first time she had heard the conveyance referred to as a carriage. But then, perhaps his buggy was a carriage. It was certainly fancier than any other vehicle about.
She fell into step beside him and accompanied him to the hitching rail.
“This has been delightful,” he assured her. “You are a much better cook than Gus,” he teased, and when Angela smiled he looked pleased.
“May I come again?” he asked.
When Angela’s brow began to crease he hurried on.
“I know—it doesn’t look proper to call when my father is near death.” His candor surprised Angela. “But we are neighbors, and I do enjoy your brother and—and the others. And I would honestly like the pleasure of your company again. May I?”
“Perhaps, as a neighbor—and friend—dropping in,” said Angela, “but not as a gentleman caller—at the present.”
“I understand,” he said softly, and he tipped his hat and bid her good day.
Angela did not wait to see him go. She turned back to the house and her kitchen. The days were getting cooler she noticed. It was a good thing Thomas had all of the crop in the bins. Any day now they might be surprised by snow.
———
Trudie showed up on the doorstep the next day. Angela thought at first that it might be to try to make amends to Thomas for so thoroughly ignoring him the day before, but Trudie was still full of questions about Mr. Stratton.
“Does he plan to live here?” she asked.
“I believe so,” Angela replied.
“Oh-h, just think of it,” crowed Trudie. “Every girl in the neighborhood will be after him, and I saw him first.”
Angela wondered how Trudie came to that conclusion. She was the one who had introduced them.
“I think I’ll have another party,” bubbled Trudie. “I wonder what he likes to do.”
“He says he likes the stage and operas,” said Angela, challenging Trudie to match that with her backyard parties.
“Oh-h,” Trudie sighed ecstatically, undaunted. “He is so—so sophisticated. I just love it.”
Angela was glad when Trudie rose to leave. Her friend was almost to the door before she called back, “Oh, I came to see what you are wearing to the wedding on Saturday. I think I will wear my lavender satin.”
Angela knew the dress. It was a lovely, full-skirted gown with generous amounts of ribbons and lace. Angela had always felt that it was not a good color choice for a person with red hair.
“I don’t know,” answered Angela. She had almost forgotten that Saturday was the day Hazel Conroy had chosen for her wedding. She hadn’t even thought ahead to what she—or any other member of the family—would wear, but she knew they would all be expected to be there.
“I heard Hazel invite Mr. Stratton,” explained Trudie, “and he said he would be delighted to attend.”
Then Trudie was gone, tossing her head and smiling.
As soon as Angela had finished the morning washing, she cast a furtive look at the lowering sky and headed for the barn to find Thomas.
“Thomas,” she asked, “do you mind if I drive over to Carson?”
“Today?” he questioned.
“Right now. I had forgotten about Hazel’s wedding on Saturday and they have a bigger yard goods store there. I thought I could do my purchasing for the winter things we need, too.”
“It’s rather late in the day to be heading for Carson.”
“I’ll hurry. I’ll have lots of time to catch the store. When the kids get home, you can put them to their choring.” Then she quickly amended her words. “No, you won’t need to do that. They know what they are to do.”
Angela ran back to the house to prepare for the trip while Thomas hitched the horse to the light buggy.
Angela coaxed the mare into a trot and settled into the buggy for her ride to Carson. She was eager to cover the miles, but careful not to push the mare too fast. It was bumpy enough at a moderate pace and she did not want to wind the animal.
In a small box at her feet were garments from home. She had Thomas’s suit to compare with others in the store. She also had one of Derek’s jackets and a foot pattern for each child. She hoped these would enable her to make some sensible choices for her family and be back home again before it got too dark.
The trip took Angela longer than she had anticipated. She kept one eye on the darkening sky as she made her decisions. She did find a suit for Thomas. By comparing the old and the new she was sure that with a minor adjustment here or there, it would fit him just fine. Then she began her search for a proper suit for Derek. That took a bit longer, and Angela was really getting nervous by the time she found what she was looking for. The footwear came next—shoes and winter wear. There weren’t many clothes to select from so the choice did not take long. She turned her attention to the fabric, fingering some rich materials with sensitive hands.
She found a delicately patterned calico for Sara. With a bit of lace on the collar, the finished dress surely would please the young girl. It was more difficult to make the decision for Louise. She knew her sister would like something a bit more grown-up, but Angela did not want to rush her into adult garments. Finding the right balance was difficult, but after carefully considering fabric and patterns Angela made a decision and felt pleased with her choice.
She then gave her attention to the material for her own dress. She fingered the fine silks, let the satins drip from her hand, and eyed the expensive laces with longing.
“This is foolish,” she finally muttered softly. “Here I am willing to spend the autumn’s harvest on a silly notion that I need to dress to attract attention. Well, I don’t. I need a good sensible dress for church, not a frilly frivolous dress for partying.” Angela deserted the shelves of expensive material and moved to the more durable fabrics.
In the end she chose a blue voile. It was both sensible and attractive. Then with one eye still on the darkening sky she hurried to choose materials for warm winter garments and wool yarn for mittens. Having completed her purchases, she piled them all on the counter.
The total cost was staggering, and Angela was glad Thomas had insisted she bring extra money. She paid the bill and the young man in the store helped her load her parcels into the buggy.
“Got far to go?” he asked, his eye also on the sky. Angela nodded. She had farther to go than she cared to admit.
“Looks like it could snow,” the boy went on, and Angela climbed quickly into the buggy and clucked to the horse.
“Thank you for your help,” she called to the boy as she turned the mare around and urged her to a trot.
The mare did not need to be encouraged. She, too, was anxious to be home again. She lifted her nose into the air and snorted, then jerked her head in impatience and headed out of town at a brisk trot.
Angela had nothing to do but hold the reins. The wind was blowing now, and she felt the sting of it right through her coat. She tucked herself in a bit more closely and turned her back slightly to the chilling breeze. She would be glad to get home.
When at last Angela pulled into the farm lane she was met at the gate by Thomas, lantern in hand. It had long since grown dark, and she could tell by his pacing that he had been concerned.
“It took longer than I thought it would,” she called to him in explanation.
“I’ll take Star. You get in out of the cold,” he said, relief in his voice.
Angela did not argue. She climbed stiffly down from the buggy. Derek and Louise emerged from the kitchen.
“Did you get the things?” Louise asked excitedly.
“I did,” replied Angela and realized she could not speak without causing her teeth to chatter.
“You’d better get in by the fire,” advised Derek. “I’ll bring in these parcels.”
Angela murmured her thanks and hurried into the house. Louise took her coat and hung it on its proper peg, and Angela moved to the warm kitchen stove.
“Sara, bring a chair,” called Louise. “She’s ’most frozen.” Louise sat Angela down and poked more wood into the stove.
“Take off your shoes and stockings,” she ordered as she went for the washbasin. “I’ll get some warm water to soak your feet.”
Louise had never taken over and told Angela what to do before, but Angela obeyed without question. For once, it felt kind of nice to be the one being fussed over.
Soon Derek came in with the parcels and the girls began to coax to see what she had bought.
“No. Let’s wait until Thomas comes in,” Angela said, shivering. “We’ll all look at them together.”
Angela was glad Thomas did not take long, though the wait was difficult for the children.
“Now you can look—one parcel at a time,” Angela said as she sorted the packages, telling them who should open what.
They all seemed pleased with her purchases. Louise was especially excited over the new Sunday dress material. Angela knew the girl was envisioning herself in the pretty green print.
Thomas took the new suit to his bedroom and soon emerged to model it. It fit him even better than Angela had hoped.
“Derek, you try on yours!” cried Sara, and Derek obliged. He came out grinning. He seemed pleased that his arm no longer showed below the hem of the jacket sleeve. The pants were a bit long. “Growing room,” Angela called it and promised she’d take up the hem in plenty of time for the community wedding.
They fussed over the shoes, the warm materials, the wool—everything Angela had purchased. Angela sneezed once or twice as she thawed out beside the stove, but in spite of her discomfort she was glad she had made the trip to Carson.
They played their game again. Thomas started it spontaneously. “I remember,” he began, “one time when Pa and Mama went into Carson. They came back with new clothes for each of us, but they also brought me a new bridle for Midget. Do you remember that, Angela?”
Angela nodded. It had been a long time since she had even thought of the pony Midget.
“And at the same time they brought new boots for Sara. They were so tiny. I remember thinking that I had never seen anything as little and cute as those shoes.”
“Were they?” asked Sara, her eyes glowing.
“They were. Just little tiny things. Black—with buttons.”
“Oh, I wish I still had them!” exclaimed Sara.
“You wore them out, if I recall properly,” put in Thomas.
“Did they bring me anything?” asked Louise.
“They brought things for each of us. Let’s see if I can remember some of them. Was that the time—no. It was another time they brought you the white muff. It was from Andrews’ store, I think. Do you remember it, Louise?”
“The white muff? I do. I do. I remember how I loved to put my hands into it. I would take off my mittens so I could feel it on my hands. It was so soft!”
Angela sneezed again and then turned to Derek. “I remember what they brought you. That spinning top. The one you keep on your shelf. They got it for you on that trip. Do you remember?”
Derek nodded.
“Nobody could ever make it work as good as Papa,” he said, and Angela realized again how much the boy missed his father.
“We’d better get Angela to bed,” said Louise suddenly. Angela was surprised at the girl’s concern until she added, with laughter, “If she goes and gets sick, we won’t have any new dresses for the wedding.”
———
Angela did not get sick. She worked long hours to get her sewing done. Louise and Sara even volunteered to do some of her usual chores so she could stay at the machine. At last the two suits were altered and three new dresses hung from wooden hangers, just in time for the big day.
Louise couldn’t wait to appear in her new gown. She tried it on repeatedly and looked at herself in the mirror. Then she began to experiment with her hair, lifting it up this way, then holding it that way.
Oh, dear
, thought Angela,
she is going to insist on wearing her hair up and she’s too young for that. Now we’ll have another fuss for sure
.
The weather warmed in time for the wedding. Angela was thankful for that as there really wasn’t much warmth to the blue voile. There was a good deal of hurrying as they all dressed for the occasion. There was a minor fuss over Louise’s hair. She came down with it pinned up in a fashion much too old for her years. Angela caught her breath and was about to comment when the unruly curls came tumbling down around Louise’s ears. Louise looked as if she were about to burst into tears.