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* * *
Sidney took a deep breath before entering Booker and Meadow’s home and double checked that he’d not crushed the cake he’d brought with him from the bakery. His hands were sweaty, and his heart pulsed erratically in his chest. knowing that Irene was waiting for him inside.
They’d both agreed it would be better for her to stay with her soon-to-be family rather than at a boardinghouse. This way, she was able to get to know Meadow and Booker better, as well as help Meadow with her children.
It had only been three days since her arrival, and in that time, Sidney thought he’d come to know her fairly well. She’d helped him once in the barbershop the day after getting in, and although he’d been grateful for her presence at first, she’d broken a bottle each of his most expensive colognes and the next day he’d told her to stay home and rest.
He’d chalked her clumsiness up to fatigue from her travels and blamed himself for the broken bottles; he should never have allowed her to come into the shop the day after her arrival, but she’d insisted upon it. Their wedding was to take place the following weekend at the town’s church, and Emile, Amos, and Booker would stand up with him.
Irene beamed as he stepped toward her, passing the cake off to Meadow’s maid, Betty Robinson. Betty had just turned eighteen and had light brown hair and a rounded frame. She curtsied politely to him as she took the cake and offered to take his coat as well. He handed it to her then turned to Irene. Her green eyes sparkled, and he relished in the fact he’d get to enjoy those eyes for the rest of his life.
The rest of his life.
Those words repeated in his brain like a church bell that would not stop its ringing. Somehow, they did not sound as good as they had the first time he’d thought them. In fact, the more he thought them, the less comforting they grew.
He shook off this newfound anxiety and focused instead on Irene’s smile. She was exposing a good number of teeth in that smile, and he realized with sudden disdain that they were far too straight for his liking. He wished she would close her lips up so that he could go back to thinking her teeth slightly imperfect, as Belle’s were.
“How are you?” she asked with perfect politeness.
“Excellent, thank you. And you?”
She began to prattle on about her day as Meadow and Booker ushered them into the dining room. He was surprised to see the dining room already full. Booker’s brother, Sheriff Amos Hanson, was sitting beside his wife, Victoria. Summer and Emile were seated across from them.
He knew from Emile that Belle was staying with him and Summer, and he was relieved to find her absent from the dinner. He was seated beside Summer, who leaned over to him.
“I had to tell Belle that I was going to a meeting at my women’s club tonight so that she would not come with me. I don’t know how much longer I can put off telling her that Irene is staying with Meadow.”
Sidney looked at her. “I know we can’t keep it hidden for long. I was hoping she’d have calmed down by now and you’d have told her.”
Summer’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh, no. You should hear the way she goes on about Irene. She’s met her once, and she thinks she’s the devil.”
Sidney felt a faint trace of flattery that he could spark such jealousy in Belle as to have her condemn Irene for nothing more than being his betrothed. He knew it was wrong to feel such a thing at Irene’s expense, but he could not help it. He’d never thought that Belle cared for him so much. How could he not be flattered?
Summer laughed as she spoke of Belle’s condemnation of Irene, but there was something distrustful in her eyes. Summer and Emile had not met Irene up till tonight, and Sidney was worried Belle’s remarks about her had colored Summer’s perception unfairly.
“Irene is anything but the devil, I assure you,” Sidney said. “Ask Meadow, and I’m sure she’ll tell you the same.”
Summer nodded. “Meadow speaks quite highly of her.”
“Whom do I speak highly of?” asked Meadow.
“No one,” said Summer quickly, not wanting to embarrass Irene by letting on that they had been speaking about her. “The food smells wonderful.”
“Divine,” Victoria agreed, placing a hand over her belly, which was only slightly larger than Summer’s. There were nods all around the table.
The doorbell rang just as the meal had begun to be served, and Betty hurried to answer it.
“Are you expecting anyone else?” asked Irene.
“No one,” said Meadow.
Betty returned a moment later, looking flushed. She looked right at Meadow. “It’s your sister, ma’am.”
Meadow and Summer looked at each other. “Belle?” Meadow asked, and Betty nodded. Meadow stood. “I’ll attend to her.”
Betty cleared her throat and looked at the floor. “I’ve already shown her in, ma’am. She went to clean herself up before coming to join you.”
Belle suddenly appeared in the doorway behind Betty. She looked around the table with crossed eyes that bespoke of a fiery temper waiting to burn everything and everyone around her. “Well,” she said, and he felt Summer stiffen beside him. “Glad to see everyone enjoying a meal together... without me.”
Meadow smiled and embraced Belle. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Why did you not tell Summer to invite me then?” Belle snapped.
Meadow looked taken aback. “I did,” she said and looked at Summer.
Summer laughed nervously. “I’m sorry. I forgot to mention that after my club meeting, I was coming here.”
“How lucky for me that I stopped by then,” she said, “or I might have missed what appears to be a family dinner.”
“Join us,” said Booker, rising from his seat now and instructing Betty to fetch another chair and place setting. She was seated on Summer’s other side. Sidney watched her stare at Irene with contempt and wished, for Irene’s sake, that Belle had not come.
He cleared his throat and tried to make the best of it. “How are you enjoying being back in Elmwood?” he asked Belle.
“Fine,” she said, still staring at Irene, who was staring back at her now.
“Do you find anything has changed much since you’ve been gone?” Sidney asked.
“No.”
There was an uncomfortable silence growing amongst the group. Irene finally took her eyes off Belle and looked at him. The look she gave him though, made him wish she was still watching Belle.
“I thought you said this woman was a customer of yours,” Irene said coldly.
He blinked. “What?” He suddenly remembered the excuse for Belle’s presence in his shop they had given to Irene the night she’d arrived. “Oh, yes, well... If you’ll recall, Belle said I was good friends with her brothers-in-law.”
Irene tilted her head to the side. “You mean that Booker and Emile—your own brother and cousin—were the brothers-in-law that you were both speaking of?”
He nodded, feeling self-conscious. Everyone at the table was watching him now.
“And you did not think to tell me?” she asked. “Is that not strange?”
“What’s so strange about it?” snapped Belle.
“I only think it’s odd that you are the sister of the people I’m staying with, and Sidney did not mention it to me.” She looked at Meadow. “You did not mention to me that you had another sister.”
Belle blinked, and Sidney groaned inwardly. He could almost hear Summer and Meadow groan beside him.
Meadow said, “She’s only recently arrived in town. Haven’t you, Belle?”
Belle looked equal parts confused and angry. “What?” she yelled looking around the room. Her eyes landed on Irene. “You’re staying here?”
Irene nodded, looking uncertain.
Belle turned to Meadow and then Summer. “And neither of you told me this?”
“We... just... didn’t think of it,” said Summer quietly, obviously lying.
Sidney stood and went around to Belle. He took hold of her arm and tried to steer her out of the room. “Let’s get some air.”
She shrugged him off.
“I don’t need air. I don’t need any of you.” She stormed from the room, leaving everyone to stare after her. Sidney considered going after her but feared it would only make things worse. He could tell Summer and Meadow had the same idea.
Irene was the first to speak. “Well, she’s certainly an unpleasant woman, isn’t she? Sorry to say so, considering she’s your sister, but, well...” She shrugged. “The woman has a temper on her that’s not at all flattering.”
“You’re quite right,” Sidney said but stood staring after Belle a moment longer, until Irene bade him sit down again. When he did, he was surprised to find he’d lost his appetite. Irene smiled at him with her perfect teeth, and he forced a smile back to her. The rest of the dinner passed in near silence, and Irene was the only one who didn’t seem to mind.
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