Hestia’s energy spurred Booth to take action on his own yard. He was glad Hestia had gone into her house. What had he been thinking? He had come so close to kissing her. He never should have gotten close enough to be tempted. With wistfulness, he recalled the moment. She’d been willing. So had he.
The Browns’ black-and-white mutt wandered into the yard and sniffed a pile of leaves, digging into them. Booth looked at Rover for help, but the elderly dog had no intention of leaving his position on the front porch. Booth shooed the mutt with a voice louder than he intended. The little dog ran away with a little howl.
His thoughts returned and swirled like falling leaves. What was he to do? He stopped and realized the truth. They were in love.
Hestia felt justified in taking a break after so much raking, but she couldn’t concentrate on anything in the newspaper. She sat in a chair in the parlor since Selene was occupied in their room, but she couldn’t situate herself comfortably. Looking up from the paper, she stared at the philodendron plant in the corner without seeing it.
What had just happened? Or almost happened? Booth had seemed to want to kiss her, and she had yearned to kiss him. But Miss Olive had interrupted. Maybe it was for the best. If she didn’t go back to Haw River, she could forget any career in medicine. Not that her family supported such an idea. She wondered if Papa had insisted she help her aunt just to discourage her. During her stay she’d learned almost nothing about medicine but much about housework.
Sighing, she decided to do a little dusting and headed to the kitchen to retrieve a dust rag from a drawer. Once in the kitchen, Hestia heard the whir of the Singer sewing machine coming from the little room off the kitchen. She ventured into the room and found Aunt Louisa engaged in a project. The fabric she was sewing looked to be of quality. The pretty green color reminded Hestia of spring.
Aunt Louisa stopped pumping the machine with her feet and looked up. “Oh! It’s you. What a relief.”
“I’m glad. I think.” She laughed. “My, but you’ve gotten ambitious.”
“Did I tell you the quilt brought thirty-five dollars for the church?”
Hestia whistled. “That’s wonderful.”
“The news encouraged me to get back into sewing. I always did love to sew. Come here.” Aunt Louisa crooked her finger. “Look.” Standing, she held up a garment for Hestia to see. It was a dress in the linear style Selene preferred, only with plenty of room in the waist. “It’s for Selene. What do you think?”
“It’s a maternity dress?”
Aunt Louisa nodded.
“That’s a grand idea. She certainly needs some clothing that fits loosely.”
“I can take it in at the sides for her once she has the baby.”
“Oh, that is so thoughtful of you. I haven’t thought about Christmas yet. Maybe Booth wouldn’t mind taking me into Lincolnton to shop.”
“Good idea.” She smiled. “I have a feeling he won’t mind. And I suspect you wouldn’t mind, either.”
“I’m that obvious?” She felt herself blush.
“Young love is always obvious, especially to us old folks.” Aunt Louisa sighed as though the years had melted from time. “I remember young love very well. I was happily married for many years.”
“Yes, you were a fine example.”
“Enough of this sentiment.” Aunt Louisa flitted her hand at Hestia. “Now don’t you mention that you caught me in here sewing. This is a surprise for her for Christmas.”
“So when did you get the fabric? It’s lovely.”
“Oh, I have my ways.”
Hestia wondered if she happened to have the material on hand or what. Why was she being secretive?
As Judith and her mother dropped off Hestia at Aunt Louisa’s after the quilting bee, she bid them farewell and watched the motorcar depart. Seeing that Hestia could use a weekly break, Judith had invited Hestia to take part in her quilting bees. The meetings had become events that Hestia anticipated, a time to be with women of all ages as they sewed to raise money for missions.
Hestia breezed through the front door, refreshed by the fellowship.
“Is that you, Hestia?” Aunt Louisa called.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Look on the table. There’s a letter for you.”
Following her aunt’s instructions, Hestia saw a letter from her old friend Gertie. In the recent past, she would have been eager for news. Not anymore. She almost couldn’t remember Haw River. Sighing, she took a moment to sit on the sofa and read the correspondence. It opened innocently enough, with news about all their friends and acquaintances. Learning about their comings and goings made her feel wistful. She had gone from feeling a sense of immediacy about their concerns to discerning that she had become an outsider, someone they’d ask about on occasion but not thought of with the urgency of the past.
“What’s taking you so long?” Aunt Louisa called.
Obviously her aunt wanted to learn all about the meeting. Shaking her head and smiling to herself, Hestia put the letter back in its envelope and went to see her aunt.
Aunt Louisa’s expression reminded Hestia of a little girl waiting for a new doll. “Did you have a good time at the quilting bee?”
“Yes, we’re making progress. Next time I’ll take a batch of sugar cookies. I have a new recipe I want to try for Christmas festivities.”
“So you don’t mind spending Christmas with us?”
Hestia didn’t answer right away. “No, I don’t mind. I won’t say I don’t miss anyone back home, but I do enjoy being here.” She thought of Booth.
“Good. I imagine your letter is from one of your friends.”
“Yes. Are you afraid I’ll be homesick?”
“A mite.”
“You really do want me to stay for Christmas, don’t you?”
“I’ll admit I’ve grown fond of having you here.”
Hestia smiled. The admission of fondness was as close as her aunt would ever admit to love. “Thanks for the letter. Is Selene in the bedroom?”
“No. She’s decided to try to make us dinner tonight. Candied yams and pork chops, I do believe.”
“She’s become quite domestic of late.”
“I do believe she has a hankering to impress Artie. For a time the postman flirted with her mightily, but she didn’t seem interested. He’s a handsome fellow, too. She could have done worse. But her eyes light up when she’s around Artie.”
Hestia couldn’t argue. “Funny, I never would have judged her to become interested in someone as conservative—or as devout—as Artie.”
“Me, neither, but you won’t see me complaining. He’s been encouraging her to read the Bible, and they’ve been discussing the hard verses and teachings, such as Paul’s admonitions about women’s roles in the church. Seems our New York flapper doesn’t take too kindly to such restrictions.” Aunt Louisa chuckled.
“If anyone can help her understand the Bible, I have a feeling Artie can. She’ll listen to him sooner than she’ll pay attention to us. They seem to have respect and regard for one another.”
“Yes. That’s got to be the Lord’s doing, His way of using this scandal to bring her to Him. Sometimes it takes a tragedy in one’s life to get one to come to the Lord.”
“True. I hadn’t thought of it that way before.” Hestia stared at the curtains but didn’t truly see them.
“Too bad nothing more can come of it. Once she goes home, Artie will be back where he was, with no one. Such a shame, too. He’s a nice fellow. We must pray for him not to be lonely after Selene leaves, and we must pray that once Selene gets back to her home, she won’t fall back into her old habits.”
Hestia thought about Selene. Her manner had become humble, and she no longer reminisced about her old life. “I have a feeling she’s learned her lesson. And I know she won’t be seeing Ned anymore. He’s courting some other flapper.”
Aunt Louisa harrumphed. “I hope someone warns the new girl what a rounder he is.”
“I have a feeling word gets around about things, even in New York.” Hestia held up the letter. “Speaking of word, let me see what Gertie has to say.”
“Hope it’s good news.”
“Me, too,” she said.
“Oh, and a letter also came for Selene. Can you take it in to her?”
“Of course. Seems we’re popular today.” In no hurry to read Gertie’s letter, Hestia stopped by the kitchen to check on Selene and let her know she received mail.
“How’s the new dish coming along?”
“Why don’t you tell me?” She took a clean spoon from the silverware drawer and dipped out some of the dish for Hestia. “Taste.”
Hestia obeyed. The flavors blended very well. She nodded. “As you would say, it’s copacetic.”
Selene giggled. “It doesn’t need more salt?”
“No. Besides, people can always add salt to taste, but once it’s in, you can’t take it out.”
“True.”
“I think Artie will be impressed. That is what this is all about, isn’t it?”
Selene shrugged. “Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies.”
“So it is about Artie.”
“Yes. And no. Sure, it’s the bee’s knees to have a fellow to impress, but I figure I’ll be home soon enough. Might as well make the most of my misery here by picking up a new skill. Maybe one of the fellows back home will like a woman who can make a meal on the cook’s night off.”
“You have a point. Aunt Louisa was just saying Artie will miss you when you’re gone.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
Hestia thought she caught just the slightest touch of wistfulness in Selene’s voice, but she decided not to ask about it. “Here’s a letter for you. It just came in today’s mail.”
Selene stopped her task long enough to take the letter from Hestia. “Oh, good, it’s from Flora. She’ll fill me in on all the news.”
“I’ll leave you to your letter.”
“Don’t bother. It’ll be more fun to share.”
“Are you sure?”
“Sure, I’m sure. Flora’s already told me that Ned has someone else. It can’t get any worse.”
Touched by Selene’s willingness to share her life, Hestia agreed to stay. “Read away.”
Dear Selene:
What’s the latest with you? We still miss you. You’re missing so many things here. When are you coming home? What’s the holdup?
“So she still doesn’t know.” Hestia found such a fact hard to believe.
“No, and she never will.”
Everything’s jake here. Some new fellows from Chicago attracted Mildred’s attention at the Saturday bash, and she asked them if they’d take us out to a swanky joint.
Hestia gasped. “You mean, your friends asked two gentlemen if they’d take them out for an evening?”
Selene looked at Hestia as though she were a dullard. “That’s right. What’s wrong with that? I think the fellows like it.”
Hestia wasn’t sure but decided not to argue.
At first I was worried that we’d be in trouble once the check came. What if we didn’t have enough money to pay? But they both turned out to be darbs, so we didn’t have to wash dishes after all.
“Darbs?” Hestia asked.
“They can be counted on to pick up the check,” Selene explained. “The girls were really lucky. I don’t think I would have taken a chance like that.”
I wasn’t so keen on the one I got. He turned out to be a flat tire. But Mildred’s gotten stuck on her date. I think they’ll be an item soon. By the by, she wants to fix you up on a blind date with his brother. You’d better hurry back before they’re gone for good!
Speaking of dates, you might as well take any opportunity you can. If you think Ned’s carrying a torch for you, you can forget it. He eloped!
Both women took in a collective breath and said, “Eloped!”
Selene looked at the letter as though it were written in Chinese.
Hestia took the letter from her. “Let me see that.”
And not even with the same woman he had a crush on right after you left town. This is someone altogether different. I don’t know the girl—she’s apparently someone from the Catskills and they met while he was visiting his uncle in August. Well, I say good riddance. Who needs him? All the swell guys think you’re the berries, and we can paint the town red once you get back.
Selene seemed dazed. “I can’t believe it.”
“It sounds mighty suspicious to me. Do you think it possible that he—no, I don’t even want to suggest it.”
“What?”
“Read for yourself.”
Selene took the letter. “We don’t even know the girl? And he hardly knows her himself, it seems.”
“The timing of when they met in relation to this elopement is strange to me.” Hestia paused, hoping Selene could make the deduction for herself.
“Why?”
Hestia sighed. “I just hope he didn’t let the same thing happen to this girl that happened to you.”
Selene let out a cry of frustration and anguish. “No. It can’t be. Why would he leave me on my own but give someone else’s baby a name? I pray it’s not true.”
“I do, too, Selene. Maybe I’m wrong. Sometimes I’m too pessimistic for my own good. Don’t pay any attention to me.”
Selene put her face in her hands and bawled. Hestia wrapped her arm around Selene’s shaking shoulders. The news from her friend’s letter was bad enough, but why did she have to open her big mouth and suggest that Ned had gotten yet another woman in trouble?
Selene sniffled. “You want me to be miserable, don’t you? Nothing makes you happier.”
“That’s not true. I’m so very, very sorry about the whole mess. I really mean that.” She tried to embrace Selene, but her cousin pushed her away.
“I wish I’d never asked you to stay. As far as I’m concerned, you can go back to Haw River and stay there. You can fly to the moon, for all I care!”
“I’m sorry—I didn’t mean—”
“Leave me alone!” Selene broke away and rushed out of the kitchen and to the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
“She must really be upset,” she muttered to Diamond, who had witnessed the entire episode.
Diamond, more concerned that she had been awakened from her nap on the kitchen rug than with Selene’s romantic entanglements, stretched and blinked.
Aunt Louisa entered. “What’s all the commotion? I heard enough noise to wake the dead. You girls have got to get out of this habit of slamming doors. Did you two fight?”
“In a way.” Hestia felt on the verge of tears herself. She explained the exchange to her aunt. “I wish I hadn’t made matters worse with my tactlessness. That wasn’t my intent, but she seems to think so.”
“She’s overly emotional in her delicate condition. I knew better than to let her tire herself with cooking, but she wanted to cook so badly that I consented. No more.”
“I don’t think she was tired; I think I introduced a possibility she hadn’t considered, and I upset her. She won’t accept my apology. Can you help me?”
“I’ll try talking to her.”
Hestia prayed her aunt would be successful. If not, she would surely be better off returning to Haw River.
The next day, Selene woke up in a foul mood and tried to remember why. That’s right. She had argued with her only ally in the house. How dare Hestia suggest that Ned had taken up in such a big way with another girl as soon as she’d left for Maiden.
She looked at Hestia’s empty bed. Of course she was up, bright and early. Hestia, always perfect, never lacked for energy. Selene wished she could say the same. But of course, Hestia wasn’t expecting a child.
As though the child could detect her thoughts, it kicked. The motion made her stomach move up and down. She placed her hand on her belly and waited for the baby to kick again, but it didn’t. At least it had made its presence known. The larger the baby grew, the more conflicted Selene felt about giving it away. Of course she could never go back to New York and resume the carefree life of a flapper with a baby in tow, especially a baby whose father wouldn’t give it a name—a father who had already married another woman.
Hestia’s idea that Ned had gotten yet another woman in a family way infuriated her, even though she was probably right. Still, why couldn’t Hestia keep her awful conclusions to herself? Why did her cousin want her to believe that Ned cast her aside but took responsibility for his child with another woman? Did he hope to find some sort of redemption in a second chance? She didn’t get a second chance. She should bear responsibility for her baby, and that fact would always be with her. Forever. She would think about the baby on every holiday, especially its birthday.
She could hear Aunt Louisa’s voice whenever she expressed such concerns. “You can’t think about things like that. You have to consider the baby’s best interests. Its best interests are for you to give it to our relatives. They’ll take care of it. If not, your father never would have consented to letting them take it.”
She didn’t doubt that, but she also knew her distant cousin already had a brood and Father’s money was her main motivation for taking Selene’s baby. The thought made her ill. Almost as if by her thinking so, she felt a pain in her midsection.
“Please, Lord, let the baby be okay.”
She waited, and the pain subsided. Eager for a distraction, she flipped through a mail-order catalog Hestia had left open on the bed. Since she was stuck in Maiden, her needs were few. Still, she usually enjoyed window-shopping. As if to torture her, the book flipped to a page with illustrations of happy babies in nightgowns.
Dainty Things for Baby’s Comfort. Hurriedly she turned to another section of the catalog.
Enter the Big Race. Pictures of go-carts and sleds brought to mind a ruddy-cheeked little boy. A ruddy-cheeked little boy she would never know. She tried another time.
So Real They Seem Almost Alive…Dollies to Cuddle.
She shut the book with a bang and threw it on the floor. Never had she cried so much in her life.