That love which breaks the heart that was whole, shall join together, and make whole the heart that is broken.
– Francis Warrenton Dawson to Sarah Morgan Dawson, 1873
Andrea tried to control the racing of her pulse as she guided the horses toward Hawthorne. When the majestic house finally appeared beyond the trees, she could not keep her hands from shaking, nor stop the memories that besieged her mind. There it stood, the beautiful, magnificent shrine, just as she remembered it. She knew as never before that this is where she belonged.
By the time she was able to pull the horses to a stop in front of the porch, four men had already dismounted and hopped into the wagon, removing the covering they had placed over their leader. Andrea jumped down and leaned over the side. Finding Alex’s hand, she gave it a squeeze. “You’re home.”
He weakly squeezed it in return. “We’re home.” He took a deep breath of Hawthorne air then as if having it inside him again was all he needed to heal.
Andrea watched the men unload Alex and carry him into the house. Then she paused on the porch long enough to give a hurried hug to an excited Mattie, Izzie, Gabriella and Zach.
“Where’s Andrea?” Alex was already asking for her by the time she arrived in his room.
“I’m here, Alex.” He took her hand when she sat on the side of the bed and brought it to his lips. “Two days,” he said, with unopened eyes.
“What’s in two days?”
Alex opened his eyes, long enough to say two words. “Our wedding.”
“You must have a fever.” Andrea placed her hand on his forehead. “We cannot possibly be married in two days.”
“Don’t worry,” he replied weakly. “Everything is taken care of.”
He sounded convinced—and tired—so Andrea did not argue. “Get some sleep. We’ll talk when you wake.” After kissing him on the cheek, Andrea headed toward the kitchen, where she found Mattie and Izzie in a state of complete pandemonium.
“Gal, I gonna wup you from here until Sunday if you don’t stop that clatternation.” Mattie scolded Izzie when she knocked a dish off the table, causing little Angelina to cry.
Andrea ran over and picked up the baby. “Look at you, you little darling! Oh, how you’ve grown!”
The women barely looked up from their work. “What’s the rush here?” Andrea asked, rocking the child in her arms.
Now the heads of both women jerked up at once. “Why, there’s to be a weddin’ drekly.”
Andrea’ drew her brows together. “I was somewhat aware of a wedding, but I did not know a date had been set.”
They both went back to work, ignoring her. “Two days,” Izzie said. “Ole Him gived us two days.” She paused. “And then the dinner party.”
“Such jollifications as ain’t never before been seed,” Mattie added.
“Dinner party? Whatever are you talking about? Has everyone at Hawthorne gone mad? There is not possibly time.”
“Now, Miz Andrea,” Mattie said, taking her by the arm and leading her from the room like she was a misbehaving child. “Why you gotta be all worriment and act so confuzzled? Ain’t no botheration at all.”
“No botheration?” Andrea shrieked. “Why, for heaven’s sakes, I don’t even have a proper gown.”
“Natchelly Ole Him took care of that.”
“Ole Him took care of it?” Andrea stood blinking in complete bewilderment.
“He done sent a courier. Zach got the material and Gabriella is working sun to sun on a gown. Why such amazinations as you never before sawed been going on around heah. Wait and see if she don’t make you the most splendiferous gown.”
Andrea cocked her head, trying to figure out how a brilliant military leader would think of such a thing as material for a gown at such a time as on the battlefield. Then she wondered if the entire household had indeed gone mad.
“Don’t matter about all the extra work,” Mattie said interrupting her thoughts. “Ole Him say he pay extra.”
Now Andrea became even more bewildered. “Pay you extra? Whatever do you mean?”
The servants looked at each and rolled their eyes. “We done been abolished since before last frost time.” Izzie leaned over the table, “Don’ tell no one, though.”
“But,” Andrea said, trying to think back. “I was here until September.”
“Prezactly,” Mattie said. “I dismember the exactified day, but Ole Him proclaimated us free right after you left. Now you go gets some rest.” She looked at Andrea sternly. “You looks like you need it. The boys start coming and jubilatin’ day after tomorrow. Natchelly, they out getting them Yankees off the scent fust.”
A hurried knock and the sound of the door opening interrupted Andrea’s confused thoughts. Carter walked into the house with a simple nod in her direction when she went to see who it was.
“Gotta see the Colonel,” he said.
“Wait!” Andrea grabbed his arm. “He’s resting.”
“That’s all right. I won’t disturb him.”
Andrea put her hands to her temples.
“Just need to leave something for him,” Carter said over his shoulder as he took the steps two at a time.