At supper that evening, after the blessing had been said and all the plates served, Fern cleared her throat. “Uncle Simon?”
“Yes?”
“Dora Sanders is having a party at her home to celebrate her birthday on Saturday afternoon, and she’s invited me.”
“And who is Dora Sanders?”
“She’s Mayor Sanders’s daughter,” Eileen answered. “I believe she is about the same age as you are, Fern, isn’t she?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Fern turned back to Simon. “May I go, please?”
“When is this party?”
“Saturday at one o’clock.”
“That’s laundry day, isn’t it?”
Eileen couldn’t believe he was teasing the girl like this. “I believe, if Fern helps in the morning, the rest of us can take care of things without her in the afternoon.”
He pointed his spoon Fern’s way. “Does that sound like a good plan to you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, in that case, I don’t see any reason for you not to go.”
“Thank you.” She turned to Eileen. “I promise to work hard as can be Saturday morning.”
“I know you will.” Eileen gave the girl an encouraging smile. Fern had changed over the past few days. She seemed more content, more like a schoolgirl rather than a mother hen.
Perhaps the two of them could become friends after all.
“I know why Fern wants to go to this party,” Russell said.
Fern glared at him across the table. “Russell Lyles, you just hush your mouth.”
But Russell only grinned wider. “It’s because Kevin Grayson is gonna be there and she’s sweet on him. You should see how twitterpated she acts when he’s around.”
Fern’s face turned beet-red, and she looked ready to sink through her chair.
“Russell, that’s enough.” Eileen knew girls Fern’s age were easily mortified, and it was too bad of her brother to take advantage of that. “You shouldn’t be teasing your sister that way.”
Hoping to take the focus off Fern, Eileen then turned to Dovie. “This chicken stew you cooked is delicious. Is that rosemary I taste in there?”
“It is.” Dovie took Eileen’s cue and turned to Joey. “I do believe Buddy is starting to put some weight on his hurt foot. He must be feeling better.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Joey launched into a story about the latest trick he’d taught the dog, and before long conversation around the table returned to normal.
Later that night, for the first time since Thanksgiving, Eileen joined Simon on the porch after the children had gone to bed.
“You seem unusually pensive tonight.”
Simon shaved another curl of wood from the piece he was whittling. “I’m just thinking about Fern.”
“Don’t worry. She’ll get over Russell’s teasing in no time.”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what?”
He was silent for a moment as he sliced away another curl. “Do you think Russell’s right about her being interested in this Kevin Grayson kid?”
Her lips quirked up as understanding dawned. “Most likely.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.” He sounded downright forlorn. “How do I handle things when she starts getting really serious about boys? Or worse yet, when they start getting serious about her?”
Eileen smiled. “I have a feeling you’ll do just fine. And you’ll have Mrs. Leggett to help you.”
His only response to that was a muttered “Six girls. Six!”
A change of subject was definitely in order. “Have you decided about the Stringman place?” Eileen asked.
“Stringman is out of town, but I’ll be putting in an offer when he returns on Monday.”
“I see.”
He must have heard something in her tone because he cut her a quick, speculative look.
She turned to look out into the night, feeling suddenly hollow inside. “When are you going to tell the children?”
“Not until I’m certain the deal will go through.”
She nodded. “That’s probably wise.”
Then, on a totally unrelated note, she said, “We need to make this a Christmas for the kids to remember.” And for her to remember, as well.
* * *
Fern was very excited about going to the party. She’d picked out a set of pretty hair ribbons as a gift for her friend and carefully wrapped it in tissue that Eileen had on hand.
Eileen had also taken the delicate lace collar from one of her own dresses and sewn it onto Fern’s Sunday best. On Saturday, Fern pulled her hair back with a silver hair bow that had been her mother’s, then stood back for Eileen to check her out.
“You look absolutely beautiful,” Eileen declared. She wished she still had the cheval glass mirror that had once stood in her bedroom so Fern could get the full effect.
Fern looked down at her dress doubtfully. “The other girls’ Sunday dresses are nicer.”
Eileen pinched her lips in disapproval. “Someone will always have nicer things than you. And someone will always have things that are less nice than yours.” She gave the girl’s hands a squeeze. “But there’s not many as will have greener eyes or rosier cheeks.”
Fern did smile at that.
“Now, are you sure you don’t want me to accompany you just to the front gate?”
Fern shook her head. “I know the way.”
“All right. Just make sure you come straight home when the party’s over.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Eileen watched her go. Yes, Simon would have his hands full with his new family.
And she ached to be the one by his side to help him through every bit of it.