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Adele stood by the storm porch door, her hands folded across her chest, watching Grai and the children in the garden. Grai played chase with them in his woolen frock, his curls tucked under a top hat that Uncle Nicholas had given him.
“Breakfast is ready,” she finally called after Mei Ling scolded her for keeping the door open. She adored seeing Grai with the children. Peter had taken to following Grai around as he once had with Benjamin. He clung to Grai’s arm as tightly as Maggie did as the three of them came to the house.
Aunt Eloise had given Grai a guest room and insisted the doctor make regular visits. It took two weeks before the wound closed up. The doctor warned that he was on the verge of infection and if he hadn’t come into the Barrington household when he did, he may very well have died. During his convalescence, Grai had been a comfort for Peter when the boy found out that his uncle Benjamin wouldn’t be returning for a while. When Peter returned the timepiece to Grai, they bonded and had become inseparable.
Adele shut the door behind them and helped arrange the croissants on the tray.
“You baked these?” Grai asked.
“I did. Mei Ling is an excellent teacher.”
He tried to snatch one off the tray, but she slapped his hand. This was the first formal meal she had prepared for the family after training with Mei Ling. The servant was in high spirits.
“She’s good, no? Best help in the kitchen. Now go, sit down. I will serve.”
With Thanksgiving only a week away, the family’s cornucopia already adorned the table with squash, colored corn, and apples from neighboring farms. Autumn colors tinted the décor, and Aunt Eloise had hung her holiday curtains on the windows.
The children ran through the kitchen, laughing.
“Wash up!” Adele told them. Lila met Peter and Maggie in the living room, her cameo necklace hung delicately around her neck.
When Adele felt his arms wrapping around her from behind and blew in her ear, she giggled.
“Stop that,” she said and pushed away from him. “Go sit at the table as Mei Ling told you to do.” She put the tray of croissants in his hands and dodged away just as Aunt Eloise emerged from the hall.
Aunt Eloise wore one of her better tea dresses, off-white with delicate layers of lace and crêpe. Her hair done up in a soft bun, you’d think she hadn’t seen her husband for a month even though it had only been three days. She peeked out into the foyer at the sound of a carriage.
“They’re here!” she said.
All but Eloise stood behind their chairs at the table when the men walked in. Uncle Nicholas had barely put his hat on the rack and removed his coat when Auntie embraced him. Smiles turned to frowns as the two wayfarers entered the room. Neither Uncle Nicholas nor Bonneville shared the joy of their return.
“You must be famished,” Aunt Eloise said.
Uncle Nicholas merely nodded and escorted Bonneville into the dining hall. When the man saw his stepson for the first time since the attack, he stopped in his tracks. Grai shivered, and for a moment when Adele caught him shaking, she swore she saw double. His face turned red and his cheeks swelled.
“Bonneville,” Grai nodded slightly.
“They told me you were alive. I should have come sooner, but we were involved in...”
“No need to apologize. I wouldn’t expect you to interrupt your business. The railroad is more important. I’m glad you got the letter about the Will and that all worked out smoothly. My apologies for not providing Port Summerhill with a Rail Depot. I trust there will be property elsewhere for that?” Grai swallowed and Adele took his hand, which he received eagerly. His shoulders relaxed when she touched him.
“Yes, the estate is taken care of. Congratulations. The land is yours.”
The silence that followed lacked the friendliness a homecoming should have had. Aunt Eloise laughed with a nervous edge. “Please Nicholas, Richard, be seated. Adele has prepared a wonderful meal for us.”
Uncle Nicholas looked at Adele and nodded. “I’m looking forward to it. I trust your lessons with Mei Ling have been going well.”
“I enjoy cooking,” Adele admitted.
The men stood by their chairs and Gareth, despite his usual quiet self, offered to say grace after which everyone took a seat and Mei Ling served. Adele glanced at Grai several times, but he focused on the food, scooping eggs onto his plate, and passing the tray to her. He purposefully avoided looking at his stepfather.
Aunt Eloise broke the silence.
“You had a safe and prosperous trip, I can assume?” she asked.
“Safe, yes,” Uncle Nicholas spoke softly. He set his fork down and cleared his throat.
“I see no reason for not coming out with it. There is no railroad coming to Port Summerhill.”
Adele gasped.
“None?” she asked.
“I’m afraid they gave the bid to territory south of here.”
“Was it because of my failure to...,” Grai began?
“No,” Uncle Nicholas assured him. “It was not because of anything anyone here had done.”
“After all that work, all those meetings and the reception. Why? What happened?” Aunt Eloise asked.
“The railroad council considered our proposal, but preferred Tacoma’s location.”
“It appears we have a mountain in the way,” Bonneville interjected. “It never would have worked, anyway. Port Summerhill will have to find their fortune through other means.”
Aunt Eloise reached out to Uncle Nicholas and squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
After a moment of awkward silence as the family consumed their dinner, Grai tossed his napkin on the table and stood. His gesture surprised everyone.
“In lieu of this disappointing news, I would like a moment to thank you, Mr., and Mrs. Barrington, for your kindness and hospitality. I believe you both saved my life, and I am deeply grateful.” Uncle Nicholas nodded, sitting back in his chair.
“Oh, Grai, we only did what any reasonable person would do when they see someone suffering,” Aunt Eloise said.
“Mr. Barrington,” Grai locked eyes with Uncle Nicholas. “I am uncertain how these things work. I mean, since Adele’s parents are no longer with us, and since you are her legal guardian, I am assuming you would be the one to approach in this matter.”
“What is it, son?” Uncle Nicholas asked.
“And I’m not sure if I should ask at the table or in private.”
“Finish what you’ve begun.”
“I would be deeply honored...” his voice tapered, and he choked on his words. “I would be more than honored. I would be elated if you would allow me Adele’s hand in marriage.”
Adele clasped her hands over her mouth as Grai waited for an answer.
Lila let out a cheer. Gareth smiled at Adele, the first time he had ever acknowledged her existence.
“Oh, my word, Grai!” Aunt Eloise exclaimed and stopped herself from saying more. A dutiful wife would wait for her husband’s response.
Uncle Nicholas rose. Adele held her breath as he pushed his chair back and slowly moved away from his place at the head of the table. She thought he was going to leave the room and her heart stopped for a horrid moment. It didn’t matter what he said, though. She would run away with Grai if she had to.
But Uncle Nicholas didn’t walk away. Instead, he approached Grai and held out his hand.
“And I would be honored to have you in the family Grai Madison. And since there will be no railroad, I can spend my time helping you rebuild your grandfather’s estate.” They shook hands, and he patted Grai on the shoulder.
“We’ll use my influence to get you some deals on building supplies. Stand up, young lady,” he said to Adele. When she stood, he hugged her. Uncle Nicholas hugged her! She laughed, tears rolled down her cheeks.
“This pleases me,” Uncle Nicholas admitted. “Yes. This pleases me.” He slapped Grai on the arm again, pulled his pipe from his waistcoat pocket, and nodded to Bonneville. “Care to join me in the parlor?”
Bonneville’s nod to Grai was cordial if that. He followed Uncle Nicholas.
“Well!” Aunt Eloise popped up from her chair. “I guess we’ll be shopping for fabric soon!”
“Include me in this,” Lila said. “Let me make the veil!”
The only people left at the table after that were Peter and Maggie, oblivious to everything else going on.
“Care to go for a little stroll?” Grai asked.
He took Adele’s hand and led her to the foyer, helped her put on her coat, and then slipped into his. They stepped outside and Grai stopped at one of the garden beds, and to Adele’s surprised, he touched a cold and wilted rosebud. When he did, a deep red blossom appeared.
“You will not diverge from who you are, will you?”
He laughed with that boyish grin she first fell in love with as his spirit. “Through and through,” he said. He led her to the gate and touched the frost-covered honeysuckle that hung over them. Yellow flowers opened over the entire vine and as they bloomed a sweet fragrance perfumed the air. He pulled her close to him and as she nestled in the warmth of his arms, their lips met. She finally found a place where she belonged.
The End.
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