Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 15 (19 page)

“
What?
”
Becca looked at Chad
as if
Willow had lost her mind.

“
It
’
s from a movie my mom got her
.”
An impish glint filled Chad
’
s eyes.
“
She
loves
that movie
—
she
really
loves the ending best though
.”

“
Civil W
ar?
”

“
Oh
,
no!
”
Willow protested.
“
Northern vs. Southern England
—
not the War Between the States
.”

“
Did England have a Civil War too?
”
Becca
’
s eyes grew wide.

“
Cromwell in the mid-sixteen hundreds.
But technically the United States
—”

Chad interrupted.
Debate over historical semantics was not likely to be a popular topic of discussion.
“
It
’
s about the difference between agricultural southern England with its gentility and proximity to London verses the northern industrial cities like Manchester
.”

“
Sounds an awfully lot like the United States
.”
Josh
’
s surprise was echoed by Becca
’
s nod.

“
Well, there are similarities of course, but the British class system was much more ingrained so there were deeper clashes than you found over here,
”
Willow explained.
“
The movie is amazing.
You see the strengths and weaknesses of all lifestyles.
You can imagine it but seeing it on the screen
—
it
’
s just overwhelming
.”

As Willow was speaking, Chad stood, retrieved his laptop and the movie, and flipped on the power switch.
Within minutes, all four were lost in a world of cotton, mills, gentility, and abject poverty.
Willow carded and rolled nearly automatically now.
Her eyes rarely le
ft
the screen as she worked the paddles back and forth, rolled the batt, and carded again.

Chad, on the other hand, observed everyone else as they watched the scenes scroll by on the computer screen.
Willow was immediately lost in the nineteenth century world of cotton and industrialism.
The incongruity of her hand carding wool while watching a movie on a laptop in the middle of her normally electric-free house struck him.
Even more than that
, the constant attraction between Josh and Becca kept him entertained until the clock struck four-thirty.

“
Oh, I have to go.
Gram is probably working on dinner already and
—”

Josh
’
s face fell.
“
I didn
’
t realize
—
Well, I can see you in Rockland at church I guess
.”

“
Sure.
I
’
ll be back this Sunday.
We leave Saturday
.”

Willow picked up on the awkward strain and to Chad
’
s surprise and amusement, delved into her first attempt at matchmaking.
“
You
’
ll come back tomorrow though, won
’
t you Becca?
We were going to try out the spinning wheel
—”

“
Of course!
”
Becca was already cleaning up the area around her trying to reduce the mess she
’
d created as she worked.

“
I
’
ll get that for you Becca,
”
Josh insisted.
“
Let me walk you to your car
.”

Willow smiled knowingly as Josh led Becca out to her car talking quietly as they walked.
“
You
’
re right.
They
’
re so cute too
.”

“
You are incorrigible
.”

“
How?
”

Chad nudged her knee smiling knowingly.
“
That was a
‘
Josh, don
’
t you want to come back tomorrow
’
hint if I
’
ve ever heard one
.”

“
Well, he should know she
’
s going to be here so when I invite him back, he knows
—”

Chad
’
s laughter echoed through the window and out to Becca
’
s car.
“
It was nice meeting you
,
Josh.
I
’
m looking forward to seeing you at church
.”

Chad and Willow sank back onto the couch as they saw Becca nod and Josh slam the door shut for her.
“
They
’
re going to hit it off beautifully,
”
Chad murmured.

“
Silly, they already did
.”

“
Did what?
”
Josh
’
s
sounded excited
as he entered the door
.

“
You two seemed to hit it off…
”
Chad commented.

“
She
’
s amazing.
I can
’
t believe we
’
ve gone to the same church all this time
—”

Willow
’
s quiet voice interrupted gently.
“
From the way you
’
ve spoken about your life, I d
idn’t
think you were ready to meet anyone special before now
.”

“
You
’
re right.
I wasn
’
t.
I
’
m not sure I am now
,
but I can
’
t stand the idea of not getting to know her better
.”

With a sidelong glance at Chad, Willow picked up her carding paddles.
“
So do you have to work tomorrow?
”

“
No, I
’
m off again, why
—
Oh
.”

“
Well, if you find yourself looking for something to do, we
’
re going to try our hand at spinning tomorrow
,
and there
’
s lots of wool left to pull and separate…
”

A huge grin split Josh
’
s face and the excitement in his voice made his lisp all the more pronounced.
T
hat
’
s so nice of you.
Are you serious?
”

“
She
’
s been showing up around ten
.”

“
I
’
ll be here.
Thanks
.”

Moonlight flashed across their bed as clouds covered and then drifted away from the moon.
Willow lay awake and unmoving knowing that she often woke Chad when she slipped downstairs for her trysts with the Lord.
As carefully as she could, she turned on her side and tried resting quietly that way but still felt restless.
Chad
’
s voice came sleepily in her ear.

“
Go downstairs if you like.
I
’
ll see you in the morning
.”

She turned to find his face centimeters away from hers.
“
I
’
m sorry.
I tried not to wake you up
.”