Stephanie Grace Whitson - [Quilt Chronicles] (40 page)

Miss Theodora seemed to be thinking about what he’d just said. Finally, she spoke. “And so you have taken a step back.” She looked up at him. “But if I’m not mistaken, you love.”

From being skewered to being under a microscope. Neither place in this conversation felt one bit good. Cass took a deep breath. “Yes, ma’am. I do.” He forced an embarrassed laugh. “Pathetic, isn’t it?”

The old woman pursed her lips. “Oh come now, Mr. Gregory. Let us not play the role of the tragic hero in a melodrama. You know as well as I do that a desire for material possessions has never fueled Juliana’s decisions in life. In fact, you have recently experienced proof that just the opposite is the case.”

He studied her expression. “Are you telling me you don’t object—when the time is right, of course?”

“Are you asking my permission?”

How to answer that. He looked away. Thought about it, and decided that in this case it was best to be brutally honest, even if it did make the domineering old woman angry with him. “With all due respect, Miss Theodora, I’m thirty-four years old. Juliana is but a few months younger. I don’t believe either of us should be expected to ask permission.”

For a moment, her face was a mask of displeasure. But then he saw it. A distinct twinkle in her eyes. A failure to maintain the scowl. And finally, a little smile. She nodded. “Well done, Mr. Gregory. Well done.” She took a deep breath and looked about the office. “All right, then. I’ve said what I came to say. I shall look forward to your
accepting
the next invitation to dinner.”

“You sound fairly certain there will be a next invitation. You can’t have failed to notice a decided chill coming my way from the lady in question.”

“Have you noticed the inevitability of the seasons, Mr. Gregory? Personally, I’ve always loved spring best. We are sometimes tempted to forget that beneath the covering of ice, the current still flows. But with spring, that rushing water always wins and breaks through the ice. Blossoms rise up out of earth that has seemed lifeless.” She tucked her hands back inside the muff and took a step toward the door.

“May I ask you a question before you go?”

She turned back. “Out with it.”

“I just want to make sure you realize the logical conclusion of what we’re dancing around.”

“That isn’t a question, and I don’t believe I’ve taken one dance step this morning.”

“I have the impression that you’ve recently changed your mind about me. Do you mind telling me why?”

“Let us just say that my involvement in the Friendship Home and the arrival of my nephew’s monument have combined to encourage me to reconsider that the victims of tragedy don’t always have to give it power to ruin their lives.” She paused. “Juliana deserves a ‘happily ever after.’ The only real question here is whether or not you think you can give her one.”

Cass smiled. “I intend to try. If she’ll let me.”

Miss Theodora nodded. “Then we have an understanding.” She extended her hand. “Now give me your arm and walk me to the buggy. Poor Alfred is probably half-frozen, and Mrs. Harrison will think I’ve fallen down a well. She’s expecting me to help her set up a filing system.”

Cass helped Miss Theodora into the buggy while Alfred gathered up the reins and waited for her to signal that she was ready to go. At the last minute, the old woman reached out and put her hand on Cass’s shoulder. She didn’t say a word, only looked into his eyes and smiled. “In the event that you don’t know very much about gardening, perhaps I should tell you that one plants bulbs in the fall if one expects to enjoy blossoms in the spring. When the ice finally melts.” She patted his shoulder, then sat back and called out to Alfred that she was ready to go.

On the Sunday morning of Friendship Home’s public open house, Juliana woke with a familiar glimmer of anticipation that had little to do with the day’s events.
He’s in love with you.
She’d awakened to that thought nearly every morning since Caroline Harrison had said the words. As the days went by and Cass continued to be absent from her life, though, Juliana began to wonder if Caroline was merely a romantic who had jumped to a conclusion based on little more than a shared piece of blackberry pie. And yet … she dared to hope.

As she slipped out of bed and padded across the room to open the bedroom drapes, Juliana pushed thoughts of Cass from her mind and focused on the day at hand.
Please, Lord. Today of all days, we need sunshine.
With her first view of the autumn prairie, she looked to heaven and said, “Thank You. This is the day that You have made, and I rejoice and am glad in it.” The words to the hymn that had come to mean so much to her in recent days came to mind.
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.”

Humming to herself, Juliana dressed for the day. And what a day it would be. Welcoming citizens to see what the committee had done—with God’s help. And seeing Cass. First at church and later at Friendship Home. She smiled at herself in the dressing mirror.

Juliana and the aunts had just slid into their pew at St. John’s when Cass rose from his place beside his mother and headed their way. At least that’s what Juliana thought was happening. But Cass only said a brief hello on his way to speak with Pastor Taylor, who had just stepped into the sanctuary from the vestibule. Chiding herself for thinking like a schoolgirl with a crush, Juliana ducked her head and didn’t look up when Cass passed behind them on his way back to sit with his family.

At the close of his sermon, Pastor Taylor surprised everyone by inviting Cass up to the podium to make an announcement. Juliana glanced at the aunts. Both gave little shrugs.
I don’t know.

Cass stepped up on the stage and cleared his throat. “First, I have the honor of reminding you all that Friendship Home’s doors open to the public for the first time this afternoon. Those of us who have been personally involved in the project hope that you will come and see what your generous support has created.” He paused. “But before you depart for Friendship Home, it is my joyous task to invite you to linger and witness the marriage of my sister, Miss Sadie Gregory, to Mr. Ludwig Meyer.” When he motioned for Sadie and Ludwig to stand, applause erupted.

Juliana saw Sadie blush and duck her head. But then she raised a hand and gave a little wave in her brother’s direction.

“My mother and sister have prepared a light lunch, and we invite you to celebrate with us in the fellowship hall downstairs right after the ceremony. And I am reminded to emphasize that Mrs. Nash’s famous angel food cake will be served.”

Laughter rippled through the congregation as Pastor Taylor stepped back up to the podium. “We will reconvene after a short recess of ten minutes or so to give those who cannot remain a chance to depart. Now, brothers and sisters, shall we pray.” He bowed his head, thanking God for what he called the “privilege of celebration.” He mentioned the blessing of sunshine and the completed Friendship Home, and asked God’s blessing on it. And then he praised God for creating love and for bringing Miss Gregory and Mr. Meyer together.

The moment the pastor said
amen
, the sanctuary was abuzz with conversation. Lutie Gleason, seated in her usual pew in front of Cass’s family, leaned over and gave Sadie a hug. Juliana caught Cass’s eye and smiled. During the ten-minute interlude, no one left.

When it came time for the ceremony, Pastor Taylor called everyone back to attention by leading them in a hymn as Cass and Mr. Meyer, Sadie and her mother filed up to stand before him. The ceremony took only a few minutes, and then Pastor Taylor had the couple turn and face the congregation so that he could introduce Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Meyer.

There was more applause as the newlyweds exited the sanctuary, leading the way to the fellowship hall. It took more than a few minutes for everyone to make their way down the narrow stairs. True to her nature, Aunt Lydia wasn’t content with a handshake. When the Suttons finally got their turn to congratulate everyone, she hugged Cass and Ludwig, Sadie, and Margaret, beaming with joy as she wished Sadie happiness.

“You know everyone here wishes only the best for you two,” she said. “Everyone stayed. They all wanted to share in this happy occasion.”

Sadie grinned. “More likely everyone wanted some of Ma’s angel food cake.”

They all shared a laugh, and then Cass excused himself from the receiving line and drew Juliana aside. “Wonderful as Ma’s angel food cake is, I’m guessing you would like to be on your way out to Friendship Home to make preparations. I’d be honored to drive you out. We rented a buggy this morning, but Sadie and Ludwig are just walking over to the train station and heading home to Roca. They already have everything moved in. And Ma said she’d get a ride down to Friendship Home with Mrs. Gleason, who offered to help with cleanup here.”

Juliana hesitated. She shouldn’t be deserting her aunts. “We have to go back by the house to fetch some framed prints they want to hang before the doors open.”

Aunt Theodora overheard. “How kind of you, Mr. Gregory. My sister and I can help with cleanup and bring both ladies out with us in the town coach. The two of you can stop by the house and pick up the mottoes.” She smiled up at Cass. “You won’t mind helping Juliana hang them, will you? I’ll bring a plate of angel food cake for the two of you to share later.”

Mortified by Aunt Theodora’s reference to that day out at the Friendship Home, Juliana felt herself blushing. But Cass took it all in stride. “I’ll hold you to that,” he said, laughing.

In moments, the two of them had said farewell to the newlyweds and were on their way to Juliana’s house to retrieve the framed prints. Expecting to feel awkward once she was alone with the man who she felt had been making it a point to keep his distance for weeks now, Juliana was amazed by Cass’s relaxed manner.

On their way to the house, he drove Juliana past the new construction site at Twelfth and M Streets, then talked about the project all the way to the house. By the time they drove up to Friendship Home, Juliana dared to hope that she man she’d known before Caroline arrived—the man who was so easy to talk to, who made her laugh—had stepped out of the shadows and back into her life. Caroline had said Cass was in love with her. Juliana didn’t quite dare to believe that yet, but the idea of having Cass Gregory her friend back made her heart sing.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
H
EBREWS
11:1

C
ass had pulled the buggy up alongside the pasture fence and was helping Juliana down when Caroline Harrison emerged from the cottage and headed for the well, bucket in hand. “Didn’t the good Lord give us a fine day?” she called out, even as she tied the bucket to the rope and lowered it into the well.

Juliana grabbed the box holding the framed prints and headed over to show them to Caroline while Cass unhitched the rented mare and turned her into the pasture for the day.

“You missed a wedding after church today,” Juliana said.

“Congratulations,” Caroline teased.

Juliana ignored her. “Sadie Gregory and Mr. Meyer. Pastor Taylor announced it just before the closing prayer. You could have heard a pin drop.”

“I can only imagine.” Caroline began to haul the bucket back up. “I’d help you two hang those,” she nodded at the frames, “but Jenny isn’t feeling well, and I don’t want to leave her alone.”

Cass stepped in and took over the windlass. “Should I head back into town and fetch the doc?”

“No, there’s nothing specific going on, just a general malaise. He’ll be out for the open house. I suppose if you see him before I do, you might let him know that I need to speak with him. I’d like him to check in on Jenny before he leaves for town.”

“Would it be any help if we took Johnny off your hands for a while?” Juliana offered.

“Thank you, but he’s a little under the weather, too. In fact, he was just about to fall back to sleep when I came after the water.” Caroline reached into her pocket and handed Friendship Home’s front-door key to Cass, waving him away when he went to hoist the bucket of water. “You two go on and get those prints hung up. They’re the perfect finishing touch. I’m so glad Mrs. Gleason suggested it.” As they headed off, she called after them, “And see to it you behave yourselves. Sparking is not allowed within the walls of Friendship Home.”