Threads of Love (27 page)

“What’s she do then?” asked Tessie.

“That’s exactly my point. She’s not doing anything. She could be making extra money if that silly chef would just let her work the same hours as everyone else. I get off work all worn out, and she’s been lolling around and thinks I should entertain her. On my day off she thinks she should come along with me, even if I’m with Floyd,” Lydia replied, giving the smaller girl an accusatory look.

“Perhaps I could help out, Lydia. You could send Addie over here when she gets through in the morning and on her day off. She could play outdoors and keep more active here. Then perhaps she would be ready for bed when you get off work,” Tessie offered.

The young woman looked at her suspiciously, not sure why she would make such a generous offer. “I don’t know. She gets Sundays off—wouldn’t you know she would get Sundays off? Me—I get Tuesday,” she responded, not giving a definite answer. “Why do you want her around?” she asked, with a hint of jealousy creeping into her voice.

“I’m just trying to think how I could help out, Lydia. You’re more than welcome to visit anytime, too,” she responded, trying to relieve any hostility the offer might have induced.

“Guess it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. She would be out of my way. I’ll send her over tomorrow afternoon,” she stated.

“Why don’t we ask Addie if she would like to spend some of her time here? She may be unwilling,” Tessie suggested.

“She does what she’s told,” Lydia replied emphatically, giving the child a quick glare.

Ignoring Lydia’s reply, Tessie turned toward Addie, making sure the child could read her lips. “Would you like to come to my house each day after work?”

Addie immediately looked toward her sister for the correct answer. From the corner of her eye, Tessie watched Lydia mouth the word “yes,” and that was followed by Addie nodding her head up and down.

“We gotta go. I’m going to be late for work if I don’t get moving,” Lydia pronounced, jumping up from her chair and grabbing Addie’s arm.

“I’ll send her over tomorrow. Thanks for the tea and cookies,” she stated, all the while walking toward the door with her sister in tow.

“Thank you both for coming,” Tessie responded, watching as the two sisters went running down the sidewalk toward the Harvey House.

Walking back into her house, Tessie looked at the large clock sitting on the mantel. She had several hours before Charlie would arrive for their dinner engagement. Plenty of time to get a few chores done and catch up on some reading, she determined, picking up the teacups and plates.

If nothing else, he’s certainly punctual
, Tessie decided when Charlie knocked on the front door at exactly 6:30
P.M.
I shouldn’t be angry with him for being on time. It’s not his fault that I read too long, and now I’m rushing around like a chicken with its head cut off
, she mused.

The second loud knock did nothing toward helping her gain a modicum of composure. She rushed to the door, still struggling with the small pearl buttons on the sleeve of her champagne silk shirtwaist.

“I was beginning to think you’d found a better offer,” Charlie greeted, holding out a small bouquet of spring flowers. “I hope I didn’t rush you,” he continued, noting that she appeared somewhat disconcerted.

“What? Oh no—it’s my fault. I lost all sense of time when I began reading an article in the medical journal. Why don’t you come in while I get my hat and gloves, and we can be on our way,” she offered.

“What is it you were reading about?” Charlie inquired as they sauntered toward the restaurant.

Immediately, Tessie’s face lit up. “I’ve found the most interesting commentary about deafness. It’s written by a highly respected Chicago physician who has been studying deaf patients for a number of years. He and several of his colleagues collaborated on the article,” she related with great enthusiasm.

“I see,” Charlie replied, squelching his desire to once again admonish her about becoming overly involved with Lydia and Addie.

Tessie didn’t fail to notice his lack of excitement about the subject matter. When Lydia came to their table shortly thereafter and whispered that she would send Addie over after lunch the next day, his jaw visibly tightened.

“What else have you been up to aside from mothering the Baker sisters?” he inquired with more sarcasm than he had intended. As soon as the words were spoken, he wanted to retract them.

Tessie stiffened and stared directly into Charlie’s gray eyes. “I think there needs to be some clarification about our relationship if we’re to continue seeing each other on a social basis, Mr. Banion,” Tessie stated quite formally.

“I’m sorry—” Charlie began.

“No, please don’t interrupt me. You need to understand that I am open to listening to your opinions. I will then evaluate that information based on my education and beliefs. I am not, however, willing to allow you or any other person to impose ideas and beliefs upon me.”

Holding up her hand to ward off his attempt to speak, she continued, “I won’t allow you to make me feel foolish or imprudent because I want to befriend two young women. If that makes you uncomfortable, I don’t think we should see each other again,” she finished.

Charlie leaned back in his chair, now certain the tales he had heard about redheads and their tempers had some validity. “I truly am sorry,” he declared. “You are absolutely correct that I have no right to impose my opinions upon you, and perhaps that is what I’ve been doing. For that I apologize. You, however, have been extremely defensive when I’ve attempted to discuss Addie and Lydia. I merely wanted to point out that sometimes it is wise to move forward cautiously in order to prevent being hurt or exploited by others.”

“Does that apply to you as well as Lydia and Addie?” she inquired.

“Well, no, of course not. I…I,” he stammered and then looked up when he heard her giggle.

“You see, Charlie,” she said, “I don’t know any more about you than I do of Lydia and Addie. If you’re willing to trust my judgment of people in befriending
you
, I hope you will extend that trust to my companionship with Lydia and Addie.”

“I guess you’ve got me,” he answered with a grin. “Tell you what, I’ll try to keep my mind open if you’ll promise to keep your eyes open. How about it?”

“I think that will work,” she replied.

I truly hope so
, Charlie thought to himself, sure that Lydia Baker was interested in more than Tessie’s friendship.

S
hortly after lunch the next day, Addie appeared at Tessie’s front door in a tattered, brown-print dress, her hair damp from leaning over steamy dishwater all morning.

“Good afternoon, Addie,” Tessie greeted as she swung open the front door.

“Hi,” Addie responded hesitantly. “How come you want me to come here?” she bluntly asked before entering the house.

“Because we’re both new in town, and I know I could use a friend. How about you?” Tessie answered, extending her hand to the child.

“I guess we could try, but I’ve never had a friend as old as you,” the child innocently replied, causing Tessie to laugh. Addie wasn’t sure what was so humorous, but she smiled and entered the house.

“Is there something special you’d like to do this afternoon?” Tessie asked, but when Addie didn’t answer, she realized she had not been heard.
I must remember to gain her attention before speaking
, Tessie reminded herself and then touched the child’s arm.

“What would you like to do today?” she repeated, looking directly into the small brown eyes.

Addie merely shrugged her shoulders in response, leaving the decision to Tessie.

“I have several patients I’ll need to see in my office a little later,” she told the youngster, “but I do have a few playthings from when I was a little girl.”

“Do you have a ball?” Addie asked. “I like to play outside when it’s nice, but Lydia always makes me go upstairs and take a nap,” she said, beginning to loosen up with her new friend.

“I think I may have one,” Tessie answered, pulling a cloth bag out of the hallway closet. “Why don’t you look through here and find what you’d like to play with? I have a patient arriving, but if you need me, just come through that door to the office,” she said, pointing toward the office entrance.

“Okay,” Addie responded. Obviously, her thoughts were on the toys and nothing else.

Tessie checked on Addie several times throughout the day, and the two of them enjoyed lemonade on the front porch between appointments. Addie seemed content, and Tessie was savoring their brief visits between patients.

“What’s that you’re doing there?” Charlie called out, forgetting for the moment Addie could not hear him. Tessie looked up from her desk at the sound of his voice and watched as Charlie walked over toward a spot in the yard where Addie was sitting. The child noticed him as he drew closer and waved her hand in recognition.

“I’ll play you a game,” Charlie said, kneeling down beside her. Having found a small bag of marbles among Tessie’s old toys, Addie located a spot alongside the house where there were a few weeds, but the grass had failed to grow. Meticulously she pulled the weeds, and now sat shooting the round balls, thoroughly enjoying the sunshine and newfound entertainment.

“Okay,” she told Charlie and watched as he drew a circle in the dirt.

“Let me show you how this is done,” he said, patiently explaining the finer points of how to shoot a good game of marbles.

Tessie sat listening through the open window in her office. When she had completed writing notes in a file, she walked out to join them. “Good afternoon, Charlie,” she welcomed. “What caused this unexpected visit?” she inquired, pleased to see Addie enjoying the game.

“No frivolous chitchat while I’m concentrating on my game,” he admonished, giving her a winsome grin. Addie fervently watched as he made the shot.

“You lose,” she said, clapping her hands together.

“That’s because I taught you too well,” he said, gathering her into his arms and giving her a spontaneous hug. Tessie stood watching as the small child clung to his neck, hungry for the love and attention she had been denied since her mother’s death.

“I assume it’s been a good first-day visit,” Charlie questioned, Addie still clinging to him.

“It has gone very well. Thank you for being so kind,” Tessie responded, looking down at the small figure tightly clutching him.

“I’m going to be leaving for Topeka in an hour, but I’ll be back this weekend. I know that Addie will be with you all day on Sunday, so I was wondering if I might accompany the two of you to church. Then we could go on a picnic,” he ventured, hopeful she would think it was a good idea.

“That would be wonderful,” she exclaimed. “If, by chance, the weather doesn’t cooperate with a picnic, we can eat here,” she suggested.

“Great. I’ll come by for you at ten o’clock, but don’t you cook, even if the weather is bad. I’ll make arrangements with John over at the Harvey House to fix up a basket lunch, and if it rains, we’ll have our picnic indoors,” he told her. “I’d better get going, or I’ll not be ready to leave when the train pulls out,” he advised with a smile. “I’ll see you both on Sunday,” he told her and then leaned down and said, “I’ll be by to pick you up for church on Sunday, Addie,” and gave the child a hug.

“I don’t want to go to church,” the child informed Tessie shortly after Charlie’s departure.

“Why not?” Tessie questioned.

“Lydia makes me go by myself, and the kids make fun of my clothes and call me a dummy,” she replied honestly, the pain evident in her eyes.

“Sometimes people don’t realize how much they hurt us with their words,” Tessie told the child. “You must always remember that you are special. God made only one Addie Baker, and He loves her very much. Even though other people hurt your feelings, you can always depend on God and know He loves you just the way you are,” she counseled the child.

“Does He love those kids who were mean to me?” Addie asked.

“Yes, Addie, He loves them, too. He doesn’t love the sinful things any of us do, but He never stops loving us. God will forgive us for doing wrong if we just ask Him, but He does expect us to try and do better the next time,” she instructed.

“Well, I don’t love them. I don’t even like those naughty kids, and I don’t want to go to church and be around them,” Addie said, a tear sliding down her cheek.

“I know, Addie. It’s harder for us to forgive people. God does a much better job, but He would want you to try and forgive the mean actions of those children. He certainly wouldn’t want the actions of others to keep you from worshiping Him. Besides, Charlie and I will be with you this time. Will you try it just this once?” Tessie cajoled.

“If you promise I can sit between you and Charlie, so they won’t see me,” Addie bargained.

“Absolutely,” Tessie agreed. “And after church we’ll go on a picnic. Would you like that?”

“Oh, yes!” the child exclaimed, jumping up and down. “Oh yes, yes.”