To Want the School Teacher (6 page)

Obediently, Victoria follow
the other woman out. She was lost in thought. Her future certainly
wasn't here or was it. She nearly tumbled when she looked at
Thomas' eyes drinking her in when she entered the room as if she's
been entering it for years. The cups rattled. Now everyone was
watching her. Gracefully, she put the tray down on the side table
next to an empty chair and sat in the chair.

Both men stood as the women
entered. Thomas moved over to Victoria.

“Victoria,
the other woman of my heart, my mother, Mrs. Emily Preston, and her
dear husband, Phillip.”

Phillip nodded.

Emily said. “Thomas, I have
already met Victoria in the kitchen, and we have become the best of
friends haven't we, Victoria dear?”

She was expected to say
something. She wanted to snap at the woman didn't you hear me. I am
not marrying your son. Instead she said,”Yes. Yes, we did. You have
a sweet and lovely mother, Thomas. What happen to you? Shall I
pour.”

Philip nervously looked at
Emily and squeaked. “Emily, dear?”

“Now,
Phillip, it will be all right. Victoria knows how you like your
coffee. Three sugars and just a drop of cream.” Emily nodded to
Victoria. She immediately took the hint and prepared Thomas'
stepfather's beverage first.

“Mrs.
Preston, how do you take your coffee?”

“Now none
of that it's Mother Emily or just Mother whichever you're most
comfortable with, and I have double cream and no sugar, thank you
darling.” Mother Emily or just Mother gave Victoria the most
cunning and mischievous smile and then she winked. “Thank you,
dear.” Thomas said as Victoria passed his cup to him. He apparently
recouped from her comment earlier. The plates with the coffee cake
where handed out.

“So tell
me dear, are you and Thomas planning on a church service wedding or
a small family affair.”

Victoria's head popped up.
She went to put her spoon on the saucer but the shock of the
question made her miss and her spoon dropped making a clacking
sound as it landed on the floor. She looked for Thomas to
intervene. He didn't. He was holding his breath waiting for her
answer too.

“Ah, ah,
we haven't decided that yet. It doesn't really matter.”

“Well if
it doesn't matter than may I arrange a small affair at our home.
Wouldn't that be splendid, Phillip?”

Thomas hid his smile behind
his napkin. Phillip denied nothing his mother every wanted. He
fought to hold the laughter watching Victoria squirm. The young
woman had no idea how devious the other woman could be.

Victoria wanted to change
the subject but couldn't bring herself to call her Mother or Mother
Emily. She knew if she didn't change the subject soon it would just
get worst. It did and of all people it was because of Phillip.

“Emily,
dear do they have a date set yet?”

Victoria has to restrain
herself and manged not to scream.

“No. not
yet.”

“We
thought soon haven't we dear.”
Oh yes,
Thomas you are enjoying this mess.

“Well, I
have next Wednesday open or Saturday.” Emily's schedule book sat
open and balanced on her lap.

“No. No,
Saturday is not good for me. My hunting club, Sweetness.” Thank you
Phillip Victoria thought.

Victoria smiled at Thomas.
Following his lead any day would not open for her as well. You can
do this she told herself, and she did. Even as far as giving in to
saying Mother Emily.

“Wednesday
is not good for me. I have to travel out of town before we get
married. Family business that must be settled before the wedding.
I've made arrangements to leave tomorrow actually. Oh, Mother
Emily, how I'd love you to see me off. It would mean so much. My
own parents passed away a few years ago.” Victoria was proud she
even managed a teardrop to slip from beneath her eyelid.” She
turned to Thomas as if to say–Ha.

He nearly choked on his
mother's scrumptious coffee cake. He turned his whole body toward
Victoria”

“I'll not
have it. We already decided. Your trip to California will be after
the wedding, and we will travel together. Have you forgotten the
consequences? We discussed the dire consequences to you if you try
to make this trip without me by your side.”

The cup rattled on the
saucer to the point Victoria expected it to join the spoon on the
floor.

The monster was still
there. The threat was barely veiled.

He demanded, “Answer
me,Victoria.”

She raised her other hand
to steady the china balancing precariously. Never looking at Thomas
he heard a meek. “Yes, I understand what you saying to me.”

He turned to face his
mother. He hand placed lightly on Victoria's head. “Forgive me,
Mother, but Victoria had an upsetting episode yesterday, and I feel
perhaps she hasn't fully recovered. Come dear let me guide upstairs
for a rest.”

Victoria decide she'd draw
the line and cross at the same time. Of course that was before she
saw Thomas' face. Backing down instantly and meekly she stood. His
fingers gripped her upper arm. Together they seemed to float from
the room.

“Excuse
me, I'll be right back,” he said.

Victoria once she
understood the extent of Thomas' anger expected to be re-tied to
the bed. He didn't. He stopped at the doorway.

She tried to yank her arm
free.

“Don't
push me any more today, Victoria. Go inside and rest. We'll have
this out and settled for the last time when I return.” He let go
and turned to go back downstairs. Victoria entered the room alone
and flung herself on the bed sobbing her heart out as if the tears
shed would help.

***

It couldn't be Thomas,
because he entered without ever knocking.

“Come
in”

Thomas' mother entered and
closed the door behind her.

“I hope
you're feeling better.”

A faint smile on Victoria
was the only answer.

“Thomas'
gets his bull hardheadedness naturally my dear. Oh, the rows his
father and I would have. He also has his father's passion. You
might as well give in and marry him. You can't deny having some
feelings for my son.”

“Don't you
see I'm afraid of him. He... He”

“Yes dear,
he saw you and took you, the whole towns knows the story, and I'm
afraid the whole town supports him. It was for
the good of the town.
It also turned
out to be very good for my son
.
This is a close knit community. It might seems
strange to someone like yourself an outsider. I promise you'll get
to like it.”

Emily took hold of
Victoria's hands. She looked lost in thought. After a while Emily
squeezed her hand tighter.

“You're a
sweet woman and I'll help you to get away if that's what you really
want.”

“You will,
oh thank you.” Victoria bounced back from her depressed
state.”

“Not so
fast. I have conditions. You will accept my son and plan to marry
him. You make him happy and the day of the wedding if you still
want to leave I'll fix it so you can.”

Victoria wanted to know,
yet she hadn't the courage to ask, why. She didn't need to ask.

“Thomas
was shall we say was gun-shy before about marriage. After you
destroy his heart I'll never have to see him be victimized by a
heartless and selfish female again.”

With that said Mother Emily
let go of the younger woman's hands, stood, and walked out of the
room. Victoria waited for the door to slam, however, the woman
walked away with grace. If Victoria thought she cried before; she
discovered she was wrong. Heartless and selfish whispered
repeatedly with each sob.

The sun was setting before
Victoria found the physical strength and the mental fortitude to
face Thomas.

She found him sitting
behind his desk. Papers were pushed and piled everywhere. He looked
up without saying a word. He watched her enter and finally stand in
front of the desk.

“I'd like
to talk to you. If you're not busy?”

Thomas put the pen down and
closed the inkwell. “What is it, Victoria?”

She couldn't just blurt out
hey I'll marry you. He wouldn't trust her and well she just
couldn't that's all.

“I'm sorry
about the way it went with your family.” She wrung her hands.”Yes,
I am. Your mother is very nice and Phillip seems kind
too.”

Thomas folded his arms and
leaned in the back into the chair. “Get to the point, Victoria, I
am kind of busy.”

“Oh, maybe
I could make you some tea?” He wasn't helping and she was trying
not to beg.

“Sure,
tea.” When he finally answered her Victoria instantly retreated to
the kitchen.

Waiting for the tea ware to
heat Victoria's tummy growled informing her it had been hours since
she ate last. Sorting through the cold larder she found some cheese
and slices of ham. Along with the cider she arranged a snack for
Thomas and her to share. The platter was piled high with the
assortment of food. She went to carry it into the other room.

Victoria jumped back
startled to find Thomas leaning lazily against the door jam
watching her.

He smirked. “Sorry. The
idea about food was a good one. I am starved.” He finished walking
into the room and pulled out the closet chair. He sat.

Victoria pushed the platter
between them and after placing two cups, filled with tea mixed with
the cider, she sat across from him. What she couldn't explain was
why the large kitchen now felt small and cramped.

Thomas extended his hand
across the table to her. Victoria didn't resist this time and
cautiously placed her hand in his. Both people bowed their heads as
Thomas shared a blessing over it. Only he didn't stop at the food.
He went on about how blessed he was to find a woman so special as
Victoria. By the time he finished. Her heart was breaking.

“Oh
plates, I forgot the plates.” She went to rise.

“No. This
is fine. See.” He picked up a piece of cheese between his fingers.
Instead of putting it in his own mouth his arm stretched out and
held it before hers. Victoria opened her lips and accepted his
offering.

It felt naughty. She
giggled.

***

“Look
here, Thomas you can't be serious. Brother, your not thinking.
Well, maybe you are, but not with your brain.” Keith eyes on Thomas
scanned the area he referred to.

The two men were arguing
for the past ten minutes. Victoria stood on the bottom step when
she heard the raised voices catching the end of the exchange.

“I don't
care if you understand or not. I actually and as shocked as I may
be to say this. I love that woman. I want us to be happy and that
is only going to happen if Victoria is allowed to be happy. And the
town be damned. She comes first and being forced to be the school
teacher will not make her happy.”

“Thomas,
be reasonable it's a package deal. Remember the town's
charter.”

“I have.
The school teacher has to be married and I was forced to agree. But
there is nothing that says my wife has to be that teacher. So, I
say no.”

“Your
pigheadedness in this will make you an outcast.” Keith
warned.

“I don't
care. Her happiest now comes first even before my own. The council
can find another man to fill the obligation. Now there's an idea.
Why don't you volunteer to replace me?”

Keith cursed.

Thomas calmed down and in a
more normal tone of voice said. “Maybe you'd be as lucky as I
am.”

“We're
running out of time to beginning searching all over
again.”

Thomas
held his hand up forcing Keith to stop talking.

“I
understand that. The most I can do is ask Victoria if she'd be
willing to set up the schoolroom, so whoever they fine can take
over immediately.

Victoria stepped in the
entryway. Thomas was facing the doorway. His face lit up. If Keith
hadn't stepped aside Thomas would've mowed him down in his haste to
touch the woman now standing there.

The smile she wore was
feeble. Victoria was still overcome by the passionate way Thomas
defended her to his brother.

Keith stiffened up. He
bowed and scowled.

“I must
run, Victoria, Thomas.”

He stopped
and turned to face the couple. He was being flippant when he said,
“Apparently now it's...
For the good of
Thomas
.”

“Is that
such a bad thing, brother?”

Thomas dismissed his
brother's attitude and swept his fiancee into his arms. His kiss
demanded a response. She obeyed a little too ardently to her way of
thinking and decide she was playing the role of a woman in
love.

***

The afternoon required a
visit to Thomas' mother's home. She planned a small gathering of
her closet friends to meet Victoria.

Thomas and Victoria arrived
at three o'clock sharp. The attendant took hold of the horse's
bridle to hold him steady as the couple disembarked the
carriage.

Thomas turned to help
Victoria from the vehicle. His hands remained around her waist once
her feet touched the earth. He deferred letting go of her. He
eventually turned, and together they faced the house. Victoria
shivered.

“I'm
sorry. I should have known better.” He exhaled the words in a plea
of forgiveness.