To Want the School Teacher (8 page)

“No. No,
no worries there. Frankie told me he helped with the wood pile, and
I thought. Well, I thought I'd do my share to help, and I brought a
noon refreshment.” She took the basket from her son and held it
out.

Thomas stood. “Let's go
around back there are tables there. Err, Mrs. Wellington, you
didn't happen to put some of that famous fried chicken you make in
there, per chance.?”

“She sure
did.” Frankie announced making his mother blush and the others
laugh.

After lunch Mrs. Wellington
declared her intent to repair the two garden strips in front of the
building. On each side of the steps apparently at one time someone
had planted flowers in larger flower boxes. The weeds and
overgrowth hid that fact from view.

“A school
should be a welcome place. Somewhere children want to come to
learn.” The woman stated.

No one noticed Victoria
looked at Mary and she winced at the other woman's words. Mary
might want to help. However, to Mary as a place for learning this
building had no welcome atmosphere.

A plan formed in Victoria
mind. “Mary, could you assist me for a minute.”

Dutifully, the child came
to her. “I need to see how fresh the caulk is. Would you write your
name on the board for me?”

“Yes,
ma'am.”

“I knew
it. The caulk is old.” Victoria cried out. The letters the child
formed were barely legible. “Let's try a new box. Here.”

Victoria after seeing no
improvement drew small dashes on the board the help guide Mary's
hand. Follow the lines and I think you'll be surprised.” While Mary
did so. Victoria repeatedly made more dashes as Mary practiced.
“Mary, you must slow down. You catch on so fast.” Which of course
encourage the child to work faster.

Each time Victoria used
less and less dashes. Soon Mary's M's were straight sharp and
clean. The rest of her letters followed suit.

“This is
how you spell–CAT.” Victoria meowed and the child giggled. A few
minutes later Mary could write and spell five new words.

Thomas stood at the door
and watched the two people carry on at the blackboard laughing and
making animal sounds. Victoria insisted Mary make the sound of the
animals she spelled as she wrote.

Thomas whispered, “Thank
you, Mary.” While he wondered if Victoria realized what a great
instructor she'd be.

“I'm sorry
to interrupt you ladies from your fun and games. But, we do need to
clean up before dinner at mother's.”

Victoria bent over and
hugged Mary good-bye, with a promise to see her tomorrow, before
she moved toward Thomas.

***

Dinner as expected was
excellent. Instead of the ladies going into the parlor after dinner
they headed upstairs. The dressmaker was already there and
waiting.

The dress fit perfectly.
The cream toned silk dress draped as if it was designed just for
her. The front material was pulled back and up allowing folds and
creases to drape softly across the front of the skirt. A few rows
of ruffles followed just above the hem line. The bustle in back
wasn't over bearing. The material stitched into wide pleads and
fell into a long train completed the design in the back.

The bodice's neckline was
squared surrounded by ruffled rosepoint lace. The same beautiful
lace edged the three-quarter length sleeves. A longer version of
the lace decked the edge of the deep v-shaped front. The material
molded snug around Victoria's waist. Fifteen silk cover buttons
down the front finished the garment's detail.

Speechless at seeing the
reflection of the future bride in the mirror it took a moment to
compose herself. Victoria and Mother Emily praised the seamstress
for her talents and effects. Victoria stared a moment longer
subdued and bewildered.

A bemused Mother Emily and
a disconcerted Victoria arrived to join Thomas and his Stepfather
in the parlor. Not two minutes passed before Mother Emily
announced.

“
The
invitations were hand delivered this morning. The nuptials are set
for ten o'clock Thursday morning.”

Thomas smiled.

Phillip commented.“Good
show, we'll be done by three. I won't miss the cricket match at the
club.

Victoria gasped and spurred
out. “So Soon.”

“Now
Victoria. The whole town knows how deeply you two love each other,
so there really isn't any reason the delay. I know you and Thomas
want to start a life together as soon as possible. Besides, it's
for the good of town to see this courtship come to an end. Don't
you agree?”

Victoria
stood up and walked to the window dumbfounded. She needed to answer
the woman.
So, what's the problem you'll
be free to leave this place in two days.
There could only be one answer. “Yes. Yes, of course you're
correct.”

“Good now
that's settled. Thomas, bring Victoria and anything else she may
need over tomorrow night. I won't have my future daughter-in-law's
reputation sullied.” She didn't need to add anymore than it all
ready was. However, much is forgiven when it
for the god of the town
. “She'll be
spending the night before the ceremony here and not under your
roof.”

If Thomas intended to
complain he lost his chance. When Emily added.

“Now,
Thomas, don't look like that. You know it's bad luck to see the
bride before the wedding. What do you think will happen? That your
bride abscond right before your eyes?”

Victoria
nearly choked.
Gads, that's exactly what's
planned
. She need air before she fainted.
She grabbed the back of the nearest chair. Her knuckles paled white
holding herself steady.

“Good
grief, Victoria are you all right?” The ever alert Thomas by her
side already took charge and lead her from the room.

“Maybe
some air. Mother, the smelling salts.” Thomas barked while aiding
his love out onto the porch.

***

As nights go the night
before Victoria's wedding was the worse night she ever remembered.
Every time she tried to get comfortable she's sling out a leg or an
arm and jerk back remembering Thomas was there and she connect with
his body. When she hit nothing except the bedding she sit up
confused. She refused to admit to herself she had grown used to
Thomas being by her side as if he was her protector.

Then the dreams came. Wild
ones. Thomas married little Mary and they mooed, oinked, and meowed
during their vows. The next dream Thomas refused to say I do. She
begged and pleaded while promising she'd be the prefect schoolmarm
the town ever seen. She cried out, “For the good of the town agree
to marry me. For the good of the town. For the good of the
town...

The last nightmare had
Victoria decked in all her wedding finery except instead of pale
cream the bridal gown was black and she was locked in a stagecoach
with bars on the doors and windows. It moved slowly out of town
while she screamed “I don't want to go. Help me. Thomas help!”

The bride woke drenched in
sweat and wrapped in a cocoon of bed sheets. Once freed she sat in
one of the room's chairs to afraid to sleep until the maid come to
wake her.

The hours flew to be
minutes as Victoria now stood before the same mirror as a few days
ago. Mother Emily walked into the room carrying a box. Placing it
on the bed she opened it. There could be no denying as the older
woman shook out the most beautiful veil. The color matched the
dress Victoria wore.

The tulle fabric light and
airy trimmed with small pieces of the same rosepoint lace. With the
last pin in place the older woman stepped back. The veil hung to
her waist in the back and to her elbows on her sides. The front top
gathered to form waves of tulle that draped just below her
nose.

There were not time for
reflection nor words as Emily scooted Victoria down a back
stairwell.

Pushing open a door Emily
ushered the bride inside. “This is my morning room the quests are
gathered in the main garden. This entryway takes you to my private
garden. No one but me spends time here as I am the one who designed
and keeps it groomed.”

“Listen
for the music to begin. The gate is behind the flower bed on the
right. When Mozart’s Sussex Waltz ends flee out the gate someone
will be there to help you.”

Victoria wanted to say
something the tears in Thomas's mother's eye stopped help.

“Shhh. Say
nothing for some day you will understand a mothers love for her
children. Remember, I do this because it needs to be this way. Now
go I need to take my place in the other garden.” She kissed
Victoria's forehead and left her standing there. Left her more
dazed than ever. Left her wanting to cry. Left her wanting to
laugh. Left her wanting.

Musical notes floated into
the room. In a minute or so she'd be free. Victoria moved to the
gate and placed her hand on it readying herself to push it open.
The last note held for a second then faded into nothingness.

Victoria shoved with all
her might the gate and stumbled into the opening. Immediately
someone caught her and prevented her from landing on her face.
Whoever held her didn't let go. She wanted to thank him. The dress
night be gorgeous but moving quickly in it was proving
challenging.

Someone said, “Here hold on
to these.

Finding her balance
Victoria looked up at the person holding her.

“Phillip!”

The
pianist began a new song.

“I was
asked to escort you. A duty I look forward to with extreme
pleasure, my dear. Shall we?”

Phillip hooked her arm
through his and edged Victoria down the path. Disoriented she
wondered if she inadvertently opened the wrong gate. Her muddled
brain cleared enough for her to realize she somehow stumbled into
the garden where the wedding was to take place.

The inhale of breath by
those in attendance brought Victoria's head up. She smelled roses.
Breaking with tradition Thomas had left his position in front of
the bridal arch covered with ribbons and flowers. With purpose he
advanced up the aisle to meet Phillip and his bride half way. All
three people stopped. If someone dropped the proverbial pin it
would definitely have been heard by all.

Thomas extended his arm and
held an open hand for Victoria to accept. “Marry me, You know you
want this as much as I do.”

There was no rhyme or
reason for it, but she knew to deny it would be a lie. She placed
her hand gently on top of his. Together they walked the balance of
the walkway to the man waiting to join the groom to his bride.

***

“When can
I expect payment, Keith?”

“Really,
Mother, you'd take money from your own son?”

“When he
wagers against me, of course.” Emily grinned.

“I still
don't know how you pulled it off.” Keith tugged at the heavy
starched collar irritating his neck.

The older woman's laughter
rang out. “You don't need to know how. The wager was if and I give
you Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Edison Kincaid. ” Her hand flipped open to
point to the couple about to cut into the wedding cake. “Oh, do
excuse your mother. I do want to get a piece with a rose on
it.”

Most people expected to
find newly weds well in to the middle of the night warped in each
others in slumber exhausted from the expended passion shared
earlier in the evening. Not so in the Kincaid household.

There was one more thing
the town's newest couple needed to set straight.

“Thomas
stroked his wife's arm. “So my mother is forgiven?”

“Yes.
Completely, however, I don't think it's a good idea to let her know
just yet. I can't have her controlling everything in our lives.”
Victoria snickered.

Thomas winced and wondered
how he was suppose to survive with two devious women in his
life.

Victoria snuggled closer.
“Thomas, I need to ask you, about the town's search for a
teacher.”

“Hmmm?”
The instinct was to hold his breath. He tried to keep his breathing
light and normal. The women in the family didn't hold the patent on
devious. Thomas knew he was about to get the town its
schoolmarm.

“If they
haven't found any one. I'd like to take the position.”

“
Why?”

Victoria pushed against
Thomas' chest and sat up. “If you must know I gave your words a lot
of thought and maybe you're right.”

“Victoria,
the real reason.” By his tone she knew his wasn't going to her get
away without making her explain herself completely.

“
Well, it
was Mary. Her plight and fears touched my heart somehow. Maybe the
next person wouldn't understand and take them in to
account.”

“There
lots of Marys out there and each one has a unique story to tell. So
tell me, Victoria, what do you really mean to say?”

“I know
what you want me to say and I won't. I'm hungry and am going
downstairs for a snack”

Sliced apples and few
chucks of cheese sat on the plate. Victoria brought out a pitcher
of chilled butter milk from the cold larder.

“Really,
Thomas you did needn't have followed me.”

Before sitting down he
placed a second glass on the table. Victoria filled both glasses
and reached for the salt and pepper shakers. “You're the only
person I know who adds salt and pepper to buttermilk. Which should
have warned me that you sir aren't normal.”

“I'll have
you know I didn't follow you. I sought you out. I missed you. I
wondered if you'd ever return to me.” His eyes swept over her
nightdress. He made no attempt to hide the hunger. Thomas's tongue
dragged across his top lip as if Victoria was the snack. She
couldn't hide her response from him and blushed.