the parlor, Nell stood in front of the mantel, face to face with the clock. “Are you all right?” Ida asked.
Sniffling, Nell nodded and turned toward Ida, swiping at the tears rolling down her blotchy cheeks. “Of all the times not to have a handkerchief with me.”
Ida pulled a handkerchief out of the pocket on her skirt and handed it to her. “You have plenty of time to have a baby, Sis.”
“I know.” Nell drew in a deep, shuddering breath and dabbed her eyes. “I can’t believe I ran out of the kitchen like that. You all must think I’m a baby myself.”
“Kat understands.”
“But you don’t understand, do you?” Nell asked.
Ida pressed her lips together and slowly shook her head. She didn’t know what it meant to love a man so much that she’d want to set her ambition aside to marry him and have his child. But she didn’t have to understand to be understanding.
Nell giggled—a sweet sound. “Don’t feel bad. I don’t either. Judson and I only married four months ago. It’s not like we’re going to be childless like poor Miss Hattie and her George. She never could bear children.”
A gasp and clanging cups drew their attention to the doorway, where Miss Hattie steadied the tea tray in Kat’s hands.
Fresh tears flowed down Nell’s face. “I didn’t mean … What’s the matter with me? I’m such a mess.”
“Yes, you are, dear.” Miss Hattie approached Nell and reached for her hand. “Love and longing can do that to a person. But there’s no reason to feel bad about what you said. It’s true that God chose to bless George and me with the care of other people’s children—most of them grown—rather than with our own.” A warm smile lit her silver eyes.
It seemed God had gifted the landlady with an uncanny way of mothering despite her barren womb. Ida took the tray from Kat and carried it across the room.
“Thank you, Miss Hattie.” Nell drew the gracious woman into an embrace then faced Kat. “I am the most selfish person on God’s green earth. But you have to know that I really am excited to be Auntie Nell.”
“I know you are.” Kat hugged Nell.
“Are you and Morgan all right?”
“We haven’t talked about that part of it yet.”
“I’ve been thinking about that, Kat.” Ida set the tray on the sofa table while the others seated themselves. “I may not be qualified to offer marital advice, but—”
“But that’s not going to stop you.” A smile tipped Kat’s mouth to one side.
“You do know me well, don’t you?” Ida sat on the sofa beside Kat. “And I know you. You won’t rest until you’ve expressed your feelings. None of us are good at holding in our emotions.”
“Ida’s right.” Her voice strong again, Nell handed Kat a teacup. “Granted, you needn’t be as transparent as I am, but if you don’t voice your concerns, they’ll fester and your health will suffer.”
Ida warmed her hands on her cup. She was right, wasn’t she? She hoped so. She truly wasn’t qualified to counsel either of her Cripple Creek sisters on the finer points—or on any points—having to do with marriage.
Business was her ally. Love and marriage, her foe.
TWELVE
hursday morning Ida relished the warmth of the sun on her back as she strolled down Third Street toward Bennett Avenue. She’d chosen to wear a burgundy skirt with a white shirtwaist for her first day of work. She’d pinned her hair up in a French twist and donned a new pair of calfskin shoes. She only hoped she was ready in Miss Mollie O’Bryan’s way of thinking.
She’d drunk a hefty helping of bicarbonate soda to settle her stomach. Still, bees seemed to buzz about inside her. It would help if she could shut off the memory of yesterday’s interview. Of Miss O’Bryan’s battle with Colin Wagner. Of her leaning in toward Ida, close enough that Ida could smell the scent of her lavender bath soap, and asking why she wanted to work for her. Ida shook her head to rid herself of the
Sniffling, Nell nodded and turned toward Ida, swiping at the tears rolling down her blotchy cheeks. “Of all the times not to have a handkerchief with me.”
Ida pulled a handkerchief out of the pocket on her skirt and handed it to her. “You have plenty of time to have a baby, Sis.”
“I know.” Nell drew in a deep, shuddering breath and dabbed her eyes. “I can’t believe I ran out of the kitchen like that. You all must think I’m a baby myself.”
“Kat understands.”
“But you don’t understand, do you?” Nell asked.
Ida pressed her lips together and slowly shook her head. She didn’t know what it meant to love a man so much that she’d want to set her ambition aside to marry him and have his child. But she didn’t have to understand to be understanding.
Nell giggled—a sweet sound. “Don’t feel bad. I don’t either. Judson and I only married four months ago. It’s not like we’re going to be childless like poor Miss Hattie and her George. She never could bear children.”
A gasp and clanging cups drew their attention to the doorway, where Miss Hattie steadied the tea tray in Kat’s hands.
Fresh tears flowed down Nell’s face. “I didn’t mean … What’s the matter with me? I’m such a mess.”
“Yes, you are, dear.” Miss Hattie approached Nell and reached for her hand. “Love and longing can do that to a person. But there’s no reason to feel bad about what you said. It’s true that God chose to bless George and me with the care of other people’s children—most of them grown—rather than with our own.” A warm smile lit her silver eyes.
It seemed God had gifted the landlady with an uncanny way of mothering despite her barren womb. Ida took the tray from Kat and carried it across the room.
“Thank you, Miss Hattie.” Nell drew the gracious woman into an embrace then faced Kat. “I am the most selfish person on God’s green earth. But you have to know that I really am excited to be Auntie Nell.”
“I know you are.” Kat hugged Nell.
“Are you and Morgan all right?”
“We haven’t talked about that part of it yet.”
“I’ve been thinking about that, Kat.” Ida set the tray on the sofa table while the others seated themselves. “I may not be qualified to offer marital advice, but—”
“But that’s not going to stop you.” A smile tipped Kat’s mouth to one side.
“You do know me well, don’t you?” Ida sat on the sofa beside Kat. “And I know you. You won’t rest until you’ve expressed your feelings. None of us are good at holding in our emotions.”
“Ida’s right.” Her voice strong again, Nell handed Kat a teacup. “Granted, you needn’t be as transparent as I am, but if you don’t voice your concerns, they’ll fester and your health will suffer.”
Ida warmed her hands on her cup. She was right, wasn’t she? She hoped so. She truly wasn’t qualified to counsel either of her Cripple Creek sisters on the finer points—or on any points—having to do with marriage.
Business was her ally. Love and marriage, her foe.
TWELVE
hursday morning Ida relished the warmth of the sun on her back as she strolled down Third Street toward Bennett Avenue. She’d chosen to wear a burgundy skirt with a white shirtwaist for her first day of work. She’d pinned her hair up in a French twist and donned a new pair of calfskin shoes. She only hoped she was ready in Miss Mollie O’Bryan’s way of thinking.
She’d drunk a hefty helping of bicarbonate soda to settle her stomach. Still, bees seemed to buzz about inside her. It would help if she could shut off the memory of yesterday’s interview. Of Miss O’Bryan’s battle with Colin Wagner. Of her leaning in toward Ida, close enough that Ida could smell the scent of her lavender bath soap, and asking why she wanted to work for her. Ida shook her head to rid herself of the
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