Ordinarily Esme would have realized that it was natural for a newlywed couple on their first public outing to attract attention, but already worried about being a "gentleman's" wife, Esme saw it as a critical judgment.
Sophrona Tewksbury walked with studied nonchalance to the front of the church. With her smile firmly in place, she stopped beside the pew of Cleav and Esme. "Good morning," she said, sweetly offering a hand to Cleav.
He took it and came to his feet. "Good morning to you. Miss Sophrona," he said. "You look lovely as always."
Esme didn't know if she was supposed to stand up or not. Fearing to make a social blunder in front of the congregation, she hesitated a moment then stood beside Cleav.
"Don't you look wonderful!" Sophrona exclaimed sincerely. "I knew that rose color was perfect for you."
"Th-thank you," Esme stuttered.
Sophrona leaned forward and embraced Esme, planting a sisterly kiss on her flushed cheek.
"I know you are busy settling into your new home," Sophrona said lightly. "But when you have time, do come over for a lemonade with me one afternoon."
"Of course," Esme blurted out a bit too loudly.
With a warm smile Sophrona made her way to the piano, where she seated herself daintily at the bench and immediately began to play.
"She's so kind," Esme whispered to herself.
"She's a lady," Eula Rhy whispered back beside her. "You'd do well to learn to emulate her."
Esme felt a clump of fear gnawing at the back of her throat. She could never be Sophrona Tewksbury, never in a dozen lifetimes.
She glanced over at Cleavis. She wished he could hold her, kiss her, tell her that she was beautiful. But marriage, she reminded herself, doesn't take place only in the bedroom. She'd have to learn to be his wife in every way.
The preacher's words were completely lost on her as Esme continued with her own thoughts throughout the service. She turned once to see her father and sisters come in the door, late as usual. But the rest of the time she tried to look as if she were paying attention. Sitting in the front of the church did not afford a person the opportunity for wool gathering that was enjoyed by those on the last pew.
Finally, it was over, and Esme hoped to make a quick escape.
"Well, don't you look just shiny as a new penny." Pearly Beachum spoke up loudly as she embraced Esme like a long-lost daughter.
"Thank you," Esme choked out. The woman's bear hug had nearly taken the breath from her.
"Come take a look at this dress, Wilma," Mrs. Beachum encouraged another woman.
As the two women "oohed" and "ahhed" over the fabric. Pearly leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "I bet those silly-minded sisters of yours are pea-green with envy."
Esme was first startled, then angered. Did these old gossips think that now that she was married to Cleavis Rhy, she was no longer one of the Crabb family?
“Excuse me,'' she said as haughtily as she could manage. "I need to speak to my family. I haven't seen them for a week." Hurriedly, almost desperately, Esme made her way through the crush to her father's side.
"Mornin', Pa," she said, planting a kiss on Yo's not-too-recently shaven cheek.
"Well, if it isn't my little married gal," her father said, chuckling. "You're looking right pretty this morning, Esme-girl. I 'spect that old Rhy ain't taken to beatin' you yet."
"He would never beat me," she proclaimed with mock outrage. "He is a very gentle and kind man." Blushing with a nervous glance at her hands, Esme added, "I'm very happy, Pa."
The old man nodded, pleased. "It's good to hear that, for sure," he said. "You deserve some happily-ever-after if ever a woman did."
"Oh, Esme!" The twins greeted her with shrieking giggles and a thousand questions.
"Your dress is wonderful," Adelaide proclaimed.
"Do you have others? When can we come and see?" Agrippa asked.
Esme fended off their questions as well as she could and took her leave, promising a long visit soon.
