Chapter Seventeen
“IDESPISE LYING ABOUTin bed when everyone else is working so hard.” Catherine crossed her arms as Jonathan laid a tray filled with soup, bread, and cheese over her lap.
“No one else had a scare the way you did,” he said, dropping a kiss on her forehead. “Now eat up. Mothers need their strength. Particularly if they hope to join the Christmas festivities tomorrow.”
Catherine frowned at the steaming soup. “Mrs. McKetrick must be so disappointed that I cannot join the choir.”
“She understands. Besides, I’m proud enough of you for attending the rehearsals.” He took her hand, and she smiled at him. She doubted she’d ever tire of the feel of his fingers wrapped about hers.
“Thank you.” It was terrifying at first, singing with a group of people small enough that her voice could be distinguished from others. But everyone was warm and welcoming, and no one faulted Mr. Byrne when he went off pitch or laughed when Mrs. Lowry’s voice cracked on a particularly high note.
The fear Catherine had about someone hearing her sing and recoiling at the sound disappeared a bit more at each rehearsal. She was hardly ready to stand solo in front of the entire congregation, but at least she felt more at ease among a group.
“You could sing for me,” Jonathan said.
She heard the hesitancy in his voice. He didn’t want to push her, she knew that, and yet . . . he was the one who had encouraged her. He believed in her when she didn’t believe in herself. And if she did mess up, Jonathan was the last person in the world who would laugh or point it out.
Catherine took a deep breath and began to sing “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” Her voice was quiet and tremulous at first, and she closed her eyes, hoping that might make her feel braver. The longer she sang, the more confident she grew. When she finished the song, she opened her eyes to find Jonathan sitting back in his chair, watching her with his mouth slightly open.
“It must have either been terrible or very good,” she said. “Judging from that look on your face.”
“It was beautiful,” he said, sitting forward again. “The best I’ve ever heard.”
“Please, I doubt that,” she said, her cheeks going warm as her fingers twisted the quilt that lay over her lap.
“I don’t lie,” he said, lifting a hand to caress her face. “That was one of the loveliest things I’ve ever heard.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice catching in her throat. She smoothed out the quilt. “I am looking forward to Christmas dinner tomorrow. And not just because I get to leave this bed. I only hope Mrs. Bell isn’t overwhelmed with the preparations.”
“She has everything in hand,” Jonathan said. He stood and retrieved a short stack of envelopes from the nearby desk. “I’ll be back soon. I need to get to the mail office before Saul closes it up for the night.” He paused, looking at the envelope on the top.
“What’s the matter?” Catherine asked.
“Nothing at all. After our conversation in the sleigh, I thought I might write to my family. These are the letters.” He held them up for her to see.
Catherine smiled. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. Perhaps I’ll write my mother again tonight. And Beth too.” She’d been so wrapped up in the Christmas preparations before being confined to her bed that she hadn’t a moment to spare to write.
Jonathan retrieved a few sheets of paper, a pen, and some ink from the desk in the corner and set them on the little table flanking the bed. “You can use your supper tray as a desk of sorts.”
“Thank you,” she said, beaming him a smile she could feel to her toes.
Jonathan smiled back at her before dropping a kiss to her lips and disappearing from the room.
Catherine sat back in bed. She had so much to tell Mama and Beth. Her life was very different from what it was before, even just a few weeks ago. The baby moved as she thought about what she’d say, and she smiled.
