“You have lied and failed to provide for me as you promised. Perhaps a divorce is a better solution.”
His shoulders sagged. “Perhaps. I had hoped it wouldn’t come to that.”
Herbert got up and cast a glance over his shoulder. Gladys seemed surprised by his comment. Maybe she didn’t really mean it.
He gave her a nod. “I suppose you’ll do as you please. You always have.”
20
Susanna was impressed by the change that had come over her father. He was spending longer and longer hours at the hotel and only occasionally asked Manuel to watch over the place. To Susanna’s greatest surprise, her father had even taken to helping her strip the linens from the rooms and air out the bedding. She found she had less and less to do, which gave her more time to ponder her future.
Even now, her father was upstairs sweeping out the unoccupied rooms while Susanna ironed sheets and pillowcases. She imagined it wouldn’t be long before Uncle Harrison came back through San Marcial and she could report the way her father had taken over his duties. Maybe then she would make the announcement about her engagement to Owen. He didn’t want to wait much longer to marry, and neither did she.
They spent most of their free time together now, and she wasn’t sure why she hadn’t told her family about their plans. Often they sat at the hotel, talking in hushed whispers. Her family had to be curious about what was being said.
Telling her parents about her engagement was difficult, however. She knew her father had guessed at their situation. After all, they spent every free hour together. Her mother, however, still wanted very little to do with Susanna. She made it clear thatSusanna had wronged her greatly by refusing to fix all of their problems with her money. Susanna had tried to talk to her about Father and the change in him, but it was only one more thing her mother blamed on Susanna. Mother had even mentioned the possibility of leaving San Marcial and her marriage, and had told Susanna in no uncertain terms that if it happened, it would be her fault. Telling Mother that she planned to marry Owen and would need the house back would never set well. It might even completely end Mother’s relationship with any of them. Susanna didn’t want that.
“Hello?”
It was Lia, and Susanna put the iron on the stove and called for her to join her in the family quarters.
“How nice to see you again,” Susanna teased. “It’s been, what, a whole day?”
They laughed. Lia had become a sister to Susanna in every way, even handing down wonderful Mexican-style clothes to her.
“I tried on those blouses you sent. They’re wonderful. So much cooler than anything I brought with me.”
Lia nodded. “They are wonderful. The cotton is so light and fine, and the design so much looser than most American clothes. It lets the air cool you so much better.”
“I’m sure my mother will be offended that I’m wearing such bright colors.” Susanna had put away her mourning clothes when they moved to San Marcial several months earlier, but her mother still thought it completely inappropriate. “She’ll be even more offended by the plans I have with Owen.”
“You haven’t told your family that you plan to marry?”
“No.” Susanna left her ironing and came to the table. “Why don’t you sit, and I’ll get you some tea?”
“I can’t stay. I just wanted to pick up the bedding, since I finished up at your house and am waiting for a casserole to finish baking. I thought it’d be just as easy to come get it as to have you bring it. That way I can go ahead and get the laundry started.”
“It’s in the wagon under the stairs. I wanted to finish the ironing in the cool of the morning. Despite how much the days have cooled down, I’m afraid that’s one habit that remains.”
“So, when do you plan to tell them about you and Owen?” Lia asked. “I want to host a party for you.”
Susanna considered this for a moment. “I don’t know. I suppose I’ll talk to Owen about it tonight. I think Father and Gary already know where it’s headed, but my mother ... well, she’s an entirely different matter. What’s her mood today? Maybe I should go tell her when she’s alone and in a decent frame of mind.”
“Oh, that’s the other reason I stopped by. Your mother hasn’t been well these last few days, and she’s getting worse. She’s been coughing a lot. I don’t know if she should see a doctor or not, but she’s been quite congested, and she’s not eating as well as she usually does. She keeps telling me it’s nothing.”
“Hmm, maybe I should speak to Father about it.”
Lia glanced around the room, then lowered her voice to a whisper. “They are sleeping in separate rooms at the house. He’s taken Gary’s old room.”
“When he’s not here,” Susanna countered. “I was surprised when I found him asleep on the sofa a couple of nights ago. He said he just sat down to adjust his shoes before heading home and fell asleep, but I wondered at the time if something was wrong.” She frowned and pulled off her apron. “It seems I’d better go speak to Mother. Come on, we can take turns pulling the laundry wagon.”
Susanna and Lia put the sheets and pillowcases to soak and then made their way inside. Lia went immediately to tend to her baking, while Susanna wondered if her mother would receive her visit.
“I’ll get the sheets washed and on the line before I leave,” Lia told Susanna. “The casserole is for lunch and supper. It’s egg noodles and chicken. I thought it would be easy on your mother’s stomach. I also left chicken broth in the pan at the back of the stove in case she can’t really eat.”
“You’re always so thoughtful, Lia. Thank you.”
Lia smiled. “It is I who thank you. I’m glad for the extra money. LeRoy makes good money working for the railroad, but we have many dreams.”
