“Why do I get the feeling you just want me for my music?”
She playfully elbowed him.“You’re more than music to me, although it doesn’t hurt that you can sing and play.The question is”—she suddenly dropped her gaze, and her voice slipped into a whisper—“do you still want me after all I’ve put you through?”
What she’d puthimthrough?He hooked a finger under her chin and tilted her face up until he could dive into those dark pools.“No one is to blame for any of this except Adler and Mrs.Reed.I want you in my life more than words can ever say, but there is something you need to know before we go any further.”
At his pause, she searched his gaze and bit her lip.
He hated to do this, but Nora had just gained her freedom.He would not take that away from her.“Ma’s not well, and I don’t think she will ever be.It’s more than just the melancholia.She needs my care ...and the care of my wife until the day the Lord takes Ma home.”His throat tightened at the mere thought of yet another good-bye, eventually for good.“I have no expectations of you.You’ve been through enough.Your ma’s home.You can finally have a normal life.I can’t give you that.As much as I want you by my side, I refuse to drag you through what I know will be more difficult days.”
Nora lifted a hand to his cheek, tears already creating tracks on hers.“You can’t drag someone who ischoosingto walk alongside you.Difficult days will come, no matter if you have your mum to care for or not.I know we’ve spent more time apart than together, but I want to be your Donna Anna.”
He couldn’t help the grin that spread.“I’m more than happy to be your Don Ottavio.”
“Care to seal that declaration with a kiss?”
He let his lips give the answer.She responded in a sweet conversation without words.He’d meant to keep it appropriately brief, but there was too much to say.Too many promises to make.The promise to stand beside her beneath the yoke of Christ.To share the burden of challenges to come.To love her as she deserved.And then there were the dreams to share.Dreams of a life filled with music, children, and happiness.The sweet conversation lingered so long that a reprimanding cough had to be repeated before they reluctantly ended it.
Mr.Davis grumbled, “Coffee’s ready,” before returning down the hall.
A full flush declared Nora’s embarrassment, but a mischievous smile revealed she didn’t mind.“He must really like you, because he only coughed instead of maiming you.”
Mr.Davis’s voice rumbled, “Maiming isn’t out of the question.You have one minute to join us.”
Ezekiel whispered against her ear, “One minute is more than enough time for another—”
Tristan swatted Ezekiel’s face, apparently done sharing Nora.
She laughed, but granted him a peck as she rose.“Don’t be greedy.God willing, we’ll have plenty of time for more.”
Ezekiel liked the sound of that.
Nora scooped up Tristan and plopped him on her shoulder.“Come along, Mr.Jealous.I’m sure there is a can of f-i-s-h for you somewhere.”
Probably not, but the cat would survive.
She took a few steps and looked back at Ezekiel.“Aren’t you coming?”
“In less than a minute.I wouldn’t want to earn a maiming.”
She laughed and continued toward the kitchen.
Ezekiel remained sitting, taking the moment to enjoy the way Nora had upended his life.He’d known when he first laid eyes on her that she was different.Someone worth pursuing.He’d just had no idea that she’d be so much more than he imagined.Yes, he still had much to learn about her, but he had time.Marriage couldn’t come immediately.She deserved a courtship not clouded by the fear of Adler and Mrs.Reed, and frankly, Ezekiel needed a job.With two women in his life, a cat who ate more canned fish than was reasonable, and the hope of a growing family, he’d need something steady that paid more than the average stagehand position.His gaze fell on the family Bible.If the last month had taught him anything, it was that God’s power would help him to be patient and fearless in the waiting.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
LYDIA’S LATE-SEPTEMBER WEDDING TURNED OUTbeautiful, but it was big and exhausting.The happy bride and groom were probably on their train to Chicago by now.Lydia was sneakily planning on some research for a story during their honeymoon trip, but Nora doubted much would get done or that Abraham was truly naive about her plans.
Nora rested her head on Ezekiel’s shoulder as they sat on one of the benches outside Bellevue House overlooking Cincinnati and the Ohio River beyond.Sunset painted the tree-framed sky in bright swaths of color.The leaves had yet to turn, but the view was still picturesque and worthy of basking in.After spending all day preparing a rented portion of the building for the wedding and then hours cleaning up afterward, she welcomed the respite in the somewhat secluded portion of the grounds.
She pretended not to notice Ezekiel systematically pulling out her hair pins and dropping them behind her into Tristan’s confiscated basket.The release of tension felt so good.She’d have to be careful about removing the pins from the basket later.Tristan wouldn’t appreciate getting poked the next time he traveled to the Davis household.
With the removal of the last pin, the rest of her hair fell scandalously loose.Well, if she were going to be scandalous, she might as well prop her aching feet on the other wedding-supplies basket.“I think when we get married, I’d prefer something small and quiet.”
“Small and quiet means it can happen more quickly, right?”
She tilted her head to better see his face from her periphery.“Yes.Why?Do you have a date in mind?”
It was the first hint of a forthcoming marriage proposal since he’d accepted a new stage manager position at the Grand Opera House a few weeks ago.Thanks to Ezekiel’s months of rebuilding credibility and the public trial of Mrs.Reed and Mr.Adler resulting in jail sentences, the Grand’s manager had granted Ezekiel an interview, listened with a sympathetic ear, and even offered to premiere Uncle Graham’s operetta in the spring with Nora as Princess Seraphina.Nora wasn’t certain how he’d accomplished that last bit, but Ezekiel was determined she’d have her chance on the stage.Mum’s help caring for Mrs.Beaumont freed Nora to step out of the shadows and see if an operatic career was something she wanted.Although the idea of a traveling life was losing its allure in light of making a home and family with this man.
