“And until then?”
“Until then, each of us must make the decisions we feel led to make.”
I wrapped my arms around my waist, trying to accept yet another change. “And you feel this is the decision you must make?”
“Aye. I do.”
“Have you told Mister Goodman?”
She nodded. There was something bittersweet about the way she looked at me. “I told him we will marry at the end of the summer. It will give the girls and me time to grieve before we move on.”
Move on.I closed my eyes, unable to stop the tears from coming again. I was so tired of crying. So tired of feeling this constant ache. Part of me just wanted it to be over, while the other part wanted to hold on as long as possible.
Mama pulled me into her arms and held me tight. “I love you, Libby. Please know that everything I decide is because of you and not in spite of you.”
“I know.” Her sacrificial love was never in question. She had done more for me than I deserved. “I want you to be happy. And if Mister Goodman makes you happy, then you have my blessing, Mama.”
She pulled away and smiled through her tears. “He does make me happy.” A soft giggle lifted off her lips, and she covered her mouth in embarrassment. “I haven’t been this in love since...” She let the words trail off, but I knew the answer.
“Since 1994?”
“Oh, Libby.” She squeezed my hand. “I didn’t know such love could ever exist for me here.”
Joy filled my heart at her words, and I smiled. “Truly?”
“Truly.” Her cheeks colored again. “He’s returning for supper tonight. He’ll be pleased to know I’ve told you the truth. It’s become very difficult for us to hide our feelings.”
My mama was still a young woman, just forty-two years old. I hoped and prayed she would have many wonderful and happy years with Mister Goodman.
Even if I wasn’t there to witness them.
That evening, I walked into the house carrying Spanish peas, asparagus, and green apricot tarts. Mama and Mister Goodman were already in the sitting room with Hannah and Rebecca, waiting for our evening meal. The beef steak pie and almond cheesecake on the table were a gift from Mister Goodman. I set down the other dishes and took a seat.
“Shall we pray?” Mama asked.
I laid my hands in my lap and nodded.
“Alpheus, will you do the honors?”
He looked at Mama with a question in his eyes, and she nodded. It was customary for the head of the home to pray, so for her to ask him told all of us a great deal about his new position in our lives.
Now that I knew how serious their relationship had become, I wondered how I hadn’t noticed it before. Was I so wrapped up in my own concerns that I was missing out on the events unfolding around me?
After Alpheus prayed, we began to pass the dishes. Mama didn’t like to serve meals in courses, much preferring the simpler family-style meals she was accustomed to from her life in the twentieth century.
A knock at the door signaled the arrival of a visitor. I stood to answer it as Mister Goodman addressed the girls. “Your mama tells me that you’ve always wanted a pony.”
Rebecca’s and Hannah’s cries of delight followed me as I opened the front door and found Henry.
My heart leapt at the sight of him—and then it crashed,like the sea upon the cliffs at Cumberland Hall, shattering in the next second.
He stood on the stoop, wearing a fine suit of clothes and holding his tricorne under his arm. His dark hair was clubbed at the back, and his blue eyes were bright at the sight of me. Sun had kissed his cheeks, giving him a boyish charm.
“Libby,” he said. “My eyes will never tire of seeing you.”
I wanted to throw myself into his arms, but I was reminded of the task ahead of me. I had to say good-bye to him, and it would be so much harder if I allowed myself the warmth and affection of his touch. It took every shred of willpower I possessed to stay where I was standing. But I allowed myself the pleasure of smiling at him.
“Good day, Henry. Won’t you come in?”
