Chapter Ten
When Myrtle went backinside, she set supper on the table along with his two desserts.They ate in silence, each of them refusing to back down.Myrtle was certain Aaron was being ridiculous, and he was equally as certain she didn’t respect him or his opinions.
She cleared the dishes and washed them, and then immediately changed into her nightgown.He was still sitting at the table when she closed her eyes to go to sleep.Or at least pretend to go to sleep.She had no desire to make love with him with how he was acting.
She felt the bed give on his side after a long while, but she kept her eyes tightly closed.She didn’t even want to accidentally touch him in his sleep.Perhaps she’d been on her own for too long, but she had a mind in her head, and a drive to do more, and she wasn’t going to kowtow to him about the business she was building.Why would she?
Upon waking the following morning, Myrtle immediately got to work on her baking for the day.The meat pies had gone well, so she decided to make more of them, putting one in his lunch pail.She was still angry, but she was able to see his side of things now that she was further from their fight.Perhaps she had been a bit premature in speaking with Katie.
“What are you making for desserts today?”Aaron asked after dressing and moving to the table for breakfast.
“I made meat pies again.And I’m making cupcakes and the cobbler with the cookie base.It went over well with all my friends.”
“I loved it too.I don’t think I ever told you that,” he said, looking down at his food.He was still a bit annoyed with her, but he could understand her excitement and enthusiasm.
“I’m glad.There’s a piece in your lunch pail, along with a meat pie.”
“Thank you!I appreciate you making it for me.”
“Of course.It’s a wife’s job to see that her husband is fed.”
“I guess it is,” he said.“Is it also her job to listen to her husband’s counsel?”
“It is.And I will endeavor to do better at that.”Myrtle chose her words carefully, because they were the only apology he was going to get.
“Be careful about showing favoritism to the different men,” he said softly.“I don’t want to hear about you being in love with yet another man...”
“Trust me.I won’t make that mistake again.”Inwardly, she was upset that he’d brought it up, but she had shown poor judgment.
There was a knock at the door as she stood to wash the breakfast dishes.It was Josie, carrying a bag with knitting needles sticking out of it.“Oh, I’m so glad you came!”Myrtle said.“It’ll be nice to have company while I work.”Realizing she hadn’t said a word about Josie coming over, she explained, “Aaron, Josie will be joining me in the mornings.That way I will have someone to chat with while I bake.”
“And I get to have someone to talk to while I knit,” Josie added.
“I hope you ladies enjoy your morning then.”Aaron stood and shrugged on his coat, scarf, gloves, and hat.He took his lunch pail and left, for the first time not kissing Myrtle goodbye.
After he was gone, Josie asked, “What’s wrong with him?”
Myrtle opened her mouth to tell her friend what had happened, but then closed it again.She didn’t need to be gossiping about her own husband.Instead, she shook her head.“Would you like a muffin while you work?I have a few left from breakfast this morning.Oh, and I’m making meat pies to sell today, so if you’d like one of those, I’d be happy to give you one.”
Josie looked thoughtful but seemed to take the subject change in stride.“I would like a muffin if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.I used some of the blueberries Belle dried early this summer.I think they turned out well.I’ve wondered if muffins would be something I could sell...”She didn’t mention the bakery at all.She was going to have to be happy with doing all of her baking from her home for the time being.
“I’m sure they would!”Josie gladly accepted the muffin and the cup of coffee Myrtle placed on the table in front of her.“That muffin looks delicious!”
“I made a dozen for breakfast.I ate two, and Aaron had eight.I guess he thought they were good.”
“I don’t know how you keep up with baking so much and keeping your house so tidy.Do you ever just sit down and let the voices in your head talk to you for a minute or two?”
“Oh, no!The voices in my head want me to do many things I shouldn’t.This way, I keep them under control,” Myrtle said, grinning at her friend.
“Probably for the best then.”
Josie watched and chattered as Myrtle baked more cobblers.“Remember, one of those is for Jack and me.”
“I won’t forget,” Myrtle said.“I need one for each of the eight couples, and then one for Katie and her husband, and I’ll sell the rest.”
“Do the men always bring their own pie pans and plates for you to fill?”
