Page 50 of Landing Love

“What do you mean ‘who am I’? Who are you?” Edith’s voice was nails on a chalkboard to him now. What had he ever seen in her?

“I’m his wife,” Ann said with icy dignity, her shoulders so tense they nearly touched her ears.

Edith looked her up and down, noting Junior in her arms, then turned on him. “You no good schmuck!” She slapped him hard. “How dare you fool around with me when you had a wife and baby at home. I hope you rot in hell, Bill.”

She turned and grabbed her friend and marched out of the store.

Hell’s bells. He was going to have a lot of explaining to do.

19

Slowly and deliberately, Ann went back to the wall of yarn and picked out her selections, trying to calm herself with deep breaths. The woman was gone, even if the image of her caressing Bill’s cheek was burned in her mind. It was all a misunderstanding. Obviously, the woman didn’t realize he’d married only yesterday. Presumably, she thought her child was Bill’s. But what had happened between them?

What did she really know about the man she married? He was practically a stranger. His friends did tease him about his roving eye. Maybe he had more of a past than he was letting on. It wasn’t so much the possibility of his having been with other women that bothered her but the dishonesty. Why wouldn’t he simply be truthful about this?

She brought her basket of yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks, and embroidery supplies up to the register and paid with the money Bill had withdrawn for her at the bank.

Maybe she was being too harsh. Bill had been nothing but kind to her, and whatever happened with this woman was before he had any obligation to Ann. He looked deeply abashed as she walked up to him with her bag of purchases.

As soon as they left the shop, he said, “I’m sorry, Ann.”

“What exactly happened?” She still didn’t think she had the full picture.

“I think she saw Junior and assumed I was already married when I went out with her.”

“When did you last go out with her?” It must have been recent.

“Last month, but I swear, Ann, nothing happened between us. We danced. We got drunk. We kissed, and then I fixed her leaky faucet and went home.”

She stopped and looked at him, trying to discern if he was telling the truth. He certainly looked earnest.

“Are there other women we might bump into that I should be aware of?” She tried to keep her voice even and light.

He looked up at the sky and then down at his toes. “I used to go out a lot. Hers isn’t the only leaky faucet I’ve fixed in recent memory, but I swear that’s all over now that I have you.”

Oh, how she wanted to believe him! And maybe she was overreacting. What he did before they married was hardly her affair. Except that it hurt. When Edith reached out and touched him, she wanted to strangle the woman on sight. Bill was hers and nobody else’s. He’d promised.

Yes, he had promised. And this wasn’t a breach of that promise, so she needed to let it go. She sighed. “If you say so, then I believe you.”

“Thank you, Ann. I swear none of them could hold a candle to you. I am yours and yours alone.”

In that moment, he looked so much like a sad puppy, eager to get back in her good graces, that she relented and kissed him on the cheek. “You’ve married me and given me a home when I had nothing. I trust you.” After all, what choice did she have?

“Good. Let’s take this home and then have some lunch.”

They dropped off the bag and then went out for groceries. When they got back, Ann made sandwiches.

She was still pondering what had happened in the morning. Why did it leave her so unsettled? It was a misunderstanding, and Bill had borne the brunt of it. Why should it matter to her how many young ladies’ leaks he repaired before they married? She had no claim on him then. But she had a claim on him now. When she’d seen that woman flirting with him and touching his face, she was so furious she hardly recognized herself. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been that angry. Even after she realized it was a misunderstanding, the feeling lingered. She hadn’t entirely shaken it off even now.

Placing the sandwiches on the table, she sat down across from Bill.

“If there’s anything you need help with while I’m away these next few days, just go see my parents.” Bill grinned as he said it like nothing was wrong whatsoever. Did he not realize how unsettled she was?

“Of course. I can hardly believe how kind they’ve been to me.” She had no idea how she would have gotten through the last few days without their kindness.

“They adore you, just like I do.” He picked up his sandwich and took a bite.

“It means a lot to me to have family again.” She hadn’t felt this safe and secure since both of her parents were alive. “It will be such a relief to leave Junior with them instead of with a stranger when I start working again.” She stared at her sandwich, wishing she could summon an appetite.