33. Ambrose
Ambrose
I blew out a breath as I glanced over myself in the mirror. I was wearing my favorite dark sage suit today, perfect for the Founders Day Festival. I hadn’t been to the barber for a shave in a few days and liked how the prickly hair looked on my jaw. Perhaps I was reverting to my old carefree self.
If only I felt carefree. Every once in a while, I’d think of Father and feel a little glum.
Not because he was ignoring me, but because I still loved him and wanted his blessing for Zeth and me.
His rejection hurt, and I would always carry some guilt that I had abandoned the Somerset legacy.
I wondered if Father would ever speak to me again.
But today, I wasn’t going to let anything get in my way, not even thoughts of my father. So, I straightened my back and raised my chin before opening the door of my room and stepping out.
I made my way downstairs to meet Emiline and Hattie for breakfast. To my surprise, Marigold was there too, sitting in her usual spot. Father was the only one missing, no doubt gone to the bank for the morning before attending the festival.
As I reached the table, Emiline said, “You’re chipper today, dear brother.”
I leaned down to kiss her cheek. “I suppose I am.”
Hattie beamed at me as I moved around to do the same to her.
When I looked over at Marigold, she raised a delicate eyebrow. I smiled as I moved forward and bent to kiss her cheek too, which Hattie giggled at. I had never done such a thing to my oldest sister before, but seeing Marigold here raised my spirits for some reason.
“Marigold, you look well today. Are you going to the festival?”
“Yes, yes,” Marigold replied nonchalantly, picking up her spoon to stir a sugar cube into her teacup. “I received good news this week that has me in a mood for socializing. Emiline said you’re selling some furniture.”
“I am.” I took my seat across from her and glanced at my plate of eggs, sausage, mushrooms, toast, and oranges. “I rented a cart to take some end tables and chairs to sell.”
“We all agreed to help you load your pieces from the barn.” Emiline said. “Mari insisted.”
I blinked in surprise as Marigold inclined her head. My heart glowed from my sisters’ generosity. “Thank you. I could certainly use the help. Especially with the dining set.”
“Oh, Amby, not the dining table!” Emiline groaned. “You put your all into it. Don’t let just anyone have it.”
“I’m working on something with Zeth, so we’ll need the money.”
“You mean turning the laundry into a store?” came Marigold’s deadpan voice.
I stilled, my fork frozen midair, wondering how she’d found out. When I gave Hattie an accusing stare, she straightened to say, “Don’t look at me, I didn’t even know!”
I’d told Emiline yesterday of my plans, so I eyed her next. She only shook her head.
“Father told me,” Marigold clarified. I expected to see her peeved expression, but I was surprised when she smiled crookedly.
Something clutched my stomach. “He did?”
“Well, when Zeth tried to sell his property during the salon, Father expected to negotiate further at the bank,” she continued, and I picked up my glass of juice.
“Then he told me yesterday that you and Zeth plan to do something with it. And to be honest, I’m glad.
That old laundry has sat cold and unused on Main Street for years.
It’s about time someone put it to use. What better person than my brother and his clingy childhood boyfriend? ”
I spit my drink out, luckily only getting it on my own plate. As I dabbed my chin with my napkin, Emiline and Hattie started laughing. Clearing my throat, I said, “How did you—”
“Amby, you were the worst at pretending as if you didn’t have feelings for him. You moped around for a whole year after Zeth left! And those poems at the salon were obviously for each other.” Marigold rolled her eyes, and I sat back in my chair, defeated.
When Hattie and Emiline snorted, I turned to them with a sour expression, but then I chuckled along with them. I suppose it was true that I didn’t hide my love for Zeth very well.
“Well, it’s all true,” I boldly proclaimed.
“We plan to fix up the old storefront and turn it into a proper furniture and antiques shop. I’ll continue working at the bank and help Zeth when I can.
He’s a good businessman. He has years of experience at an auction house, in Port Winchester, at that.
He’s wonderful with numbers, and I do fairly well making furniture myself.
We’ll make a great team.” I took another gulp of juice, getting it down this time, and then took a bite from my plate.
“You don’t have to explain,” Marigold assured, hesitating before she said, “I know I’m a hard person sometimes, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t seen your strengths.
I’ve seen your furniture, and I’m impressed.
You have a gift, and as Mother used to tell us, once we find that gift, we should embrace it.
” When my eldest sister met my eyes, I saw nothing but honesty and respect in hers.
This was truly a dream. I had to pinch my palm to make sure I wasn’t dreaming and felt a sting. Yes, it was most certainly real.
“Goodness, Mari, what good things do you have to say about me?” Hattie broke in.
Marigold gave that annoyed look—lips tightening, eyelids lowering—before she glanced at our youngest sister. “You’re blessed with getting your way.”
When Emiline and I broke out in laughter yet again, Hattie huffed.
“I am not!” she cried.
“You are,” I said, relaxing enough to prop my elbow up on the table to watch how she pouted. “But you’re the last of the Somerset siblings. Little sisters get their way more than anyone.”
Hattie rolled her eyes. “That is true, I suppose.”
“We wouldn’t have it any other way.” Emiline took Hattie’s hand from across the table.
As they broke into happy chatter, I picked up a piece of buttered toast to nibble on, far too excited about the day to eat much.
Just then, a firm kiss planted on my cheek.
I twisted in my chair to find Zeth standing behind me, smiling handsomely.
My eyes widened as I drank in a new black jacket and the paisley ascot I’d picked out for him.
His brown hair was combed back, and his face freshly shaved. I swear I even smelled perfume.
“Wow,” I said. “You look phenomenal.”
“Thank you. I like that suit on you too,” Zeth complimented.
We weren’t alone, but that didn’t stop him from tracing a finger quickly over the scruff on my jaw.
Then he gave me an appreciative wink before continuing, “I hope you don’t mind that I let myself in through your front door. I wanted to surprise you.”
“You’re always welcome here, Zeth,” Emiline said before I could.
I nodded in agreement, unable to take my eyes off Zeth as he stood there grinning at us all, with one hand on the post of my chair and the other behind his back. Then he leaned forward in front of me and stole a big bite from the toast in my hand.
Zeth stood straight again with a playful half-smile as he chewed. How did he appear so handsome while eating? I laughed, distracted, when he pulled out a full bouquet of pink roses from behind his back and said, “For you, my darling Rosie.”
Emiline and Hattie shared a unified “Aww” that made me blush as I regarded Zeth tenderly. I’d never been given flowers by anyone before. I took the bouquet with gratitude. “Thank you, Zeth. I adore them.”
“I’m glad you do,” Zeth replied as he pulled out an empty chair to slide into the seat. “I liked the pink since it made me think of you.”
“Oh? Is it because I’m so sweet?” I teased as I inhaled them.
He chuckled and leaned closer to smell them too. “Yes, and they also match your cheeks right now.”
“Oh goodness, you two are made for each other,” Marigold commented, and I was certain I would find an eye roll with that comment, but her face softened, “They are beautiful, Zeth. So good to see you again.”
“You as well. I hope you and Jack are joining us at the festival. Just come early, before all of Amby’s wonderful woodwork sells. He’s sure to be a hit.”
I gave Zeth a smirk as I booped his nose. “You mean we’ll be a hit.”
Zeth grinned and reached over to snatch an orange slice from my plate, eating it as Marigold confirmed her plans to visit. I pushed the plate between us so we could share, just as we did as kids eating snacks in the kitchen.
“I’ll be sure to come to the tent as well,” Hattie piped up. “Today is my last event before Father takes me to visit the nursing institute. I can’t wait to start school in the fall.”
“I’m sure you’ll love the campus there,” Marigold said. “But are you sure you want to attend an all-girls school?”
Hattie scrunched her face. “Of course. It’s one of the best in the area for nursing. Don’t worry, I’ll find the boys in town.”
“I’m sure you will,” Emiline agreed with a twitch of her lips behind her teacup. “Arthur and I will make sure you have the prettiest dresses for your adventures.”
I smiled at my twin, always the one most concerned with our happiness. She’d found her own as well, with Arthur, just as I thought might happen. My sisters were all doing the things they wanted. I knew we were all on the right paths for our lives.
Once we both had our fill of breakfast, I grabbed the roses and stood up from my seat. “The cart will be here any minute, but I want to find a vase for the flowers.”
“We’ll meet you at the barn,” Emiline said, standing. Hattie and Marigold followed.
Zeth and I made our way outside to the garden behind the house.
I stepped over the bricks inlaid into the ground, where grass and moss grew between them, and skimmed my eyes over the many flower pots and old vases my mother had collected when she was alive.
Most of them had flowers or ivy growing out of them.
It made this little area look green and lush.
Zeth strolled slowly behind me, as if he were appreciating the view, while I picked out a faded, yellow, porcelain vase with green ivy designs around the rim.
There was a large chip in the side from when my mother dropped it, only to tell me she loved it more with its flaw.
“Here’s just the thing to put the roses in.
I know it’s a battered vase, but it’ll do, don’t you think? ”
“I like it,” Zeth agreed with a nod and moved in to hug my hips around the flowers. “Besides, didn’t you hear? I don’t need fancy vases in my life, or twenty tea sets, or purple upholstered cars. Just you.”
“Look at you.” I nudged him playfully. “Making me melt with your swoony words. I’ll put the roses in the barn. We can look at them while you make my cheeks pink next time.”
“Fuck me,” Zeth exhaled, and I laughed at him. His eyes sparkled with longing as he thumbed the stubble on my cheek.
Smiling, I said, “I’m sure the cart for the furniture is here. You ready to get started?”