Chapter 5 #2
“The younger women were all very modern. Their dresses were long and straight, draped to look almost like Greek togas. Many of the dresses had sheer sleeves or just straps with no sleeves at all. All of them fell mid-calf, showing off the ankle and then some. The older women wore more traditional gowns, high-necked and long to the floor. Mrs. Astor’s gown had the most wonderful, embroidered flowers.
I’m going to see if I can duplicate it as an experiment. ”
“You like to sew?” Mary’s eyes lit up. Did she share Ann’s obsession with needlecraft?
“I do.” Where had this woman been all her life? Plenty of women sewed, knitted, and embroidered, but it was rare to find a woman who enjoyed it rather than seeing it merely as a chore. Little did Mary know the floodgates she’d opened with her friendly inquiry.
For two hours, they continued to chat about the party and dresses and different sewing patterns they’d tried as they worked their way through the remaining piles in the first bedroom. It was such a relief to sit with a friend and chatter about making things.
After Roger’s death, the women she thought were her friends had all abandoned her.
She couldn’t afford to keep up with their pastimes anymore, and they felt put upon by her sadness and grief.
Just as men no longer looked at her, women avoided her company too.
This simple, easy conversation left her with burgeoning hope for the future.
Bill came in at long last, sweaty and magnificent, his shirtsleeves rolled up, revealing lean, muscular arms. His shirt stuck to his chest, hugging the contours beneath. Suddenly the warmth of the summer day became unbearable, and Ann jumped up. “Lemonade. I think we all need some lemonade.”
She excused herself to the kitchen where she took a moment to fan herself before opening the icebox.
Guilt assailed her as she got out the sandwiches and lemonade she’d prepared.
Her grief for Roger was a palpable thing, resting in her heart like a splinter, constantly aching and every so often causing a sharp pain.
How could she be reacting like this to another man when she was still mourning the one she lost?
It must be because he reminded her of Roger.
After all, he was a pilot, and he showed the same determination to take care of her that Roger always had.
Yes, that was all. Her reactions were only further proof of her grief and loss.
She looked around the kitchen and a memory arose unbidden of stealing a kiss with Roger in here while her mother babbled away about the latest society scandals.
When his lips were on hers, her whole body went up in flames.
It was a wonder they didn’t burn down her mother’s house with that kiss.
Of course, it couldn’t go any further until they returned home.
And then at night… No. It was time to serve sandwiches and lemonade.
Opening the icebox, she pulled out what she needed. First, she brought out the lemonade and glasses, pouring some for each of them. Then she brought out the sandwiches and plates. Bill smiled and handed her a small brown box wrapped in twine.
“I got something at the bakery while I was out.”
A gift? Wasn’t it enough that he was repairing her roof? But she couldn’t resist that eager, expectant grin of his. “What is it?”
“You’ll see.”
She untied the twine and opened it. Three perfect cupcakes with pink frosting were nestled within.
“Strawberry,” he said with a sideways smile.
“Mr. O’Donnell, they look absolutely delicious. You shouldn’t have.”
“Please call me Bill, and I couldn’t help myself. I saw them, and I had to bring them home.”
The way he was looking at her, as if she was the most beautiful woman in the world, made her feel restless and giddy. And guilty. Calm yourself. It’s only echoes of Roger.
“Might I use your bathroom to wash up?” he asked, looking altogether too pleased with himself.
“Of course. It’s right around the corner, behind the kitchen.”
The sound of running water from the tap she had installed made her smile. “Sandwich, Mary?”
“Don’t mind if I do. These look scrumptious.” Mary took the offered plate.
Moments later, Bill returned. He dwarfed the space with his height, as if the house was the wrong scale for him. And, in truth it was. This house was too small for anyone, really, but she would have to make do.
“Is that the tap you repaired?” His admiring gaze made her heart beat faster.
She nodded.
“It works perfectly. A plumber couldn’t have done it better. You are a wonder, Mrs. Prince.”
Good heavens. That lopsided smile of his was downright dangerous.
“If I’m to call you Bill, then you should call me Ann.” Perhaps it was overly familiar, but he was going to be at the house regularly to repair the roof. It seemed silly to stand on ceremony.
“As you wish, Ann.” He grinned as he took a sandwich and drained his glass of lemonade.
“I got a good start today. I was able to redo the entire section that had the leak. You should be watertight now. I put the rest of the supplies under an oilcloth, and I’ll take the refuse to the dump on my way home. ”
He poured himself more lemonade. “Once I’m done with the roof, I’ll take care of the damaged plaster on the ceiling.”
“I can’t thank you enough. It’s a real load off my mind to know there won’t be any more leaks.
” Junior needed a proper roof over his head.
If she couldn’t even protect him from the elements, what good was she as a mother?
The gift Bill was giving her, giving them both, was too much, but she’d never been more grateful in her life.
She’d have to send Miss Belmont a letter when she got home to let her know she didn’t need PBA funds anymore.
“It’s my pleasure. It warms my heart to know that you and little Junior here have a safe and sound home to live in. When are you moving in?” He took a bite of the sandwich.
“At the end of this month. I only have a few more weeks to get the place ready.” The remaining work seemed far less daunting after today’s progress.
“Do you have movers?”
“Not yet.”
“My friends and I could help, if you want.” He looked at her with that same goofy hopeful look he had when he first proposed fixing her roof.
“Oh no. That’s too much to ask. I couldn’t.” She turned to Mary in a panic, hoping she would understand that she couldn’t possibly accept, but Mary shrugged and smiled back.
“Of course, you’ll need to supply us all with sandwiches and lemonade, and perhaps some beer for when we’re done. After all, we need some compensation for our hard work.” He turned to his sister. “Mary, do you think Stephen would let me borrow the truck?”
“Yes, of course,” Mary answered.
“Then it’s settled. We’ll help you move on the thirty-first.”
But she couldn’t possibly agree to this. “Wait. I—”
“Yes?” He focused those playful blue-green eyes on hers, raising the temperature in the room by several degrees.
She lost track of what she was going to say, lost in his gaze. All she wanted to do was drown herself in it. His eyes were so warm and kind and mischievous.
“Thank you,” she murmured, not entirely sure anymore what she was agreeing to, only knowing she wanted him to keep looking at her like that.
He reddened and looked down, and she snapped back to herself. So now he was going to help her move. How had she let that happen?
Handing around the cupcakes, he watched her eat hers before he ate his own. Then he polished his off in three quick bites. A little bit of frosting smeared his upper lip, and she watched avidly as he licked it off, feeling coiling warmth in places she’d ignored ever since she lost Roger.
“Junior and I should catch the train back to the city.” She needed to escape his presence and compose herself.
“Let me give you a ride to the station.” He bounced to his feet like an eager puppy.
She thought for a moment about objecting but decided against it. He would only find a way to circumvent her objections. “Thank you, if it isn’t too much trouble.”
He drove her to the station and waved goodbye. As she sat on the train on the way back to the city, she couldn’t help thinking that perhaps she was in over her head.