Chapter 10
The Turner house was a buzz of activity when Max arrived. The housekeeper ushered him inside without any hesitation. She took his hat and the box of pastries he’d brought.
“These are from the French bakery. I thought I should perhaps contribute something,” he explained.
She smiled. “Don’t you worry. There’s plenty of food, but these will make a nice surprise. I’ll see that Cook has them arranged and out on the table momentarily. Now, I’ll show you where everyone is gathered.”
But before she could lead him off to join the family, a boy and girl appeared and grabbed Max by the hands.
“We will take him outside, Mrs. Arbarca,” the boy declared. “Evan told me to look for you and then bring you outside. I’m Jared.” He pulled Max along.
“I’m Winifred, and I’m eleven,” the girl announced. “Evan told us to bring you around if we saw you.” She emphasized the word us.
“Well, thank you very much. My friends call me Max.”
“Max is a wonderful name. There aren’t very many names that have x in them.” Winifred looked up and smiled. “I think that’s very keen. My name has a w, and there aren’t a lot of w names either, but more than x’s.”
“I believe you’re right, Miss Winifred.”
He had no time to survey the hall as Jared pulled harder to urge him forward.
“We’re doing everything outside because it’s summer.
Father says the fresh air and sunlight are good for us.
Mama doesn’t like the bugs, though,” Jared rambled as they made their way through the dining room and out to a foyer that opened onto stone steps.
Beyond this was the garden Max had enjoyed on the night of the fund raiser.
“Max is here,” Winifred called to the others. As if on agreement, she and Jared dropped their hold on him.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and came to greet him. Max felt truly welcomed, perhaps even cared for.
Evan quickly joined them. “You must take off your coat and vest and tie. We are in our shirt sleeves, as you can see. It’s much too casual an occasion and far too warm for such attire.”
Max began to unbutton his coat. “That sounds perfectly fine by me.”
“Good evening, Mr. Garrison,” another of the Turner girls said in greeting.
“Please, everyone call me Max.”
“With an x,” Jared added.
Winifred frowned. “I told him that.”
Everyone laughed, but Dr. Turner was the one to take charge. “We are very glad to have you Max. Cook has outdone herself with the feast, and Meri and Andrew have planned several games for our entertainment.”
Max shrugged out of the coat, then rid himself of the vest and tie, and Evan quickly took them from him. He had to admit it felt much better to be without them.
Mrs. Turner came forward. She was dressed in a gown of some lightweight fabric that gently waved in the breeze. Her hair was braided and pinned in a casual fashion. Max found that he very much liked this unassuming home life.
“I agree with my husband, the food is one of our finer arrangements. However, I don’t think it will be anything like you’re used to. Friday family nights are done with the youngest in mind as well as the oldest. We make everything simple and easy to serve. You will find most of it is finger food.”
“I brought a box of macarons. I didn’t wish to come empty-handed.”
Another of the house maids came from behind him with a tray of the cookies. They were a colorful arrangement, and Dr. Turner reached over to take one in a mischievous fashion. “My favorite. You are fast becoming a most welcomed guest, Max.”
Everyone laughed, and Jared pulled on Max’s shirt sleeve. “Papa really does love macarons. I do too.”
Max tousled the boy’s curly brown hair. “I am partial to them myself.”
Mrs. Turner insisted on going around the circle to introduce her brood. “It will take you a while to learn everyone’s name, but you’ll find us all very patient.”
“I appreciate that. At least I already know a few of you, and Jared and Winifred were quite cordial when they met me at the door.”
“Well, you’ll know us all quite well in a short time.
Although Andrew and Jacob are soon leaving for their college classes once again.
” Mrs. Turner laughed and pointed everyone to the table.
“Let us get our food, and then we can come back and sit together, and Andrew and Meri can tell us about the games they’ve chosen for tonight. ”
“I will bless the meal,” Dr. Turner offered, then bowed his head.
Everyone did likewise, and silence immediately surrounded them.
“Father, we thank You for family and for our time of celebration. I’m so proud of these children You’ve given me.
I glorify You for all that You have done and for all that You will do.
Please bless the food and our evening, Lord.
We thank You for Your many blessings and for the company of our newest member, Max.
Amen.” Everyone murmured amen, then began to chatter once again.
“I’ll help you figure out our feast.”
Max turned to find Evie standing behind him.
She was gowned in pale pink muslin which seemed to flow around her like a cloud.
The neckline was rounded and lower than usual, but not immodestly so.
Her waist was trimmed in a darker pink ribbon which accented her hourglass figure.
Her hair was done in a casual braid that hung down her back, as if she hadn’t had time to worry about it.
She was simplicity and beauty, and Max couldn’t take his gaze off her.
“Come along. I’ll show you what everything is.” She took him by the hand.
Max tried not to show his surprise at her touch. Her hand was so small in his, and standing this close he could now smell her perfume. The blend of flowery scents suited her well.
At the table, the family was already busy choosing their treats.
There were little sandwiches with numerous fillings.
Evie handed him a large plate and pointed out the various kinds.
Max took three different flavors before moving on.
Next, they considered cut vegetables and fruits, cheeses and crackers, and tiny bowls of iced shrimp with cocktail sauce.
“It’s easy to just get a few things and come back several times,” Evie said, putting several slices of pear on her plate next to the grapes she’d already chosen.
She took one of the bowls of shrimp. “This is always a favorite with the family, so you might want to grab one now if you happen to like shrimp.”
“I do.” Max followed her example and put the bowl on his plate alongside the sandwiches. He momentarily considered taking another but didn’t want to appear greedy. Evie seemed to understand and and placed another on his plate.
She smiled. “It might behoove you to take two now. Once my brothers make their way through, there’s no telling what will remain. They’re like a swarm of locusts. They come in and settle upon the place and devour everything in their reach.”
Max laughed at the way Evie rolled her eyes. There was no doubting the love she held for her siblings, even while speaking against their behavior.
“You can laugh, but you’ll see soon enough. They’re just now arriving.”
The boys swept in, talking in rapid-fire comments regarding all that they saw on the table. Max was rather amazed at the way they grabbed five and six tiny sandwiches for their plates. He had felt greedy for taking three.
“We should probably keep moving. They’ll soon overtake us, and then we might not make it out unscathed.”
They finished choosing from among the savory treats before Evie led him past the dessert table. “You can choose some things now or wait until later. The boys will fill up on the meat and cheeses first and not worry about dessert right away so you should have plenty to choose from either way.”
“I’m content to wait.”
Evie nodded. “Very well. Last but not least we have Mrs. Niedermeier’s amazing lemonade or ginger tea. Which would you prefer? Both are iced and quite refreshing.”
“I think the lemonade.”
“Good choice. I’ll grab one for you. Why don’t you take a seat here?”
It was a small table with just four chairs.
Max glanced around and saw that some of the children were sitting on the grass in picnic fashion while others were in various places around the patio.
It was all extremely casual, and even though they seemed spread out, they were still very much eating as a family.
Even here, Max could see that they were close enough to converse.
“This is great.” He put his plate down as Evie did the same.
She walked away to retrieve the drinks, and Max stared after her. She had quite captured his imagination and was quickly consuming his thoughts. How could one so beautiful still remain unattached?
“She’s something else, isn’t she?” Evan said as he joined Max at the table.
“She is. The more people keep pointing that out, the more I can’t help but wonder how it is she’s not engaged or married.”
“Have a seat and I’ll explain.” Evan took his chair.
Max settled down in front of his mounded plate. “Very well, explain.”
Evan laughed. “Evie was determined to remain unattached so that she could answer the calling God had given her on her life—nursing. She had numerous would-be suitors, many of them my good friends, but I had to turn them away and suggest other young ladies. Evie was simply not interested in courtship.”
“And now?”
“Now she’s preparing to take on the responsibilities of running a charity hospital with our father. She has trained for four years and will put all her knowledge to work. So I doubt courtship is her immediate goal.”
Max couldn’t stop the frown that furrowed his brow. He looked away, hoping Evan hadn’t seen his reaction, but of course he had.
“That doesn’t mean she won’t want it for the future. After all, she could court and work. And while most women are expected to give up outside work once they marry, if her husband agreed to her duties, she might go on working at least for a time.”