by Jenna Brandt
While the family walked over to the Copper Café, Miriam leaned over and told Mark about her plans to tell the family. “Would you be willing to make the announcement, since it would be better coming from you?”
“I think you’re right,” he agreed, patting her hand where it rested on his arm. “You seem nervous.”
“I am. Their reaction could change everything.”
“No, it can’t,” he stated firmly. “Whatever they say or do, we’re in this together now. Nothing will change that.”
“That’s kind of you to stay, but I can’t get this uneasy feeling to leave the pit of my stomach.”
“Perhaps I can help with that. I have a dreadful joke I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
“Please, anything to take my mind off what you’re about to announce.”
“When a customer received his meal at a restaurant, he realized something was out of place. He told the waiter, ‘See here, I’ve found a button in my salad.’ The waiter replied, “That’s all right, sir, it’s part of the dressing.”
Miriam couldn’t help herself, she let out a sharp laugh, causing the rest of the family to glance her way for a moment. She covered her mouth as she shook her head, causing her dark curls to bounce around her face. “You’re right, that might be the most dreadful joke I’ve ever heard.”
Jim Pierce, the café owner, was standing at the front entrance of the café with his wife, Kate, ready to greet them. “Marriage looks good on you,” Jim stated with a wide grin. “It’s obvious you made the right decision by marrying this one,” he added as he gestured with his head towards Miriam. “Why don’t all of you follow me over to one of our larger tables in the back.”
Once they were settled in around the table, they placed their orders. Kate scurried off to put them in with the cook, leaving them alone.
“Since we’re all together, I want to make an announcement. Miriam and I are going to have a baby.”
Everyone’s eyes grew round with surprise, and Aunt Claire was the first to speak up. “Wait, I’m confused. How could you possibly know that this soon? You haven’t been married long enough for it to make sense.”
“We know because Miriam was pregnant when she arrived in Little Ridge.”
“And you chose to marry her, anyway?” Mark’s uncle growled out in anger. “How foolish could you be to tie yourself to a woman that’s carrying another man’s child?”
Miriam felt her stomach clench in dread. What was he going to think when he found out that she kept the baby a secret when she arrived in Arizona?
“Uncle Martin, I understand that you’re shocked and upset, but how and why I decided to marry Miriam is between myself and my wife. I’ve made the decision to raise the child as my own, and nothing you’re going to say will convince me otherwise.”
Miriam’s eyes darted to her husband, and instinctively, she reached under the table and squeezed his hand with her own. He was going to protect her and keep the information about when he found out to himself.
“I, for one, think it’s wonderful. Babies are a blessing,” Becca interjected, reaching out and patting Miriam’s arm. “I can’t wait to have a little niece or nephew to spoil.”
“Me, too,” Julia chimed in with a smile. “I love babies and hope to have one of my own soon. It will be wonderful to have a built-in playmate, in the form of a cousin, ready for our own baby.”
“Congratulations,” Ed said with a nod. “This is wonderful news.”
“The baby is lucky; both of you will make great parents,” Garrett added.
“Will wonders never cease—a new baby,” Aunt Claire stated in a way that made it clear she was still trying to process the news, but she didn’t seem upset by it as much as surprised.
“Thank you. We appreciate all of your support,” Mark stated, squeezing Miriam’s hand in return under the table. “As for you, Uncle Martin, I hope that given some time, you’ll come to understand my decision.”
They finished up their meal and Mark took Miriam home. “I have a few things I need to do in my study, then I have a surprise for you.”
“You do? What is it?”
“If I told you what it was, it would ruin the surprise,” he teased.
“Are we going somewhere? At least tell me what I should wear,” she pressed. “I don’t want to end up at the opera wearing a cotton skirt and blouse.”
“Do you even own a cotton anything?”
She shook her head. “You have a point, but still, I want to be properly dressed for the occasion.”
“Wear something comfortable. It’s just going to be the two of us.”
Miriam spent the next half hour getting ready. She picked out a simple satin pink day-dress, hoping that it would work for where he was taking her. She made her way downstairs and entered his study. “I’m all set to go,” she declared. “I hope what I’m wearing will work.”
Mark glanced up and gave an approving grin. “Indeed it does. You look fetching in that dress.”
“Glad you approve,” she teased as he came over and took her by the arm.
Tandy met them by the front door with a wicker picnic basket and blanket in her hands. “Here you go, Mr. Bennett. I packed the meal according to your wishes.”
“Thank you, Tandy.” Mark took the basket and blanket from the servant. “We’ll be back in a couple of hours; make sure to have Mrs. Bennett’s bath drawn for her when we return.”
“We’re going on a picnic?” Miriam inquired with surprise as she picked up her sun-hat from the coat rack and placed it on her head.
“I hope you aren’t disappointed. Growing up, it was one of my favorite things to do.”
“I’ve never had the pleasure,” Miriam admitted. “But I’ve always thought it sounded so romantic.”
“Sometimes your cryptic comments about your past make me wonder about your life in Russia. Maybe during our picnic, you can tell me a little bit about it.”
“I thought we agreed to leave my past in the past,” she pointed out, hoping he would take the hint and let it go.
“I suppose you’re right. I doubt you want to hear about every exploit from my past.”
“Exploit?” she questioned with raised eyebrows. “Are you trying to bait me into wanting to talk about our pasts?”
“Is it working?”
“Almost,” she giggled, playfully smacking the side of his arm. “But you’re not going to trick me that easily.”
They exited the house and walked the short distance to the riverfront. Mark spread out the blanket and they both took spots on opposite sides of it. He opened the basket that sat between them, and pulled out the cloth-wrapped sandwiches, a container of fresh fruit, macarons, and tin cups for the lemonade.
“Everything looks delicious,” she praised, taking one of the grapes and popping it into her mouth. “You brought all my favorites.”
“Of course, I did. This surprise was for you since you’ve been spending so much time planning the town social with the women’s auxiliary.”
Little did he know; Miriam was actually working on a completely different project. One that he would find out about soon enough when the time was right.
As they ate their meal, Miriam’s attention drifted around the area from one family to the next, each enjoying the late afternoon summer sun just as they were. Several small children were running around the grass, making her wonder if in a few years that might be Mark and her with their own family.
“I can see why you love this place,” Miriam mused. “Little Ridge is charming and quaint; it’s the perfect place to raise a family.”
“Do you want a lot of children?” Mark probed, glancing from her belly back up to her eyes.
“As many as the Lord is willing to bless me with. I love children, and since I was an only child, I’ve always wanted a large family.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I’ve always imagined if I met the right woman, I would want at least four children with her.”
“Have you met th
e right woman?” she probed in return.
“I have indeed. I can’t imagine ever being with anyone but you, Miriam.”
“I feel the same way about you, Mark. It’s why I was so scared to tell you about the baby. I thought my secret would ruin everything between us.”
“Nothing could do that; I’m yours—heart, mind, and body—if you will have me.” He leaned across the blanket and let his lips touch hers. It was a gentle kiss, filled with kindness and love, which had never been a part of her relationship with her first husband. Mark’s sweet kiss was exactly what Miriam needed from him, and she kissed him back, hoping that he understood that she wanted every part of him, from this moment forward.
The baby kicked in response, causing Miriam to pull back out of reflex. Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed Mark’s hand, then placed it on her belly. “Do you feel that?”
Mark’s eyes grew wide as the baby kicked a second time. “I do. It’s even stronger than the first time I felt the little one,” he said with enthusiasm.
She nodded. “The baby’s been doing somersaults for the past week. I’ve been wanting to share it with you.”
“I’m so glad you did,” he gushed as he grinned from ear-to-ear. He shifted his hand to the side and pressed lightly. “There, I felt the baby tumble again.”
They spent the next half hour talking about the baby and what they needed to do to get ready for the arrival.
“I think I need to stretch,” Miriam said, standing up from the blanket. “I can only sit in one spot for so long before my body goes numb from the extra weight. I hope this bulkiness goes away once I have the baby—I’m not used to having such a thick waist.”
“Even if it doesn’t, you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he said, standing up beside her and taking her hand in his. “Besides, I like it when a woman has a little meat on her bones.”
Miriam liked that he didn’t seem to care about the weight she’d gained; the complete opposite of Nicholas, who became angry when she put on a couple of pounds because of the strain of his demanding ways. “It’s nice to not have to live in fear that something I do, or don’t do, will cause you to become angry with me.”
“Did that happen often with your first husband?” Mark probed as he guided her over to the river’s edge.
She nodded. “He tried to control everything I did. I didn’t have a moment to myself—the palace servants saw to that.” Just as the words tumbled from her lips, she wished she could scoop them back up. Her eyes rounded with fear as she covered her mouth with her hand.
“Palace? What palace? Why did you live in a palace?” Mark shouted in confusion.
Miriam could feel the world spinning around her, and she was certain she was going to faint if Mark hadn’t reached out to steady her. “I’m not feeling too good. I think I need to sit down again,” she whispered, slumping to the ground, not caring that the blanket was several feet away and she was going to land on the mud beside the riverbank.
Mark knelt down beside her. He lifted her chin so that her eyes would meet his own. “I’m sorry I got so excited; you just took me by surprise. You don’t have to be afraid of me though. You can tell me anything. Who was your first husband, Miriam?”
“Nicholas Alexander Novikoff, the Grand Prince of Russia, the one true heir to the Imperial Throne,” she recited out of habit.
“Wait, I don’t understand. If you were married to a prince, doesn’t that make you a princess?”
“It does, but my title doesn’t mean anything now that my husband is dead. It’s why I had to flee Russia. My husband’s brother killed him and I witnessed it. He knew I would tell everyone what I saw, so he blamed me for Nicholas’ death. I barely escaped with my life, and I’ve been in hiding ever since.”
Mark wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “That must have been so scary. I can’t even imagine what you went through.”
“It was one thing when I was only afraid for my own life, but now I have the baby to worry about. If my husband’s brother ever finds me, he’ll have me killed, and if the emperor finds out about the baby, he’ll take the child from me and get rid of me afterwards. I have to stay hidden for both our sakes.”
“I promise you, Miriam, I’ll keep your secret, and keep you safe. I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
“I know you want to believe that, but I was chased across the world because the imperial family was determined to make me pay for Nicholas’ death. It wasn’t until I changed my last name when I arrived in America that I was able to disappear and hopefully escape their reach forever. One slip up, one stupid mistake, however, could mean the end for me and my baby. I have to keep my past a secret for both our sakes.”
“Was that why you were so afraid to let Mr. Walker print an article about you in the local newspaper?”
“You know about that?”
He nodded. “Becca told me. She was concerned you were hiding something.”
“She wasn’t wrong. I’ve been hiding who I am for so long now, I don’t even know who I am anymore.”
“I know who you are, Miriam. You’re the kind, gentle, compassionate woman I care deeply for. You’re a wonderful wife, and you’re going to be an even better mother to our children.”
“Thank you,” she said, choking back her tears. “It’s such a relief to not have to keep this from you anymore, and to know you aren’t mad at me because I kept it a secret for so long.”
“I’m not like your first husband, Miriam. You don’t have to ever worry about something you do upsetting me.”
“That’s good to hear, because you’re going to have to put up with me doing this.” Miriam swiped away the tears, then removed her boots and stockings. She placed her toes in the water, wiggling them in the cool liquid and enjoying the feel of it sliding between her digits. “I was never allowed to be free back in Russia. Every move I made, every word I said, was critiqued and regulated by the imperial court.”
“I don’t want to control you or make you feel like you have to hide who you are to make me happy. I love everything about you.” Mark reached out and touched the side of her face. “You can be whoever you want to be with me.”
Miriam closed the distance between them and placed her lips on his. She hoped it conveyed how much she appreciated his devotion, and how in turn, she loved him just as much.
12
Mark couldn’t believe how much his life had changed in the span of a couple of months. Never would he have thought he’d end up married and a father in the same year.
He put away the last of his papers and checked his watch, insuring that he was on time for dinner with Miriam. She was adamant that he be on time, because Cook was making her favorite dish from Russia.
“Are you sure you don’t need me to stay?” Mark asked Garrett as he stood up from his desk. “I don’t want to leave you to do all the end of the week paperwork by yourself.”
“I’ll be fine,” Garrett stated as he pointed to the exit. “Go home to your pregnant wife.”
“Will do,” Mark said, picking up his hat and coat from the rack and putting them on. “Miriam would have my hide if I didn’t.”
Mark barely made it out the door before two of the workers stopped him to ask questions about the new vein of copper they found. He gave them the quickest answers possible, constantly glancing at his pocket watch to keep track of the time. When he finally left the mine, he pushed his horse to make up the lost minutes.
On his ride home, Mark thought about how happy he was with his life. He never knew what he was missing until he married Miriam. Now, he couldn’t imagine his life without her, or the baby in it.
He’d never thought too much about being a father, but now that the time was looming closer and closer, he could feel the excitement rising up in him. The anticipation was building up inside him every day. He could hardly wait until he was finally holding the little bundle in his arms. When he did, Mark knew he would fall instantly in lov
e with the baby, just like he did with Miriam. He realized now that his heart was capable of loving far more than he ever knew possible.
Mark rushed through the door, placing his hat and coat on the rack. “I know, I know, I was supposed to be home a half hour ago. It couldn’t be helped. Two of the miners…” His words trailed off when he turned to find his friends and family standing in the foyer of his home.
“Surprise,” they yelled in unison, just as Garrett came in behind him and patted him on the back.
“Tell me, we got you,” he teased in a whisper. “Or at least pretend we did so Miriam isn’t disappointed. You don’t want to make a pregnant woman cry.”
“No need to pretend, I had no idea,” he stammered out in shock. “Miriam planned all of this?”
“I did, with a little help from your family and friends,” Miriam explained as she came over and wrapped her arm through his. “Happy Birthday, Mark.”
“You didn’t have to do all of this,” he said, his cheeks burning from all the attention.
“I know, but I wanted to. You’ve taken such good care of me since I got here, I wanted to do something for you for a change.”
They made their way into the dining room where the table was set up with a massive buffet of food. The guests took plates and piled them with portions of appetizers, meats, and side-dishes.
“I had Cook make all your favorites, and I special-ordered a carrot cake from the bakery in Yuma.” A three-tiered cake with buttercream frosting sat at one end of the table, with several unlit candles on the very top layer. “I hope you’re happy with everything.”
“I’ve never had anyone make me feel so special,” he confessed.
“I’m glad, because you do the same for me.”
Mark leaned over and kissed his wife’s lips, not caring that they were in a room filled with all of their friends and family. He loved his wife, and he didn’t care who knew it.