A Ready-Made Texas Family

by Angel Moore

  “It’s still not funny.” They walked toward the spot where Mrs. Gillis stood with Michael and Sarah.

  “It is.” Rena held up her hand with her finger and thumb indicating a small distance. “A little bit. To think someone that old would be of interest to you. Maybe that’s why he chose to berate you. He might think you’re the kind to be intimidated into a situation.”

  “That is a funny thought.” Charlotte laughed. “Anyone who speaks to Nathan Taylor will learn that I’m not intimidated, nor will I stand to be pushed around.”

  “Good.” Rena gave her another hug. “You go take care of your siblings, and I’m going to feed my husband a big lunch. As soon as Cordelia goes to sleep.”

  Michael and Sarah walked with Charlotte back to the hotel. Attending church hadn’t been as difficult today. Her heart ached at the void left by the loss of her parents. Why then did her mind keep straying to the man at the registration desk of her hotel? He worked for hours on end to help her improve her hotel with no promise of any benefit to himself except a temporary position.

  Gilbert Jefferson and Norman Lewis wanted her hotel. Their motivation was clear. Charlotte thought Alfred Murray’s motivation for coming to call was the most sincere of anyone. He’d offered her companionship and security. She had refused him kindly, but the pain it caused him wasn’t lost on her. He was not a greedy or selfish man, but he held no appeal for her.

  Won’t I feel drawn to the man You put on this earth for me to spend my life with, Lord? It’s too much to consider. Help me maintain my resolve to rebuff all this unwanted attention.

  The face of a handsome man in a business suit floated to the forefront of her mind’s eye. A serious expression with the bluest eyes refused to fade.

  Would attention from Nathan be unwanted?

  * * *

  Nathan closed his Bible and tucked it onto a shelf in the back of the registration desk. He didn’t like missing church, but someone had to stay at the hotel. Attending the service last week had been a welcome treat, but it was more important for Charlotte and the children to be around people who loved them. Grief was always eased in the presence of love.

  The lobby door opened, and Charlotte entered with her siblings. Her deliberate stride and heightened color warned him to tread with care this afternoon.

  “Did you enjoy the service?”

  She sent Michael and Sarah to change out of their Sunday clothes and stopped at the desk. “The service was very nice. The songs were sweet, and the sermon was encouraging.”

  He leaned his head to one side and studied her face. “I gather there is more to the morning that you aren’t telling me.”

  “There is more to the morning, more to the week, more to life than what I’ve shared. I just can’t imagine what men are thinking.” She flapped her reticule onto the desk and peeled her lace gloves off one finger at the time. “Why would a man think it acceptable to approach me and offer marriage in exchange for this hotel?” She tossed her gloves beside the reticule. “I’ll tell you what he thinks. He thinks I’m a silly schoolgirl who can’t find her way through life without the help of a big, strong man. That’s what he thinks.” She balled her hands into fists and shook them together in front of her. “He actually said I was silly.”

  Nathan chuckled. “So, the heart of the girl I knew in school is still inside this young woman who has pulled her hair back like a grandmother and worn the same two black dresses since I returned to Gran Colina. I was fearful I’d never see her again.” He pointed at her watch. “You’ve tried too hard to be someone you’re not, Charlotte.”

  She stopped still. Her hands dropped to her sides, and her shoulders relaxed. The flames that had darted from her eyes during her outburst became burning embers that showed life in her soul instead of anger.

  And she giggled. A lighthearted tinkling sound like rain on a windowpane. It was delightful. Her smile became full, and the giggle turned into laughter.

  Charlotte fingered the watch on her dress. “A grandmother? A grandmother who is always late.” She took a step closer, and he could see the faintest freckles on her cheeks.

  “Those clothes are too big for you.” He touched the sleeve of her dress.

  She smiled and looked at the sleeve. “It’s Momma’s dress. I didn’t have anything black. She only had these two dresses. Wearing them made me feel I was showing how sad I am that she’s gone.” Her blues eyes moved to his. “I know it doesn’t make a difference. Momma hated to wear these dresses.”

  “The sadness in your heart is in your eyes, Charlotte.” His gaze captured her eyes. “Right there with the love you have for your parents. You can be Charlotte and still honor the memory of your folks.”

  “You’re right.” She pulled her lips in and stared at him. “Would you like to join us for lunch? I know it’s Sunday, and we shouldn’t make it a working meal, but I think we could share a table for the sake of good company.”

  He lifted one brow. “You think I’m good company?”

  “Don’t make me reconsider and withdraw my invitation.” She scooped up her reticule and gloves. “Give me a half hour to change and get the food from the restaurant.”

  “Why don’t we eat in the restaurant? There isn’t a large crowd of guests today. You could use a break from having to wash the dishes.” He pointed over his shoulder to her door. “You go change and get the children. I’ll let Mrs. Atkins know to save us a table.”

  “Okay. I’ll be ready in a quarter of an hour.”

  She went into her parlor and closed the door. What would she think if she knew he was staring after her wondering what life would have been like if his parents had never left Gran Colina? She’d caught his eye when he was a young lad. If life hadn’t treated them both with such harshness, maybe he’d be willing to risk exploring what it would be like to court Charlotte Green.

  But life had been harsh. Viola Turner had toyed with him until he’d thought he had a future with the granddaughter of Turner Hotels. Then she’d rebuffed him, saying she’d never marry beneath her station in life. She had scoffed that an employee of the hotel would never be a suitable mate to anyone in the family of the owners. He’d been foolish to allow himself to think she’d returned his growing affections. Affections that died in the face of her cruel rejection.

  Nathan knew he couldn’t court anyone until he secured his future. Charlotte’s anger at the men who approached her hoping to gain her business reinforced his failed attempt to win Viola’s heart. A woman in her position would be suspicious of any man’s interest in her. Rightly so.

  As long as Charlotte was determined to make Nathan leave as soon as she learned the hotel business, he would keep his heart tucked away from anyone. No woman wanted to risk giving her heart to a man without the means to support her. And if he lost this job, he’d be without means.

  He’d never seek any woman’s affection in those circumstances. Not even one who would work alongside him. It was too much to ask.

  Fifteen minutes later, Charlotte and the kids came into the restaurant. Nathan stood and held a chair for Sarah. She giggled and climbed into the chair. He told Michael to pull out the chair for Charlotte.

  Nathan took the seat next to Sarah and across from Charlotte. Charlotte had changed into a blue dress. It wasn’t ornate, but it fit properly and suited her much better than the black she’d worn earlier. Her hair hung around her shoulders in lovely waves of dark brown. He liked that the watch peeked out from behind her tresses. She was growing into a responsible woman and learning that she didn’t have to lose herself in the process.

  “Your dress is very pretty.” He wanted to comment on her hair but decided that might give her the impression that he was flattering her. He didn’t want to mislead her in any way, so he kept that admiration to himself.

  Her eyes widened ever so slightly, and she looked away. “Thank you.”

  Had his c
omment made her uncomfortable? He needed to keep the conversation on polite terms. “Mrs. Atkins said the dumplings are good today.”

  “I don’t want dumplings.” Michael didn’t seem to miss an opportunity to be negative.

  Charlotte gave him a look that all women must be taught when they are girls. “You do not have to eat dumplings, but you will remember to be kind.” Nathan decided that the look worked as intended, because Michael sat silent in his chair.

  “I want dumplings. I like them best of all the food.” Sarah tucked her doll close beside her into the chair. “Except pie. And cookies. I like pie and cookies better.”

  “I do, too.” Nathan winked at Sarah, and she gave him a shy grin in return.

  Mrs. Atkins arrived to take their orders and promised to return in a few minutes.

  “Were you busy while we were at church?” Charlotte unfolded her napkin and draped it across her lap.

  “Not overly. Two of our guests left. I had time to read the Bible for a bit.”

  She studied him. “Are you certain we couldn’t leave a sign like Pa did so you could join us at church on Sundays?”

  Nathan would like to give her this concession, but his years in Dallas proved it would be impossible. “I’m sorry. As much as I’d like to attend, there are responsibilities here that must be met. As the hotel grows, the responsibilities will increase.”

  “I suppose we could hire more help when that happens. Perhaps we could alternate the Sunday duties to keep anyone from having to miss services on a regular basis.”

  “An excellent idea.”

  Mrs. Atkins brought their food, and Charlotte prayed a blessing before they began to eat.

  “Would you share the subject of the sermon with me?” Nathan knew she’d had a rough morning and hoped that retelling the preacher’s words would distract her from the unpleasant encounter she’d described to him.

  Lunch passed with general conversation over good food after Charlotte gave a brief summary of the sermon. Nathan enjoyed the time with this young family more than he’d expected he would. Michael and Sarah ran into their parlor, and he thanked Charlotte as they entered the lobby.

  “I appreciate your invitation to lunch. It was nice. When my mother passed and my father immersed himself in his work, I lost that sense of family.”

  “You’re welcome.” She looked through the open door to her parlor and watched Sarah on the settee with her doll. “What we’re feeling must be like you felt back then. I’d hoped it would be better in time, but I see you still suffer from your loss.” She turned back toward him. “I’ll have to make certain they keep a sense of family. Thank you for sharing that with me.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound as if I hadn’t moved beyond the loss. I have. Of course, I still miss my mother. You must miss yours, too. I know you were young when she passed and your father remarried, but that doesn’t stop you from remembering her love. I was only saying it was nice to sit down to a meal and not feel alone.” He hadn’t realized how alone he’d felt in the last five years until he spoke the words aloud to Charlotte.

  She nodded. “I think I understand. Even when the kids are right there with me, they’re so young that I can’t share with them the things that I have on my heart and mind.”

  “You can always share with me. I’m a good listener, and I know what you’re going through.” He didn’t know if she’d accept his offer of a deeper friendship—or if he wanted her to—but the words just spilled out of him before he even considered them.

  Michael called out to her. “Charlotte, can I go to play with Archie?”

  “Well, I understand a lot of what you’re going through.” Nathan smiled at Charlotte. “Not the part about taking care of young children.”

  Michael raised his voice when she didn’t answer. “Can I?”

  Charlotte put her hand on his sleeve. “Thank you. That means more than I can say.” She ducked into the residence as Michael yelled out for the third time.

  Nathan admitted that he had no idea how difficult Charlotte’s life was. When his mother had died, he’d been younger, but he’d only had to care for himself. And his father had handled the funeral and their finances. Nathan hadn’t inherited a hotel, and he wasn’t raising young children on his own.

  He decided to be more compassionate toward Charlotte and the kids. It was his Christian duty.

  If he gained something—perhaps a strong friendship with Charlotte—there could be no harm in that.

  Could there?

  Chapter Nine

  Charlotte tried another tactic with Michael. She’d called him into the parlor after supper that evening, and he sat beside her on the settee. At six, he was big enough to understand that their parents were gone, but he didn’t know how to control how that made him feel.

  “Being angry won’t make it easier for you. You want to be the man of the house, but do you ever recall Pa acting like you’ve been acting?” She hated to use guilt, but every approach she’d tried had failed. He’d rebuffed everything—from compassion and understanding to being threatened with discipline.

  “I can’t be happy anymore.” He squinted his eyes together and frowned.

  “Do you think Momma and Pa would want you to be happy or angry?”

  He blew a heavy breath through his nostrils. “They aren’t here.”

  “Their love didn’t stop when they went to heaven. The love they gave you is still here.” She eyed him closely. “I think they’d want you to share it with others. The way they shared it with you.”

  “But all the hurt used up all the love.” Defeat filled his voice.

  Charlotte put an arm around his small shoulders. “You can’t have used up all that love. There was so much of it.” She pulled him close to her side. “When we think about them the love grows. It’s the way our heart remembers them.”

  “I miss them.” For the first time since the funeral two weeks earlier, Michael snuggled next to her in a hug. He usually stiffened or, at best, endured her attempts to comfort him.

  “I know you do. We all do.” She dropped a kiss on the top of his head. “Tell me your favorite memory of Pa.”

  “That’s easy.” Michael launched into a tale of fishing with their father. Before long he was laughing and telling about the time he’d startled their mother with a frog he’d captured in the schoolyard.

  Sarah heard the laughter and came from her room. “What are you doing?” She climbed onto the settee beside them.

  “We’re telling memories of Momma and Pa and growing their love so we don’t lose it.” Michael seemed excited at the idea that he could keep their love alive in his heart.

  “I wanna tell one.” Sarah told of the day Momma had given her the doll she held against her chest.

  A half hour later, both children were smiling and succumbing to fatigue.

  “Let’s get you two to bed. I think you’ll have happy dreams tonight.”

  Charlotte settled into the corner of the settee after they were tucked up for the night. She was exhausted after the emotional day. The ups and downs had taken their toll.

  The joyful memories hadn’t only helped the children. Her heart was lighter than it had been since they received the awful news. She considered the valises in her parents’ room. Was she ready to see what they held?

  The thought of her mother’s favorite dresses and her father’s newest suit threatened to steal the joy they’d discovered tonight. The valises could wait. For now, she’d close her eyes and enjoy the happy thoughts.

  Monday morning she woke stiff in the corner of the settee.

  “I’m thirsty.” Sarah stood clutching her doll and pushing on Charlotte’s arm.

  Charlotte stirred from her slumber and stretched. “Okay, sweetie. Let me wake up a bit, and I’ll get you a glass of water.”

  “I want milk.”

&nbs
p; Michael dragged his feet across the floor and slumped onto their father’s favorite chair. “Sarah woke me up.”

  “Me, too.” Charlotte smiled and hugged Sarah close. “You are a sweet girl to wake up to.” She stood and regretted not going to her bed the night before. “I’ll get changed and make us some breakfast while the two of you dress for the day.”

  She had them fed and under the watchful eye of Libbie Henderson in time to be at the registration desk before Nathan made an appearance in the lobby.

  His brows lifted. “What is going on here?”

  Charlotte knew he was teasing her and played along. “I’m getting the day started. Unlike some people who think they can just show up to do their work whenever they decide.” She pulled a hoity face. “I’m guessing you haven’t had breakfast. You best be quick about it, or I’ll have all the work done before you’re in your place.” Try as she might to keep a straight face, she felt the corners of her mouth drawing upward.

  “So, you’re going to let me have the late shift today? I thought it was your preferred time to work.” He smiled back at her. “You seem to be better this morning.”

  “I think I am. A bit.” Sober thoughts threatened her, but she kept them at bay. “A little better each day.”

  “You look as though you rested.”

  “I did. It’s the first night I’ve slept through.”

  “That’s good.” He pointed at the restaurant door. “I’ll just have a quick bite and then help you deal with the people who are checking out today.” Before he turned to go, he added, “Yellow is a nice color for you.”

  Charlotte watched him walk away. She’d wondered if it was too soon to wear the yellow dress. It was cheery and made her feel pretty. Her mother had made it last summer. She smoothed the skirt and decided she’d made a good choice for the hot summer day.

  * * *

  Nathan helped the last guests take their bags to the hotel porch and went back into the lobby. Charlotte was talking to the maids about their chores for the day, so he went in search of Mrs. Atkins. She was cleaning up the remainder of the breakfast dishes.