She shed tears with them as well. Laughed at the moments in their life together that had been joyful. And when she finally finished, a serene atmosphere had settled around them all.
Elle looked over at her husband, and he nodded, a smile spreading across his face. “You are part of our family, Vera.” She reached across the table for Vera’s hand. “You and the baby are welcomed to come live with us for as long as you want.”
Was it really a dream come true? Had Thomas’s parents just opened their arms, hearts, and their lives to her and her unborn child?
And what of Wally? What did he want? She glanced over at him. There as a small smile upon his face. His blue eyes twinkling like stars.
Yes, she’d open her heart to love.
“I…I don’t know what to say,” Vera stammered, still unsure yet willing to find out if they were truly serious.
“Say you will, Vera,” Wally said, his eyes pleading with her. “Let me take care of you and the baby as well.”
A small cry escaped her lips. Tears trickled down her cheeks.
Wally wanted her and the baby!
“Yes, yes, I will go with you,” she said as her baby kicked in agreement.
The last several days went by in a whirl.
Vera had set about packing up her most treasured items with the help of Elle, her mother-in-law. All the pictures of Thomas were carefully wrapped as they were placed between pieces of clothing for safekeeping.
Several smaller items were boxed and nestled into the trunks Wally had insisted on buying for them. He said family heirlooms were meant to be passed down through the years.
Now, with the trunks and her bags delivered to the train station, she took her final walk from her home to Willa’s boardinghouse in Blessings Valley. She’d promised to say goodbye to Willa before meeting Elle and Lee at two o’clock.
Vera paused for a moment in front of the church, hoping to see Fannie standing in the doorway like always. Disappointment and sadness gripped her heart when she saw no one. Only the noon sun rays gleaming off the cross.
“Thank you, Lord for your guidance,” she whispered then took a few steps forward.
“Vera!”
Turning around, she gasped. For the briefest of moments, she thought it was Thomas who stood on the steps of the church waving at her. Blinking her eyes once, then twice, her focus returning, she saw it was Fannie who bounded down the steps toward her.
Fannie grasped her hands, a glimmer of tear in her eye. “Be happy, Vera.”
“I will, Fannie,” Vera promised as her friend squeezed her hands before letting go and returning to the church, not once looking back.
“Goodbye, Fannie,” Vera whispered, then continued along the path to town until she reached Willa’s boardinghouse. There on the porch waiting for her arrival were Willa and Wally.
Wally’s smile brightened his face when he reached out to take her hand as she came up the steps. “Mother and Father are at the station. They wanted to give you some privacy to say your goodbyes.” Wally greeted her, taking both her hands in his. “I will be just inside until it is time to go.”
“Thank you, Wally.” Vera nodded, thinking how her luck had changed a couple of weeks ago when this man rode into Blessings Valley.
Vera took a seat next to Willa and patiently waited. Willa sat quietly as she sometimes did before saying what was on her mind. Halfway through a glass of tea, she clasped Vera’s hand.
“Are you happy? Truly happy?” Willa asked, holding back the tears Vera saw pooling in her eyes.
“Yes, I am.” Vera smiled, feeling a burst of heat on her cheeks. “More than I thought I ever would again, Willa.”
“Good, that’s all I wanted for you and the other widows. To be happy once again.” Willa sipped from her glass then after a moment turned back to Vera. “Be sure to write once you are settled. And let us know when the baby comes.”
“I promise,” Vera pledged, holding back tears of her own that threatened to stain her cheeks.
“Vera, I hate to interrupt, but we must be going.” Wally stepped through the door and onto the porch.
Vera took the hand he offered her. She smiled one last time at Willa, and then they walked down the steps and across the street to the train station.
A new life waited for Vera and her baby with her new-found family.
Epilogue
A month later
Willa stood at the window, watching Stella Napier race across the street and up the steps of her boardinghouse. Clenched in her hand was the letter they’d all been waiting for.
Vera had finally sent word after leaving Blessings Valley a month ago.
“Willa!” she called out, pulling open the door.
“No need to shout, Stella,” Willa announced, greeting Stella in the dining room. “Is it from Vera?”
“Yes,” Stella managed to say as she caught her breath.
“Then we shall go over to the Grand and have tea with Elizabeth to share Vera’s news,” Willa announced, pulling her shawl over her shoulders.
The two women hurried down the street and into Buttons and Bows.
“Elizabeth!” Willa called out over the jingle of the bell above the door.
Elizabeth ran out from the back, a piece of material in her hand. “What is it, Willa?”
“Vera has finally written a letter. Do you have any tea back there?” Willa asked, walking through the dress shop with Stella in tow.
“I do, as well as some leftover lunch. Come on back, and let’s find out what she has to say,” Elizabeth said, walking toward the shop door. “I think I can close for a little bit,” she giggled, hanging the closed sign and locking the door. “This is too important not to, after all.”
The three walked into the back room, each taking a seat at the small table. The remnants of what was left of Elizabeth’s lunch and a pot of tea took up the middle of the table, but they didn’t care. All they had on their minds was the letter.
“Hurry, Willa,” Stella encouraged.
Willa ripped open the envelope and pulled a piece of stationary from it. The writing was neat upon the cream-colored paper.
My Dearest Willa,
I hope this finds you and the others well. I have some exciting news. I am once again a married woman, and I couldn’t be happier. It happened a few days ago. I couldn’t resist Wally any longer and finally admitted that I felt the same as he did. I am in love again, Willa! In love!
The Baldwins are wonderful, and they treat me as if they’ve known me forever. Elle and I have already started making plans for the baby’s room, which is connected to our bedroom. Our bedroom! How odd it is to write those words.
Wally is very loving and caring. He never stops doting over me every moment he’s home. He has resigned as an undercover agent and has gone to work for his father. We have been discussing names for the baby but can’t come to an agreement. I’m sure when she is born, God will provide the perfect name for our child.
Please give my love to the others and tell them not to give up on love or life. There is happiness and joy waiting for anyone looking for it.
With all my love and appreciation,
Vera
Folding the letter, Willa placed it back in the envelope. “I knew he was right for her the moment he rode up to my porch.”
“The way you knew Auggie was right for me?” Elizabeth smiled, a knowing look on her face.
“Yes,” Willa admitted, then turned to Stella. “And the way, I know Maxwell Hayden is perfect for you, Stella.”
“Oh no, he isn’t!” Stella sat back in her seat. “There is no man perfect for me any longer. Especially not a saloonkeeper.”
“We shall see,” laughed Willa. “We shall see.”
The End
Thank you for reading Widows of Blessings Valley: Vera. I hope you will come along with Stella Napier on the path of her grief after losing her husband Daniel in the mining accident of 1892 and see how she handles working for Maxwell Hayden at the Heartb
reak Saloon.
Widows of Blessings Valley: Stella will be coming out 2021.
About the Author
Maxine Douglas first began writing in the early 1970s while in high school. She took every creative writing course offered at the time and focused her energy for many years after that on poetry. It wasn’t until a dear friend’s sister revealed she was about to become a published author that jumpstarted Maxine into getting the ball rolling; she finished her first manuscript in a month’s time.
Maxine Douglas and her late husband moved to Oklahoma in 2010 from Wisconsin. Since then Maxine has rekindled her childhood love of westerns. She has four adult children (three are adult stepchildren), two granddaughters, a German Shorthair Pointer named Missy, and a rescue kitty named Simon. And many friends she now considers her Oklahoma family.
One of the things Maxine has learned over the years is that you can never stop dreaming and reaching for the stars. Sooner or later you touch one, and it’ll bring you more happiness than you can ever imagine. Maxine feels lucky, and blessed, that over the past several years she’s been able to reach out and touch the stars--and she’s still reaching.
Maxine loves to hear from her readers. So, come on by and say “Hello”; Maxine would love to hear from you.
You can catch her on:
Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/maxinesbookdivas/
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Blog: http://maxinedouglasauthor.blogspot.com/
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Vera (Widows of Blessings Valley Book 2) Page 12