Mail Order Millie

by Cheryl Wright

  She was still feeling a little queasy and nibbled on a slice of toast for her own lunch. Millie didn’t feel like more, but was too scared to try anyway.

  Once the soup was bubbling on the stove, she lay down again, as she was still feeling poorly. Some time later, her eyes fluttered open. She panicked when she realized her husband would be home in less than an hour.

  She took her time standing up, so as not to set off dizziness again. She was pleased when it didn’t happen.

  Grabbing her apron as she entered the kitchen, Millie went to the stove. The soup was cooking nicely, but needed a stir and perhaps some more salt.

  She mixed the flour and milk for the pancakes, then added all the other ingredients. She set it aside for the mix to settle. They were much nicer that way.

  The front door opened as she threw the cubed potatoes in the frying pan, and Millie breathed a sigh of relief.

  It was then she realized the scent from the food had not bothered her at all.

  “How are you feeling,” Daniel asked, coming up behind her and kissing her gently on the neck.

  She spun around to face him. “I’m fine. No more sickness, but I hate to admit I’ve slept most of the day.”

  He frowned. Was he going to admonish her for being so lazy? “You needed it. You look far better tonight.” His fingers caressed her cheek and she leaned into his hand.

  She reluctantly turned back to the food. “I, I have to do this,” she said. “Otherwise it will burn. We’ll have soup first, then I’ll cook the pancakes.” She glanced back at him. “I’m sorry it’s not a better meal.”

  He frowned again. “Please don’t keep apologizing. If you were still unwell, I’d have managed.” He kissed her forehead then removed his jacket and tie.

  She really did win the lottery with Daniel.

  Millie was beginning to enjoy having a long soaking bath when she had the time. Daniel didn’t seem to mind, and it helped her relax.

  Her nausea had returned the past few days, but only in the mornings. She wasn’t sure what was setting her off. Whatever it was, she wished it would stop.

  She lay back in the tub and closed her eyes. They suddenly flew open. “No! No, no, no!” she said out loud. “It can’t be.” Tears welled in her eyes and slid down her face. She looked down at her slightly rounded stomach. Why hadn’t she thought of this before? It had been the last thing on her mind.

  Daniel would be home in a couple of hours. She would soak for just a few more minutes and decide how to tell him, then get out. She closed her eyes against the worry.

  “There you are. I beginning to wonder if you’d run away.”

  Her eyes flew open and she looked up to see Daniel standing in the doorway, looking her over.

  She screamed.

  He laughed.

  She tried to cover herself up with her hands, but it was useless. He finally handed her a fluffy white towel. “I have seen you naked before, you know,” he said, winking.

  She scowled at him. “What are you doing in here? I thought you were at work.”

  He frowned, then laughed again. “I was, but decided to leave early and spend time with my wife.” He looked her over again. “I’m mighty glad I did.”

  “That is not appropriate, Daniel,” she said between gritted teeth, her worry overwhelming her.

  The smile left his face. “We are married,” he said gruffly, then spun around and stormed out of the room.

  She’d offended him. She hadn’t meant to, but she had. And now he was upset. Perhaps even angry.

  She quickly dried herself, then dressed.

  She found him in the sitting room, standing, staring out the window. Was he now sorry they’d married?

  Her heart rate increased so much she felt light-headed. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “You were right. We are married. I...I had no right to yell at you.”

  He gestured for her to join him. “This is all new to me,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. “I’m sure it is for you too.”

  She frowned. He did know she was a widow, right? She’d stipulated the mail-order bride agency tell the potential groom. They’d been married for nearly a month and she was only finding out now? “Daniel,” she said slowly. “I,” she swallowed. “I need to talk to you.”

  He glanced down into her face, then his gaze went lower. Was this gown too revealing? She hadn’t thought so until his eyes landed on her cleavage and sat there for a few seconds before roaming back to her face.

  At least he had the decency to look embarrassed.

  “I made a booking at the diner,” he said pointedly. “We need to leave shortly or we’ll be late. Get ready and then we’ll go.”

  “But I...”

  “You can tell me later.” He was insistent, and she eventually gave up and went to prepare for their outing.

  This would be one of the hardest things she’d ever had to do. The worst of it was Millie had no idea how he would react. Would he ship her back to where she came from?

  If he did, and she was pregnant, not only would she be homeless, she would be a single mother with no means to support her child.

  Her heart broke into a million pieces just thinking about it.

  Daniel helped her into her coat. He’d done it a million times before, but this time there was no warmth, no love.

  He was still angry with her. Millie swallowed down her disappointment.

  She’d never seen him angry before tonight – he’d always been so loving. But she knew this was her fault. Snapping at him like that was not fair. He didn’t know of her dismay, had no idea.

  Any other time they’d be all over each other, she knew they would.

  Despite his anger, he insisted they still go to the diner. It would be nice to see Mrs Baker, and hopefully Daniel would forgive her spur of the moment outburst.

  “Good evening, Mrs Baker,” he said gruffly, and the older woman turned to Millie and raised her eyebrows. Had she not seen him in this sort of mood before?

  It made Millie wonder, but also upset her that she’d caused this anger.

  They were led to an isolated table, in the corner, not far from the fire. Daniel said barely a word to either woman.

  He helped Millie into her chair, then sat opposite, accepting menus from Mrs Baker. She made herself scarce in record time.

  “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “My outburst was unacceptable.”

  He nodded but said nothing. Would he never forgive her?

  “Are you ready to order?” Mrs Baker was back in record time. Her eyes moved between them. Could she feel the tension between husband and wife? Millie decided she could. It almost brought her to tears.

  “No. No we’re not. Can you give us a minute?” He was not so gruff this time, and Millie felt relief.

  Mrs Baker nodded and walked to a nearby table taking orders there.

  He reached across the table and covered her hands with his. They were warm and gentle, and she hoped this would be a turning point.

  “Daniel, I’m sorry...” she began.

  One of the waitresses left a basket of bread in the center of the table, then walked away.

  Millie sighed and finally gave up trying to talk to him. She perused the menu before Mrs Baker returned again.

  Her guilt was all consuming. It appeared he didn’t know she’d been married and widowed, and she desperately needed for him to know.

  Especially now.

  It was far too late for an annulment, and honestly, she didn’t want one. She was too much in love with this wonderful man.

  “Have you decided yet?” Daniel glanced across at her at the reappearance of Mrs Baker.

  “I should like beef and vegetable soup with warm bread, thank you, Mrs Baker.”

  Daniel admonished her. “That is not enough. Take another look.”

  “My, my stomach is still rather churned up,” she told her husband. The last thing she wanted or needed was a heavy meal, only to have it emptied in short
order.

  He nodded. “Of course. You’ve been rather unwell lately.” He reached over and patted her hand. It seemed all was forgiven.

  But for how long?

  “I’ll have the sirloin, thank you Mrs Baker.”

  She felt herself pale at the mere thought. Mrs Baker’s expression was not lost on her.

  As she walked away, Millie tried once again to speak with her husband. “Daniel, I really must speak with you. It’s important.”

  He glanced about. “If it really is important, it’s probably not something we should discuss here.”

  She was shattered, but it would have to wait until they were home. The tables were close enough together that any discussions would be overheard. And that was the last thing she needed.

  Millie had never been one to lie, or to give false impressions. She wasn’t about to start now – she wanted to be upfront with Daniel, and tell him about her previous marriage. And her possible pregnancy.

  Millie cried inside. What was she going to do?

  “The meal was beautiful. Thank you, Mrs Baker.” Millie wiped her lips with the linen napkin and watched as the diner’s owner glanced down at her stomach.

  She was right. Mrs Baker had guessed at her predicament. Millie put her hands to her stomach defensively, and the woman nodded at her. It was almost like they were best friends keeping a secret between them.

  Only she wasn’t really a friend. Mrs Baker was an acquaintance who had guessed at her biggest secret. One she hadn’t even confirmed for herself, let alone tell her husband about.

  Her marriage was doomed.

  All she wanted to do right now was curl up into a tight ball and block out the entire world. Especially Daniel.

  Her kind and gentle husband who had been nothing but patient with her. Her eyes filled with unshed tears and she turned her head away.

  “Daniel, Mr Davis is here with his wife tonight. Why don’t you say hello? I’ll sit with Millie for a while.”

  “I can catch up with Mr Davis another time,” he said, studying Millie’s face.

  “Oh look, I think he’s waving to you,” Mrs Baker said.

  “It’s fine with me,” Millie said quietly, her face still averted.

  The moment he was gone, Mrs Baker sat opposite her and reached out. The warmth of her hand was comforting. She watched Daniel’s retreating back, and leaned in to listen to the other woman’s quiet words.

  Chapter Four

  Daniel felt eyes burn into his back as he walked away. It made him feel uncomfortable but was determined not to look back.

  When he reached his destination, he was invited to join Mr Davis and his wife, and took every opportunity to glance back toward his table discreetly.

  Mrs Baker sat there holding Millie’s hand, and it looked as though they were having a heart-to-heart talk.

  Millie’s head hung low, and she occasionally nodded. She glanced across in his direction and nearly caught him spying on her.

  That made him pause. Was he spying on her?

  He was probably more confused than anything. He was certain Mrs Baker had been trying to get rid of him. But why would she?

  “It’s good to see you, Daniel,” Mr Davis said. “I hear congratulations are in order.” He reached out a hand and Daniel shook it.

  “We met Millie at the ball, remember dear?” She turned to Daniel. “Where is your bride?” Mrs Davis stood without waiting for an answer, trying to locate Millie. The moment she did, she was gone, and joined the two women at the table. Mrs Baker put another chair at the table and the three women huddled.

  He watched as the two older women patted Millie’s hand, then glanced up at him. What was going on? Had he done something to upset her?

  His mind rolled back over the day’s events. He couldn’t think of a single thing, except when he’d spied on her in the bath.

  That probably was a bit over the top.

  “Daniel? I say, you are miles away. Is everything alright?”

  Davis and Sons was his best customer, and he was ignoring the man. “I’m wondering what those three are talking about over there.” Better to tell the truth, and admit he was not concentrating.

  Mr Davis waved a dismissive hand. “Women’s stuff. Don’t worry about it, Son. One day you’ll welcome the reprieve.” He laughed, but Daniel couldn’t see the funny side.

  But he was probably right. Daniel forced himself to concentrate and not worry about the womenfolk who appeared to be talking about him. At the very least the two older women were probably conferring with Millie on how to be a good wife.

  He couldn’t complain about that.

  It seemed like forever before he felt a touch to his shoulder. Mrs Davis sat down and stared pointedly at him. “Millie is lovely, Daniel. You’ve got yourself a good woman there.”

  “She certainly is,” he said, certain there was something he wasn’t being told.

  “Whatever happens, you must look after her.” She was firm with her words, as though she knew something he didn’t.

  He frowned and asked himself again, what was going on? It was like some massive secret was being shared with other people but not with him.

  Did it affect him? He could only presume it did.

  He closed his eyes momentarily. Millie had tried to tell him something. Several times. She’d said it was important, but he’d brushed her words aside.

  As a result, she’d opened her heart to two much older women who had taken the time to listen. He mentally slapped himself.

  What a fool he was.

  “Is Millie alright?” He held his breath waiting for her response.

  Mrs Davis pursed her lips and stared at him. “You’ll have to ask her,” she said after several seemingly long moments. And that worried him.

  He hurriedly stood, thanked Mr Davis for his company, then left them.

  It look far less than twenty seconds to cross the room to his wife, but it felt much longer. Both Millie and Mrs Baker followed his every move. When he had almost reached the table, she patted Millie’s hand and left.

  His heart skipped a beat. Was something seriously wrong?

  The closer he got, the more he saw how upset Millie appeared. She was pale – white as baker’s flour, and her eyes were red and puffy.

  Tonight was meant to be special. A night off for his wife. “Millie?” he said gently as he reached the table. He stood next to her and put an arm around her shoulder.

  She glanced up at him. She looked even more upset at this proximity.

  Mrs Baker arrived with two serves of Cherry Cobbler and a bowl of clotted cream. “Eat up,” she said firmly. “I’ll bring you some coffee, Daniel. Tea for Millie.” And then she was gone. She had a habit of doing that.

  Stupid or not, he asked the question as he sat down. “Is everything alright, Millie?”

  She shook her head. He wasn’t sure if that meant everything wasn’t alright, or she didn’t want to talk about it.

  More confused than ever, he piled clotted cream onto his Cherry Cobbler, then lifted his spoon and shoveled food into his mouth. That was one way to ensure he didn’t say something he would assuredly regret.

  He watched as Millie picked at her food then shoved it away. When the beverages arrived, she sipped her tea, then asked to go home.

  She was still quite pale.

  At the front of his mind was Millie’s state of upset and what had caused all this.

  He thanked Mrs Baker as they began to leave when he was surprised by her leaning in and whispering to him. “Just listen. Don’t interrupt.”

  He stared at her. She didn’t say another word, instead she ran her fingers across her lips in an action that dictated he should zip his mouth. Even more confusion set in, if that was even possible.

  Whatever was going on, it was serious. He nodded his acknowledgement and they headed for home.

  Had Millie changed her mind? Did she not want to be married to him anymore?

  He swallowed hard, and a lump caught in his thro
at.

  It was all his fault, this upset – he’d overstepped the mark by watching her lay naked in the bath, totally without her permission.

  He’d enjoyed it in the moment, but it had thoroughly upset her at the time, and she was quite obviously overwrought about it.

  As they walked slowly home, her arm hooked through his, he wondered if they’d still be married tomorrow.

  Daniel didn’t say a word the entire way home.

  Neither did Millie. She felt ill, really ill, and worried if she opened her mouth, her supper might come spilling out.

  Both Mrs Baker and Mrs Davis had been lovely. They’d calmed her down and given her some practical advise, including that she must tell Daniel without delay.

  They insisted he wouldn’t send her away. She wasn’t convinced.

  He didn’t know her, not really – she’d been here for less than a month. Despite that, they were madly in love.

  They might have said their vows and promised each other forever, but that didn’t include accepting and raising another man’s child.

  She closed her eyes tight, forcing her tears to stay right where they were. She’d done more than enough crying tonight. Made a proper spectacle of herself too.

  The older ladies had huddled around her so no one could see. They were friends for life.

  If she ended up staying in Grand Falls that was. She stumbled as they reached the bottom of the steps, and Daniel caught her, pulling her close.

  He lifted her up into his arms and began to carry her home. “I can walk you know,” she said, her voice wobbly. “You can put me down now.”

  His eyes burned into her, and the reflection from the street lamp played across his face. He clenched his jaw and tightened his grip on her. “I know you’re upset, Millie, and I’m truly sorry for what I did to you.”

  What he did to her?

  He continued down the street, still carrying her despite her objections.

  “You mean what I did to you?” She hiccupped from trying to hold back her anguish.