“I do declare, Aunt Louisa, I believe you’re perfectly well and just wanted me to put up your vegetables.”
“How did you know?” she teased.
“I can put up a few vegetables for you. I’m sure mine won’t be nearly as good as yours, but maybe they’ll be edible.”
“Goodness’ sakes, child. I’m sure they’ll be fine. Even from here in bed, I can give you some pointers since you’ll be using my recipes. I’d like you to make some fresh coleslaw out of the cabbage for us to eat now and make up a batch of sauerkraut for later. I didn’t think to tell Tillie about this yesterday, so you can put in an order from the grocer to get any ingredients I might not have on hand.”
Hestia had an idea. A sneaky one, but an idea all the same. “I wouldn’t mind if Booth took me uptown next week to provision us fully. Do you think he’d mind? Then I can shop at the mercantile for myself and I’ll have a way to bring home all the goods in one trip.”
“That’s a thought. Booth is a mighty nice fellow. I hate to keep on imposing on his generous spirit, though. Maybe we’d be best off with delivery.”
“Or maybe I can just tag along when he’s out and about anyway. It will give me the chance for a little change of scenery while not leaving you alone too terribly long.”
Aunt Louisa shrugged. “Suit yourself, child.”
When Hestia dropped a hint that she could use a ride to the mercantile the next Saturday, Booth agreed without pause. She hoped he didn’t think her too bold. Aunt Louisa seemed amenable to the idea and didn’t suggest that Hestia had hatched the plan so she could see more of Booth. If either of them thought her request sounded out of the ordinary, they didn’t let her know.
On Saturday, what should have been an everyday trip to the mercantile turned into an event for Hestia. She found herself agonizing over her appearance as though they had planned an evening at the opera. Usually self-assured and decisive, that day she couldn’t make up her mind what dress to wear. When she tried to twist her hair, the locks wouldn’t cooperate. “What is wrong with me?” Exasperated, she set a wayward strand in place with a bobby pin, hoping it wouldn’t show.
“Hestia?” Aunt Louisa called.
She spritzed tuberose fragrance on her wrist from a special crystal perfume bottle before making haste to go into the bedroom. “Yes, ma’am?”
“You’ve got your list, haven’t you?”
She patted her skirt pocket and felt the folded paper. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Please add kitchen matches to it. I’d sure hate for us to run out now with winter fast approaching.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Aunt Louisa studied her. “Is that a Sunday dress you’ve got on?”
“No, ma’am.” Her answer was truthful, but she had chosen one of her best everyday dresses. She’d been told—by Luther, even—that the rose color flattered her. “Does it look okay?”
“Better than okay.” She pursed her lips. “You aren’t getting all spiffed up for Booth, are you?”
She felt heat rise to her cheeks. “Uh—”
“Now, you should remember that I’ll be well soon and you’ll be back on your way to Haw River. It’s best, for your own good, mind you, not to get attached to anyone here.”
At that moment Booth knocked, and Hestia hastened to answer. He met her with a grin. “I’m ready if you are.”
“Then don’t let me hold you up.” She reached for the handbag she’d left in a chair.
“You look especially pretty today, Hestia. Much too pretty to go to the store.”
“I wouldn’t say that, but thank you. I appreciate your help.”
“Now don’t you forget anything,” Aunt Louisa called from her room. “Booth doesn’t want to have to go back out because of foolishness.”
“Yes, ma’am,” she called back. “We’ll be back as soon as we can.”
After they ventured outdoors, Booth helped her into the Model T touring car. After she was situated in the passenger seat, he ran around to the driver’s seat and set the switch then stepped to the front and cranked the engine. Once the motor got running, he rushed back and jumped into his seat. “Sorry to hurry you. Next time I buy an automobile, I hope it will have an electric starter.”
She laughed. “I was ready anyway. Thanks again for taking me to the store.”
“My pleasure. Mother needed a few things, so she’d planned to send me, anyway. Having company is much better.”
“Good. I wouldn’t want to impose.”
“Is the Murray’s Mill mercantile okay by you?”
“Sure.”
Booth released the brake, and the car lurched as they began their journey. Hestia adjusted her driving hat and breathed in the fresh air. Murray’s Mill was a long drive from Maiden, but the mill was known for its freshly ground flour. The drive would take them along the rail lines, first north to Newton and then east to Catawba. Aunt Louisa and the Barringtons lived on the north side of Maiden toward Newton, so they didn’t need to travel through the center of town. The quiet road they took offered a view of oak and maple trees bursting with fall colors. People sat on the porches of the bungalows, brick Georgian, and two-story clapboard houses they passed. Booth waved at them all, and they waved back as though he was a long-lost brother they hadn’t seen in a decade. Most of them also gave her a cockeyed look.
“Within the hour, I think everyone in this county will know you’re in town,” Booth shouted over the motor. “I hope you don’t mind being seen with me.”
“Not if you don’t mind being seen with me,” she countered. “I know all about living in a small town. They’ll probably have us engaged before the week’s out.” She wished she could clap her hand over her mouth and turn back the clock thirty seconds. What had made her say such a ridiculous thing? What must he think of her?
To her relief, he laughed. “Sorry. Guess you’ll be stuck with me, then. Shall we set our wedding date now?”
She laughed with more enthusiasm than she felt, a sign of her relief that he shared her sense of humor.
He tooted the horn at a pretty young brunette planting fall flowers in her yard near Newton. She turned and waved, flashing an appealing smile. An unwelcome pang of jealousy visited Hestia, and she reminded herself of Aunt Louisa’s admonition not to get too close to anyone during her visit. “That’s Miss Mahoney,” Booth explained, clearly oblivious to Hestia’s turmoil. “She’s my secretary.”
“Pretty.”
“What’s that?” he shouted over the motor.
Hestia wished she didn’t have to repeat the obvious. “I said she’s pretty.”
“Oh.” He kept his eyes on the road. “I guess she is. We’ve just never seen each other that way. Matt Drum is courting her. He’s considered a much better catch than I could ever be.” Hestia wanted to blurt that he need not be modest, but he quickly changed the subject. “How do you think your aunt is doing?”
“She’s feisty as ever, ordering me around. I’ll say, I’ve worked harder than I ever remember. Not only does she have me canning all the vegetables people bring her”—she waved the list—“but I’ve been engaged in a deep fall cleaning. I’m more of a maid than a nurse.”
“Do you mind so much?”
“Not since it’s her, I suppose.”
“Yes, we do things for family we wouldn’t want to do for strangers. I’ll bet she’s teaching you all the tricks to canning, supervising her kitchen even though she’s in bed.”
“Yes.” She chuckled. “Some of the tricks she is teaching me I didn’t even know from Mother. I think by the time I leave here, my aunt will be set with most of her food for the winter. Plenty of pickles and sauerkraut, anyway.”
“Not sure I’d want to live on those, but I suppose it’s possible....”
A trip to a mercantile was always a nice diversion, even when her list held nothing more exciting than pickle lime, but the day proved especially fun with Booth. After forty minutes, they pulled up to a well-kept mill that was situated on
a lovely man-made pond. Getting out of the car, Hestia couldn’t resist stopping to take a look at the dam and the millrace. The waterwheel was not engaged as she surveyed the scene. She imagined what the impressive wheel might look like with water rushing over it as it made loud swishing sounds.
“Gorgeous, isn’t it?” Since Booth had cut the motor, he no longer needed to yell.
She turned to him. Yes, he was gorgeous. She noticed he had indulged in shaving water that smelled of brisk spices. A perfect choice for autumn. She wondered if he had splashed on a bit more than usual for her benefit but decided not to dwell on such a vain notion. “Yes, it is gorgeous here. I love how the trees are so colorful against the water. Look at how it’s catching the sunlight.”
“Even the most skilled artist would have trouble capturing the wonder of God’s artwork this morning. It was worth the trip just to see this, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, it was.”
She would have commented that she’d be happy to go all the way across the state to Carolina Beach with him but put such a shocking thought out of her head before she said anything. They lingered in silence a few more moments then he escorted her across the small street to the mercantile located in a white house with a high porch. The store was busy enough that they met others as they went up the steps to enter.
Booth didn’t hesitate with his errand. He headed straight toward the candy display. Out of curiosity, Hestia followed him. “Look.” Booth pointed to a row of candy bars. “I haven’t seen this one before.” He picked it up. “Mounds.”
“Have you tried one of those yet?” The storekeeper was waiting on another customer, but he paused long enough to pose the question. “They came out not too long ago. They’re coconut covered with chocolate. Pretty good.”
“Okay, I’ll take five.” He held up all five digits of his right hand.
Hestia tried not to seem too shocked. “Five? My goodness, you must have quite a sweet tooth.”
“I do, but this time I’m buying them for other people—Mother, Daddy, your aunt, me, and you. Doesn’t that add up to five?”
“Yes, but really, I can’t.”
“Sure you can. It’s just a candy bar.”
The combination of chocolate and sweet coconut sounded good to her—and the novelty of a new type of candy, interesting. “Oh, all right. And I’m sure Aunt Louisa will enjoy a treat.”
He nodded and added the candy to the Barringtons’ order. With efficiency, he waited on Hestia as well. All too soon, Hestia and Booth were back in the Ford with several bags of flour, some cornmeal, sugar, coffee, and a bushel of apples. She had the kitchen matches in her handbag in her lap. Thinking of all the supplies, she was glad she’d asked Booth to help her. She’d gotten much accomplished in a day.
They rumbled back onto the road, waving at everyone. Hestia basked in Booth’s reflected popularity. Clearly, everyone in town thought highly of her companion.
“I hate to ask,” Booth yelled, “but do you mind if I stop at the service station for gas? That way I won’t have to take the motorcar out again later.”
“That’s fine.”
They drove up Main Street in Maiden. Hestia remembered the hardware store and the drugstore from summer visits. The movie theater advertised Blood and Sand. The ad depicted Rudolph Valentino embracing his costar for torrid effect. Since she didn’t keep up with motion pictures, Hestia wasn’t sure whether the lace-covered woman was Lila Lee or Nita Naldi since both of their names appeared under his.
Booth pulled into the service station. Immediately, an attendant came to their assistance. Booth greeted him by name then nodded toward the station. “Care for a bottle of Coca-Cola?”
“No thanks.”
“You’re quiet. What are you thinking? You didn’t forget anything, did you? If you did, I’ll take you back. I’d hate for Miss Louisa to fuss at you.”
“No, I don’t think I forgot anything. I was just looking around at the town. It’s been awhile since I was up Main Street.”
Booth paid the attendant and started the automobile. Soon they were back on the road. “I look forward to when they pave the street. That’s supposed to happen soon.”
She gave him an exaggerated nod. They passed houses in varying styles on the way home. Each house looked as unique as its individual occupants would. Treed yards and fall plantings gave the town a serene appeal. They also drove by two churches, evidence of God’s presence in Maiden. Hestia took in the scenery, thinking of how she had come to visit such a lovely place.
Once again several people waved at Booth, and he returned their greetings. Soon they had pulled up in front of Aunt Louisa’s. She realized she had said very little on the way home. “I didn’t mean to be rude with my silence. I was just missing home a little, that’s all. Although that’s no reflection on present company. It’s just that you have so many friends here, and so I miss mine back home.”
“I’d think poorly of you if you didn’t miss your friends. I’m sure you’re every bit as popular in Haw River as I am here. Probably more. But I have an idea. Why don’t you make friends here while you visit? If you’d be so kind, I’d appreciate it if you’d allow me to escort you to church tomorrow.”
“Why, I hadn’t thought much about church. With Aunt Louisa bedridden, I suppose I assumed I’d miss church. But I really would like to go to worship, especially with someone I know.”
“You know me.”
“That I do.” She sent him her prettiest smile. “Okay, I’ll ask Aunt Louisa if she’ll allow it.”
Hestia rejoiced when Aunt Louisa granted her permission to go with Booth the following day; she could hardly object to church attendance. Church began Hestia’s week the right way in Haw River, and the prospect of worshiping in Maiden delighted her.
Sunday morning proved to be a beautiful, brisk fall day. Hestia donned her best dress, grateful that she had taken her mother’s advice to bring all her good clothes in case she needed them. She made certain to be ready in plenty of time and met Booth at the door promptly.
He looked her up and down from head to toe, noting her appearance in a gentle manner that didn’t make her feel uncomfortable. “You look pretty today.”
“Thank you, but you don’t have to flatter me.” She felt herself blush, although she had already seen in the mirror that she was indeed pretty that day.
“I’m not flattering you. I mean it.”
Hestia tried to cover her surprise upon seeing his parents in the Model T. What had she been thinking? Of course they would be going with them to church. Mrs. Barrington sat in the back seat, with her husband in front.
As Booth helped Hestia board the car, seating her in back with his mother, Hestia caught a pleasing whiff of Bay Rum scent. Perhaps he saved Bay Rum for Sundays. Like the day before, his masculine fragrance reminded her that she missed being close to a man. He smelled good enough that she had to restrain herself from drawing closer to him as he passed.
Mrs. Barrington greeted Hestia. The older woman looked much as Hestia remembered. She had grown plumper, her figure suiting her round face framed by dark hair. The loud motor and brief trip didn’t give them much chance for conversation beyond a casual greeting, but Booth’s parents were as pleasant as she remembered.
Before she knew it, Booth and Hestia were walking through the doors of his church. Hestia wasn’t surprised that people turned to stare when she entered with him. Two attractive women near Hestia’s age gave her envious looks and then turned and whispered to each other. A couple of men noticed her and then pretended they hadn’t. She tried not to appear ill at ease, and she studied Booth with her peripheral vision. He didn’t seem embarrassed and held his head high as they made their way to a pew near the front.
Not until she sat did she realize that beside her was an auburn-haired beauty. The woman turned and whispered, “I’m Judith Unsworth. Welcome.” When she smiled, Hestia saw no trace of resentment. “Are you a friend of Booth’s?”
“Yes, I suppose you
could say that. My aunt lives next door to him, and I’m visiting while I take care of her.”
“Oh, you must mean Louisa Evans.”
“Yes.”
“I’m so sorry. My grandmother thinks highly of your aunt.”
“Thank you,” Hestia managed before the service began.
Hestia shared a hymnal with Booth, but Judith and she exchanged smiles from time to time. Hestia had a feeling that if she were staying in town longer, Judith would prove to be a good friend.
Over the next week when Booth visited, Hestia couldn’t resist making sure her housedresses, plain though they were, sparkled with cleanliness. She noticed that his face lit up whenever she wore the dark blue one, so she appeared in that one the most, but not too much. The gray one seldom left the wardrobe closet.
Booth showed himself prompt, always stopping by between closing time at the cotton mill and dinner with his parents. Each day when Hestia saw him approaching the walk, she stole into her bedroom to peer into the mirror, hoping to escape her aunt’s notice, and pinched her cheeks a few times to bring up the color. Tuberose toilette water, a Christmas gift from her parents, added a pleasant fragrance behind her ears. Her hair received special attention, as well.
She felt her efforts were rewarded. Booth never seemed disappointed to see her, always lingering for hot coffee with three lumps of sugar and plenty of cream or breakfast tea laced with honey. Their shared talk about family, past events, and funny stories made Hestia feel comfortable in his presence and, at the end of each afternoon, left her wanting to see him again. By that time of day, Aunt Louisa had awakened from her afternoon nap, ready to greet Booth. Hestia could see that his visits offered a bright spot in her aunt’s day, too. Despite Hestia’s initial reticence about being banished to Maiden, she now wished it would never end.
“It’s almost time for Booth again.”
Hestia’s heart did a little jump whenever Aunt Louisa made the pronouncement. Hestia never pointed out the time herself, as she didn’t want her aunt to suspect that her thoughts dwelled too much on their handsome neighbor. “Have you put on the coffee? It’s so chilly I imagine he’ll want a hot drink today. I know I could use something to warm my old bones.”
Love Finds You in Maiden, North Carolina Page 3