Love Finds You in Maiden, North Carolina

by Tamela Hancock Murray

  “Yes, coffee’s almost ready.” Hestia tried not to appear breathless, having emerged from her bedroom after a cheek-pinching session. Thankfully, her aunt never seemed to notice Hestia’s smoothed hair and reddened complexion. Or if she did, she never commented.

  “I’m assuming Booth will be escorting you to preaching again this Sunday.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I really like the people in church. I especially get on well with Judith Unsworth.”

  “Yes, she comes from a fine family. I can’t object to any friendship with her.”

  “I appreciate your being willing to be left alone long enough for me to go to church. Attending makes my week complete.”

  Aunt Louisa sighed. “I miss going to church myself.”

  “And they miss you, too. They’re always asking after you. I’m sure Doctor Lattimore will give you release soon.”

  “One can only hope.”

  “Miss Louisa? Hestia?” They heard Booth call from the entrance.

  “I’ll greet him.” Hestia strolled from the bedroom to the parlor. “Good afternoon, Booth.” She saw that he carried a furry white bundle. “What have you got there?”

  “Something that will help with any mice you might have. I’m assured by her previous owner that she’s quite well behaved.”

  Hestia took the cat. “She’s hardly a kitten. She must weigh fifteen pounds.”

  “No doubt about it, but that’s all the better since you won’t have to train her much. They tell me she’s quite a good mouser.”

  “Then why would her owner want to get rid of her?”

  “They just had a baby, and the two of them don’t seem to get along. The owners are distressed about the whole thing. If I can’t find a home for the cat, who knows what will happen to her? We already have two cats at my house as it is, and they’re always walking on thin ice with Rover.”

  “I’ve watched them out in the yard. He loves to bark at the poor things.” Hestia stroked the cat’s head and spoke to her in a soft voice. “That’s too bad about the baby. It’s hard to compete with the little ones, isn’t it? Well, if your owner is absolutely certain there’s no room for you, then I’m sure we can find a place for you here.” Hestia looked at Booth. “With Aunt Louisa’s approval, of course.”

  “Of course. Let’s hope she says it’s okay.”

  Hestia strolled into the sickroom, still holding the cat. “Look what Booth brought us. A mouser.”

  Aunt Louisa looked down her nose at her neighbor. “What’s the matter, Booth—tired of setting traps?”

  Booth chuckled. “I haven’t set a trap in days. I don’t think you had more than one mouse.”

  Aunt Louisa crossed her arms. “Well, then, we don’t need a cat. Especially one as huge as that. That animal will eat us out of house and home. Where did it come from, anyway?”

  “The Nelsons. Sarah and Jonas.”

  Her face brightened. “How is the baby, anyway?”

  “Colicky, apparently. Sarah and Jonas both look as if they haven’t slept in weeks, and the baby cried the whole time I was there. They’re trying goat’s milk to see if that will help.”

  Aunt Louisa tsked. “I’d say they have their hands full.”

  “So that means we can keep the cat? Oh, please, Aunt Louisa?” Hestia knew she sounded like a spoiled little girl, but she couldn’t help herself. “And even though our mouse is gone now, we might get another one, and we won’t have to worry if we have a good mouser.”

  “So you say, but I don’t want the bother of taking care of a cat forever.”

  “I’ll take care of her.” Hestia stroked underneath the cat’s chin. The animal closed her eyes and purred.

  “But who’ll take care of that cat when you’re gone?”

  “I’ll take her back with me if you haven’t fallen in love with her before then.”

  Aunt Louisa lifted her hands in surrender. “Oh, all right. I can see my life will be miserable if I don’t go along.” Despite the fact she tried to sound put upon, her gentle tone told Hestia she liked the idea of owning a house cat.

  “Thank you, Aunt Louisa.” Hestia snuggled her nose into the cat’s neck and spoke in a childlike voice to it. “So what is your name?”

  Booth smiled. “Her name’s Diamond.”

  “Well, Diamond, welcome to your new home.”

  Diamond purred, much to everyone’s amusement.

  “Thanks for adopting her.” Booth rubbed the cat between the ears. “I promised them I’d find a good home, and now I can say I did.”

  Aunt Louisa sniffed. “I hope Selene likes cats.”

  “Selene?” Hestia and Booth whipped their gazes to the older woman and gasped in unison.

  Aunt Louisa nodded. “I just received word she’ll be visiting us. She’s scheduled to arrive the morning of November twelfth. Which reminds me—Booth, could you pick her up from the train station and bring her here?”

  “That’s a Friday, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m almost certain I have a meeting at work I can’t miss that day. Otherwise, of course I would be glad to collect her.”

  “That’s all right. I’ll ask Abe Perkins. I’m sure he’ll be able to do it.”

  “If not, let me know and I’ll find someone,” Booth assured her.

  Hestia only halfway listened to their plans. At least Booth wouldn’t have to pick Selene up from the station. Of course, Selene would much prefer Booth over Abe, whose sixtieth birthday had long since passed. But she would become reacquainted with Booth soon enough.

  Hestia tried not to pout. Selene. The cousin she’d always envied was a pretty, glamorous, extravagantly wealthy socialite. The cousin she could never match. Quickly her thoughts turned to Booth, and unwelcome jealousy raged. Hestia, with her modest looks and dress, could never compete with such a vision. She felt like the little girl called “Piglet” again. She swallowed and tried to keep anxiety from entering her voice. “Why is she coming?”

  “That’s hardly a charitable response.” Aunt Louisa’s eyebrows rose.

  Embarrassed, Hestia felt her face flush. “I—I didn’t mean to be uncharitable. Of course I want to see Selene. I just wondered why she’s visiting at this moment in time, that’s all.”

  “Does she have to have a reason?”

  “No,” Hestia answered too quickly.

  “This place has gotten to be a regular hotel.” Booth’s voice sounded a little too bright, a sure sign he hoped to allay any tension. “It’ll be nice to see her again. It’s been years.”

  “Has it?” Hestia blurted.

  Booth nodded. “She hasn’t been here since before your last visit. And that was too long ago.”

  Hestia sent her glance to the floor and back. At least he had the good graces not to make her feel invisible now that her glamorous cousin would be by to grab all the attention. But maybe God had planned to send Selene to Maiden for a reason. If Booth wasn’t the right man for Hestia, Selene would steal him away and that would be that.

  Oh, how could she think such a thing? Booth wasn’t hers to steal.

  Chapter Four

  Moments later, sitting at the kitchen table, Booth wondered about the odd exchange with Miss Louisa and Hestia. Hestia usually displayed the ultimate in Southern hospitality, so her coldness struck him as strange. Didn’t she want to see her cousin? He remembered Hestia speaking about visiting Selene in New York, marveling at her penthouse in the city and her mansion in the country. No one else they knew owned two residences. Such extravagance seemed wasteful. Still, Hestia never gave the impression she was jealous of Selene’s wealth and seemed to be content with a modest but comfortable upbringing in Haw River. That’s why he’d always felt more of a kinship with Hestia than he ever could with Selene. Hestia’s character had been formed in a place much like Maiden. Her outlook and expectations were similar to his, even if she did toy with the idea of pursuing a career in medicine. Most women he knew didn’t harbor such ambition, but Booth a
dmired Hestia’s lofty goals. Selene’s lifestyle seemed frivolous to him. He didn’t think someone such as Selene could ever be happy in Maiden. Even Raleigh would no doubt seem small and dull to her.

  “I made marshmallows yesterday.” Hestia interrupted his musings. “Care for a couple in your cocoa?”

  “Keen. How about I take that tray from you?”

  Hestia nodded. “I’ll carry this plate of cookies separately.” They returned to the sickroom.

  “Oh, thank you both. My, that cocoa looks good. It’s so chilly today.” Aunt Louisa shivered.

  Hestia set the beverage on Miss Louisa’s night table. “Yes, this should hit the spot. I think I’m in the mood for chocolate. I could use something to warm me inside, too.”

  For a flash of an instant, Booth wished he could suggest that an embrace might do more to warm her than cocoa but decided against making such a suggestion, especially with Miss Louisa watching.

  Since Hestia had returned to Maiden, they’d renewed their acquaintance, but on a much deeper level this time. He discovered he loved being around Hestia, not only for her spirit but for her beauty. She never failed to make even the plainest dress—the kind his mother would wear on laundry day—look like a ball gown. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear a photographer must be hovering in the background, waiting to take her picture for a commercial in a periodical. He wondered if anyone had ever suggested she might consider modeling instead of medicine, but he sensed she’d be much too modest to pursue such a career. Not that his opinion would ever matter. Soon she’d return to Haw River and he’d have to say good-bye. He missed her already.

  “Do you hear a motorcar, Hestia?” Aunt Louisa asked a few days later. Skipping her afternoon nap, she had put on her best bed jacket—a pretty garment fashioned of cotton the color of coral, with a floral design embroidered in a thread of deep orange. Much as the belle of the ball, she’d been waiting over an hour for Selene to arrive.

  Selene’s tardiness didn’t surprise Hestia. Selene liked to arrive late to every event so she could make an entrance. No doubt this time, the train would be blamed for the delay. Hestia peeked through the chintz curtain. “Yes, it’s them.”

  “Wonderful. It will be lovely for you to have someone your own age to talk to now and again.”

  Hestia wished she could smile. If only she weren’t jealous of her gorgeous cousin...but she couldn’t help herself. Why did Selene have to come here and ruin everything just when Hestia’s daily visits with Booth were going so well? She remembered his reaction to the news about Selene’s impending visit. Always the gentleman, Booth had tried to hide his anticipation, but Hestia sensed it. And no wonder. Beside such a vivid pink orchid, Hestia looked like a wilted and faded white pansy. Still, she couldn’t let herself forget her manners. “I’ll greet her.”

  From the parlor window, Hestia stood and watched her cousin. Her lightweight traveling coat looked as though it would stand out as extraordinary even on the most fashionable Paris street. A close-fitting hat with a small brim boasted no decoration on its emerald green ribbon. Heels unmarked from wear shod tiny feet.

  With a confident wave of her hand, she ordered Abe to transfer her trunks to the veranda, as though he were a paid driver instead of her aunt’s acquaintance. Hestia felt sorry for him. He showed more patience than she would have. Hestia could see by her cousin’s carriage and attitude that the passage of time had not humbled her. Still, Hestia imagined that in other circumstances, she might have enjoyed being friends with such a vibrant cousin—but their fathers’ youthful paths had set them a universe apart from each other.

  Hestia’s father, Milton, loved the small-town life of his native Haw River. He married a local girl and enjoyed his position as a respected physician. His dashing brother, Ralph, took the opposite way by attending a college up north and marrying an heiress. Selene’s visits to the country were few, as her mother never developed a fondness for the South, small towns, or the rest of the Myatt family. After Selene’s mother lost her life when a horse threw her, a grieving Ralph took to his business, traveling, while Selene’s nannies and governesses tended to her. Hestia’s mother considered the situation disgraceful. Though Hestia loved her own attentive parents, she had envied Selene’s freedom.

  Selene strode through the door then stopped. Hestia expected an embrace. Instead, Selene surveyed the parlor as though she were inspecting a rental property and hadn’t quite made up her mind. Aunt Louisa’s home emanated warmth and comfort, but Hestia had the feeling Selene held back a disapproving sniff.

  When her gaze met Hestia’s, Selene’s mouth dropped. “Hestia?”

  “Yes.” Hestia responded to Selene’s surprise.

  “Didn’t you know I’d be here?”

  “Why, no.”

  “I guess Aunt Louisa didn’t have a chance to tell you. Well, won’t we have lots of fun.” Selene’s voice sounded flat. She turned to Abe, standing beyond the entrance. “Don’t leave those trunks there on the porch. Take them to my room.”

  Instead of seeming offended, Abe smiled like a love-struck schoolboy. “Of course, Miss Selene.”

  Selene’s expression as she turned back toward Hestia made her feel as though she were a bother. “Where is my room, now that you’re here?”

  “We’ll be sharing the downstairs guest room.”

  “Share a room? But there is a whole upstairs. Why can’t I stay there?”

  Hestia had anticipated the question. “I suggested it, but Aunt Louisa wants to keep the upstairs shut off now that the nights are getting chilly.”

  “Applesauce! She always was a tightwad.”

  Hestia shot her a warning look since she’d expressed such a bold opinion in front of an acquaintance. “Frugality is a virtue. Besides, do you want to do all the work it takes to keep the extra rooms warm?”

  Selene grimaced and waved her hand in the direction of the back bedroom. “In there, Mr. Perkins.”

  Having settled that, Selene whisked off her coat to reveal a short, linear dress. Hestia almost wondered if a Paris designer had stitched the last piece of hem minutes before the cream-colored garment adorned her body. And flesh-toned stockings! Silk, no doubt. Hestia’s traditional black wool stockings made her feel a hundred years old.

  Hestia tried to appear confident and in control. “Let’s go greet Aunt Louisa.”

  Selene’s eyebrows shot up as high as they could. “She still can’t get out of bed?”

  “Not yet. Soon, we hope. Dr. Lattimore made a house call yesterday and said she’s coming along nicely.”

  “Good. I have no desire to tend to an invalid.” Selene cocked her head at Hestia. “Do you still want to be a nurse or something?”

  “Yes, and Papa thought I could gain experience here with Aunt Louisa. But I’ve really been more occupied with housework than medicine.”

  “Figures. That’s our Aunt Lou.”

  “I wouldn’t let her hear you call her that if I were you.” Wanting to deflect an argument, Hestia hastened to add, “I might be occupied with chores, but at least I’m helping. And, really, that’s what I want to do with my life. Help others.”

  “You don’t want to get married?”

  “Yes, I do.” But she didn’t want to discuss Luther. “Now let’s go see Aunt Louisa. She’s waiting.” Hestia escorted her to the bedroom. Selene entered as though she were a silent picture star and dropped her wrap on the end of the bed, placing her hat on top.

  Aunt Louisa glared at Selene. “We do have a place for those in the coat closet.”

  “Oh. Sure.” At that moment, Selene seemed to remember that Aunt Louisa didn’t employ a maid. Dismissing her aunt’s implied request to hang up her own belongings, Selene smiled and extended both arms. “Aunt Louisa, you do look marvelous!” Paying no mind to Hestia, Selene ran to their aunt and kissed each cheek.

  Hestia wasn’t sure if Aunt Louisa could return the compliment. With her hat off, the fact that Selene had dyed her short bob to an unbelievable shade o
f platinum became more apparent, shocking Hestia. Ever-so-slight root growth looked as though a prankster had drawn a line right in the middle of her scalp where her hair parted. Bangs framed her heart-shaped face, and she had used Ox Blood red lip paint to draw her mouth into an artificial shape Hestia knew was termed a “Cupid’s bow” by starlets and those who adored them. Words about fashion edicts got around, even to those whose fathers didn’t allow them to attend moving pictures.

  If Aunt Louisa found Selene’s appearance surprising, she concealed her thoughts behind a maternal smile as she broke the embrace. “How are you, my dear? Did you have a good trip?”

  “It was hideous.” Selene let out a dramatic sigh sure to lead to an extended monologue. Aunt Louisa widened her eyes, listening. Hestia sat in the vanity chair. As though she were a performer on a stage, Selene remained standing. “Yesterday I sat by a flat tire who did nothing the whole trip but point out this and that landmark. I do believe he had something to point out every five miles. Who cares about the Mason-Dixon Line? I had to listen to a whole lecture on how these two men…oh, I can’t remember their names.”

  “Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon,” Hestia offered. “They drew the line to settle a border dispute in the 1760s.”

  “Show-off.” Selene wrinkled her nose at Hestia. “Aw, dry up!”

  Aunt Louisa gasped. “Selene! I’m not entirely sure what that means, but it sounds very unladylike. I will not allow such idle words to be spoken in my home.”

  “I’m sorry, sweet Aunt Louisa.” She eyed Hestia. “And I’m sorry, my dearest cousin. But you sound just like that man on the train. Please don’t subject me to history lessons while I’m here. Except for parties with my friends, I hated school and I don’t want to go back now.”

  “Sorry.” An excellent student, Hestia resolved to be careful not to seem prideful around Selene.

  Selene didn’t acknowledge Hestia’s apology but raced to tell her story. “I managed to ditch him only to sit by a dumb Dora today who did nothing but ply me with questions about this and that when I wanted to be left alone. What is it about trains that makes everybody want to jabber?”