Past Truths

by Em Pitts

  I look down and see I forgot to put the dress on over the slip. I roll my eyes to Granny's laugh and finish getting dressed to tackle the day. At least someone was in a good mood.

  "Willoughby is in the kitchen. You might want to avoid her for a bit." I shook my head at the thought of someone having a problem with me when I had barely met them.

  "It happens." I muttered to myself. Granny heard me.

  "The one who tells the story, controls the outcome." She told me solemnly. “Keep your chin up girl, it will pass.”

  My finger started hurting before I realized I bit my nail to the quick while worrying about the minister and what he wants. I cursed myself. I’m supposed to stop with that habit, not get worse. When I get home, I’m painting my nails to derail this problem.

  I really wish the guys were here to help me know what to expect. Worrying about the minister without them, seems fruitless. As if I summoned them with my thoughts, I saw Isaake and Ollie outside of the tavern.

  Ollie saw me first and leaned over to speak to Isaake gesturing towards me. I saw Isaake shake his head in amusement before both looked away at something else seriously. Ollie spoke again and both men stared at each other before Isaake started walking towards me. Granny turned to the right and I stopped her before she got too far pointing out Isaake approaching us.

  "What brings you by so early? I swear I've seen more of you boys in the last few days than I normally do in a month’s time." Granny put her hands on her hips as if scolding a teenager.

  Isaake looked down at the ground biting his lip. When he looked back up, he had a forced smile on his face.

  "Just came to check on Ms. Tess." He looked at me and I saw an apology in his eyes that spelled trouble. Don't do it, don't you dare do it. I tried to glare back at him. "I figured my future bride would want to see me." He stated as calmly as if we were talking about the weather. Why the hell is he spreading it around?

  Granny took a step back and I looked at her to find shock painted on her face. She looked back and forth between Isaake and me before she spoke up.

  "You're blowing smoke up my ass." She deadpanned. "You are getting married?" She squinted at Isaake as if dissecting him. Her shrewd eyes turned my way. "To her?" She pointed at me helpfully.

  I vaguely noticed people around whispering and paying attention to the spectacle being made. I didn't know what to say to Granny. If I denied it, there were consequences that I was sure I wouldn't like. But something about telling her this lie felt uneasy. As strange as it seemed, I cared for Isaake and Granny both. As uncomfortable as he looked with his fake smile in place, it seemed he wasn't wanting to lie to her either.

  A hand clamped down on Isaake's shoulder. Ollie was standing beside him and looked to be supporting him.

  "Our little brother is growing up." He announced in pride. Granny shook out her shock and addressed Isaake.

  "Well, I never have to worry about you turning into Edward." She stated before giving me her attention. "This one's too stubborn to let you treat her like a fool." She looked proudly at me.

  Her eyes were glistening and she looked happy. I felt guilt settle in my stomach, but I managed a small smile for her benefit. She cleared her throat before waving the men off.

  "Well, you'll have the rest of your life with your bride, but for now we have work to do. Off with you." She smiled and grabbed my arm to turn me to the right once again.

  I glanced back and noticed Ollie's fingers gripping Isaake's shoulder tightly as he whispered in Isaake's ear. Isaake still had his fake smile on, but his eyes held the same guilt that I'm sure mine did.

  It was as I was focusing forward again that I saw Judge watching us. He was standing off to the side and leaned against a building looking angry. I'm sure he was watching the entire time.

  I shook his gaze off as I followed Granny to the minister’s home. Bridget didn't let me get lost in my thoughts for long before she was speaking.

  "I never thought any of them would marry. They have been broken since Oliverus's father..." She trailed off with a headshake. "Thank you." She met my eyes and I couldn't hold her gaze. "You'll be good for him. He deserves to be happy." The guilt twisted in my stomach.

  I wanted to curse Isaake. I wanted to curse Ollie because I'm sure he just made Isaake lie to Granny. She speaks about them and interacts with each of them as if they are important to her, and here we were lying and hurting her.

  I wanted to curse myself for putting Isaake in this situation. Yes, he saved me from a fate I didn't want, but what none of them seemed to realize is how this is going to hurt Isaake in the long run. I'm going to be gone, whether I get married or not. Regardless of if it's real or not, I'm going to be leaving him behind with no explanation as to where I went. This temporary fix is bound to be a permanent problem for them. And I'm bound to run away from it all.

  We turned left just before reaching the meetinghouse. The dirt path led to the minister's home which was visible from the square. The minister's home was much like the Teague's home in size.

  The minister's wife surprised me when she answered the door. She had a warming smile, nothing like her husband’s stoic personality. Her age was older, like the ministers. Unlike her husband, she carried many more laugh lines around her eyes and lips. Her brown hair was curled enough to have the springy appearance as it framed her face and fell to her shoulders.

  "Welcome." She greeted Granny and me at the door with a smile. "Please come in. I haven't had the pleasure of seeing you in ages, Goodwife Bishop." She added towards Granny as she stepped back to allow us entry through her door. Granny waved her off.

  "I'm just dropping off your newest guest." She nudged my back to push me forward. I refused to budge and turned to give her a look. Guest, as in I was staying here, or just for work? Granny rolled her eyes. "Give us a minute, Margrete."

  We waited on the Winter’s porch as Margrete went back inside. Before Granny could question me, I blurted out, "Same as before, right? I'm still staying at the tavern?"

  "Yes, girl." She replied. "You're still staying in your room." She then got a sly look. "Until you are married that is. With the trials so close, maybe you want to speed the wedding forward so I can have the extra room?”

  "I feel like you're pushing me out." I drawled. "I thought you were starting to like me." She scowled at me and made to shuffle off the porch, patting her hair like I’ve seen Ellyne do.

  "Don't burn the Winter's home down trying to make that poison you call food!" She cackled.

  "Don't pull your hair out trying to deal with Edward!" I called at her back.

  "He's the reason my hair isn't as red anymore! He took all the fire out of me. I'm lucky not to be bald." She’s exaggerating of course. Her hair is thicker than mine and nowhere near balding.

  "I'll be sure to thank him. I'm sure you are much easier to deal with now!" I was smiling as I turned towards the door.

  I about jumped out of my skin when I saw Margrete standing there in the open doorway smiling at our banter. I thought she was giving us a moment of privacy.

  "Mrs. Winters." I murmured.

  "Her hair really was the color of fire. Everyone called her a hellfire child with the attitude she always displayed." She chuckled in memories. "She is much tamer now, but I don't think anyone would say she is easy to deal with."

  I looked closer at Margrete Winters. She looked younger than Granny, but if she knew her from a young age then they must have been closer in age then I realized. Margrete must have gotten better genes to not have her age show as much. Or her life was much easier. I know the stress could definitely have played a part on Granny's end.

  Margrete shook her head coming out of her thoughts. "Call me Margrete, dear. Come on in, we can get chores finished."

  "I, um, can't cook." I quickly spoke up and caught myself before bringing my fingers up. I will beat this habit that is getting worse! No more nail biting damn it!

  "Can you clean? It would be a help to not have to bend so much. Th
ese old bones don't work the same as twenty years ago." I smiled at her mention of her age. She really didn't look in her fifties, but I knew Granny was almost sixty.

  "I can. Tell me where to help." I smiled in relief.

  Margrete was so much easier to deal with than Jayne. I liked that she easily accepted I was not good at something that the rest of the village seemed to believe every woman should be able to do.

  "Tessa?" Margrete's voice came from behind me.

  "Hmm?" I absently questioned as I reached the farthest corner on the ceiling with the rag. I need to tie it to a stick and create my own version of a Swiffer duster.

  "I've got food on the fire and was hoping you wouldn't mind running to the square for me." She questioned. I looked down at the dust covering my dress. Oh well, that was an everyday occurrence lately.

  "Sure thing, Margrete. What do you need?" I hopped down from the chair I dragged over, and set it back to its rightful place.

  Margrete and Simond seemed to be the only two people living here. I’ve cleaned most of the house already and was a sweaty, dust filled mess. An empty room indicated they had a child at some point, as personal items were still in there. Strangely, I wasn’t allowed to clean one of the rooms, that door remained firmly shut.

  Margrete remained kind and treated me with patience I wasn’t used to. She seems like the type of woman a mother should be. I had little experience in that department though, so I may not be a good judge of character.

  "Pick me up some candles, please. One box should be enough to get my husband through his night readings. I had forgotten about it until now." I turned to see her holding out a silver coin. I pocketed the coin, making a mental note to ask about the currency later in case I may need to know.

  The dirt path back to the square carried the heat more at this time of day, so it was a relief to make it to the cobblestones. When I reached the square, I immediately began eyeing the shops surrounding me. I walked slowly, looking through the shop windows until I saw candles on shelves and stepped inside that one.

  The owner or candlemaker, I'm not sure what to call him, was on a stool attaching some kind of sticks with strings to another stick placed horizontally. He looked to be in his thirties with brown hair and glasses on.

  "Be right with you." He called out distractedly as he finished attaching one of the sticks. Wicks, I noticed now that I was closer. I wonder if it is for making the candle or something else.

  "What can I get you?" The man asked kindly with a smile as he took off his glasses.

  "I need a box of candles please." I looked around noticing the different candle sizes and stands.

  "What kind?" He asked noticing me looking around. "Do you know how tall you wish for the candles to be? How long you need it to burn? If you want a specific smell? Made from tallow, beeswax, bayberry?" He continued trying to help me pick and succeeded in making me more lost.

  "I know nothing about candles," I admitted and stopped trying to look around the shop. "I need one for reading at night," I remembered what Margrete said the candle was for.

  He chuckled at me. "Any candle can be used for light." He said as he stood up from his stool and stretched his back out.

  "That's what I'm afraid of," I grumbled at the choices on a shelf on either side of the room. "Are you the candle maker?" I asked stalling as I walked towards a pretty looking one with a light green color swirled in it. It smelled good.

  "I'm the chandler, yes. My father taught me, and I have been teaching my son. I haven't seen you before, are you visiting for the trials?" He asked, only soundly mildly curious. I suppose there were many travelers that come and go with trials three times a year, every year.

  "No. I’m—“ I stopped myself.

  I can’t very well say I am just visiting. I was engaged to Isaake, so I guess I was going to be seen as a permanent fixture in town. If this morning showed me anything, it's that the guys want it known for some reason. I cleared my throat and tried again.

  "I moved here recently actually. I've been staying with Bridget in the tavern." I decided to say.

  "Did Goodwife Bishop send you for a candle?"

  "No, I was actually picking one up for Margrete, or I guess for her husband, the minister."

  "Ah." He said and chuckled as he went to the table he was working on before, then got a box out. "That makes more sense. I couldn't see Bridget coming to collect candles. She would rather tell me she can make her own candles just fine." He was collecting some candles that were yellow and placing them inside the box.

  "It sounds like she has told you that before."

  "Many times, actually." He laughed as he finished boxing up the candles. "One shilling for one pound of beeswax candles." He informed me.

  I grabbed the silver coin that looked roughly beaten into a circular shape. There was a tree shape with words written around it. I hoped this was what he was asking for. Margrete asked for a box of candles and that was what he was giving me. He took the coin without complaint and I breathed a sigh of relief that I managed to do something right.

  "Thank you, Chandler," I said remembering what he called himself earlier.

  "It's Walter." He held a hand out towards me. "Walter Barrett."

  "Tessa Woods," I replied with a smile. His expression changed into curiosity.

  "I feel like I've heard your name already." I laughed off his comment.

  "It's not that big of a town."

  "True." He conceded.

  The door opened before I could leave, and I turned to see who was arriving. It was a tall woman who held herself high and kept her hands in front of her stomach when she walked towards us.

  "Goodwife Smith. Are you ready for Eliza?" Walter smiled politely at the woman. She nodded and eyed me while Walter called out Eliza's name.

  Mrs. Smith dismissed me quickly as a little girl around five or six came running in from the back room behind the counter. She was laughing and playing with a doll while her brown hair flew wild around her.

  "Where's your bonnet?" Mrs. Smith's voice was quiet.

  The little girl stopped laughing and went back to where she came from, returning with a bonnet placed inside out on her head. She noticed me and I smiled at her.

  "I like your doll. Where can I get one like that?" She held the doll tighter to her chest. I lowered myself to her level. "No worries. I don't want to take your doll." I clarified. "I think she likes you better than me anyway." I winked. The girl smiled shyly and then ran to the woman.

  "Always a pleasure, Goodwife Smith. I'll see you again soon, Eliza." Walter said as he waved goodbye.

  The woman and girl turned towards the door. Before stepping out, the woman reached down to grab the doll and was speaking to the girl. She placed the doll on one of the shelves next to a candle and the girl didn't cry like I expected when a child has a toy taken away. Instead, she hanged her head and watched her shoes as the two left the store and turned right.

  I looked at the doll and walked to it, picking it up. It was made of some kind of smooth, thick, yellowed material that had string wrapped around it to clearly differentiate the head, arms, and body. I walked back to Walter.

  "How much is the doll?" I asked. He looked sad and shook his head.

  "My wife made it for Eliza. The first one she made, Eliza took home. The next time we saw her, she didn't have the doll anymore. My wife made another one and it stays here for when she comes to play with my son. If she takes it home, then my wife makes another one." I was saddened to hear the story.

  I wondered more about Eliza. Maybe there was a reason behind it, like she accidentally kept losing the doll? Walter sounded like he knew more to the story though.

  "Would your wife teach me to make one? I know another little girl who might like one." I thought of Hope and wondered if she has a doll.

  "She would. Goodwife Bishop also knows how to make one. Don't tell my wife, but Goodwife Bishop’s are better too. She'll braid the arms and make a dress that looks like a princess." I raised
my eyebrows at that. Granny didn't seem like the type to make dolls. She must have made them for someone before if Walter has seen her work though.

  "Thanks, Walter." I sat the doll down. "I need to get back now, but you've been a big help today." He waved me off and put the doll somewhere behind the counter.

  "Come back anytime." I nodded to his reply and set off back towards the Winters. I made a mental note to speak to Granny about a doll sometime soon.

  13

  Simond Winters did not make it home before I left at dark. I wasn't sure if I should be worried or relieved at his absence. A part of me thought that he was trying to watch me and keep me close. I admitted to myself that I was probably being paranoid and that the minister had shown no actual interest in me. The judge was the person who freaked me out the most, and he seemed to take the most interest in me.

  Margrete left me multiple times to go through the closed door during my stay at her home. It was a little worrying because of my mind focusing on the minister. I kept conjuring up a basement with torture devices that I was going to be dragged down at any time. It was a comforting feeling to be heading back to the tavern.

  I arrived at a nearly empty dining area. There was one man at the bar talking to Granny and only one candle was lit near both. Granny looked up and spotted me as I entered.

  "Sorry. The back door was locked." I apologized for interrupting. At my voice, the man turned around and I saw relief on Raynor's face when he spotted me.

  "That's because your fiancé’s friends would not leave me alone about you." I cringed slightly at Granny's use of the word fiancé, but luckily it wasn't caught. "She's here now." She spoke to Raynor. "I'm going to bed." She was muttering as she went towards her room in the back hallway. We waited until we heard her door close before we spoke.

  "Did you learn something?" I asked with hope in my voice.

  Raynor shook his head no confusing me. Then why was he needing to see me? He must have seen the confusion on my face because he responded to my unspoken question.