Mrs. Avery inspected Melanie’s tray of biscuits. “Why, these are ready to go into the oven. You did a fine job, dear. Run along with your papa.”
Melanie scooted off her chair and hurriedly rinsed her hands. Noah opened the back door and held back Tad by the shoulders. “You know the rule, ladies first.”
As soon as Melanie had stepped through the doorway, the boys raced outside, their shouts carrying back to the kitchen. Noah nodded to the two ladies. “I’ll bring them back in a few moments.”
“Thank you, Noah. You’re always such a help,” Mrs. Avery told him.
When they were called back inside to the table, the boys stood behind their chairs, their wet hair slicked back, hands scrubbed, until Mrs. Avery gave the nod to be seated.
As soon as she’d said the blessing, Noah and the boys dug into their food. Melanie whispered to him, “Papa, did you try one of the biscuits yet?”
Noah looked up from his plate. “What—? Oh, no, not yet, Mellie. I’m going to right now.” He picked up the warm biscuit and split it open. “Sure feels light.” He took a bite. “Mmm-mmm. That’s about the lightest biscuit I ever tasted, no disrespect to yours, ma’am,” he assured Mrs. Avery.
His landlady chuckled. “None taken. I feel complimented that she’s learned so well. And only eight years old!”
Noah turned his attention back to his food, hardly listening to the two ladies’ conversation.
“I saw Mrs. Miller today,” Mrs. Johnson began as she took a steaming bowl of potatoes from her mother. “She invited us to a clambake. I told her the boys would enjoy that.”
“Oh, dear me, yes. When is it to be?”
“On Saturday.” Mrs. Johnson turned to Noah. “Would you like to accompany us, Mr. Samuels?”
Noah looked up from his plate, swallowing hastily. “Uh, no, thank you just the same, ma’am.”
“The boys would love to have you. You’re always such a help with them.”
He wiped his mouth with the napkin. “I don’t go in much for socializing.”
Mrs. Johnson held up a dish. “More greens?” As he took it from her and helped himself, she continued. “An occasional outing would do you good. Mr. Johnson always takes us on an outing at least once a week.”
“When do you think he can come up from Boston to join us?” Mrs. Avery asked.
Noah turned back to his food, relieved to have Mrs. Johnson’s attention temporarily diverted from him.
“The town swells to twice its size this time of year with so many family members coming from far and near to visit,” Mrs. Avery said.
Mrs. Johnson buttered a biscuit. “That’s one of the reasons I’m looking forward to the clambake. It will be a good opportunity to see everyone.” She bit into the biscuit, brushing the crumbs from her fingertips without commenting on its texture. “I bet I know one person sure to be there.”
“Who is that, dear?” Mrs. Avery paused at her daughter’s significant tone.
Mrs. Johnson contemplated her biscuit before answering. “Rianna Devon, or I should say, Rianna Bruce.”
Mrs. Avery nodded. “I’d heard she was back.”
Noah’s glance flicked to the younger woman, wondering at her peculiar tone. When her gaze crossed his, he quickly looked back down at his plate, but his ears remained alert.
“I couldn’t believe it myself. I passed her on my way to the store. Goodness, I stood there openmouthed, thinking I was seeing an apparition. She smiled at me as if we’d only just seen each other yesterday and wished me a good morning before walking right on by.”
Mrs. Avery’s eyes widened. “You don’t say.”
“I haven’t seen her since…let me see…” Mrs. Johnson paused, calculating. “Why, since we were both in grammar school. I remember she was in such a hurry to leave Wood’s Harbor.”
Noah had stopped eating altogether, though he kept his head bent over his plate.
Mrs. Avery sat back with a reminiscent smile. “They were such nice girls, the Devon girls. They all married well to local boys, except, of course, Rianna. I don’t know much about her, only that she was widowed. The others come by and see their folks regularly. All except Rianna.” Mrs. Avery clucked her tongue. “I never could understand why she didn’t come home. During the war, of course, it was impossible, but it’s been five years since the peace. What’s kept her away so long?”
Mrs. Johnson picked up her fork and knife. “I heard she became a nurse during the war and that she’s continued with it. Except now, it’s private patients.” With that pronouncement she calmly brought a forkful of trout to her lips and began chewing. When no one said anything, she looked around at them, her gaze coming to rest on Noah. “Wealthy old-men patients.”
Mrs. Avery’s mouth made a little circle of wonder.
As the silence drew out, Noah brought his knife and fork to rest at the sides of his plate. “What’s wrong with nursing old men?”
Mrs. Johnson took her time wiping her mouth. “Wealthy old men can grow attached to their attractive young nurses.” With a glance toward the boys, who were talking to Melanie about their fishing trip, she lowered her voice, “I’ve heard of cases where an aging man will suddenly up and change his will. His heirs will be out every penny, and away walks the nurse, a wealthy woman.” She gave a decided nod of her head.
Noah eased back in his chair, his food forgotten. “Just what are you trying to say?”
Mrs. Johnson blinked. “Say? Why, nothing at all. I just wonder what would bring Rianna back home now.”
“I think if you have anything on your mind, you’d better spell it out, preferably to Rianna’s face.”
“Now, Mr. Samuels, don’t get upset. Amelia didn’t mean anything against Rianna. She was just talking of some people,” Mrs. Avery hurried on. “I’m sure our Rianna wouldn’t be capable of such things. Now, have some more potatoes.”
Noah took the dish from her, but didn’t serve himself any. He set the bowl down. The remains on his plate no longer held any appeal. His stomach felt as if a piece of lead had just settled in it.
Mrs. Johnson spoke up sharply. “Of course, I wasn’t implying anything. I was just pleased to see that Rianna is back to help with her mother. About time, too,” she added, though now she addressed her mother exclusively. “The poor woman’s been ailing a long time, the way I hear it…”
Noah stood, throwing down his napkin. “As far as I know, Rianna Bruce has never done you any injury, and I would suggest you don’t start harming her reputation now.”
The two women stared at each other in shock.
With a sharp nod, he excused himself to Mrs. Avery and left the dining room, ignoring the boys’ cries asking where he was going. The last thing he saw was Melanie’s wide-eyed look, but he didn’t stop.
Feeling too restless to sit down and read the newspaper, Noah left the house, preferring to walk off his anger. Although his instincts would have taken him toward the harbor to check on his boat, he avoided that locale altogether since it would mean passing the Devon house. Instead, he took a brisk walk in the opposite direction, leading out of town. He ended up back at his grandparents’ homestead. Rather than calming him, the place only agitated him the more.
Fool women, gossiping about someone they knew nothing about. And Rianna, why’d she have to come back now and have people talking about her? Why did she have the ability to get under his skin as no other woman ever had? With Charlotte, it had been a nice comfortable affection. With Rianna, even after all these years, he felt stretched taut one moment, snapped loose the next.
Noah looked out into the bay. Dusk was falling. The peace of the water beckoned, and he decided in that instant he’d take the boat out next morning for a few days. Usually he came in with his catch daily, but he needed to put things back into their proper perspective, and only the sea had the ability to do that. He’d have to reassure Melanie that he wouldn’t be gone long. Thankfully, he could depend on Mrs. Avery to take good care of his daughter. Once again, he reme
mbered Melanie’s tea with Rianna. His jaw hardened. He’d just have to trust that one visit wouldn’t do any harm.
Taking a deep breath of the salt air, Noah already felt better…until he caught the heady perfume of rugosa roses on its perimeter, and he was back where he’d begun.
Would he find no peace! He whirled around, heading back to town, to let young Joe, his first mate, know they’d be going out at dawn.
Chapter Four
Rianna put a frilly tablecloth on the front-porch table and placed a bouquet of pinks in the center, wanting to make the occasion into a real tea party.
She’d run into Mrs. Avery with Melanie in the store the day before and had asked the older lady if she could bring Melanie over for tea.
“How pretty it looks,” her mother said, coming to sit on the cushioned rocker.
Rianna smiled. “I thought it would be nice for Melanie. I remember when I was that age liking to pretend I was at a real tea party.”
“How thoughtful of you. I sometimes think Melanie is a lonely child with no brothers or sisters and Noah with no close family around.”
They had no more time for conversation as the gate opened and Mrs. Avery came up the walk with Melanie.
Rianna went to the head of the porch steps to meet them. “I’m so glad you could come by.”
Melanie held out a covered basket. “We brought you something, ma’am.”
“Oh, my goodness, what is this?” she asked with exaggerated wonder as she took the shallow basket by the handle. She lifted the gingham napkin covering it. Inside was a pie.
“Blueberry pie, baked this morning.”
“It looks absolutely perfect.”
“Melanie has been helping me bake. She rolled out the pie crust herself.”
“How lovely,” Mrs. Devon said. “I’m sure we shall all enjoy it. Blueberry is my husband’s favorite pie. He’ll be a happy man tonight. We just received a bushel basket of fresh blueberries last evening.”
Rianna glanced from the pie in her hands to the platter of blueberry cupcakes she’d set out. Someone had clearly been out picking blueberries. Could it be—?
“Come and have a seat,” her mother said to their visitors. “Rianna made some blueberry cupcakes this morning in honor of the occasion.”
When they had sat down, Rianna poured the tea and offered them the cakes.
Mrs. Avery set her silver spoon on her saucer and sat back. “Tell me what you’ve been up to all these years. I heard you’d become a nurse.”
Rianna set down the pot carefully, bracing herself for the curious looks and gentle questions that followed every new encounter at Wood’s Harbor. “Yes, I trained during the war.”
Mrs. Avery tsk-tsked. “Oh, you must have seen some awful things.”
Rianna nodded. “Yes. It was a terrible time. So many wounded men.” She slowly stirred her own tea and set down the spoon. “I feel blessed that I was able to nurse my own husband and be at his side at the…end.” She looked across at the older lady. “It is how I decided to remain a nurse. There was too much suffering going on around me to dwell on my own sorrow at the time.”
Mrs. Avery shook her head. “Oh, dear, what you must have gone through.”
Rianna glanced at the young girl beside her, who seemed to be drinking in every word she said. “Anyway, let’s not dwell on such sad thoughts,” she said with a friendly firmness, not liking to recall that time when she’d first gone to Washington to nurse Ralph. “Not on such a beautiful day and with such nice company. Tell me, Melanie, what do you like to do?”
The little girl swallowed the bit of cupcake she’d taken. “I like to play with my dolls and help Mrs. Avery in the kitchen.”
Rianna smiled, remembering her own girlhood. “Do you have a favorite doll?”
She nodded. “Her name is Annabelle. She was my mama’s doll when she was young.”
“Oh, how nice to have your mother’s doll. I had a favorite doll, too, when I was your age. Her name was Esther. She had dark painted hair and pink cheeks. I made clothes for her.”
“Annabelle has two pinafores, but only one dress.”
“Well, she clearly needs a seamstress to sew her up a few more. Do you know, I’m making myself a new gown. Perhaps you’d like some of the remnants to make Annabelle a fashionable outfit.”
The girl smiled. “Oh, yes, I’d like that very much. And so would Annabelle.”
“I’ll show you the material before you go. Is your papa out fishing today?”
Melanie nodded. “He’s staying away three days.”
“Oh.” Why did the news disconcert her? He hadn’t mentioned anything to her about going away. But then, why should he? She gave herself a mental shake. She thought again about the bushel basket of blueberries left on her doorstep and couldn’t help smiling.
The girl finished her cupcake then said, “Sometimes Papa takes me out on his boat and I like that. Right now, Tad and Robbie are here, so Papa usually takes them along wherever we go.”
Rianna turned to Mrs. Avery. “It must be nice having your grandsons visiting you.”
She smiled. “Oh, my, yes. Though they are a rambunctious pair. Noah is such a help with them. Poor Amelia has her hands full. Do you remember my daughter?”
“Yes, of course.” Rianna drew her eyebrows together. “Didn’t I see her the other day? I think I hurried by her before realizing who it was. I hope she didn’t think me rude.”
“She did mention that she had seen you. Goodness, she was surprised.”
Rianna smiled faintly. “As everyone is, I suppose.”
“It’s just that we haven’t seen you in so long, and suddenly you appear as if out of nowhere.” She turned to Rianna’s mother. “You didn’t say a thing about your daughter’s return.”
Mrs. Devon gave a helpless shrug and small laugh. “She surprised us, as well.” She looked at Rianna. “She knew I wouldn’t want her giving up her position just to come take care of me, so she decided to come without warning.”
Mrs. Avery chuckled. “Well, we are all glad you are back. Are you here for good?”
Rianna took a sip of tea, unsure how to reply, since she didn’t know the answer herself. “I was tending a patient, an older gentleman. He is such a dear. When he heard Mother was doing poorly, he insisted I come back and help her. But I don’t like to leave him alone for long.” She sighed, still feeling torn.
Mrs. Avery’s smile disappeared. “An older gentleman?”
“Yes, my patients usually are.”
Abruptly, Mrs. Avery turned back to Rianna’s mother. “It’s been a busy summer, you know, with Amelia and the boys home. We’re expecting Mr. Johnson in a week’s time.”
Rianna frowned, wondering at the woman’s sudden change of demeanor. With a sigh, she turned to Melanie. “I bet you have fun on the boat when your father takes you out. He always did love the sea.”
Melanie nodded and continued studying Rianna’s face until Rianna wondered what was on the girl’s mind.
“What was it like when you used to go to my great-grammie and -grampie’s house?”
Rianna rested her chin in her hand and smiled. “It was lots of fun. I have three sisters, and Mama would send us over there to help Mrs. Samuels with her baking or if she needed heavy housework done. But we had so much fun, especially when we got older. They’d always invite lots of young people over.”
Melanie listened with the same intentness Noah had. Rianna extended the cake platter toward the girl. “Would you like another cupcake?”
“Yes, please.” Carefully she took one. “They’re delicious.”
“Thank you. Would you like to learn to make them?”
The girl’s eyes lit up. “Oh, yes. May I?”
Rianna smiled at her eagerness. The child seemed starved for attention. “Of course. At the moment, we have lots of blueberries to use up. Perhaps if Mrs. Avery would let you come by tomorrow or the next day, we could make blueberry cake.” She turned to the older lady for permissi
on.
“I suppose so. If it wouldn’t be too much trouble for you to have her.”
“Oh, no, not at all. I’d love to have your company, Melanie.”
The grateful smile the girl gave her warmed Rianna. The child was so very dear, and reminded her strongly that her own baby would have been just a year older…
Noah threw the last bucket of water over the deck, and watched as Joe swabbed it down. Then he turned around to stow his gear.
He and Joe climbed aboard the painter tied alongside the twenty-five-foot sloop and rowed back to the harbor. Earlier they’d unloaded their three-day catch and had returned to the boat to leave everything tidy for the night. Now, it was late afternoon, and they both felt tired. Even the usually exuberant fifteen-year-old Joe was subdued. But it was a good tired. Noah stretched his aching muscles. He hadn’t felt so good since… Well, he wasn’t going to dwell on that anymore.
He and Joe made their way up the wharf to the street. “We’ll take a rest tomorrow,” he told the boy. “Have to replenish our bait, anyhow.”
“Sure.”
Noah noticed the look of relief on the youth’s face. “Any special plans for tomorrow?”
“Well, kind of.” The boy’s sunburned face deepened in color. “There’s going to be a clambake on Wilson’s Beach. I had a mind to go.”
“I see. Well, you go and have a good time.”
“Ain’t you goin’, Noah?”
“No.”
The boy shook his head, but said no more.
The town’s main street climbed upward at a gentle slope. They were approaching the Devon place. Noah looked straight ahead, determined nothing was going to affect his newfound peace of mind. He’d just walk by, the way he had for the countless years he’d lived in Wood’s Harbor. He swung his jacket over his shoulder and stepped up his pace.
To Be a Mother Page 14