Snow on Magnolias

by Hattie Mae

  “Wilson, tell me about yourself.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “Do you still work at a job? Aunt Odelia said you had some business calls the other day.”

  “I’m a freelance writer, and I still write a weekly newspaper column for the same newspaper I’ve written for the last twenty years. I also take assignments for magazine articles. I always wanted to write that breakout novel but never could get it off the ground.”

  Rose had stopped walking and was watching Wilson talk about his writing. She knew exactly how he felt.

  “I’m a writer, too. I write fiction, and I love it. Wow, I would never have guessed. Although that one letter Aunt Odelia let me read that you wrote to her was so beautiful, I should have guessed. Tell me more, what kind of novel?”

  She and Wilson sat on a log beside the road and talked writing for almost an hour. Never had she met someone with the same ideas and love of writing as Wilson.

  “Now tell me about you, Rose. Are you happy? Did you grow up happy?

  What a strange thing to ask. But somehow she knew he really wanted to know. Maybe Odelia put him up to finding out about her happiness.

  “I’m happy. I found out a long time ago no person can make me happy, but me. Was I happy growing up? Not always. But somehow the time passed and I coped.”

  “Was your mother kind to you?”

  “My mother? That’s right you knew her. She never hit me or anything. She tolerated me, is the best way to describe my mother’s attention. The less time she had to spend with me the better on her part. But she always sent me to the best schools and dressed me in the best clothes.” Rose drew in a breath and held it for a moment then released it slowly.

  “I haven’t thought of this in years, but Billy Joe, a boy I once loved, told me that Mom did all of those things for me to make her look good. At the time, I thought he was just jealous he couldn’t give me those things, but the more I thought about what he said, I knew he was right. All the clothes and schools were for her, not for me at all. She’s not a very loving person, Wilson.”

  Wilson put his arm around her shoulder and whispered, “I know.”

  Her hands began to shake, “you said that my mother had something to do with you and Odelia breaking up, is that true? Please tell me the rest of your story?”

  “Soon, I promise I will soon, Rose. Now let’s go see if those men have finished their harvest.”

  Did she really want to know the whole story? Something deep inside her told her no. Silly thoughts, what could her mom possibly have done so horrible to break up Wilson and Odelia?

  “Tell me something? Have you always loved my aunt? Even when you returned her letters?”

  “I never stopped loving her. Remember that. She was and still is the love of my life.”

  Wilson slowed the pace as if to hold on to their time alone.

  “Now, tell me more about you. What’s your favorite color, do you like music and if yes, what kind?”

  “Hmm, my favorite color is yellow. Reminds me of sunshine and the beginning of a new day. As far as music, I like all kind, but classical music is my passion. It soothes me somehow, and I love to write with music in the background. Of course, I’m partial to Chopin.” Rose looked over at Wilson, who had the strangest look on his face. “What? Do you hate Chopin?”

  Wilson cleared his throat. “No. In fact, he is one of my favorites.” He touched her on the arm and started the long walk to the house.

  The sun was beginning to sink behind the mighty oak trees, and Rose could hear the hum of the combines as they completed their job. She stole a glance at Wilson and was met with those familiar eyes staring back.

  “Thanks for the walk, Rose, but most of all thanks for the talk. We’ll talk again soon.” They stopped on the gallery and Rose headed for the swing. “Are you coming in?” Wilson turned around waiting.

  “No, I’ve been in most of the day. I think I’ll sit here for a while. I’m trying to form the last two chapters in my book. They still are not working for me.”

  Wilson grinned. “It’ll come. I have no doubts. I read your other books. They’re good. But I think this one will be the best.”

  Rose couldn’t keep her eyes off of the man as he limped inside. He’d read her books. Why would he take an interest in her books? The screen door closed behind him. She wished she could be as sure as Wilson sounded as he talked about her work. No doubt about it, this book was pushing all her emotional buttons, and she wasn’t quite sure why.

  Wilson found Odelia in the kitchen. She faced the other direction and didn’t see him come into the room. She hummed a song, one he remembered from a happier time. Lord, how he loved this woman. And he vowed he would not mess up this second chance.

  He walked up behind her and put his arms around her ample waist. “Hey, beautiful.” He felt her relax in his arms.

  “Hey, yourself. Did you have a good walk?” She turned in his arms and met the kiss with one of her own.

  “I can’t believe I get to hold you in my arms again. My sweet, Odelia. You are so beautiful.”

  She smiled. Then giggled. “It’s a good thing that memories have bad eye sight. Love is most definitely blind. Tell me about your walk with Rose, did you find out anything?”

  Wilson walked over to the table and sat in a chair, pulled another close by and patted the seat for her to take next to him.

  “If I wasn’t convinced before, I am now. I need to tell Rose what I suspect, and soon,” he said.

  Odelia took his hand and held it in hers looked him in the eyes and smiled. “Will you look at that, hands both wrinkled and worn from time, but still strong. Just like our relationship.”

  He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it.

  “Do you mind if we talk to her together? But can we wait until after the harvest dance? I need to put all my energy into that right now.”

  “Together, after the harvest dance, yes. But we need to tell her. That girl needs a lot of love to make up for all the love she missed as a child. A lot of love.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  The sound of a combine came closer. Someone finished early. Rose had mixed feelings about the harvest coming to an end. She was happy that Aunt Odelia and everyone else didn’t have to work such long hours, but it also meant she would be leaving soon. It was time she made a decision. She needed to find a place to call home and start new. But where?

  “No place could feel like home without a family. My family,” Rose muttered.

  “Talking to yourself?” asked Rusty.

  Rose jerked her head up and saw Rusty standing on the bottom step he held his cap in hand, with tousled hair, giving him a boy like persona, but his build gave his age away. This was no boy, but a man with still some growing up to do. But heck didn’t everyone have some growing up to do?

  “Hey, Rusty. Didn’t hear you come up. You work in warp speed today?”

  Rusty took the steps two at a time in an easy stride. He pulled up a chair across from Rose and sat. “Mind if I ask you a few questions? I could use some advice.”

  “You want to ask me questions? Well, sure. But don’t you think Aunt Odelia, Sam, or any of your other brothers could give you advice?”

  “Heck no. You are just the person to give this advice.”

  Rusty dug the toe of his boot against the leg of the chair making a grinding noise. “You see, there’s this girl.”

  His face turned a tinge of red. He lowered his eyes, and then took a breath, gathered his nerve and looked Rose in the eye.

  “I’ve liked Shelia ever since I was in grade school, but I always knew she was out of my league. She’s a model for Pete’s sake. Her family moved away when we were juniors in high school, but this past year they moved back. I just found out she is here for the summer. Something about an illness.”

  Rusty leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Here’s the thing, Rose. I want to invite her to the harvest dance but I don’t know what to say. I ne
ver had this problem at college. Is something wrong with me?”

  Rose sat back and chose her words carefully. Flattered that he was asking advice from her. “I think you don’t have a problem asking other girls out because they don’t mean as much to you as Shelia does. What do you mean she’s out of your league? Have you ever asked her out? Or let her know how you feel?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I think someone that beautiful would laugh at me if I asked her to go somewhere with me. And no, of course, I never asked her out.”

  “You listen to me, Rusty LeBlanc, you are a very handsome man, and very sweet. You have a lot to offer a woman. How do you know she hasn’t felt the same about you all these years and you’ve missed out on being with her?” Rose took both of Rusty’s hands in hers.

  “Ask her Rusty, she won’t laugh at you, I promise. Maybe she’ll say no, but maybe she’ll say yes. You’ll never know unless you ask”

  A slow grin crossed Rusty’s face, a grin that resembled Sam’s, just not as wide.

  “You’re the best, Rose. I think I’ll clean up and go ask her in person. You think?”

  “I think.” Rose said. Smiling Rose added. “Oh Rusty, take it easy on the after shave, and ask Aunt Odelia if you can pick some of the gardenias. After all, you heard she was not feeling well. Good time for a visit.”

  Rusty almost ran into the door as he tore inside.

  Rose felt like a big sister helping her younger brother. It felt good. No, it felt great.

  Rose tucked her feet under her and leaned back in the swing. A quick smile pulled her lips.

  “A girl would have to be crazy to not say yes to you, Rusty,” she whispered.

  Her thoughts turned to her book. Was Rusty the kind of hero her hero was turning out to be? No, not enough confidence. More like Sam. Comfortable in his own skin, Sam. Afraid of commitment, Sam. Warm and gentle, Sam.

  “Penny for your thoughts.”

  Rose jumped as his words scattered her thoughts.

  There he stood, right in front of her, wearing that sideways grin. Dust covered his close fitting jeans that clung to his muscular legs giving them definition. But his face drew her attention the most. Dirt mixed with sweat had found a home in the cracks of his laugh wrinkles around his eyes and in the frown wrinkles on his forehead.

  The two faces of Sam. The happy family man and the dubious man afraid of trust. Could he read her thoughts, did he know they were about him? Those searching eyes of his could probably see right into her heart. Did he know how often her thoughts turned to him? How often her heart ached for him?

  “Problems, Rose?” Sam sat in the chair that just moments before his brother had vacated.

  “No, why?”

  “You looked so far away. Did Lizzy give you any trouble today?”

  “Lizzy? Gracious no, she is such a sweet little girl. You have done a remarkable job with those two girls. Bea can be kind of grumpy sometimes, but she seems to be happier lately. She so enjoys reading. I see a lot of myself in Bea.”

  Heat spread from her neck to her hairline and she knew she was blushing. What on earth made her say that?

  “Not that she should be like me, I certainly didn’t have anything to do with her birth, nor her childhood. I didn’t mean to sound like…” Rose witnessed as Sam’s grin broke into full-blown laughter that rang out into the evening.

  She couldn’t help but embrace his light mood.

  “Please stop me Sam, I’m talking and I can’t stop.” Rose’s laughter mingled with his.

  Sam put his hand on her knee and both stopped laughing and looked into each other’s face. She could feel the heat from his hand and she knew it wasn’t hot because of the temperature.

  “Rose, I have a question to ask you.” Sam’s voice deep and husky held the tension that she felt.

  “What?” Her voice squeaked as she spoke.

  “Yeah, well, I wondered if you would go with me to take the girls shopping for something new to wear to the harvest dance? I know girls like to get all dolled up for parties. Maybe you would like to buy something new too.

  “Sure, sounds like fun. When?”

  “Tomorrow? If Lizzy is up to it. The dance will be at the end of this week.”

  “Sounds like fun. I’ll be ready.” Rose stood and stretched her cramped legs and arms. Was that a groan she heard from Sam? Surely not, but the look on his face confirmed her thoughts.

  “I hope I don’t disappoint you, Sam.”

  Sam lifted from the chair and stood facing her, so close she could smell his scent.

  ‘Why do you think you’ll disappoint me, Rose? Are you fixing to be bad?” Sam placed his hand in his right pocket and jiggled his keys.

  A sign, Rose had come to recognize that Sam was out of his comfort zone.

  “Helping the girls pick out something to wear, of course. I don’t have a reputation as a great fashion expert, in fact just the opposite according to my mother.”

  “I disagree. You always look very put together to me. Not too dressed up and not too…” Sam stopped in search of his next words. His grin spread further and red colored his cheeks.

  “Sam! What are you talking about?”

  They stood on the gallery just inches apart both in their own thoughts. He was looking at her lips again, until she couldn’t catch her breath. If he didn’t grab her soon and let her kiss him, she knew she would have to make the first move. As she bent in to meet him half way, he licked his lips and reached for her. The anticipation was causing her to take her breaths in short gulps. Hurry Sam, hurry. Her mind willed him to kiss her now in front of whoever came around.

  Lizzy broke the moment as she rushed to Sam and threw her arm around his leg. “Papa, are you through? I feel better. Rose took good care of me. Can we do something special tomorrow, Papa?” Sam jerked his look from Rose and turned it on Lizzy. Leaving her to collect herself and return her breathing to normal.

  “I was just asking Miss Rose if she would accompany us to shop for some new rags for the dance. What do you think?”

  “Papa, you silly, we can’t wear rags. Are you coming Miss Rose? We will have just the best time if you come, say you will, please.”

  “I’ve already told your dad that I would love to go. I think I’ll let you two do the planning, and I’m going to take a shower. See you tomorrow.”

  “Can I go tell Bea? She’s going to be happy too.”

  “Sure, pumpkin. I’ll see both of you at dinner. Don’t forget to wash you hands.”

  Lizzy rushed around Rose and tore into the house yelling for Bea.

  “Thanks, Sam. Let me know about the time and I’ll be there.”

  “Rose, don’t go. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable, we still need to have a talk.”

  “Not now, Sam, I have to go. I have a lot of thinking to do.”

  He searched her eyes for answers but finally lowered them. “ I’ll let you go for now, but we will have that talk and soon.”

  Rose turned her back and he grabbed her arm.

  “Rose, one more thing you have to know. I could never be disappointed in you.”

  “Never say never, Sam.”

  Rose stood outside her bedroom door, hand on the doorknob the feel of Sam’s touch still on her arm. Tears stung her eyes.

  “Rose are you all right? You look like you are about to cry.”

  Rose jumped and turned around. “You startled me, Aunt Odelia. I’m fine, a little tired, that’s all.”

  “Hon, why don’t we go in your room and have a nice visit. We’ve been so busy I’ve missed talking to you. You go on in and let me grab a cup of coffee for each of us.”

  Rose sat in the overstuffed chair in the room that had been hers for the length of her stay. Deep depression set in. Why did she feel so sad?

  Odelia knocked softly on the door then entered holding a tray.

  “Now talk to me, and don’t tell me nothing is wrong, I can see it on your pretty face.”

  “You make me feel like I was c
aught with my hand in the candy dish.” Rose could feel the tears start and knew there was no stopping them.

  “Aw, honey, it’ll be okay, nothing can be that bad.” Odelia drew Rose to her and hugged her tight, allowing her to cry.

  Between gulps, Rose tried to talk.

  “I didn’t try to…I didn’t want to…”

  “Want to what, Rose. Take your time. Drink your coffee. We’ve got plenty of time.”

  They drank coffee in silence. Rose could feel her insides settle down. Feel the confusion start to leave. But the sadness stayed.

  “Fall in love with him,” she whispered. “I only came here to find a way to start a new life, never did I think I would make a fool of myself again. How can I be so stupid, Aunt Odelia? I know better than to think someone like Sam could love me back.”

  Rose wiped her eyes and raised her head and looked in the eyes of her kind and beloved aunt.

  “I know I have to leave soon, but I don’t know if I can. You see, I’ve grown to love this whole family.”

  “Why? Why do you have to leave, honey? You know you are welcome here as long as you need to stay. And as far as Sam, don’t be so sure he doesn’t share your feelings. I see how he looks at you. Give him more time; he’ll come around.”

  Rose shook her head then took a big sip of her coffee. “Do you really think Sam has feelings for me?”

  “Time will tell, honey child. Time will tell.”

  Odelia let out a heavy sigh and offered a weak smile. “Now tell me how’s that book coming?”

  “Not bad. I’m almost through and I think it might turn out to be one of the best I’ve ever written. And I owe most of it to you and Wilson. Without those wonderful letters and the love the two of you share, the book could not have been finished.”

  “You just need to believe, Rose. That’s all, believe.” Odelia stood, and patted Rose on the back. “And don’t give up on love, never give up on love.”

  “Well it’s been a long day and I have a date with a tall handsome man. You sleep well my little Rose, and remember how much you are loved.”