Pearl's Will

by Sophie Dawson

  “No, just making sure my husband starts the day off with a good meal.”

  He kissed her nose. “It’s one of my favorite parts of the day too, but to tell the truth, I like the nights better.”

  Pearl gave his arm a playful slap. “You would.”

  ~~~~~

  “I’m going home to celebrate with my wife. I’ll find out if she wants to go out to supper. If she does, I’ll telephone and also call to see if Vernon would like to tag along,” Will told Lillian as he put the morning’s proceeds in a leather bag. He was going to deposit this as soon as he locked the shop. There was no way he was going to risk leaving this amount in the shop safe. The necklace, earrings, bracelet, and tiara were complete. Mr. Norbury had come to get them and brought a check for the balance due.

  “I think we should close the shop for the rest of the day.” Lillian flipped through the signs they placed in the frame on the door giving notice of special hours or closings. “We’ve been working very hard and deserve an afternoon off, I say.”

  “It’s not afternoon yet, only late morning.” Will grinned. “But I think your idea is spot on. Let’s get these things put in the safe.” He waved a hand at the display cases. “I’ll do the windows.”

  It didn’t take long to clear all the jewelry and place it in the safe. It was something they did every day. Lillian left the shop with Will since she wanted to do some shopping and was headed to Townsend and Wyatt. She often came back saying she’d seen Mr. Dimmick and several times ‘accidentally’ dropped her purchase near where he was standing.

  Will rode the trolley home thinking what he wanted to use the money he’d earned on the commission for. He had an idea, but wanted to discuss it with Pearl. It was good to know he could talk over ideas and ask her opinion on things as he thought about decisions needing to be made.

  As he entered the house he heard his mother’s voice. What she was saying made him frown. He tiptoed down the hall to listen some more before he interrupted her.

  “I’ve told you before, Pearl, you need to pull the sheets toward you as you iron them, not away. I don’t understand why you can’t remember that. You can’t seem to do anything correctly.”

  Will listened for Pearl’s response. There was only silence.

  His mother made the grunt she always had that indicated her disapproval of something her children did. “I can’t imagine how you’ll manage when you have that baby to take care of.”

  Deciding he’d heard enough and not wanting Pearl to suffer more indignation, Will stepped into the kitchen. Pearl had her back to him as she stood at the ironing board set up near the stove, her flat irons lined up on the top, heating. His mother was sitting at the end of the kitchen table as if she was holding court.

  “I do believe Pearl will manage very well when the baby comes. She certainly has managed to make this house a pleasant home in the short time she’s been my wife. I’ll be pleased if you would refrain from criticizing her. Not everyone does things using the same methods. So long as the job gets done, what difference does it make?”

  Pearl spun around, her shock that he was home evident on her face. She looked from him to his mother and back. “Will, what are you doing home? Is anything wrong?”

  “There wasn’t until I got home. Mr. Norbury picked up the commission set, and Lillian and I decided to take the rest of the day off to celebrate. She’s out shopping, and I came home to spend the rest of the day with my wife. Unfortunately, my mother seems to be giving unwanted critiques of my wife’s capabilities as a housewife.”

  Pearl, white-faced, and who he could see was near tears, came over. He wanted to pull her into an embrace, but she murmured, “Excuse me, please.” He allowed her to pass him and watched as she went into their bedroom, closing the door with a soft snick.

  He advanced two steps into the kitchen and speared his mother with an angry look. “What is the matter with you? What in the world gave you the impression you needed, and had the right, to come into my home and criticize my wife?”

  Will kept his voice low, under tight control. He was furious. He’d noticed Pearl’s mood slide from happy and content to despondent and nervous lately. He’d attributed it to her condition. “Have you been doing this since you and Father got home?”

  Luella stood. “I’m simply giving her the benefit of my years of experience.”

  “Did Grandmother give you the benefit of her experience when you and Father married?”

  “No, of course not. I knew how to maintain a home when I married. Pearl is so young.”

  “Pearl is older than you were when you had Mary.” Will gritted his teeth. “Age and experience aside, what gives you the right to come into my home and hurt my wife with your cruel words and attitude?”

  “I’m your mother.”

  “Duly noted. My question stands?”

  “I only want the best for you.”

  “And the best is you being cruel and critical to my wife, behind my back.”

  “You’re my son. I love you. Of course I want to make sure you have a properly run home.”

  “My home is properly run. If it was not, that still wouldn’t be any of your business. It would be between Pearl and me to figure and work out.”

  “But—“

  Will raised a hand, stopping her from continuing to defend her actions. “I’m an adult, Mother, not a child who doesn’t know how to get on. I have a wife now, one I love. I will not tolerate you treating her in anything but a loving manner.

  “Today, I came home to celebrate a very successful elevation in my career. One I’m very proud of and would hope you and Father will be also. It very well may bring more custom work which will lead to even more prosperity than we’ve previously enjoyed. I wanted to celebrate that success with the woman I love. Instead, I find my mother butting into my marriage in ways that are mean and spiteful.

  “I am not only dismayed that you think you have the right to be so cruel in the name of loving me but appalled that you would do so behind my back. You’ve treated Pearl well, if not warmly, when we are all at the shop. Then, when I am not around, you’ve been hateful and critical, haven’t you?”

  “I supposed she’s been complaining to you.”

  “No, she hasn’t said a word, but now I know why she’s been less happy and more nervous than when we first married. I’ve been concerned about her. I thought it was due to her condition, but now I know it’s because you’ve been treating her so poorly.”

  Will held up his hand when she would have spoken.

  “No. I don’t want to hear another word. I have several for you, however. With as much as I want to see if the pieces of jewelry I made, and which Mr. Norbury thought were so good, will bring me more success here in St. Joe, I will take my wife and child and move away. Pearl is the woman I love and will be spending the rest of my life with. I will not stay in a town where my mother will be undermining my marriage and disrespecting me.

  “I love you, Mother, but I will not allow my wife to be treated as you have been doing. I ask you to leave my home and not return until you are ready to beg forgiveness from Pearl and to treat her with the respect and support she deserves. I also ask that you limit your visits to the shop to when you know Pearl will not be there. I will not subject her to you and your vitriol.”

  “You would do that to me, your mother?”

  “Pearl is my wife. She is the woman I love. For those two aspects alone you should be loving and supportive of her. Until you can do so, you are not welcome in my home. Please see yourself out. My wife needs to know I love her and will protect her from the evil that has been infecting her life and mine.”

  Will turned his back to his mother and walked from the kitchen.

  ~~~~~

  Will entered the bedroom and closed the door. There was no way he was going to allow his mother to see or hear them. Pearl was lying on the bed, weeping. His mother had done this to Pearl. The thought made his stomach turn.

  He’d come home ready to ce
lebrate the success of the commission pieces. Had planned to discuss the possibility of purchasing a motorcar with what he’d earned. He was going to take Pearl and Lillian out to supper in honor of his success. Instead, he needed to comfort his wife who had been suffering abuse from his mother.

  He went over and sat beside her, then changing his mind, lay down, and gathered her to him. “Pearl, why didn’t you tell me what she was doing? I would have put a stop to it long before now.”

  “I didn’t want to be a wedge between you and her.”

  “So you let her abuse you with her words and attitude.”

  “It was a small price to pay to help you and your parents reconcile. I know they were hurt by our marriage. I wanted to do what I could to help them get over it and put it behind us all.”

  Will tipped her chin up so he could see her face. “Was it working?”

  Pearl bit her lip. “I don’t think so.”

  He kissed her forehead. He hugged her. “Today was such a good day. I wanted to share it with you. Lillian and I closed the shop. She is going shopping, and we all were going to meet for a celebratory supper. I was so happy. Then, I come home to find that my mother has been abusing my wife, the woman I love more than life itself, ever since she and Father came back to St. Joe. Definitely put a damper on my day.”

  Pearl had jerked back and was looking at him in surprise.

  “What?” Will asked in confusion.

  “You love me?”

  He smiled softly. “Yes, I love you. More than life itself.” He repeated the words that had come so naturally only moments before.

  “Oh, Will.”

  “You don’t have to say anything. I know you are still mourning Patrick. I only hope you have some affection toward me and maybe it will someday be more.

  “Please, Pearl, please, don’t let how my mother has been treating you get in the way of our relationship. I told her she was not welcome in our home until she could apologize to you and accept you as my wife. I will not have you disrespected by anyone, especially a family member, even if she is my mother. I also told her not to come to the shop when you are there. I won’t have her around you to upset you. It isn’t good for you or the baby.”

  “I can stay home.”

  “No, I love having you there. I know, once the baby comes, you won’t be able to come as often. Until then, I want you there as much as you can be. I love having you with me. Lillian loves to have you there, also.”

  “I don’t want to come between you and your mother and father.”

  “You aren’t. She’s the one who brought this on herself. I told her one more thing. It might be what will cause her to truly rethink her actions. If she doesn’t change her attitude, I will do it.”

  Pearl studied his face, drawing her eyebrows together with concern.

  “If she can’t accept you as my wife and treat you as a valued member of the family, we will move from St. Joe and set up a jewelry and watch repair shop as far away as necessary. I won’t put up with you being treated as she has been treating you.”

  “Oh, Will, no. It’s so very hard to leave family, I know. Patrick and I did just that.”

  “I know. I hope it won’t be necessary, but I will do so. My grandfather moved from Bavaria to America, maybe not for the same reasons, but he was able to start in a new country. We would only be starting in a new state. I won’t have her making your life miserable.”

  “I haven’t been miserable.”

  Will kissed her nose. “You are a terrible liar. I’ve noticed your moods lately and wondered if it was something I was doing that was making you so somber and nervous. Now, I know it was Mother being a harridan. I’m sorry you had to be subject to her attitude. It won’t happen again. But, Pearl…” Will stroked her cheek. “You will tell me if she ever says or does anything that makes you uncomfortable or feel bad in any way. No more hiding it from me.”

  When she glanced away, Will placed his fingers on her chin, gently forcing her to look at him. “Promise me.”

  Pearl searched his face, her eyes darting back and forth as she studied him. “I promise. I just don’t want her to hold this against me.”

  “If she does, she will be forcing us to move. I will close the shop and leave town in a heartbeat. You are more important to me than anything else, even my family.”

  Tears slipped from Pearl’s eyes as he spoke. Will leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss, then held her against him as she wept.

  ~~~~~

  Lillian was fixing her lunch when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Or rather, stomping up the stairs. She left the kitchen and saw her mother storm into the parlor. The look on her face indicated there was a problem. Inwardly, Lillian flinched. This wasn’t good.

  “You will never believe what your brother just did. He threw me, his mother, out of his house and told me not to return.”

  Uh oh. “What happened, Mother?”

  Luella flopped down on the davenport. “He just told me I couldn’t come.”

  “Mother, Will wouldn’t simply banish you without giving a reason.” Lillian saw a flush rise on her mother’s face. “So, what was the reason?” She sat down beside her.

  “I was only trying to help. Will deserves to have a wife who knows how to maintain a proper home.”

  “Pearl is very accomplished at homemaking. More so than me.”

  “You manage well, Lillian. I know what you are capable of.”

  “There’s the key, Mother. I’m capable, but don’t really care if it’s all done properly. Pearl does. She kept this place spotless even though she was working full-time. She’s a good cook, too. I’m surprised Will hasn’t gained weight since they’ve been married.” She could see her words weren’t making her mother feel any better. “What did you say to make him so angry he doesn’t want you around?”

  Luella sat silently picking at lint on her skirt.

  “Mother, do you think Will is a success? A man who is able to run this business well?”

  Luella looked up, startled. “Yes, of course.”

  “Do you trust he’s an adult who can handle the challenges of life?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then why don’t you trust that he would know what’s best for himself?”

  “What do you mean? What’s best for him?”

  “Or maybe the better question is: Who is best for him? Pearl is devoted to Will. And I don’t think it’s all gratitude either.”

  “How can it be anything other than gratitude? She married him so she’d be supported.”

  “True, he asked her to marry him so she and her baby would be taken care of. But he also loves her. You only have to see how he looks as her and how he treats her. All that really happened was the timetable was moved up. Instead of him asking her to marry him next summer, he asked her this summer. It was going to happen.”

  “How do you know? Maybe he would have changed his mind.”

  “You weren’t around. You didn’t see him around her like I did. He’s in love with her and that’s not going to change.”

  “But she doesn’t love him and she has that baby coming.”

  “Is that what bothers you? The baby. It’s not as if she’s a fallen woman. She’s a widow. There’s no shame in that.”

  “But the shop…”

  “Is just a business. I know the history and tradition. I know that means a lot to you. It does to me, and to Will, too. But what’s more important? The tradition or Will being happy and married to the woman he loves?”

  Luella looked out the window across the room, avoiding the question.

  “I think Pearl does love him. She’s not ready to admit it, maybe doesn’t even realize she does. It’s not been very long since her first husband died.

  “You do know she didn’t jump at the chance to marry him. He had to convince her. She didn’t want him to be bound to a woman then find someone else he would love. Will told her that no matter what, he would honor their covenant. They plan to live a Biblical marri
age.”

  “So she’s going to submit to him?” Luella looked at Lillian.

  “Will plans to place her first and be a husband who supports her and sacrifices for her, making sure she’s without spot or wrinkle, nourishing and tenderly caring for her, just as Christ does the church. That’s a much higher calling than submitting. If he does that, she won’t have difficulty allowing him to be the head of the house.

  “Mother, you and Father taught us how to live fruitful lives, dependent only on God and what you taught us. Will is doing that. Doing that with Pearl. She’s good for him. She is what has made him really settle into the business. Until Pearl, Will was only doing the job. Now, he’s committed and passionate about his work. Pearl is the seal on all your teaching. You and Father taught him how to love his wife. To give of himself selflessly. Let him.”

  Luella pulled a lace-edged handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped her cheeks. “Pearl sent me this handkerchief while we were in Hot Springs.” Luella was silent for several minutes then she sighed. “‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ Maybe that’s what I have fought against so hard. Will has always looked to me as the woman in his life. Now he has Pearl. I do like her, have since that first day. It was just so hard to see him turning to another woman.” Luella turned tear-filled eyes toward Lillian. “Do you think she’ll ever forgive me?”

  “I think you’ll find Pearl to be a very forgiving person. Tell her what you were struggling with. Explain it all. Confess is the word I’m sure fits in this case.”

  Luella nodded. Lillian placed her arms around her mother and hugged her.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Will shut the cash register drawer, thanking the customer for their purchase. The woman had bought a lace collar Pearl had crocheted. Placing several collars she had considered back in the display case, he ran his finger over the ones Pearl had made.

  The celebration supper had turned out well, even with the problems of the day caused by his mother. He and Pearl had eaten lunch and then taken a nap, the emotions of the morning having taken their toll. Will was concerned that the stress Pearl had been under as his mother spent days criticizing everything she did would affect the baby and her in a negative way. He’d even made her change into her nightgown so she would be more comfortable as she napped. Of course, he’d had an ulterior motive for that decision. Will was glad she’d been enthusiastic about his idea when she woke.