Taking on Twins

by Mollie Campbell

  Coralee was thankful the tears cleared up before any other customers came in. In their wake, restless energy filled her. She was horrified that the entire town seemed to be aware of all that was going wrong in her personal life. Needing to keep busy, she used the next few quiet hours to catch up on cleaning and re-stocking the shop. And to think through what was happening with Jake. No matter how she looked at the situation, it always came back to Jake not trusting her enough to include her in his life.

  After closing up the shop and sending Cat home, Coralee sat alone at her worktable. Bits and pieces of prayers flitted through her mind, but she couldn’t seem to form a coherent sentence. Part of a Bible verse flashed in her memory, something Aunt Lily liked to quote. It reminded her that even if she didn’t know what to pray for, God would understand what her heart needed.

  Feeling less stunned as the news sank in, she decided she was ready to face her family without bursting into tears of embarrassment. Coralee gathered her things and locked up the shop.

  A few people were out enjoying the warm evening, but this side of town was quiet after the businesses closed. As she turned from the shop to head home, she caught a glimpse of two strangers leaning against the barbershop across the street. They weren’t the kind of men who usually spent time on this street, with its nicer businesses. Even from several buildings away, she could see they were rather grimy, wearing worn clothes and tattered hats. One was gaunt; the other looked to overindulge in strong drink too often. Their presence made her uncomfortable.

  Coralee tried not to look at them, but she felt their eyes on her as she headed the other way and crossed the street. Spring Hill usually felt safe, but right then she had never been happier that their home behind the café was so close to Holbrook’s. She even took a shortcut over to First Street, choosing a well-traveled alley between a millinery shop and the land office.

  Her breath whooshed out in relief when she finally stepped through the door at home. She would have to warn her sisters and Aunt Lily to be careful if they were out alone. There was no telling the intentions of those two loitering about town.

  But thoughts of the strange men fled when she walked into the parlor to find papers scattered over all the furniture. On closer inspection, they were pages cut from Godey’s Lady’s Book. Dozens of pages. Illustrations of every facet of fashion imaginable. There were bonnets, hairstyles, hoop skirts, stockings. And the gowns. Gorgeous drawings of the most current styles were everywhere. In the middle of it all, her sisters sat with their customer, Miss Price. All three were talking with wild animation as they debated the most minute details of the drawings.

  “What is all this?” Coralee stared around in wonder. The illustrations were beautiful and a dream to examine. But why were they there?

  Cat jumped up and grabbed her hands, pulling her farther into the room. “Remember Alyssa Price, the woman who bought our medicine for her father last week?” Coralee nodded, although Cat didn’t wait for an answer. Excitement bubbled from her like too many soapsuds overflowing a washtub.

  “I’ve seen her around town a few times since and we’ve been talking. She’s getting married and she asked me and Cecilia to help plan her wedding ensemble.”

  Cecilia spoke from across the room, face flushed and voice hardly more than a breathy sigh. “Look at all of this, Coralee. She has the most exquisite taste.”

  Alyssa laughed, a light, melodic sound that perfectly fit her delicate features. “Thank you, Cecilia. How very kind.” She turned to Coralee, contentment gracing every inch of her face. “Mrs. Evans, how lovely to see you again. I hope you don’t mind my preparations taking over your home for a few hours.”

  Coralee forced a smile. “Of course not. And, please, call me Coralee. Are you getting married here? I hadn’t heard of any recent engagements in town.”

  Alyssa shook her head, pink tinting her cheeks as she spoke of her intended. “Actually, he’s from California and we’ll live there on his large cattle ranch. He’s just a lovely man, so patient to wait for me while I visit Papa before continuing out for the wedding. Papa doesn’t feel that he’s up to the long trip, so this is likely our only visit for some time. He’s a dear, wanting to be sure I had the best wedding ensemble ever worn in California. He insisted I have it made here where he could see it completed.”

  Coralee liked this woman’s spirit. She was intelligent and seemed like the sort who got what she wanted without using feminine wiles in the process. “Well, I’m glad you asked my sisters to help. Cat has a great eye for fashion and Cecilia is the best seamstress.”

  Alyssa agreed as she started picking through the pages again. Coralee had no talent with fabric and had always admired her sisters’ natural abilities. Or maybe it had more to do with the amount of time they had spent alongside Aunt Lily while Coralee had been at the shop with Papa. Either way, Coralee couldn’t come close to their skill.

  As her sisters fussed over ideas for Alyssa’s wedding gown, Coralee’s mind wandered. Memories of her own wedding flooded her. It had been a much simpler affair than Alyssa’s would be. But it had been beautiful. Alyssa’s bridal excitement reminded Coralee of her own feelings in the days leading up to her wedding.

  A sudden vision of Jake in wedding finery took her by surprise. Handsome and smiling, she imagined him standing next to the preacher, waiting for her to reach him. What would his expression be when he saw her walking toward him in a lovely wedding gown?

  The imaginary scene evaporated as she realized that all the ladies were staring at her. Her cheeks heated. How long had she been lost in silly daydreams that would never be? She mumbled an excuse and hurried to the kitchen, her aching heart unable to take any more of the happy chatter.

  Coralee dropped into a chair and leaned back, eyes closed. Jake had hurt her more than once, yet she still cared for him. So much more than she wanted to admit. She couldn’t let these unrequited feelings continue. If Jake was going to shut her out of his life, she would have to protect her heart.

  * * *

  Jake was miserable. It hadn’t even been a week, but he missed Coralee. He missed her smile and the easy way she had with the twins. He missed her quick mind. But most of all, he missed her steady friendship.

  Most hours of the day, guilt gnawed at him. Coralee had to know by now that he was avoiding her. He hated that she would be hurt by that. Especially since that day a few weeks back when his parents had pointed out that he had done almost the same thing to her after she’d rejected his proposal. His heart ached with the knowledge that, to her, he had once again excluded her from his life. No explanation, no apology.

  He had tried to make the best choice he could, but he couldn’t get Coralee out of his mind. As he went about the farm chores, he thought of working next to her at the shop while they’d tested elements for her medicine. When he sat to eat with the twins and his parents, he saw her face glowing with gentle compassion at dinner that first night he’d had Louisa and Phillip. No matter what he did, she was never far from his thoughts.

  Samuel hadn’t said another word about Coralee and Jake hadn’t brought it up. But there was strained tension between them when they were together at the clinic. Jake offered to do all the visits that required riding out of town just so he didn’t have to be with Samuel as much.

  More and more Jake wondered what had driven the older doctor to have such a complete aversion to Coralee. It sounded like he’d had a cordial working relationship with her father. And he didn’t seem to dislike her as a person. It was simply the fact of her running Holbrook’s that upset the man.

  Church on Sunday morning was the worst part of Jake’s week. Before he even got the twins out of the wagon, a voice behind him made him cringe.

  “Jake Hadley, what do you mean by hurting my sister again?”

  He should have known perceptive Cat would see what was going on. And she would never let him off e
asy. He turned to face the fiery youngest Holbrook. “Cat, there’s more to it than you know.”

  Cat stood close in front of him, hands planted on her hips and eyes flashing. “Then why don’t you explain to me just what’s going on here?”

  There was no way Cat would appreciate his reasons for relenting to Samuel’s demands. She had never been the type of person who felt responsibility for others. But if he couldn’t explain the situation to Coralee himself, maybe Cat would accept enough of his reasoning to help her sister hurt a little less.

  “I had to make an impossible choice, Cat. Samuel won’t allow me to keep my position with him while helping Coralee.” He ran a hand through his hair, searching for words that might make Cat see the situation he’d been put in. He gestured to the children playing in the wagon. “The twins. My parents. They all depend on me. I care about Coralee, but I can’t let them down.”

  Cat looked at him askance. “She didn’t even know you’d moved out to the farm until yesterday. She had to hear it from Mrs. Collins, that old busybody.”

  Jake’s eyes slid closed. How much must that have hurt her? “I’m sorry. More than you know. But I don’t know what else to do.”

  Cat’s lips tightened. “I don’t see how you could make that choice, Jake. You’re better than that, giving in to a bitter old man’s ultimatum. But I can see you feel terrible about it. As you should.” She poked him sharply in the chest. “You ought to at least explain to Coralee. Dr. Jay can’t control who you talk to.”

  With that, Cat turned on her heel and marched to the church, head high and shoulders squared. Jake leaned against the wagon, letting the warm sun wash over his face. Maybe Dr. Jay didn’t have the right to determine who he could talk to, but Jake was afraid to take that chance. Too much rested on him keeping the position at the clinic. And, after all, maybe it was better for her to just think he was cruel than for her to know he cared, but still chose to hurt her.

  His spirit was in turmoil as he walked Louisa and Phillip into the church. He couldn’t keep his mind on the service. Coralee was so close, just a few rows ahead of where Jake sat with his parents and the children. As usual, she looked lovely. If he told her so, would that pretty blush appear on her cheeks again?

  But even as the thought ran through his mind, he remembered that no matter how nice it sounded, he couldn’t risk any pleasant conversations after the service. No joining the ladies for lunch or spending a quiet afternoon walking along the creek with her and the twins. Dr. Jay was sure to react with swift retribution if he felt Jake had disregarded his demands again.

  Jake spent most of the service with his head bowed. For a while his thoughts ran rampant, unfocused. But eventually the tumult settled and one prayer emerged. Lord, show me how to do the right thing for everyone I love.

  Letting all the thoughts empty from his mind, he hoped the Lord would offer him a solution. The preacher’s words filtered through the emptiness. “Most of the people I talk to worry about God’s will. They’re afraid that they’ll miss what He wants them to do.”

  Jake’s head shot up. Wasn’t that just what he’d been worrying about? He paid more attention to what the minister was saying now. “But He’s already told us what we need to do.” The man laid his hand on the Bible in front of him. “Love the Lord and love our neighbors.”

  Listening to the words while staring across the room at Coralee, realization hit him. Going along with Samuel’s ultimatum wasn’t helping the doctor move past whatever was causing his bitterness toward Coralee. Letting him continue to live in anger wasn’t showing him love. Jake cared about the older man, so he couldn’t let Samuel keep wallowing in negative feelings. He had to stand up to his mentor, even if that meant things in his own life didn’t work out how he’d planned. Confidence washed over him. God would care for his family. Jake just needed to follow His lead.

  He hurried the twins out before the last notes of the final hymn faded away. Waiting for his parents in the churchyard, he tried to occupy himself with greeting patients and chasing the twins. It was cowardly, but he hoped Coralee wouldn’t confront him. He had to handle the situation with Samuel before he could explain to her and apologize. Again.

  But Ma didn’t seem to be on the same page about that. She came out of the church with Coralee at her side and walked straight to him. Shuffling his feet, Jake prayed that Coralee wouldn’t confront him. Not yet.

  “Jake, dear, will you get that basket from the back of the wagon for Coralee? It’s some lace trim and fabric her sisters asked for. I need to run over and talk to Mrs. Collins before she leaves.”

  Without waiting for a response, Ma rushed away, leaving Jake and Coralee alone with the awkwardness between them. She refused to meet his eyes, just waited, biting her lower lip. Jake retrieved the basket and held it out to her. But when she reached for it, he didn’t let go right away.

  “I guess I need to explain, Coralee. I—”

  “No, Jake. You don’t need to explain yourself. I believe everything is quite clear. Now, please unhand the basket and I’ll be on my way.” Her voice was tight and cold.

  His heart sank. She wasn’t going to listen to a word he had to say.

  Reluctantly he let go of the basket and watched her stalk off. He was sure that there was no way to fix his relationship with her until he stood up to Samuel and did what God was urging him to do. Only once he undid his bad decision could he show her that he knew he was wrong. He would find a way to get her to listen to him and pray that she would understand.

  The rest of the day Jake felt peace growing. While he and the twins ate lunch with his parents. During the children’s nap. Doing the evening chores. Nothing dislodged the certainty that he was finally doing the right thing. He would work things out with Samuel tomorrow, then he would make it up to Coralee. He hoped that she would find it in her heart to listen when he explained everything to her. That she could forgive him one more time. And from then on out, he planned to do everything in his power to keep from hurting her again.

  * * *

  Coralee had forgotten about the two men from Saturday evening until she saw them again as she walked to Holbrook’s on Monday morning. There they were, lounging against the same building down the street, boldly watching as she and Cat opened the shop. She didn’t say anything to Cat right then. As long as they stayed down the street, she didn’t want to risk her impulsive sister confronting them. Later she would warn both her sisters and Aunt Lily to be careful when they were out.

  She tried to convince herself that there was nothing sinister about the two strangers. It wasn’t that unusual for people to sit outside businesses, watching the street and greeting neighbors. There was just something about these two men. Maybe the way their eyes followed her. It felt intentional, as if they wanted her to know they were watching.

  All day, she found herself peeking out the large front windows. They were still there after a young mother left with ointment for her children’s constant scratches. She caught a glimpse of them shifting around when an old miner came in for a ginger compound he’d ordered for his indigestion. And Charlie Albridge caught her peering around him while he was asking her for some of their new medicine.

  “Coralee, just what is going on out there that you’re so interested in?” Charlie searched the street as she flushed at being called out.

  “It’s nothing. Just a couple rough characters I’ve seen out there a few times.”

  Charlie snapped to attention. “Have they approached you? Threatened the store?”

  “Oh, nothing like that.” She waved off his concern, hoping he didn’t push the issue. She didn’t want to draw attention to her paranoia. But deep down her gut screamed at her to listen to the unsettled feeling their presence caused.

  “If you’re worried, I can walk you ladies to and from the store.” His eyes strayed to Cat as he offered and Coralee suppressed a grin
at his obvious desire to spend time with her sister.

  “No, Charlie. We don’t need you to do that. If anything happens, we’ll come to you.” She could only imagine the gossip if the banker started escorting them everywhere. Particularly since Jake was no longer spending so much time with her.

  Charlie glanced at Cat again. “I think I must insist. I could never forgive myself if anything happened to any of you.”

  Shaking her head, Coralee started to protest. “Really, we’ll be fine—”

  Stomping toward them, Cat interrupted. “Charlie Albridge, I’ve told you this before. I don’t need your protection.” She stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Coralee. “My sisters and I are grown women, capable of getting ourselves where we need to go.”

  The banker raised both hands as if warding off her temper. “I’m sorry. I was only thinking of your safety with strangers lurking about. Never would I claim that you can’t handle yourself, my dear Cat.”

  The glare that followed his comment was enough to send Charlie out the door. They heard him muttering as he left, something about a woman who wouldn’t give him a chance. Coralee just shook her head at Cat’s antics. Charlie would have to buck up a bit if he intended to pursue her youngest sister.

  As seemed to happen more and more, her mind turned to Jake. She wished she could talk to him about the men. He wouldn’t overreact and confront them. Or think that her worry was due to female hysterics. When they weren’t fighting with each other, he was good at looking at a situation with objectivity. An ache sliced through her. She missed seeing him every day. And she missed the twins terribly. Their sweet little faces and adorable giggles were always in the back of her mind.

  No matter how hard she tried, Coralee couldn’t get her feelings under control. Every day, she thought this would be the day that she would be stronger. She wouldn’t think about Jake, or miss him, or imagine his smile. But building up a wall against him was not as easy as she hoped.