Amaryllis (Suitors of Seattle)

by Osbourne, Kirsten

  She turned and saw Alex frowning at her. How was she going to be able to talk him into this?

  She took a deep breath as she approached him, knowing this was important to her, but knowing it would anger him. “I think this little house would be perfect for us. You’d have room for an office there, and it has a water closet instead of an outhouse. Once winter comes an outhouse is going to be hard.”

  He shook his head. “Maybe I can afford it in a year, but I can’t now.” He looked down at her with a solemn expression. “I’d like to be able to give you what you want, but I can’t afford this.”

  “You can’t afford it. I understand that. But we can. I work hard, Alex. The fruits of my labor sit in a bank and I can’t touch them. How is that fair to either of us?”

  He took her hand again and started walking toward home. His eyes were downcast. “I want to give you everything in the world, but it’s going to take time to get the money we need together for a big purchase like this.”

  “Why won’t you listen to me? I don’t need anything. I want to spend the money I’ve worked hard to earn on a house for us. I’m spending it on me because I’m the one who wants it so much. Please at least think about it.”

  He frowned. “I’ll think about it, but the answer is going to be no.”

  She sighed, kicking at a rock on the ground. “I understand.” She said the words by rote, but the truth was, she didn’t understand. She worked too hard for her money to have him discount everything she made and not let her spend it.

  *****

  After church the following day, they again walked to his parents’ house to have lunch with them. She hurried to the kitchen to help Mildred with the preparations. “How do we make this?” she asked.

  Mildred smiled over her shoulder as she continued to peel the potatoes in front of her. “I’m making a pork roast today. I put it in the oven before church, but made sure the heat was low. So it’s been slowly cooking while we were at the sermon. If I was going to be here the whole time, I’d have put the potatoes and carrots in with it when it was half done. I wasn’t here, so I’m going to cook the potatoes and carrots on the stove.”

  Amaryllis nodded. “So you remove the peel with a knife before you cook potatoes?”

  “I’m going to mash these, so yes, I’m removing the peel first.” She demonstrated how to remove a peel and handed Amaryllis the knife. “You try it.”

  Alex stood watching his mother and wife work together for a minute before he hurried off to find John. He had no desire to sit around and listen to his mother teach her cook. As far as he was concerned, he’d always cook for her, but she seemed determined to learn how so she could share the burden. He liked that about her. She was always willing to do her share and then some.

  He found John in his study and sat down across from him. After a moment the older man looked up from his ledger. “How’s married life treating you?” he asked.

  Alex shrugged. “For the most part, we’re doing really well. We still have a few squabbles and misunderstandings, of course. She trusts me now.”

  John smiled and nodded. “That’s good. Trust is important.” He put down the pen he’d been using to write. “Is there something in particular you’re having trouble with so I can help?”

  Alex sighed. “Well, she was courting a man named Lawrence when I got back in town, and the man is a writer and still spends all his time at the library. Amaryllis says he’s a friend, and it’s a good place for him to work, but it doesn’t feel right to me.”

  John laughed. “She’s just doing her job, Alex. You need to start trusting her more. She married you, not him.”

  “I forced the issue.”

  John shrugged. “She wouldn’t have stayed if she hadn’t wanted to be with you. She’d have told her Lawrence what happened and run away with him. You know she would have.”

  Alex made a face. He hadn’t thought of that. Lawrence had seemed awfully calm for a man who had just found out his girl had married another that day in the library. “I’ll think about that.” He stared off into space for a moment. “Our other problem is that she wants to spend her money on us. It makes me crazy.”

  John frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, she never spent any of the money she’s made while working at the library. She’s got it all sitting in a saving’s account at the bank. So she thinks I should let her use her money to buy us a house!”

  “Let me ask you this. Is the money you make your money, or does it belong to both of you?”

  “Both of us, of course. I would never keep my money from her.”

  “Why do you expect her to keep hers from you then?”

  “Well, I’m the man. I’m supposed to support us.” How could John not see the logic of what he was saying?

  “So the money she’s worked over a year to earn should sit in a bank account until she dies? Or until you die, and she’s allowed to use it?”

  “Well, no, but I should be supporting us.”

  John shook his head. “When you marry, you share everything. You’ve decided to let her keep working?”

  Alex nodded. “I wouldn’t take the pleasure she gets from her work from her.”

  “But you’d take the pleasure she gets from her earnings from her? This house, is it bigger than where you live now?”

  “Yes, and it has a water closet. She’s never lived without a water closet, and she thinks they’re a necessity.”

  “Then to her they are. Look, son, she’s worked hard for over a year to save up that much money. She has a right to use it, and by working for it, she has a right to use the money she’s earned to make her life easier and more comfortable. Why are you denying her?”

  Alex stood and paced the room. “I want to be the one to give her what she wants. I want to earn the things that we use.”

  “But you can’t let her pitch in and help? If she can buy the house outright, or use the money she makes to buy the house, why can’t you just do it that way? I don’t think you’re being fair to her.”

  Alex sighed. “I was sure you’d back me up on this.”

  John shook his head. “I’d back you up if you were making sense and in the right. She’s lived a privileged life. There’s no doubt about that. But she has a right to use the money she’s earned to make her life better, even now that you’re married. Let her do it.”

  Alex frowned. “I’ll think about it.”

  “Do that. I think you’ll ruin your marriage otherwise.”

  *****

  After lunch, Amaryllis stayed in the kitchen with Mildred, learning how to make French toast and bacon. Alex again went to talk to John in his study.

  He settled into the chair across from John’s desk. “I think you’re right,” he finally admitted.

  “About?”

  “I need to let Amaryllis use her money for the house. I’m keeping her from luxuries that she’s used to because of my pride.” He shook his head. “I’ll talk to her about it, and we’ll look at the house.”

  John smiled, nodding approvingly. “That’s the right thing to do, son. I know you have in your head that you need to be the sole support of your family, but she doesn’t do all the housework. I know the girl can’t cook, so you must be doing that. Why would you divide up men’s and women’s work, and then do part of hers and not let her do part of yours?”

  “Because I’m pig-headed and stubborn, just like my wife says I am?”

  John laughed. “You said it, not me.”

  *****

  When Lawrence stopped by the library on Monday afternoon, he let her know he was moving on. “I’ve finished the research and started writing here, but there’s nothing keeping me in Seattle anymore. I’m going to head down to San Francisco and finish the book there.”

  She nodded, wishing she could hug him goodbye, but knowing how Alex would feel about it. Instead, she offered her hand to shake. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know you. Make sure you tell the Indian’s point of view!”

&nb
sp; He laughed. “I’d be afraid you’d hunt me down if I didn’t!”

  She smiled as she watched him leave the library. She knew Alex would be pleased when she told him. She understood how he was feeling, because she knew there was an appearance that more had happened between her and Lawrence than truly had. She wished she’d never told Alex she was seeing him when he first came back to town.

  When she arrived home that evening, she slipped in the back door as always, and found Alex waiting for her. “We need to go,” he said.

  “Go where?”

  He shrugged. “It’s a surprise.”

  She sighed. “Okay.” For some reason, Amaryllis had never been big on surprises. She preferred to know how things would turn out. She was the daughter who was unwrapping the gifts under the Christmas tree and carefully tying the bow back on, keeping the creases exactly how they’d been. She couldn’t wrap a gift herself, but she could sure follow the creases others made in the paper as she rewrapped her own gifts.

  She walked with Alex, hand in hand, back toward her Aunt Harriett’s house. She had no idea why they were going there, but she wasn’t particularly worried. As they approached the little yellow house, she felt a sadness creep over her. Alex hadn’t mentioned the house since he’d told her he would think about buying it, and she could see a man there, obviously the realtor. Someone was going to buy it, and it wasn’t them.

  She was surprised when Alex took her hand and let her up to the realtor. “Mr. Friday? This is my wife, Amaryllis.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Anderson. Your husband told me you admired this house, so I wanted to give you a chance to see the inside, before you make your purchase decisions.”

  Amaryllis stared at Alex in shock, but said nothing. The realtor showed them through the house, indicating the water closet. “I don’t have a lot of these for sale yet, so this house is sure to go fast.”

  There were three bedrooms. Amaryllis knew that Alex could use one for an office, and the other could be for a baby when it happened to them. The kitchen was small, but definitely large enough for her to figure out how to cook in. The dining room cozy, and the front parlor was just big enough for their needs. Between all the rooms, she was certain her family could fit in there if she ever hosted them all.

  She smiled after looking through everything. “It’s exactly what I hoped for.”

  Alex nodded to the agent, who walked outside for a moment, giving them a chance to talk. “Do you want to buy it?”

  She bit her lip. “Would that be all right with you?”

  “I had a long talk with John yesterday, and he made me realize what an idiot I was being about the house and your money. I would never tell you that the money I make is mine, and it was ridiculous for me to say that your money was only yours. Let’s use your money to buy this house, and then the money we make in the future will go further, because we won’t have to pay rent.”

  “How much is it?”

  He smiled. “I found that out earlier today, and checked the balance in your account at the bank. We have enough for the house, with a little bit left over for some furniture.” He looked around. “This house is so much bigger than where we live, we’ll need more furniture.”

  She let out a squeal and threw her arms around him. “I want it. I really really want it. Are you sure?”

  He held her close. “I’m sure that I want nothing more than for you to be happy. If this house will make you happy, then we’ll get it.”

  He took her hand and led her out to the realtor. “We’ll take it. Can I bring you the money tomorrow?”

  The realtor nodded, reaching out to shake Alex’s hand first and then Amaryllis’s. “I’m glad to be able to see it go to such a nice young couple. You can raise a family here.”

  Alex set up a time to meet the realtor the following day before they started home. “Do you want to stop and eat at the restaurant?” he asked. “I didn’t have time to start anything for supper tonight.”

  “I don’t care about eating at the restaurant. I can make French toast now! Let me cook for you.” Amaryllis honestly had no desire to eat there, because she had spent so much time there with Lawrence.

  “That sounds good.”

  They walked along in silence for a moment. “I wanted to tell you, Lawrence came by the library today,” she began.

  Alex did his best not to start bristling with anger immediately. “And?”

  “He said there’s nothing keeping him in Seattle now that his research is done. He’s going to finish writing his book in San Francisco.”

  “How do you feel about that?”

  She shrugged. “He was a good friend to me while he was here, but I won’t really miss him. I hope he finds what he’s looking for in San Francisco. He deserves to find love. He’s a good man.”

  Alex sighed. “I’m just glad he’s going to be a good man in San Francisco instead of Seattle. I know I’m being difficult, but I just don’t want him around.”

  “I know. I’m glad he’s leaving, because I know it will give you peace of mind.”

  “Thank you for understanding that.”

  She laughed. “I thought you were in love with Sarah for two years. I’m the first to understand something like that.”

  “You know, at first I was angry that you wouldn’t believe me, but you believed your papa about that, but now I’m just happy that you know Sarah was never a love interest. She was an important part of my life. I think I’d have worked myself into the grave if she hadn’t given me a job, but she was never more than a friend. I’d like you to meet her sometime.”

  She smiled up at him. “I’d like that too.”

  When they got home, she rushed and made the French toast. She knew it was sad that she could only make two meals, but she felt very accomplished that she’d learned to make anything in such a short time.

  Alex went to his office to do some quick paperwork while she fixed the meal. The first piece she made was burnt, so she threw it away and started over, trying not to let herself get frustrated. Obviously she had the stove hotter than Mildred had when she’d shown her.

  When she had a nice stack of French toast fixed, she called to Alex, and they ate their dinner together. Amaryllis couldn’t stop talking animatedly about the new house and the way she wanted to decorate it. She was on a budget for the first time in her life, but she was able to sew. Her mother had made sure all of them could at least do a bit of it. She could make her own curtains and cushions. She tried not to giggle as she thought about Lily’s cushions. “I promise I’m a better seamstress than my sister!”

  Alex smiled as she described the cushions Lily had made. He was thrilled to see her so happy. “I know it will look wonderful.”

  Amaryllis did the dishes, even though she’d cooked, to give Alex time to do a bit more paperwork and to make up for the time during the day he’d spent dealing with the realtor and the bank to get the purchase of the house set up for her. She still couldn’t believe he was agreeing to move to the little yellow house. She would have to tell her mother as soon as she could.

  Once the dishes were done, she asked for just that. “Can we walk over to my parents’ house and tell them about the house we’re buying? Please?”

  Alex smiled, nodding. “Let’s go. It’s a pretty night for a walk.”

  When they reached her parents’ house, she started to just open the door, but then realized she didn’t live there anymore. It startled her for a moment, but she raised her hand to knock. She gave Alex a helpless look. “I don’t live here anymore.”

  He laughed. “I think it’ll always be home to you, though.”

  “I’m glad you understand that.”

  Her mother came to the door, excited to see them. “Come in! We’ve eaten, but I was about to cut the cake. Are you hungry?” she asked.

  Amaryllis looked at Alex. “Do you want cake?”

  Alex shrugged. “I’m always ready for cake.”

  Amaryllis made a mental note to learn to mak
e cake next as they followed her mother into the dining room. She took a seat on one side of the table with Alex beside her. Her sisters all greeted her, but Jasmine didn’t say a thing. She just glared at her. Amaryllis looked at Jasmine and blew her a kiss. “I love you, Jasmine.”

  Jasmine didn’t respond and instead, she sulked quietly. Amaryllis looked over at Daisy who winked at her, letting her know Daisy had put some of the ideas they’d come up with into practice. No wonder.

  Amaryllis accepted her piece of cake, and once everyone else had been served said, “We have something to tell you.”

  Iris looked over at Amaryllis and jumped to her feet squealing. “I’m going to be an aunt!”

  Amaryllis turned six shades of red, but shook her head. “No. We haven’t been married long enough for that, Iris.” She turned to her mother who was watching her. “We found a house to buy.”

  Mary’s face spread into a huge smile. “Buying your first house is a wonderful experience. I remember when we first moved out here, we had this tiny little one room cabin. Of course, we only had Rose and Lily back then, but I was so proud of it. You were born there, Rilly, but I doubt you remember it.” Amaryllis shook her head as her mother continued. “It was so little, but I was so proud of it, because it was my first house.”

  Amaryllis smiled. “This one isn’t quite that small. It has three bedrooms, and Alex will be able to use one as his office.”

  Mary nodded. “As he establishes his practice, I’m sure you will move on to a bigger house.”

  Fred looked at Alex. “Are you happy about this?”

  “It makes Amaryllis happy, so I’m very pleased.”

  “We’ll help move, of course,” Fred said. “You just let us know when.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Alex smiled at the older man. Their relationship had been rocky, but it seemed to be much better. He was glad the older man wasn’t holding a grudge against him.

  On their walk home after the cake, Alex commented on that to Amaryllis. “I’m surprised your father doesn’t hate me for what happened between us before we married.”