Inside Mother laughed. “What a shame Dr. Fischer isn’t here to see another of his miracle cases.”
Lilly leaned in toward him and Iris. “I smelled that bottle. All it has in it is vanilla, sassafras, brandy, and I think some crushed rosemary.”
Theo stifled a laugh.
Iris glared up at him. “That potion cured my Ma and you shouldn’t laugh, Mister.”
He tweaked her nose again. “Call me Theo, and since I’m the one driving you to the lake, I think you’d better rid yourself of that grumpy face.”
From within the room, another gale of laughter pealed loudly. Lilly opened the door. “Everything all right in here?”
Theo ducked around her and could see his mother wiping away tears of laughter from her eyes.
“I haven’t had so much fun since I was a girl and away at boarding school. Did I ever tell you about that, Theo?”
His mother had been shunned by many of the other girls and her best friend had been one of the maids. They’d get together in secret, play cards, and engage in Mother’s favorite thing – having their very own tea party. “Yes, Mother, you did.”
“I sure miss Amanda.”
Mrs. Smith patted Mother’s hand. “You should send her a note. I’ll even write it for you. Me and all my girls were educated right there in the valley. The oldest three went all the way through eighth grade.”
Mother’s features tugged in an obvious attempt to prevent her disapproval.
“Do you have her address?” Mrs. Smith was as persistent as her daughter.
Theo almost interrupted to reply that of course his mother hadn’t kept up with one of the school servants.
“Oh, yes, I do. It’s in my valise.”
Mother seemed full of surprises today.
“Is that what you call that bag yonder?” Lily’s mother ducked her head in that direction.
“Yes. I have a small address book in there.”
“Vall-eese.” Mrs. Smith rose and went to where the bag sat in a corner. “Ain’t that a fancy name?”
“Ma?” Lilly wrapped an arm around her sister. “We’d like to take the girls to the park for a little picnic.”
Her mother ducked her chin. “We’re fine, ain’t we, Mrs. Reynolds?”
“Indeed. Go on. Just bring us up our tea before you go, would you, Lilly, dear?”
Lilly nodded before she practically sprinted from the room, leaving Theo with Iris.
Theo rocked in his broughams for a moment. “Anything else we can get you, Mother, before we leave?”
“Yes, we want a card table brought up, along with four decks of cards, please.”
Mrs. Smith clapped her hands together. “And pennies, too.”
“Pennies?” Mother arched a brow.
Lilly’s mother shrugged. “In case we place a wager.”
“I see.”
“Lilly gave me a bag of nickels.” Grinning, Mrs. Smith displayed a small muslin bag. “It’s for the girls – when they want to run for a treat.”
“Too many sweets aren’t good for children,” Mother sniffed.
“Well, we can use these if ya want to bet bigger than a penny.”
“No, thank you. A good old copperhead will suffice.”
Iris peered up at Theo. “What’s a snake got to do with anything and how does that stuff ice?”
“I’ll explain later.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Go get the girls and tell them we’ll be leaving in about twenty minutes.”
What a change to be the older and not the younger one in these exchanges. His sisters had spoiled him, but they’d also teased Theo unmercifully and loved to boss him around.
“Sure thing, Theo.” She beamed up at him. “I like that name. Theo sounds better than Mister.”
“It sure does.” He mussed her hair. “Go on now or we’ll be late.”
Mother waved him over to the bed. “We’d like some ice cream later, if you can get it. Daisy told me earlier that she saw a sign near the train depot.”
“I believe you’re much better, Mother.” Already asking favors and ordering people around.
“I am.” She and Mrs. Smith exchanged a knowing glance.
“Now you git along there, Theo, while I tell your ma all about how handsome that Irishman was who made that potion what cured her and me.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll get that folding table and bring it right back.” Theo headed out the door as Lilly was wheeling in a tea cart that reminded him of one from their country home. “She’ll love this.”
“The tea should be ready in a few minutes.” She pointed to the cookies and biscuits on two china plates. “This should hold them until we get back. I’ll get my shawl in case there is a chill, and my hat. Then I’ll bring the tea up.”
Twin rosebud teacups and saucers dominated the cart. Silver spoons were set to the side, atop pink linen napkins. Matching plates held the food. A space at the center was presumably where the teapot would sit.
“Do you have a card table?”
“In the parlor. And would you pour the water over the tea while you are down there?” She smiled up at him, her face so close, he could bend and kiss her, if only. . . “It would save me time.”
He swallowed and straightened. “I’d be happy to.”
“Don’t they look precious together?” Mother’s intoned statement startled him. Had she really just given her blessing?”
“They sure do.” Mrs. Smith’s eyes widened as she surveyed the tea cart. "Just like those there cups go perfect with them saucers.”
Chapter 7
Dressed in their swimming clothes, the oldest two of Lilly’s younger sisters strode out to the Lake Superior shoreline, eighteen-year-old Delphinium twirling her parasol. When she bumped it into Camellia, the younger sister yelped. Lilly smoothed out the skirt of her navy and white swimming dress, and then took Theo’s hand.
Her two youngest sisters, Daisy and Iris, ran ahead of Lilly and Theo and then stopped to unroll their plaid basket near a family with several children near their ages.
When both Camellia and Delphinium took to twirling their parasols, attracting male attention, Lilly scowled at Theo. “We best go in with them.”
He swung his free hand up to cover his chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” She pulled him forward. “Come on.”
He laughed as they hurried to catch up with the young women. As they passed he called to Daisy and Iris, “Sit tight! We’ll be right back.”
Lilly huffed. “We won’t be right back if we go in with them.”
Again he chuckled. “You needn’t worry about them going in too far.”
“Why not?” She narrowed her gaze at him as they passed by a family of picnickers seated on a quilt, a wicker basket overflowing with cherries, sandwiches wrapped in paper, a box of crackers, and a large jar of tea. “My sisters can’t swim.”
“Shouldn’t be an issue.” Ducking his head, he ran his thumb over his lower lip.
“Why not?” As they drew up closer to the flouncing young ladies, Lilly shook her head. These were the first new clothes in a long while for pretty auburn-haired Camellia and dark-haired Delphinium. These were also the only genuinely frilly and feminine garb they’d ever had.
Theo pointed to the blue-gray water, which rippled beneath a bright blue sky dotted with puffy clouds. “You’ll soon see.”
“Theo! I really don’t want to sit here and watch my sisters drown!” She strode faster toward the girls, Theo keeping up with her.
They’d almost closed in on them when two young dandies popped up from their blankets. One bowed toward Camellia and the other toward dark-eyed Delphinium. Lilly blew out a breath of exasperation. Her sisters were too young for beaus. Weren’t they? She chewed her lower lip.
Theo squeezed her hand. “I know those two fellows from work. They’re skirt-chasers.”
Lilly released his hand. “Well, do something then.”
“If you’ll give me just a minute, I won’t have the necessity.”
; “What? You need to use the necessary right now?” She glanced around, not spying an outhouse. “When my sisters are being bothered by those men?”
He chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “No, just watch.”
Theo certainly did seem relaxed. With him so close to her, Lilly’s heartbeat kicked up a notch. Or maybe it was because she was worried about her sisters. Theo turned her toward him, and looked down at her with such adoration, that she could scarcely catch her breath. He leaned in closer. Theo was choosing this time to bestow their first kiss? She stiffened, just as he quickly kissed the top of her head and then turned her once more toward the sandy beach.
Her sisters, flanked by each of the young men, tentatively crossed the sand, holding their shoes in their hands. Despite the unusually warm, early June day, none of the children in the families were down by the water. In fact, as Lilly broke away from Theo and ran toward the little group, she saw that no one else was going in. In the distance, ships sailed toward the Soo Locks, which she’d finally gotten to see on their trip out.
She approached the shoreline. A few children skipped stones on the water, calling out the number they’d skipped over the waves.
As Camellia and Delphinium stepped into the water, a collective shriek went up. “It’s cold!”
“This here water is freezing!” Her brown-eyed sister shot one of the young men a scathing look before she ran straight back to Lilly and Theo, who had now joined her.
Still at the shore, the two young bucks laughed and patted each other on the back.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Camellia demanded of Theo.
His cheeks flushed and he ducked his chin. “I guess I should have.”
“You guess?” Her sister harrumphed. “It’s like ice water in there!”
A wicked gleam lit Camellia’s green eyes. “I guess the Smith girls will have to help you get an early bath then.”
Lilly watched as the four girls pulled, pushed and prodded Theo down to the lake, and he good-naturedly allowed them to push him in. Life with him would be grand. Life with him? Since when had that been an option? God had brought her to this place to give her, and her family, a new life. Was Theo part of that?
As all three of them ran back toward her, the clusters of families on the beach called out, cheered, clapped and whistled.
Theo rushed at her and clasped her in his cold dripping arms. He lifted Lilly up and twirled her around. Dizzy, when he finally set her down, she clung to him, despite the chilling wetness that soaked through her own swimming garb. He pressed his lips close to her ear. “After I put up with that dunking, I think you owe me something.”
“What?” She shook, but it had nothing to do with the lake water soaking her and everything to do with his words.
He kissed her cheek. “After I ask your mother, then I’ll let you know what adequate recompense is.”
Lilly wasn’t sure what that meant but she’d ask on the way home. After rejoining Iris and Daisy, they had their picnic. Afterward, they strolled around the park, then loaded back up into the carriage.
They arrived back in town well before dark, which was late-coming in the Upper Peninsula’s summers, Lilly had learned. At Aunt Lil’s house, they’d had to add extra blinds to the west-facing rooms. The sun sometimes didn’t set until after nine and the sky was not dark until after ten. As Theo directed the horses up Portage Avenue, Lilly spied movement near the house.
“Oh, no.” Lilly pressed a hand to her mouth. “It’s that awful woman again.”
“Who? I see a policeman up there, but. . .”
“A policeman?” Fourteen-year-old Iris, in the back seat, leaned up behind Lilly, tossing her dark-blond braid over her shoulder. “Did your Ma do something bad, Theo?”
He gave the reins a flick and the horses picked up their pace. He pulled into the drive alongside the porch, where Ma was talking with the stranger and the policeman. When Theo set the brake, Lilly quickly jumped down, trailed by her sisters like a flock of chicks.
“What’s going on here?” Lilly narrowed her eyes at the strange lady before turning to address the policeman. “This lady is trespassing on my property.”
Mama crossed her arms and nodded her head. “That’s just what I told her. And when I offered to give her a broom-escort down the walk, she refused it.”
“Well, I never!” The silver-haired lady tapped at the officer’s shoulder with her index finger. “Do I have to take this kind of maltreatment?”
The policeman raised both hands. “Everyone settle down here. I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding.”
“There’s no misunderstanding. Lillian collected teacups for years, intending to put me out of business and now this upstart is operating a business without a license!”
“What?” Lilly gasped and looked up at Theo, for him to clarify, but he said nothing.
Mama picked up the broom. “She needs to be put in that new asylum in Newberry.”
“Why, I never!”
“We’re all guests here, lady. Do you know what that is?” Mama scowled so fiercely she could peel the skin off a tater. “It’s what you ain’t. You ain’t a guest – you’re a trespasser.”
Behind Mama, the screen door opened. “What’s going on down here?”
“Mother, go back to bed.” Theo moved past the others, excusing himself as he went.
“See here, I’m Samantha Reynolds, a guest here, recovering from an illness and this young lady has been nothing but kind to me.” Theo’s mother pressed a hand against the door jamb. “Of what crime are you accusing her?”
“Yeah?” Iris muttered, rolling her blue-green eyes.
The officer patted his baton. Was he thinking of using it? Lilly cringed. “Everybody settle down now.”
“That’s right, ma’am.” The policeman turned toward Lilly. “Are you operating a tea shop from this home, Miss Smith?”
“No!”
“Of course not,” Mrs. Reynolds and Ma echoed.
Theo assumed a sheepish posture. “Aren’t you, Lilly?”
“No.” She stared at him. “Whatever gave you that idea?” She should have corrected him long ago. But she’d thought he must realize she wasn’t.
“See!” The tiny woman jabbed at the officer again. “She’s selling goods.”
“Do you have any proof?” The blond-haired policemen tapped his foot.
Theo rubbed his chin and avoided eye contact.
Lilly sighed and met the tea shop owner’s gaze. “Ma’am, you and Mr. Reynolds obviously are confused. I did allow him to have some of Aunt Lillian’s teacups and saucers, for his mother and he insisted on paying.”
“There, she said it!” The shopkeeper jabbed at the air with her index finger.
“But I had him put the money in a jar up there on the porch.” Lilly pointed to where it sat.
Theo picked up the jar and lifted its lid.
“It’s empty, though.”
“That’s called making a sales transaction and it is illegal. Illegal young lady! It might be different down South where you live but up here. . .”
Lilly cut off the tirade with a wave of her hand. “That’s because I took the money and donated it at church last week.”
“Where?” the woman demanded.
“St. Mary’s. My aunt was a member there.”
“I’m a member, and I never saw you go up.” The lady huffed.
“That’s because I met with the priest privately and gave the donation in my Aunt Lillian’s name, along with another amount she’d specified.”
The policeman nodded. “That’s easy enough to verify, with your permission, miss.”
“Certainly.”
Mama uncrossed her arms and gathered up the girls. “Come on, let’s get you out of them silly swimming dresses and into bed.”
“Goodnight, son!” Mrs. Reynolds waved to Theo. She went inside with Mama and Lilly’s sisters, as the police officer and tea shop proprietress left, too.
Lilly strod
e up the steps to her rocking chair and sat down. “Theo, you nearly had me arrested.”
He held up both hands. “I didn’t know what to say.”
Suddenly tired, she closed her eyes. “I just need some time to myself.”
“Forgive me, Lilly, I didn’t realize exactly what your situation was.”
It isn’t his fault.
“Let me bid you goodnight then.”
As he turned to walk away, she called out, “Wait. I’m sorry. If I were honest with myself, the truth is I didn’t tell you early on because I’d hoped. . .”
Theo turned and faced her in the twilight night, fireflies glowing as they signaled one another. “Yes?”
“I’d hoped you’d keep coming in to buy more teacups for your mother.” And now the whole household had been upset.
Laughter pealed from upstairs. Lilly lifted her chin.
Theo chuckled. “They’re getting a kick out of what happened – at our expense.”
She gave a short laugh. “Seems so.”
“I don’t think any harm has been done, save to the tea shop owner’s pride.”
“And I will make that up to her. Whether she accepts my apology, and my cherry pie, will be up to her.”
“I’ll take the pie if she doesn’t.” Theo took two steps closer, bent, and leaned his forehead against hers.
A thrill shot through her down to her toes as he pulled her up from the chair then drew her closer. He released her hands and wrapped his arms around her, pressing her against his broad chest. There, in the near-dark, they could have been the only two people in the world, despite the laughter continuing upstairs.
“Lilly, do you want to know what I wanted to ask your mother?”
Wrapped in his embrace, she didn’t care. “Hmmm?”
“If she’d agree for me to court you.”
Her shoulders briefly stiffened before she relaxed back into his arms, inhaling his spicy scent. “What do you think she’ll say, especially since you’re out here holding me in your arms?”
“Probably to ask you, since she isn’t the one who’d have to put up with me.”
Lilly laughed and pulled back to look up at him. Overhead, hundreds of stars began to appear as the skies went dark. The pressure of his warm fingers against her waist sent a shiver of anticipation through her. A passage from the Song of Solomon came to mind, one that admonished “Daughters. . .do not stir love until it is the right time.” She might not have the verse right, but she understood its meaning.
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