“My arms can’t go wide enough to show you how much I love you, too Anna.” Claire leaned down and kissed the girl’s cheek. “I’ll be staying right beside you.”
Anna’s only answer was another smile and a few blinks of her eyes before she snuggled back down in her pillow and fell asleep holding Claire’s hand.
“I don’t even want to move,” said Claire, glancing over at George.
“I’ll move the chair for you so you can sit next to her for a while. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Absolutely not. I’ll stay here as long as it takes.” She smiled as George kissed her.
Claire settled in the chair, making sure her hand never slipped away from Anna’s.
About an hour later, Mitchell came back up to the room. “I can let you two get some fresh air while I sit with her, if you like. They should be serving the patients dinner soon. I heard a couple of the nurses talking to each other.”
“That would be nice,” said George. “We’ll take a walk, maybe.”
“They’ve got some nice grounds outside. Kind of chilly, though. But there is a cafeteria, if you want some coffee.”
George patted Mitchell on the back. “Don’t worry about us. Be back in a little while.”
Mitchell took Claire’s place on the chair.
“We won’t be gone too long.” Claire turned back toward the bed. “I don’t want her crying or scared when she wakes up.”
“She’ll be fine. I’ll tell her that you’re coming back.” Mitchell smiled and waved them off.
Claire and George walked down the hall and took the elevator to the bottom floor. Struck with an idea, they decided to go to the chapel, hoping they would be alone. The lobby had filled up more since their arrival. Inside the chapel, the sun blazed outside, lighting up the stain glass windows, casting a kaleidoscope of colors on the floor. George ushered Claire into a pew, where he slid in beside her. As they sat in silence for a while, Claire said a prayer for Anna, for her, for George, Mitchell, and people she cared about.
For the first time she welcomed the communion with spirit, the chance to simply be silent and pray. She’d learned the power of prayer at an early age. The only time it wavered was at Hatchie River, but even then, she knew it saw her through the worst of times. Her internal solitude dissipated at the touch of George’s warm hand on hers. His face showed a certain preoccupation, very similar to the one at dinner the last time they ate together.
“You okay?” she asked him.
Though they were alone, he glanced around before focusing his attention on her. “I need to ask you something.”
Claire indicated for him to continue.
“I’m serious about Mitchell, you, and me going to see the lawyer. That needs to be done. But there’s another person I want to see, but I can’t decide if it’s a Justice of The Peace or a minister.”
She arched an eyebrow. “What exactly are you saying? Are you asking me to marry you?”
“What do you think?” He smiled at her.
“You sure about this, George?”
“I couldn’t be more sure. First of all, Anna loves you more than I’ve ever seen her care about anybody, and it’s not like she hasn’t been around other women. But there’s one more thing.”
“Go on.” Claire fought to keep her heart from pounding right out of her chest. This was the moment she’d been wanting, pretty much since she’d arrived in Knoxville and laid eyes on George Parker.
“I love you too. I think something hit me the moment I saw you. There was this connection. Don’t know how to describe it, really.”
She smiled. “I know a man who told me the story of when he was a little boy and saw another little girl on the playground. He looked at her and told her he was going to marry her. And years later they did.”
“Men know these things, Claire. They carry the feelings and that inner knowing deep in their hearts. Even if they’re too young to understand, they know. I knew it, too, when you stepped off that train. As time went on, I’ll admit it scared me a little, and I started doubting.”
Claire nodded in agreement.
“But this has brought me back around full circle.” The tears welled up in his eyes. “Seeing my little girl nearly dead scared me more than I’ve ever been scared in my life. I didn’t know true fear until I saw that little body lying there on the cold hard gravel. Even Anita’s death didn’t affect me like that. And why was Anna on the road, her little heart about to beat its last? Because she wanted a mother. She had an inner knowing too. She wanted you to be that special person.”
George’s eyes fixed on Claire, a look so intent it drew her in like a magnet. He continued. “To deny her that wish would be cruel and thoughtless. To deny myself wouldn’t be good, either. And this all hinges on the hope that you even agree with what I’m saying.”
When Claire found her voice, she said, “Of course I agree with you. I think I knew all of this much earlier, or I admitted it to myself. But women have to be careful. You men spook too easily. Then all is lost.”
“If a man spooks that easily, he’s not worthy.” He wrapped his arm around hers. “I want to be worthy, and love you every day until our dying day. I want Anna to never cry and run away again because she doesn’t have a mother who’ll love her and care for her the way she deserves.”
“You’ll never have to worry that I don’t feel the same toward both of you. Somehow I almost feel like Anna’s mine.” Claire managed a small chuckle. “Not sure why I would feel that way, but I do believe there is that connection as you say.”
“It was meant for you to be her mother. I see that now.”
“I think things happen for a reason. There’s a big picture that we may not see at a certain time, but when all is said and done, even the bad fits in for the greater whole of the good.”
“So it’s settled? We have a plan once Anna gets out of here?” George pulled Claire closer to him.
“We have a plan.” Claire closed her eyes as George kissed her again.
“Let’s go back upstairs. Mitchell will think we ran off and left him.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Harland Chadwell sat behind a gargantuan maple desk, leaning back in his red leather chair. He appraised the three people sitting in front of him. His law office was a couple of blocks down from George’s store, and he’d come to work that morning with a notice from his secretary that he had an urgent appointment first thing.
“That’s the craziest story I’ve heard in a while.” He let out a light whistle and shook his head. “So your old man just dumped you like that? And then he shows up again, and nearly kills you?”
“I thought I’d seen my last,” said Claire, gazing hard at the pudgy man behind the desk. He looked like one who enjoyed his food and drink to a fault. George gave her his oath that the man was honorable, or she’d have walked out the moment she saw him.
The lawyer squinted at George, Mitchell, and Claire, silent with his own thoughts. The tops of his fingers drummed a little rhythmic beat on top of the desk pad. He finally let out a sigh. With a little tilt back for leverage, he threw himself forward out of the chair and headed straight for a group of wooden filing cabinets. “Well, I think there are some options we have. My question is how are we getting Mr. Wright to sign any of them? He sounds like he’s turned pretty cantankerous.” He glanced over at George. “Mr. Parker, have you and Mr. Wright thought about that?” He angled his head further in Mitchell’s direction.
“A little,” said George, “but I’m like you. I’m not sure how to go about it. You’d have to try and trick him, make him think he was signing something else. I think he’d catch on. Something tells me he isn’t totally off his rocker.”
Mitchell grimaced. “No, but he’s sliding off pretty fast, in my opinion.”
Claire spoke up. “Mr. Chadwell, I’m going to propose something. It’s very unorthodox, but if nobody ever challenged it, I don’t see how it could hurt.”
“And what’s that, ma�
�am?” Chadwell pulled out some papers from a couple of different drawers and settled back down in his chair, the springs blaring off a grating sound against his weight.
“What if Mitchell signed the papers and simply put Adrian’s name?” She eyed each man quickly and stared down at her lap.
“It’s not unorthodox, ma’am. It’s really illegal.” Chadwell tapped the papers lightly against his chin.
“Couldn’t we do a signature by proxy, some sort of emergency thing like that? I’m sure people have done it in some dire situations.” Claire was determined to have this divorce if it was the last thing she ever did in life.
The lawyer let out a loud laugh. “They have.” He gazed at the group.
“Oh, come on, Harland,” George said, shrugging. “Claire’s right. How could it hurt? Nobody is ever going to make a huge deal about this, let alone ask to see papers. They don’t have children. I’ve never heard her talk about being close with family. Mitchell will take all this to the grave with him. And of course, I’d die before I ever said anything. You definitely aren’t.”
“Can’t we just keep this our dirty little secret, an ugly necessity, and just get on with our lives?” It was Mitchell who chimed in.
Harland sucked in his breath. “There is what’s called an ex parte divorce. It a divorce where the other party is not present.” He shrugged. “Okay, I’m game if you are. Let’s do it.” He flipped through some papers and spent a few minutes filling out some of the blanks on the pages. When he finished, he pushed them toward Mitchell. “There you go. I need your signature as a witness.”
Mitchell looked quickly at Claire. “You sure you want me to do this?”
“You’re the one who brought all this up first. So why are you asking me?” She frowned.
“Just checking.”
“Sign the papers, Mitchell.” George lightly pushed his client toward the desk.
With a few flourishes of the pen, Mitchell signed his name on the blank.
“Mrs. Wright, you sign here.”
Claire grasped the pen and dutifully placed her name on the line above Mitchell’s. She pushed the papers back to Harland and handed him his pen.
“There, we’re done.” Harland grinned for a second. “That wasn’t too bad, was it?”
“How much do we owe you, Harland?” George got up from his chair, extending his hand to his friend.
“Aw, George. I won’t charge you for this.”
“I’ll give you a free hat. Your choice,” said Mitchell.
“That’s an offer I can’t refuse, Mr. Wright.” Harland shook Mitchell’s hand with enthusiasm.
“You come to the store, and I’ll also let you pick out something for the wife,” George said. “That’s my contribution.”
“I’ll take you up on that, Parker. You’ll see me soon.” Chadwell laughed. “Mrs. Wright, glad you’re here in Knoxville. It was a pleasure meeting you. I’m here if you ever need me.”
“Thank you,” Claire stated, shaking the attorney’s hand.
All three left Chadwell’s office and returned to Claire’s house. Anna had insisted on taking up residence in the room across from Claire’s, and Edna had followed, determined she needed to perform her work no matter where she was. When they arrived, Anna was resting on the sofa, Buzzie and Moo curled up around her. Edna had retired to the kitchen, where the most wonderful smell floated out.
“Did you get everything done?” she asked, wiping her hands on her apron and greeting them at the door.
“We did, Edna,” said George. “That’s a big load off us.”
“I’m sure it is.” She turned to Claire. “I bet you’re so happy now that this is all over. You can move on.”
“That is so true.” Claire smiled.
“Miss Claire, can I stay here forever? I’ll be really good.” Anna peered up.
“Darling, how could you ever think you were bad? You’re always good.” Claire walked over and stroked Anna’s curls.
George rubbed his lower lip, thinking. “Anna, how would you like to stay here for a really long time?” He walked over to his daughter and sat on the edge of the sofa next to her. “How would you like for Miss Claire to be your mother?”
The room grew silent. Mitchell stared straight at Claire. George gazed at his daughter and she back at him. Edna stared at the floor, too emotional to move.
Anna’s eyes had grown wide. “My mother?” She looked at Claire and back to her father. “It’s not a dream?”
“Of course not, Anna. This is real. I love Miss Claire too.”
“And we can all stay here with Buzzie and Moo? And Edna can stay too?”
“Of course.” George smiled and nodded to Edna, who’s mouth had spread into a wide smile. She lifted her hand, wiping away a tear that had trickled down her cheek.
I’m sorry,” she said in a quivering voice. “I just love beautiful moments like this.” She sniffed and smiled again. “I’ll just go on back in the kitchen and get lunch ready.”
“When will Miss Claire be mother?” Anna whispered the words.
“Probably by the end of the week. We’ll do it all really quick. Does that sound good?”
“It’s perfect.” Anna sang out, her eyes sparkling. She didn’t try to move too much, still sore from the accident. “Miss Claire, are we going to have a wedding with flowers and pretty dresses?”
“I don’t know about that, but we’ll have a quick ceremony.” Claire wrapped her hands around Anna’s face, kissing her lightly on the top of the head. The wound was healing well and the hair would be grown back out soon. The bruising was taking it’s time going away, but all in good time for that too.
“The quicker we do the ceremony, the faster she becomes your mother. A wedding takes months to plan.”
“We can’t wait months, daddy. That’s too long.” Anna looked intently at her father.
“I know, honey.” George laughed. He stood up and looked at everyone. “Now we all know what’s going on. Don’t know about you, but it’s lunchtime, and I’m starved. Mitchell, you lead the way, and I’ll get Anna situated.”
***
“I’m so happy for you. I think you and Mr. Parker will be so good for each other,” Oma had said earlier in the week to Claire. “I’d be honored to stand with you.” Mitchell also expressed his pleasure in being asked to join George and Claire on their special day, and agreed to stay until he saw Claire safely married to George. Anna was beside herself with excitement, moving carefully back and forth all over the house as the adults dressed before heading to the church. Edna said she would stay behind and have a special meal prepared when they returned.
“You’ve never looked more beautiful than you do now, Mrs. Wright . . . um . . . I mean Mrs. Parker.” She giggled, face flushed with pleasure, and returned to the kitchen.
Inside the church, George and Claire now stood before the minister, no one else present except for Mitchell, Oma, and Anna. The minister smiled at the small group before him. “I love small ceremonies like this one. It only shows that true love, bound by God, needs no fanfare, no pomp and circumstance to make the pledge between man and woman any stronger. Shall we begin?”
The group smiled in approval. Within minutes, Claire’s life changed all over again. The relationship with George, and the marriage especially, had been fast. But it had seemed so right. True love didn’t get caught up in the trappings and expectations of time as humans dictated. One’s path in life held twists and turns, heartache and happiness, and oftentimes it didn’t hold to man-made traditions, either. Maybe that was what “be still and know that I am God” really meant. That you learn from the silence and follow what feels right in the gut. She and George had both felt it simultaneously, and so did Anna.
Claire smiled down at the sweet little girl grasping her hand as if her life depended on it. Edna had fixed Anna’s hair and added a darling bow that fell nicely in place, covering the wounded part of her head. Beneath the cream-colored dress, no one really noticed the band
ages still covering the scrapes that healed. Now Anna was her little girl. Harland Chadwell had suggested a couple of days earlier that she and George stop by, and he would draw up some papers that made Claire the legal, adoptive mother to Anna.
When Anna heard this, she insisted she wanted her own certificate to hang on her wall. Harland had been delighted to create a special adoption certificate for the little girl.
After eating lunch at the house, Mitchell went upstairs and packed his bags. When he finished, he carried them downstairs and placed them by the front door.
“Do you have to leave today? Can’t you stay a little longer?” Claire hated to see those bags packed. Having Mitchell around added life to the family. And he’d been so kind, though it all had gotten off to a rather slow start.
“Gotta run, Claire. My employees are good, but they still need a leader. You know how that goes.” He smiled.
“What are you going to do with Adrian? I don’t want him here at all. Nothing to even remind me of him anymore.”
“Yes, just what are you going to do, Mitchell?” George had entered the living room.
“He’ll be coming with me on the train tonight.” Mitchell eyed both Claire and George.
George’s face went solemn. “And just how do you intend on doing that? Do you need some help? Want me to come with you? My wife can run the store if I need to leave.” George kissed Claire quickly on the cheek. “You don’t know how happy it makes me feel to say that.”
Claire laughed. “I love hearing it. And Mitchell, George is right. You surely can’t handle Adrian all by yourself.”
“Well, I’ve been doing it this whole time. I just let him get away. That was my fault. Let’s just say alcohol can be your best friend when you need it. The Tennessean has a wonderful bar, and I intend to let Adrian make full use of it. I’ll whisper for the bartender to make everything a double.” Mitchell chuckled.
“Hey, Mitch,” said George, “have you ever thought of moving your business to Knoxville?”
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