by Ginny Dye
The shrill cry of a hawk split the evening air just as the frogs began their nightly chorus.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” Thomas finally asked.
“Not yet,” Abby said lightly, but what was shining in her eyes gave him the courage to continue.
“I’ve thought so much about what I want since I arrived back on the plantation,” Thomas continued. “When my wife died, all I wanted to do was escape Cromwell and go to Richmond. When the war ended, all I wanted was to leave the city and return home to rebuild.” He took a deep breath. “It’s so good to be back home…”
“But it’s not enough,” Abby observed.
Thomas smiled slightly. “No, it’s not. And I’m not even going to ask you how you know that. I’ve learned those gray eyes never miss a thing.” He smiled as a fish jumped out of the water and landed with a splash. “I love it here with all my heart, and it’s been exactly what I’ve needed, but I believe there is so much more I’m meant to be doing. I no longer have a taste for politics, but I am discovering a growing passion to rebuild my state.”
“How?”
Thomas shrugged. “That remains to be seen. It also remains to be seen if I share the next season of my life with someone.”
“Someone who fell in love with you the first day and has been wondering ever since how she was going to explain to your daughter what had happened?”
Thomas sucked in his breath sharply and turned to grasp her hands. “You mean it, Abby?”
“You should know by now I don’t say things I don’t mean,” she chided.
Thomas laughed. “That I do.” He put his hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes. “I just want to look at you,” he murmured. “I never believed I would love again. To be loved in return by such an extraordinary woman is almost more than I can comprehend.”
Abby smiled and raised her hand to rest it on his cheek. “I’ve lived alone for so many years. I had determined that was going to be my lot in life and I found so many ways to make peace with that, but after a few days with you, Thomas, I knew I would never have peace with it again.”
Thomas grasped her hand and pulled her close. “I love you, Abigail Livingston,” he said tenderly. “Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”
Abby laughed, tears glistening in her eyes. “Only if you don’t make me wait a long time, Thomas Cromwell,” she responded joyfully. “If nothing else, the war taught me not to take anything for granted and to make the most of every moment.”
“We will marry soon,” Thomas promised as he claimed her lips.
When he finally raised his head, he couldn’t take his eyes off her face. “Could we marry tomorrow?” he asked hopefully.
Abby laughed, suddenly feeling like a girl again. “I think your daughter might have something to say about that.”
Thomas interpreted the sudden look in her eyes. “My daughter,” he said firmly, “is going to be the happiest woman in the world when she hears the news. She loved her mother, but she has thought of you as her mother since the first summer you met. I know you know how much she loves you, but I’m not quite sure you fully comprehend how much you mean to her.”
“I know that Carrie is the daughter I always dreamed of having,” Abby said softly. “To join my life with such an amazing man and also have Carrie part of the package, is more than I ever hoped for.”
Thomas shifted so he could pull her tightly into his arms as they gazed out over the river. The setting sun had turned the water from a rich blue to a shimmering gold. Fireflies flitted through the trees along the banks, glimmering like dancing stars in the rich, leafy canopies. Whippoorwills sang into the night as owls joined their hooting to the orchestra.
“It’s amazing to think we will always have this to come home to,” Abby said with a sigh. She turned to Thomas and laid her hand on his face. “I would love it if we could build the factory together.”
Thomas looked at her for a long moment. “I don’t know much about the factory business,” he finally stated.
“Perhaps not,” Abby said casually, “but you are an astute businessman, and you are wonderful with people. You also know what we are going to be up against here in the South.”
“I may be a hindrance,” Thomas said hesitantly. “There may be a lack of trust because I served in the Virginia government during the war.”
“And you may also be the perfect example of a man who is adjusting to changes in the South as we fight for equality,” Abby replied calmly.
Thomas chuckled. “This seems to be something you’ve thought about,” he observed.
“Let’s just say that I spent some evenings alone with my fantasies of a perfect life.”
Thomas laughed loudly as he kissed her again. “I can’t believe I’m so lucky!” he exclaimed. He pulled Abby to her feet and swung her around the beach in a slow waltz. “Did Carrie ever happen to mention I love to dance?”
“That might have been part of my fantasies,” Abby murmured as she wrapped her arms around him and lost herself in his warmth.
******
Early the next morning, Granite’s frantic neighing announced Carrie’s arrival even before they heard the wagon wheels.
Everyone was waiting on the porch when the wagon pulled to a stop.
Thomas was the first to step forward. “Welcome to Cromwell Plantation,” he said warmly, reaching forward to grasp Gabe’s hand as Moses swung Polly down from the wagon.
Clint and Amber both jumped down and stood with their heads back, gaping at the house. “This be your house?” Amber gasped.
Thomas nodded and stooped down in front of her. “It is,” he said gravely. “Do you like it?”
“I think it’s the prettiest house I ever did see!” Amber replied. “Are you Carrie’s daddy?”
“I am. And I bet you’re Amber.”
“Yes, sir. I be Amber.” She looked up at the house again. “Where is Robert?” she demanded. She turned to Carrie. “Robert be needing me,” she said firmly.
Rose stepped forward. “You two go ahead. I’ll take care of getting everyone settled.”
Carrie opened her mouth to protest, but Aunt Abby walked up and put her arm around her waist. “We’ll take care of everyone,” she assured her.
Carrie nodded her thanks and looked at Aunt Abby more carefully. “You look very happy,” she murmured. “Has something happened?”
Aunt Abby just smiled. “Go up to Robert. We’ll talk later.”
Carrie felt the urge to press for more information, but Amber tugged at her arm.
“You need to take me to Robert,” she said again, her eyes glowing with intensity.
Carrie gripped her hand tightly, waved to the group, and walked in the door. “He’s upstairs,” she said, leading Amber up the landing, aware her eyes were wide as saucers as she looked around the house.
“Robert sure do have a beautiful house to be sick in,” Amber finally announced.
When Carrie reached the door to the bedroom, she knelt down and forced Amber to look at her. She had done her best to prepare the little girl, but she just didn’t know how Amber would handle Robert’s appearance. He didn’t look even remotely like the man she had waved goodbye to two years earlier. “Amber…”
Amber sighed and reached up to pat Carrie’s face. “I know you be scared for me to see Robert, but you don’t need to be. I know he’s been real sick, and I know he don’t look good. That don’t change how I feel about him,” she insisted. “You came all the way up to our home to get me so I could be with him, not stand out here in the hall,” she said firmly. “Are the books I asked for in his room?”
Carrie nodded, torn between amusement and amazement as she looked in Amber’s glowing eyes.
“Then I got everything I need,” Amber announced.
Carrie took a deep breath and opened the door, glad the windows were open as she had directed. At least Robert’s room didn’t smell like a hospital ward. A breeze blew in through the screened window
s, bringing in the fragrance of early summer. Fresh flowers filled a vase on his nightstand that also held a heavy load of the books Amber had requested.
Amber hung back as Carrie walked over to Robert. “Hello, dear,” she said gently.
If Robert heard her, he didn’t acknowledge it. His eyes remained closed, but the change in his breathing told her he was awake. Her sigh was a mixture of sorrow and frustration. She was aware of Amber watching them with almost terrifying intensity. Carrie hoped she had not brought the cheerful, believing little girl all this way just to have her heart crushed.
“Robert, I have someone here to see you,” she said, wondering how she was going to tell him.
“Hi, Robert!” Amber said brightly, moving past Carrie to clamber up on the bed. “I knows you be awake, Robert. You used to play that game at home too. Don’t you know I knew it every time you was playing?” She patted Robert’s cheek gently. “You ain’t got nothing to be afraid of, Robert. I’m here to take care of you now.”
Robert stiffened and slowly opened his eyes, confusion and disbelief racing across his face. “Amber?” he croaked.
Amber laughed with delight. “That’s right, Robert. It’s me! Carrie came all the way to get us.”
“Us?” Robert managed, swinging his eyes to Carrie’s face.
“All of us,” Amber continued. “Daddy and Mama be here. Clint too!” She reached forward to hug Robert and then snuggled in next to his side and reached for one of the books.
“You can go on downstairs now, Carrie. Me and Robert gonna be just fine.”
Carrie stared at her, not sure what to do. She could tell Robert was confused, but there was also something in his face she hadn’t seen in a long time. When she finally recognized it as the first glimmerings of hope, she felt a jolt of her own hope that had been lying dormant.
Amber smiled at her sweetly and reached for one of the books. She frowned when she looked at it, but then gazed up at Robert. “This book gonna have some big words I don’t know,” she confided. “You’ll have to help me with them. You can do that, can’t you, Robert?” she demanded.
Carrie felt another surge of hope when she saw him nod slowly, his eyes fixed on Amber’s face. She was smiling when she pulled the door closed.
******
Thomas was alone on the porch when Carrie walked downstairs, humming lightly. “Where is everyone?” she asked.
“They’ve all gone to get Gabe and Polly settled,” Thomas responded.
Carrie started to nod but caught something in his eyes. “All of them?”
“All of them,” he confirmed. “They should be back by lunch.”
“I see,” Carrie murmured, still gazing into her father’s eyes.
Thomas chuckled. “I told her you would see right through it.”
Carrie stared at him now. “See right through it? What is going on?” She felt no alarm because her father’s eyes were so peaceful, but she could tell he was hiding something.
“I just wanted to talk to you alone,” he admitted. “I suggested to Abby that she talk everyone into helping Gabe’s family get settled.”
“I see,” Carrie replied. She settled down in the rocking chair and waited.
Thomas walked to the edge of the porch and stared out over the pasture. Granite was pressed up against the fence, waiting for Carrie to come out to see him, but he had to talk to her first. He just wasn’t sure how to start the conversation.
“Aunt Abby says it’s best to say things straight out,” Carrie suggested in an amused tone.
“Yes, that sounds like her,” Thomas said. “That’s one of the reasons I love her.”
Carrie nodded, and then suddenly gasped. “What did you say?”
Thomas smiled and moved over to sit down in the rocking chair next to her. “I said I love Abby,” he stated firmly. “I’ve asked her to marry me. Do you mind?”
Carrie could only stare at him, the words swirling through her mind. “Aunt Abby? You’re marrying Aunt Abby?”
“I am. Do you mind?” Thomas repeated, suddenly anxious. “I’ve loved her from the first day I met her,” he admitted. “Being out here together has been wonderful. I talked to her last night. She has agreed to be my wife.”
Carrie heard the words as if from a long distance.
“Carrie?”
The words coming from her father’s mouth finally congealed in Carrie’s mind. “You’re marrying Aunt Abby?” Joyous laughter rang from her throat. “I do believe that’s the most wonderful news I’ve ever heard!” She jumped up and pulled her father to his feet, and then threw her arms around him. “Congratulations, Father. You are about to marry the most amazing woman in the world!”
Thomas joined in her laughter as they held each other. “Thank you, Carrie,” he finally managed.
“Thank you? How could you not know I would be deliriously happy? For both of us,” she said joyfully. Suddenly she frowned.
“What is it?”
Carrie chose her words carefully. “I have no problem at all believing Aunt Abby has fallen in love with my dashing, handsome, charming father. I’m having a harder time seeing her happy living on the plantation.” She looked at her father apologetically. “I could be wrong.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Thomas said firmly. “That’s why we’re moving back to Richmond.”
Carrie gasped and reached behind her for the rocker as she sank back down. “Perhaps you should tell me everything.”
Thomas told her of their decision to return to Richmond to build the factory together.
“You’ll be happy there?” Carrie asked.
Thomas nodded. “The plantation will always be my home, but I want to be involved in rebuilding Virginia. Moses doesn’t need me here to run the plantation. He proved that years ago. I know it will be in good hands.”
“How soon will you be married?” Carrie asked, her heart pounding with anticipation.
“The middle of July.”
“Six weeks?” Carrie gasped. “There is so much to do!”
“Not so much,” Thomas disagreed. “Both of us have been married before. We don’t need a fancy ceremony. We’ve both learned to savor the joys of life when they come. We don’t want to wait.”
“Of course you don’t,” Carrie agreed, her eyes dancing with delight. “But you absolutely will not keep me from making it a grand celebration,” she said firmly. “If six weeks is what I have, it’s what I have. I’ll handle everything.”
“Abby said that’s how you would respond,” Thomas replied with a chuckle.
“You have an advantage now, Father.”
“And what would that be?” he asked in amusement.
“You now have a way to understand your hard-headed daughter, because you are about to marry an older version of her. Abby will always know what I am thinking and feeling because we’re so much alike.”
“Score one for the men of the Cromwell family!” Thomas said dramatically. “We need all the help we can get.”
Carrie suddenly froze, her head lifting as she listened intently. “Father!”
“What is it?” Thomas asked sharply.
Carrie smiled and pressed her hand to his arm. “Listen!”
Thomas stood quietly, hearing nothing but a soft murmur coming from the window over their heads. And then he heard what had made Carrie freeze. A broad smile covered his face as the sound wafted through the window again, carried gently on a breeze that knew it carried a precious cargo.
Robert laughed.
******
Carrie was waiting on the porch when the wagon rolled back up.
“They’re all settled,” Aunt Abby called as everyone unloaded. “I believe they’ll be quite comfortable in the house.”
“I believe they will,” Carrie agreed, and then she clapped her hands together loudly. “I have an announcement to make,” she said, stepping to the front door to call Sam, Opal, and Eddie out onto the porch.
She waited until everyone had assembled and walk
ed down the stairs to take Aunt Abby’s hand. She led her onto the porch to stand beside her father. Carrie turned back to the group with a huge smile on her face. “I would like to announce that my father is going to marry Abigail Livingston on July fifteenth!”
Clapping and cheers broke out as the group surged up onto the porch to shake hands and give hugs.
Aunt Abby finally broke away from the group and took Carrie’s hand. “Come with me,” she said firmly, leading her down the stairs and out to the pasture fence where Granite was waiting to rub his head against Carrie in greeting.
“Hello, boy!” Carrie laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I missed you too.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I want you to meet your new almost grandmother,” she said.
“Grandmother?” Aunt Abby echoed in a choked voice. She laughed so hard she doubled over, gasping for breath. When she finally straightened, she grasped Carrie’s hands. “I know I don’t have to ask you if you’re okay with this. I can see it all over your face. Thank you.”
Carrie threw her arms around Aunt Abby. “You can’t possibly know how happy I am right now,” she said softly. “I have thought of you as my mother from the first summer I was with you. I loved my own mother, but you gave me something no one ever had — someone who totally understands me.” She held up her hand when Abby started to speak. “You have encouraged me, challenged me, and made me believe I could do anything. There have been so many times I have wished for someone to come along that would be worthy of your love — someone who would love you the way you deserved to be loved.”
Aunt Abby stared at her. “I had no idea,” she finally said.
Carrie smiled. “I can hardly wait to see you marry my father!” she exclaimed. “Of course, part of it is purely selfish, because now I have the assurance we will always be a part of each other’s lives.”