“Good evening, Katie. It’s nice to see you again,” Charity answered. “Or should we call you Katianne?”
Katie rolled her eyes. “Katie is perfect. Only my mother calls me Katianne, and only when she’s angry.”
Jason smiled at the young woman and asked Charity if she knew what she wanted to eat.
“I think I’ll have the roast turkey, thank you.”
“And for you, Mayor Shepherd?” Katie asked.
“Steak is always a winner for me,” Jason responded.
Katie nodded and hurried away to place their order.
James suddenly appeared at their table with a bottle of wine and two glasses. He filled the glasses quickly and asked if they wanted coffee or tea while waiting for their meals.
“Tea would be nice, but I didn’t ask for wine,” Charity said.
“Compliments of The Paradise for New Year’s Eve,” James explained.
“I’ll have some coffee,” Jason told the young man.
James smiled and disappeared as quickly as he had appeared.
Charity wrinkled her nose. “I don’t care much for the taste of wine.”
Jason took a small sip and said, “It’s a good wine.”
Squinting her eyes at the glass and then at Jason, Charity lifted the glass and took a small sip. She shook her head. “I still don’t like it. I’ll enjoy my tea.”
Jason, also trying his best to make small talk, said, “You don’t need to drink it just because it was free.”
Charity let out a small breath and smiled at Jason.
“Were the children upset that you were out tonight without them,” he asked.
“Not really. They had a lot of questions about what New Year’s Eve is, but Holly picked them up from Miss Barber’s and promised them fried chicken at the café for supper. Those two love fried chicken, so they quickly forgot about what I was doing,” Charity said as she stirred sugar into her tea.
“I’ll remember that,” Jason mumbled.
Katie returned with two plates heaped with food, and soon Jason and Charity were busy eating and grateful they had some time to collect their thoughts before speaking again.
When Katie returned to collect their plates, she asked if they wanted dessert, and both declined.
“If you’d like,” Katie said “there’s music playing in the back private dining room and cookies and punch available. Cray and his son were here early this afternoon practicing, and they’re quite good. I hope you enjoy your evening.”
Jason stood and asked, “Shall we?”
Charity nodded, and Jason pulled her chair back and offered his arm again.
Several couples were dancing when Jason and Charity entered the back dining room. A small table was set up next to Cray and his son that held a large crystal punch bowl with red punch and several plates of cookies.
As Cray began playing Johann Strauss’ Blue Danube waltz, Jason took Charity’s hand and said, “This is a beautiful piece I heard last year at a playhouse when I visited St. Louis. Please let me have this dance.”
Charity nodded, and Jason led her onto the small dance floor. As they whirled around the dance floor, their minds also whirled.
Jason wanted to hold Charity closer, but propriety kept him from pulling her to him as they danced. She smelled of lilacs, roses, and something else sweet he couldn’t place. His heart beat fast as he held her and thought of how long he had loved her. He loved her when they were still in school, but at fifteen, she was far too young for his eighteen years, and when he returned from school three years later, Charles Rossman was courting her. Jason still loved her now. He always had. Could she love him in return?
Charity’s thoughts whirled along with Jason’s. She remembered the tall, gangly boy from school who would always smile at her when he rode over to spend time with her brother. He was cute, but he left for school without saying a word to her. Then Charles asked if he could court her and life changed dramatically. She would never change her years with Charles or their children for anything this world offered, but if Jason had stayed and not attended school, would her life be different?
After several more dances, two glasses of punch, and a few cookies, Charity was surprised to see the clock read nearly ten o’clock.
I should be going home,” she told Jason.
“Of course, I didn’t realize it was this late. Perhaps next year, we can see the new year in properly.”
“Next year?”
Jason nodded. “By then, if you’re still willing to be seen with me, the town won’t be shocked if I keep you out past midnight.”
“Perhaps not,” Charity agreed as they walked back to the lobby for their coats.
The short ride to her home was filled with talk of the music, good food, and the pleasant atmosphere.
At her door, Charity thanked Jason for a delightful evening just before he leaned in and kissed her on the lips. She leaned in a bit, and Jason restrained himself from pulling her close.
Jason stepped back a bit and asked, “Would you and the children like to have lunch with me after church on Sunday?”
“We’d like that very much.”
“Then I will see you Sunday.”
“Yes, thank you,” Charity said as she closed the door. Jason waited on the porch until he heard the lock click into place and saw a light turn on in the parlor. He walked back to his carriage whistling.
Chapter 5
After Sunday services, Jason asked Charity, “Would you and the children care to walk with me to my office? I have something I need to take care of before we eat.”
“Of course, the children always need to move around a bit after sitting through Sunday services.”
They strolled the short distance to Jason’s office building. Jason invited them in, and they climbed the stairs to the second floor and walked down to the end of the long hall.
“We passed your office,” Charity remarked.
“What I need is in the meeting room,” Jason said with a smile.
Charity smiled back as Jason held open the door to a small office. A table had been pushed against the wall, and a quilt spread out across the floor. A large wicker basket sat on the edge of the quilt.
“What is this?” Charity asked.
“A picnic. You told me Annie and Ben love picnics and that you do, too. What better way to spend a cold, snowy afternoon than having a picnic? There’s fried chicken, potato salad, a jar of vegetables, lemonade, and a cherry pie, I believe.” Jason smiled and added. “There are a few sugar cookies for the children, too.”
“This is wonderful, but if I’d known, I would have brought a book to keep the children occupied. I hope they don’t bother you if they whine when they get bored,” Charity said.
“I thought of that, and I bought each of them a surprise.”
“You didn’t have to do that, Jason. This picnic is more than enough.”
“Nonsense,” Jason replied. “Give me a chance to spoil all of you a bit.”
“All right,” Charity relented. “This is a lovely surprise, but you can’t spoil us all the time.”
Jason took her hand and looked into her vibrant blue eyes and asked, “Why not? Let’s sit down and enjoy the afternoon.”
Jason held Charity’s hand as she settled onto the quilt, and he sat down next to her.
Ben stood in the middle of the room and looked around. “What are we supposed to do here? This isn’t like a real picnic. There isn’t anything fun to do. No creek to play in or trees to climb.”
“Benjamin Rossman,” Charity scolded. “You apologize for being rude this instant. It was nice of Mister Shepherd to go to all this trouble for us.”
Ben kicked at the floor and mumbled, “I’m sorry I was rude.”
“You’re forgiven, Ben,” Jason smiled. “I was a five-year-old once and know what boredom can do, so I brought something to help.”
Jason picked up the cloth bag sitting next to the picnic basket and pulled out a toy wooden train engine and
two cars. He handed them to Ben. “This should keep you busy. I think under the table would make a fine place for a rail line.”
Ben took the train cars, said, “Thank you,” loudly, and raced across the room and crawled under the table.
Charity whispered. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Of course, I did. How else can I get a few quiet minutes with their mother if I don’t find a way to amuse them?” Jason winked at Charity and pulled a doll from the canvas bag.
Annie’s eyes opened wide as she stared at the doll in Jason’s hand.
“This is for you, Annie,” Jason said, holding the doll out to the small girl.
“Thank you,” Annie said as she reached for the doll and clutched it to her chest. “She’s pretty.”
“Your welcome,” Jason told her as she turned and walked toward the table showing her brother her new baby.
Charity smiled. “You planned this well. Gifts for the children always make the mother happy.”
Jason looked into Charity’s eyes and said, “I hope I can do more than that. I had an ulterior motive for this picnic. It’s private, and your children are here.”
Confusion crossed Charity’s face as she looked at Jason. Her confusion turned to a question as she watched him pull a ring from his vest pocket.
“This was my mother’s. She gave it to me to give to the woman I love and want to marry. Will you marry me, Charity Rossman? That is if we have the children’s permission.”
Jason held the gold ring with the small blue stone in his hand and looked at Charity. She sat there, stunned, and gently bit her bottom lip. She thought Jason might bring up marriage, but this surprised her. It was a perfect proposal.
Charity nodded and answered, “Yes, I’ll marry you if the children agree.” Mischief danced in her eyes as she explained the condition of her acceptance.
Jason nodded, “Fair enough. Annie and Ben, could you come here for a minute. I have a question for both of you.”
Annie and Ben hurried over to see what Jason wanted and stood quietly in front of him.
“I need to ask your permission to marry your mama. I love her, and I want us to be a family.”
“Do I get to keep the doll if you marry mama?” Annie asked.
“You may keep the doll even if I don’t marry your mama,” Jason explained.
“All right, you can marry her,” Annie said as she turned and went back to the quiet corner where she played with her new doll.
Charity bit her lip to keep from giggling at her daughter’s reasoning and at Ben’s solemn face.
Ben stood straight and stared at Jason. “If mama marries you, will she stay home with us and not work at the café?”
Jason nodded, “Yes if that is what she wants to do.”
“Do you, Mama?” Ben asked.
“I would love to spend each day with you and your sister.”
“Then it’s all right if you marry mama. Can we call you papa?” Ben asked.
Jason grinned, “I’d like that.”
Ben smiled back and crawled back under the table to play with his train.
Jason turned his attention back to Charity, “That was easier than I thought. I worried the children might ask me a slew of questions.”
Charity smiled, “Just give them a bit of time. You might regret asking me to marry you.”
“Never,” Jason said as he slipped the ring on her finger. “I love you, Charity.”
“And I love you.”
Jason leaned close to kiss Charity, and before he could kiss her properly, he was stopped by the giggles from the children.
Jason pulled back, and Charity couldn’t hide her amusement. “You’ll have to get used to prying eyes. Both are smart, and they don’t miss much.”
Jason shrugged, “I’ll have to remember that.”
When both children were occupied, Jason leaned close to Charity again and kissed her. When he looked up, Annie was staring at him.
“Mama said we don’t kiss boys. She told me that when Joey asked to kiss me at church,” Annie told him with her little hands on her hips.
Charity giggled out loud, and Jason asked, “When I marry your mama, can I kiss her. I won’t be just a boy; I’ll be her husband and your papa.”
Annie twisted her lip back and forth as she thought and said, “Yes, I think it’s okay to kiss when you’re married, but not much.” She turned and returned to playing with her doll.
“I suppose we’ll have to find ways to kiss when the children are not paying attention,” Jason offered.
“I wouldn’t plan on that happening, at least in the first few weeks. They will watch us closely.”
Jason’s eyebrows knitted as he thought and then asked. “Maybe we’ll have to hide in our bedroom.”
“Maybe, but I’m not sure how the children will react to you living with us. I see some interesting conversations in my future,” Charity said.
“I was hoping you’d come to live with me, and as soon as the spring thaw arrives, we could build a new house. My home is larger than yours, and perhaps in a new home, the children might accept us kissing.”
Charity answered, “I see we will have some interesting conversations, too.”
“Why? Moving into my home makes sense. It’s larger, and I have a housekeeper.”
Charity raised her eyebrows, “Are you suggesting that I don’t know how to keep house and would need a housekeeper?”
Jason shook his head, “No, of course not, but the Widow Stanley needs a job, and she’s been with me a while. I can’t turn her out. She’d go hungry or lose her home.”
“I didn’t realize she worked for you. Of course, I would welcome her help.”
“She made the meal we’re going to eat, and she loves to make cookies,” Jason offered in his defense.
Charity smiled, “That will make it easier for me to convince the children to move. It’s going to be a lot for them at one time. A wedding, a new home, a new papa.”
“Don’t forget new grandparents. My mother is thrilled that I planned to ask you to marry me.”
“You told her before you asked me? What if I said no?”
Jason leaned in for a quick peck and said, “I never considered that possibility.”
Before Charity could answer, Jason called out, “Who’s hungry? I have fried chicken and cookies here?”
Both children hurried over and settled down on the quilt. After they satisfied their hunger and enjoyed cookies and lemonade, Annie fell asleep on the quilt. Ben returned to the table to play with his train.
Ben turned around and looked at Jason. “You can kiss mama if you want. I don’t think kissing is bad.”
Jason laughed and said, “I think this marriage is going to be quite interesting.”
“With children, you never know what the day will bring. If I were you, I’d prepare myself for anything,” Charity agreed.
Chapter 6
Charity woke just as the sun began to rise over the horizon spreading a bit of light across her bed from the edge of the window. She looked at the ring on her finger and knew it wasn’t a dream. Jason had proposed, and she agreed to marry him. The children seemed happy and excited, and Charity said a small prayer that they would continue to feel that way as the days passed.
Ben’s knock at the door started the daily routine, and Charity smiled, hoping once she shared a room with Jason that mornings would remain the same.
“Mama, are you awake?” Ben asked.
Charity waited for the next knock. Annie asked, “Mama, you awake?”
Silence.
Ben, not missing his cue as he did every morning, pounded on the door and called out, “Mama, can you hear us. Are you awake?”
“Yes, my darlings, I’m awake,” Charity answered.
The door swung open, and both children bounded to the bed and climbed in for morning hugs and kisses.
“I’m hungry, Mama,” Annie told Charity with all the seriousness a three-year-old could muster. “I fell asle
ep too soon last night and didn’t have my cookie and milk.”
“Then we must do something to make up for that. I want the two of you to start dressing, and I’ll take you to the café for breakfast. Give me a few minutes to dress, and I’ll help you, Annie.”
Ben leaped off the bed, saying, “Pancakes for breakfast. Uncle Joseph makes the best pancakes.”
Annie hurried after her brother chattering about syrup and honey.
Charity’s heart nearly burst from love watching her children rush out of the room with visions of pancakes with syrup and honey on their minds. Dressing quickly, she assisted Annie with the buttons on her dress and boots. When they were dressed for the cold, Charity took their hands and began their walk to the café.
Charity ushered the children down the alley behind the café to the back door. She opened the door, and Annie ran in first, heading for the kitchen without stopping to remove her coat.
“Aunty Holly, Unca Joseph. We’re goin’ta get married, and I’m goin’ta have a papa,” Annie announced in her excited, high-pitched three-year-old voice.
Holly and Joseph turned from their work and stared at Annie and then at Ben and Charity as they caught up to the rambunctious girl.
“It’s true,” Charity explained. “But I wanted to tell you myself. Annie’s a bit excited.”
Annie’s enthusiastic announcement had traveled into the dining room, and Charity groaned and blushed as she heard several people applauding and shouts of congratulations from several of the male diners.
Shaking her head, Charity said, “I suppose within the hour the entire town will know. I should have known that the children couldn’t keep quiet. We’re here to have breakfast before I take them to Miss Barber’s for the day.”
Holly set down the bowl she was using and hugged Charity, “I’m so happy for you. Jason is a wonderful man. It is Jason you’re marrying, isn’t it?”
‘Yes,” Charity giggled. “Whom did you expect?”
Holly shrugged, “Only making sure. Tell me the details.”
Joseph hugged and congratulated his sister, and Charity answered Holly, “We didn’t make any plans yesterday. He took the children and me on an indoor picnic at his office, and it was hard to settle details with the children there. He’s going to stop in for lunch today, and we’ll talk.”
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