by Mary Davis
“You’ll stay for supper tonight?” Mother asked. “We saved the cherry pie for you.”
He agreed. “I’ve been thinking of that pie all day.”
Strained conversation dominated the meal. At the conclusion, Troy said, “Liv, will you quit the cannery now?”
He’d asked, not ordered.
“Of course she’ll quit,” Gran said. “Tomorrow.”
Mother nodded her agreement.
“Apparently I have no choice in that matter, either.” Her life was being ordered for her, and she was helpless to stop it. She stood and took her plate to the kitchen.
Troy followed with the other plates. “I’ll wash.”
She nodded and walked out the back door. She didn’t know what to say to him. She couldn’t tell if she was angry with him or not. A heaviness pressed in on her from all sides, as well as a lightness. It didn’t make sense.
“Liv?”
She startled at his nearness.
“I’m sorry. I know starting our life together like this—forced—isn’t ideal, but I do love you and will do all I can to make you happy.”
She knew he would try.
“I couldn’t stand the idea of you moving all the way to Chicago.”
She had detested that idea, as well.
“I tried to put off the wedding. That was why I agreed to the arrangement. But your mother outwitted me.”
Mother was good at that. “I appreciate your trying.”
“Then you aren’t angry?”
“No, I’m angry all right. I’m just not sure at whom or what. You? Mother? The whole situation? Father?”
“Your father?”
She shook her head. “Never mind.” She did not want to talk about him. But some of her anger was directed at her father. This was all his fault. She was helpless in this situation, and it was his fault.
* * *
Troy trudged up the stairs of the boardinghouse. He wouldn’t be doing this many more times. With each step, the oppression about his decision lifted. By the time he reached the door of his room, he was almost giddy. How could he go from guilt-ridden and sorrowful for forcing Liv into marriage to anticipation and exuberance in the span of a flight of stairs?
He’d tried to put off the wedding until next summer to give Liv a chance to get used to the idea and forgive him for his part in all this. But Mrs. Bradshaw had insisted. He was glad the wedding was so soon. That would give Liv less opportunity to try to get out of it. But he didn’t like how she had resigned herself to her future with him. He wanted this to be a happy time for them both.
Nick and George were probably right that she would settle down once they were married. He hoped so.
He could hardly believe he was going to marry Liv.
This week!
* * *
The next day, Olivia stood outside Mr. Ecker’s office and drew in another deep breath. How would he take her giving her notice after working for only a little over two weeks? She raised her fist to the door and took yet another calming breath.
“Are you going to knock?” came a voice from behind her.
She spun around. “Mr. Ecker? I—I thought you were in your office.”
“Would you like me to go in? Would that make it easier for you to knock?”
How embarrassing! He’d watched her stand there like a ninny, trying to garner the courage. “That’s all right.” She cleared her throat. “I came to give you my notice.”
“You’re leaving us?” He looked truly disappointed.
“I’m getting married.”
“Troy?”
She nodded.
“So when you said you were done with him, you didn’t mean it.”
Oh, dear, he thought she’d lied. “No, I was. Or thought I was. It’s complicated.” She didn’t want to confess to him that she was being forced by her mother to marry Troy.
“He said you just needed a little time.”
“He did? When?”
“Your first week. He didn’t like me lavishing you with my attention.”
Was that why Mr. Ecker had backed off pursuing her?
“When are the nuptials?”
“Tomorrow.”
His eyes widened. “A little time, indeed.”
“I can finish out the week.”
“That’s not necessary. I’m sure you have a lot of preparations. Every bride does.”
“Not really. We are having a simple ceremony at my house.”
“Still, you’ll have things to do.” He opened the office door. “Come in, and I’ll pay what is due you.”
She followed him in. “You don’t want me to work at least today?”
“That’s not necessary. Have a seat.”
“I don’t want to trouble you.”
“No trouble.”
“Thank you.” She sat. Her whole body relaxed, knowing she didn’t have to work today.
After he figured the amount due her, he wrote her a check and held it out. “I hope you have a happy life with Troy.”
She took the check but didn’t look at it. “Thank you. I will.” Why had she said that? She was being forced to marry. How could that be happy?
After leaving the building, she dared to glance at her check. Though it wasn’t a huge sum, she felt good about having earned it herself. She should take it to the bank and deposit it, but she didn’t want to run into Troy there and have to show him how little she’d made. She could take it to the bank another day.
She gazed at the blue stone on her finger. It sparkled in the sunshine. Her mouth turned up. Troy had put a great deal of thought into her ring.
Relieved at not having to work, she felt light as she walked to Felicity’s. She hadn’t told her friend yet about her upcoming wedding.
Felicity must have seen her coming, for she skipped out the front door and greeted Olivia on the walkway with a hug. “Is it true?”
How had she found out? “Is what true?” Just in case her friend was speaking of something else.
“Nick said you and Troy are getting married.”
Of course Troy would have told Nick. Olivia nodded.
Felicity squealed and hugged her again. “I always knew you two were destined to be together. Will you marry before the end of the year or wait until next year?”
Olivia sighed. Obviously, Troy hadn’t told Nick everything. “Can we sit on the porch?”
“Of course.” Felicity looped her arm through Olivia’s. “I want all the details, how he proposed and everything.” On the porch, she released Olivia. “The water’s hot. I’ll make us a quick cup of tea. You wait here.” She dashed inside.
Olivia sat on the bench swing at the far end of the porch.
Poor Felicity. She would be disappointed when she found out there was no romance in the proposal or the impending wedding.
Though Olivia was none too pleased at being forced to marry Troy, she also had a sense of security. As though her future could potentially be happy. But how could it when the marriage was under duress? On both sides. Mother and Father had married under good terms, and Father hadn’t bothered to stick around. Would Troy?
Felicity returned with two cups on saucers. “I told Mother this was a special occasion, so she’s letting us use the good dishes.”
Olivia took a cup and saucer with pink roses on it.
Careful not to spill, Felicity gently sat next to her on the bench swing. “Obviously, everything’s fine between the two of you again.”
Would it ever be fine under these conditions? “Not exactly.”
Felicity’s smile fell. “But you’re marrying him.”
Olivia bit her bottom lip and then told Felicity the whole story.
“So your mother is forcing you to marry Troy, even though he’s willing to help without marrying you?”
“Yes. Can you believe that?”
Felicity smiled. “I never would have guessed your mother could be so shrewd.”
“What do you mean? You seem happy about this.�
�
“I am happy. Your mother is using this situation to get you to marry Troy.”
Wasn’t that what she’d just told her friend?
“Livia, we all know you love Troy and that you are too afraid to marry him because your father left. Your mother wants you to be happy.”
“So happy she is forcing me to marry against my will? How does that lead to happiness?”
“She’s forcing you to marry the man you love because you can’t do it on your own. She knows you love Troy and will be happy. Admit it. You still love him.”
She did. “But what if I don’t trust him?”
“It’s your father you don’t trust.”
“But Troy is just like him.”
“No, he’s not. Troy has stayed. He hasn’t left. He loves you.”
“What if something happens to me like happened to my mother? He’ll leave just like my father did.”
“He won’t. He’s proven he’ll stay. Now, no more excuses. We have a wedding to plan. Are you going to get married this year or next?”
Olivia’s mouth pulled up on one side. “This.”
Felicity clapped with delight. “How soon?”
“Soon.”
Her friend’s eyes widened. “In the autumn?”
“Sooner.”
“Next month?”
“Sooner?”
Felicity’s mouth hung open. “How much sooner?”
“Tomorrow. You’ll come, won’t you?”
Felicity squealed. “Come? You couldn’t keep me away. I’ll be over this afternoon to help in any way I can.”
After Olivia’s visit with Felicity, she walked home.
“You’ve returned sooner than we expected,” Mother said. “We thought you’d have to work all day.”
“Mr. Ecker was kind enough to let me go immediately. I stopped over at Felicity’s. She’ll be by this afternoon to help. And she’ll definitely be here tomorrow for the…ceremony.”
“Well, of course you’d want her here. Anyone else?”
Olivia shook her head. She wasn’t interested in having a lot of people witness the distressing event.
“I’m sure Troy will want his friends here,” Gran said.
“Yes,” Mother said. “After the noon meal, go to the bank and find out who he wants to come. We will make sure we have enough food for everyone. Better yet, prepare a basket and take it to him. You two can eat together.”
Olivia was both thrilled at the idea and repelled by it. But she packed the food and headed off to the bank. She tilted her hand again and again to make the blue stone sparkle in the sunlight.
Troy had indeed put a great deal of thought in his choosing of this ring. And how had he managed to get it to fit her finger so perfectly?
Chapter 12
When Troy’s office door pushed open, he looked up.
With no invitation or announcement, Hewitt Raines entered, closed the door and sat himself in the chair across the desk from Troy. “We have a problem.”
Troy doubted that he was involved in Mr. Raines’s problem, but he had no doubt that Mr. Raines likely had trouble.
Hewitt held up his hand with a small space between his thumb and index finger. “There’s a slight problem with Violet.”
Oh, no. Not the day before he was to marry Liv. He would not let himself get caught up in Violet and Hewitt’s troubles. “Miss Jones is your concern, not mine.”
“Possibly not.”
“Whatever it is, keep me out of it.”
“You are already in it.”
Troy gritted his teeth. “What have you done? And why have you involved me?”
“Violet found out about a certain incident with another young lady yesterday. She was furious. I might have implied I’d be highly jealous if she went back to you.”
Hewitt was incorrigible. And Violet would likely seek Troy out to make Hewitt jealous.
Troy took a controlled breath. “It’s been no more than two and a half weeks since you made up with her the last time. Why would you risk being caught even looking at another woman?” He knew he was talking as much to himself as to Hewitt. But Troy’s encounters were purely innocent. Were Hewitt’s?
“It really wasn’t my fault.”
Troy doubted that.
“Violet and her mother were off making wedding plans, and Mr. Jones had a meeting. I took the opportunity to stroll about town. I ran into a pretty little lady in distress.” Hewitt held his hands out palms up. “Being a gentleman, I helped her out.”
“I doubt that innocently helping someone would cause Miss Jones to be so upset with you.”
“I ended up escorting her home.” Mr. Raines wiggled his eyebrows up and down. “I accidentally kissed her.”
Accidentally? Doubtful. “This is not a big city. If any friend of the Joneses saw you, or one of their staff, the word would quickly get back to Miss Jones. How could you not realize that?”
“I realize it now.”
“I will not let you or Miss Jones pull me into this matter.”
“She may not give you a choice.”
“I am marrying my ladylove on the morrow.” Troy stood and came around his desk. “Miss Jones will have to find someone else to make you appear jealous.” He opened the door to let Mr. Raines know he was dismissed.
Hewitt stood and tipped his head. “I am glad to know that you truly have no interest in my girl. But that doesn’t mean she has no interest in you.”
Violet would just have to get over it.
“I suggest William Ecker or Titus Berg as suitable rivals.”
Mr. Raines chuckled. “I don’t think it would do for me to choose my own rival. Rest assured, Violet will be coming to you to get back at me.”
Troy would have to make sure Violet couldn’t find him. He saw Liv standing a few feet away at the same time Mr. Raines apparently did.
Liv held a basket covered with a blue-checkered cloth.
Hewitt swept up Liv’s free hand.
Troy quickly stepped forward and retrieved Liv’s hand before the man could kiss it. “I respectfully request that you not accost my fiancée.”
Hewitt bowed to Liv. “Then you must be Miss Bradshaw. I am pleased to finally make your acquaintance. I can see why Mr. Morrison is protective of you. You are as beautiful as a bouquet of lilies.”
Could this man not help flirting with every woman in sight?
“Good day, Mr. Raines.” Troy escorted Liv into his office and shut the door. “To what do I owe the honor of this visit?”
Liv stood ramrod straight with both hands clutching the basket handle. “Mother wanted to know whom you’d like to invite tomorrow night. I assume Nick and George. Anyone else?”
So she had been sent. He’d hoped she’d come of her own accord. “Nick and George will be sufficient.” The Bradshaws’ house wouldn’t hold many. “What’s in the basket? Anything for me?”
The basket shot out on stiff arms. “Lunch.”
He took it. “Thank you.” She looked ready to bolt. “You’ll join me, won’t you?” He motioned to the chair, hoping she would stay.
She stepped in front of the chair, started to lower herself and then straightened. “What did Mr. Raines mean by ‘Violet will be coming to you’?”
So she had heard.
He set the basket on the desk. “Mr. Raines had a disagreement with Violet. He believes she will try to use me again to make him jealous.”
Liv stared, a question in her eyes.
He took her hand. “I won’t let her. I promise.”
“Even if it means your job?”
“It won’t come to that. I’ll tell her I’m spoken for.”
“Why didn’t you tell her that all the other times?”
That was a good question. “I don’t know. Maybe I thought you’d find me more appealing if you knew other women found me desirable. Or maybe I thought you’d cling all the more tightly to me if you thought two or three women were waiting on the side. But I realize that thinking w
as wrong.”
“Maybe you just like all the attention.”
He did like the attention. But not at the expense of Liv. Not anymore.
She stepped over to the door.
He followed. “Aren’t you staying to eat?”
She shook her head. “I need to let Mother know who is coming. Enjoy the food.” She reached for the knob.
He put his hand over hers and turned her face toward him. “Liv, I love you. Only you.”
“That has never been in question.” Tears glistened in her eyes, and her lower lip trembled.
“My fidelity.” His eyes had been opened with William Ecker’s interest in Liv, as well as Hewitt Raines’s indiscretions that had involved Troy. “I will gladly spend the rest of my life proving myself to you.” He caressed her cheek. “I will do nothing to make you sorry for marrying me.”
“I hope so.”
* * *
Olivia took her time walking home. She had much to consider. Which did she want more? Troy’s love or his unwavering fidelity? To stay on San Juan Island or to protect her heart? Would marrying Troy settle the matter with Violet once and for all?
Lord, what should I do?
She had given her pledge to marry Troy. Wasn’t it what everyone wanted? Troy, Mother, Gran. And herself? It wouldn’t be right to back out after giving her word. And it didn’t feel wrong to marry him. She wasn’t sure if it was right, but it wasn’t wrong. Which made no sense even to her. She would marry Troy for better or for worse, and that was the end of it. She hoped it wasn’t for worse.
After she had greeted Mother and Gran in the parlor, she brought out two dresses.
She had let herself get distracted by Troy and had forgotten to figure out which one of her dresses to wear for the ceremony. The blue cotton one Troy liked or the pink one she liked? Mother and Gran would help her choose the right one.
Mother gave a knowing smile and nodded at Gran. Gran brought out a cream-and-white silk dress. Mother said, “I thought you might like to wear mine.”
Olivia touched the soft fabric. “You had a white wedding dress?” More ladies these days were wearing white for their weddings, but not as many when her parents married.
“I thought about refashioning it after you were born, but my heart said to save it for you. I’m glad I did.”
Gran draped the dress over Olivia’s arms and waved her hand. “Go put it on so we can start in on the alterations.”