A Snowy Delivery for Christmas (Ornamental Match Maker Series Book 21)

by Marisa Masterson

  Sighing she leaned against his strong shoulder. Hers to rely on for the rest of her life. “I didn’t want to be obvious. I certainly did a good job of hiding my interest in you, it seems. How thrilling it would have been to go on a walk with you.”

  Rising, he took her hand and helped her to her feet. “How about helping me blow out those candles. Then we’ll take a walk together upstairs.”

  At his words, a nervous giggle escaped her. “Sounds like a good plan on a cold, snowy night.”

  Leaning toward a candle, she saw his Cheshire Cat grin. What joy to be with a man who didn’t need one more adventure, as Edward had. Del showed her that all he needed was her.

  Early the next morning, Josephine woke with a start. Peaches wailed, a hungry cry, bringing her new mother upright in bed.

  Confusion gripped Josephine. She didn’t remember feeding the baby in the night. The baby was much too small to have slept the night through. What had happened?

  Wiggling into her flannel nightdress and robe, she shoved her feet into slippers. The baby quieted for a moment as if she were listening to Josephine move around. Then her distressed cries escalated.

  Reaching down to the cradle, Josephine lifted the wet body and laid her on the dresser. Before she removed the soiled diaper, she leaned down to kiss the small forehead. She sighed with relief at finding no fever.

  Peaches wasn’t sick. Had she slept all night because of their big day yesterday?

  “Something wrong with her?” The sleep-roughened voice startled her.

  Whirling, she looked at her husband. “I didn’t think you were awake.” Yesterday, she’d determined not to be shy. This morning, for some reason, she felt a blush creep up her neck and across her cheeks.

  “The baby’s fine, I think.” She turned back to the tiny girl, cleaning her before diapering and dressing her in a dry sacque gown. “I’m confused, is all. I don’t remember her waking up in the night. Do you think she slept the night through.”

  Del snorted. “Not her. She likes to eat too much to miss a feeding.” By this time, he stood next to her clothed in a red flannel shirt and brown wool pants. “You didn’t stir when she woke. She and I spent some time together about two hours ago. Spent time together a few hours before that, too.”

  What a man among husbands she had! “How about you spend some time together again?” She handed Peaches to him. “I need to get dressed.” At the washstand, Josephine met Del’s eyes as she looked into the shaving mirror hung above it. The happiness she saw there mirrored her own.

  Before he left, Del came to her side. Tipping her head up, he gave her a soft, quick kiss. “Good morning, sweetheart,” and then he was gone, his footsteps loud on the stairs. Not as loud as the wails coming from Peaches, though.

  Glad she’d brought a sturdy work dress, Josephine prepared for a long day ahead. Peaches had gone through almost her entire supply of diapers. Today would be wash day. If it was as cold out like yesterday, she planned to freeze the wash and then bring it in to hang on a line in the kitchen. That process helped winter wash dry much faster.

  She also needed to visit the mercantile. If it was open, that is. The owner was a Canadian who grumbled about being forced to stay open on something he called Boxing Day. Last year, he’d muttered about things being different next Boxing Day. Hopefully, he’d changed his mind so she could buy what she needed.

  By late morning, the diapers and small gowns hung from a line behind the small house, along with a few of her dresses and bloomers. With Del’s help, she emptied her washtubs farther away from the house so ice didn’t form near the back door. Soup from chicken bones, left from their Christmas Eve meal, simmered on the cookstove.

  Before she’d started laundry, Josephine set bread dough aside to rise in the warm moisture of the kitchen. Now her husband stood near the stove and looked around the kitchen. “You are more than I’d hoped for. Here I thought I was marrying just a pretty face.” He leaned down to inhale the steamy aroma of the soup, he sighed with pleasure. “God bless your mama for insisting you learn to cook and keep house.”

  Josephine savored the satisfaction she felt at his words. She allowed a moment to enjoy the feeling before getting back to business. “Well, cooking is tough without ingredients.”

  He took the hint. “Could you make me a list of the fixings you want bought? I’ll go to the store so you can stay warm and cozy here with Peaches.” As he spoke, the wind whipped the clothes on the line. Looking over his shoulder out the window, she saw the motion and inwardly cringed. She hated to take the baby out in the cold. Peaches was still so little. Del had a good idea.

  “Alright. Can you go after lunch?”

  He put a finger to his lips and pretended to consider her question. “Well, let me see. The President canceled our plans to go ice fishing and the governor is out of town, so I guess that means I’m available.”

  “Ha, ha. Very funny, Mr. Peale. Now, go do something while I finish lunch and work on my list.” She shooed him out of the kitchen, holding in her laughter at his silliness.

  In a bit, he passed through the kitchen with Peaches held against his chest. She watched him enter the washroom that was built onto the kitchen. It had been an old porch, he’d told her.

  Water was running. She heard it and left her list to look into the room. Peaches lay in an inch of water, on top of a towel!

  “Why is there a towel in the tub?”

  He didn’t look at her, keeping his hand on the baby’s middle and his eyes on what she was doing. “Hello, Mama. We’re having a bath. The towel keeps her from slipping around.”

  Kneeling, Del leaned over the edge of the clawfoot tub. He took his hand away to soap the rag with the bar of Ivory. Peaches’ little legs pushed through the water. When a drop of it hit her face, she stiffened in surprise. The couple laughed at her expression.

  “She’s a dirty baby. Now that she’s a few days older, I thought a bath was called for. As long as you’re here, hold up that towel for us.” He jerked his head toward the folded terry cloth laying on top of the stool.

  Josephine marveled at the care Del took as he quickly washed the baby without allowing water to hit her drying belly cord. He lifted her and Josephine gladly took her clean baby, wrapping her twice around with the large towel. Evidently, the bath tired her since Peaches yawned and closed her eyes.

  “I’ll take her. This princess is tired and needs to be changed before she can sleep. You go back to your list.”

  Almost reluctantly, she handed her precious bundle to her husband. Something marvelous happened inside her whenever she held or rocked her baby. Her baby! What a thought!

  As the bread and rolls baked, she looked through cupboards, checking the spices and staples he had on hand. By the time she called Del to lunch, her list was finished. He pushed the buggy into the kitchen and saw it on the counter. Looking over it, he whistled softly. “You planning to break the bank, ma’am?”

  She blanched and rushed to offer, “Well, I could take off the spices I added to the list. I imagine they can be costly. I’ll—”

  He held up his hand. “Slow down. I’m teasing. As a foreman, I make good money. Most of it’s banked since I didn’t have a wife and a princess to spend it on. Well, now that I do, I am happy to tote home a box of bounty to make my woman happy.”

  A sigh of relief left her as her body relaxed. The moment brought home to her how badly she wanted to please her husband. Please God, let this be more than the interaction of infatuated newlyweds.

  Picking up the pencil she’d left beside the list, Del scratched something onto the paper. Curiosity got the better of her. “What did you add?”

  “Karo Syrup. It’s a good thing to add to the milk for the baby. Helps her to, um, to go.” He watched her, hesitate like he’d offended her.

  She gave a slight nod and smiled. “Good thinking, Daddy.”

  They settled in for a bowl of soup, thick with carrots and chicken, and warm dinner rolls spread with the last of
the butter. That was one more thing she’d forgotten to place on her list.

  The meal finished, Del placed a lingering kiss on her mouth. “I’m almost afraid this is a dream. Like you’ll disappear when I leave to go to the store.”

  Josephine laughed. “Better believe I’ll be here when you get back. I’ll be waiting for all those goodies you’ll be bringing. Like Santa.”

  While Del was gone, Josie busied herself with rehanging the frozen wash on a line she’d strung across the kitchen. Instead of waiting for her dresses to dry, she heated the iron she found in a cupboard and pressed each dress dry. Then she pressed two diapers dry, using one right away since Peaches had no other clean ones.

  She’d just sat down in the rocker with a freshly diapered Peaches. It was time to feed her, using the final bit of milk in the last of the bottles Del had received from Mrs. Klaussen. She’d need to make up bottles once Del returned. The glass containers sat upside down on a towel in her kitchen, scalded and waiting, with the black India rubber nipples sitting next to them.

  As she nursed, Peaches reached up a tiny hand and touched Josephine’s lips. When her mother kissed the fingers, the baby startled, as if she weren’t aware that the hand was connected to her body. It was adorable and Josephine couldn’t keep a giggle from slipping out. The baby startled at that sound also.

  “Poor darling. Mama’s interrupting your feeding, isn’t she?” Leaning down she kissed the downy head. Peaches resumed sucking vigorously on the nipple.

  Humming softly, the mother and her claimed daughter drifted into a dreamy state, both almost asleep. When the knock sounded, it caused first Josephine and then Peaches to jump. Lowering Peaches into her buggy, she headed for the front door.

  The air outside shimmered as she opened the door to Mr. and Mrs. Klaussen. Odd that she’d never noticed that around them before. Maybe ice was forming in the air.

  Waving them inside, Josephine smiled broadly. “Hello to you both. Are you surprised to find me here?”

  Mrs. Klaussen smiled knowingly and tittered. “I just knew you would get together. All it needed was a push. Did Revered Williams marry you two?”

  Josephine’s mouth dropped open. “Were we so obvious in our regard for each other?”

  With a sly expression, Mrs. Klaussen waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, there was just something in the air whenever you were together.”

  Before Josephine could ask the older woman anything else, a wail sounded from her little one. “Excuse me. I need to tend to Peaches. Please, come with me to the sitting room.”

  “I’d be happy to, my dear. Mr. Klaussen has work to do. He rounded up a couple of workers and will move your things to one of the rooms upstairs. Except for the rocker. That might fit in the kitchen. In the spot by the washroom door, don’t you think?”

  Had Del shown them the house previously? “I’m surprised at your knowledge of this home. Did Del show it to you?”

  Grinning, Mrs. Klaussen explained. “No, Mrs. Williams did. Last week, when I came to speak with her and her husband.” Then she shocked Josephine by adding, “It was the day I put the tree in this room and decorated it.”

  So that’s where the tree came from. Her crying baby stopped her from asking about it. Lifting the baby, Josephine placed her against her shoulder and patted. “Poor thing probably has a bubble.”

  The older woman ran a plump, pink finger down the baby’s cheek. “She’s both blessed to have you as well as being a blessing, I imagine. Such a wonderful solution. Your Christmas wedding, that is.”

  The woman confused her. How did she know when they married and why didn’t the baby surprise her? Had she sent the ornament? Josephine hesitated to ask, not sure she wanted explanations to detract from the magic that surrounded this Christmas.

  She decided to discuss mundane details instead. “You’ll need two new boarders, I’m afraid.”

  The woman’s cheery face never lost its glow. “Never worry about that. We’re leaving the house and moving on. It’s filled its purpose, don’t you think?”

  The younger woman didn’t know what to think. What had been the house’s purpose if it had filled it? Her mind whirled with the woman’s odd statements.

  Peaches burped, giving Josephine an excuse not to answer. She wiped the dribble that had appeared with the burp and cradled her baby so that Mrs. Klaussen could better see her. “Here’s my angel. We plan to speak to the police and a lawyer tomorrow about keeping her.”

  “I don’t doubt that all will work out. I have a feeling that this was just the first of many family Christmases.”

  Mr. Klaussen stuck his head into the room and declared the job done. “Ho, ho, ho! Thought I’d already made all my deliveries on Christmas Eve.” Then he winked at Josephine. “Guess one more didn’t hurt since it’s all in a good cause.”

  Josephine stared at him in confusion. What deliveries did he refer to? Did the man actually believe he was Santa Claus?

  A giggle from his wife pulled Josephine’s mind away from the odd statement. With a twinkle in her eye, Mrs. Klaussen said goodbye and the couple left. The silence hung heavy after the chatty woman left. Strangely, the air seemed to glimmer though.

  Chapter 8

  “Miss Withers, this is not at all proper.” Mr. Farley fingered his bowtie, one of the hundred or so that he owned. Josephine had rarely seen him wear the same one twice, and she had never seen the man without one.

  “Excuse me, sir. It’s Mrs. Peale. I did just explain that to you.” Josephine worked to stop herself from rolling her eyes at him Really! The man was purposefully rude.

  He snorted at her correction. “So you say. For your sake, I hope he didn’t dupe you with a fake ceremony in order to enjoy your endowments.” Lecherous eyes seemed to see right through her warm wool coat. Then he narrowed those eyes. “Exactly where am I to get another teacher in the middle of a school year?”

  Not bothering to answer his question, she repeated the business that brought her to this distasteful man’s office. “I demand my stipend for the last four months I taught.”

  “Since you are leaving without notice, I will pay you half. Surely you can see how fair that is.” Condescension dripped like oil from the smarmy man.

  With shoulders squared, Josephine tipped her nose downward as she met the man’s gaze. “If you do so, I will make it my business to write certain families with concerns about this school. Letters and whispers might be detrimental. All true, but not what you want others to know.”

  Minutes later, she left with her full stipend tucked in her pocketbook.

  Del had been called into work. Even though he’d taken the week off for vacation—little did he know what a good decision that had been—his department at the cannery had needed him. Some problem with a machine that only he understood.

  He’d told her to meet him at the small police station at three o’clock. She had enough time to stop at the bank. Patting Peaches as she wiggled in the sling under Josephine’s new winter coat, she hurried toward it. The coat had been such a surprise. Del had brought it home yesterday, his eyes dancing merrily at her exclamation of delight. It had been a size too big, making it perfect for covering Peaches.

  “I thought you might be expanding by next winter so I got it bigger than I knew you needed,” he’d explained. She threw him a questioning look at his mention of expanding. Then, as his meaning dawned on her, she reddened.

  “There’s that blush I love to see. Never lose your sweetness.” He’d leaned down and kissed her as he drew her close.

  They’d been busy after that, putting away groceries and setting up bottles. He hadn’t bought milk. Well, he’d brought milk home, just not the type she’d expected.

  “The grocer says the women use this evaporated milk. Equal parts milk and water with a drizzle of Karo Syrup,” he’d explained as she looked at the cans. “It’s safer since it’s been boiled. Purer, I guess.” They’d followed the recipe and filled bottles. Peaches had accepted it easily, making Joseph
ine wonder if that hadn’t been what was in the bottles initially.

  When she entered the police station, Del hadn’t arrived. With Peaches’ schedule, Josephine would need to be home in half an hour. The baby refused to wait for her bottle and never deviated from her feeding schedule. She truly loved to eat.

  A harried-looking man sitting behind a raised desk looked up from his papers with a harried expression. She wondered what might keep the police busy in their small town.

  “May I help you, miss?” His words were polite even while his tone seemed disinterested.

  She chose to use her teacher's voice as she explained. “I found a baby that I plan to keep. It seemed best to tell you about her before I begin adoption procedures.”

  He rose and descended the platform. “Well now. I don’t think it works that way. Foundlings belong to the state, you see.”

  Just then, the door opened behind her. Josephine sensed her husband even before she heard his voice. “Hello, Ralph. Met my wife yet?”

  The policeman grinned and slapped Del on the back. “You married again? Congratulations!”

  The conversation was much more cordial from there on. Del explained about the baby and asked who to go to so they could make the adoption happen. After the man wrote down the details, the Peales left with their little girl and the officer wished them well.

  Outside, Del grinned down at her. “Well, that’s step one. Next, we’ll go to the courthouse like he recommended and see the judge. She’ll be ours before you know it. Peaches Peale.”

  Aghast, Josephine glared. “You can’t call her Peaches Peale. We need to start thinking about a real name.”

  He threw back his head and laughed. When he calmed down, he patted her arm. “Darling, that may be so, but she’ll always be my little peach.”

  Epilogue

  The smell of spring air tickled Josephine’s nose as she opened the back door to the knock. It was only the start of February, yet the weather had been unusually warm for days. A stranger stood on her back stoop, awkwardly squeezed his cap between work-roughened hands.