The Brightest of Dreams

by Susan Anne Mason

  Nervous tingles shot up her spine. She tried to disengage her hand, but he squeezed tighter.

  “Maybe we should clear the air,” he said, “and then you can relax.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He led her to the divan. “Have a seat.”

  She perched on the edge of the green velvet settee. When he sat beside her, she folded her hands in her lap. It was silly to be nervous. Quinn was a reasonable man, kind and honorable. But she’d never had to spend the entire night with a man before.

  “Julia, what can I do to make you feel more comfortable?” His gray eyes searched her face. “Shall I sleep on the floor?”

  Guilt flashed through her. Had he read her mind? She met his gaze, noting for the first time the fatigue lining his features. After all he’d done for her, she couldn’t ask that of him. She took a breath for courage. “That’s not necessary.” She glanced at the bed. “I’m sure there’s plenty of room for both of us.”

  The lines eased. “Thank you.”

  He rose and walked to the wardrobe, where he removed his jacket. “Is there a lavatory nearby?”

  “Yes. Down the hall on the right.”

  He smiled. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Feel free to claim whatever side of the bed you’d prefer.”

  By the time Quinn returned in his nightshirt, his clothes neatly folded over his arm, Julia was under the covers. The strain of the day had left her weary, and now with the warmth from the fire and the comfort of the soft mattress, Julia’s muscles finally began to relax.

  Quinn laid his clothes over a chair, then proceeded to climb into the bed.

  It was so large, Julia could have stretched her arm out over the mattress and still not have touched Quinn.

  He smiled at her. “Good night, Julia. I hope you have pleasant dreams.”

  “Good night, Quinn. And thank you. It was a lovely wedding.”

  “Yes, it was.” He moved over to kiss her cheek. Then he turned onto his side, but peered back over one shoulder at her. “My brothers used to tell me I snore. If I do, you have my permission to hit me.”

  Chuckling, Julia slid deeper under the covers. Surrounded by warmth and an unexpected sense of peace, she surrendered to sleep.

  CHAPTER 28

  The days following the wedding passed in a blur. Each day, while Julia worked helping Mrs. Middleton, Quinn spent time with Harry, exploring the sights of Toronto and taking him shopping for new clothing suitable for an ocean crossing. The lad’s amazing recovery continued to astound him. Mrs. Chamberlain insisted it was due to prayer and to the fact that Harry felt safe and loved.

  Quinn could believe it, for Mrs. C. had gone above and beyond the call of Christian duty where Harry was concerned . . . to the point where Quinn worried how she would cope when the boy left her care.

  Her devotion to Harry—and to Julia, for that matter—was why Quinn insisted they let Mrs. C. know about their marriage. Julia had reluctantly agreed, and on her next afternoon off, they sat down with Harry and Mrs. C. and told them about the wedding. Mrs. C. had sent Harry off on an errand to the kitchen so she could question Julia in more detail about the pregnancy. The dear woman had been nothing but sympathetic, reducing Quinn’s bride to tears. Then the landlady had come right up to Quinn and wrapped him in a tight hug. When she pulled away, she’d wiped her eyes with her apron.

  “You’re a good man, Quinten Aspinall. Not many people I know would do something so noble.”

  Quinn had shaken his head in protest. Any man with principles would have done the same for someone he cared about. Besides, how could he have left Julia to fend for herself? She was literally alone in the world, with no family, few friends, and a baby on the way. Not to mention a predator out to gain control of her child. No, he never could have lived with himself if he hadn’t done everything in his power to protect her. Having a husband would give Julia the respectability she deserved.

  After the talk with Mrs. C., Julia appeared more settled and more at peace than she’d been since Quinn had first met her. And they had fallen into a comfortable routine.

  Each afternoon, after spending time with Harry, Quinn returned home to eat dinner with Julia and Mrs. Middleton. After the meal, the three would spend a quiet evening by the fire, playing cards or listening to the radio while the women knitted. Every night around eight o’clock, Mrs. Middleton would grow weary, and Julia would help her upstairs to bed. Then Julia would return, and they would have an hour or so alone until Julia became tired herself and had to turn in.

  After the initial wedding night, she’d tried to move back to her old room near the widow. However, Mrs. Middleton insisted that Julia spend the little time she had with her husband before he left. Rather reluctantly, Julia had conceded but had claimed the adjoining room to Quinn’s, maintaining that her restlessness would disturb Quinn’s sleep. Despite the fact that he’d agreed to a marriage in name only, he couldn’t help but feel the sting of rejection. Truth be told, he’d enjoyed sharing the bed with Julia that one night, waking to find her beautiful face so peaceful in slumber, her hair loosened from its braid and spread out over the pillows. However, if she felt too uncomfortable to sleep next to him, he’d not force the issue.

  And perhaps in the long run, it was wiser to avoid temptation. Because each day, Quinn’s heart grew more firmly entwined with Julia. And it became harder and harder not to reach out and hold her, to try and kiss her again. From the few kisses they’d shared, he sensed she held some affection for him at least, and if Quinn was patient, he hoped she’d come to care for him as much as he did her. And that once the baby was born, she would choose to stay in the marriage.

  Though he had every hope of eventually making their union a true one, he realized he needed to take his time and tread with caution. Julia had already had one bad experience with a man. He did not want to scare her off by tipping his hand.

  Not yet anyway.

  The days slipped by, and before Quinn knew it, it was time for the train ride to Halifax. When he’d first imagined taking this trip, he’d been eager to be on his way back to England. But now that he and Julia had wed, anticipation for the voyage had turned to dread. How could he bear to put an ocean between them? How would he say good-bye to the woman who had become so dear to his heart? It would be easier to wrench off a limb and leave it behind than to leave her.

  But after all his efforts to find his siblings and get them to come home, he couldn’t abandon his plan now. Not while his mother still needed him.

  Quinn rested somewhat easier, however, having taken care of the most important thing to ensure his wife’s safety while he was gone. Without telling Julia, he’d tracked down Richard Hawkins at his residence and paid him a visit, just long enough to flash the marriage certificate at him and announce that he and Julia had wed. He wanted to make certain that if Hawkins ever learned that Quinn had left the country, the cad knew he had no chance with Julia, that she was a married woman, and the child belonged to them.

  The man’s insults and vile curses, followed by the slamming of the door in Quinn’s face, had given him little satisfaction. However, it was the best he could do under the circumstances without giving in and physically throttling the man. But he would never disgrace Julia that way. Having a husband in prison would be worse than no husband at all.

  The day of departure arrived with little fanfare, other than a sick feeling in the pit of Quinn’s stomach.

  Julia, Mrs. Chamberlain, and even Rev. Burke insisted on accompanying Quinn and Harry to the train station to see them off. Becky had come to Toronto the day before and spent the night at the boardinghouse with Harry. She wanted them all to travel together, and Quinn was grateful to her for making things easier for him.

  The only disappointment was Cecil. Since he hadn’t called to leave any message, it seemed unlikely he would join them. But, as Quinn had finally started to accept, he couldn’t control the actions of his siblings. They had their own ideas about how to live their lives, and all he
could do was try to respect their wishes and let God’s will for their lives play out as intended.

  Still, Quinn scanned the crowd for Cecil in the slim hope that his brother had changed his mind. He could tell by Becky’s furtive glances that she was doing the same thing. Disappointment crashed over her features when she caught Quinn’s eye and he shook his head. Three out of four siblings would have to do.

  Despite the early hour, heat shimmered around the platform in a haze, promising a scorcher of a day ahead. Quinn had already started to perspire and wished he hadn’t worn his waistcoat. Harry looked much more comfortable in his white shirtsleeves, short pants, and suspenders.

  Quinn stopped and set down his bag, his nerves vibrating like a live electric wire. He hadn’t managed one single moment alone with Julia this morning. She’d been up before Quinn, tending to Mrs. Middleton the entire morning. Maybe his wife had purposely orchestrated their last hours together to ensure they wouldn’t be alone.

  The thought of having all these people on hand to witness his good-bye to Julia made him want to scream. She stood beside him now, looking so beautiful in her blue dress and matching hat, it made his heart hurt. How he would miss her expressive brown eyes, her infectious laugh, and the way her nose scrunched when she was thinking. These last few days together had been wonderful, but he feared that once he left Toronto, their relationship would never be the same.

  If only he could send Becky and Harry on without him.

  Quinn ground his jaw together, purposely setting aside all temptation to do just that. He pushed a hand into his pocket to touch the cold metal of the key his father had given him, reminding himself of the vow he’d made long before he knew Julia. He had to see this task through. Only then would he allow himself to face his future.

  “I hear a whistle down the tracks.” Harry’s excited voice drifted over the noise.

  Quinn’s heart stalled in his chest like an automobile lacking sufficient fuel. Time was running out. He needed to make these last moments with Julia count. He looked over to find her watching him, unshed tears glimmering in her eyes. Did she feel as bereft as he at their impending separation? Or did she believe he was abandoning her?

  Without a word, he turned and pulled her tight against his chest. “I will be back before the babe arrives,” he whispered fiercely. “I promise you that.”

  “I know you’ll do your best.” She sounded so forlorn, so resigned.

  He held her away from him so he could see her face. “I’ll do better than that.”

  “But your mother—”

  “No matter the circumstances, I will return. Nothing is more important than you and the baby.” He looked deeply into her eyes. “Please believe that.”

  She stared back, a tear escaping. “I’ll try.”

  The train whistle shrilled louder. Looming closer.

  Without asking permission, he cupped her face in his hands and bent to kiss her. One last, perfect kiss that would have to sustain him until they met again. She clung to him, returning his embrace with unexpected passion, and in that moment, Quinn regretted not having more time with her, not having the chance to shower her with affection and show her how much he truly cared. Would it have made a difference? Would it have bound her heart more firmly to his?

  He’d never know now.

  The only thing he could do was entrust their future to the Lord and accept His will for them. Until that time, Quinn would remain patient and faithful, as long as she needed him.

  Reluctantly, he stepped away and wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “Take good care of yourself, Julia.”

  “And you. I wish you safe travels.”

  He patted his breast pocket. “I have the letter for your uncle. You have the marriage certificate in a safe place?”

  “I do.”

  “And if you have any trouble, promise you’ll seek Reverend Burke’s assistance?” He didn’t have to name the person who could cause the trouble.

  “I will.” She shuddered.

  A gust of wind swirled around the tracks, ruffling the women’s skirts and lifting strands of Julia’s fair hair across her cheek. She pushed them away with the back of her hand.

  People on the platform scurried toward the arriving train. Smoke billowed into the air as the brakes squealed to halt the metal beast.

  From the corner of his eye, Quinn saw Mrs. Chamberlain squeezing Harry in a tight hug.

  Soon passengers began disembarking, mingling with those waiting to board. Apprehension built in his chest as their final moments together hurtled toward them. With supreme effort, he tore his gaze from her and reached for his bag.

  “Quinn?” Anxiety swirled in her brown eyes.

  “Yes?”

  “I . . .” She closed her mouth, blinking hard.

  He waited, not daring to breathe.

  “I’ll be praying for you. And your family.” She dropped her gaze to the ground, hands clasped in front of her.

  Quinn stared at the subtle curve of her cheek, the cast of her lashes, the trembling of the lips he’d just kissed. This was one of those crucial moments that might never be repeated. Nothing must be left unsaid between them. He reached a finger under her chin and tilted her face up. “I love you, Julia. You are the most important thing to me, and I will be back for you. Don’t forget that.”

  A smile trembled on her mouth as more tears flowed. “I . . . I’ll be waiting for you.”

  With a sigh, he pressed a last tender kiss to her lips, and tasting the salt of her tears, he blinked back moisture of his own.

  “All aboard!” The conductor’s cry echoed over the platform.

  Quinn stepped away from her magnetic pull to bid Mrs. Chamberlain and Rev. Burke good-bye. He put an arm around Harry and went to join Becky, who stood farther down the platform. “Come on, lad. Let’s find some good seats.”

  “I want to sit by the window.” The boy’s eagerness made Quinn smile. At least one of them was happy to be leaving.

  Becky and Harry climbed the steps. Quinn followed. At the opening to the car, he turned to find Julia once more. She lifted a hand in a final wave. His heart pinched in his chest, but he nodded to her and disappeared into the train.

  Once they found a seat and had stowed their luggage, Harry settled by the window, Becky beside him. Quinn sat opposite them, but his focus remained out the window until he found Julia’s hat among the remaining people on the platform. As the train chugged slowly into motion, he gazed unblinking until the blue dot was no longer visible. Then he closed his eyes and prayed for the Lord’s protection on his wife and unborn child.

  Harriet wiped the dining room table, now empty after the evening meal. The boarders had all gone up to their rooms for the night, and she’d sent Mrs. Teeter away, needing solitude to do these mindless chores in order to keep occupied and not obsess over the glaring absence of one young boy in the house.

  Never did she imagine she would get so attached to a child that quickly. She’d only felt this bereft a few times in her life. Once, after her parents’ deaths, when forced onto the ship that would take her away from her homeland. The second time, when she’d learned of her sister’s death, and the third, when she’d lost her beloved husband.

  How could saying good-bye to a boy she’d known for only a few weeks cause her such devastation?

  A loud knock sounded on the front door.

  Harriet wiped the tears from her cheeks and huffed out a weary breath. “Who could that be?” she muttered as she made her way to the entrance.

  Geoffrey stood on the porch, visible sympathy softening his features. “Good evening, Harriet. May I come in?”

  Her stomach swooped. She knew he was coming to make sure she wasn’t too upset after Harry’s departure. But in truth she wanted to be alone and nurse her hurt in private. “Actually, I’m about to turn in for the evening, Geoffrey. Perhaps tomorrow—”

  In a manner most unlike him, he pushed past her into the foyer. “Why don’t you put your feet up by the fire and I
’ll make the tea?” he said as he swept off his hat.

  Realizing there was no use trying to dissuade him, she heaved a great sigh. “Very well.”

  He offered her a brief smile before disappearing toward the kitchen.

  Harriet finished tidying the dining room and went to sit in her chair beside the fireplace. Minutes later, Geoffrey bustled in with a tray. He set it on the table and handed her a china cup, her favorite one with yellow roses, and a plate of shortbread.

  “Thank you.” She took a sip, allowing the perfect blend of pekoe, milk, and sugar to seep into her soul while her tense shoulder muscles relaxed.

  “Nothing like a good cuppa, I always say.” Geoffrey took the seat opposite her and lifted his own beverage.

  “I appreciate your efforts to cheer me up,” she said after a few moments of silence. “But you really don’t need to concern yourself. I’ll be much more myself tomorrow.”

  One brow rose. “Doesn’t mean I can’t be here to help you tonight.”

  She smiled and set her cup on the table. “You really are such a dear friend.”

  His expression changed, just a flicker of displeasure, and then his usual easygoing demeanor returned. He reached for a piece of shortbread. “I know you’ll certainly miss Harry, even though he stirred up a lot of unrest from your past.”

  “That I will. For the first time, I experienced what it would’ve been like to have my own child.” Her throat tightened. “I have to admit, it felt really good.” She’d made peace with being childless years ago, but every now and then, the longing for a family of her own tugged hard on her heart.

  “I know that still bothers you at times.” He gave her a pensive look. “My late wife struggled with the same grief.”

  Harriet pushed up from her chair and walked to the fireplace. “I’m thankful Harry might be able to reclaim part of his childhood by reuniting with his mother. That makes missing him almost bearable.” She ran a finger over the framed photo of her sister. “I’ve come to the realization that you were right, Geoffrey. I never really got closure after Annie died.” She turned to face her friend, a decision she’d been toying with suddenly solidifying in her mind. “In order to achieve that, I believe I might need to return to Hazelbrae.”