“What do you think?”
“It’s lovely.”
And it was. A cool breeze rustled the leaves above them, and patches of sunlight shone through. As more people arrived, a few blankets were set out, and people opened baskets, beginning to dish out the food.
It felt like a safe place, and Adelia let herself relax her shoulders, as she sat down beside Mrs. Tiller. Adelia liked this feeling, but she wasn’t sure how to describe it. All she knew, was she was afraid she wouldn’t ever feel this way again.
Just in case, she made sure to make mental notes about everything going on around her as people laughed and talked to one another, and enjoyed the food being passed around.
Chapter 18
Nathaniel sat down with his friends and family, the sound of the steady flow of the creek behind them almost overpowered by the conversations going on around him. He glanced over to Mrs. Tiller where she was unpacking some sandwiches from her basket. She handed them to Miss Mason, who then distributed them to everyone, a serious look on her face as her eyes seemed to dart from place to place.
Miss Mason seemed nervous, and Nathaniel knew what that feeling was like. He wasn’t one to enjoy big crowds, and it had taken him a long time to attend something like this without feeling the intense desire to go home.
“Here, Mr. Anderson.”
He pulled himself back from his thoughts and met Miss Mason’s bright eyes for a brief second as she handed him a sandwich. “Thank you.”
More treats were set out, and other groups came by to offer their food as well. By the time Nathaniel had finished eating, he was sure he wouldn’t be able to eat anything else for the rest of the day.
His children had long run off to play with their friends, and he was left sitting beside Harriet who held Owen close to her.
Nathaniel found his gaze land on Miss Mason who silently stood up and smoothed out her skirt, then began to walk away from the group. Leaning back to see past Mr. Roger’s head, he watched Miss Mason stop on the edge of the tree clearing. No one was nearby, and she slowly sat down to lean back against a tree.
He quickly looked back to everyone around him to see if anyone else had noticed Miss Mason’s disappearance. But everyone seemed to be focused on their own conversations, unaware of her absence.
Nathaniel let out a long breath, standing quickly and making his way over to her. As he approached, she glanced up at him under her dark eyebrows.
“Are you enjoying the picnic?”
She nodded, her cheeks flushing a slight pink. “Yes, it’s been nice to see everyone.”
“It’s also a bit tiring at times, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
Sliding his hands into his pockets, Nathaniel smiled. “Do you mind if I sit?”
“Sure.” Miss Mason looked back down at her hands folded in her lap.
Easing himself down beside her, he let out a long breath. “Was today your first time attending church here?”
“Yes, and my first time attending church in a long time.”
“Well, I’m glad you came. Reverend Smith delivers great messages.”
It was quiet for a few seconds, and Nathaniel glanced at her. She was frowning and biting the side of her lip.
“I haven’t exactly been a religious person during my life. I only came to be able to meet people.”
“Well, that’s all right.”
“I mean, I believe there is a God, but,” she paused, shaking her head. “Never mind.”
He raised his eyebrows. “But what?”
“I suppose I’ve just felt abandoned by Him for a while, and like…” she trailed off, shaking her head. “And I feel like maybe He doesn’t like me?”
She looked away, her eyes seeming to search for something far in the distance.
“I’ve felt that way before too. It’s difficult, and I know this may not bring comfort to you right now, but He does care for you. I know it may seem like He’s far away from us at times, but He has a plan.”
“How did you stop feeling this way?”
“I—” He hesitated, not exactly sure how to answer. “It took a while. I was angry with Him for a long time, after my wife passed away. I just tried to accept that sometimes things happen that we’ll never understand, but they make us stronger and prepare us for something else.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
He looked down at his calloused hands and shook his head. “It’s okay. It was a long time ago.”
“Someone you love passing away, hurts for a lifetime, I think.”
“It sure does.”
They sat quietly, and Nathaniel picked at the grass beside him.
“I never know what to say.”
He dropped the handful of grass and looked at her again. “What do you mean?”
“When I’m with strangers, or groups of people. I never know what to say. I just sit quietly.”
“That’s okay. Everyone is different.”
She frowned, her blue eyes looking up at him. “I have things I think I’d like to say, though, but I never know if anyone will care. And I can’t relate to what they talk about.”
“People will care.”
“They never have before.”
Nathaniel drew his eyebrows together, not sure what else to say. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
Scratching the back of his neck, he gave her a small smile. “The people in this community will care about what you have to say. And so will I. Believe me when I say that.”
Miss Mason just looked at him, her icy blue eyes wide. All she said was, “Thank you.”
Chapter 19
Adelia sat quietly most of the ride home, and she was grateful that Timothy didn’t try to make conversation. She needed time to think and be alone with her thoughts. The words of Mr. Anderson were bouncing around her head, as she tried to make sense of them.
“The people in this community will care about what you have to say. And so will I.”
Adelia wasn’t even sure what she wanted to say, or if it was even important. She felt more confused by Mr. Anderson’s kindness to her, and she was surprised by how he’d seemed to understand what she was saying, without her even telling him anything.
He had just come over to her and had seemed to know exactly what she was feeling by just looking at her. It scared her a little when she realized how easily someone had read her. Perhaps it meant she wasn’t keeping her feelings as well hidden as she’d hoped.
Glancing down at her hands, with her thin, long fingers, she was reminded of when she’d been at the orphanage for about a week and had tried to find comfort with Mrs. Hansen.
“I want to go home.” Adelia had reached for Mrs. Hansen, who had her back to her, and she’d grabbed a handful of the skirt fabric, hoping she would hug her. Adelia had desperately wanted to have someone hold her and tell her it would be okay.
“Stop crying, Adelia.”
“I miss father and Timothy.”
Mrs. Hansen had turned around, her lips pinched together. “You’re not the only one missing your family, child. Now, go help the others with making the beds.”
“But—”
“I don’t care. You’re living here now. This is your fate and there is nothing I can do to help you.”
Shaking the memory from her mind, she focused on bringing back the feeling she’d felt when Mr. Anderson had noticed she’d left the group and had come to sit beside her. She didn’t quite understand what the feeling was exactly, but it was warmer than the cold memory of Mrs. Hansen.
Mrs. Hansen had never cared, nor had anyone in her childhood, but perhaps she had finally found people who did care within Burchcreek. Maybe the world wasn’t as lonely as she had believed it was. She hoped this was true, because she liked this world much better than her old one.
“Miss Mason?”
Adelia glanced up from where she was wiping the front of the display case. “Yes?”
“Could I get a knif
e, please?”
“Of course.” She set the damp cloth next to the cash register and grabbed a knife from the drawer. Quickly crossing to where Mr. Anderson sat, she set it down beside his plate.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled and went to return to what she’d been doing.
“Miss Mason, do you get a lunch break?”
Raising her eyebrows, she turned back to face him. “I—well yes. I usually take it once the lunch rush is over.”
“Do you have any plans for lunch today?”
Adelia noticed the red tinge rising in his face, which she was sure mirrored her own. “No, I never do. I usually just eat in the back with Mr. and Mrs. Tiller.”
“Maybe we could have lunch together today? I have some work to do for Mr. Tysen this morning, and then I could come back here whenever the lunch rush is over? That is, only if you want to?”
Adelia felt herself run through all the possible excuses she could use, and all the reasons she should say no and eat lunch as she normally did. But what would it hurt? She asked herself, looking down at Mr. Anderson, his dark eyes meeting her own. It’s just lunch.
“I’d like that. I usually eat around one-thirty.”
He just nodded, and Adelia forced herself to wipe her clammy hands on her apron and try to walk calmly to the kitchen to gather herself.
Once she was in the kitchen, she let out a long breath.
“Are you all right, Miss Mason? You look like you need to sit down.” Mrs. Tiller’s wrinkled hand reached to guide her to the table in the corner of the room.
“I’m fine, thank you. I’m just warm.”
“Yes, it’s quite hot out today. I don’t know that the kitchen is any better than out there, though.”
Adelia nodded, sitting in the chair across from where Mr. Tiller had his wheelchair under the table. “I’ll go back out there in a minute.”
Running her hand over the rough knot in the dark wooden table, Adelia wondered what she was doing. Everything inside her was telling her not to become friends with anyone. Actually, it was yelling at her not to. It wasn’t safe. They’d only hurt you.
A small part of her, though, was whispering, what if? What if these people are different? What if this was her chance to see what she’d missed out on all these years?
“Have some water, dear.”
She pulled herself from her thoughts, looking up at Mrs. Tiller who had set a glass of water in front of her.
“Thank you. That’s probably a good idea.” Taking a sip of the water, she forced her heart rate to steady, and the shaking in her hands to calm. It was just lunch with a friend.
Chapter 20
Nathaniel stepped inside the café, the bell above the door announcing he’d arrived. It was empty as it always was at this time of day when everyone had gone back to work.
Empty other than Miss Mason who had her back to him, as she wiped the table in front of her.
“Good afternoon.” He removed his hat and hung it on the hook by the door.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Anderson. I just need a minute to finish cleaning these tables.”
He nodded, sliding his hands into his pockets. “All right.”
Swallowing hard, he crossed the room to a table he could tell she’d already cleaned as it was still damp. “Was it busy over lunch?”
“Fairly. I’ve seen it busier before, but it was steady.”
“That’s good.” Nathaniel pulled the chair out, sitting down slowly.
“All right, what would you like?” She turned to face him now, a nervous smile on her face.
He cleared his throat and pulled his hand back through his hair. “I’ll just get whatever you’re having. Makes it easy.”
She nodded, and he watched after her as she went into the kitchen, the door swinging shut behind her.
While he waited, he glanced out the window where he recognized Mr. Rogers heading into the mercantile. Mrs. Tysen walked past as well, her rushed walk just as quick as always. Soon, Miss Mason returned from the kitchen, her apron now gone and two bowls in her hands.
“Here.”
Nathaniel looked up at her as she set a steaming bowl of vegetable soup and a plate of bread and butter in front of him.
“I hope this is okay?”
He nodded. “Yes, this is perfect. Thank you.”
When she sat down across from him, he reached for the spoon and stirred the soup a little, smiling at the warm, delicious smell rising as he did.
“You said you were doing work for Mr. Tysen?”
“Yes, the roof on the blacksmith’s had a leak, and he is too nervous to climb up there to fix it.”
She nodded, lifting a spoonful of steaming food from the bowl. “He just doesn’t like heights?”
“No, he fell off a roof a few years ago and broke a couple of ribs. He’s been nervous ever since.”
“Well, I’m sure I’d be nervous about it too.”
“Yes, so…” Nathaniel started, unsure if he should continue. Last time he’d asked about her past, she’d seemed quite uncomfortable, but he couldn’t help being curious. “Did you live with your brother at all before you two were separated, or did you never meet him until now?”
She stirred her soup, not looking up from the swirling vegetables. “I lived with him until I was six, but I didn’t remember him very well. He was eleven when I went to the orphanage.”
“What happened to your parents?”
“My ma died when she was having my little sister, and then my father passed away from pneumonia.”
Nathaniel frowned, shaking his head. “I’m sorry you lost both of your parents. It must’ve been hard.”
“I was three when my ma passed away, so I don’t really remember her. And the memories I do have of my father are pretty faded. It’s kind of frustrating not being able to remember them. I wish I had pictures, or something to remind me of them.”
“Yes, I’m sure it would be difficult to not remember them. And you said you had a little sister?”
She smiled sadly. “Yes, her name was Annie. We went to the orphanage together, but she died when scarlet fever went through.”
“So, your brother is your only living relative?”
Miss Mason nodded. “The grandparents who he lived with also passed away a few years ago he said.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Your grandparents raised him and not you and Annie?”
“Yes, they only wanted Timothy.”
“I can’t imagine how you felt.”
She shrugged, taking a bite of her food. “The sooner you learn to not rely on other people wanting you in order to feel complete, the better.”
Nathaniel hated that she’d had to adopt this way of thinking for her life, but he imagined he would’ve done the same if he’d been in her place. “Sorry if I’ve bothered you too much by asking about your past. I was just wondering.”
She looked up at him from under her long eyelashes and smiled lightly. “I spent too much of my life being ashamed of my past and trying to pretend it wasn’t there. It’s better to acknowledge that something happened and allow yourself to feel what you need to.”
Nathaniel couldn’t remember when she had changed from saying only five words at a time, to sharing these deep topics.
“So, Mr. Anderson, what about your past? I feel like I don’t know anything about you.”
“You can call me Nathaniel if you like. And I grew up in Burchcreek on the same farm I live on now. My brother Matthew and I were very close growing up, and we still are. When my wife Isabella passed away, he moved in to help me with my three children.”
She smiled. “It’s nice that you two are so close, and you can call me Adelia. What are the kid’s names?”
“Isabella is the oldest, then George, and the youngest is Kate.”
“From the times I’ve seen them, they seem like lovely children.”
He nodded, unable to hold back his smile. His favorite thing to talk about was his
children. “I’ve tried my best. Would you like to meet them properly sometime? Maybe we could come here after school tomorrow?”
“Sure, I’ll be here as I always am.” She smiled, and as she did, Nathaniel couldn’t help but stare.
There was something about her that made him feel a hundred things at once. He felt like he was betraying Isabella, but he was starting to wonder if he deserved to be alone for the rest of his life. Wouldn’t Isabella have wanted him to be happy? But Adelia was just a new friend, and he knew it was nothing to worry about.
There was nothing wrong with making friends.
Chapter 21
Adelia smiled as Nathaniel came in the door with three children trailing close behind him. The café was empty other than Mr. Murphy who had come in for a coffee and now sat by the window silently.
“Good afternoon.” She rested her hands on the counter, leaning forward slightly as the smallest, and who she assumed was Kate, skipped up to her.
“Papa is letting us get treats again!”
“Oh my, isn’t that nice of him?”
Nathaniel met her glance and smiled lightly, as he rested his hand on the young boy’s shoulder. “Children, you remember, Miss Mason?”
“Yes, Pa,” they said in unison.
“I’ve seen you children around, and in here once with your father, but it’s nice to meet you.”
The oldest girl, with long, blonde hair, who Adelia remembered was Isabella, looked up at her. “Did you do your hair like that all by yourself?”
Adelia lightly reached up to touch the braid running on the side of her head leading to the twisted updo she’d done in the back. “Yes, I did.”
“It’s very pretty.”
Adelia smiled. “I could always show you how to do it sometime. It would look very pretty in your hair as well.”
“You think I could do it?” Isabella grinned, eyes wide.
A Chance to Love (Life's a Chance Book 3) Page 6