The room wasn’t as big as the farmhouse butGeorge thought it was perfect. Nice and cozy with Allison alwaysclose to him, even when he was working. All she had to do was climbdown the stairs to talk to him and Mr. Seever’s brother didn’t seemto mind.
“I really should be paying the Seevers somerent for letting us live here,” George said.
Allison shrugged. “It was a hard lesson forme to learn but we need to accept charity gracefully. They weren’tusing it.”
“Still—”
“I’m sure he’ll find a way for you to repayhim when the time comes.”
George nodded. Six months had passed. Whenwould he call in that favor? What would it be?
Mr. Seever hadn’t visited in a while. He’dgrown fond of the friendly mate. Maybe he’d stop by soon.
A knock announced they had a visitor. “Thinkthat could be him?” Allison asked, walking to the door. “He has theuncanny ability to show up for supper.”
George laughed. “After Emma’s cookinglessons, I don’t blame him.”
Allison opened the door and just stoodthere.
George rubbed the back of his neck. What hadmade her speechless? He wandered over to the doorway and saw Mr.Seever standing there with two children, a boy who looked aboutseven and girl a year or two younger. They both had brown skin andfeatures clearing showing their mixed white and Africanancestry.
“May we come in?” Mr. Seever asked.
“Oh, yes, of course,” Allison said, pivotingaround to allow them entrance.
Mr. Seever smiled, but his eyes seemedworried. “Thank you. We’ve had quite a day. Do I smell stew?”
“Yes,” Allison said. “You’re all welcome tojoin us. It is Mrs. Brown’s recipe.”
“Ah. I just came from seeing her.”
Allison’s eyebrows jumped. “You did?”
“Let’s eat,” Mr. Seever said, “and then I’llexplain. But first introductions.” He put his hand on the boy’sshoulder. “This is my son Seth.” He brushed his other hand acrossthe girl’s silky black hair. “And this is my daughter Hannah.Children this is Allison and George.”
Hannah smiled shyly and hid partly behind herfather. “Hi,” Seth said.
Mr. Seever’s children were mulatto? Thatexplained a lot.
The children ate their bowls of stew insilence. The occasional slurping noise was the only sound comingfrom the younguns. Allison seemed tense and uneasy, why Georgedidn’t know. She stumbled over her words and finally gave up tryingto talk so George and Mr. Seever carried on most of theconversation.
“Do you want a boy or a girl?” Mr. Seeverasked, both of them.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Allison said.
“One of each would be nice,” George said.Just like Emma. However, not long after Allison learned she waswith child they found out hissister-in-law was pregnant, too.
Mr. Seever smiled proudly at his children.George could tell he showered love and kindness on them like afather should. But how often did he get to see them?
“The stew was delicious,” Mr. Seever said,emptying his bowl. “What do you say, Seth? Hannah?”
“Thank you, Miss Allison,” the children saidin unison.
“You’re welcome.” Allison shifted in herchair. Was the baby making her uncomfortable or was it somethingelse?
Mr. Seever stood and the children did, too.“Go downstairs and see your uncle. I’ll be down shortly.”
“Yes, Papa,” Seth said. He opened the doorfor his sister and they disappeared.
“I didn’t know you had children,” Georgesaid.
“None of the crew on the QueenBee knows I’m a father. It has been difficult.”
“I’m sure it has,” Allison snapped. “I neverthought you’d force yourself on some poor woman.” Fire burned in her eyes.
“Allison!” George said.
“Force myself on her?” Mr. Seever replied. He blinked. “Is thatreally what you think happened?”
Allison didn’t reply.
“I’m sorry, sir,” George said, unable to readhis emotion. They could be evicted in a heartbeat. “She didn’t meanthat it is just with her past…”
Mr. Seever shook his head. “It’s all right.”He calmly met Allison’s stony glare. “That is not what happened. Iloved Caroline. I used all my savings to buy her freedom.”
“Oh,” Allison said. Her gaze dropped to thetablecloth.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t have much timetogether. She caught pneumonia right after the war and it tookher.”
“I’m sorry,” George said.
Mr. Seever sighed. “It is hard to make aliving and raise a family when you’re a single father. I’ve boardedthem at the orphanage. I hated to do it, but they were around otherchildren and I thought it would be the best place for them. Untilnow.”
George’s stomach tightened. Something waswrong. He was almost afraid to ask. “What happened?”
Mr. Seever’s nostrils flared and his faceflushed. “When I visited them today Seth confided in me that theywere both beaten badly. They’ve been afraid to tell me, thoughtthey’d get in more trouble.” One of Mr. Seever’s hands folded intoa fist. “Apparently the lady running the orphanage wanted to beatthe black out of them. I wish I could get my hands on her.”
“That’s horrible!” Allison exclaimed.
Mr. Seever pinched the bridge of his nose. “Ifeel like such a fool. I should have suspected…” He rubbed his palmacross his face. “I need to find a safe place for them to staytemporarily.” He glanced at Allison and then George. “Can they staywith you?”
The plea in Mr. Seever’s eyes and voice wentstraight to his heart. He wanted to take them but it would be up toAllison. She’d have to care for them alone when he was working.George’s throat constricted. He hadn’t been expecting this. Whowould want to beat such sweet children?
Allison rubbed her stomach. “Yes,” she said.“We’ll take them.”
Mr. Seever let out the breath he had beenholding. “Oh, thank you. Mrs. Brown looked them over but she saidshe was too old to look after youguns.”
“What are you going to do, sir?” Georgeasked.
“I turned kind of wild after Caroline died.It is finally time for me to give up the water and settle down. I’mlooking for a wife, a mother formy children.”
George and Allison exchanged a loving glanceand then George returned his attention to Mr. Seever. “My brotherand I have both found it’s possible for
