A few minutes later, they were rewarded with Danny’s cry.
Mina held a hand to stop her sister. “I’ll see about him. You go rest since you didn’t get much sleep last night.”
Lily’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I so wanted today to be special for your birthday.”
“I have one every year. Besides, you’ve planned on serving my favorite foods. Go to your room and lie down while I look after the children.”
Near supper time her brother-in-law, Will Patterson, brought home a cake from the bakery to celebrate Mina’s twenty-fourth birthday. Her sister had knitted her blue gloves and a matching cap and scarf. Billy and Darla had each colored her a picture. Mina was pleased but kept busy until the dinner dishes had been washed, dried, and put away.
Since they’d been considerate enough to celebrate her birthday, she sat in the parlor with the family. She hated getting a year older with no one special to share the event with her. Twenty-four and she still had no prospect for a beau, much less marriage.
She was so restless she could hardly wait to be alone and read the newspaper clipping her cousin had sent. She lingered after the children had been tucked into bed. When her sister and brother-in-law conversed about his work at the bank, she excused herself and went to her room. She unfolded the clipping and read it.
Dear Lovelorn,
I don’t know what to do. Life is not fair or I’d be married with children by now. My parents have passed away and I live with my sister and her husband and children. Understand that I love my sister and her children. I help with the housework and cooking. Although my brother-in-law is polite, I’m sure he would prefer I were not living with them. I should be grateful I have a roof over my head, but I cannot help wishing I had my own husband and family. There are simply no eligible men in our community. What should I do?
Yours truly,
Desperate in Delaware
Mina gasped. The letter writer even lived in the same state as she. Her eyes scanned to the answer.
Dear Desperate,
Sadly, we are not guaranteed happiness or fairness in life. That said, why do you remain where you’re unfulfilled? Either resign yourself to remaining a trusted aunt and servant or seize the opportunity to change your life. Make a list of alternatives.
If you cannot meet a man where you are, move to where you can. Perhaps you have a friend or relative you can visit in another area. A second choice would be for you to become a mail-order bride. The method of change is up to you.
Yours truly
The Lovelorn
Mina sat frozen, holding the clipping. Change was up to her. Making a list of her options would not be any more helpful now than the last time she’d tried. She’d searched for a job in their small town but no one would hire an unmarried woman. Will didn’t have any coworkers who were single and looking for a wife. The only single men at church were elderly or too young.
Cindy had invited her to come for a visit. Mina’s meager savings might stretch to travel expenses. Sometimes when people invited others to come for a visit they weren’t sincere. She’d ask if Cindy was serious about a visit and had room for a guest. She sat at her small desk and wrote to her cousin.
Dear Cindy,
Thank you for the letter which arrived on my birthday! I am also grateful for the newspaper clipping you included. How amazing that another woman in Delaware shares my dilemma! Who would believe there are two of us? Ha ha.
I have big news! A couple of days after I last wrote, the doctor confirmed that Lily is expecting another child in about five months! With that addition, it really is best if I find somewhere else to live. We are squeezed in here now like peas in a pod.
Lily and the children are all well. Will continues to be polite but he would like his family to himself. Lily doesn’t know but Will mentioned the house would be even more crowded when the new baby arrives. I can’t fault him for that.
Dear cousin, if you are sincere in your invitation for me to visit, I would like to accept. I have enough saved to pay my fare there. In truth, Will and Lily should help since they are in possession of our family home and half should come to me. You know how tight Will is but I’ll ask him anyway. In the meantime, please let me know if your invitation is still open.
Love,
Mina
The following morning, Mina went to the post office to collect the mail and post her letter to Cindy. She hesitated when she realized no other customers were inside. She dreaded going in without others to buffer her from the postmaster’s unwanted attentions.
Postmaster Tom Sanders stared at her as she handed her envelope to him. He was in his fifties and his wife had died ten years earlier. For at least six or seven of those years, Mina had been fending off his advances.
He leaned over the counter. “Miss Stapleton, what you need is a man who can make you feel like a woman. I’m that man.” He spoke in a low voice he probably thought was enticing.
“I already feel like a woman, thank you.” She scratched between the ears of the large dog he always kept with him.
Mr. Sanders took a long time weighing and stamping her letter. “You don’t know what you’re missing. I could teach you the many ways a man can please a woman.”
As she picked up her change she sent him a questioning look. “You know, in the time since your wife passed away I’ve never seen you with a
