Dwight, having apparently slipped out to the wagon, then appeared in the doorway, his hands and arms loaded with his family’s belongings.
“I saved your trunk until last,” he told his mother as he edged his way in and set several bags down on the bed.
“Thank you, son,” Pearl smiled at him. Then, her brow furrowed and she turned to the kind doctor.
“Are there four bedrooms up here?”
“Well, no…just three,” the doc answered.
Pearl raised a questioning brow in Dwight’s direction, but still addressed their host. “But, then where will Dwight sleep?”
For some reason, every adult eye in the room turned to look at Mary.
Chapter 6
“I have just the solution. Come with me, young man,” Doc smiled as he motioned for Dwight to follow.
Dwight put down his burdens so that his mother and the girls could begin putting their things away and get settled, promising as he went that he would bring up her trunk in a few minutes.
Tromping back down the stairs with his host, Dwight followed as the doctor led him to a cozy sitting room that also functioned as a library. It was pleasantly decorated with an attractive chandelier that hung from the ceiling, it’s light illuminating the red and gold striped wallpaper lining the walls. A large cream, green, and burgundy Oriental rug softened much of the open floor. With one quick pass, Dwight took in the room’s oval, marble-topped walnut table adorning the center of the rug, the large, black wood stove anchoring one wall, and the well-built shelves on each side that were filled with books and knickknacks. A piano with a round stool occupied the space in one corner, and Dwight wondered if the doctor played the instrument in his spare time.
Other than those items, a few chairs and other furniture dotted the space—as well as a rather long, carved walnut, high-backed settee, with thickly padded upholstery in a light green damask.
Indicating the piece, Doc Reeves said with a smile, “It’s a lot more comfortable than it looks. I’ve rested on it many a time, when I had a patient in the exam room overnight for observation. What do you think, young man?”
Dwight walked over to the davenport and sat down on its surface, running his hands over the fabric and giving a bounce. It did, indeed, feel comfortable. A little narrow for his broad shoulders, but he could make it work. He glanced up at his host with an answering smile.
“I’ve slept on worse.” It was true.
The doctor rubbed his hands together with a satisfied nod. “Good, good. Now, Mary probably told you our idea of you keeping your things up in her room…”
Dwight gave an answering nod. “Yes…well actually, Pauline did.”
The older man had turned to go, but then stopped and swung back, leveling Dwight with a piercing stare. “Son…I know this is an unusual situation, and you probably think I’m a dishonest old fool for thinking it up, but,” he paused and tilted his head slightly, eyeing Dwight as if he were trying to size him up.
Dwight didn’t let his gaze waver. He had nothing to hide.
After a few moments, Doc continued, “In the short time that Mary has been in Brownville, she’s become dear to me…almost like…well—like a daughter. Once I determined that she was expecting, I just couldn’t stand by and let the few old biddies that thrive on gossip and tearing others down rip her to pieces. She’s a good girl and a hard worker…and someday she’ll make some man a good wife. I don’t want her hurt or ostracized, or branded a scarlet woman. You follow?”
Dwight cleared his throat and stood, moving closer to face the doc so that they would be on equal footing. Internally, he pushed away the strange, jealous pang he felt in the region of his heart at the doc’s words someday she’ll make some man a good wife, and he met the other man directly, without hesitation.
“I follow, sir…although I have no idea at this point the details of her…predicament. I have no intention of hurting her—or allowing her to be hurt on my account. I know it wasn’t in the plans for me—the absentee husband—to actually be here, but while I’m with her, I’ll do everything I can to come across as Mary’s loving husband. You have my word.”
The two men stood face to face in the room, each taking the other’s measure, until finally the doc seemed to be satisfied with what he saw in Dwight’s eyes. The older man gave a decisive nod and reached out to clap a hand on Dwight’s shoulder. “That’s all I ask, son. As for the details of how she ended up in her…predicament, as you said…those, I’m afraid will have to come from her. As her physician, as well as her friend, I’ll not betray her confidence.”
Then, an odd kind of twinkle seemed to flash behind the doc’s spectacles and he angled a thumb over his shoulder at the doorway. “Now, it might be a good idea to get your belongings put away in Mary’s room because…well, there’s one more thing. I didn’t tell my housekeeper the truth about Mary’s marriage because…” he paused to clear his throat and raised a hand to scratch his chin. “Don’t get me wrong, Wanda Mae’s a fine woman. It’s just that…well, truthfully, the woman couldn’t keep a secret to save her soul. So, it would be better all around if we keep up the pretense when she’s in the house. That means…keep your pillow and bedclothes stashed in Mary’s room, if you know what
