Mary couldn’t help but grin up at the older woman.
Pearl smoothed another lock of Mary’s hair and then warmly grasped one of her hands in both of hers, meeting her eyes intently. “Mary…” she began, “I know that Doc is a wonderful physician and he has probably given you advice and answered questions. But… sometimes there are things that only another woman can relate to. I want you to know that you can ask or tell me anything, no matter what it is, and while I’m here, I’ll do my best to help. All right?”
Mary felt her eyes begin to fill as a strong sweep of emotion took over. Before she could take a breath, a tear overflowed from the corner of each eye and slid down her temples, soaking into her hairline. Sinking her teeth into her bottom lip, she attempted to stem the flow.
Pearl whispered, “Oh honey, it’s all right,” as she drew Mary up and into her arms for a warm, comforting hug, slowly rocking her back and forth as if consoling her from a nightmare. One hand lovingly stroked the back of her head.
Mary couldn’t help it, she clung to her mother-in-law and let the tears release, allowing herself to welcome the ministrations. It was the most accepting, wonderfully earnest embrace Mary had ever received. Slowly, all of the tension began to drain from her body and she felt herself relaxing—for the first time since Doc had given her the shocking diagnosis.
Several minutes later, Pearl helped Mary to drift back down onto the pillow and covered her again. Retrieving a handkerchief from the nightstand, she handed it to Mary, fondly watching as she wiped her eyes and nose.
Then, Pearl patted her arm. “Now, you just lie here and take a little nap, and when you wake up, you’ll feel much better. Then, come join us downstairs—and indulge in a treat with us. I have it on good authority that the industrious Wanda Mae has made us some ice cream to try.”
Mary managed to nod with a faint smile before she watched Pearl make her way to the doorway. There, she paused, blessing Mary with an adoring, almost motherly, expression as she slipped out and closed the door behind her. Mary was left in the peaceful, colorful rays from the setting sun she could barely see through the lightly fluttering lace curtains of her window.
What a wonderful woman Pearl is, she mused, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.
With another soft smile, she closed her eyes and was soon asleep—dreaming of a man with broad shoulders, wavy brown hair, and delicious honey brown eyes…
Chapter 8
P earl had been right; a short nap had done wonders for Mary’s nerves and general well-being.
When she’d come downstairs, everyone, including Dwight, had seemed exceedingly glad to see her and so genuinely concerned about her health that it had warmed her from head to toe.
As she’d settled onto the parlor settee, the twins had come over to her and plopped down on either side. Each one offered to be of help to her as they spoke in tandem, finishing one another’s sentences. Mary had never known identical twins before, and for her the effect was quite amazing. She wondered how their family could tell them apart.
Although Dwight hadn’t risen from his chair to approach her and inquire about her welfare, his eyes did lock onto her and they hadn’t strayed. She’d sent him several shy smiles and he’d responded with dimpled grins each time.
Now, several hours later, Mary was giggling along with her new housemates and Wanda Mae, thoroughly enjoying herself.
Dwight and Tobias had settled into a good-natured contest in regards to who had the most outlandish things happen to them in the course of their jobs. Dwight had been delighting them all with anecdotes of crazy instances that had happened during his time as a cabbie, and Tobias had volunteered a few stories from when he’d been a deputy for his illustrious grandfather, Marshal Hampton Gibson in Champaign, Illinois.
Just now, Dwight was finishing up a tale and Mary was unable to take her eyes off of her new husband as he stood in the middle of the parlor, elaborating. The first part had been funny enough, with him pantomiming a slicker with a mind of its own, fighting being worn out on a stormy evening, and his horse being skittish of the wind. Now he was engaged in a narrative about pulling over for a man who had hailed him from between two houses on that same rainy evening, seeming as if he were hiding from the law.
“But, as he rushed out to climb into the cab, a satchel tucked under one arm, I could see it was clothing that had been hastily stuffed inside—some of which were sticking out the top. Then, the man’s wife suddenly ran out from the house, brandishing a rolling pin in one fist and an umbrella in the other, and screeching like a banshee.”
“Oh, my goodness!” Pearl and Livvy both exclaimed. Dwight grinned at them and continued.
“Eyes as big as quarters, the man tossed the case into my cab and then literally dove in after it, head first, as if the hounds of Hades were chasing him, all the while hollering, ‘Go man, go! Get me out of here! Don’t let her get me!’ Well, his wife was coming up fast, screaming for me to halt so she could get her blankety
