Deciding, he gave the man a firm nod. “That sounds fine, sir. When would you like me to start?”
With a full grin, the man sat back in his squeaky chair and stated, “No time like the present. How about we say you went on the clock when you walked through the door?”
Dwight couldn’t believe his good fortune.
Rising from his chair, he switched his iced drink to his left hand and gave his new employer a salute with his right.
“All right then. What’s my first order, boss?”
As Dwight was receiving his first order on his new job, Mary was studying her new blue and green outfit in the long, oval mirror in Charise’s shop.
Turning sideways to the mirror, she twisted back and forth, well pleased with the way the top draped down the back. What had Charise called it? A caraco jacket? Mary admired the way her new friend had skillfully added ruffled lace down the center, tucked loosely under cord lacings that could be let out as needed for her growing figure. Pauline’s light blue skirt had matched perfectly with the fabric’s blue flowers. The talented seamstress had also shortened the decorative lace at the cuffs to be more serviceable rather than ornamental.
Bringing one hand forward, Mary caressed her abdomen, which was just beginning to gain a bit of roundness. She decided it wasn’t blatantly obvious yet, but she could tell the difference, as from the age of sixteen she’d had a nice figure and a flat belly, thank you very much.
Shutting her eyes for a moment, she remembered her father lovingly teasing her on her sixteenth birthday that he’d have to get him some wood and make a suitor swatter to fight off the suitors that didn’t meet his approval. Oh, how she missed him.
Shaking off the melancholy thought before it grew into full fledged tears, she smiled gratefully down at Charise. The seamstress was on her knees at Mary’s feet, fussing with errant pins as she re-hemmed the bottom of the skirt for Mary’s shorter height.
“It’s fine, Charise. The outfit is beautiful, I love it,” she added happily. I wonder if Dwight will approve…he mentioned the other day that he thinks I have pretty eyes, and they look even brighter blue against this material…
“I bet that handsome husband of yours will whistle when he sees you in this,” Charise commented as she worked to reset some of the pins. “By the way, how are you two doing living at Doc’s? I heard the house is pretty well packed with Dwight and Pauline’s family in residence. I bet you two don’t find many opportunities to be alone, huh?”
Mary’s heart sped up as she processed the personal questions and she merely mumbled a blanket reply.
“You’ve never said…how long have you been married? And were you married in Louisville? I’d thought you were just eighteen…”
Mary nearly choked, racking her brain for an answer. They hadn’t decided on a wedding date or wedding details to tell people! Oh Lord, I hate these lies!
To buy some time, Mary reacted with an “Ouch” more strongly than needed when Charise accidentally stuck her ankle with a pin. Of course, her sweet employer was exceedingly sorry and apologized profusely.
The distraction worked, however, and Mary was able to change the subject.
Sometime later, as Mary helped Charise make lunch for the children, the ladies heard footsteps on the circular stairs down the hall from the kitchen. Thinking it was Finn coming up from his barber shop for his afternoon meal, they were both surprised to hear a knock on the doorframe of the kitchen and Dwight’s voice saying, “Hello ladies. Looks like I’m just in time for lunch.”
Startled, Mary gasped and her head jerked up in reaction. She had to remind herself to close her mouth, which had dropped open in shock. He’d come to visit her at work?
As if in answer to that thought, he moved into the kitchen, greeting Charise and the children as the hospitable mother invited him in to share the meal.
When he reached Mary, he placed his hands on her arms and smiled down into her still astonished expression.
“Well, wife. Are you so surprised to see me?” He raised his eyebrows and pointedly shifted his eyes to the side, in the direction of Charise, and continued, “I missed you. Plus, I couldn’t wait for tonight to tell you—Attorney Mincer offered me the job. Matter of fact, I’ve already started. Isn’t that great?”
Her mind working at top speed to react the way a wife should, Mary stuttered, “Th…that’s wonderful, h…honey!”
Knowing that the lady of the house was watching, not to mention the kids, Mary carefully placed the pitcher of milk onto the table, then slipped her arms around Dwight’s back with her head against his chest and hugged him. Oh, it felt so right, each and every time she found herself in his embrace…
“Oh, you can do better than that, can’t you, Mary? Give the man a kiss,” Charise encouraged with a mile-wide grin accompanying her words as the children giggled.
Mary pulled back, saucer-eyed, not knowing how Dwight would react, but he took it all in stride, ever the consummate actor.
“Yes, wife, I whole-heartedly agree,” he quipped jauntily, and then before she could register what he was about to do, he lowered his head and his lips met hers.
Fireworks immediately shot off, filling Mary’s body with glittering light.
Vaguely, she registered
