“Peggy, all right, I can do that.” Charity answered.
“This fabric is beautiful,” Peggy commented as she approached the table and saw the satin laid across the table.
“I’ve decided on the blue and this simple pattern,” Charity explained and held out the pattern for Peggy to see.
“This is lovely and will look beautiful on you, but do you think you’ll have enough time to sew this dress? I’ll help, of course, but sewing can be time-consuming.”
Holly spoke, “That won’t be a problem, Joseph gave me a sewing machine for Christmas, and I love to sew.”
“How wonderful,” Peggy exclaimed. “A sewing machine and a seamstress. You should be able to get everything done. Are you also making a new dress for Annie?”
Charity nodded, “I planned to make one.”
“What about Ben?” asked Holly. “I don’t have much experience with suits, but I can make him one if he’ll stand still long enough for the measurements.”
Charity laughed. “I’m not sure he’d like that. Jason told him that since he needs a new suit for the wedding, he would take Ben with him, and they would both get new suits. Ben is excited to do something alone with Jason.”
“That settles the problem then,” Peggy said. “I have ivory and pink satin at home. Please allow me to make you a bouquet of satin roses.”
Charity hugged her future mother-in-law. “Thank you, Peggy. I would love that. There are so many details that I need to remember. I never even thought about a bouquet.”
“Don’t you worry about a thing,” Peggy told Charity. “You take care of your dress, and the hotel will take care of the preparations. Matthew and I insist on taking care of that part of the wedding. We’ll speak to the hotel manager and take care of all the details.”
Charity, at a loss for words, hugged Peggy and whispered, “Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure,” Peggy assured her. “You’re going to make Jason happy, and that’s all a mother can expect. I worried he might not find a woman to share his life with. I’m pleased he found you.”
“Now,” Peggy added. “Let’s have a cup of tea, eat a little, and see if there is anything Charity wants included in the wedding. I don’t want to feel as if you’re being forced out of the plans, my dear.”
Settled at the table with their tea and plates of pudding, Charity said, “I would like Annie to be a flower girl. She’s excited about me dressing up for the wedding, and I promised her a new dress. Jason included Ben in his plans, not only taking him to buy a suit, but he asked him to stand with him. Ben is excited to be included in adult plans.”
Peggy smiled, her pride for her son shining. “Jason has a huge heart, and you already know he’s a good man. He’ll make you a fine husband and father for the children.”
Charity giggled. “At our little picnic, Jason included the children and asked them if he could marry me. Ben’s first question was if he did, could he call Jason papa. Jason didn’t hesitate in saying yes, and that assured me he would raise my children with love.”
“That he will,” Peggy assured her, “and any more children you have. You’re still a young woman, Charity, I see more children in your future.”
Charity blushed and sipped her tea, trying to hide the heat she felt rising on her cheeks.
Hoping to change the subject, Charity said, “Peggy, I do have a concern.”
“What is it?” Peggy asked. “I’ll do what I can to help.”
“Jason and I spoke about my giving up my job at the café, and I want to do that. It would mean more time with Annie and Ben, and Joseph said he can easily hire a young woman to take my place, but if I stay home with the children, do you think we might get into Widow Stanley’s way?” Charity asked.
“Harriet Stanley has been a friend for many years, and I’ve never heard her say a cross word about children although she never had any of her own,” Peggy explained.
Charity nodded. “I’m sure there will be times when I need to run errands or have an appointment where I can’t take the children. I wonder if she’d be open to the children staying at home with her. Miss Barber watches them now when I work or can’t take them with me, but I know she wants to go to St. Louis to visit her ailing sister. She’s mentioned that she might move there to care for her.”
“I have an idea,” Peggy stated. “One day this week, you and I will visit with Harriet. You can see the house without Jason around, so town tongues don’t begin to wag, and you can bring up your concerns before the wedding. I’m sure we can come up with something that will work well. Please remember what I said when you and Jason were at supper with us last night, Annie and Ben will be our grandchildren and this grandmother is always open to spending a day with them.”
“Thank you very much both for accepting my children and for helping me with my concerns,” Charity said before tucking into her sweet treat. “This is delicious. I’ve never had persimmon pudding before.”
“I first enjoyed it on a trip that Matthew and I took to Texas. I begged the recipe from the hotel cook, and now each year, Matthew arranges to have a crate of persimmons shipped from Texas. I put up the mashed pulp to enjoy all winter and we love it during Christmas. It’s one of Jason’s favorites.”
“I must get the recipe from you and arrange for a delivery of persimmons, too,” Charity said. “I’ll ask Joseph to speak to Matthew. My brother is always looking for something new
