“You look much better than you did when you left here yesterday. Did you sleep well?”
Charity shrugged, “Not really. I had an interesting dream, which helped me clarify my feelings and helped me decide what I should say to Jason when he asks me again to go out to supper on New Year’s Eve.”
“I hope that means it was a good dream,” Holly said.
Charity shook her head slowly. “Yes and no. I dreamed about Charles, and I remember the conversation we had shortly after we were married but must’ve somehow blocked it out of my mind. For some reason, he decided it was important for me to know that if something happened to him, I should marry again and live a fulfilled life.”
Holly said, “I’m certain all your worries about Jason triggered that memory and dream. Without the dream, would you accept Jason’s invitation to supper?”
As Charity slipped on her work apron, she said, “I highly doubt it. I want to tell you something but please don’t tell anyone else.”
“I won’t,” Holly assured. “You know you can trust me.”
At Charles’ funeral, I whispered to him just before the burial that I would love him forever and would never marry another.”
Holly wiped her flour-covered hands on a towel and said, “That explains a lot of things, especially your reluctance to accept Jason’s invitation to supper or any of his other advances. I take it the dream helped you to see that you can be happy with Charles’ blessing.”
“It did. I can’t tell you how much I loved Charles and how it broke my heart when he died. If not for the children, I’m not sure I would have survived it. Many days they were the only reason I had to get out of bed,” Charity confided.
Tears began to stream down Holly’s cheeks as she pulled Charity into a hug. “I can’t imagine what I would do if I lost Joseph. You’re much braver than I could ever hope to be. I’m sure I would wither away.”
Joseph strode into the kitchen and looked at his wife’s tear-streaked face. “Are you all right, Holly? What is it with the two of you this week? You’ve been emotional at the least little thing, and Charity left for home with a headache, and she never has them. I’ll never understand either of you.” He smiled and left the kitchen with a mop and bucket of water.
Charity stared at Holly for a long moment and asked, “Are you with child?”
Holly bit her lip. “I’m not certain, but I think I might be. I’m not sick the way I hear other women are, but everything happy or sad makes me cry.”
“I was the same way. Never a day sick, but everything from the birds singing a happy tune in the morning or the cow not wanting to give up her milk made me cry. I think I nearly drove Charles mad,” Charity smiled at the sweet memory. “I’m excited for you. Does Joseph know?”
Holly shook her head.
“I didn’t think he did, or he’d be insisting that you go home and back to bed instead of making pies this morning. Be forewarned, he’s going to be very protective of you, and he’ll worry about every little thing. I know how my brother deals with things. Just keep smiling and tell him things are all right, and he’ll survive, hopefully.”
Charity’s statement made Holly laugh, and they both began to laugh harder and louder. Joseph returned to the kitchen with a confused look on his face.
“So now things are funny? You two are a mystery to me. Can you take care of business for a while? I need to head over to the livery and see Pap about our wagon horses.”
“We’ll get along nicely without you,” Charity assured her brother. “Lunch rush doesn’t start for another hour.”
Joseph left, and Charity looked at Holly. “Jason will be in for lunch today, and he’s going to ask me again if I’ll have supper with him. When I say yes, I hope I don’t stutter or worse, he asks me why I’ve decided to accompany him.”
“Just tell him ladies have secrets, and you can’t give him a reason,” Holly suggested.
“I like the way you think.”
The hour passed quickly, and soon the café was humming with business. Near the end of the rush, Jason arrived and sat at his usual table.
Holly whispered, “He’s here. Smile and don’t trip when you walk to the table.”
Charity rolled her eyes and answered, “Thank you. I needed to worry about that, too.”
Holly chuckled. “You’ll be all right. Smile, and maybe a wink might help.”
“I don’t think winking would make any difference. He’s serious and keeps asking.”
“Sounds like love,” Holly said as Charity hurried past her, grabbed a coffee pot, and headed into the dining room.
Charity did her best to push the ‘love’ comment out of her mind as she walked up to Jason’s table. She smiled, poured him a cup of coffee, and said, “Today’s special is roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans, and hot biscuits. We have freshly churned butter or honey for the biscuits.”
“The special sounds good, and please bring some honey for the biscuits. I like sweet things,” Jason answered and returned her smile.
Charity blushed, nodded, and hurried back to the kitchen.
“He’ll have the special, and he wants honey because he likes sweet things,” Charity gushed as she explained to Holly what Jason had ordered.
“Any mention of New Year’s Eve?” Holly asked.
“No, and I think I made a fool out of myself. I could feel my face turning red when he said he likes sweet things. He’s going to think I think that he thinks I’m sweet. Oh, goodness, I don’t know what I’m thinking. Why does that
