“Thank you. It was nice meeting you...”
“Miss Hanson.”
Adam stood and offered his hand. “Adam Sutherland.”
He watched as the woman walked away, thinking she seemed down-to-earth and friendly. Had she said her name was Hanson? His parents’ housekeeper was Tilde Hanson. She was Swedish—the woman was probably a relative, given her blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair coloring. He’d have to tell Tilde he’d met someone related to her.
No sooner had he tied his horse to the post in front of the house than his mother ran down the steps and threw herself in his arms. Adam swung her around in circles.
“I’ve missed you, son,” she said.
“And I you.” He let her go to greet his father.
“Thank God you’re all right.” His father embraced him. “The maritime police sent me a full report.
“We thought you’d gone crazy, stopping at all the wrong ports.”
Adam put his arms around both of his parents and walked them to the house. “I’d probably still be there if it hadn’t been for you sending the police after me.”
Rhea led him to the sitting room. “Should I ring for tea?”
“Not for me,” Adam said. “I’m anxious to meet my wife. Is she here?”
He noticed his parents exchanging a look.
“What is it?” Adam asked. “Is there a problem?”
Rhea caressed Adam’s shoulder. “No. No problem. We’re just worried about whether or not the two of you will like each other.”
Adam smiled at her. “Rest assured—I’ve made up my mind to like her. She was Seth’s choice, and I trust him to have chosen a good Christian woman. We’ll be fine. I’m anxious to see my brother’s child, too. Where are they?”
Sam told him, “They recently moved into the house we built for the two of you. It’s on the north end of the property. We miss having them around.”
“What’s my wife’s name?”
“Greta. And the child’s a girl, named Bethany—Beth to go with Seth.”
“I’m a little nervous. Will the two of you come with me to introduce me? Do I just move in? I don’t know how to proceed, here.”
“I think it might be a good idea to stay here with us and sort of court her,” Sam said. “Do you agree, Rhea?”
Rhea nodded. “Yes, that would be the best way to get to know each other.”
“Good. Let me wash up and change clothes, and we’ll go to meet my new family.”
Chapter Five
Greta received a message from Rhea that Adam would be coming to meet them soon. She fidgeted as the maid Rhea had given her styled her hair, wondering how she should greet him. Greta felt nervous and excited all at once. Seeing Adam again had brought back the feelings she’d once had for him. She’d been young then, and young love is memorable. It was probably why she’d fainted at the cemetery. She’d only fainted once before, in church on a Sunday, when she hadn’t eaten breakfast.
When she’d met him in the cemetery, she’d been too shocked and unsure of herself to tell him who she was. Had that been a mistake? What if he didn’t like her looks? Had he been telling the truth when he said looks didn’t matter?
She looked at her maid, Sadie, in the mirror as she twisted Greta’s hair into a French twist. Sadie was a plain woman, a bit on the stout side, and she was about Greta’s age. What if she sent Sadie down with Bethany? She knew she couldn’t fool Adam for long, but it would be interesting to see his reaction to Sadie. Had he been truthful when he’d insinuated that looks didn’t matter?
Rhea had also set Greta up with a housekeeper, Annie, and groundskeeper, Fritz. They were husband and wife. Greta had been living in the house—which was similar to Rhea and Sam’s house but on a smaller scale—for just a few months.
Just as Sadie had finished with Greta’s hair, Annie knocked on the bedroom door, opened it, and called, “You have guests in the parlor, Miss Greta. It’s your in-laws and a young man. Should I tell them you’ll be down shortly?”
“Yes, Annie. Thank you.” Greta stood, and Sadie helped her slip on a pink satin dress. “Sadie, would you take Bethany down to meet her grandparents? I’ll follow shortly.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Greta snuck down the back stairs and stood in the shadows of the dining room to see Rhea, Sam, and Adam sitting in the parlor. She watched Sadie come down the stairway, leading Bethany. The guests stood when Sadie entered the room, and Bethany ran to her grandmother who hugged her. She watched Adam greet Sadie with a brief hug before turning to hug Bethany.
Greta was shocked that Sadie’s appearance didn’t faze Adam. He was a truthful man. Sadie was no beauty, but she had a lovely smile, and Adam seemed to accept her as his wife. That was until Rhea introduced Sadie as the maid.
Greta thought it a good time to enter the room. She walked into the parlor, and Bethany squealed, “Mama!” and ran into her arms. She’d never forget the look of shock on Adam’s face.
When she put Bethany down, Adam approached her with a slight smirk on his face. “Well, Miss Hanson, we meet again.”
“Why, that’s Greta!” Sam said.
Adam gave Greta a loose embrace. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Sutherland.”
Greta sat in the only available seat, which was beside Adam.
Annie brought in a tea tray as the topic of conversation turned to Bethany.
“She has Seth’s eyes,” Adam said, “but other than that, she looks like her mama.”
Greta ran her fingers through Bethany’s hair as she sat on her lap. Bethany had the same golden hair, only a few shades darker. Her complexion was a bit darker, but she did resemble Greta. She also agreed with
