“Is Clara around?” Eden asked conversationally after a few bites. “I’ve got to tell her how good this cheese souffle is.”
“In the kitchen,” Woody said, some of the few words he had uttered since Eden’s arrival.
Eden went that way, and Woody wasted no time in speaking to Jace.
“Is it me, or was she just here?”
“Two weeks ago.”
Woody nodded, his face thoughtful. “I teased you before about her moving to Tucker Mills, Jace, but right now I would say you have a real problem on your hands. Eden’s getting ready to move here, and she will if you don’t stop her.”
Eden returned to the parlor before Jace could speak, but he agreed with his uncle about Eden’s plans. He couldn’t actually stop his sister from doing something she wanted to do, but before she left to go home, he would make his own wishes very clear.
“Jace, I have something I need to tell you,” Eden said, catching him just outside the kitchen door before he could follow Woody to the fields.
“Okay,” Jace agreed, his voice calmer than he felt as he steeled himself to have Eden announce she was selling the boardinghouse and making a move.
“When I got into town, I realized I needed a few things, so I went to the store.”
Surprised, Jace wondered where this was going, but Eden didn’t finish.
“Well,” he questioned a little impatiently, “did they have what you needed?”
“I never went in,” Eden said, her voice full of regret. “I saw Maddie with a man, and I didn’t know what to do, so I just turned around and came directly here.”
“What are you talking about?”
“They were doing a lot of hugging, Jace, and they kissed. They were outside, on the side of the building, for the most part hidden by his wagon.”
Jace stared at his sister. She had managed to take him completely by surprise.
“It wasn’t Maddie,” Jace said after a moment, even as suspicion filled him.
Eden looked helpless, playing it for all she was worth.
“It looked just like her, Jace, but you know the women in town better than I do. Maybe it wasn’t her.”
Jace stared at her, not really seeing her, imagining Maddie with someone else. Unfortunately for Maddie, he was able to picture it quite clearly. The man was a little vague, but Maddie’s lovely eyes and smile as she looked up at another man were very clear in Jace’s mind.
“I have to get to work,” he said finally and turned to leave.
“Okay,” Eden said, regret still filling every word. She watched Jace leave, careful not to look as triumphant as she felt. Clara was still in the house, and she knew that woman talked with Woody and Jace all the time.
Eden slipped back inside and quietly offered to help with the dinner dishes. Clara agreed in her indomitable fashion, and the women had a stilted conversation while they worked. But as soon as the kitchen was in order, Eden made herself scarce.
It was tempting to find Jace and ask what he was going to do about Maddie, but that might show her hand. Eden knew how hard it was going to be, but if she was going to interfere with this relationship, it would have to seem as though she were on Jace and Maddie’s side and regretful about the whole episode. Even if she had to leave on Monday without knowing just what effect her words might have, she would do that in order to disguise the way she felt.
Jace had never been more torn. He walked along the rows of corn, checking heads along the way, Maddie constantly on his mind. He knew deep in his heart that Eden had seen Maddie; there could be no one else. All this time she feared that he would hurt her, and she was the one with someone else.
The name David raced through his mind. He knew if Maddie were here right now, he would be furious with her and demand to know who this David person was. As he worked, he realized that seeing her was the worst thing he could do. Working along, methodically hoeing between the rows, Jace made up his mind to go to town, but he’d steer clear of the Shephards. He needed a drink, probably several, and some companionship with people he knew he could trust: men.
Eden listened to Jace on the stairs, certain he had had too much to drink. When he’d announced he was going to town, she’d been discouraged but had not given up. Now listening to him mutter to himself and bang into things in the hallway, she knew her scheme had worked.
There were still Saturday and Sunday to get through, and even though her train left on Monday, somehow Eden knew that her trip to Tucker Mills had been a success.
First one week passed, and then two. Doyle and Cathy did a lot of talking behind closed doors, going to bed early to do just that, but neither one said a word to Maddie. It wasn’t unusual for Jace to miss a Sunday dinner, but a full weekend was unheard of.
And in that time the light went out of Maddie’s eyes. She went about the business of running the store and doing all she could at the house, but her face was pale and her eyes were sober. She joined in all conversations that were directed her way but initiated none.
Doyle had begun to feel significantly better. He thought his heart was just about right again, but suddenly it seemed as if the weight of the world had landed on his chest. He did all he could to hide that fact, but Jace’s absence was beginning to weigh on all of them.
What Cathy and Doyle didn’t know was that Maddie couldn’t take it anymore. She had made a decision, and even if it landed her in trouble, she was going to follow through. She only hoped that both her aunt and uncle would want to turn in early, much as they’d been doing in the last two weeks.
“Are you expecting someone?” Jace asked of Woody from the upstairs hall; both men had just headed upstairs to go to bed.
“No, but I heard the knock too.”
“I’ll get it,” Jace said, using the candle and heading back down. He opened the door to find Maddie on the step. The anger that had plagued him and been smoldering just below the surface for days now filled him.
“Jace,” she wasted no time, “can I talk to you?”
Jace opened the door and let her in, and Maddie was struck by how bold she was being. Not until she stepped into this house did she realize this was all wrong. She had no business coming alone to this man’s house after dark.
“Jace?” Woody called down the stairs.
“It’s for me,” Jace called back as he set the candle above the fireplace. He then turned to Maddie. “What are you doing here?”
“I missed you,” she said quietly, deciding that she’d come too far not to have her say. “I haven’t seen you in two weeks.”
Jace turned back to the fireplace, staring down at the dark interior. His back was to Maddie in a way that made the room much colder than the actual temperature.
“I’ve been busy,” Jace said shortly.
Maddie didn’t know when she’d been so confused. “Jace, what have I done?” she finally asked, desperate to know what this change meant. “Did I say or do something?”
“My sister saw you,” Jace said quietly.
“Your sister was here? I didn’t see her.”
“No, but she certainly saw you.”
“Saw me? When?”
“With a man. I assume it was David.”
“How do you know about David?” Maddie asked innocently.
With his back to Maddie, Jace closed his eyes in pain. Part of him still wanted Maddie to tell him she loved him and that there would never be anyone else.
“I want you to go,” Jace finally said.
“Do you mean that?” Maddie asked, her voice telling of her hurt and shock.
This time Jace turned to face her. “Yes. It’s time you leave.”
Maddie could feel herself shaking, but there was nothing she could do about it. She started away but felt the bracelet fall down her wrist.
“Oh.” She stopped and looked down at it. “You’ll be wanting this back.”
Jace felt as if his heart was being ripped from his chest. Even in the dim candlelight, he could see the way she shook, the way
her hand kept losing the clasp before she could unhook it.
“I’ll just put it on the desk here,” she whispered, not able to look at him.
Jace was completely still as he heard the chain land on the desk and then watched as Maddie ducked her head and rushed for the door. Even after he heard the latch click, he couldn’t move.
How did you know about David? Jace knew he would never forget those words.
Jace walked to the desk and took the bracelet in his hand. He closed his fist around it and went up the stairs.
“Jace?” Woody called from his room.
“I’m going to bed” was all Jace would say, but he was thinking, I loved you, Maddie. I wanted you to be my wife.
Jace blew the candle out and stood in the dark for a few minutes, fresh pain assailing him. He knew he couldn’t let that happen or he’d never get past this. He felt his way to the small dresser and dropped the bracelet back inside. This time it would stay there, and he wouldn’t think about it or her any longer.
“I did something last night that I shouldn’t have,” Maddie said at the breakfast table, causing Doyle and Cathy to stop everything and look at her. “I waited until after dark and went out to the farm and spoke with Jace. He doesn’t want to be with me any longer. I hope you didn’t hear me go and worry about me, but I wanted you to know why Jace won’t be coming around.”
“Did he say why, Maddie?” Doyle had to ask.
“He thinks I’ve been with David Scales,” Maddie said quietly. “Without even asking, he just accused me.” Maddie looked into her uncle’s face and saw his poor color and the strain around his eyes. She knew this had to be the end of it. “I don’t wish to speak of it anymore. We’ll put it behind us, all right?”
“As you wish,” Doyle told her, wishing his breathing to be a little easier.
Cathy, who hadn’t cried in years, wanted nothing more than to go someplace and cry her eyes out. She managed an understanding smile when Maddie looked her way, but in truth, she was in shock.
“I’ll go to the store today,” Maddie offered, thinking it might rescue her.
“I’ll check on you in a little while,” Cathy offered.
Maddie hadn’t touched her breakfast, but her aunt and uncle said nothing about this. They sat quietly as she left for the store, their meals untouched as well.
“Will you talk to Jace?” Doyle asked his wife.
“I doubt he’ll come in,” she said, and then shook her head. “Even if he did, I wouldn’t want to speak to him.”
Doyle knew that Cathy could be very protective and wondered whether she would ever welcome Jace to the store again. Oh, she would wait on him, but she would also see him on his way as swiftly as she could.
And what will I do? Doyle asked of himself. One of these days I’ll be back over there. Will I wait on Jace and put this behind me? Doyle didn’t know the answer to that, but he suddenly knew why Maddie said they would put this all behind them. To do anything else would not be something they could survive.
The days and weeks that followed built something of a buffer around Maddie’s heart. She worked in the store as usual but with little anticipation of anything save her uncle being well enough to come back to his old life. And it seemed that he would. He was stronger lately, as though the recent hurt had forced him not to sit around any longer and wait to be well.
Cathy wanted him to keep sitting, but by the end of July, one month after Maddie had confronted Jace, Doyle was coming over to the store two mornings a week and doing everything but climbing the stairs and lifting.
But that wasn’t the only change. Jace and Woody no longer went to services. Indeed, the Shephards never saw Jace in town at all. When Woody needed something, he would come on his own, without explanation or any mention of his nephew. If he had feelings one way or the other concerning Jace and Maddie, there was no sign of it while he was in the store. He was affable and seemed in good health.
Had Jace still been social with the Shephards, he could have told them this was not always the case. It hadn’t taken Woody very long to figure out that Eden had had a hand in Jace and Maddie’s breakup. Woody had tried to point this out to his nephew, but Jace would only say that Maddie had all but admitted that she had been with David.
The older man finally gave up, but not for a few weeks. At that time Jace had blown his top, telling his uncle he would hear no more, and Woody had quieted. That Jace was miserable was very easy to see, but Woody had heeded Jace’s warning and was keeping his mouth shut. He would not have done so if Eden had been in town, but once she’d stirred things up, she’d left and not been back.
Woody knew that letters still arrived from her, but he noticed that they lay on the desk for days or a week before Jace touched them. But that wasn’t Woody’s main concern. Jace had stopped caring about himself. The farm and mill were handled with an impeccable touch, but it had become the norm for Jace not to shave for several days or care if his hair was combed or cut. And come the weekend, he could be expected to arrive home very drunk on Saturday night.
When Woody was in to the store for something, he half-hoped that Cathy or Maddie would question him about Jace, but it never came up. Jace had obviously been the one to cut things off, and it would seem that Maddie—Cathy too—was doing her best to get over it.
If Maddie’s smile wasn’t as bright and her eyes seemed a little sad, Woody thought he might be the only one to notice such things. But notice them he did, and it was hard to see her. It bothered his heart no small amount. The peace he’d felt about leaving the farm and mill to Jace had only heightened when he pictured Maddie there as well. Now Woody watched Jace each day and knew that whatever Eden had said or done, it had left a hole in Jace’s heart as well as his world.
Watching all of this, Woody’s heart developed a hole too. But his situation was different. He did not have time on his side and feared his life would be over before any mending could begin.
“I’m going on a buying trip,” Doyle announced at the end of August. “I think it’s time to get back on my feet, and that’s how I’m going to start.”
Cathy stared at her husband but didn’t speak. She wanted to object, but in truth he was doing very well.
“Cathy?” Doyle pressed her.
“I’ll worry, Doyle, but I can see you’re ready to do this.”
Doyle reached over and patted her hand before turning to Maddie. She was somewhat lost in thought but didn’t take long to respond when her uncle’s eyes turned to her.
“May I go with you?” she asked.
Doyle looked at her, clearly surprised.
“Go with me?” he questioned, having never thought of it.
“Yes. I’m sure you’ll go to Boston, and I’d really like to. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the Nunleys, and I would enjoy it so much.”
Doyle nodded slowly, his eyes not meeting Cathy’s.
“I think that would be all right, Maddie. It’s really your decision to make.”
“Thank you, Doyle,” Maddie said, rising to take care of her dishes and then to head upstairs.
Husband and wife finally looked at each other. They had watched her hurt and struggle for the past few months, bearing up like a soldier in war, uncomplaining and never giving up. How could they deny her such a thing? The question echoed in both of their minds even as they knew that if she accompanied Doyle to Boston, she would not make the return journey.
Thirteen
Boston
“Maddie,” Paige said, having found her in the back hall. “Have you seen my dark blue coat?”
Paige hadn’t really been looking at Maddie, and when she did, she found the other woman holding the garment out to her. Paige grinned.
“How did I find anything when you were gone?”
“According to your mother, you didn’t.”
Paige’s eyes rolled. “She was most unhappy with me at times.”
“Well, I’m here now.”
“Until we leave,” Paige
put in.
“Oh, I’ll still be here.” Maddie would not be drawn. “It’s you who will be gone.”
“There’s still time for you to come,” Paige invited.
Maddie didn’t comment, but Paige had come to accept her silence. She was the same Maddie, but then she wasn’t. Something had happened in Tucker Mills, something she wasn’t talking about, something so serious that she didn’t even want to accompany them on their trip. Mrs. Nunley had coaxed and pleaded, but Maddie was staying in Boston for the months they would be gone.
Nevertheless, Paige had devised a plan. They weren’t scheduled to leave for two more months, and she hoped she might be able to talk Maddie around. Deep in her heart, however, she knew they would be sailing for Europe without their companion and friend.
“All right, Paige,” Maddie said, snapping the younger woman from her thoughts. “Head to the front door; your mother will be waiting.”
“Oh, that’s right, but when I get back I have something to show you.”
“I’ll be here,” Maddie assured her, smiling when Paige looked so pleased. She walked behind her to the foyer and saw her and the missus off, glad to have the house quiet again. For a long time she stood just inside the front door, her thoughts wandering.
Maddie’s head tipped back as she took in the beautiful crown molding that stretched from the foyer into the rest of the downstairs. It really was a lovely home, and Maddie had been happy here, but she now wondered whether a change might be in order.
Paige would not be home for many more years. Maddie would not rush away before then, and she would want to give the missus a chance to adjust, but in a few years, Maddie thought, it might be time to move on. She knew not to where or what, but beautiful as it was, she didn’t think she wanted to live in this house forever.