A Prescription for Love (14 page)

After viewing the table his gaze moved to her face and his eyes grew wide. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Her fingers twisted the scrap of linen handkerchief in her hand.

“Michael,” she began, her voice cracking, “I’m so sorry . . .”

He held up his hand. Her distress tore him apart. “It’s okay. I understand.”

She shook her head and curls sprang from her bun and fell onto her forehead. “You don’t understand.”

“I hate seeing you so upset. You don’t have to be. If you think this is the best thing for you, then I respect that.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the counter, his heart thudding.

Her tears stopped and she regarded him, her brows furrowed. “What are you talking about, Michael?”

“What do you mean, what am I talking about? About you-you going back to Oklahoma City and getting married, and . . .” He stopped when she laughed, her eyelashes clumped together with forgotten tears.

She shook her head. “I’m not going back to Oklahoma City.”

“You’re not?”

“No.” A bright smile lit her face. More curls escaped her bun. She tucked them behind her ears.

“Then what are you so upset about, and why in heaven’s name haven’t you spoken more than a few words to me for the past two days?”

She sat and studied him as she fanned her face with her hand. “I have to sit. I don’t think my legs can hold me any longer.”

He pulled out a wooden chair, turned it around, and straddled it.

She continued to wipe tears from her cheeks as she smiled. After taking several large breaths, she spoke. “Someone told me something that, against my better judgment, I believed.” She stopped, staring at him, as if that made it all clear.

About what? What the devil did she mean? He simply nodded, as confused as ever.

His life used to be so peaceful. Boring, in fact. Lately he’d felt as though his life played out on a runaway horse. And all because one tiny, blue-eyed woman had entered his store carrying a sign. “Go on.”

“That’s all.” She jumped up, knocking the table and sloshing coffee over her saucer. “Sorry. I’ll open the store now.” And she was gone.

Michael picked up a muffin and bit off the edge. What the hell just happened? He shook his head and took a sip of coffee. If any man tried to figure out women, he’d surely end up crazy.

“Have a good day, Mrs. Martin.” Heidi smiled as she handed the woman a small, wrapped package. After a busy morning, she felt more than ready for lunch. Having skipped the muffins and coffee earlier, her stomach had gone through a great deal of trouble to chastise her. Things between her and Michael were back to normal. Well, as normal as possible with him studying her with furrowed brows every once in a while.

She hadn’t explained herself very well, but when faced with actually telling him what Clarence had said, her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. Anger washed over her, causing heat to climb up her body. She would certainly have a word with Clarence when he returned Friday night.

The bell rang, and Heidi mentally groaned as her stomach let out another growl. Before she could greet the fashionably dressed young woman, Michael spoke as he headed to the front door.

“I’m terribly sorry, Miss. Can I ask you to come back in a little bit? My clerk and I were about to close for lunch. We have a number of customers who expect us to be re-opened at twelve-thirty, sharp, so we need to close now.”

Her full lips moved in a smile and she leaned close to Michael as she spoke in a silky voice. “Not at all. I’ll be happy to return later.” She seemed to look him over, obviously taking in his broad shoulders, trim waist, and friendly expression. “Have a lovely lunch.” She waved and sauntered out the door, leaving behind the scent of an expensive perfume.

Heidi’s mouth dropped open. The woman said so much with only a few words. She glanced sideways at Michael, whose gaze followed her swaying hips. Neither one spoke for a moment, then Michael seemed to shake himself, before turning toward Heidi. “You ready to lock up?”

“Yes.” She dragged the word out as she studied him. Why did his reaction to the woman annoy her so much? She certainly had no claim on him. She stiffened her spine and headed to the back of the store, where she took her coat off the hook and slid her arms into the sleeves.

“Are you eating at the coffee shop?” Michael moved the curtain aside as she buttoned up.

“Yes.”

He reached for his coat. “Wait. I’ll join you.”

They walked the short distance to the restaurant side–by-side in silence.

Heidi’s nose twitched with the smell of the day’s special of fried catfish before even entering. One of The Café’s specialties, Mrs. Bonner could count on a good crowd the days she served it. She and Michael took seats at the long counter since all the tables were full. They both ordered the special and sipped on tea while waiting.

Again, a feeling of happiness washed over her as she regarded the other diners. Her life now held no resemblance to her previous one. No more working on embroidery she despised or baking things nobody ate just to have something to do. And best of all, the panic that seized her when she had a breathing attack had lessened. She merely kept herself calm as she reached for the Belladonna and heated water.

“Did you attend the Women’s Right’s meeting last night?” Michael asked as he nodded a ‘thank you’ to the waitress who placed the overloaded plate in front of him.

Heidi turned, excitement churning her stomach. “Yes, I did. Your sister Ellie was so nice to me. She introduced me to all her friends, and a few of us stopped for coffee afterward, and then Ellie took a detour so she walked by my house.” She broke a piece of fish off with her fork, then closed her eyes as she tasted it. “Mmm. This fish is so good.”

“For all her peculiar ideas, Ellie’s a pretty nice person,” he said.

“I don’t think her ideas are at all peculiar.” She stabbed a piece of fish with her fork and waved it around as she continued. “Why, she and her friends think women should have the same rights as men. I don’t see anything strange about that.”

“Oh, boy.” Michael smiled and rolled his eyes as he lifted his cup of tea.

Heidi swallowed a mouthful of mashed potatoes. “Do you know there are men who have sent their wives to mental institutions merely to be rid of them?” She narrowed her eyes and huffed. “And don’t laugh at me.”

He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I’m not laughing at you, honestly. It’s just I hear all about the horrors women have been subjected to every time I visit Uncle Jesse’s for a family supper. Now I suppose I’ll hear the same battle cry every day.”

She sniffed and returned to her food, which was really quite good. “It gave me a different way of looking at things,” she said between bites, again waving her fork around. “I always accepted that women became wives, and then mothers, and did what their husbands told them to do. They stayed in the relative security of their homes and never ventured beyond church, shopping, friends, and neighbors.”

“What’s so wrong about that?”

“Nothing. If it’s what you want. But Ellie’s friends believe a woman doesn’t have to marry, or have children.”

Michael grinned as he devoured his food. Finally he folded his napkin and placed it alongside his empty plate. He crossed his arms over his chest as he sat back. “You’ve had quite an epiphany. How do you suppose your life will change?”

She scowled. Yes, a definite sparkle of mirth danced in his eyes.

“Not in any drastic way, actually.” She thought for a moment. “I think I now understand I did the right thing in leaving home and taking a job. I should consider other ways to live my life than what my parents expect.”

“You’re right there. Everyone should live the life they want, not what someone else may want, or think, is the best way for them.”

She smiled, peering at him under raised brows. “Even women?”

“Well, yes. But within reason.”

Heidi laid her fork down, then rubbed her full stomach. “What do you mean?”

“If a woman is married and has a couple of children, she can’t be running off to a job every day.”

Heidi nodded. “I agree. But what about the women who decide against marriage and children? Shouldn’t they be permitted to live a full life without those things?”

Michael threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, no. One evening with Ellie, and she has you brainwashed.”

Laughing together, they rose and plucked their checks from under their plates, then headed to the cashier.

They arrived back at the store close to twelve-thirty. A quick look around assured Heidi the woman from before lunch didn’t wait for them. Why the stranger disconcerted her so much remained a mystery. Well, not a complete mystery. As much as she denied it, she did harbor growing feelings for her boss and the very sophisticated woman had made her feel like a child.

The first couple of hours sped by. Michael mixed bottle after bottle of cough syrup and even asked her to mix a few when there were no customers. At first the responsibility unnerved her, but after a while, she became more confident. He checked everything she did and thanked her while he helped David load the bottles into the basket on his bicycle for delivery.

Heidi worked behind the soda fountain and mixed up a drink for a black-haired youth who gazed at her with a lovesick expression. Matthew came in every day, ordered a soda, and sat for an hour, watching her and sipping on it. She finally had to stop being so friendly because the poor boy was going broke.

The doorbell jangled and the woman from earlier in the day entered. Much to Heidi’s surprise, she passed by where Michael mixed prescriptions behind the counter and took a stool at the soda fountain. “Hello. I’m back again.” She shifted on the seat and placed a purse on the marble counter. “Can you mix me up one of those?” Her head nodded in the direction of Matthew’s drink.

“Sure. What flavor do you want?”

The woman considered for a minute, studying the list of choices on the black and white sign over the mirror behind Heidi. “A chocolate soda, please.”

Heidi pumped the chocolate in a thick glass, added soda water, and stirred quickly with a long spoon. “Here you are.”

The woman moved a thin paper straw around the liquid and took a dainty sip. “I recently moved here from Oklahoma City. Do you know anyone who’s needing a boarder?”

Heidi’s gasped. “What a coincidence. I moved here from Oklahoma City myself a few weeks ago.”

“Really?” She continued to stir, then smiled. “What made you move?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I wanted something different.” She shrugged her shoulders. “You know, see different places. That sort of thing.”

The woman offered her hand. “I’m Gloria Taggert.”

Heidi took the woman’s hand. Soft, with a whiff of perfume rolling off her body. “Heidi Lester.”

Gloria leaned her forearms on the counter and edged the soda aside with one finger. “So do you know of any place I might find a room?”

“No, I’m sorry. I don’t live in a boarding house, I rent a room in a private house.”

Gloria cocked her head. “Really? Where?”

Heidi stepped back a bit. “Um, not too far from here.”

“I’m sorry.” Gloria patted Heidi’s hand. “I’m not being nosy, honest. I’m trying to settle in so I can find a job.”

“That’s all right. Excuse me.” Heidi scooted around the soda fountain, then headed toward a middle-aged man holding a handkerchief to his runny nose. She glanced over her shoulder to see Gloria spin on her stool, watching her.

Chapter 13

Michael locked the pharmacy, then gripped Heidi’s elbow to keep her from slipping on the icy red mud. Earlier predictions had been for rain, but a sudden drop in temperature had changed soft rain to an icy drizzle.

“Heidi.” They both started at the sound of Mrs. Lester calling from the buggy parked a few feet away. Freezing rain had coated the entire area, turning their world into a treacherous, glacial landscape. Tucking her arm snug against his, Michael helped Heidi over to where her parents waited.

Heidi tugged the scarf from her mouth. “Mother, what are you doing out on such a terrible night?”

“We had to drive Mrs. Manfred to the train station, so we thought we’d come by and have supper with you.” Mrs. Lester gestured to her. “Climb in, Heidi, you’re getting wet.”

“Good evening Mrs. Lester, Mr. Lester.” Michael assisted Heidi into the buggy, and then tipped his hat as he moved to leave.

“No. Wait.” Heidi turned toward her parents. “I want to invite Michael to join us.”

After a moment of silence, Mr. Lester leaned across his wife. “Yes, of course. Please join us, Mr. Henderson.”

“I wouldn’t want to intrude on family time. But I appreciate the invitation.” He backed away, pulling his collar close as a drop of ice slid down the inside of his shirt.

“No, please we want you to join us.” Mrs. Lester leaned so far over, tiny ice pellets bounced off her face.

“Mary, you’ll fall.” Mr. Lester grabbed his wife’s shoulder and appealed to Michael. “Please, Mr. Henderson. I know my wife. If she wants you to join us, we’ll sit here while she stubbornly tries to talk you into it until we’ve all caught our death of cold.”

Michael laughed and hopped up next to Heidi as she scooted over. “We wouldn’t want that. Heidi and I already mixed up enough bottles of cough syrup today to float a ship.”

The buggy moved forward, skidding on the ice. Tucked in-between Heidi and the hard wall, Michael attempted to concentrate on Mrs. Lester’s continuous chatter. Trying to keep up with the woman’s conversation diverted his thoughts away from the closeness of his seatmate’s body. As they turned a corner, Heidi practically slid into his lap. Their eyes locked in the darkness, and her small pink tongue skimmed her full lips before she scooted away.

Thankfully, the hotel came into view and Michael breathed a sigh of relief. The rosewater scent of Heidi and the softness of her hair where soft locks fell along her cheek wreaked havoc with his blood supply. He wanted to reach out and crush her curls in his hands, then pull her toward him and cover her mouth with his. His tongue would slide along her lips, entering her luscious mouth, tasting her perfumed breath. After he had his fill, he would kiss his way down her chin, her throat, and the tops of her . . .