Love Everlasting (10 page)

Aunt Miriam rose as dinner concluded. “Ladies, let us be about our duties so that we might enjoy a long afternoon of
rest. Today, Abrianna, you and Flora will handle washing and drying the dishes. The rest will be responsible for clearing the table and putting away any remaining food.” Several of the girls jumped up and began to take the empty plates. Aunt Miriam then turned to Clara, who continued to giggle and speak in hushed whispers to Wade. “Clara, you will be excused from helping with the cleanup.”

The girl looked quite smug. “Why, thank you, Mrs. Madison.”

“It's quite all right. You and I have studies to see to. I will expect you momentarily in my office. Oh, and bring your Bible.” The girl's expression fell. She could not possibly have looked more miserable and left the room near to tears.

Abrianna breathed a sigh of relief and was surprised when Wade gave her a wink and got to his feet. “I believe I'll see my way to a Sunday nap. The week promises to be a busy one.”

Aunt Miriam nodded and waved him off. “Yes, do go rest. I must tend to business and help Clara to better understand the Bible.” A hint of a smile caused her lips to lift at the corners.

Aunt Selma rose and gave her friend a pat on the back. “I hope that should you tire in helping our Clara to understand, you will send for me. I will be most happy to reprieve you and further the lesson.”

Abrianna breathed a sigh of relief. She might not understand Wade's mind and reasoning, but she could not possibly misunderstand that of her aunts. They loved her, pure and simple, and they weren't about to allow Clara's flirtatious nature to cause Abrianna and Wade even the slightest bit of grief.

Wade joined the old ladies and Abrianna later that evening in the small sitting room. In spite of a short nap, the day had
worn him out, and he was more than ready to head off to bed, but he had hoped to have a word or two with Abrianna beforehand. He knew she had been pleased with his preaching. Several times he had looked down from the pulpit to find her looking up at him with an expression of pure joy. Even so, he knew she was still troubled over his insistence that they not use her inheritance for their future together. He felt he'd done a poor job of explaining it. He'd come across as demanding and dictatorial, and he, above all others, knew that was no way to get Abrianna to understand a matter.

“It's hard to believe that today is the first of September.” Mrs. Madison shook her head. “I find the older I get, the faster time seems to pass.”

“It's true,” Mrs. Gibson said. “I'm sure men of a scientific nature would declare it all having to do with evolution or some other equally insipid matter. It never fails to amaze me the way such things are determined. I heard that the university recently hosted a lecturer who spoke of the moon's effect on the earth. Utter nonsense, if you ask me.”

Wade smiled. “I suppose time just has the appearance of passing quicker as we get older because we have so much to do.”

“I agree.” Miss Poisie bobbed her head. “There just never seems enough time to accomplish everything. I find myself at great odds with myself, like yesterday. I was faced with several tasks that each seemed of equal importance and felt most perplexed.”

“And how did you resolve the situation, Miss Poisie?” Wade asked.

She seemed pleased to be the focus of conversation and straightened in a most regal manner. “Well, of course I first prayed for direction, and then it seemed that everything just fell
into place, and I was no longer vexed with many duties. You see, I had ironing to do, as well as cleaning in my room. But I also had dried herbs that I needed to bottle.” She gave a quick glance around. Wade knew she was used to her sister putting her in check. This time there was nothing said, and Miss Poisie hurried to continue.

“I decided I would first iron my laundry. Then after hanging it in the wardrobe, I would be free to spread out my dried herbs and bottle them. After that, I was better able to assemble my room in proper order. For, you see, had I attempted to do it first, I might have had remnants of herbs to clean up. No matter how neatly I try to work with them, they are wont to get away from me. To have to clean the rug twice would have vexed me to no end, and I would have been most disagreeable.”

Wade nodded, ever amazed at the things that seemed to upset the older ladies.

“Mr. Cunningham has agreed to build us a greenhouse, and he has found a man to come and plow up part of our acreage.” Mrs. Madison changed the subject. “He will come and plow it after the first frost and then work up the soil for planting next spring.”

“I do hope we can plant pumpkins.” Miss Poisie grew quite thoughtful. “Pumpkins can be so very useful. I find few vegetables to be as worthy of my praise. Of course potatoes are very worthwhile, as well. I suppose if I were to rank them in order of importance, a potato might rise above that of a pumpkin. However, I simply prefer pumpkins. Do you like pumpkin, Wade?”

“I do.” He smiled and added, “Especially in pie.”

“We would do well to grow beans and corn.” Mrs. Gibson picked up Mr. Masterson—a gray tomcat with smudge of black under his nose that imitated a mustache. She stroked the animal
thoughtfully. “I don't know that either will take to this soil and climate. I suppose we should consult the
Farmers' Almanac
.”

“We might even speak to local farmers,” Mrs. Madison added. “I'm sure they can advise on what plants might work best for our ground.”

Wade listened as the older women continued discussing various ideas they had for the garden. There was some conversation about adding additional animals to their small collection, but everyone eventually agreed that animals were a great deal of work.

Then just as he thought to call it a night, Wade was surprised when the conversation turned in another direction.

“I don't know if Abrianna has mentioned it to you or not, but we three are hoping that you and Abrianna might consider taking over the school after you wed.”

Wade looked to Abrianna. She gave him a little smile and shrug. “I haven't exactly had time to talk to him about it, Aunt Miriam. We've been very busy with other things.”

“Speaking of which,” Aunt Miriam took the conversation in yet another direction, “have you set the date for the wedding? There is a great deal to prepare, and we mustn't let time get away from us.”

“It's true,” Aunt Poisie added. “Though I've not ever married, I was once engaged, and the preparations were quite extensive to consider.”

“I'm open to whatever date Abrianna would like.” Wade, too, hoped to pin down the date, but Abrianna had been less than forthcoming in a choice.

Everyone fixed their gaze on Abrianna. She smiled. “I'm still contemplating the matter.”

“Well, even so, we can begin work on your wedding gown.”
Mrs. Madison seemed to have already given the matter consideration. “I'm certain your friend Lenore will be giving you additional gowns, so we needn't worry about creating a new wardrobe, but a wedding dress is something special and will take time to put together.”

Abrianna actually seemed to perk up at this. “I have in mind exactly what I would like.”

This surprised Wade. She'd said nothing to him on the matter. Of course, he knew she was still rather hurt at his refusal to use her inheritance. He had hoped to ease her worries by letting her know about the large price he'd been offered for his property. Apparently once word got out that he was willing to entertain the idea of selling out, several buyers became interested enough to fight over the piece.

“I must discuss it with Wade first.” Abrianna turned to him. “We will need his approval.”

Mrs. Gibson gave a
harrumph
. “A groom seldom has anything to say on the matter of the wedding gown.”

“Well, it's come to my attention,” Abrianna countered, “that such things are of concern to Wade. He is very particular in how money is spent, and I wouldn't want to offend him in making a decision without his approval.”

Wade felt the intense gaze of the older women. They appeared almost accusing in their expressions. He shrugged. “I figure a bride should have the kind of dress she wants.”

Mrs. Madison rose. “I believe it would be good to give them time to discuss the details of this matter. Come, ladies. Let us make our rounds and see to it that the house is readied for the night.”

They filed from the room and closed the door, leaving Wade and Abrianna alone. Wade turned to Abrianna and narrowed his eyes. Confusion and a bit of irritation mingled in his thoughts.

“Do you want to explain?”

“I just want to do whatever it takes to please you. I've come to realize that I know very little about the workings of a man's mind and pride. It's been brought to my attention more than once that you need to feel that you are in charge of everything, and I thought this would be one way to give you that control.”

“I'm not seeking to control everything. You make me sound like an ogre. I thought for a moment your aunts might very well dip me in tar and feathers.”

Abrianna smiled. “I am sorry about that. I'm sorry, too, that I've been difficult of late, but I am attempting to work on my heart. I was quite torn at first. You know that I can be very opinionated.”

He relaxed and chuckled. “No, I hadn't realized.”

“Don't lie,” she admonished. “I know I've been difficult. The changes going on around me are quite challenging. However, I also realize that a woman is to be obedient and mindful of her husband's desires. Your desires are to be in charge of our future, so I am trying my best to yield.” She held up her hand as Wade started to speak.

“This isn't easy for me. I have tried to understand why you feel as you do. I've spoken to my father and Aunt Miriam, and I have come to the conclusion that what you desire in me is a yielding of my will. Therefore, I am attempting to do just that. I cannot promise that it will be easy for me. Nor can I promise the outcome. I fear it will be my most arduous task to date, but I am determined to do whatever I can to satisfy your requirements, and you must correct me when I am in error.”

He frowned. “Is that what you think I want from you? To be your master?”

She looked at him for a moment. “I suppose that does seem
to be a difficult word, but the Bible makes it clear that I am to be submissive to you.”

“Abrianna, I love you. I want you to be my wife, my friend, my love. I'm not asking you to change who you are. I love who you are.”

She looked perplexed. “But you told me how you wanted things to be. My father said that you men need to have this position of authority, so if I am to marry you, I must give you that position. Is that wrong?”

Wade drew in a breath and held it a moment. “This is about the money, correct?”

“It's about our marriage,” she said frankly. “I don't know how to be a wife, but I am seeking advice and trying to learn. My father pointed out that I hadn't been raised with male authority, and therefore it was most foreign to me. However, it is biblical, and I am seeking to make my heart over to better understand what it is you expect of me—what God expects. I don't necessarily like the change, but then I didn't like taking a purgative when it was needed.”

“You're comparing our life together to a purgative?” He couldn't help but smile. Sometimes Abrianna did make the silliest references.

“You know what I mean,” she replied. “Wade, I've battled with myself until I was miserable. I've sought counsel, and I've tried my best to understand your heart and mind on matters of money and obedience.” Tears came to her eyes. “Oh, stuff and nonsense. Here I am all teary again. Just ignore me.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve. “I'm willing to change if I can. I'm just not sure I can, and I don't want to be unfair to you.”

Wade got to his feet and went to where she sat. Kneeling
beside her, he took hold of her hands. “I don't want you to change who you are. I love you, Abrianna. Always remember that. I figure there are places where we can both work together to make things better as a married couple. I don't want you to think that you have to reorder the entire world to make me happy. Maybe I've been too prideful as you once suggested. Maybe I need to pray about that and figure a way to compromise.”

“I'm really trying.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “It just seems all the joy between us is gone. Now it's all grown-up thinking and making plans. It makes me sad to think that we will never have any fun together.”

He grinned and got to his feet and pulled Abrianna up. “We will have a lifetime of fun, I promise you. I can hardly imagine anything else with you in the picture. You have worried and fretted way too much, and now I want you to put it aside. This doesn't have to be so hard. We fell in love with each other with all our failings and oddities, and we will go on loving each other with them. I'm sorry I made you feel that you had to change. That wasn't my desire.”