Threads of Love (28 page)

Bright and early Saturday morning, Tessie paid a visit to the general store. She found a Liberty-print cotton dress with a contrasting blue silk sash that looked as though it would be a perfect fit for Addie. At the end of the aisle, she spotted a straw cartwheel hat with a ribbon in the same shade of blue. Without a moment’s hesitation, she purchased both items, along with a pair of child-sized black cotton stockings and a white muslin petticoat.

“Is there anything else I can help you find, Dr. Wilshire?” Mr. Alexander, the owner of the general store, offered.

“No, I think that will be all,” she responded, pleased with her purchases.

While Mr. Alexander was wrapping the items, Mrs. Alexander stepped behind him, peering over his shoulder.

“I didn’t know you had anyone that small living with you, Doctor,” the woman remarked, the curiosity noticeable in her voice.

“I don’t have anyone of
any
size living with me, Mrs. Alexander,” Tessie responded, irritated by the woman’s intrusive manner. Mrs. Alexander was known for collecting gossip while working in her husband’s store and passing it along to anyone who would lend an ear. Tessie did not intend for her business to become grist for the town rumormongers.

Mr. Alexander handed her the purchases and gave his wife a stern look of disapproval.
At least he doesn’t condone her meddling behavior
, Tessie thought as she turned and exited the store.

A light knock at her door Sunday morning made Tessie wonder if someone other than Addie had come calling. Although she had been coming to the house for only a few days, Tessie had instructed her that there was no need to knock.

“Come in, Addie,” she offered. Addie stood looking up at her in the same brown dress she had worn for several days, having made a valiant effort to adorn herself by placing a small ribbon around her head.

“You look very nice,” Tessie told her. “I hope you won’t mind, but I was in the general store yesterday and saw a dress I thought might fit you. It was so pretty, I couldn’t resist,” she told the youngster. “Would you like to see if you like it? If it fits, you could wear it to church. That is, if you want to,” Tessie continued, leading her into the spare bedroom where the dress, hat, and undergarments lay on the bed.

Nothing could have prepared Addie for the thrill of receiving that beautiful new dress and hat. Once Tessie had tied the blue silk sash and placed the straw hat upon the girl’s curly chestnut tresses, she took the child and stood her before the mirror. Leaning down and placing her head behind Addie’s shoulder, they looked at their reflections staring back at them.

“You look lovely,” Tessie told her.

“Almost as pretty as you?” the child questioned, tipping her head back to look into Tessie’s eyes.

“Much prettier,” Tessie answered. “Now, come along,” she said, extending her hand toward the child’s just as Charlie came bounding up the front steps.

“I have to be the luckiest man in all of Kansas,” he exclaimed to the pair. “There’s no other man who has the good fortune to escort such beautiful women. Turn around for me, Addie,” he instructed, twirling the child in front of him.

“Tessie got me these new clothes,” she proudly announced.

“And you look magnificent in them,” he responded, catching Tessie’s eye and giving her a smile.

His reaction pleased Tessie, who had expected him to give her a reproachful look or once again caution her about the “Baker sisters.”

The day flew by quickly. Tessie had been true to her word and allowed Addie to sit between the two adults. Although it wasn’t Charlie’s choice of seating arrangement, he did, however, bow to Tessie’s wishes once again. While at the park, he was attentive to Tessie but included Addie in the conversation and even took her down to a small stream to wade for a short time. Although he didn’t know it, his tolerance and thoughtfulness did not go unnoticed. Tessie knew she was beginning to care more deeply about him than she had anyone for many years.

“I think perhaps we should be heading home,” she told the pair as they returned from the stream. “I packed up the picnic basket while you two were off exploring. It’s almost time for you to catch your train, isn’t it?” she asked Charlie.

“I’m afraid so. I’ll be glad when I can quit traveling quite so much,” he acknowledged as they walked toward the carriage.

“That will be nice,” she answered, squeezing his arm and giving him an inviting smile.

Addie had been particularly careful not to soil her new dress, and as soon as they arrived at the house, she announced that she was going to change into her old dress and went running off to the bedroom.

“I had a wonderful time today, Tessie, and I hope there will be many more in store for us,” Charlie said, cupping her face in his large hands and placing a tender kiss on her lips. “You’re very special,” he told her, gathering her into his arms.

Tessie felt as though she could stay wrapped in his protection forever, and although she enjoyed the sensation, it confused her. She had always been so independent, never allowing herself to become overly involved with a man, and now, here she was not wanting Charlie to leave. It made no sense.
I hardly know him
, she thought to herself as Addie came bounding out of the bedroom.

“I’d like a hug, too,” she told the pair.

“Well, of course,” Charlie answered with a smile, opening his arms as she came running across the room toward him.

“Would you like something to eat?” Tessie inquired shortly after Charlie left.

“I’m not hungry,” Addie responded, walking through the room, running her hand across different pieces of furniture, then wandering into Tessie’s bedroom. She stared at the quilt that covered the four-poster bed and traced her fingers over the intricate design.

“This is very pretty,” she told Tessie. “I’ve never seen anything this pretty on anyone’s bed.”

Turning to face Addie, Tessie said, “My mother and my aunt Phiney and I all worked on this quilt, and it is very special because lots and lots of love went into it. If you like to sew, perhaps you and I could make a quilt. What do you think about that idea?” she asked the child.

“I only know how to sew a little. Mama didn’t have much time to show me, but I learn quick,” Addie responded expectantly.

“I didn’t know a lot about sewing when I started on this quilt either,” she told Addie. “I think you’ll do a wonderful job. Tell you what, I’ll find some fabric, and we’ll get started next week. Would that be all right?”

“Oh yes,” Addie answered, clapping her hands in delight. “I promise I’ll work hard on it.”

“I’m sure you will,” Tessie answered, just as a knock sounded at the front door.

“There’s someone at the door. I’ll be right back,” she told the child and quickly walked to the parlor and opened the door.

“Evening, Dr. Wilshire,” Lydia said, “hope you weren’t real busy. This is Floyd—I told you about him—the salesman I met at the Harvey House. We’re going to town for a while, so would you mind just taking Addie back over to the hotel when you get tired of her?” Lydia pressed herself close to Floyd and gave him a sensual smile. Tessie noticed the young man seemed embarrassed by Lydia’s advances, but his embarrassment didn’t deter her seductive behavior.

“I’ll be happy to walk her back, but I thought you had to work this evening,” Tessie inquired after hearing Lydia’s plans.

“I traded with Lucy,” she answered. “Floyd has to leave at ten o’clock, and Lucy owed me a favor.”

“You two have a nice time,” Tessie replied and watched as they walked down the steps, with Lydia clearly attempting to captivate the young man.

Addie was peeking around the doorway, pleased that Lydia hadn’t come to escort her back to the hotel. “Where’s my sister going?” the youngster inquired.

“She and Floyd are going into town for a while, so I’ll walk you back to the hotel a little later. Will that be all right with you?”

Addie nodded her head up and down and sat down in the parlor, facing Tessie. “Tell me about making your quilt,” she requested.

“Well, let’s see. I’m not sure how to begin,” Tessie remarked.

“At the beginning,” Addie responded laughingly.

“You’re right. I’ll do just that,” Tessie replied. “When I was a little older than you, my mother began making the quilt that’s on my bed, but she died before it was completed.”

“Just like my mama?” Addie asked, the tearful sound of her voice making Tessie’s heart ache.

“Yes, Addie, just like your mama.”

“Did your papa run off and leave you, too?” the child inquired.

“No, I had a wonderful papa, but he died at the same time as my mother. They were in an accident,” she answered.

“Oh, that was hard for you, wasn’t it?” Addie asked, her perception surprising Tessie.

“Yes, it was very difficult. There were five of us children, and I was the oldest. My grandmother lived with us, and Uncle Jon had a small house on the land adjoining ours. He and Granny were left to raise all five of us, and Granny’s health wasn’t good. So Uncle Jon decided to advertise in the newspaper looking for a young woman to come and help Granny with the chores and all of us children.”

Addie sat in front of her, eyes held wide open, not wanting to miss anything that Tessie related. “Then what happened?” she asked anxiously.

“Uncle Jon finally got a letter about a young woman who he and Granny thought would be suitable. So he left and went to Illinois to fetch her. Well, I didn’t want any other woman coming into our house trying to take the place of my mother, so when Uncle Jon returned, I was very hateful to the young woman. No matter what she did, I wouldn’t let her become my friend, but she did have a beautiful quilt on her bed that I truly admired,” Tessie related.

“Was it as pretty as yours?” the child inquired, sure that would be impossible.

“I don’t think so,” Tessie answered. “But I’m sure Aunt Phiney thinks
her
quilt is prettiest, because it’s special to her. One day I told Granny I thought Aunt Phiney’s quilt was beautiful. After I’d told her that, my grandmother showed me the quilt my mother had begun and suggested that Aunt Phiney and I complete it for my bed. Well, I wouldn’t hear of it. I said I didn’t want Aunt Phiney touching anything that had belonged to my mother.”

“That wasn’t very nice, was it?” Addie inquired, shaking her head negatively.

“No. But it wasn’t until Aunt Phiney showed me she was willing to die in my place that I finally believed she truly cared for me. It was after that the two of us set to work on the quilt. Aunt Phiney said it was sewn with threads of love because the two of us really learned to love each other while making that quilt. It took us a while, but we finally finished, and it’s been my constant companion ever since,” Tessie concluded.

“I’d like to have something like that to keep with me always,” Addie quietly commented.

“You will. It may take some time, but you will. I promise,” Tessie answered. “I’d better get you back to the hotel, or you’re going to miss curfew, young woman!”

In the weeks that followed, Addie proved herself a quick study, and Tessie was constantly amazed at the child’s proficiency with a needle and thread. She would sit quietly watching Tessie and then take up her needle and thread with the expertise of an age-old quilter. Although most of the quilts Tessie had worked on were made from scraps, she had carefully chosen the colors and fabrics for Addie’s, wanting it to be very special. She had finally settled on cotton prints of lavender, pale blue, and shades of pink. Tessie convinced herself they could conquer the double-wedding-ring pattern, and so far she was right.

“Are you going to make me hear again?” Addie asked one crisp fall afternoon as the two of them sat in Tessie’s parlor.

The question startled Tessie, for although she had extensively examined Addie on several occasions, the child had never hinted at such an expectation.

“I don’t know if I can do that,” she responded, wishing she could give the answer Addie longed for.

“You make everyone else well,” came Addie’s quick rebuttal.

“Not quite everyone. There are some things I can’t heal, but I promise you, Addie, that I will do all I can,” Tessie concluded, hoping God would provide the answer her medical journals had failed to give her.