Threads of Love (35 page)

“I’m sorry, Edward. I’m acting very selfish. We both know the best thing for you would be to return to Chicago now so that you may be with your family. If you stay here, they’ll miss the pleasure of your company through the holidays, and you’ll be stuck away in this room for Christmas, wishing you were there,” she told him.

“They’ve done without the pleasure of my company for the holidays in years past, so I believe they’ll survive without me again. As for being stuck away in my room, I’m sure we can find a couple of fellows who would be willing to transport me to the home of one Dr. Tessie Wilshire for Christmas Day festivities,” he responded.

“Yes…of course…that could be arranged,” she hesitantly replied.

“You could put a little more enthusiasm into that,” he encouraged, giving her a bright smile.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Of course, you’re welcome to come and spend the day with us,” she stated, attempting to sound more zealous.

“That’s more like it! We’ll have a wonderful time,” he told her.

“Well, well. Look at the time. I need to be getting home,” she said, gathering her belongings.

“I’m so pleased this is going to work out, Tessie. We’ll have a wonderful Christmas, and the trip will be a grand adventure for the three of us,” he concluded.

“Yes, I’m sure it will be a grand adventure,” she said, forcing a smile. “I’ll be by to check on you tomorrow. Good night, Edward.”

“Good night, Tessie. I’ll be busy making plans for Christmas,” he said, giving her a cheerful wave.

Her head was whirring as she stopped by the kitchen for Addie. She didn’t even hear John talking to her until he walked over and asked if she was ill.

“No, no, I’m fine. We just need to be getting home,” she told the chef as she hurried Addie along.

The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke, but Addie sensed something was very wrong. Tessie had been with Mr. Buford, and now she was unhappy. It seemed to Addie that Mr. Buford was the center of the difficulty. She was beginning to dislike him and the problems he seemed to create.

“What’s the matter?” the child asked while they were sitting at the dinner table. She had watched Tessie pushing her food around, not eating or talking.

“Nothing for you to be concerned about. I’m just trying to figure out a few things,” she answered, realizing that Addie had sensed her distress. “Everything’s going to be fine,” she stated, a little too brightly.

Addie protested going to bed, but Tessie held firm. She needed time to think clearly and make some decisions about the approaching holiday. How was she going to handle both Charlie and Edward? There had been no way to avoid Edward’s request to spend Christmas with them, and yet Charlie had been invited weeks ago. Addie would never forgive her if she tried to exclude Charlie at this late date. She knew the day would be a disaster with both of them in the house and was sure that nothing short of a miracle was going to prevent the day from turning into a donnybrook.

What have I done?
she thought, drifting into a restless sleep fraught with bad dreams.

T
essie eyed the letter on her bedside table. Slowly she removed the pages and began to once again read the latest missive from Dr. Lundstrom. He had solidified their travel plans and forwarded a plethora of information relating to the possible surgery. Additionally, he expressed his gratitude for her continued medical treatment of his brother-in-law, causing her a twinge of guilt.

“If it weren’t for Edward, I’d probably have foregone this whole idea,” she mused, certain she would have succumbed to Charlie’s objections to the surgery. His negative responses and continual efforts to dissuade her had been the cause of many arguments. Edward, however, continued to encourage and bolster her pursuit, winning allegiance at every opportunity and becoming her sole confidant.

Tessie thought about the closeness that she and Charlie once enjoyed, feeling the void of his lost companionship. She missed the ability to share things with him but now was careful to tell him nothing of consequence. If he questioned, she adroitly changed the subject. Though she hadn’t told an out-and-out lie, it was becoming increasingly difficult to feel at peace with this new behavior.

Guilt invaded her thoughts as she remembered her conversation with Edward earlier that day. Charlie would be furious if he knew the substance of that discussion, but she could think of no other solution to ensure that Christmas wouldn’t end in total disaster. Divulging her fear that the two men would misbehave, Tessie was aghast when Edward admitted that such a prospect appeared uproariously inviting. It wasn’t until she was reduced to tears, he understood the depth of her anxiety over the ensuing holiday. Quickly, he realized the situation could be used to his advantage. If he behaved according to her wishes, she would be eternally grateful—especially if Charlie’s behavior was dreadful—and he would certainly do all he could to help in that regard!

Miraculously, Tessie had convinced Uncle Jon and Aunt Phiney to bring the twins and spend the holiday in Florence with them. It had taken a good deal of persuasion since they were just as determined she and Addie should travel to Council Grove for the holidays. They finally conceded when she wrote explaining the possibility of traveling to Chicago for Addie’s surgery immediately after Christmas.

It would be wonderful to have them visit, and Tessie was sure they would help buffer the situation between Charlie and Edward. Addie’s excitement that the twins would be coming with Uncle Jon and Aunt Phiney was evident. Tessie continued to remind her that the twins were fourteen, but Addie was sure age didn’t matter much on Christmas. It would be fun having other young people for the holiday.

Charlie rushed to complete the last of his paperwork, anxious to be on the train headed for Florence and a week of vacation. The train pulled into the station just as he was putting on his woolen overcoat. Boarding the train, he leaned back and unbuttoned his coat, finally able to relax a bit. Surrounding him were gaily wrapped packages tucked into large brown bags, evidence of his shopping trip to Kansas City earlier in the month. Smiling, he realized it had been many years since the excitement of the holidays had affected him. It would be wonderful to see “his women” and share a magnificent holiday, certain they would be delighted with the many plans he had made for them.

The train pulled into the station exactly on time. Charlie quickly gathered the packages and swung down from the train, impatient to check into the Harvey House. It had been several weeks since he had seen Tessie, and although she had seemed distant during his last visit, he was sure it was because they both had been so busy. Now they would have a full week to regain what seemed to be slipping away.

“Looks like Santa’s already arrived,” said Mrs. Winter as she walked to the front desk of the hotel and surveyed the profusion of packages.

“Not quite, but he’s got a good start on things,” Charlie stated with a laugh, pulling his arms out of his overcoat.

“I’ve got your room ready, just like you asked,” she told him. “Just sign the register. You know the way,” she told him, pleased to have Charlie as a guest. “John asked if you’d be having dinner with us tonight,” she stated with a question in her voice.

“Not sure, yet. Need to check with Tessie, and see what she’s got on her agenda,” he responded.

“You just missed her. She was in checking on Mr. Buford,” the matron informed him.

The comment hit like a jab in the stomach.
Why does she still need to visit Edward so frequently?
he wondered.
Doctor or not, surely her daily presence wasn’t still necessary. Stop
, he thought,
or you’re going to ruin everything before you even see her
. Picking up the packages, he went to his room, dropped off his belongings, and immediately left the hotel. Abandoning all thoughts of Edward, he attempted to regain the happy spirit he had felt before Mrs. Winter mentioned Tessie’s earlier visit.

The walk to the house was invigorating. The cold air and dusting of snow gave the whole countryside a Christmas card appearance. Knocking on the door, Charlie stood patiently waiting, his breath puffing small billowy clouds of air in front of him.

“Charlie!” Tessie greeted, standing and staring from the doorway, her surprise unmistakable.

“Are you going to invite me in?” he asked when she neither moved nor said anything further.

“Oh yes, of course. I’m sorry,” she responded, moving aside. “Come in.”

“Charlie, Charlie!” Addie called, running toward him at full tilt, throwing her arms open for a hug.

“Hi, sweet Addie,” he responded, picking her up into his arms and giving her a kiss.

“I’ve missed you, Charlie,” she told him as he placed her back on her feet.

“I’ve missed you, too, Addie, both of you,” he said, glancing up toward Tessie, who appeared much less enthusiastic about his appearance.

“How about dinner with my two favorite gals at the Harvey House?” he asked.

“Oh, I’ve already begun dinner,” Tessie quickly answered.

“Stay and eat with us, Charlie. Pleeease!” Addie begged, looking back and forth between the two adults.

“If it’s okay with Tessie,” he told her, wanting to stay yet unsure from Tessie’s behavior if she would extend the invitation.

“What can I say? Of course, please have dinner with us,” she responded, walking back toward the kitchen.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you weren’t expecting me,” he called after her.

The remark brought her back into the parlor. “I wasn’t expecting you,” she stated, looking at him as if he had lost his senses.

“Didn’t you get my letter?”

“No, Charlie, I didn’t receive a letter, and I’ve been to pick up my mail regularly,” she replied.

“I sent a letter with Harry Oglesby. We were both in Kansas City to meet with Mr. Vance. When I mentioned I needed to send you a letter, he said he would deliver it since he was passing through Florence. We agreed he would pass it along to Mary, my secretary, with instructions to deliver it to you right away. That was four days ago,” he explained.

“I’ve never seen the letter, so perhaps you can enlighten me as to the contents while I finish preparing dinner,” she requested.

Following her into the kitchen, he divulged the contents of his letter, wondering if Mary had received the letter from Oglesby. Tessie stood with her back to him as he excitedly related his plan to spend a full week in Florence.

“You’re going to be here seven days?” she asked incredulously.

“Yes, isn’t it wonderful? Wait ‘til I tell you and Addie all the things I’ve got planned. I know a place not far from here where we can find a wonderful Christmas tree. We’ll make it a real adventure for Addie. You know, find the perfect tree to cut down and decorate. Do you have any ornaments, or shall we make some?” he asked, his enthusiasm overflowing.

“I have some ornaments, but I hadn’t intended for you to plan our Christmas,” she replied, watching her words immediately deflate his mood.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve been going over all these ideas, and my excitement has grown with each passing day. I thought it might be difficult for Addie since it will be her first Christmas without her mother and not having any word from Lydia. Anyway, I guess I got carried away thinking about how to make it special—for all of us,” he finished, the enthusiasm gone from his voice.

Perceiving the obvious sadness caused by her biting remarks, Tessie felt a stab of remorse. If she didn’t quit acting like such a shrew, Christmas would be spoiled for all of them.

“I’m sorry, Charlie, but you’ve caught me by surprise. It was extremely kind of you to think of Addie, but please understand that I’ve made plans, too. When I didn’t hear from you, I wasn’t sure if you’d be here any longer than Christmas Day if that,” she told him.

“I promised Addie I would be here. Surely you knew I wouldn’t break that promise,” he said, wondering how they could have drifted so far apart in such a short time.

“Yes, I knew you’d do everything in your power to keep your promise,” she agreed, placing dinner on the table.

“You say grace, Charlie,” Addie instructed as they scooted their chairs under the table.

“I’d be happy to,” he replied, looking at Tessie for an indication that she was in agreement.

When she nodded her head, he reached out and grasped Tessie’s hand in one of his and Addie’s in the other. He smiled as Addie quickly extended her other hand toward Tessie. With hands joined and heads bowed, Charlie gave thanks for their meal and asked God to direct them as they sought the best way to honor Him during the upcoming holiday celebrating the birth of His Son.

Charlie’s simple request confronted Tessie with the fact that she hadn’t been seeking God’s guidance lately, but just as quickly she brushed away the thought and began worrying how much she should tell Charlie about her plans.

“Guess what!” Addie exclaimed before she had eaten her first bite.

“What?” Charlie asked, pleased with the child’s exuberance.

Tessie moved to the edge of her chair, not sure what morsel of information Addie was going to offer.