To Have and To Hold (30 page)

him. Not yet. Not when her eyes kept fil ing with tears. She told herself she left the door open

for her mother to be a part of her life, but deep down, she knew her mother wouldn’t accept it.

Her mother saw firsthand how happy she was with Dave, and she didn’t like it. There was

nothing Mary could do about it.

Dave col ected the carpet bags and walked over to her. “Mary?” he softly asked.

Swal owing the lump in her throat, she took the handkerchief out of her pocket and dabbed her

eyes. “Not now, Dave. I’l tel you later, alright?”

“Alright.”

Stil unable to look at him, she took a deep breath and walked down the steps, realizing as she

did, her legs shook. Not trusting her strength, she wrapped her arm around his and leaned

against him as they headed for the train station, glad to be leaving this part of her past exactly

where it belonged—in the past.

Chapter Twenty-Five

When the train reached Omaha, Mary had never been so grateful to be anywhere in her entire

life. The familiar rol ing hil s in the distance greeted her, and she recal ed the first day she’d

arrived here—the day she met and married Dave. Back then, she only had a vague idea how

her life was about to change, but it had turned out so much better than she hoped.

With a glance at Dave who sat beside her, she smiled at him. “It’s good to be back.”

He squeezed her hand and nodded. “It is.”

The train pul ed into the station and came to a stop. They stood up before he fol owed her off

the train and into a station that was just as busy as the day she came here for the first time.

Once he col ected their luggage, she took his arm and left the station.

“At least we get to surprise Sal y,” Dave said as he led the way down the boardwalk. “She

doesn’t get surprised easily.”

“I don’t know. I seem to recal that you surprised her by marrying me when you did.”

“That’s true. If I hadn’t been so eager to have you al to myself, I would have taken the time to

let you meet her right away.”

“I don’t mind, Dave. It was nice to be with you. I don’t remember everything, but I do

remember how nice those first days together were with you.”

“You know, I love you more with each passing day.”

Her lips turned up into a smile. “I love you, too.”

“More each day, I hope.”

“Of course.”

They continued the walk to Sal y’s house in a comfortable silence, and Mary scanned her

surroundings, taking delight in how familiar the businesses were. This world was so different

from the one she’d left in Maine. Here, she was free to be the person she truly was instead of

the one everyone wanted her to be.

As Sal y’s yel ow house came into view, she recal ed the first time she’d come here. The house

was as cheerful as Sal y’s personality. She smiled, remembering Sal y’s kindness toward her.

She wasn’t exactly like Grace, but she was just as dear to her, as were Jenny and April. Her

heart leapt at the thought of seeing her friends again. She would always miss Grace, and no

one could replace her. But she had a life here she wouldn’t trade for anything.

Her footsteps picked up the closer they got to Sal y’s and Dave chuckled. “A little eager to

have Sal y talk your ear off?”

Shooting him an amused look, she said, “I actual y like listening to her.”

“I know. I think it’s why she enjoys seeing you whenever she can. You don’t fal asleep on

her.”

“Oh you,” she teased and gave him a playful shove in the side. “That’s no way to talk about

your sister.”

Despite his nonchalant shrug, he grinned.

When they reached Sal y’s house, she knocked on the door. With a glance at the quiet

neighborhood Sal y lived on, she sighed in contentment. Soon, very soon, she’d get to hold her

children.

The front door opened and Sal y’s eyes grew wide. “David? Mary? What are you doing back

so soon?”

“It’s a long story,” Mary said, noting the way Sal y’s daughter grabbed onto Sal y’s skirt and

peered up at her. She smiled at the little girl. “Hel o there, Laura. I missed you.”

Sal y picked the girl up and smoothed her curls from her face. “Can you say ‘Aunt Mary’?”

Laura shook her head, which earned a round of giggles from the adults.

“At least she’s honest,” Sal y commented. “Do you two want to come in and get some

refreshments?”

“Actual y, I’m anxious to get home,” Mary confessed. “I want to see Isaac and Rachel.”

“Isaac’s playing with Greg out in the back. Let me ask my neighbor to watch Laura and Greg,

and we’l get the buggy ready so I can take you home.”

“Thank you, Sal y.”

Sal y nodded and went back into the house while Dave and Mary waited for her on the porch.

How different her family was from Dave’s. The contrast was so startling that she hardly knew

where to begin. She looked over at him and saw that he final y seemed to be at ease. She

didn’t realize he’d been so tense in Maine until that moment.

Sal y returned with Isaac, Laura, and Greg.

“Ma and Pa!” Isaac cal ed out, excited as he ran to them.

Mary knelt down and picked him up in her arms. “I missed you so much, honey,” she

whispered and kissed his cheek.

Sal y smiled at them. “Isaac was a good boy while he was here. I’l be right back.” She carried

Laura down the steps and led Greg to her neighbor’s.

“Believe it or not, Tom and Joel dread those words,” Dave quipped, his lips turned up in

amusement.

“Real y? Why?” Mary asked, intrigued.

“Growing up, they used to give her a hard time because she had a tendency to boss them

around. When she said ‘I’l be back,’ it was usual y because she went to get Ma to get them in

trouble.”

“Surely, you jest.”

“Nope. But in Sal y’s defense, they did sometimes deserve what they got.”

“And did you ever get into mischief which caused Sal y to go running for your mother?”

“Me? I was perfect.”

She laughed and rol ed her eyes. “Now I know you’re jesting.”

“Alright. I might have done a couple of things, but they were things that boys tend to do so you

real y can’t blame me for them.”

Rubbing Isaac’s back, she asked Dave, “Did I know you had this mischievous side to you

before I lost my memory?”

“No. This is a brand new revelation. You used to think I could do no wrong.” Before she could

respond, he kissed her cheek. “But I wil endeavor to redeem myself.”

Her skin tingled from where he kissed her. She scanned the neighborhood, wondering if

anyone saw, or minded, that he’d done such a bold thing, but the children playing across the

street and the woman knitting something didn’t pay them any mind. She did look forward to

being home where they could freely kiss without worrying about someone seeing them.

Sal y cal ed out to them, so Mary turned her attention to her and went down the steps toward

her, Dave close behind. “We can get my buggy and horse from Mitchel,” Sal y said.

“Who?” Mary asked as they headed down the street.

“Oh, Mitchel is a farmer a mile from here,” Sal y answered as she waved to the woman who

was knitting. “Bea’s always knitting something. She usual y gives everything to others at

church. I don’t mind knitting, myself, but I can’t imagine doing it al the time like she does.

Sure, you and Jenny like to sew, which is similar to knitting. Jenny, of course, used to do it

more before she married Owen because that was how she made a living. Now that he’s with

her, she has more time to visit me. Mary, we ought to pay Jenny a visit soon. You’l want to

get settled in first after your long trip, but Jenny and I want to know al about Maine. Oh, and

we should bring April.”

“Mary, did I fail to tel you that Sal y was born a chatterbox?” Dave interrupted in a teasing

tone.

Sal y sighed. “Am I boring you, Mary?”

“No,” Mary replied. “Wil we also see Jessica?”

“We should, shouldn’t we?” Sal y asked thoughtful y. “Jessica’s often with her friend Margaret,

but since she’s our sister-in-law, it’s only right we should see if she’l join us.”

Mary sorted through everything she’d learned about Dave’s family and recal ed that Jessica

was married to his older brother Tom.

“If we want to get al of the women together, we should see if Amanda can join us,” Sal y

added. “Do you remember her at al ?”

Mary shook her head. “Not yet. I am getting my memories back, but I stil don’t recal

everything from my life here.”

Sal y’s eyebrows rose. “Does that mean you remember everything about Maine?”

“Yes,” she softly admitted, not wishing to think about it for the moment. Next time she saw

Sal y, she’d indulge her friend and tel her everything, but right now, she didn’t want to ruin the

day by rehashing unpleasant parts of her past. Clearing her throat, she added, “I think seeing

Amanda and Jessica is a wonderful idea. Perhaps we can spend the day together with our

children?”

As Mary hoped, Sal y quickly forgot the trip to Maine. “What a lovely idea, Mary!”

While Sal y continued to plan for the upcoming gathering for the women and children in the

family, Mary listened attentively to her, thinking of how nice it was to be back home.

***

After supper, Mary sat on the porch swing, holding Rachel and Isaac on either side of her. The

warm summer wind cooled her off from the heat in the kitchen, and the peaceful sound of the

birds chirping made her smile. As lovely as the ocean had been by the lighthouse, she stil

preferred the haven of the farm with the gentle rol ing hil s in the distance. Perhaps this was

how her father felt when he visited the lighthouse, and thinking of it made her feel close to him,

as if he was there with her, happy she had found joy in life.

A half hour passed before Isaac wiggled from her. “Ma, can I help Pa in the barn now?”

“Oh, Isaac. Let me hold you just a little while longer.”

He groaned. “But I feel like a baby.”

She glanced at Rachel who was more than content to stay settled next to her and then turned

her attention to Isaac. “You missed your father while we were gone, didn’t you?” He nodded,

and she smiled at him, reminded of how much he aspired to be like Dave. It was only natural

that he’d want to be out in the barn with him. “I’l tel you what. If you give me a hug and a

kiss, I’l let you go see your pa.”

She wasn’t sure if he was going to protest that hugs and kisses were for girls, but she figured it

couldn’t hurt to ask and he obliged her with a big hug and kiss.

“I love you, sweetie,” she whispered, surprised she was tearing up.

“I love you, too, Ma,” he replied before he hopped down from the swing and ran down the

porch and then to the barn.

“Love Ma,” Rachel said.

Her smiled grew wider as she picked her daughter up and settled her on her lap. Rachel

rested her head against her bosom, and Mary wrapped her in her arms. “I love you, too,

Rachel.”

She pushed the swing so they rocked back and forth in a comfortable silence. After a while,

she hummed a tune she knew Rachel enjoyed. Deciding to be playful, she ran her fingers

lightly across her daughter’s arm. Rachel giggled but didn’t move away from her. Her lips

turned up into a smile, she tickled her daughter again.

Jasper barked and ran out of the barn. She watched as Dave came out of the barn, leading a

horse by its reins while Isaac sat on a double saddle. Rachel shifted so she could see what

was going on, and Mary turned so they could see Dave and Isaac better from where they were

sitting.

Isaac held onto the saddle, and though Dave was talking to him, Mary was too far away so she

didn’t know what he was saying. Isaac shifted on the saddle, but Dave put his hand on his leg

to stop him. A few moments after tel ing him something else, Isaac moved forward in the

saddle and Dave got on the horse and settled behind him. Glancing in her direction, Dave

waved. She waved in return and watched as Dave and Isaac trotted off on the horse.

“Someday, he’l teach you to ride,” she whispered to her daughter.

“Orse,” Rachel chirped.

“Yes. Horse.” She squeezed her daughter and kissed her on the head. “I think they’l be thirsty

when they get back. Why don’t we make them some tea punch. We can even make some

brown sugar candy in case they’d like something to eat.”

“Candy?”

“You can have some, too.”

Rachel got off of Mary’s lap and ran for the door.

Laughing, she stood up and fol owed Rachel. “Somehow I didn’t think you’d mind helping me.”