“Is she pretty?” John asked.
“Well, I’m not rightly sure. I didn’t get a picture of her, just letters.”
“Where is she now?” Matt shoved the last of his cookie into his mouth.
“Right now, she’s on her way here. She’s coming all the way from New York City.”
“New York City?” Luke and John said at the same time, eyes wide. “That must be a million miles away.”
“No.” Nate chuckled. “Not a million miles, but a long way. Clear across the country.”
“What’s her name?” Luke climbed down from his seat and wiggled onto Nate’s lap.
Nate played with the soft, silky hair on his son’s head. “Her name is Angelina. Angelina Hardwick. However, she tells me she likes to be called Angel.”
“Angel?” John rolled his eyes, blushing.
“Is she an angel like our mama?” Luke’s serious eyes stared at Nate.
“No, son, she’s not an angel like your mama. Your mama is an angel in heaven. This Angel is right here on earth.”
Mark hadn’t said a word. Nate turned to him. “Mark, what do you say about this?”
“I don’t want no gol-darned new mama.” Red-faced, the boy pushed back his chair and ran from the room.
Nate sighed. One out of five wasn’t bad. He placed Luke on his feet and began collecting dirty dishes from the table. “All right boys, get washed up and into bed. It’s getting late.”
The boys dragged their feet, never anxious to end their day. Nate walked to the window, and, hands shoved into his pockets, stared at the darkening sky. This had not been an easy decision. Six months wasn’t a long time to grieve a wife of ten years, but his life had begun to fall apart.
His marriage had been satisfactory, if not great. Lonely after leaving the army, and miles from his home, Amy had filled a hole in his heart. He tried not to dwell on whether he would have married her if she hadn’t become pregnant. She did, so he did, and five kids later, here he was, ready for a new wife. He sighed and turned back to the table, grabbed the rest of the dishes.
He still had to deal with the no diaper issue, so he stacked the dishes in the sink. Mrs. Darby, his neighbor and sort-of housekeeper, would wash them in the morning. Julia-Rose grunted and thrust her head back, wiggling to get out of the chair.
“Come on, baby, bedtime for you, too.” He undid the strap, picked her up, and hugged her chubby little body to his chest. What is that?
He gaped at the warm, wet stream running down his leg from underneath Julia-Rose’s nightgown.
“Mama.” She smiled up at him. Then with the spoon she still held in her hand, she smacked him in the eye.
Chapter 2
A light tap sounded on Angel’s bedroom door as she closed the last trunk. Her eyes stung from all the tears she’d shed since yesterday. Sadness had turned to anger as she’d packed her clothes. If she could think of one other choice, she’d tell Sylvia she could go be a bride to a stranger with five children.
In reality, Angel had no choice. The newspaper this morning had carried a front-page story about her father’s bank disaster. It wouldn’t take long for the invitations to cease, and her friends to stop calling.
She whipped the door open. Sylvia stood in the doorway, having given up her mourning clothes for a brand new pale yellow and brown outfit.
“Here.” Sylvia shoved a packet into Angel’s hands. “These are the letters that were sent to the agency for you, or rather for me as you, from Mr. Hale. They will tell you a little bit about the man, and the life you’re going to.”
Her stepmother had the grace to look embarrassed when Angel didn’t take it from her.
“You’ll also see your tickets in there, and a bit of traveling money. You are to leave by train this afternoon. When you reach St. Joseph, Missouri, you will take a stagecoach the rest of the way.”
When Angel still didn’t reach for the letters, she grew impatient. “Take them, Angelina. As I told you yesterday, there is no other choice.”
Angel took the papers from her hand. They felt heavy. Sylvia made a move to leave, then hesitated and turned back. “I’m sorry we couldn’t stay together, and believe me when I tell you I wish there was another way. I’ve never had to make these kinds of decisions before. I really do hope it all works out for you.”
She cupped Angel’s chin in her hands. “You’re a strong woman, Angelina. Much stronger than me.” Sylvia leaned in and gave her a kiss on her cheek. With skirts swishing, she hurried down the hall.