The committee for the Independence Day celebration had set aside a large grassy area outside the main part of town. Big and small wagons, and buggies, were parked helter-skelter, with everyone anxious to begin the day’s festivities. As Nate pulled the wagon to a halt, the boys all scrambled out, barely able to contain their excitement.
“Papa, can we go find the best place to watch the parade?” Matt asked.
“Yes.” Nate reached for Angel’s hand to help her out of the wagon. She hugged Julia-Rose close to her body as she stepped down.
“I want all of you to stay together. Matt, make sure your brothers don’t run into the street. There will be a lot of activity going on. Angel and I will try to find you, but if we don’t, meet us back here at the wagon when the parade’s over.” He didn’t even get the last word out before the boys took off toward the crowd gathered along Main Street.
Angel handed Julia-Rose to Nate to retrieve the jar of pickles from the wagon. “I’ll bring this to the food tables.”
“We’ll take the walk with you.” Nate moved Julia-Rose from one arm to the other and clasped Angel’s hand.
His warm hand comforted hers. They might have had a rocky start, but Nate’s patience with her shortcomings had helped build her confidence. As the warmth from his touch edged up her arm, her breath caught and her stomach fluttered in memory of their nights together. With more of a routine, she wasn’t quite so tired at night, and eagerly anticipated the times when Nate turned to her after he blew out the lamp on his side of the bed. Once or twice, she’d been the one to turn to him.
They reached the area where long tables, decorated in red, white and blue, were lined up. She let go of Nate’s hand and approached a woman behind one of the tables. After handing over the jar, and chatting for a bit, she turned to see a woman with fiery red hair, dressed
in a green silk dress with a matching bonnet and parasol, hurry down the aisle between the tables.
The woman screeched, “Nate!” and threw her arms around Nate and the baby.
Angel drifted toward them, her eyebrows raised.
“Lucy!” Nate stepped back, his eyes wide.
The woman continued to cling to his arm, chattering on. “I only returned last night, and I knew with all those children, you would be here.” She put her arm through Nate’s, and tugged him in the direction of the parade.
“I can’t wait to tell you all about my trip to Europe. I’m so glad to be home with that nasty war back east.”
Nate stopped, and glanced back at Angel, who stood with a slight smile, but the young woman didn’t seem to notice his grimace.
Well now, what’s this all about? Angel moved to stand beside her husband. The young woman remained completely oblivious to her presence and continued to prattle on. Eventually, she glanced in her direction, smiled politely, and then returned her attention to Nate. She tried unsuccessfully to pull him toward the parade grounds, but he didn’t budge.
“Don’t you want to see the parade?” Before he could answer, she continued. “Where are the boys? I can’t wait to see them. I’ll bet they got so big.” She smiled at Julia-Rose. “Why, this little darling is twice as big as when I left six months ago.” As she reached out to pat her, Julia-Rose pulled back, and whimpered.
Finally apparently sensing the tension in the air, she stopped talking and looked at Angel. Bestowing a bright smile, she turned. “Is there something I can help you with, dear?”
“Ah, Lucy,” Nate stumbled, “this is Angel.”
“Oh, how clever of you to hire a nanny!” Lucy gushed. “I told you months ago to engage one. I’m sure your life is so much easier with—Angel? Is that right, dear?” She waved her finger at him. “You had no free time at all to socialize, so things must be better for you now. We will definitely have to arrange a dinner party soon to re-introduce you to society.”
Lucy tapped her lips. “Now we have to find you a housekeeper, and that will take care of everything.”
She glared at Angel, her smile strained. “Why don’t you take this precious little one off Nate’s hands and find the boys? We’ll join you later.” She turned back to Nate, and her smile faltered when he glanced between the two women and cleared his throat.
“Um, Lucy. Angel isn’t a nanny. She’s my wife.” He reached for Angel’s hand and squeezed. “Honey, this is an old friend, Lucy Benson.”
Children shouted, dogs barked, and the sound of the Town Band practicing their marches reverberated in the air. Crowds formed along the streets, everyone laughing and jockeying to get the best spot. But the silence surrounding the three people standing like wax statutes next to the picnic tables was louder than all of it put together.
“I’m sorry, Nate, I could swear you said this woman is your wife.” Lucy pulled her arm away from Nate as if burned. Her mouth opened and closed, her eyes snapped and her smile faded. Slowly, the pale white face turned red, as anger swept up her throat, enveloping her until her skin matched the red of her hair.
“When did you get married?” Her high-pitched voice trembled with anger.
“March twenty-eight.” Angel smiled as she took a fussing Julia-Rose from Nate’s arms.
The baby sighed, “Mama,” laid her head on Angel’s chest, and slid her fingers in her mouth.
“I see.” Lucy sniffed. Slowly, she backed up and turned as if to leave, but spun around, walked up to Nate and slapped him in the face. Then she strode away, her parasol twirling furiously as she walked.
Angel made a move to go after the woman, but Nate stopped her. “Let it go.”