She whirled around and saw him standing there with flowers in his hand and she gaped.
"What are you doing back so early?" She put her hands on her hips and stared.
"I brought you some flowers." He handed them to her awkwardly.
She stared at them and took them with a gentle hand, but when he looked up into her face, she was crying.
"W-what's wrong?" He came closer.
"Nothing…" she cried. "I'm sorry, but you picked me flowers?"
"I thought you'd like them." He exclaimed coming closer.
"I-I do, but… it's just so sweet." She turned away from him.
He smiled, she put them in a vase and watered them, then set them on the table, "Thank you, they are beautiful. They'll make the table look pretty."
"Did I do something wrong?"
"N-no of course not, it's just, never mind."
"Come on, out with it."
She swiped the tears, "I'm not used to it."
He stared, "Used to what?"
"The flowers, it's sure a sweet and thoughtful thing to do. No one's ever brought me flowers before." She saw the disbelief on his face, and she explained. "I don't want you feeling sorry for me. I worked all the time, and money was scarce where I lived. Flowers were what young beaus brought to their sweethearts when they could afford it. Rich ones I guess at least."
"No one ever gave you flowers?" he asked with a frown.
"My Pa, that's all. I don't know why I told you that. It's so silly. But you see, in the city you aren't supposed to pick the flowers as they are specially planted by workers, and only the rich buy flowers." Then suddenly she swiped her eyes and laughed. "One-time Pa picked some of those city flowers and brought them to me, they were so pretty, but the next day the constable came calling. There was a fine for picking the flowers. I rushed to tell the constable that my Pa brought them to me, to cheer me up, since my Ma died a few days earlier."
"Did he fine him?"
"No, thank the Lord."
"These didn't cost anything, I just thought you'd like them."
"Why are you being so nice to me?" she cried again and turned away.
He came closer holding her shoulders and bringing her against him. "Well, you're gonna be crying even harder when you find out why I really came."
He sighed when she turned to face him once more. "I'm your husband Trudy and that means I provide for you."
"I don't want you to provide for me, I'm not really your wife!"
"The truth of the matter is, you said the words, and so did I, and we are married. You gotta let that sink in. You might not want to admit it, but we are legally married. No matter the circumstances, you are my wife. And as long as you are my wife, I want to provide for you. I know where you came from, I know you were poor. There is no sin in that, especially since you worked your butt off trying to support yourself and your father. I know you don't have many clothes either. I want to change that. You can consider it a wedding present, as I want to buy you some clothes, nice clothes you'll be proud to wear."
"You know don't you!"
"Know?"
"I told you I was poor. I told you I didn't have any money. I didn't lie to you about it. I wasn't exaggerating either. Alright, I only have two dresses, well three if you count that darn dress I bought."
"I don't care if you didn't have any. You are a beautiful woman, Trudy, I want to buy you dresses for a wedding present. Will you let me?" He asked bending close and holding her by the arms now.
"B-but I don't want to be bought. That wedding was for Priscilla, not me. You should spend your money on her."