A Bride for Tom(30)
“You really know how to play dirty.”
Tom shrugged. “You’ll thank me when I’m living here.”
Their father came up to them and smiled. “This place is coming along just fine. We should be done before Christmas.”
Joel breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s exactly what I wanted for Christmas. And to think I wondered if God answered prayers.”
“Ha ha,” Tom replied. Even if his brother was being his usual pesky self, Tom didn’t mind. He was building this home for him and Jessica. It was too bad he couldn’t bring her with him when he moved in. But he’d wait, just as his father suggested.
“Are you going to see Jessica tonight?” his father asked.
“She did invite me over for supper,” Tom replied. “I told her that I’d try to make it. I wasn’t sure how late we’d be working.”
“We’re making good progress. Go on and see her.”
Joel rubbed his flat stomach. “That means more pot roast for me! I’m hungry enough to eat a horse.”
“All you ever do is eat,” Tom said. “I’m surprised you’re not rolling on over back home.”
“Now, Tom, you ate a lot when you were his age too,” their father intervened with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “Your poor ma can’t keep enough food on the table to handle all you boys. Frankly, I’m looking forward to the day when all of you are out of the house.”
Joel shook his head and glanced at Tom. “And to think we gave him the best part of our lives.”
Tom gave Joel’s shoulder a firm pat. “Don’t worry. Someday you’ll get to move out too.” He looked at his father. “Do you think this is good for today?”
“Sure is. Tomorrow we start on the roof.”
“Great!” Tom couldn’t wait to see Jessica.
Joel pinched his nose. “Make sure you clean up before you go see her.”
Dave came from his side of the house. “Is there anymore to do today?”
“No,” Joel answered. “We’re getting ready to dump Tom into the tub so he doesn’t embarrass himself in front of Jessica.”
“The house is going to be quiet without you there, Tom,” their father said.
“Yep,” Dave began, “I don’t know what Joel’s going to do without you.”
Before anyone could reply, Dave started loading the supplies to take into the newly built barn on the property.
Joel glanced at Tom and their father. “Between us, I don’t know how any woman’s going to handle being married to Dave. He’s so boring.”
“No kidding,” Tom agreed before he turned to get his things put away for the night.
Chapter Fifteen
Jessica put a bow in her hair and inspected her reflection. Tom may not come over but then again, he might. He told her he’d be busy working on their home. Their home. She loved the sound of that. Alright. So in fairness, he hadn’t used the word “their”, but it was implied. After all, he had planted apple trees for her. It was just a matter of time before she used those apples for baking.
Her mother happened to pass by her bedroom as Jessica checked the butterfly broach Jenny had made for her. She glanced up at her mother and smiled. “Isn’t this a pretty broach? Jenny does have a talent for this kind of thing.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t mention Tom.”
“Why would I? He didn’t make it.”
“Maybe not, but ever since he started courting you, you’ve been talking nonstop about him,” she said with a trace of humor in her voice.
“I’m not that bad.”
Her mother raised an eyebrow. “Oh no?”
She grinned. “No. I talk about Margaret. She and I worked on that ad. She’s posting for a husband, you know.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Well, that proves it. I can talk about things other than Tom.”
“Except when you discuss Margaret looking for a husband, you usually finish the conversation by asking if there might be a double wedding. You seem to think you can get married before planting season begins, if your plan for Margaret’s man to arrive around that time and the double wedding come to pass.”
She sighed. “What is wrong with marrying before he plants?”
“It seems to me that last time we had this conversation you mentioned marrying in June.”
“If I do that, I can’t wear the dress I already made. It has long and thick sleeves.”
“Roll them up.”
“So you’re saying I no longer have to wait until September?” she asked, excited.
Her mother’s eyes grew wide as she gave a sharp intake of breath. “You’ll be the death of me yet,” she muttered as she hurried off down the hallway.