A Husband for Margaret(25)
Debra sat next to Margaret and adjusted her hat. She patted Ben on the head. “Hello there, Benny.”
“His name isn’t Benny. It’s Ben,” Margaret snapped. “And I don’t recall inviting you to sit with me.”
She shrugged and tugged on the sleeves of her dress. “I don’t recall asking.”
Margaret’s cheeks flushed with anger.
“As for Benny... I’ve been calling him that ever since he was born.” She shot Margaret a pointed look. “I was there when all of these children were born. I know them better than you do.”
“I don’t see what that has to do with anything. Joseph made his choice-”
“As silly as it was.”
“Silly or not, the matter is done. There’s no going back and undoing any of it.”
“It’s not fair.” Debra crossed her arms and glared at her. “I’ve known him forever. I grew up with him. I used to bake him cookies and give him a cool glass of lemonade when it was hot outside. I was always there to offer him anything he needed.”
“So you made a pest of yourself.”
She gasped and put her hand up to her throat. “Why, I did no such thing.”
Margaret shook her head. “I wonder what Hannah thought.”
“Hannah was my dearest, closest friend.”
“I’m sure.” Margaret didn’t hide her sarcasm. If Debra was this annoying to her—a stranger, then she had no doubt she was unbearable to poor Hannah.
“It’s true.”
Margaret rolled her eyes.
“Fine. Don’t believe me. But I’ll tell you something. It was her dying wish that I’d take care of Joseph and his children. Do you think it’s right to interfere with a woman’s dying wish?”
“Joseph is an adult. He can make his own decisions.”
Ben placed another handful of rocks into Margaret’s lap and resumed his search for more. This time, however, the quest took him further from the bench, which was a good thing, Margaret decided, because it meant that he didn’t have to bear the ravings of the lunatic sitting next to her.
Margaret nudged Charles. “Why don’t you play ball with Doug and Bob?”
Charles seemed reluctant but got off the bench and took his time going to the two boys who laughed as they kicked the ball down the lawn.
Margaret turned so she was facing her opponent. “I don’t know what you hope to accomplish by bugging me. The vows have been said and the marriage sealed, so there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Debra frowned. “You’ll give up. I’ve seen how much work those children are, and you’ll run off as soon as things get rough.”
“You underestimate me. I’m not one to give up easily.”
“You don’t know a thing about children. You’re in over your head. Right now, they’re on their best behavior because you’re new. But what’ll happen when they get used to having you around?”
“Then I’ll also get used to them and be able to adjust accordingly.”
Debra cackled as if that was the funniest thing she’d ever heard. “Oh my dear, Margie—”
“Margaret.”
She shrugged. “You are quite the optimist, aren’t you?”
Hardly. But what did Debra know about her? It wasn’t that Margaret considered herself a pessimist. No. She rather fancied the term ‘realist’ to describe her. But she did know the proper term to describe a woman like Debra who insisted on wiggling into another woman’s marriage. Being a lady, of course, held Margaret’s tongue in check. Taking a deep breath, she finally said, “You are welcome to leave.”
From across the field, Charles let out a loud scream while Bob pushed him to the ground.
Startled, Margaret bolted to her feet. The rocks on her skirt went tumbling onto the grass, and Ben, who had just collected another handful and was on his way back to her, dropped his new rocks to the ground, threw back his head, and wailed in utter despair.
“What did you do that for?” Margaret asked Bob who held onto the ball.
“He isn’t in the game!” Bob called out.
“I told him to go over there and play with you.”
“You did? But why? He’s just three. He can’t play good.”
“But you’re his brother.”
He looked at her as if he had no idea why that should make any difference.
“Just play with him,” she said. “You’re brothers and that makes you friends.”
Doug and Bob glanced at each other and shook their heads.
“Do it!” she demanded.
Bob sighed and dropped the ball in front of Charles who stopped screaming and grabbed it.