A Husband for Margaret(9)

And now that he was meeting another woman with the same intent, all those past sensations came crashing down on him with full force. He decided that he wasn’t an enthusiast of this stage of the relationship. Yes, it was exciting, but it was also downright agonizing.

He combed his hair—again—and wondered if there was anything else he could do to look his best. He glanced at his travel bag sitting in the corner of the room he shared with the two and three year olds. He was looking forward to finding a house in town. As much as he appreciated the Larson’s hospitality, he wanted to get back to living in his own home.

Today, Margaret was coming out. He’d thought of taking the children into town to see her, but he didn’t have the desire to travel alone with them ever again. Maybe if the time to get to town didn’t take more than a good hour, but after being on the train for days on end with them, he’d had enough. Nope. Next time those boys went to town, it’d be when he married Margaret.

Thankfully, she agreed to be his wife. He didn’t know what he said that convinced her to do it, but he was glad she changed her mind. Margaret seemed ideal for him. Practical, honest, dependable... In some ways, she was like Hannah, but in other ways, not so much. He didn’t expect her to fill Hannah’s shoes. No one would replace her. But he had no doubt she’d carve out her own special place in his heart.

He couldn’t see himself having a future with Debra. Debra might have made a good mother. Certainly, she was willing, but he meant what he told Margaret. He didn’t want to marry anyone. He wanted to marry someone he could enjoy the kind of friendship and love he had enjoyed with Hannah.

All he had to do was get through the awkward stage of not knowing exactly what to say. Taking a deep breath, he steadied his nerves and turned his attention to the screaming children downstairs. Those children, of course, were his. The Larson children were all grown up. They might have had grandchildren who were as full of energy as his own kids, but those kids went home with their parents. Sometimes, Joseph missed the quiet.

He went down the stairs and saw that Mrs. Larson was playing with his youngest two. His older two boys helped Jenny Larson, the fifteen year old, with breakfast.

Mrs. Larson looked over at him and motioned to the chair. “I was just getting ready to call the men in. It’s going to be a busy day again.” She ruffled Charles’ and Ben’s hair. “I just love being a grandmother. I can’t wait for Jessica and Tom to have their first child.”

Jenny rolled her eyes. “Ma, you already have grandchildren.”

“I know but what’s the harm in having more?” She winked at the boys. “A woman can never have too many grandchildren.”

Jenny let out a low groan before she turned back to the skillet.

“You have some fine boys,” Mrs. Larson told Joseph.

“Thank you, ma’am.” He saw that Doug and Bob were setting the dishes out. “Good job, boys.”

“Pull up a seat,” she said as she set Ben and Charles in their chairs.

Ben squealed with glee and banged the tray on his highchair.

Charles climbed onto Joseph’s lap and grabbed a fork from Doug before he could set it on the table. “Ork!” he proudly stated while he waved it around.

Joseph dodged it and took it from him. “The fork goes on the table until we eat, Charles.” He set it next to the plate.

“This brings back so many memories.” Mrs. Larson dabbed her eyes with the edge of her apron. “Jenny, don’t you remember the time when Joel was a baby and you taught him the word ‘fork’?”

“That’s when I was thinking of being a teacher,” Jenny said, her exasperation evident in her voice. “Ma, this is ridiculous. Everything these kids do remind you of when the rest of us were little.”

Bob sneezed and wiped his nose on the back of Doug’s shirt.

“Gross!” Doug pushed him back.

Jenny motioned to them. “I saw Joel and Tom doing the very same thing last month. You don’t have to worry. Your sons will always be little kids.”

Mrs. Larson sighed. “It’s been awfully quiet in this house since Tom left.”

“He still comes by.” Jenny clapped her hands. “Oh, Jessica’s bringing Margaret out. Jessica will want to see the new pattern for the shirt I want to make her!”

Joseph’s ears perked up. Did that mean he’d get some time alone with Margaret? He hadn’t had that opportunity since he walked with her at the park. The other times he’d seen her, her parents had been there. He hoped the others would find something else to do while Margaret was there. Of course, the boys would be with them, but it would be the six of them after they got married. And as long as the boys played nicely, then it might happen.