He turned, intending to go back inside, but the sound of horses’ hooves stopped him. Trent came around the bend and drew up at the front porch.
Charles grinned. “You’d best get your horse in the stable and come inside. You’re just in time for lunch.”
“No, I need to get home to Abigail and the baby. I just dropped by to let you know I received a letter with the trial date. You and Mrs. Saunders will more than likely get one, too, if you haven’t already, since we all have to testify.”
“All right. That’s good news. When is the trial?”
“They must have rushed it. It’s set for three weeks from today on November 27th.”
He waved a quick goodbye, then whirled his horse around and took off down the lane.
Charles stared after him. The lucky guy, to have someone to hurry home to. A vision of Livvy, holding a small child in her arms, sent a jolt through him. Should he tell her he loved her? And if he did, would she believe him?
It had been a year or less since he’d cried in her arms because Helen preferred another man. How could he tell Livvy it had only taken a few days for him to realize that what he’d felt for Helen wasn’t love? She’d think he was unstable as far as women were concerned.
All he knew was that his heart longed for Livvy in a way he’d never known was possible and the thought of living without her was almost unbearable. His best friend. His heart’s love.
Lord, give me wisdom. If it is Your will for Livvy and me to marry, please give me the words to say to her. And please help her know she loves me, too. Because I know she does, Lord. We’ve just been friends for so long, she might not realize it. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Once more, peace washed over him, and he went inside with lightness in his heart.
At the smell of Selma’s chili filling the foyer and the sight of the children lined up two by two in front of the dining room for the midday meal, Charles’s stomach growled. They didn’t usually get chili until the weather turned cold, but Selma must have thought the high winds were a good enough reason to make the cold-weather dish. The children’s eyes were bright with excitement. Anything indicating that winter was on the way brought thoughts of Christmas to their minds. Just as it had done for him when he was a child.
Abigail Quincy had put on a big Christmas program the past two years and the children vied for the parts. Most of the parents came for that, and then they took their children home with them for Christmas.
He shook his head and gave a quiet laugh. He must not be too far away from that boy he had been, since his thoughts had jumped to the holiday so readily.
But that was a ways off. They still had the Harvest Festival and Dance. Then Thanksgiving. Charles only hoped that no more fires broke out to take lives or homes.
The chili was a hit, served with cornbread and followed by apple dumplings. At the end of the meal, Selma came in and took a mock bow. The children and staff gave her a round of applause.
One more class for the day, then school was dismissed, with instructions to the children to stay inside because of the heavy wind.
Expecting trouble from the older boys with the prospect of being confined, Charles glanced at Jeremiah. He, Sonny and Tommy were deep in conversation, their fingers flying as they signed. Sonny’s eyes were bright and he and Tommy had big grins on their faces. Now what was Jeremiah up to this time? Charles watched the three boys head up the stairs.
He waited until they were out of sight, then went up to the second floor in time to see their legs disappear up the third-floor stairs, where the auditorium and playroom were located.
When he arrived at the playroom door, all three boys were on their knees, with marbles surrounding them.
“Now, here are the rules of the game.” With signs and his impaired speech, Jeremiah went on to explain a game that Charles had seen the older boys play. Sonny had wanted to learn the game, but until today, the older boys had run him off when they played.
He stepped through the door. When his shadow crossed the floor, three pairs of eyes looked up at him.
“Hello, boys. Playing marbles, I see.”
“Yes, sir!” Sonny’s eyes lit up. “Jeremiah is teaching us a new game.”
“That’s nice of you, Jeremiah.”
Jeremiah shook his head. “I needed something to do since we can’t go out.”
Charles smiled. The older boy and former bully wasn’t about to admit any kindness to the younger boys.
After watching for a while, satisfied that Jeremiah wasn’t involved in some mischief, Charles left and went downstairs. He glanced into the back parlor. Virgie sat with her feet up and her eyes closed. Softly, he closed the door and sauntered up the hall to the larger front parlor, where he found Howard and Felicity drinking tea and laughing.