“Whatever you want, Charlie.”
“Oh, I’ll need thick aprons to protect my clothes from the blood, the kind butchers wear.”
“Got that?”
Mrs. Jenkins looked distractedly at the curtain. “Yes, sir.”
“It’s a long story, one that the family will want to hear first.”
“Of course. Anything else?”
“You would probably know better than I.”
“Then I will think on it overnight and send you an invoice of everything. I’m afraid an order this big will need a deposit. Fabrics will have to be purchased.”
Jaxon reached in his pocket and pulled out a pouch containing fifteen twenty-dollar gold pieces. “Here’s three hundred. Just let me know if you need more. Oh, and if you can bring tears of joy to her eyes again, there will be a bonus.”
It was dark outside when Charlie and Jaxon left the dressmaker’s shop. The pace was much different from the earlier run. They continued to walk hand in hand, but strolled around looking into the shop windows. Jaxon pointed out places of significance; his schools, his church, and the trees where Grayson broke his arm trying to jump from one tree to another after Jaxon dared him. He told the story with a little smirk.
When they returned, they ate the food Jaxon’s Aunt Pru sent then stayed up until the wee hours talking on the sofa—neither one wanting to go to their separate bedrooms.
Charlie didn’t meet the rest of the family until the funeral. Despite her protests, Jaxon insisted she sit with the family. Before the service began, many of his family casually turned around, their eyes always found her before turning back to the front. Then there would be whispers. Mostly, they smiled politely, but Charlie wondered if they were upset because she didn’t belong with the family. She certainly hoped Grayson had not told them about how he had gotten her drunk on Scotch. Only the twelve-year-old twin girls overtly stared at her.
“Who are they?” she whispered to Jaxon.
“The one on the right is Sloane. The other one is Grace.” He tilted his head towards her as he spoke and smiling at the girls.
“But who are they to you? Cousins?”
“They are my youngest sisters. You do know twins can run in families.”
“You are the first twin I ever met. How do you tell them apart?”
“It isn’t easy. They enjoy being twins and fooling people. It’s in their attitude and personality. Sloane is the quiet one and Grace is usually the instigator. But don’t let them know or they’ll switch on you. The littlest Bloodworthy is sitting next to my mother. His name is Eli and he’s ten.”
The organist began playing ending their conversation. Charlie made it through the memorial service without nearly the tears she shed the first time. Grayson, who sat further down on the same pew, glanced over at her every time she wiped her eyes. He eventually stopped when Jaxon turned and glared at him.
After the ceremony, as the people lingered in the churchyard, Jaxon introduced Charlie to his Aunt Pru.
“Jaxon tells me you were with Jimmy when he passed.”
Charlie picked up Pru’s hand and moved closer to her. “Yes, ma’am,” she said softly.
“Did he say anything?”
“No ma’am, he was unconscious when I arrived, so he couldn’t feel any pain, but I gave him a little morphine just in case. I held his hand like I’m holding yours and I thanked him for rescuing our ship. I told him he was a hero. When the end was on him, I told him not to be afraid and prayed the Lord’s Prayer over him. I don’t know if he could hear me, but I hoped he could.”
Pru’s chin and bottom lip quivered. Suddenly, she embraced Charlie and wouldn’t let go. Charlie wished her mother had been alive as she grew up. Maybe then she would have an inkling of what to do. Women were supposed to know how to comfort someone, but Charlie stood there for a moment ramrod still. Slowly, her arms went around Pru and just held her while she cried.
“Thank you, Charlie,” Pru said hoarsely in her ear. “Thank you for being with him and holding his hand.”
“I wish I could have helped him.”
“Knowing he didn’t die alone helps me.”
Pru stepped away, but took a hold of Charlie’s hands and gave them a squeeze. “Jaxon, I’m so glad you snagged this one. She’s a keeper. I’m almost not mad about what you did with Jimmy’s body when I think Charlie was what you gained.”
“Have you noticed how Grayson keeps looking at us?” Charlie asked later as the family had gathered at Pru’s home.
“He’s looking at you. I think he’s waiting until I leave you alone to approach.”