Meg thought his mother might actually pinch his cheeks, but she looked at Meg and stopped herself. “It’s so difficult to let your children grow up. Thank you for understanding.” She threaded her arm through Meg’s and said, “Show me everything. I want to see it all.”
Meg strolled the store, glancing up regularly as Sam handled customers. She tried not to laugh at his clear discomfort every time the doorbell rang and he looked at her for assurance every time. She didn’t think his mother had noticed yet, as Meg was trying to keep her busy. She was grateful that she’d spent a fair amount of time in the store before and knew what and where most things were. If she didn’t know, she told his mother, “That’s Sam’s area of expertise.”
“You two are such a good team,” his mother had said as she walked around the store. Meg was glad that she was pleased, and that the mercantile was large enough for them to just keep going.
The doorbell rang once more and Meg glanced at Sam to give him her customary smile of assurance and felt her chest tighten. She’d become accustomed to his look of discomfort, but this one—this one was different. Pure panic.
She turned to the door and immediately understood why as she saw her sister, Rosemary, enter the store, followed by their housekeeper, Maria. Rosemary knew all about the ruse, but not the part about the mercantile, having attended the wedding. However, Meg hadn’t had the opportunity to speak to Maria at all and knew full well that she was the most outspoken woman she’d ever met in her life.
She turned back to Sam, her eyes as wide as his. She wished he was close enough for her to poke him in the eye as he shrugged and turned back to the customer he’d been helping.
“Mrs. Allen, I believe we have a produce delivery. Can you excuse me for a moment?” Meg said.
“Oh, of course, dear. I’ll go and talk with Sam.”
Meg smiled and hurried to the door to head off Rosemary and Maria.
Rosemary set her milk pails down when she saw Meg and rushed to hug her. Meg hadn’t realized how much she’d missed them both, and her heart melted as tears threatened to spill from Rosemary’s eyes.
“We’ve missed you so much, Meg. How are things going?”
“Yes, how are things going?” Maria said as she set down the basket of eggs and folded her arms over her chest.
Meg hadn’t expected Maria to be happy with this development, and didn’t have an opportunity to explain much at that moment. Not enough time.
“Maria, I am sure that Rosemary has explained to you what I’ve decided to do. Do you remember when you asked me a few times what was going on? Now you know. It was Sam I was pining for. And now I’m his wife.”
“Oh, my, Nutmeg. You are a crazy one.” Maria crossed herself and pulled Meg into a hug. “Who would think that God works in ways this mysterious?”
Meg’s breath whooshed out at her relief. “Oh, thank you, you two. If you think you can say very little, I’d like to introduce you. But remember, Sam and I have been married for two years and we own the mercantile.”
Maria crossed herself again. “I plan to say nothing, little one, but it is very good to see you happy.”
“I’ll be happy when this is all over and his mother returns to New York. Can’t be soon enough for me.”
“You don’t like her?” Rosemary said and squeezed Meg’s hand.
“Oh, she’s wonderful. Truly wonderful. Reminds me very much of Mama. But I don’t know how long we’ll be able to keep this up. She’s so happy that we’re married and Sam owns a store, he just doesn’t want to break her heart.”
“I don’t quite understand,” Rosemary said, “but I don’t have to. Not now, anyway. We’ll have lots of time to talk about it later, after she’s gone. Now, let us see if we can help out.”
“Oh, thank you so very much,” Meg said as she grabbed their hands and led them toward Sam and his mother.
Chapter 23
“I would have known you were Meg’s sister without an introduction,” Mrs. Allen said as she held her hand out to Rosemary. “Two true beauties.”
“And there are four more where they came from.” Maria smiled and Meg wiped her brow with her handkerchief thinking that maybe Maria would cooperate after all.
“Goodness, I can’t imagine. I would love to meet them all,” Mrs. Allen said and Meg held her breath at the thought.
Maria cocked an eyebrow at Meg and Meg knew whatever was coming would not be good.
“And I know that Mr. Archer and the family would love to meet you, too, Mrs. Allen. I feel confident that he would agree that we would love for you to join us for dinner one night during your stay.”