She shook her head and continued her walk toward Carters Mercantile, only about a block—as she was learning these spaces in town were called—away. Charlie tucked his head into the crook of her neck and sucked on his fist as Kizzie nodded a good morning to folks she passed.
Most everyone appeared friendly in The Hollows, or at least the ones she'd greeted so far. A few young men gave her interested looks, but once they caught sight of Charlie, they turned away.
Which was good. The last thing she needed was someone courting her while she attempted to navigate a new town and a new job and at the same time learn how to be a good mother. Besides, any of the men interested in courting would likely lose interest as soon as they heard her story.
She frowned, the idea pooling a teensy bit of nausea in her stomach.
Maybe someday, with the passage of time and distance from Charles’ memory, she could think about romance and marriage. Little Charlie deserved a family. A loving father. Her gaze shot heavenward.Someday, Lord?She'd happily wait for someday, if she knew it waited for her.
She'd just made it to the front of Carters when a carriage pulled up alongside her.
“Kizzie.”
Kizzie turned to find Victoria Lewis staring down at her from the carriage seat, her beautiful burgundy hat so large it boasted not only one peacock feather but what looked like the peacock's entire collection. Kizzie's bottom jaw dropped, her stare so focused on the hat that she didn't notice Noah rounding the carriage to assist his mother until he stepped in front of her.
“Quite the hat, isn't it?” he whispered, his grin slanted in the teasing way she was beginning to recognize. A shadow darkened the other side of his face. “Take care how you respond. It's her favorite.”
Kizzie smiled as he offered his hand and assisted his mother to the pavement.
“I've never seen such a grand hat in all my life, Victoria.”
Noah rubbed a palm over his mouth to, no doubt, curb his grin, but Victoria preened as if Kizzie had offered her the best compliment in all the world.
“I know it's a bit out of fashion, but Mr. Lewis bought it for me during an anniversary tour of New York, and I'm a bit partial to it.” She raised a matching burgundy glove to the rim. “It used to be quite the fashion statement.”
“I can't imagine it being otherwise.” Kizzie refused to look in Noah's direction, because even in her periphery she could see his shoulders shaking from barely contained laughter.
“Do you mind if we step inside the store to visit with you for a moment?”
At Victoria's request, Kizzie glanced back at the shop and then scanned down the street toward the church she'd just left. “Of course. The store will be nice and warm.” She led the way with Victoria and Noah following, but it wasn't until they'd entered that she saw Noah's full face.
Or rather, Noah's left eye. Which was all shades of blue and swollen into a little slit.
“Either you got into a serious wrestling match with the Holy Spirit this morning, or someone wasn't too pleased with you, Noah Lewis.”
His laugh shot out like a cough, and he shook his head. “My brother and I didn't see eye to eye on a certain situation.”
“I'd say if he looks like you, neither one of you are going to be seeing too clearly for a while.”
His grin spread wide, slowly, and lit those hazel eyes of his in such a way her heart tremored a little at the sight.
She quickly turned her attention to Victoria.
“It's difficult when both are being so hardheaded, Kizzie,” Victoria said, tugging at her gloves. “But at least one of them has a soft heart.”
“A soft heart your brother ain't too keen on, I'd wager.”
Kizzie's attention returned to Noah, the answer clear enough on his face. She drew in a breath and turned toward the shop. “I'd offer you to sit over here by the potbelly stove like the old men did this morning before church, but I'm not sure it's the right place for such a fine lady as yourself, Victoria.”
“Oh, pish posh.” She waved away Kizzie's words. “The hat deceives you. I'm not as fine as you think I am. I grew up on a sheep farm in the midlands of England. A rocking chair by a potbelly stove will do quite well for me, but our business will not take very long.” She turned to her son. “Noah?”
He blinked at his mother and then appeared to rally, sweeping off his derby. “Mother and I would like to invite you and Charlie to our house for the afternoon next Saturday, including dinner. I will be happy to collect you and bring you home, if you are available?”
And here she'd thought they'd have little to do with her once they'd given her over to Mrs. Carter.
“Well, I'm not sure what Mrs. Carter has planned for my schedule. We're still sorting it out.” Kizzie focused her attention on Victoria, hoping her desire showed on her face. “Charlie and I would love to visit with the two of you, but if it wouldn't be too much trouble, could I plan for the week after? Just to give us more time to figure out our new place?”
“Of course.” Victoria smiled, taking Kizzie's free hand in hers. “And should you need a place of refuge, please consider our home open to you.” She squeezed Kizzie's fingers as if trying to add emphasis to her words. “Truly.”
