* * *
Mary satat her writing desk that night and stared at the letter with a considerate look. She had thought the letter might be full of nothing, or at the very least a play at a fake correspondence should her mother look it over, but it was not.
The letter was well and trulywritten. It was a look into Alex’s mind and heart. She asked her what her favorite foods were, how she came to like the Montana Territory, and what she thought she might like to do when this was all over.
“What does your future look like? Your perfect day? Tell me. Mine consists of a late rise, breakfast of a rasher of bacon and a strawberry shortcake piled high with summer sweet strawberries.”
Mary bit her lip, fingers twitching against the paper beneath her hands.Summer sweet.The words conjured thoughts of Alex’s full lips. The woman’s lips were plump, pink, and ripe for the taking. She would no doubt taste of summer sweet, of sunshine and the promise of a better tomorrow.
Of course she loved strawberries when she was as ripe for the picking as any fresh picked berry.
Mary’s fingers tightened on the pencil she held, and she took out another piece of paper. She would tell Mary what her perfect day was. That it would be all gentle mornings with a cup of warm tea and all the biscuits and cake they both could eat, and books, there would, of course be books. What little solace Mary had found in the last few months had been in the pages of a good book.
Mary’s perfect day would be the one that she chose. It didn’t matter what she did, or what she ate. It mattered not where she was, so long as she chose it. She touched her pencil to paper and began to write.
Chapter 8
“It needs to be nipped in at the waist more. I look far too matronly for my liking.” Sarah James turned this way and that in the dress shop mirror with a frown. “And for god sake do something about the lace at the back. It looks bedraggled and cheaply done.”
Mary raised her eyes from the letter she was reading from Alex to see that her mother had sent the modiste scampering about with her assistant once more. They had been in the shop for nearly three hours and Sarah James had yet to exhaust her seemingly never-ending list of complaints and criticisms concerning her wedding attire.
Mary’s own dress had been sorted out. The simple dress was easily made and already wrapped in paper and ready for Mary’s big day. It was a day that had yet to be decided on, or at least formally, even though she told her mother differently. It had taken a few letters over so many days for Sarah James to tire of reading over their correspondence. It had been two days since her mother had taken any interest in Mary’s letters--her daughters’ words of assurance more than enough to accord with Sarah James’s plans.
The distraction of her mother’s wedding was a blessing in disguise as it wholly kept Sarah James’s attention. Mary winced when her mother began berating the staff once more, and before she could stop herself, she stood and quickly tucked the letter away in her glove.
“Mama, I think the staff here,” she gave both women a kind smile, “have done an exceptional job and that perhaps a kind word of acknowledgement would encourage them to continue in their efforts.”
Sarah James’s mouth fell open at her daughter’s rebuff. She drew herself up to her full height and gave her a frosty glare. “Isn’t there something you need to see to, dear?”
“No, there’s nothing at all and in fact--”
“I believe there is. You have your dress in hand, do you not? Take it and leave on your errands.”
Mary glanced at the two women who were watching them with interest. It was evident her mother wanted her out of the shop and seeing as she was right on all accounts there was no reason for Mary to stay. She sighed and gave her mother a curt nod.
“All right, mama. I will see you when you are done with your fitting.” She gave both women an apologetic smile. “Thank you for your work. It is lovely, and I am so happy to wear this on my wedding day.” She held up her dress and wished she could say more but her mother would surely make her pay for even one more word.
“Ah, good day, ladies… mama.” She nodded at them all and, under the heavy weight of her mother’s glare, Mary made a quick exit from the shop, dress tucked close to her.
She let out a sigh once the door was shut behind her. She wished she could do more than a gentle rebuff, but she knew any more would draw her mother’s attention back to her plans and she could not have that. Mary set off down the boardwalk, but her steps faltered when she realized she hadn’t the first clue where she was meant to go. She had never previously been allowed any more than two hours’ free time without her mother keeping watch over her and now she was presented with a seemingly free day.
She could do anything.
However, that much freedom was daunting. What ever would she do with all of it? Mary bit her lip and began to walk once more, her body swinging into motion. Perhaps a treat to celebrate?
Her stomach growled and Mary sighed, patting a hand to her belly and then letting it rest there. Her mother had been keeping a close eye on every morsel she ate on account of “keeping her figure in hand” and Mary was starved. She was often starving, and she hated it. Once she was free of her mother, she would never allow herself or her baby to be in such a predicament again.
“I am sorry, little one,” she murmured with a wince. Her hand at her stomach still, she rubbed the very slight curve, though she could scarcely feel the tender touch through the barriers of her corset and day dress. She frowned, wondering if her baby knew she was doing her utmost to offer comfort. Most likely not. Though she hadn’t a clue what a baby did and did not know at this stage of her pregnancy.
Mary would get something to eat, for the both of them, and enjoy it in the fresh summer air. She did have a bit of pocket money saved away. She turned the corner already knowing that she wanted to make a stop at Lily’s Cafe for one of the freshly baked treats the woman served there. Her steps quickened, the thought of baked sweets on her tongue working as adequate motivation for her trip. So distracted Mary was that she didn’t see Alex until the pair were practically colliding.
“I’m so sorry!” Mary held out her hands and apologized with a worried frown. “My mind was elsewhere, and I wasn’t, ah, I was just not looking where I was going.”
“It’s no trouble,” Alex replied, reaching out to steady Mary where she swayed. “I’m sturdy. It’ll take more than a run in with you to knock me down, Minnie.”
Mary’s heart warmed at the term of endearment. Every time she heard it slip from Alex’s mouth she was heartened. She could be Minnie with the other woman, a precious gift indeed. She gave Alex a warm smile.
“I reckon you are right on that account. I was just on my way to Mrs. Lily’s Cafe for a treat. Would you care to join me?”
