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Homesickness. Fear tore into him at that one word.
When Haydon and Melanie had moved here, it wasn’t long before Melanie had become restless and the vicious fighting began, destroying Haydon, Melanie and those who loved them. Before Michael would allow himself and Selina to go through something like that, he would get their marriage annulled. But not until he did everything he possibly could to make this marriage work, and to make Selina happy and to help ease her homesickness.
“Letters? For me?” Her eyes brightened.
He pulled them out of his vest pocket and handed them to her.
Sadness replaced the joy he’d seen only seconds ago.
“I can’t read, remember?”
How could he have been so foolish? “I’m sorry, I forgot. I can read them to you, if you’d like.”
“I’d like that very much. But can we do it after supper? I’m mighty hungry.”
“Sure.”
“Thank you kindly, Michael. And I’m sorry about the crawdad tails. You made me promise not to fix frog legs but you didn’t say anything about these so I figured it was okay. From now on, I’ll just fix enough for myself and make you somethin’ else. Is that all right with you?”
“That’s fine. Thank you for understanding.”
“Didn’t say I understood.” She smiled and winked at him.
That playful wink felt as if one of those fried fish had come to life and was flopping around inside his stomach. To get his mind off the effect she had on him, an effect he wasn’t ready to deal with, he picked up his fork and shoved a bite of potatoes into his mouth. They really were good the way she fixed them. The crawdads, however…
Chapter Ten
Selina finished the dishes. She couldn’t wait to see who had written her from back home. Home. She missed her brothers and the Appalachian Mountains. There, she could be herself and no one thought anything of it. No one cared if she fixed frog legs, crawdad tails or greens. In fact, they loved and appreciated all her hard work.
Here, nothing she did was ever right, and she sure didn’t feel needed or wanted.
Back home, she had a sense of belonging, too. Well, with the exception of rich folks. But the only time she had to be around them was when she went to pick up their mending and laundry.
The last pan clinked when she hung it on the nail off to the side of the cook stove. She draped the towels on a peg above the sink and turned toward the fireplace and to Michael, who was watching her as she made her way toward him. She sat in the chair next to his.
“You ready?”
“Sure am. Can’t wait to see who wrote me.” She watched eagerly as Michael opened the first envelope and pulled out a piece of paper.
Selina,
We sure do miss you around here, but we’s awful glad you found yourself a good man. Things is the same round here. Well, except for no pa. Still hard to believe he’s gone. But he’s with ma now, and that’s what he was wanting all along. Everyone here is a doing good. The boys are growing like weeds and stronger than oxes. Afore long they’ll be able to beat me at arm wrestling. They all send their love. Sarah too. She’s gonna have a baby come first part of the year. We’re sure excited about it. Can you imagine me a pa? I kinda like the idea. How bout you? You fixin to have any youngins anytime soon?
Selina’s face burned hotter than the coals in the fireplace.
Michael looked at her from the corner of his eye.
Logs popped and crackled, filling in the quietness. If only it would fill in the awkwardness, too. But nothing could. The way things were betwixt them right now, there wasn’t much chance for her and Michael to have any children. They were just two people living under the same roof, pretending to be married.
“Selina, I don’t want to offend you or anything so please don’t take this the wrong way, but how come your brother knows how to read and write and you don’t?”
“None taken. Weren’t any teachers around when I was younger. Two years after Ma died, one came to the mountains from some big city back east. I was too busy providin’ for my brothers and pa to go to school, but I made sure they went. Jacob didn’t wanna go. He wanted to help. But I made him go.” She leaned closer to Michael, anxious to hear more. “Now, is that all he said?”
Michael’s eyes dropped to the paper.
We sure would appreciate hearing from you. So, Michael, if you are reading this, would you drop a line, letting us know how our sister is doin? We’d be mighty grateful. Thank you kindly.
Zeke and Zach said to tell you hi and that they love you and miss you.
We love you too, Selina, and miss you heaps. Come for a visit whenever you can.
