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“I suppose I am.” She touched his sleeve. “We always found him trustworthy before he left for New York. Do you thinktime there has changed his ethics?” As much as Gil’s presence tormented her, it would be worse if the Gil she’d known was now dishonest or self-centered.
“The point is,” Joseph said, his blue eyes narrowing, “I don’t think it would be wise to let the children depend on him since he won’t be here for long. Do you understand what I mean?”
She jerked her fingers from his arm. Oh, now she understood. He wasn’t talking about the town’s children at all. She drew a breath and lifted her chin. “Joseph, what Gil and I had, wehad. You needn’t worry about me taking up with him again.”
Relief flooded his features. He leaned toward her slightly. “Then—”
She stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to see if Papa is getting impatient for Mama and me to leave.” She hurried off before he had a chance to say anything else.
Chapter Five
Gil
Gil glanced out the window.His aunt and uncle had herded their children out the door several minutes ago. There they all were, waiting in Onkel Hosea’s wagon, no doubt wishing he would hurry. But people kept coming up and talking to him. How could he walk away without seeming ungrateful for their kind attention?
Maria Flaming stood near, beaming at him as if everything he said was brilliant. The pride glowing in her upturned face didn’t dim, even when he had to confess that he’d never played with the New York Philharmonic, although he had heard them in concert. Twice. The man who asked the question about the famous orchestra turned to go, and he bumped Maria with his elbow. She teetered.
Gil reached out his hand, and she grabbed hold. The panic in her expression pierced him. She wasn’t an old woman yet—probably ten or so years older than Taunte Dorcas, who was in her early forties. But her weakened heart made her as unsteady as someone twice that age. He whispered, “Do you need to sit down?”
“I need to rest. At home.”
He curved his arm around her waist and addressed thegroup. “Folks, I’ve enjoyed chatting with all of you and appreciate your warm welcomes. I plan to be in Falke for the summer months, so we’ll have other opportunities to visit. Reverend Ediger would probably like to close the chapel, and I’m sure your stomachs are all growling.”
Good-natured laughter rolled through the room, and the crowd slowly milled out the propped-open double doors and into the churchyard.
“Thank you, Gil.” Tears winked in Maria’s eyes, making her pale hazel irises deepen in color. “You always were a considerate young man. I’m glad the big city hasn’t robbed you of your gentlemanly ways.”
No. The big city had only stolen his hopes and dreams. Would he be able to stay in Falke for months without confessing how few auditions he’d won? Without everyone discovering how poorly his compositions had been received? Again, he pondered the wisdom of coming back here. But he couldn’t change it now.
He forced a smile and patted her hand. “Let’s get you to your wagon. I imagine Onkel Bernard is wondering what’s kept you.” He guided her up the aisle, tempering his stride to match her short one.
“As is your family about you.”
Gil surmised Bernard was waiting more patiently than Taunte Dorcas. Just as always, his aunt had set the table for the noon meal and put a roasting pan of pork, potatoes, carrots, and onions in the oven before they left for church. By now the food was probably thoroughly cooked and ready to eat. His aunt and uncle would be upset if the meal was burned. But they would eat it anyway. Good stewards didn’t waste food.
Maria’s fingers bit into his arm, silently communicating her dependence on him. He slowed their pace, and her warm smilethanked him. “Bernard tells me you’ll be taking over directing the band while you’re in town.”
Gil nodded. Several of the men had already told him how happy they were to have him as their leader, and their confidence both pleased and worried him. How he loved music. How he loved conducting musicians. Bringing melodies to a crescendo or dropping them into a tender pianissimo breathed life to tiny dots on a sheet of paper. He never felt more fulfilled than when he held a baton in his hand. But these men had been led by the best—Mr. Goertz. Would he pale in comparison? Would they end up ridiculing him the way the elite of New York had? “Yes, ma’am. I intend to try.”
She shook her finger at him. “Now, Gil, don’t belittle yourself. You have a God-given gift. He’ll embolden you to use it.”
Her words sounded so much like something Mr. Goertz would have said, Gil could almost hear the old man’s voice in his head. Impulsively he leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek. “Thank you, Taunte Maria. Your confidence in me means a lot.”
She patted his arm. “There are many people in this town who have confidence in you. Remember that.”
They exited the building. The Flaming carriage waited near the porch. Ava was settled in the center of the second seat under the full shade of the carriage’s bonnet. Bernard hopped down from the driver’s seat and clattered up the church steps, his hand already reaching for his wife. She moved away from Gil and took hold of her husband’s arm.
“Take me home,mien Maun.My energy is spent.”
“Jo,mien Frü.We can go.”
Gil trailed them down the steps, smiling to himself. It had always tickled him when the couple referred to each other as husband and wife, as if they relished the titles. He’d alwaysimagined him and Ava using the terms affectionately. But he shouldn’t reflect on that dream now. It was as lost as his hopes of conducting his own compositions in the ornate auditorium of Carnegie Hall.
He reached the bottom of the steps, waved farewell to the Flamings, then darted around the side of the building. To his relief, his uncle’s wagon was still there. He clambered into the back with his cousins and sat. “I’m sorry for making you wait.”
Onkel Hosea brought the reins down on the horses’ rumps, and the wagon lurched forward. He sent a quick grin over his shoulder at Gil. “You didn’tmakeus wait. We chose to wait.”
“I appreciate it.” Gil raised his voice above the wagon’s squeaks and pops. “I didn’t expect so many people to remember me. And, Taunte Dorcas, you won’t need to set a place at the supper table for me on Tuesday or Thursday of this week. I received invitations for meals on the nights of band practice.”
