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“Yes, they’re on their way. I can’t say I’m sorry to see them go.” I lowered myself into the chair, brushing aside a meandering ant before directing my attention toward my companion.
“They were on their way to have Addie measured for a wedding dress. You didn’t waste any time.” She jabbed my shoulder. “Good for you. And Addie, of course. I’m so relieved. When I left I thought she’d be heartbroken by the time I returned and you’d be trapped in a loveless marriage.”
“There will be a wedding. Just not the one we anticipated.”
Her hands flew to her mouth. “Oh, James, I’m so happy.”
“I hope you’re not angry with me.”
“Why would I be?”
“It hasn’t exactly been a proper courtship. Rather messy, in fact.”
“What do they say about the path to true love? Li and I were messy too, and look how happy we are.”
I reached over to brush my fingers against her wrist. “Has it been all right? Harder than you thought?”
“Not harder than we thought, but hard at times. People stare at us when we’re away from here. It’s what we expected. Fortunately for us, we’re talented enough that people want to hire us anyway, even if our heritages don’t match.”
We sat for a moment in silence. The garden had a humming sound to it this time of year, with insects and bees busy with their flower work.
“Mama told me about Delphia’s part in all of this. Are you all still mad at her?”
I chuckled. “Who can be mad at her for long? She meant well. Delphia might be the most loyal person I’ve ever met.”
“True enough. If she finds the right man, he’ll be lucky.”
“As it turned out, she did the right thing,” I said. “It forced everything to come out in the open.”
“I suppose so, but what a thing to do. Paying a boy to seduce her. Who thinks of these things?”
“Apparently, Delphia.”
“That girl.” She stretched her legs out long. “The sooner we get her married off the better.”
Good luck with that,I thought. Delphia would decide for herself who and when she married. I hoped for her sake that her path to love was easier than mine and Addie’s or Li and Fiona’s.
The twins, who must have had enough playing on the swing for the afternoon, ran over to ask their mother if they could have a cookie.
“Go ask Gabriella,” Fiona said. “But just one.”
They ran off happily for their treat. What a gift it was to be unencumbered with adult worries and responsibilities and delighted by just the thought of a cookie.
Fiona and I chatted for a moment about the musical composition she and Li had just finished for the movie studio. “We’re glad to be done with it, to be honest. I don’t care for the city, as you know. I yearned to get home to my garden and piano. But they needed us in Chicago to record and that was that.”
“Will you do more of this kind of work?”
“Yes, if we’re asked to. The money’s good. We were growing a little weary of giving all those music lessons. Li especially. It hurts his ears to hear some of the children.” She brushed back a tendril of hair and directed her gaze at me. “Mama told me about the job at the school. Is this what you want, or are you doing it for Addie?”
“A little of both. Love, you know.”
“Yes, love has a way of changing everything.” She nodded but didn’t say anything further. Fiona and I had met when we were both a lot younger. I’d been so full of ambition then, determined to become an editor. Now I could find that place inside me that had wanted all of it so badly. Love had replaced my ambition, at least for the time being.
“I should have figured it out about you and Addie,” Fiona said. “Looking back, I can see the signs of how she felt about you. But she had to grow up first.”
“Yes, I guess she did. We’re anxious to start a life together. I’ve got to figure out how to make a home like this.” I waved my hand toward the row of pots that contained purple and red flowers, none of which I knew the name of. “Maybe I’ll learn to grow a garden.”
“You’ll make a wonderful nest for Addie. I’ve no doubt. In the meantime, we have a wedding to plan. What kind of music do you want?”
