April 1869
Two weeks after Tom and Jessica got married.
Margaret Williams adjusted her hat for what seemed to be the hundredth time. She took another good look at her reflection in the mirror before she glanced at her newly married friend, Jessica. In no way, did she share the blond's outstanding beauty.
Jessica Larson lifted the pearl necklace from Margaret's jewelry box. "This will look nice with the white ribbon in your hat."
"It'll do."
She turned so that Jessica could slip it around her neck and fasten it. Afterwards, she spread Margaret's brown hair around her shoulders. "You look perfect!"
Perfect? Not quite. But she did look pretty. At least, she thought so. Hopefully Paul Connealy would think so. She wondered if it was wise to ask Jessica to join her and her parents when he was due to come into the train station. What if he saw Jessica and was disappointed when he realized he'd be marrying Margaret instead? But Jessica was her dearest friend, and there was no way she could face this day without her.
Margaret's mother knocked on her bedroom door.
She glanced at the clock on her wall. Was it time to leave already? Wiping her sweaty hands on the skirt of her dress, she said, "Maybe posting an ad for a husband wasn't a good idea."
Her mother opened the door while Jessica offered a reassuring smile. "You'll be fine. We'll be there."
"Will Tom be coming?" Margaret asked. Maybe if Tom was with Jessica, Paul wouldn't pay her much attention. Then he wouldn't be busy comparing Margaret to her friend.
"I already told you he can't. He's planting corn. It's busy this time of year."
Of course. Just her luck. Jessica should have married after planting season. But she couldn't fault her friend for wanting to marry sooner rather than later. Margaret had been anxious to meet Paul. He seemed like a nice man from the two letters he'dsent. Now that the day was here though, she had the urge to hide back in her bed and forget this whole thing.
Her mother came in and picked up the two letters from the dresser. "You may need these."
Margaret directed her gaze to her. "Oh, I told him I'd be wearing blue, and that I'd be with my family and friend."
"Alright." The older woman set them back on the dresser. "It's up to you. Your father, sister and I will be out front."
Margaret nodded and picked up the brush to make her hair look just a little bit better.
Jessica laughed. "I know what you're going through."
She glanced at her friend. "You knew Tom before you married him."
"Fine. So I don't know exactly what you're going through, but you're not marrying Paul today. You're going to meet him."
"Yes, that is true."
"Everything will work out."
"It's easy for someone who's not in the situation to say that."
"Well, we already know he's got great taste. He had the sense to answer your ad."
She chuckled. It was no wonder why she wanted Jessica there. Her friend knew the right words to make her feel better. "And he does sound like a nice man, don't you think?"
"I sure do."
"He's a farmer too. Is it hard to be a farmer's wife?"
"I don't think so. They work hard, but then again, what woman doesn't?"
Margaret nodded. Being married was good for her friend. Jessica seemed to blossom under the love Tom gave her. Did love do that to every woman? But did asking for a husband in the unconventional way she had promise love? She glanced at the letters. Paul seemed like the kind of man she could fall in love with. But would he love her?
Things would be much easier if one of the better men in Omaha would have simply taken note of her. Then she'd at least know that she'd be marrying someone who loved her already. She pushed aside a flicker of irritation and turned to the door.
"I suppose we should go," Margaret said.
Jessica smiled and gave her a quick hug. "It'll be fine. Try not to worry too much."
With a slight eye roll, she joined her friend and departed from her room. Margaret thought the day went well despite Miss Potter's arrival. She wanted to ask Joseph about the woman, but the guests surrounded them during the potluck lunch. She kept expecting the woman to pop up again, which she never did. Even so, she couldn't fully enjoy the day. It was a strange thing really, for as soon as the vows were said and everyone started to go home after wishing them well, it occurred to her that this was the beginning of her life with Joseph. And that meant this wedding day led to a wedding night.
Why the thought hadn't occurred to her sooner, she didn't know. Perhaps it was the thought of being a mother right away. Or maybe it was because she was too busy thinking of the wedding day and making sure everything was as perfect as could be. Either way, it was on her mind now, and the closer evening came, the harder it was to push it aside.
Her mother had explained the facts to her and advised her to relax. Relaxing, after all, helped to ease a woman's body so it wasn't as uncomfortable for her first time. Now, if she could just will herself to relax, then things would be fine. But that proved to be a futile endeavor. In fact, the more she tried to relax, the more tense she became. At least the process of taking her things to her new home distracted her enough so she didn't insist on staying with her parents. It also helped that this was the home she used to admire as a child. Even if she was apprehensive about being a wife, the house was absolutely charming -- more so than she remembered. She did so want to live in it.
The walk to the place was a mere three blocks from the one she grew up in. Her father and Joseph carried the bulk of her clothing and grooming supplies, and all she carried was a travel bag, which didn't weigh much at all. She didn't realize she had so little possessions to her name. Was that all her life was summed up in? Two armfuls and a travel bag's worth of contents? Just what had she been doing with her life up to that point? Wearing clothes and brushing her hair?
One moment she was a girl dreaming of house and home and suddenly she was a woman with those dreams fulfilled. And even though she wanted to properly enjoy this moment, doubt nagged at her. Was she ready for this? Before she knew it, they stopped at the front door. Bob opened it up and barged through with the other children in tow. She was beginning to understand that even though Bob was the second child, he was the one who took charge and spoke his mind whenever he felt like it. Doug was more reserved but took his duties seriously. As for Charles and Ben... They were still too young for her to determine how they would be.
Her father followed the children and set her things in the parlor.
Doug and Bob shot across the yard and made it to the park before she could get the baby carriage to the ground. Charles and Ben were trailing after their older brothers, but Ben tripped and fell. Ben cried and waited for her to come over to him.
She stopped pushing the carriage and knelt beside him. Pulling up his pants, she saw the pink knee and patted it. "You'll be fine. No blood. See?"
Ben inspected his injury with tear-filled eyes. Assured that he was going to be alright, he nodded and stood up. She kissed him on the top of his head and noted he didn't take offense to it.
"At least you're still young enough to enjoy some motherly affection," she commented.
He smiled at her and took a step forward.
"Um...Ben? The ball?" She motioned to the brown ball in the grass.
"Oh!" He ran over to retrieve it and came back to her. "It's my ball."
"Yes, it is."
They walked to the park where his brothers were already kicking their own ball around.
"Not their ball," Ben said, holding up his ball.
"Nope. That is all yours."
He nodded and hugged it. "All mine."
She chuckled and stopped at a bench. "Yes, it is. Now, go on and play. I need to take a break. You boys wear me out."
She sat down and waited for Jessica to arrive. As tired as she was, she couldn't deny that she was happy.
Jessica came along about ten minutes later, holding her four month old daughter.
Margaret's eyebrows furrowed. "You didn't bring her in a carriage? Aren't your arms sore?"
"Nelly's not heavy," Jessica replied as she sat beside her and set the girl on her lap so she could sit up and study her surroundings.
"She looks so big from the last time I saw her." She glanced at her own daughter who had fallen asleep. "I suppose it won't be long before Charlotte's off running around with her older brothers. I kind of enjoy babies."
"Me too. But that's why we can have more than one, and then, after that, we get grandchildren!"
Margaret laughed. "You are always thinking ahead, aren't you?"
"I take time to enjoy the moment too."
"Yes. I know you do. How are things with Tom?"
"They're fine. I think he'd like a boy some day, but he was tickled pink when he first saw Nelly."
"I think men like the idea of having a son to follow in their footsteps."
"How did Joseph feel about having a girl?"
"He was relieved. He said at least a girl won't pee in his face if he changes her diaper."
Jessica gasped. "He changes diapers?"
Margaret smiled. "He had to do that and more with Ben and Charles before he married me."
"But now he has you to do that."
"Maybe. But if he wants me to have the time to cook, he has to chip in and help. You think I can handle all these children without a helping hand?"
Jessica seemed to think about it.
"You just wait until you have a couple more children and talk to me about what is and isn't a man's job in the house."
She sighed. "You're probably right."
Two distinct sets of laughter caught Margaret's attention. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Peter with Debra and his mother. They had apparently decided to take a stroll through the park, and Debra held his arm on one side while his mother held his arm on the other.
Margaret nudged Jessica in the side.
Jessica looked up from fussing over her baby and turned her gaze in the direction Margaret motioned to.
"I know just the color that will suit your new home," Connie said to Debra. "Yellow."
Debra nodded. "A cheery yellow might work. It certainly is a friendly color."
"That it is."
"And the fence needs to be white. I always wanted a white picket fence," Debra added. "It's been a childhood dream."
Connie turned her attention to Peter and said, "That settles it. You'll paint the house yellow and the fence white."
Margaret wondered how he'd take this apparent running of his life, and maybe she shouldn't have been surprised when he simply smiled and agreed to what his mother and his wife wanted. In fact, she couldn't recall a time when Peter James looked happier.
The three passed Margaret and Jessica with a polite greeting that the two women returned. Then they continued to their conversation to discuss the types of flowers Debra would plant in the front yard.