“You owe her an apology.”
“I know.”
“All right then. I’m trusting you to be a good friend to Rebecca.”
The boy shot a worried look at Radford, who’d moved to work on the opposite side of the room. “Did Rebecca get in trouble because of me?”
“Her father wasn’t pleased, but he didn’t punish her for trying to right a wrong.” Duke made a big show of squaring up the stud to let Adam know the lecture was over. Then he said, “Steady this while I drive in this first nail.”
o0o
Faith was the last one to leave the greenhouse for the evening. The place had been teeming with customers when she sought Iris earlier, so her aunt had avoided her thus far. But their workday was over, and Faith was going to have a talk with her aunt.
Outside, she massaged her lower back and gazed with longing at the Colburn house across the street. How lovely it would be to sit in a real parlor on a sofa instead of planks and barrels.
The staccato sound of hammers whacking wood echoed through the neighborhood as she walked to the barren building she was living in. She’d heard the muted sound from inside the greenhouse, but didn’t realize until reaching her front door that the banging was coming from her own house. Startled, she opened the door and stared in shock.
Eight men carrying hammers, saws, and nails swarmed like carpenter ants from the front door to the back, framing up walls as fast as they could measure and saw the boards. Adam worked with Duke. Iris and Tansy flitted around like butterflies, pouring and serving beverages to the men. Cora, in a green pinafore, helped.
Duke shouldn’t have sent the lumber so soon. She hadn’t earned it yet. He’d never mentioned bringing his family and crew to work on her house, or even his intention of doing so. If he had, she would have told him no. She could never pay for this. And she hated for these people to see her family camped out in a vacant building like a band of gypsies.
If Iris had instigated this, Faith would strangle her. She waved from the doorway, wanting a word with her outrageous aunt, but Iris was too busy flirting with Patrick to notice.
“Faith!” Evelyn Grayson beckoned her to the kitchen corner where she and Amelia were working at Faith’s makeshift counter. “I’m afraid we’ve taken over your kitchen, and borrowed some plates from that crate,” Evelyn said cheerfully
Heaping plates of food covered Faith’s plank counters. Had they known she couldn’t feed these men? That she couldn’t offer anything but cold glasses of water? Were they here to make sure their husbands didn’t go without supper?
Faith looked at her dented metal dishpans and the mountain of pots and plates stacked in crates on the floor, and her face burned. She forced herself to face the ladies. “How kind of you to bring supper.” Several plates were laden with quartered potatoes that looked as if they’d been cooked in the same pot as the thick slabs of roast pork. The aroma made Faith’s mouth water. “I’m afraid I have nothing to contribute. I can’t even offer you ladies a chair, because I don’t have one.” Aster and Dahlia had moved the table aside, and tucked the barrels and planks underneath to keep them out of the way. Now they were piling their pallets and blankets on top of the table in an embarrassing heap.
“Well, you just moved to town.” Evelyn placed fat, cooked carrots on the plates. “It makes perfect sense that you dedicated your time and efforts to your business first. I don’t know of a place that can compare to your Evergreen House.”
Her greenhouse was special, with its hearty plants and unique herbs, and the pleasure of her bathhouse was unmatched by any business in the area, but that didn’t lessen Faith’s embarrassment over her makeshift furnishings.
“Everyone has raved about the bath,” Amelia said with a warm smile. “My mother-in-law and I are hoping to schedule a visit later this week, and I honestly can’t wait.”
“That will give me an opportunity to repay you for bringing all this lovely food,” Faith replied.
“Absolutely not!” Amelia and Evelyn said in unison. Evelyn pushed a plate into Faith’s hands. “Neighbors help each other. Now eat. You look tired and hungry. I’ll tell the men to stop for supper.”
She left Faith standing with Amelia, whose eyes were filled with compassion. “I used to teach in Laona several years ago,” she said. “My stipend was so scant it took me three months to afford fabric for a dress. I lived in a tiny room attached to the schoolhouse, and my worldly possessions consisted of a dry sink, a too-small stove, one rickety table, and an old bed. There’s no reason for you to feel ashamed of this building, Faith. It may be empty of furnishings at the moment, but it will make a fine home.”
Faith lowered her lashes to hide the tears in her eyes. She cursed her weakness, but she was tired and overwhelmed by the warm welcome from the Graysons. “Thank you,” she whispered, hoping Amelia heard her appreciation through the banging hammers.
Amelia patted her shoulder. “I’ll take a plate to your daughter. Maybe she can convince this little one inside of me to be a girl. I’m due in December with my third child,” she said, rubbing her flat stomach. “Marshall is six, and Lucas is three. Kyle and I adore our sons, but I’m feeling outnumbered and would love to have girl.”
Amelia’s confession warmed Faith. “I’ll pray that December brings you an easy delivery and a healthy girl,” she said.
“Thank you, and please add a prayer that my morning sickness ends soon.”
Faith laughed. “Ginger might help. You may still get sick, but it will settle your stomach. I’llgiveyou some roots before you leave,” she said, relieved she could offer something in return. “Simmer three or four thin slices of the root in a pint of water for about twenty minutes, then sip it a little at a time throughout the day.”
“I’ll have Kyle purchase some from you before we leave.”
“Absolutely not,” Faith argued. “I’ll give you the roots.”
“Thank you.” Amelia squeezed Faith’s hand, and her warm acceptance allowed Faith a necessary measure of pride.
When Amelia walked away, Faith picked up a plate of food and leaned against the wall to eat before she fainted from hunger. Across the room, Cora’s face beamed with importance as she toted a full water glass to Duke’s brother Boyd, who knelt on one knee and pressed his hand to his heart, looking like a prince as he accepted Cora’s gift. He was playing with the child, flirting with her, his smile so charming Faith would have swooned if he’d directed it at her.
