Chapter Twenty-Three: Home
Katie tugged the wrinkles from the white gown. She studied the hem, noting with satisfaction that her seam was nearly flawless. The lace from Mallory’s wedding gown was now gathered into a full-skirted drape that swept the skirt, ready to be let out or taken in for the next bride. Most likely it would be let out; there were few girls in the town shorter than herself.
But—at least for today—the gown fit her. It had been the most nerve-wracking project Katherine had forced her through, but she’d done well and had finished in time.
Katherine let herself into the sewing room, smiling at Katie. “That looks perfect.”
“I still can’t believe you made me sew the village wedding dress.”
“I told you that you would do well, and you did,” Katherine threw back before adding. “And just case, I sewed one too.”
Katie gasped, turning toward her. “You did not!”
“I told you I’d always have your back,” Katherine said. “Besides, it’ll be nice for a bride to have options.”
“Well, can I see it? Maybe I want to choose it.”
“You can’t. It’s too late for alterations. I knew you’d do just fine on yours, so I made it to fit me.”
“Should I read into that?” Katie teased.
“You can read whatever story you want,” Katherine said. “And after your wedding, I’ll tell you the real one.”
“Katie!” The bell jingled on the front door. Allison’s boots vibrated the floor as she sprinted into the room with a box in one hand and a letter in the other. “I hope you invited Mrs. Bonnie, because she asked me to bring you a hat.”
Katie laughed. “We did invite her. In fact, we invited everyone in the village, including the former mayor. If the Blackwells don’t come tonight, that’s on them.”
“Well, at least of them are coming. The groom and his aunt.”
“And cousin,” Katherine said. “Julie Blackwell bought the city dress.”
Katie giggled. “Did she really?”
“Well, I did take it apart and made it into something new,” Katherine answered. “I didn’t want to remind Neil of his former girlfriend.”
“I’m pretty sure Neil is over the girl in the blue dress.” Katie said. She took the box lid off and felt her smile slip as she caught sight of the dried geraniums. “I hope Ms. Bonnie doesn’t want me to wear it for the ceremony.”
“Don’t open it until after,” Katherine advised. “Then you can play ignorant. It’ll look great on you in your garden.”
“Garden?” Katie asked.
Allison cocked her head. “Every bride starts a garden. How else are you going to feed your husband?”
Katie winced. “I guess he’ll starve. I’m no good at gardening, and I’m always here.”
“I have a garden and I’m always here,” Katherine countered.
“Yes, but you’re superwoman.”
“Cotton is in your blood. Gardening is only one step away.”
It was also the chore she avoided the most, but Katie took a breath. “Will you at least help me plant it?”
“Of course we will,” Allison said. She held out the envelope. “Tucker gave me the card.”
“You can burn it,” Katie said.
“You should open this one. It might have money.”
“Why would it have money? I’m not marrying her son.”
“Just in case.” Allison slipped her finger under the flap and pulled the card free. She grinned and held up a universal currency card. “See?”
“Well, that will come in handy next time we visit the city,” Katie countered sarcastically.
“If you don’t want it, I’ll keep it,” Allison teased. Her eyes went to the card as she read in her best Mrs. Alcott voice. “Dearest Katie…”
“Oohh, you’re dearest now,” Katherine teased.
“Please accept my sincere congratulations on your marriage to Clark.”
“She’s keeping tabs on us,” Katie muttered to Katherine.
“I am truly happy for you and would love a note to hear how you are doing when you get settled in. Please use this money to buy something nice for your new home. Mrs. Alcott.”
She paused, and Katie added, “P.S. tell Neil…”
Allison held up her finger to cut her off before she grinned and read, “P.S. I have looked into a specialist out of New Antonio that I believe can help Neil if he is still experiencing any setbacks with his health. Please tell Neil if he decides to meet with him, he may stay with me at our home.”
“Uh, no,” said Katherine.
Allison glanced at her, then grinned as she continued, “I will not lock the door. And he may bring his girl. I heard he found someone in the village.” Her eyebrows tucked. “Who did she hear from?”
“Probably a Blackwell,” Katie muttered.
“Careful,” Katherine said. She placed the veil on the neck of the dress form and shook it out to relax the wrinkles. “You’re about to become a Blackwell.”
A knock came from the porch door and Allison called, “If you’re Clark, you may not come in!”
Katherine grinned softly. “That’s not Clark. That’s Neil.”
There was a spring to her step as she left to open the front door. Neil still hadn’t learned when he could just walk into a building and when he needed to knock, so he knocked at all the doors.
Allison sighed softly. “I’d be jealous if I wasn’t so happy for y’all.”
“I think they are engaged,” Katie said. “I wondered, because Neil came home so excited, but he’s so hard to read. He gets excited over the most random things.”
“I know. He’s funny.” Allison chuckled. “He saw one of our chicks hatch the other day, and I thought it was going to give him a heart attack.”
“I wondered why he quit eating eggs,” Katie said.
Allison’s bit her lip on a grin like she always did when she was contemplating telling a secret. Then she gave up and said, “Did you know he asked her?”
Katie stared. “Wait, you mean asked her asked her? With words?”
Allison squealed and nodded. “He finally talked.”
“Little stinker! He hasn’t talked to me!”
“Well, it probably still hurts him. But he said, ‘good morning.’ And then he asked her. And…that’s about all he could manage.”
“Still,” Katie said. “I haven’t heard him speak for a year.”
“Well, I guess he found something worth saying.”
“I guess he did.” Katie put the lid back onto the hat box.
Oh, but please don’t Katherine that I told you. Act surprised when she does. She didn’t want to take away any excitement from your wedding, but I suck at secrets.”
Katie set the hat box on the shelf. “Well, I pretty much figured that one out on my own.”
The two girls straightened as Katherine’s quick step punctuated Niel’s slower stride as the two crossed the main room again. Katie flashed a glance toward their hands, expecting them to be laced but the pair must have decided ahead of time to keep their secret. Neil followed her closely, then stepped to the side. His cat perched on his shoulder, already eyeing the tomato-shaped pin cushion.
“Figured out what on your own?” Katherine asked.
"How to reuse the lace from the old dress,” Katie answered while Allison flushed a deep red. “I like having something from Mallory’s dress. I’m also glad it’s not the same dress.”
“What about you, Niel?” Allison asked. “Do you like Katie’s dress?”
Neil studied the cascading lace skirt and then the sleeveless bodice. Then he shook his head.
Allison gasped but Katie only snorted.
“Well, I like it,” Katie said. “And that’s all that matters.” She eyed Katherine, suddenly curiouser than ever about the second dress. “But it’s good to know there’s other options for future brides.”
“Never ask Neil a question if you don’t want a truthful answer,” Katherine warned.
Neil flushed, but only offered a half-apologetic shrug. “I like Katie,” he said.
His voice was soft, but clear. There was no rasp at all. Or any tone of regret. He actually smiled when the girls gasped.
“He is talking!”
The lines in Niel’s eyes only lifted higher as Katie placed a hand over her heart. “Thanks, Neil. I think that’s the best wedding gift I’m going to get. I like you too.”
He sent her a nod, but swallowed apparently done for the day.
“Sure there’s nothing else you want to tell us?” Katie eyed Niel, then Katherine but the girl had already turned to gather her bag.
“Katie, your wedding is tomorrow. All of your friends are keeping secrets. It’s not nice to ask about them.” She pressed the key into Katie’s palm. “Lock up when you’re ready. Neil and I have things to do.”
“Well, be sure and take the cat with you,” Katie threw back.
Niel sent her a frown and reached to comfort the animal who only sent her a lofty look.
Katherine laughed, reaching to scratch the cat’s chin. “Sorry, Amari. You’ve been kicked out. Come on, Niel.”
Niel gave the girls a wave and Katie returned it, feeling her smile slip as the trio disappeared. She sighed. “Everything changes again tomorrow, Allison.”
“Oh, don’t get mopey on me now,” Allison said. “Neil’s decided to talk again, and you and Clark are finally moving in together. Katherine’s all but officially engaged. I’m the one that should be moping.”
“There’s always Sam,” Katie returned and only received a glare.
Allison sighed, then teased, “Do you want to walk home together? One last time before you’re an old married woman stuck in your garden?”
“That garden seriously is going to need some help.”
Katie locked the workshop room, leaving her dress for the morning. She wouldn’t see Clark until then. He was at their new house, finishing installing the well pump: their gift to the entire village, though they’d decide to wait a few days after the honeymoon to reveal it.
Katie tucked Mrs. Alcott’s currency card into her pocket as she walked through the shop. The bell on the door tinkled as she closed the door. She locked it behind her, then pocketed the key.
She and Clark would never be wealthy. Even though Clark had lost his inheritance and distanced himself from his family, he still refused to sell any water. He hadn’t the heart to charge fully for his services as a doctor, so there wasn’t much coming in from that front either. But, like the others in the village, they would combine their earnings, and their elbow grease, and create a decent life. It would be a happier life than any she and Niel would have managed locked in the house. And she suspected, it would even be a happier life than the one she may have found if she had to school and stayed in the city. She was home now. And home was enough.
The End
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