NaNoWriMo 4

Wakefulness came slow. Abbey stretched under the weight of warm bed clothes. Her feet pointed and her arms lifting over her head. She eyes slowly fluttered open blinking with the glare of the morning sun streaming through the windows. She was startled to realized she had slept well past her normal early rising. The sun was high in the sky and warmed the room the tiniest bit. Throwing back the covers she quickly dressed in her skirt and blouse from the night before, pulled her hairbrush through her hair and pinned it up and away from her face. She made the bed, her hand smoothing the pillows. The impression left by Tom’s head on the pillow beside hers was a bit surprising to her. She knew in her head they were married but it never occurred to her on her first night here they would be sleeping in the same bed. She pulled the pillow up close and inhaled deeply. The case smelled of Tom. His earthy male scent trapped in the fabric and feathers of the pillow. She squeezed it against her chest in a hug, took another deep breath then returned the pillow to the bed. The coy smile touching her lips the same as always when she thought of Tom intimately. She chided herself for her thoughts. Married people shared the same bed. Tom having departed on the same afternoon they were married back in Georgia just left the marriage bed and all it entailed to another time. A time she had not given much consideration too obviously. She barely remembered being escorted upstairs the past evening and only vaguely recalled dressing in her gown. She had no idea when Tom had come to bed and certainly not when he rose and went down to open the store. Instead of going straight downstairs she took a tour of the rooms in the upstairs of the house. The layout was exactly like that of the downstairs. Two rooms and the front of the house, two rooms at the back of the house and a central hallway separating them neatly down the middle with the staircase to one side. At the front of the hall, adjacent to the right front bedroom was a door and she opened it expecting to find a linen closet of some sort. Instead she found her self looking up the rungs of another staircase leading to the attic. The sun was bright up there as well. The open rafters of the roof and the heat of the house soaked the room in the scent of lumber. At the top she turned and walked toward the front dormers. Side by side the sun poured in and as she looked out she could see clearly the store, the house and store across the road as well as several other places along the road opposite. The village was bustling at this time of morning. A wagon was pulling away from the store. Two ladies in long skirts and shawls with baskets on the arms where approaching from the far direction where the tips of house roofs could be seen through the trees. In the summer she knew the trees fully dressed in their green leaves would prevent seeing anything of the neighboring houses. On her way downstairs she began a mental checklist of things she would like to accomplish in her day. She was planning Tom’s supper, making a chore list, wondering if Tom had breakfast and if he would be up to the house for lunch were the most important thoughts on her mind. In the kitchen she was happy to find water in the kettle nice and hot for a cup of tea. As she sipped her tea she put her list down on paper she had scrounged up along with a nub of a pencil. After her morning tea she searched through the cupboards and cabinets in search of cleaning supplies. The floors in the house needed a good cleaning and polishing with wax before any furnishing Tom had mentioned could be brought in once delivered. She came up with little in her efforts. A bucket, one scrub brush and a few rags and pieces of soap were the extent of cleaning agents stocked by Tom. The idea of taking more things from the store bothered her but she did know she couldn’t clean and polish the floors with just a few slivers of soap and some old rags. She tore a corner from her scratch paper and made a list of things she needed. Rinsing out the tea cup and placing back in the cupboard she slipped on the quilted flannel jack of Tom’s hanging on the pegs by the back door. Folding back the sleeves and closing a few of the buttons she set out on the path that led to the store. The morning air was damp and cool. There was a sweet crispness that filled her nose and flowed down to her toes. She paused and inhaled deeply taking in her surroundings as she walked. Entering through the back room she popped into the front of the store with plenty of warning of her booted feet on the board floor. Tom was at the mail counter handing mail to an older woman dressed all in black. Seeing Abbey Tom smiled and motioned for her to come over. “Abbey,� Tom met her midway, “I’d like for you to meet Mrs. Baumgartner.� he motioned toward the woman with the smiling green eyes and pale skin. “Mrs. Baumgartner, my wife, Abbey.� His smile when turned on her made abbey feel as if she would melt under its warmth. “How do you do, Mrs. Baumgartner, “ Abbey extended her hand, “it is lovely to meet you.� her voice was far more confident than she felt. “Pish, child, call me Aunt Fanny,� The matronly woman’s voice boomed. “No one around these parts calls me Mrs. Baumgartner and they never have. I keep trying to tell Tom that but he just won’t listen.� The older woman cut her eyes at Tom. “he says he is respecting his elders but suspect it is more like showing off her manners.� She winked as spoke. They stood in the middle of the store talking. She was told where to go for anything she needed, who to talk to and what time the services started at the church just down the road. She was invited to the ladies social for the following afternoon and gladly accepted. Others who came in the store were introduced to her and suddenly she felt like she was on display. As if everyone came in because they heard Tom’s new young wife was greeting the village folk. From some she felt genuine warmth from other passing curiosity and from a couple mother’s with single daughters still at home a bit of ruffled feather. Not that she could blame them. Tom was a catch. But to her pleasure she was the one who caught him. As the comings and goings slowed down to a trickle she and Tom finally a minute to talk themselves. “What brings you down so early this morning? Is everything alright up at the house?� tom questioned. “Everything is fine. I am ashamed to admit I haven’t long been up.� “I left you sleeping. I really didn’t see any need for you to have to get up. You were drained last night and I thought it best that you slept in. You needed it.� “I thank you for letting me rest. I just feel lazy,� she laughed. It took a bit more chatter before she confessed as to why she was once again in the store wanting things on her list. Tom ignored her blushing cheeks and filled her list all the while telling her she didn’t need to do chores. She should spend the day at leisure to make up for being couped up in a train car the day before. “I would be bored to tears if I had nothing to fill my time.� “I suppose you’re right but you don’t have to scrub floors yourself. We could hire a girl to come help out.� The startled look that flew across her face made Tom almost regret he had said anything. “We most certainly will not spend good money for work to be done that I am perfectly capable and willing to do.� The sharpness of her words left Tom again with little say except, “Yes, ma’am.� Tom handed over a basket filled with the items she requested along with extra squares of flannel for polishing for which Abbey thanked him. “Shall I bring down your lunch or will you be coming up to the house at noon?� She asked as she accepted the weight of the basket. “You don’t have to prepare lunch. I can have some crackers and a bit of cheese here.� he let go of the handle, his fingers lingering just a bit to brush hers. “You will do no such a thing. Come to the house at noon I’ll have your dinner ready.� Abbey saw the young clerk behind the cabinet look up from under hooded lashes and smiled at her in a knowing look. “Carl,� she called to the counter clerk, “I’ll send your lunch down with Tom afterward.� This took him by surprise as well and he stammered out a “Yes ‘am�.