NaNoWriMo 2

The train pulled into the stop. Tom was there to meet her. He was smiling and polite, greeting her with a warm “Welcome home,� and a kiss on her cheek. She was overwhelmed and exhausted and murmured a greeting in a voice that did not sound like her own. It took only an instant for Tom to see she was drained and tired from the long journey. In the flurry of activity that surrounds the arrival of the train daily, Tom gave out instructions to a couple men standing nearby. One was to collect her trunks, the other was to see to the unloading of supplies for the mercantile. “I have to handle the daily mail. You go on up to the house. You’ll find everything you need. Your bags will be up soon,� he led her to the cut path leading from the back of the store and pointed to the house sitting just up in the tree line. “I’ll be up as soon as I can.� She smiled up at him and before she could speak he was turning and striding off. Turning back to the path she followed it up to the house. The sight of the house was startling. Tom had never mentioned he was building such a grand home. The two storied structure sat back under the shade of chestnut and black walnut trees. It’s clapboards were painted white. The front porch neatly trimmed with proper railings. The front door held a beautiful clear pane of glass. The hipped roof was accentuated by the twin chimneys rising from either side. Front dormers looked out from above. Tom had certainly built himself one fine home. And now it was her home too. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought she would ever live in such a grand house. Coming from a tiny row house with little rooms and only a stoop for a front porch this house she was walking toward was a mansion by her meager standards. Climbing the steps of the porch she turned to look out toward the store from the top. The hustle of activity had not slowed at all. Tom moved in and out of her sight. She saw her trunks being loaded on the back of an old wagon. The figure she knew to be Tom stopped mid stride near the wagon and looked up in her direction. She raised her hand and waved. A smile on her lips and the tiredness of her trip suddenly receding she reached for the handle of the screen door. Swinging it open she reached for the brass door knob and pushing it open stepping into the front hall of her new home. The early November day was warm in the sunshine but the air was crisp and cool, almost cold. The inside of the house was filled with the same bite of chilled air. She gave an involuntary shiver as she closed the front door. From where she stood inside looking straight down the hall her eyes took in the smooth golden tones of pine flooring. A staircase tread began at her right and rose straight up to the second floor with a lovely oak stained handrail. To the right she open the door and walked into a front room empty of everything except a mantle and clean fireplace grate. The sun shone in from a window at the front and the side. Across the hall she opened the opposite door and looked into a room exactly the same. A window graced each exterior wall and a mantle and clean fireplace sat in the interior wall. Moving down the hall to the back of the house, another door to the left opened into another empty room, the same as the others. Just under and behind the staircase another door to the right stood open. She smiled walking into this room as it was obvious this was were Tom spent his evenings. An upholstered chair sat by the fireplace which had the remains of ash in the grate. The mantle held 2 oil lamps and a framed photograph. On further exploration a door on the far side at the back of the house opened into a staircase leading up to the second floor . The adjacent door opened to a little passageway leading to the kitchen. The kitchen was a warm room. The big black stove radiated a gentle heat that was cozy and inviting. A large window at the back of the room stood clean and clear. The view of the barn and other outbuildings like a slightly watery picture through the lead glass panes. She thought about exploring the upstairs but the want of a cup of tea or coffee was too tempting. She unbuttoned her coat and laid it over the back of a sturdy kitchen chair along with her purse and carpet bag. She unpinned her hat and set it on the table. Over by the stove she took a few sticks of wood and placed them into the firebox. The heavy iron kettle on the stove was empty. Over at the dry sink was a bucket and pitcher of fresh water from which she used to fill the kettle. She began to hum to herself as she moved around the room. She found a small box of tea on the shelf by the stove. Reaching up onto the cupboard she took down a tea cup and matching saucer, a dainty piece odd to be found in the home of a man. She was seated at the kitchen table, her eyes closed, a smile on her lips and a steaming cup of tea resting on the table when she heard the wagon outside the porch door. Men’s voices, one of which was Tom’s, was muffled and grew louder as they approached. She meant to keep her manners and rise to greet him when the door opened but she was so tired and had become so relaxed her limbs did not immediately obey. Tom came in and saw her seated with tea and cast a brilliant smile showing his white teeth. “Hello,“ he greeted her. “Hello, Tom,� the warmth of her voice matched that of the tea in her cup. “I take it you have found everything you need?� His voice was teasing. “I have. The tea is wonderful. I think I am far more tired than I realized.� “You sit and have your rest. Me and the boys will get your trunks in from the wagon.� His arm indicated the two men waiting outside by the wagon. “I am going to put them in one of the empty front rooms until you decide where you want things.� The men made short work of the trunks and were gone almost as quickly as they came. Tom lingered after. He stood near the door looking as if he wanted to speak but thinking twice before doing so. “Is something wrong, Tom?� She asked in her quiet voice. His eyes met hers. “Nothing is wrong. Everything is perfect. I have spent the last couple days since I left you in Georgia wondering if you would really come. I was afraid you would change your mind.� “No, I did not change my mind. Have you, Tom.?� the next words rushed out,� I married you in Georgia and I am here to be your wife in Virginia.� Her voice was much stronger than before. Her eyes filled with a light that was only there when her thoughts were of Tom. “It sounds silly but I was sure you would change your mind.� His cheeks blushed a bit. “I am glad you didn’t, Abbey.� “I am glad I didn’t, too.� She smiled at him. Rising from her chair she walked over in front of him on her way to the stove. “Would you like to join me with a cup of tea before you go back to the store?� Her eyes asked him to stay. “I would love to have a cup of tea with you,“ he laughed a sighing relieved kind of laughter that seemed to break the ice between them, “A cup of coffee would be even better.� “Alright then, coffee it is.� She took a long kitchen towel from a peg and tied it around her waist to protect her skirts as she moved about the kitchen. She found a little tin of crackers, a wedge of cheese and a few other things and set them on the table in front of him. He watched her move around his kitchen, their kitchen, he told himself. She found the things she wanted, setting a cup in front of him, the coffee pot filled with ground coffee and water sitting on the hot stove. They made small talk about her trip. Tom showed her the door in the little passage way under the back stairs that led to the cellar. “I haven’t really done much with the house or the kitchen and cellar,� he seemed a little embarrassed. “Actually I wouldn’t expect a single man to have done much or to have such a large house. It is really beautiful, Tom.� It pleased him she was happy with the house. He built it with her in mind and wanted her to love it. “You just make a list of things you need to make a proper household and I’ll see to it that you get it.� She moved to the stove where the coffee was ready. Using a thick cloth she lifted the pot and poured the steaming black liquid into his cup. Conversation became easier and lighter. They laughed and talked and drank coffee and tea like they partook of the pleasure daily. Topics drifted from the stock on the farm to things they did as kids to the store and his plans. He told her of his uncle’s belongings that were in storage that would be delivered any day now. He told her to take the house in hand and the furnishings when they arrived and make the house her home. “Our home,� she reminded him. He like the sound of that. “Our home.� All too soon Tom ended their respite and claimed he needed to get back to the store. She asked what he might like for supper and he told her to come down to the store and pick out the items needed and wanted and he would prepare supper that evening. “You will do no such thing, Tom Harlow!� She scolded him. “I will be putting your supper on the table this evening.� She reached for her waistcoat and pinned her hat on her head. “I’ll go with you now to the store for supplies.� Tom was surprised and could only answer, “Yes, ma’am.�