Under the Summer Sky Page 21

  “I hope she doesn’t plan to wear it for bridal attire.”

  “Oh, surely she wouldn’t.” Mae frowned. “I must speak to her about the possibility.”

  As the women approached the altar Pauline focused and broke into a smile as she recognized them. “Well, it’s my kin! Hello!”

  “Hello, Aunt Pauline.” Trinity planted a kiss on her forehead. “I understand a great deal has happened since I left.”

  “You been gone?”

  “Yes, for a few days.”

  “Where’d you go? Hawaii?”

  “Hawaii?” She glanced at Mae. “No, I went to Wilson’s Falls.”

  “Wilson’s Falls. Believe I’ve heard of the place. It’s overseas, ain’t it?”

  Mae took her arm and smiled at the waiting reverend. “We hated to interrupt, but we need to ask Pauline a question.”

  Releasing a breath, the man nodded. “Good luck.”

  “Pauline,” said Trinity, carefully guiding her aunt back to the pew, “I need for you to think real hard. Your recollection about the bank box being in Piedmont was correct…”

  The elderly woman broke into a grin. “It was!”

  “It was, and I brought it back with me.” She held it up for inspection.

  Pauline eyed the box warily. “It’s beat all to thunder.”

  “Yes. I’ve had…a bit of difficulty opening it, and I need to know what it contains.”

  Pauline nodded. “What’s in there?”

  “I don’t know, but we’ll both have an answer soon.” Trinity took both wrinkled hands in hers and gazed into her eyes. “Where is the key to the box?”

  Pauline took back a hand and reached into the pocket of her housecoat. “This key?” The object flashed in the sunlight streaming through the glass windowpane.

  Burying her face in her hands, Trinity nearly wilted with relief. The chase was over—she’d found the key, and perhaps the deed! Jones—we’ve found it!

  “Have you always carried that key in your pocket?” exclaimed Mae.

  “Only since Tom gave me the housecoat.” She rubbed the worn fabric and preened. “It’s my favorite dress.” Glancing up, she lifted a brow. “Say, where’s that nice feller that’s been keeping you company?”

  Trinity took the key and reached for the box. “He’s off on business, Aunt Pauline. He’ll be back soon.” She prayed.

  “Well, he’s a fine man. Like my Benjamin. Helpful. Solid. Real good to me. You ought not to let him get away, young’un.”

  “I’m doing my best,” Trinity murmured, though she could easily be feeding false hope. For the first time in days her faith slipped a notch. Jones was gone, and maybe she just had to accept what she couldn’t change. She’d been so certain he wouldn’t leave, so convinced that what they shared was mutual and lasting. She wanted to hold on to hope, to pray for his love, but right now she had a sinking feeling that he wouldn’t be back. Everyone she loved left her.

  She slipped the key into the lock and heard a soft click. Slowly opening the lid, she blinked and stared. And blinked again. Reaching out, she picked up the box’s lone object and held it up between her fingers for inspection.

  The reverend cleared his throat. “A mustard seed?”

  Pauline nodded happily. “Priss gave it to me when we were little. Said to keep it safe because if I had the faith of a mustard seed, I’d be pleasing to the Lord.” She lifted her eyes to meet Trinity’s. “It’s yours now.”

  A lump formed in Trinity’s throat. All the journeys, all the angst, all the tears, all the time spent chasing the deed had been in vain. But not entirely, she thought. In the pursuit of the deed, she had found family and gained love—and wisdom, in the form of a tiny seed. Instead of a financial windfall, the good Lord had given everyone present a good dose of humility—one she sorely needed.

  No doubt about it, the box contained treasure in its purest form—the kind greed couldn’t erode.

  The evening found Mae and Trinity sitting on the Curtises’ porch drinking lemonade. “It’s been quite a day,” Mae was saying. “Quite a year, actually.”

  “Are you feeling better tonight?” Trinity had noticed that she’d barely eaten two bites of her dinner.

  “Still a little queasy, but the doctor says it could pass in time.”

  “Tom could talk of nothing but the baby tonight. He’s so certain it’s a boy.”

  A smile lit Mae’s face. “He’s so excited about this child. I’ve never seen the like. Maybe it’s because we’re a little older than most newlyweds and we know what happiness children can bring into a person’s life.”

  “Sounds to me like this little one will have lots of brothers and sisters.”

  “If Tom has his say, I guess you’d be about right.”

  Trinity smiled and fixed her eyes on the soft summer sky. Where was Jones tonight? Riding further away from her? Struggling with his emotions? She prayed it was the latter, but she knew the man too well. He was afraid of love. He was terrified of handing his feelings over to another person, and she couldn’t imagine how he’d feel about having children. But folks didn’t get to make their own decisions about life.

  “Do you think he’ll come back?” Trinity whispered in the silence of the porch. She knew full well that Mae would encourage her, not wanting to take away her new friend’s last hope. But she didn’t.

  “I don’t know,” Mae said. “Tom said Jones has always been a loner, a hard man to figure out, but Trinity—if he doesn’t come back he isn’t the man God intends for you.”

  She knew Mae was sincere, but sitting in a sinking boat with no life jacket was different from standing on the shore and watching the boat go down.

  “Maybe God doesn’t intend any man for me.” She fixed her eyes on the North Star, wondering if Jones was looking at it too. Thinking of her? Or stubbornly intent on running away from the things Trinity threatened—love, stability, and family?

  “Perhaps not, but if He does He’ll make that man quite evident in your life.”

  Silence settled over the two women. It was a long while before Trinity spoke. “I wonder if there ever was a deed.”

  “We’ll get the lawyer back and convince Pauline to sign.”

  “I don’t know if we should. I don’t want her more confused or distracted. I pray the time she has left will be nothing but happy ones with Benjamin.”

  “That’s my prayer as well. They both waited a long time to find true happiness.”

  “Perhaps that’s what it takes. Time.”

  “To find happiness?”

  “Yes.”

  “I was beginning to think I would never find the right man when Tom happened along.”

  “But the Lord is good.”

  “And faithful.”

  “Ever faithful.”

  Trinity had to cling to that hope tonight, no matter how small it seemed.

  Twenty-Five

  Ms. Wilson, I do declare. You look as pretty as a young widow with her wood cut.”

  Pauline grunted. “Are you gonna wash up before you come to my weddin’?”

  Lil curtsied. “Yes, ma’am, I shore am. Gonna take care of that right now. Gonna comb my hair, spitwash my face, and put on my finest dress.” The pig farmer stuck out her tongue at Fisk as she swept around him. He returned the gesture.

  The hour had come, and Pauline and Benjamin were about to pledge their eternal love to each other along the beautiful banks of the river. The half-finished home for the elderly stretched along the placid water, a reminder of new things to come.

  If Trinity had handpicked this day, she couldn’t have imagined anything more perfect than the one provided. The temperatures were beginning to cool and the first hint of fall filled the air. An azure sky provided a canopy, nature offered fields of goldenrod, and the good earth had supplied the contents of the dishes steaming on the long rows of tables bedecked in white tablecloths. Cakes, apple pies, and gingerbread waited to be consumed. It seemed that all of Dwadlo had turned out to wi
tness Benjamin and Pauline’s vows.

  Trinity reached out to smooth Pauline’s white hair, placing a pearl comb just so. She had carefully dressed in a lovely, soft, honey-colored gown that fell in graceful folds to her feet. Trinity was dressed in a darker shade of warm gold with a large, wide-brimmed hat. She carried the Wilson family Bible. Everything just seemed so…family.

  The nursing home wouldn’t be finished to accept the new bride and groom, but Fisk had graciously offered to bunk in with Dale at the post office so the newlyweds could enjoy private quarters.

  “Don’t know why we’d need privacy,” Pauline told the assembled guests.

  “Hush.” Trinity reached for her hand and the guitars struck the first cord, a melodic warning that the bridal procession was about to begin.

  Pauline clung feebly to Trinity’s arm. “Where are we goin’?”

  Smiling for the congregation, Trinity whispered from the corner of her mouth. “We’re getting married, Aunt Pauline. Smile.”

  She gave her a strange look.

  “Not we,” Trinity corrected, her smile fixed in place. “You. You are marrying Benjamin.”

  “That young whippersnapper? I thought I told him to stop comin’ around.”

  “Now Pauline, you know you’re in love with him.”

  “Well. I suppose I might have feelin’s for him, but Ma told me that a real lady shouldn’t be overly forward.”

  “I believe it’s perfectly acceptable for you to show your feelings for Benjamin. He’s a good man, and he loves you deeply.”

  If only Jones would pursue her half as fervently as Benjamin had pursued his bride. She’d watched out the mercantile window for the past two days for Jones to appear, but there’d been no sign of him or Sue. The faith of a mustard seed. Tiny—and so difficult to hold onto. God, forgive me. I’m looking to Jones to strengthen my faith when I realize that it’s You I need to look to. Give me the wisdom to accept with gratitude whatever You have planned for my life.

  “How far are we goin’? My bunion’s actin’ up today.”

  “Not much further.” Before the ceremony Benjamin had asked that they keep the festivities brief. His gout was giving him fits.

  “I have a surprise for you,” Pauline said.

  “That’s nice. We’re almost there, now,” Trinity urged.

  “You’ll like it.”

  “I’m sure I will, but today is your special day.”

  “My surprise is really going to be a surprise.”

  “Hush. People are staring.” Trinity smiled at the assembled onlookers.

  As they approached the altar the music swelled. Trinity caught sight of Benjamin accompanied by two men dressed in their Sunday best. The older gentleman looked spry and happy clothed in dark trousers and a waistcoat, and she’d never seen Tom looking more handsome. The crowd was blocking the second man for the moment. Lil, Mae, and Jeremy waved, wreathed in smiles, from where they stood in the shade. True to her word, Lil had cleaned up. The light rose dress and pink hair ribbon softened her features and she looked downright comely. If it weren’t for her boots, still covered in muck, Fisk just might recognize what he was missing.

  The crowd shifted and the second man came into full view. Harry Strauss—a young farmer who came into the post office frequently. He and Benjamin must have taken to each other.

  Pauline steadied her arm. “Did you expect to see your feller? You got to play hard to get, girl. Your feelin’s show on your face. Hey, don’t swoon on me. I ain’t got the strength to keep us both on our feet.”

  “I’m sorry, Aunt Pauline. I just love him so much.” She couldn’t cry now, not in front of all these people! This was Pauline’s day.

  “And he loves you.”

  She whirled when she heard the familiar baritone. Jones was trailing her down the aisle, looking better than any man had a right to look in his wedding finery. “Jones?” Were her eyes playing tricks on her? Did she want him so badly that she’d begun to hallucinate?

  He took her hand. “Since folks are gathered here for Pauline and Benjamin, we need to keep this brief. I love you, Trinity Franklin. I’m sorry I caused you pain, but sometimes a man has to convince himself of what he knows to be the truth.” He smiled at her aunt. “You did well keeping a secret, Pauline.”

  “Shucks. Weren’t hard for me. I didn’t remember you were comin’ until a minute ago.”

  Stunned, Trinity whispered, praying his answer would be the one she desperately needed to hear, “And that truth is?”

  “That I am awfully in love with you.”

  “Awfully?”

  His eyes devoured her. “Knee-deep and getting more so every moment.”

  “Me too,” she said softly.

  The gathered guests sat transfixed, smiling. Waiting.

  “Take your time,” Benjamin offered from up front. “Just finish up in time for me to get a nap in before the party.”

  “If it’s all right with the reverend”—Jones looked at the preacher—“and Benjamin doesn’t object, I wonder if you’d join me in holy matrimony? I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what you said the other night. Wilson’s Falls would make a good home for our children. I gave Pauline a voucher for the land last night. It’s mine. Ours. Now what I need for you to say is that you love me, and you forgive me for being a little slow, and more importantly that you’re willing to spend the rest of your life with me. What do you think?”

  She caught her breath. “I think you’re being pretty arrogant. You think you can just keep riding off, telling me you won’t be back, and then showing up and asking me to marry you? Do you take me for a complete fool?”

  “No, ma’am.” He took a step closer. “But if you take a chance on me, I’ll make you the best husband this side of the Mississippi. And”—he continued as she held up a finger to interrupt—“I can sincerely promise that there will be no more riding off, and no more wondering if I’ll be back.” His gaze locked with hers. “I’m back. No reservations, no qualms. I’m a man deeply in love and I don’t reckon fifty or sixty years is overstating my intentions.”

  It was the grin that got her. That cocky, self-assured grin. He was always so sure of himself, but now he was publicly handing his life, his hopes, and his dreams over to her—not an easy concession for a man called Jones.

  Sniffling, she broke into a slow smile, tears blurring her vision. “You’re impossible. Do you know that?”

  He nodded, his gaze locked with hers. “Why don’t you marry me and change my ways?”

  “Right now? Right this moment? In the middle of Benjamin and Pauline’s vows?”

  “We’re not getting any younger.”

  “True.” Trinity glanced at Pauline, a question in her eyes.

  Her aunt smiled. “Go get him, girl. Ain’t nobody but the whole town lookin’.”

  Stepping into Jones’s arms, she drank in his essence. He smelled so good today, clean and soapy. Oh, how she had missed him! Loved him with all her heart! Fifty or sixty years together wouldn’t be nearly enough. Never had she been so glad that God had allowed her time to find this man—this one special man.

  “I take this to mean you accept my proposal?” He kissed her softly along her hairline. “I love you, Trinity. And I’ve missed you like the dickens.” He squeezed her so hard the breath almost left her.

  “I accept your rather hasty proposal. Completely and forever,” she confessed. Their mouths came together and remained for a long, uninterrupted kiss. The gathered guests broke into applause.

  The minister cleared his throat. “Shall we begin? Seems we have a full agenda this afternoon.”

  Pauline covered the remaining distance to the altar. She met Benjamin, and the four blue-veined hands joined together. Trinity and Jones stood together, waiting. What had started out as a beautiful day had turned into a magnificent one.

  “Wait!” Mae held up a hand. Slipping from her bench she came to stand beside Trinity. Squeezing her arm, she whispered, “A girl can’t get marri
ed without a matron of honor.”

  Smiling, Trinity gazed up at her groom. She didn’t need anything. She had all that she wanted, forevermore and amen.

  Discussion Questions

  1. Trinity and Jones both had difficult childhoods, and their youthful struggles influenced the types of people they became. Do you still struggle with childhood fears? How has your past influenced the person you’ve become?

  2. Trinity is initially very hostile toward Jones. When have you judged someone based on a first impression? Was your initial judgment correct? If not, what happened to change your opinion?

  3. Trinity didn’t come to Dwadlo expecting to care for an aging aunt, but she turns her life around in order to do just that. If you had a distant relative who needed care, how would you respond?

  4. Benjamin and Pauline find love together after decades apart. Describe a time when you saw love blossom over time.

  5. Jones is reluctant to get married because of his experience with his stepmother. Have you ever hesitated to take a risk out of the fear that you’ll make a mistake?

  6. Trinity says that she’d thought Jones stuffing her into a barrel was “the end of the world, but it had proven to be the start of a brand new future.” Have you ever experienced a setback only to find that God was leading you down a new path?

  7. When circumstances aren’t going her way, Trinity begins to doubt God’s providence. Have you ever doubted that God was looking out for you? How did He show that He was there all along?

  8. When Trinity’s father returns, her first instinct is to lash out in anger. After she hears his story, though, she is ready to forgive him. If you were in Trinity’s place, would you have forgiven him? Why or why not?

  9. Trinity and Jones both feel that there’s a “missing ingredient” in their lives—love. Is there a missing ingredient in your life? If so, what is it?

  10. If you could glean one specific personal or spiritual lesson from this story, what would it be?

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