Page 3 of If The Fates Allow
All of Calvin’s friends were arrogant rotters. They were often the eldest sons of wealthy families, doing nothing with their lives, and how her brother convinced them to come home with him was beyond Willa’s understanding. Of course, thanks to her mother’s wildly expensive expansion, their home sat in grand splendor compared to the other estates in the area.
However, to Willa, Haven House would always be just a boring little corner of the world where nothing exciting happened, and only the Fairweathers ever stayed for very long.
“You know it’s just the Andersons,” Willa said to her mother’s departing figure. “No one important.”
And while it might be only Paul and his cousins stopping in on their way to the Anderson estate, Willa decided to join in on the homecoming.Cal would one day control her future if she were lucky enough to remain a spinster, and she needed to keep in his good graces.
Not that she didn’t like her brother. Cal was smart and would do well in control of the Fairweather lumber business. He had their father’s brains. The two men were almost identical in the way they reasoned over things with the main difference being that Cal didn’t hold the same heavy-handed strictness as their father. Cold and calculating, Stephen Fairweather thankfully never bothered with his children, saving his ferocious temper for his workers and his wife. During the times their mother fell victim to his violent outbursts, even the high-handed Margaret would smartly go silent.
Coming out of the ballroom, Willa made her way to the front of the house and found her mother holding Cal in a tight embrace as if she were afraid he would leave again.
“My beautiful boy,” Margaret cooed, cradling the back of his head. “As handsome as ever.”
A handsome face was something else Cal had that their father didn’t. With his light hair and smooth complexion, Cal took after their mother’s side of the family.
Willa wasn’t so lucky. One of the worst insults of her life had been when Great Aunt Regalia had come for a visit and announced—quite loudly—upon meeting Willa that she carried the look of the Fairweathers through and through.
She hadn’t wanted to admit the old bat was right, but Willa couldn’t deny her dark, deep-set eyes, much too high cheekbones, and upturned nose. Every inch of her face was a testament to her Fairweather lineage, and as unfortunate as that was, she truly didn’t mean to look so very vexed all the time.
It just came naturally.
“Hey!” Catching her on approach, Cal hugged her with one arm, grinning like the prodigal son that he was. “How are you, Willa?”
Her mother hated the nickname but never spoke against her brother using it. “Don’t crowd her, Cal.” Margaret pushed at Willa’s shoulders,trying to worm her way back into the embrace. “We don’t need her going into one of her fits.”
With an eye roll, Willa stepped aside and collided with a man waiting for the reunion between mother and son to lose steam. He had a friendly smile, and she didn’t bother to wait for her brother to make formal introductions.
“You must be one of Paul’s cousins?” She stuck out her hand. “I’m Wilhelmina Fairweather. Welcome to Haven House.”
He grinned at her forwardness. “Beau Anderson.”
They shook hands, and Willa noted how much the man looked like Paul. “Are you really here to help with the Anderson’s mill during the fall and winter seasons?”
“That I am, but not just for the fall and winter.” His smile widened. “When Paul takes over Anderson Lumber, I’ll come on to function as his secondary.”
“And where is Paul?” Willa asked, peeking around the man to see if Lucy’s true love was anywhere around. “Is he here?”
“Paul went ahead to the house. He was anxious to see his mother.”
Beau seemed so much nicer than the other Andersons. They were a close family but held a sharp edge to them at times. “I hear Paul is graduating in the spring. Will you be doing the same?”
“No, I’ve graduated already, and will stay on to learn what I can while Paul finishes school,” Beau replied. “However, Noah can only tend to the workers until the new year before heading north. He has job prospects waiting, unless my aunt can persuade him to stay on, too.”
“Noah?”
“My older brother.” Beau inclined his head to the doorway behind her. “He spotted your library, and I’m afraid we’ve lost him to it. Noah can’t pass up a good book.”
Second to the conservatory, the library was Willa’s favorite room at Haven House. “What do you mean, he’ll be tending to the workers?”
“Noah is a doctor,” Beau explained, pride evident in his voice. “Studied under Osler and everything.”
She had no idea what that meant, but it sounded important. “Well, you are both welcome at Haven House.”
“I thought Noah could take a look at you, Willa,” Cal said, finally breaking free from their mother. “He’s a right genius and maybe can help you.”
Anything had to be better than Mr. Abernathy. Other than telling her to flap a hand or to try praying her affliction away, the man wasn’t much help. She was only required to see him because he was cheap.
But now, in the presence of a proper doctor, a twinge of giddiness struck Willa, and she excitedly hurried across the foyer to the library.
