Page 24 of Mail Order Moonlight

He was halfway through his bowl when he asked, “How was your sewing party at your sister’s?”

“Fine,” she said. She wasn’t about to tell him everything Sarah had said. The woman was evil, and she had no desire to admit what a difficult time the other girl had given her.

“Did you bring home any of Wilma’s cookies?” he asked.

Alice nodded. “I did, but then I ate them. I got hungry waiting for you to come home.” She didn’t tell him she’d gotten the receipt because she wanted him to be more considerate about coming home on time. She hadn’t even realized she was angry with him about always being late until that moment.

“Oh,” he said, looking down into his chicken and dumplings. “Maybe next time.”

“Maybe,” she said. “Do you want more bread and butter?” She didn’t want to get it for him, but she’d been trained to believe it was her job to serve her husband at mealtime.

“Yes, please. It was a really long day, and I haven’t eaten a bite since noon.”

“Supper was ready more than an hour ago,” she responded as she got up to get him more bread and butter as well as another bowl full of the chicken and dumplings.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“I’m fine. I just wish you weren’t always so late for supper. I’ve started trying to plan our meals for seven forty-five when you seem to get home, and today it’s nine thirty. I hate when the meals go cold.”

“I’m really sorry,” he said. “I’ll try my best to be home at the right time from now on. By seven.”

She nodded. “Then I’ll plan suppers for seven.” She couldn’t believe how much better she felt after his apology. Maybe he wasn’t deliberately trying to make her crazy, though he was doing a good job of it.

He accepted the food from her with a smile of thanks. “Chicken and dumplings is my favorite meal, and you make them even better than Susan.”

Alice smiled. “It’s always been a favorite of mine too. I feel like I’ve improved on my ma’s receipt, which is what Susan probably still uses.”

He nodded. “She never cooked often, but she always made special meals when she did. Mrs. H doesn’t make chicken and dumplings. She should, but she doesn’t.”

Alice smiled. “I’m glad you enjoy them. They’re not easy to make, but I like them enough to make them often.”

“Good. I’ll be happy enough to eat them as often as you’re willing to cook them.”

After supper that night, they did their chores, and then went straight to bed, not making love for the first time since their wedding night. She knew she was reading too much into things, but it felt like he was already drifting away from her. Was he dreaming of Sarah with her chestnut locks and her terrible personality? She lay in bed for a long while, wondering if her marriage was already falling apart.

*****

The next morning, Alice was feeling guilty about her bad attitude of the night before, so she got up early, did all the wash, and then she followed Wilma’s receipt to the letter, determined to make the toffee cookies just as well as her new friend had.

While she worked, she saw a man she’d never seen outside, plowing up a patch of land for her kitchen garden. She was excited to be able to start planting. It was raining a lot, which meant crops would need to go in soon. At least that’s what her pa had always told her.

She poured a glass of cold water and took it out to the stranger who was plowing for her. “Mister? I thought you could use a drink.”

The man smiled and took the glass from her. “I’m Jason Carver.”

Her eyes widened with understanding. “You’re Sarah’s husband.”

“I am. Whatever she said, please don’t blame me.” He took a huge drink of the water. “Apparently, she’s not fond of marriage.”

“I got that impression,” she said, not really willing to talk about it. “If you want more to drink, let me know.” She turned to go back into the house, not feeling comfortable talking to the man now that she knew who he was. Susan had told her that Sarah wasn’t the only one making trouble in their marriage.

Back inside, she scrubbed the floors Albert had messed the night before. She’d mopped it up when it happened, but it needed a hands and knees job, and she was all too happy to do it. It was strange the pride she took in cleaning this house, when she’d complained every time she was expected to help clean her mother’s house.

She took a break to eat some of the leftover chicken and dumplings from the night before, starting when she heard a knock at the door. After opening it, she saw Jason standing there, holding his water glass. “Could I get a refill?”

She nodded, leaving the door open, but not inviting him inside. She hurried to the kitchen and took a pitcher of water from the ice box where she put it to keep it cold and poured him another glass.

When she turned to take it back to him, she found him standing right behind her, much too close for it to be appropriate. The front door was closed. “I don’t think my husband would like for you to be in the house when he’s not home,” she said, handing him the glass.

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