Change of Heart (15 page)

Becca doubted she would agree, but she was glad to learn she wasn't the only one who disliked Eloise Carrington. Matt and Laura shared a past. Would Matt fall for Laura's charm? Worse, Laura was Mrs. Carrington's type for a daughter-in-law. The way she dressed, talked, and acted. “Did you know President McKinley came to your parents' house for dinner before Laura mentioned it to you?”

He raked a hand through his hair. “Yes, I read the article about it in the newspaper, but it does not matter. I would not have gone if they'd invited me. I am serious about not talking to them until they have a change of heart toward you.”

They arrived at Ruth's house.

They'd had such a nice evening with Kate, Ruth, and Isaac. She didn't want to upset him further by discussing his mamm or her insecurities about Laura. She would end their night on a positive note. “I would like nothing better than to see Ruth happy with someone.”

“I agree. It will be interesting to find out what she has to say about him.”

He kissed her full on the lips before leaving. She loved him. Laura's face flashed in her mind. Laura and Matt had a history. She was afraid life was about to get interesting and not in a good way.

 

 

The next day, Matt flipped through a patient chart while Dorothy poured him and Becca coffee. “Did you enjoy your days off, Dorothy?”

“I caught up on my chores. I ran into Lizzie on my way to work this morning. She told me all the latest gossip. I understand Kate Paulson is working for Ruth. Lizzie mentioned Isaac, Kate's brother, joined you, Becca, Kate, and Ruth for supper last night.”

“Isaac came to the office yesterday and needed stitches for a cut. I liked him and invited him to supper. He and Ruth got along well, and Becca liked him too.” Matt put the chart on the desk.

Becca sipped her coffee and put her mug on the table. “Dorothy, the office runs much smoother when you're here. You were missed. As far as Ruth and Isaac go, I'm delighted to see her interested in a nice man.”

The door chimed and Matt rose to greet Laura Morrison. She flew into his arms. Matt glanced at Becca over Laura's shoulder.

Giggling, Laura separated herself from him but kept her hands on his arms. “I did not sleep a wink last night. I was anxious to spend time with you today.”

He stepped back and gestured to Becca. “Laura, you remember Becca Yost.” Dorothy frowned and he shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from fidgeting.

Laura ran her finger along Matt's cheek. “Of course I remember. Hello, Becca. I am sure you will not mind if I steal Matt for a while. You would be bored listening to us prattle on about our prior history together and chatting about people you do not know.”

He waited for Becca to answer, not sure what she would choose to do. Laura was right. She would be bored, but he would welcome her coming with them.

Becca ran her hand along her braid. “You're right. I'll stay here. I've got paperwork I need to catch up on. You two go ahead and have a nice visit.”

He kissed her on the cheek before donning his coat and shutting the door behind them.

Laura looped her arm through his. “We had a great time playing games and chasing each other as children, then things changed between us. I remember the day you kissed me like it was yesterday.”

Matt patted her hand. “You broke my heart when you went off to college and ended things between us.”

Women who were friends with Ruth and Becca, sitting at tables in the restaurant, frowned. With his focus on Laura, he avoided Lizzie's questioning gaze. Glad she was not waiting on them, he relaxed. “I am surprised you are not married with children.”

She sipped coffee. “I was with someone for two years, and he developed a drinking habit. When he refused to do anything about it, I ended our courtship. I needed a change of scenery, and here I am. Your mother said you were not courting anyone, but she must not know about Becca.”

“Mother is quite aware I am courting Becca. Mother has been on a mission to convince Becca to have nothing to do with me. My father agrees with her, so I no longer communicate with them.”

Laura leaned into Matt. “Your mother is right. She is an awful choice for you, and I do not understand your attraction to her. What could you have in common with her? Do not let her ruin your relationship with parents who love you.”

Matt bristled. “I assume my mother has shared her negative opinions about Becca with you from what you have said today. I am grateful my parents supported and put me through medical school. I love them, but Becca is my first priority. I am serious about her, and I will not let them destroy what we have together. Furthermore, Laura, my private life is none of your business.”

Her mouth tightened. “Calm yourself. We are friends, remember?” She twisted her mouth. “You can have her as your little nurse, teach her social graces and how to carry on an intelligent conversation, but she will not be happy in your world. As far as your parents are concerned, you will be miserable without them. They
are
your family.”

In their past, he remembered the lighthearted Laura but also her sometimes shrewish nature and biting tongue. He sighed. Laura had obviously given in to her more manipulative and snarly side. He was sorry she had come to visit him. “You sound like my mother.”

Laura put her head back and laughed. “You are such a naïve man. Even if you do not socialize with your parents, you will be invited to dinners at your friends' homes. Becca will be an outcast. She will never be accepted by your parents or your friends. People you have known all your life will distance themselves from you because of her. You will eventually resent each other.”

He stood and scooted his chair back. “This conversation is over. I need to return to the office.”

Laura grabbed her reticule and rose. “I am sorry I wasted my time coming here. You have turned into a weak and unattractive man. I will walk myself back to the hotel. You go on back to your little Amish girl.”

Matt waited until she left before heading back to the office. Laura had become a spoiled and self-centered woman. Her good nature and ability to make him laugh were no more. Laura was the same kind of manipulative woman as his mother. No wonder she sent Laura to do her dirty work. Soon, she would find out from Laura that her plan did not work.

He hoped Becca would not encourage him to reunite with his parents. It was the one thing he would not do.

Chapter Fourteen

Becca finished her chicken broth and crackers and hoped they would steady her nerves. She was having a hard enough time keeping her anxiety in check without Dorothy's comments about Laura. “Please change the subject.” She couldn't stand to hear Laura's name one more time.

Dorothy filled her mouth with a spoonful of oatmeal and it dribbled down her chin. She caught it with a napkin. “I cannot help it. I do not like the way Laura flirted with Matt. She is here to snatch him away from you. He practically fell over the way she jumped into his arms.”

“Matt will tell her we're courting, and she will have no reason to pursue him.” Becca rinsed her bowl under the sink pump then sat next to Dorothy.

Dorothy threw her a sideways glance and bit into a slice of apple bread. “Women like her do not care. They go after a man with a vengeance. You need to stand up for yourself and put aside your Amish humbleness. Do not let her walk all over you.”

“I have faith in Matt.” She hid her doubt from Dorothy. She was concerned about Matt and Laura's prior history together.

Dorothy shook her finger. “Men can be ignorant when it comes to women like Laura. You may have to set him straight. If you do not, I will.”

The door opened. Matt returned alone. Becca and Dorothy stopped talking. He strode over to Becca and kissed her on the forehead. “How many patients stopped into the office while I was gone?”

Dorothy stood and brushed at her skirt. “I need some flour from the store. I will be back in a little while.” She whispered in Becca's ear, “Be frank with him.”

“None, it's been a quiet day thus far. Where is Miss Morrison? How was your time with her?” Becca washed her hands.

Matt raked his hand through his hair. “At first, I thought she was here to visit me as a friend, but she talked nonstop about how wrong you and I are for each other. I told her I was serious about you and not interested in hearing anything negative she had to say concerning you or us. We quarreled, and she is on her way back to Washington.”

“Dorothy suspected she came here with bad intentions. I told her I had faith in you to set Miss Morrison straight if she had.”

“She has changed and not for the better. She has become way too forward and opinionated.”

“Dorothy pegged her right away.”

Matt snorted. “She would be my mother's choice for a daughter-in-law. They are very much alike. It angers me Mother told her I was available and coaxed her to come and visit me under false pretenses.”

“Your mamm's a persistent woman.”

“She is. I had no idea she would send another woman to plead her cause to me. Even though I have had nothing to do with my mother, she will not stop finding ways to interfere. I do not know what else to do to discourage her from doing these types of things.”

Becca gripped the edges of the sink behind her. She had been praying about God's will for her life concerning Matt and all the turmoil they were enduring from his mamm. She had hoped Mrs. Carrington would miss her son and would have a change of heart toward her. His mamm wasn't going to give up. Matt had sacrificed too much to be with her. He no longer reviewed research with his daed. He no longer met with influential people who supported his ideas for research, because he refused to attend their dinner parties. And most importantly, he no longer had a relationship with his parents. Her heart sunk. She knew what she had to do. “I'm always dreading your mamm's next move against me, and I won't stand in the way of your research career. All this turmoil cannot be God's will for your life or mine. Your mamm has won. I can't do this anymore.”

Matt's face paled. “Please do not do this to us. I prefer not having my parents in my life with the way they are acting. I do not want you to worry about my mother. Nothing she has done to break us apart has worked, and nothing will. I love you.”

“I must do this.” She let tears drip onto her cheeks and did not bother to wipe them away, grabbed her reticule, and ran outside.

She rushed across the street and entered Ruth's shop. Benjamin was occupied with Kate. Customers selected fabrics to purchase, and Kate accepted their money. Ruth removed different fabrics off the wooden shelves and showed them to two ladies.

Becca met Ruth's eyes.

Ruth pointed to her office. Becca hid from Benjamin and shut the door to Ruth's private space. She sat in a chair across from the desk. What had she done? She loved Matt. It didn't matter. Their courtship had to end because otherwise, their lives would always be subjected to torment from his mamm.

Ruth stepped inside and broke her train of thought. “What is wrong? I could tell you were upset when you avoided Benjamin.” Ruth faced her.

“I shouldn't be here. You're busy with customers. We can talk later. I came to talk to you in the heat of the moment.”

“No. You stay put. You are not leaving until you tell me what is wrong. Benjamin is playing, and Kate is helping the customers.”

Becca shuffled her feet from one side to the other. “Last night, I told you about Laura Morrison coming to town to visit Matt. I can't get over Mrs. Carrington telling Laura that Matt isn't courting anyone.”

“Matt introduced you to Laura and made it clear you are the one he is interested in. Why do you seem upset?”

“Today, she and Matt went to Lizzie's and chatted. Matt told me Laura had romantic intentions toward him. She voiced his mamm's concerns about me. They argued, and Matt left in a huff.”

“Good for him. He set her straight. What will Mrs. Carrington think of next? She needs more to do with her time, rather than spending it devising ways to separate you and Matt.”

Becca hung her head. “Since Matt told his parents to stay away from us, his mamm is finding other ways to cause trouble.” She paused for a moment. “I can't believe God would want us together with his parents opposed to us courting. It was time I separated myself from Matt. Mrs. Carrington won't stop causing trouble for Matt and me until I do.”

“No, you must reconsider. You and he are meant to be together. You have weathered more storms than most couples have in a lifetime. Matt sent Laura away. His mother will find out soon enough that her latest plan did not work. You are making a mistake letting him go.”

Becca opened her bag, pulled out a handkerchief, and dabbed her eyes. “My mind's made up.” She had to remain firm on her decision, no matter how bad it hurt. Would this pain in her heart ever end?

Ruth gripped Becca's shoulders. “Do not let Eloise Carrington rob you of Matt.”

“Our being together shouldn't be this hard. Mrs. Carrington is never going to accept my Amish upbringing, nor will she ever leave us be.”

Ruth sat in her chair with a thump and tapped her foot on the floor. “He chose you, and he is happy with you the way you are. He does not communicate with his parents. What else can Matt do? He has done everything he can to prevent anyone from coming between you. It is not fair for you to make this decision alone.”

“None of it is fair, but I am doing it because I love him. He is sacrificing too much to be with me. If I'm out of his life, he will reconcile with his daed, and maybe his mamm, and continue reviewing research. God would not want me to come between Matt and his parents.”

“Pray about this. Do not make any rash decisions.”

Prayer was something she would do. If God wanted her to be with Matt, He would find a way. There was nothing more to say on the matter.

Ruth got up and placed her hands on Becca's shoulders. “I know how much you love him. Please reconcile with him.”

“Please understand. I must leave him be.” She caressed Ruth's cheek. “I'm going home. You go back to your customers. I'll be all right.”

Her body weak and her heart heavy, she left. Gray clouds shielded the sun.

She stepped out the door and her eyes widened.
Matt.
Matt reached for her hand. “I followed you to Ruth's, but waited outside. I did not want to talk inside the shop. Please come back to my office. We can weather this storm. Please do not end our relationship. Nothing else matters if I do not have you in my life.”

Heart pounding and knees buckling, she gripped his hand. “I must do this. I'm sorry.” She stared at her feet.

He gently pulled her to him. “Marry me.” Overwhelmed with joy then sadness, she dropped her hand from his. She had longed for this day and wanted to say
yes,
but she couldn't forget why she ended things with Matt in the first place. “I want to marry you, but I must do what I think is right.” She whirled around and ran home, ignoring his plea for her to come back.

She refused to answer his repeated knocks on the door. Her temples throbbed. Climbing into bed, she couldn't remember anything hurting this much, not the shunning, not the separation from Ruth, not Gertrude showing up and threatening to take Benjamin, and not Margaret's death. The pain of losing Matt was unbearable.

Later, she listened as Ruth and Benjamin whispered outside her room. Her door opened. She curled in a tight ball under the quilts and pretended to sleep. It was no use burdening Ruth anymore on the subject.

The next morning, Ruth peeked around her bedroom door. “Becca, I am worried about you. Please talk to me.”

“You can come in. Sit here next to me.” Becca sat up and patted the bed. “I ran into Matt after I left the mending shop. He asked me to marry him.” She pushed back her hair from her red blotched face. “I refused.”

Ruth scooted closer. “He asked you to marry him? You cannot say no. You will regret it for the rest of your life.”

Becca smoothed the bed quilt. “It pains me to say no, but I must. Even if Matt and I married, his mamm would devise ways to break up our marriage.”

Ruth stood erect. “I cannot believe you let this woman win. Matt has stood up to her. You need to do the same.”

Becca paused and fidgeted with the corner of a quilt. “There is nothing more he or I can do. None of this is his fault or mine. His mamm has worn me out. I give up.” She would never forget Matt's fresh scent, his laugh, his kiss, his touch, or the way he raked his hand through his hair when nervous.

“You will be miserable without him. He has become such a big part of your life. You are sacrificing too much not being with him.” She stalked off.

Becca buried her face in the pillow and wept. His handsome face wouldn't leave her mind. She touched her mouth. How she missed the feel of his lips on hers. The man had all the qualities she wanted in a husband. She loved him. If only there was a way to make it work. After Ruth and Benjamin left, she got up, dressed, and headed to work in Ruth's Mending Shop.

 

 

Two weeks later, Becca had enjoyed doing seamstress work, but she longed to shake the heartache of separation from Matt. She missed his scent, his voice, his lips on hers, and every little thing about him. She missed working by his side. Walking home, she couldn't push thoughts of him out of her mind. A gust of cool wind caught her off balance. A hand grabbed her elbow and stopped her from falling.

Matt stepped in front of her. “I have missed you. I waited for weeks before coming to the shop, but every time I came by, you either waited on customers or hid from me. Do not deny it. Ruth admitted it was true when I asked her. Please talk to me.”

“Talking will not change our situation.” She fought putting her arms around him and holding him tight. Her knees weakened and her heart sunk. Nothing had changed. She must remain strong. God would intervene if He wanted them together. She turned and hurried home. Her shoes crunched the small stones on the boardwalk's weathered wooden planks, as she hurried to get away from him. She didn't trust herself around him. In her dreams, he approached her and she fell into his arms. In real life, she was miserable running from him.

Arriving home, she stepped inside. Benjamin squealed and wrapped his arms around her hips. “You look sad.” He tugged on her sleeve. “Let's go see Matt. He'll make you happy again.”

Becca glanced at Ruth and Benjamin. “Matt was outside. I stumbled, and he caught me. He asked me to reconcile.”

Benjamin pulled on her hand. “Come on. Let's go find him.”

Ruth handed him an apple. “Becca does not want to visit Matt. You finish your puzzle and leave us alone for a bit.”

Benjamin shrugged and chomped on his apple. He returned to his puzzle on the floor and picked up his next puzzle piece.

Ruth pulled Becca to the kitchen.

Before Ruth could speak, Becca held a finger to her sister's lips. “We're not going to discuss Matt and me. There is nothing left to say on the matter.”

Ruth poured water in two glasses and passed one to Becca. “I am not happy about your decision, but I will not comment on it further.” She removed a piece of thread from Becca's collar. “Isaac is taking me to the chapel picnic. Everyone has been asking about you. Please come with us.”

Becca sighed. “I'm not in the mood to socialize. You go and enjoy yourselves.” Matt might be there. She wouldn't be able to take her eyes off of him if he was. It would be too painful.

Ruth stood. “I wish you would reconsider coming with us. It's not healthy for you to do nothing more than go to work and come home and mope.”

Becca shrugged and lifted a box she had tucked away a few weeks earlier. She opened the lid and closed it quick. She'd forgotten. The box was where she stored the fabric pieces she'd collected from Matt's old shirts. The ones she had planned to stitch together to make a memorable pocket quilt for him. Her words she would write on the letter remained the same. She loved him with all her heart and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Now, she would never have the opportunity to give it to him. His mamm's attitude toward her had shattered her dream of marrying Matt.