Handpicked Husband (Love Inspired Historical) (21 page)

He stepped into the room and shut the door. He raked a hand through his hair, then looked around. It was a large chamber, furnished with good solid pieces. Everything was neatly arranged with no sign of clutter or personal belongings anywhere, other than his own. Had all of Lemuel’s things been removed? Or had the man not surrounded himself with any of the little touches that would have hinted at his personality or taste?

By the time Adam had put away his things and stepped back into the corridor, he found Reggie at the head of the stairs.

“Oh.” She paused. Her smile had an uncertain edge. “Did you find everything to your liking?”

“I did.”

She tucked a stray tendril behind her ear. “Would you like a little tour of the house?”

He smiled. “Good idea.” Why did she seem so nervous?

“There’s not a whole lot more to see up here.” She pointed to the set of double doors next to the one he’d just exited—the only other doors on this side of the landing. “That’s a linen and storage closet. It backs to the small dressing room that opens off of your bedroom.”

She quickly turned and swept her hand in a gesture that included the rest of the upstairs. “The rest are all bedrooms. Mine is next to Jack’s.”

He raised a brow. “This house was built either to hold a large family or a number of visitors.”

“Lemuel and Patricia planned to have lots of children. They were heartbroken when they learned it was not to be.” She pointed to the stairs leading up. “That takes you to the attic. You can explore it on your own later, if you’d like. Right now I’ll show you the rest of the ground floor.”

Once downstairs, she stepped into the dining room and waved toward the far wall. “That door leads to the pantry and the kitchen. Ira and Mrs. Peavy’s rooms are on that end of the house as well. Since you’ve already seen the kitchen, we won’t risk disturbing them.”

As she stepped back out, her arm brushed his. He immediately felt a connection. The color rose in her cheeks, a sure sign she felt something, too.

But she pushed on, passing the parlor and moving to the next door. “This is what we call the library.” She opened the door and stepped aside so he could view it. He noticed she was careful this time not to touch him.

It didn’t matter. The connection was still there, invisibly binding them together.

He glanced inside, taking in the large set of bookcases lining one wall and the small desk near the window.

“It’s small compared to Grandfather’s, but it suits our needs.” Regina moved on to the end of the hall. “This was Lemuel’s study. When he was home, this is where he spent most of his time. Feel free to use it however you wish.”

He detected a note of censure in her tone. “You said ‘when he was home.’ Was he gone often?”

“Lemuel spent most of his time in here or at the bank. We rarely saw him, except for meals.”

She ran a finger along one of the bookcases, then absently rubbed it with her thumb, as if checking for dust. “Lemuel’s office at the bank will be at your disposal now, as well as this study. If at some point you wanted to start up your law practice again, it’s the perfect place.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Then he leaned back and folded his arms. “Now, why don’t you tell me what’s really on your mind?”

She started guiltily. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been more nervous than a kitten in a kennel since I walked in here this evening. So out with it.”

She straightened. “If you must know, I’ve been wondering if you still intend for us to make that trip to Philadelphia we discussed.”

So that was it. She was worried about having to make her confession to her grandfather. He felt a vague sense of disappointment. “I think we should get that bit of business taken care of as soon as possible. Why don’t we plan to leave the day after the fair?”

She nodded dejectedly. “Very well.”

He took her hands. “I know it won’t be easy, but it needs to be done. Just explain the full story. He loves you—that won’t change.”

She nodded again but she didn’t appear convinced.

He tamped down the stirring of sympathy—the sooner this was behind her, the sooner she could start to free herself of the shame she felt.

He gave her hands one more squeeze then let them go. “It’s been a long day. Off to bed with you.”

“What about you?”

“I’d like to glance through these papers your brother-in-law left here before I turn in.”

She nodded. “Of course. I’ll leave the upstairs lamp on.”

Adam watched her leave, then sat behind the desk.

And suddenly the realization that he was truly the man of the house settled in him. For good or ill, he was responsible for the well-being of those under this roof. It was a sobering thought. But a not unpleasant one.

* * *

Reggie climbed the stairs, trying to decide how she felt about the turn of events. She knew he still felt strongly about the way she’d handled the situation with Jack. But it was just as obvious he was trying to make this arrangement work.

In all other ways he was solicitous and considerate toward her. Not to mention how wonderful he was with Jack.

There was a real chance that, even if theirs wasn’t a true marriage, they could at least build a family atmosphere in this house, that they could provide some wonderful childhood memories for Jack.

Why couldn’t she be happy with that?

She opened her bedroom door and tried to shake off her melancholy thoughts. Perhaps, in time, Adam would relent. Surely, once he had time to understand how much better this was for Jack than the alternative would have been, he’d see things her way.

She just had to be patient.

In the meantime, she would go on as if everything were all right. She had agreed to do her utmost to make this arrangement work, and that’s what she intended to do.

Chapter Eighteen

A
dam strolled along Main Street the next morning, looking at the town with fresh eyes. This was his town now, his neighbors he passed. And while Turnabout might not have been his first choice of a place to settle down, he was beginning to see some definite silver linings to life here.

He stepped inside the bank, ready to dig into his role as administrator of Jack’s business interests. But before he could do more than look around, Thomas Pierce appeared at his elbow.

“Why, Mr. Barr, what an unexpected surprise.” The banker pumped Adam’s hand enthusiastically. “Let me again offer my felicitations on your wedding.”

Adam bore the man’s effusiveness with a smile. “Thank you.”

Pierce leaned back on his heels. “I see Reggie’s had better luck than I in convincing you to settle here.” The banker waved him into a nearby office. “I must say I’m pleased you’re going to be part of our growing community.”

“I consider myself the lucky one.”

“That motor carriage caused quite a stir yesterday.” Pierce settled into the large leather chair behind his imposing desk. “Yes, sir, quite a stir. And her idea to sell rides at the fair—absolutely brilliant. I predict it will earn quite a bit of money.”

Adam casually leaned against a bookcase. “My wife is an enterprising woman.”

“That’s our Reggie,” Pierce agreed good-humoredly. He steepled his fingers. “So, what I can I do for you today? Do you wish to open an account?”

“I’ll need to do that, of course. But that’s not why I’m here this morning. I know we’ve been putting it off because of other priorities, but now that I’m married to Regina, she’s asked me to formally take over the management of Jack’s affairs.”

The banker frowned. “I hope she’s not concerned with how I’ve handled matters so far. I assure you—”

“Nothing of the sort. In fact Regina was singing your praises to me just this morning.”

The jovial smile returned. “Well, that’s a relief. And I’m happy to do what I can for Jack. Lemuel and I were partners for fifteen years. I almost feel like the boy’s uncle.”

“Regina and Jack certainly appreciate all you’ve done, but it’s my duty to assume those burdens now.” He flashed a man-to-man smile. “Since I’m new at this family man business, I want to prove I’m up to the task.”

“A commendable attitude. But I’m certain you’ve nothing to prove to Reggie.”

Adam wished he was as confident of that as Pierce. “Regina mentioned something about an office here?”

“Ah, Lemuel’s old office. Of course, you must consider it yours.”

“Thank you, I will.” Adam hadn’t really been asking the man’s permission.

“Oh, yes, well, let me show you where it is.”

The personal escort was unnecessary since it turned out the office was right next to Pierce’s. The room was a mirror image of the other in size and layout, but there the similarity ended. Pierce’s office had a pretentious opulence about it, much like the man himself. This office reflected more of the dark, somber heaviness Lemuel’s study had.

Pierce seemed to read his mind. “Lemuel was a good friend and a solid businessman,” he said solemnly, “but these last few years he didn’t seem to have interest in, or time for, much else.”

Then the man shook off his uncharacteristic gloom. “I’m sure you’ll want to put your own stamp on this place. Take your time. You’re a newlywed after all. I can keep an eye on Jack’s investments a bit longer.”

Adam nodded, then managed to maneuver Pierce out the door without being rude. He rolled up his sleeves and began familiarizing himself with the ledgers and books in his new office.

Lemuel had been well organized, but it took Adam a while to accustom himself to the man’s filing system, and deciphering his personal shorthand was proving a challenge.

After three hours hunched over the books, Adam decided he needed a break. He stood and grabbed his coat. A walk seemed just the thing.

A few minutes later, without conscious thought, Adam found himself outside Regina’s studio.

As usual, the jingling bell announced his presence when he opened the door. A moment later Ira bustled out from the back room.

“Is Regina around?” Why did he feel like a callow youth talking to his sweetheart’s father?

Ira pointed his thumb toward the stairs. “She’s in her office.”

Adam hesitated. She’d seemed very protective of her privacy last time he’d indicated an interest in her third-floor office.

“You’re married to her now,” Ira said with a knowing smile. “She might get her back up, but I don’t think she’ll throw you out.”

With a nod, Adam headed for the stairs. The closer he got to the top floor, however, the more of an intruder he felt. After all, everyone was entitled to a bit of space they could claim as entirely their own.

“Ira, is that you?”

“It’s Adam. Mind if I come up?” At least now the choice was hers.

There was a long pause. “No, of course not.”

Not quite an open-armed invitation, but he’d take it. When Adam stepped onto the landing, the first thing he spotted was Regina at her desk, an open ledger at her elbow.

He groaned. “Don’t tell me you’re working on your books. I’ve seen more than enough columns of figures for one day.”

She grinned. “That bad?”

“I’m just out of practice. I’ll have it figured out soon.” He looked around. “So, this is your inner sanctum.”

She grimaced. “More like my junk room.”

The walls were covered with pictures, but these were quite different from those on the first floor. “Your personal collection?”

She nodded.

He moved closer. These were mostly of her family. He recognized her father, stepsister and stepmother in several poses. One photograph captured Patricia with a baby on her lap and a man at her shoulder—Lemuel? Another depicted an elderly couple. Her grandparents perhaps?

And everywhere he looked were photographs of Jack, at every stage of his life.

She had spoken once about helping people preserve their history through photographs. She obviously took her own advice.

Something was missing though. “I thought you kept some of your botany pictures up here.”

“I ran out of wall space.” She waved to a table across the room. “Most of them are in those albums if you want to have a look.”

Adam moved to the table and discovered a number of albums stacked here, some of them seeming to date back several years. He pulled out an older one first and studied the images with interest. These weren’t as polished and sharp as the photographs he’d seen in her workroom that first day, but he could see the beginnings of the professional she became.

In the third album that he opened, he spotted the photograph of a young man. It wasn’t anyone Adam had seen around town, but there
was
something familiar about him.

“That’s Daniel.”

Adam started and glanced up. She still sat in her chair, but had pushed back from the desk and watched him with a guarded expression.

“You kept his picture?” He didn’t understand. Why was she still holding on to a likeness of him after all the pain he caused her? Could she possibly still have some tender feelings for him?

Regina crossed the room and her jaw clenched as she stared at the picture. Then she moved to the window and rubbed her upper arms. “I thought someday, if Jack learned the truth, he’d wonder about his real father.” Her words were soft, muted. “I wanted to be able to show him what Daniel looked like.”

Adam moved beside her. “Is that all it is?”

She faced him, a look of guilt and something fierce in her eyes. “I hate what he did to me, how he made me feel. But despite all of that, he gave me Jack.”

Her eyes blazed a challenge. “And as awful as it may sound, I will be forever grateful to him for that. If that makes me a terrible person, I’m sorry.”

Adam pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “On the contrary, it makes you a very honest, very brave person.”

* * *

Reggie strolled across the field, greeting other workers as she passed the booths and attractions.

She’d left Jack and Mrs. Peavy at the food booth, unloading a small hand cart full of some of the housekeeper’s finest pies and breads.

The morning was beautiful—perfect fair weather. Puffy white clouds floated in a bluebird sky. She could tell it was going to be another scorcher, but a light breeze wafted through that promised to keep the humidity down.

Reggie inhaled deeply, enjoying the smells—food, sawdust and freshly trampled grass being the dominant ones. The dew was still on the ground and soaking the hem of her dress, but she didn’t care. It would dry soon enough, and today was too gorgeous for such petty worries.

Not even thoughts about their planned departure tomorrow for Philadelphia could dampen her mood. She’d come to terms with telling her grandfather the truth about what happened seven years ago. Difficult as it would be, she owed it to both him and herself. She would just have to trust that God would give her the right words.

“There you are,” Ira hailed. “I’ve got everything set up for you.”

“Don’t go preaching at me about being late,” she said with a mock pout. “The fair won’t officially open for another thirty minutes. Besides,” she added, “you moved. I thought we were going to set up in the competition area so we could talk the winners into getting their photographs taken.”

“Moving here was my idea.” Adam strolled up from her left. “I thought there might be more folks who’ll want to get their photograph taken sitting inside a genuine motor carriage.”

She glanced toward the vehicle in question. It sat proudly under a nearby oak, waiting to sputter to life again. Although it already gleamed like a beacon, Chance was lovingly polishing it with a rag.

She nodded, coming back to his question. “Good idea.” Besides, this new location would give her more opportunities to spend time with Adam.

“Well, ready or not,” Ira warned, “it looks like some folk decided not to wait for the official opening time.”

The rest of the morning was a blur of activity.

It seemed everyone wanted to ride in the motor carriage. Young men cajoled their less daring sweethearts to ride with them, children pleaded with their parents for a turn. And Adam’s instincts had been correct—almost everyone wanted their picture taken as they sat inside the new-fangled vehicle.

Chance and Adam took shifts driving, and there was rarely a time when there wasn’t a line waiting.

Reggie caught an occasional glimpse of Everett, pencil and pad in hand, strolling the area. She smiled as she wondered what he’d consider newsworthy. This had to be a far cry from the events he’d covered for the paper in Philadelphia.

Around eleven o’clock, Adam wandered over to where she’d set up her camera. “It’s Chance’s turn to drive the motor carriage,” he announced. “Why don’t find Jack and take some time to enjoy the fair ourselves.”

“Go ahead,” Ira encouraged. “Mabel’s bringing my lunch here in a little while. We’ll keep an eye on things.”

Reggie didn’t need any additional arm twisting. After shedding her smock, she placed a hand on Adam’s arm and prepared to be entertained.

They found Jack excitedly cheering on his favorite entry in the frog jumping contest under Mrs. Peavy’s watchful eye.

As soon as he spied them he ran over. “Look what I won.” He proudly held out a small wood carving of a horse.

Reggie made suitably impressed noises. “How did you win it?”

“At the ring toss.” He grabbed Reggie’s hand. “The three legged race is gonna start in a few minutes. Petey and his dad are entered and I want to watch.”

“I have a better idea,” Adam said. “Why don’t you and I enter and give them a little competition?”

Jack’s eyes grew round with excitement. “Jumpin’ jackrabbits, can we?”

Reggie’s heart melted there on the spot. Even though she’d forced Adam into this marriage, he treated Jack as a son rather than a burden. Already she could see Jack blooming under the attention.

It
shouldn’t
matter that she’d never have all of Adam’s heart, she told herself fiercely. What he
was
willing to give was so much better than living without him.

The problem was, it
did
matter. Because a little piece of her died each time some reminder of that unforgiving hardness in him surfaced.

Would he ever forgive her, ever understand that she’d done the absolute best thing she could have for Jack?

* * *

It was nearly two hours later before Adam escorted Regina and Jack back to where the Peavys waited. He’d enjoyed escorting them to all the attractions, cheering Jack on, entering some of the competitions himself to show off a bit for his new family. This sense of protecting and belonging was a whole new experience for him and he rather liked it.

“Land sakes, now don’t they just look like the perfect family.” Mrs. Peavy beamed at them with grandmotherly affection.