The clock on her dresser ticked in rhythm with her heartbeat. Seven o’clock. In four hours she would stand before Reverend Blake and say the words binding her to a man she loathed. Her hand moved to her still flat belly.
****
Hang on Heidi, I’m coming.
At seven o’clock Michael strode to the ticket window and plopped his money on the worn wooden counter. “Oklahoma City, seven-fifteen train.”
“Sorry, son, the seven-fifteen’s been cancelled.”
Michael’s head snapped back. “What!”
“Next train to Oklahoma City is eight-fifteen.” The ticket master shifted his cigar from one side of his mouth to the other. “You want that one?”
“When does the train arrive in Oklahoma City?”
The man consulted a paper alongside him. “Ten thirty. Or there-abouts.”
Michael calculated. He’d planne
d to arrive at Heidi’s house before she left for church. If he didn’t arrive on time, he’d have to go straight to the ceremony. He had no choice.
“Fine. The eight-fifteen, then.”
The man whisked his money away, and slid a ticket across to him. “Might as well get yourself some breakfast.” He nodded in the direction of The Harvey House where he and Heidi had eaten a few weeks ago.
When Michael entered the restaurant, a wave of nostalgia washed over him. As he made his way past the diners enjoying their meal, he glanced at the table in the corner where he’d started to fall in love with Heidi many weeks ago.
After settling at the counter, next to an older man dressed in a business suit, he ordered a cup of coffee, and a plate of biscuits and gravy. Only a few minutes later the young waitress placed steaming, golden biscuits, smothered in gravy in front of him. He cut into one biscuit with his fork, and checked his watch. Seven-thirty.
****
Mary Lester glanced up at her husband as he entered the dining room.
“What a pleasant surprise, my dear. I’ve not known you to rise so early.” He pulled his watch out of his vest pocket, and raised his eyebrows. “Seven-thirty?”
“You may not remember, Harold, but today is your daughter’s wedding day.”
“So it is.” He kissed her on the head before pulling out his chair. “Not that I forgot.” He reached for the silver coffee pot in the center of the table, then poured the dark liquid into a cup. “I wish she seemed happier about this whole thing.”
Mary bit the inside of her cheek to keep from telling him the entire story. She’d promised Heidi, and would not break her word. But keeping such a thing from her husband of almost thirty years troubled her. She inhaled deeply to calm her racing heart. Michael would be here soon, and take care of the whole thing.
“Do you think we should have let Heidi select her own husband?” Harold stirred cream into his coffee, then blew on its steaming fragrance before taking a sip.
Mary leaned on one elbow and regarded him. “I think we’ve made mistakes. Keeping her from other people all those years was probably not the best thing to do.”
“We only wanted what was best for her.”
“Did we? I often wonder if we weren’t thinking more of ourselves, not her.” Her gaze slid toward the window. “Losing Penelope hurt so very much.”
Harold covered her hand with his. “I believe you’re right. We were so frightened of losing Heidi we may have overreacted.” He swallowed a bite of toast and wiped his mouth. “She’ll be all right. Clarence is a good man. I’m confident he’ll treat her well.”
Men are so thick headed. Mary closed her eyes, then stood. If she didn’t leave immediately, she would blurt out everything. “I’m going to fix Heidi a bath.”
****
Heidi stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, and ran the towel over her wet body. She dropped the cloth, and turned sideways, then clasped her hands on her belly. Can you hear me, little one? Mama will take good care of you, I promise.
“Heidi,” her mother called from the other side of the door. “May I come in?”