Page 20 of Mail Order Meeting
After the dishes were cleared, Lula set out a worn deck of cards.“Have you taught David to play Euchre yet?”she asked Ella.
Ella nodded her head.“He plays two-handed, but he hasn’t played with a partner yet.”
“It’s easy enough to teach him, partners, if he’s played two-handed,” Sebastian said, dealing.“I grew up playing Euchre with my family.”
They played the simple game, and for once, the quiet was companionable.David teased Sebastian when he lost a hand.Lula accused Ella, laughing, of holding cards too carefully.
“I don’t waste information,” Ella said, and the timing of it made all four of them laugh.
At one point, Sebastian leaned back in his chair, shaking his head.“You’re enjoying this far too much.”
“I am,” Lula said, surprised to find it was true.“I’ve always loved playing cards, but this group makes it seem extra special.
Beside her, Ella smiled—not wide, not showy, but real.
When the night wound down and coats were pulled on, David thanked them again.“We should do this more often,” he said.
Ella nodded.“If it suits you.”
“It does,” Lula said quickly.“I’ve really enjoyed tonight.”
After the door closed behind them, the cabin felt better than it had before.They’d needed a night with another couple.Lula decided she’d invite people over more often.
Sebastian reached for Lula’s hand.“That was good,” he said.
She laced her fingers with his.“It was.”
And for the first time in days, the distance between them felt a little smaller.She moved into his arms and kissed him, pleased that they’d had a good evening and that they had friends who were married.It would be so much easier to fill their empty nights with friends.
*****
The next afternoon, Lula carried two wrapped cuts of venison and a brace of rabbits into Katie’s shop, pleased with the weight of them in her arms.The bell over the door jingled as she stepped inside.Katie looked up from behind the counter and grinned at once.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite huntress,” Katie said.“And from the look of things, you’ve brought me something worth smiling about.”
Lula set the meat down carefully on the counter.“Venison and rabbit.Ella helped me wrap everything the way she thought would be easiest for you to sell.”
Katie unwrapped one bundle enough to inspect it, nodding in approval.“This is beautiful work.Clean cuts, well wrapped, and fresh enough that I could sell it all before sundown if I had to.”She rewrapped it with care.“You keep bringing me meat like this, and I’ll never complain a day in my life.”
Lula smiled, warmth spreading through her despite the chill from outside.“That’s good to hear.I was hoping this would be a proper business arrangement for both of us.”
“It will be,” Katie said.Then she paused, as if remembering something, and reached beneath the counter.“Oh!And this came for you this morning.Bernard said someone from the steamer brought a bag of post, and this was in it.”
She held out a letter.Lula went still the instant she saw the handwriting.Her mother’s elegant script slanted across the front of it as if no time at all had passed since Lula had last seen it on engraved invitations and carefully penned rebukes.For a moment, she simply stared.
Katie’s smile faded.“Are you all right?”
“I don’t know,” Lula said honestly.She slipped one finger beneath the flap and opened it there at the counter.
My dear Lula,
It is my sad duty to inform you that your father passed three days ago, after a sudden illness from which he did not recover.His end came quickly, and though I know there has been a great distance between us, I felt it best that you hear this from me without delay.
Whatever has passed between us, this is no time to stay away.Your father is gone, and the matters that divided this family must now be set aside.If you return home immediately, all will be forgiven.
I trust you will do what is proper.
Mother
