Laura's Second Chance (Widows of Virginia Book #2)(4)

Laura gaped.

“What relationship?”

It was Susan’s turn to wear a confused frown. Laura quickly placed the cups in the cupboard and wiped her hands in her apron.

“Oh Susan, no, you - you didn’t do anything wrong.” Laura was eager to clear up the confusion. “And Robert and I - we - we don’t have a relationship.”

Susan smiled. “Well, maybe you should.”

“Sue!” Laura should have felt offended by the suggestion, but somehow coming from Susan’s mouth it made Laura laugh. After all this time, after all this worrying about Susan judging her, it was her friend who was actually suggesting something like this!

“Why don’t you give it a try?” Susan smiled. “It may be what you need. I know Anton would want you to be happy. Even if it is with someone new.”

Laura felt a pang of pain take over her chest. It wasn’t why she wrote back to Robert… Was this really what Anton would have wanted for her? To move on and find a new life, and perhaps a new love? She hurriedly wiped away the tears threatening to roll down her cheeks.

“No crying.” Susan scolded her.

Laura looked up to see her friend wiping her own tears. “I’m not.”

“You know what? I’ll take care of the store today.” Susan patted her shoulder. “Get some fresh air and show him around. He might like it here.”

“Should I?”

“Why not?”

Laura hugged her sister-in-law as the band around her chest loosened. Susan was her best friend, her only family, and Laura didn’t want anything to come between them, not even - not even Robert.

She patted her hair.

“You look fine,” Susan said, winking.

Laura smiled and went out to the patio, where she found Robert silently scribbling on a piece of paper. He immediately stood up upon seeing her.

“Hello, Laura.”

“I, uh… I’m sorry about yesterday and this morning. I am being a bad hostess.” She smiled.

There was no escaping now. The sooner she talked to him the better. So many questions she had for him... How he was doing? Had he decided to travel with his father? Or stay behind to keep working on their farm? Had he found someone to love… The last thought made her blush.

Robert smiled. “It’s perfectly fine. After all, it was I who turned up unannounced.” He directed his gaze to the seat beside him. “Won’t you sit with me?”

Laura took a deep breath, careful not to look like she might bolt any minute now. "Of course.”

“It must have been a surprise to see me yesterday,” Robert continued. “I admit I was torn between just replying to your letter and seeing you for myself.” He smiled at her. “It’s been such a long, long time, Laura.”

Her cheeks flushed. “Three years. I’m glad to see you after all that time.”

“That’s a relief.” He let out a sigh before taking a deep breath. “I was starting to regret coming here.”

The edges of her mouth dropped down. “Oh.”

He looked at her, his eyes wide, and he hurriedly said, “No, not like that! I was - afraid that my presence would be a nuisance. I regret whatever discomfort I may have caused you.”

“Oh no,” Laura said, waving a hand. “It’s fine. There was - there was no discomfort. None at all.”

Except for the awkward silence with Susan and the worry that hadn’t let her sleep for weeks…

Laura bit her lip. “Have you been around Newport News yet?”

Robert shook his head. “Why? Are you going show me the best parts of town?”

Laura smiled. “If you’re up to it.”

He put on his hat and stood up ready to go.

“Lead the way, milady.”

*

They started slow, just breezing through the beautiful scenery as they walked around town. Robert asked about new establishments, they spoke about how the city differed from the frontier towns in the West, and how Laura had fared the past few weeks. Their feet brought them to the nearby river, flowing clear and sparkling under the bright late summer sun.

She sat on a bench on the grassy riverbank and he joined her. But not too close, always the gentleman.

“I was sorry to hear about your husband’s death.” Robert suddenly said.

“Thank you,” she replied staring out into the distance.

Another moment of silence passed. Something rustled beside her and she turned to look at Robert just as he took out a medium-sized book and a charcoal pencil form his coat pocket.

“Would you mind?” he asked, gesturing at the small book. “I’d like to draw you. You looked so… peaceful just a moment ago.”

Laura’s eyes widened and a blush blossomed on her cheeks. She remembered younger days out in the park, looking at a sketch book of Robert’s drawings.

“Me? I – I don’t think…” Birds. Trees. Families. People on the streets. When Robert was still courting her, he showed her drawings of such beautiful places and things. Why would he want to draw her?

“I haven’t seen you in a really long time,” he said, avoiding her gaze. “Because you’re beautiful. I’d like to draw a portrait of you. Only if you’re comfortable with it, of course.”