Laura's Second Chance (Widows of Virginia Book #2)(5)

Laura looked down at her dress and patted her hair. “All right.”

He started sketching. She watched the pencil darting up and down, dancing across the pristine white paper, his eyes glancing up at her from time to time as he drew. She held her breath, not wishing to give him a hard time by fidgeting.

He raised a brow at her and chuckled. “You can move, you know.”

Laura blushed again, feeling foolish. She let out a deep breath. “Oh, all right. Thank you.”

“So how’s your sewing business going?” he asked, deftly shading in a fold of her dress.

Laura looked over at the river. Nearby a train of ducklings tentatively followed their mother into the water. They were swimming - just about - just like her business was just about prospering… “It’s fine. Although I could do with more customers.”

“Business isn’t booming, I take it?”

Laura shook her head. “There are more and more mercantile and sewing shops sprouting up every month. Lots of competition.”

“But you love it here.”

It was more a question than a statement, but it sounded like he wasn’t sure to assume such a thing.

It made Laura doubt herself. Did she still like it here in Newport News?

“It’s where I’ve lived for most of my life,” she said, dusting off imaginary dirt from her dress.

“That doesn’t really answer my question.” He looked up at her, smiled, then handed her the portrait.

“Oh, it’s beautiful,” Laura whispered, running a finger lightly on the curve of her paper counterpart.

“But not as beautiful as the real thing.”

She looked up, and their eyes met. Warmth swelled up in her heart. She hadn’t heard many compliments since her husband died. In fact, she’d never had company like this since Anton’s passing.

“How…” he began, then wet his lips. “How would you like a change of scenery?”

“What do you mean?”

“Come with me.”

Laura’s jaw dropped. She searched his face for a hint of mirth, a joke, but there was only – openness.

“I – I don’t know what to say.”

“I won’t force you.” He placed the book down on the bench between them. “But I’d like to offer you a fresh start.” At her confused expression, he continued, “With me.”

A painful sting in her gut nearly rendered her speechless. Laura floundered for words, and clenched her fingers around the piece of paper in her hands.

She took a deep breath. “What are you saying exactly?”

He opened his mouth, then closed it.

“It’s time,” he finally said. “It’s time to move on.”





Chapter Three


She had told him she needed time to think about it. But deep inside she knew already. By the time she got home and told Susan about her day, her mind was pretty much made up.

Only with making that decision did she realize the relief it brought her. She had been falling into an abyss so deep she only saw darkness, yet no one, not even Susan saw what was really happening to her. Laura had hidden her anguish too well. There wasn’t a single thing in her life in Newport News that didn’t remind her of her beloved Anton. A fresh start could be her salvation.

Tears welled up in Susan’s eyes when she told her that night, after dinner. But to Laura’s surprise Susan didn’t beg her to stay.

“It’s time,” she echoed Robert’s words, enveloping Laura in a warm embrace. “It’s time for all of us to move on.”

The next day Susan and her husband helped her pack a few things. Not too many though, as she was adamant it was just a holiday. A brief respite. Will I like it in the West? Would I want to stay there? She wondered, as they waved her goodbye. She waved back holding off the tears, unlike Susan, who let them flow.

*

Gables, California



Laura strolled through the overgrown garden. A few flowers poked their heads above the weeds, but the place needed a lot of work. Rather than upset her, it actually made Laura excited. She loved garden work and the peace it brought to her mind.

Robert’s garden proved to be one of the few things similar to her home town. She thought back to the journey and the strange sights on the way. She hadn’t travelled much before, so when the dark busy streets were replaced by the open space of fields and meadows she stared out the wagon window like an innocent child amazed by all around her. She was less impressed when the green fields gave way to dry earth. As the wagon rolled to its destination they left a dust cloud trailing in their wake.

The town was different too. Instead of brick houses and tall buildings, shacks and small wooden houses greeted Laura in Gables. By the time they had arrived at Robert’s farm, her mouth was dry and her dress coated with dust. Not a great start.

“Mrs. Bennet?” A young voice brought her back to reality from her musings.

“Arthur.” Laura turned to the young lad who ran errands for Robert.

“Mr. Smith invites you to join him for tea.”

“Oh, thank you, that’s very kind of him.” She smiled at the boy and went inside the house.

The huge two-story building surprised her at first – it was far too big for just one man to live in. Filled with old furniture – antiques from what she could gather, it spoke of better times. She noted a few cracks in the walls and ceilings visible despite what looked like new paint. And the floors looked recently scrubbed, but worn with age. No doubt it once held grandeur, but it had decayed through time and poor maintenance.