Maude's Trials (Widows of Virginia #1)
Christina Ward
Chapter 1
July 1875 Lamb’s Mill, Virginia
Maude placed down the flowers with a heavy heart and looked up at the tombstone.
John Lafayette, a husband, brother and father…
She stopped reading and turned away as her eyes teared up. Even after all this time, after five years had gone by in the blink of an eye, even when she was about to… Maude shook her head. She needed to stay strong.
She brushed off the dust and pressed the front of her skirt. “Goodbye John,” Maude whispered and rushed home. The detour to the small cemetery at the edge of town made her late for dinner – her mother and children would surely be worried if she didn’t hurry back.
Half an hour later she finally reached the town house where her family lived. Maude climbed up the narrow staircase up to the first floor flat. Hungry and worn-out she dragged herself to the door step. For a moment she struggled with the handle before finally opening the squeaky door. But as she made her way in an unusual silence greeted her. Her children looked up at her from their seats at the dinner table, but did not rush towards her to ask about her day or query whether she brought them anything from town.
Maude turned her head to her mother sat at the head of the table. The older woman stared at her blankly.
“Did I do something wrong?” Maude broke the silence.
“Do you ever do anything right of late?” Her mother sighed and Maude sensed the disappointment in her mother’s voice.
What could be the problem now? She was late, but not that late…
Maude’s mother nodded and as if to answer her unspoken questions Alexander, her seven year old son, grabbed something off the table and run up to her. The boy handed her a letter with Maude’s name and address written on it. The seal was broken.
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
Maude didn’t have to open the letter to know what made everyone angry and sad.
“I was planning to tell you…”
“…but?”
“I’m so sorry mother.” Maude wrung her hands and hang her head down. “I was scared you would not approve.”
Silence.
Maude ushered the boy back to the table and took the last remaining seat. Adella, Maude’s youngest, said grace and they all ate the soup leftover from the day before in silence. Once the kids were tucked into bed Maude met her mother back in the kitchen.
She stood by the tiny window covered in soot from the outside and cracked it open for a breath of fresh air.
“I don’t have much choice, mother.” Maude sighed. “I have to provide for my children, I am all they have now.”
She couldn’t look straight into her mother’s eyes. Guilt wrapped her stomach in knots.
“I know,” Her mother finally replied. “But if you can’t talk to your mother about such things, who will you talk to? I might be growing old, but that doesn’t make me useless.”
Maude carelessly ran her fingers through her thick, dark hair. She never knew how to answer statements like that from her mother. Of course, her Ma wasn’t useless, but Maude struggled to put food on the table with her seamstress work for all four of them.
Being a single mother was not an easy task. Each day felt like a bitter pill, and that hot, mid-July day was not different. Why was it wrong for her to look for an easy way out? She was only trying to find a better life for them all.
“I don’t like the idea of you being a mail order bride,” her mother whispered.
“We’ve exchanged several letters. He does not sound like a bad person. Unlike some of the men making their advances here…” Maude paused. “It will be alright, mother.”
“You cannot be so sure, my dear Maude. Don’t just throw yourself at someone assuming they will prevent you from falling.”
“I will be careful. It’s been long enough since John… I can’t live in the past. I have to try…” Maude held back the tears. “Please don’t stop me mother. Please.”
“I can’t convince you otherwise, my dear daughter. I know how you feel and I see the troubles you face.” She extended her arms and hugged Maude. “It seems like you already made up your mind already any way.”
Maude returned the warm hug.
“Just one thing,” her mother continued. “You’ll have to leave the kids here.”
“Why?” Maude pulled back. “He agreed to that. I don’t want to be a burden to you.”
“I know, child. And I saw the three tickets in that envelope. But apart from what he tells you, what else do you know about that man, that place? It’s miles away from home. What if you change your mind? What if he changes his mind? No, they’ll join you if and when you settle down.”
Maude bent her head and made her hands busy with her rugged clothing. She knew what her mother was thinking, she felt stupid for not considering that.
“Mommy, will you leave us?” Out of nowhere Adella appeared at her feet.
Maude looked into her baby’s face, caressed her soft hair and lifted the girl into her arms. She didn’t know how to make her children understand. She glanced at the teary eyes of her boy hiding behind the kitchen door. Ma is right, Maude thought. I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to them.