A Headstrong Woman(107)

“She knew?” Alexandria pulled back and frowned at him. Anna had been subdued but Alexandria had chalked that up to the situation with Simon.

“Yes.”

“She gave no indication… I should have told her myself.”

“It wouldn’t have mattered, Alexandria,” Anna said from the doorway. “Had you turned Jonathon down it wouldn’t have changed the fact that Jonathon sees me as a friend and no more. It hurts to watch someone you care for marry another, however,” Anna paused as though considering her words carefully, “I’ve let go and made some realizations. You and Jonathon are good for each other, Lexie, and good friends. I wish you both the best of luck,” Anna told her sister as she crossed the room.

Jonathon released Alexandria and stepped back as the sisters hugged.

“When did you get so grown up?” Alexandria asked on a tearful laugh.

“The past few days,” Anna replied with a rueful smile. The two hugged again as their parents entered the room. Tears streaming down her own face, Shirley joined her daughters and the men smiled over the women’s head as if to say: ‘Women, what do you do with them?’

“Might I have a word with you in private?” Clay asked of his new son-in-law.

“Yes, sir,” Jonathon agreed and gave the three ladies a wide berth.

“Clay, son; it’s Clay.”

“Yes, sir… I mean, Clay,” Jonathon followed his father-in-law from the room. The two men moved outside and strolled across the yard to an empty corral away from prying ears.

“First off, I want to thank you for all the help you’ve been to my daughter,” Clay said to the younger man.

Jonathon wasn’t certain how to answer but attempted to. “I made a promise to Elijah that I would, but over the past several months your daughter has come to mean a great deal to me, sir,” Jonathon shared and watched Clay.

“You love her?” Clay’s gaze met his head on and never faltered. Jonathon smiled as his mind quickly touched over the past several months and his own realization that he did indeed love Alexandria.

“Yes, sir,” he answered without hesitation.

“I kinda thought so. And again, it’s Clay,” Clay smiled at his son-in-law.

***





Alexandria helped Anna pack and the three ladies chatted easily among themselves. Alexandria was so relieved that Anna didn’t hate her that she felt almost giddy.

“I wonder what Dad wanted to say to Jonathon,” Alexandria mused as she folded one of Anna’s shifts.

“Man stuff, I’m sure,” her mother answered. “Your dad likes Jonathon, I suspect that accepting him into the family is going to be easy, I just hate the circumstances of your marriage.”

“I figured that was how you and dad would feel,” Alexandria admitted not finishing the thought that it had been Anna she had been concerned about.

“He’s a good man, Alexandria, it doesn’t take a person long to see that, and I don’t want to meddle, I mean, I’m not even certain where things stand between you two,” she started hesitantly.

Anna knew her mother wanted a private audience with Alexandria and found an excuse to leave.

“You know, Lilly’s been down for her nap for a while now. I’d like to say bye before I leave, if you two don’t mind, I’m just going to go check on her,” she was already leaving the room.

Alexandria knew her sister was being polite.

“Tell me dear,” Shirley patted the edge of the bed beside her, “is your marriage to be in name only?”

Alexandria felt her cheeks color. “We discussed it and we both want a family,” she answered honestly. “We didn’t discuss timing so I don’t know what to expect really.”

“Do you care for him at all?”

Alexandria considered her mother’s question carefully.

“I do. We’re good friends and can talk about most anything, even things we shouldn’t,” her cheeks were slightly pink as she remembered their late night discussion and kiss. “And I am attracted to him. He kissed me right after we returned from Jasper and it was kind of nice actually,” she felt a bit like a schoolgirl. She didn’t mention their other kiss, the one that had shaken her to her core.

Her mother smiled. “Maybe his proposal stems from more than a desire to help you,” Shirley suggested.

“I hope not!” Alexandria, her face horrified, jumped to her feet. “I like Jonathon, love him as a friend even, but I’m not in love with him and I don’t want to hurt him.”