The River Widow(46)

“Do you recognize me?” she asked Esther and stepped up to greet her. Esther’s face was unreadable as she stared down at Adah. But now Adah could get a better look at the woman’s hands—square and sturdy and large as a man’s, but also smooth and nicely manicured. Hands that had seen very little labor during their lives, not even household work. She could also see that Esther’s skin was almost translucent, and her eyebrows had been plucked into two barely arched narrow lines.

Esther’s voice was strong but cool. “I think so.”

Adah said, “I’ve seen you at church.”

Esther’s gaze was of solemn appraisal. Not warm, but not distant, either. Just plain there . She had probably learned a great deal of self-composure and restraint from working around teachers, parents, and powerful men. Esther stood rock still as she spoke. “Yes, I’ve seen you several times.”

Adah pushed back her hair. The afternoon was warm, and that, combined with her bafflement over Esther, was making perspiration bead on Adah’s forehead. “I had no idea you were coming over.”

“I had no idea you would be here.”

Adah tried smiling. “I live here.”

Jesse said, “We’ve given Lester’s widow a place to stay until she can get back on her feet.”

Well, that was about the nicest thing Adah had heard since coming back from the river to the Branch house. Maybe they were softening toward her in ways she had yet to see.

“I see.”

Adah stared; she couldn’t help herself. “Welcome. It’s so nice to have you here.”

The Branches were watching this interaction with fierce attention, but they made no interference. Mabel’s eyes were sharp points.

Esther said, “Thank you.”

“Congratulations on the school board.”

“Hardly,” said Esther with a tiny smirk. “It’s a battle.”

“But you’re so accomplished,” Adah objected.

Esther leaned in closer. “I’m accomplished on the job.”

Adah blinked hard. She couldn’t get a grasp on Esther Heiser. Something in the other woman’s eyes remained untamed, even though her words were so direct and sensible. Despite the contradiction, Adah was happy to have another woman to talk to.

“So why do you do it? I mean, bother with the board, since you’re already an accomplished teacher and principal?”

“Oh, I don’t know. To do my part in a bigger way. To help more than just my students and teachers. To get out of my house when I need to.” Adah could see Esther swallow. “I live alone.”

Adah’s words seemed to come of their own bidding. If the Branches liked Esther, perhaps they wouldn’t mind Adah keeping company with her. They wouldn’t want to have to explain that Adah was a virtual prisoner here. “Do you want to go to a movie or lunch someday . . . ?” Her mouth dried. Why was she asking this?

Esther seemed equally confused. “Why?”

Adah said, “Why not?”

Esther’s look had changed. Her tone was lower and somewhat indignant now. “Okay, I understand. How obvious you are. You must know.”

A tap on Adah’s shoulder could’ve knocked her over. What in the world was Esther talking about? “Know? Know what?”

“Oh, come on. You’re kind of obvious, you know.”

Taken aback, Adah managed to sputter, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Let’s not behave like children. Someone must have told you about Lester and me.”

Adah’s knees turned to mush. “What?”

“Someone must have told you that I dated your husband at one time.”

A full shock sweat broke out. If she had been near a chair, she would’ve fallen into it. “N-no . . . no one did.”

Now Esther’s face was pliable, and there was a new curiosity in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t think anyone could fake the reaction you’re having right before my eyes. I’ve shocked you. I can see now that you really didn’t know.”

Adah had wrapped her arms around herself and her hands were shaking. Other than Betsy, Lester had never mentioned anyone from his past, and the idea of him with any woman was now unsettling. Esther probably had no idea that she had dodged a bullet. “I didn’t know.”

What followed was a confusing supper, during which Adah had a hard time reading anyone’s hands or anything else about them. The talk was about flood reparations—Congress had been petitioned by the city for a levee, a seawall of sorts around the city, and the estimated cost was over five million dollars. They also discussed conflicts among school-board members, some town gossip, and radio programs.

Throughout it all, Adah read no sparks of romance between Jesse Branch and Esther Heiser. Adah kept quiet, and Daisy, too, remained silent during the entire tedious meal, showing no interest in their guest whatsoever.

Later, after supper had finally ended, Esther took Adah’s arm and steered her onto the front porch, where the daylight was drifting away. Then she stood facing her. “Look, it was before he met you, just after his wife died. We went out a few times. Nothing serious. No harm done.”

Then what was that pain Adah saw in Esther’s eyes?

“He ended it when I told him I was falling for him. Now that was a mistake. I’ve picked up too much of an aggressive style from managing teachers and parents all day. As soon as I spoke of the future and my feelings, he jumped ship. Les said he wanted no ‘entanglements,’ and that was that. But we remained friends. I’m sorry to hear what happened to him, God rest his soul.”