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“I do love my tea, even on a warm day,” Ivy said. “I hope you do, too. Coffee is invigorating, but tea calms the mind and spirit.” She waved toward the table. “Please, sit down.”
Katie took a seat at the table. “Your house is lovely.”
“It’s wonderful, isn’t it? Freeman had it built for me just last year. It’s the first new home I’ve ever lived in. I grew up in an old farmhouse near Lancaster, and then when I married Freeman’s grandfather, I came here to the millhouse as a bride. I never had cause to complain, but I do love my grossmama haus. It’s warm in winter, my stove doesn’t smoke and the floors don’t creak.”
Ivy poured tea into one of the cups and handed it to her. Even Ivy’s dishes showed her love of flowers. The cup and saucer were bright with green leaves and purple violets. “But I’m running on. It comes of living alone, I think. It’s not easy, you know. I fear that when I do have company I never give them a chance to get a word in.” Her speech was grandmotherly, but her eyes, alert and missing nothing, gave evidence of an intelligent and still vibrant woman. She smiled again, disarmingly. “So, tell me about your family, Katie. Do you have brothers and sisters?”
“Two brothers,” she answered. “I’m the youngest. There’s Isaac. He’s the oldest and was named after my father. Isaac has the family farm, and then there’s Robert, who lives across the road from us. Our family is small, but close. Isaac and Robert were always inseparable.”
“Two brothers,” Ivy echoed. “I always wanted brothers. I come from a small family myself. My mother had only two of us that lived past babyhood, my sister and me. My father longed so for sons, but it wasn’t to be.”
Katie stirred milk into her tea. “My father and mother were hoping for a girl. There hadn’t been any girls born in my father’s family for two generations.”
“Funny isn’t it, how patterns repeat in families? My husband was an only child and while we hoped for a large family, we were blessed with only the one child as well.” She looked at the window and sighed. “I always imagined having a wealth of grandbabies to hug and fuss over, but there was only Freeman. With two sons married, I suppose your fortunate mother has grandchildren.”
“Two so far, Robert’s. Isaac just married. It’s partially why I took this job. I really like Patsy, and I thought she should have time to settle into her home without a third woman in the house. Mother lives with us, as well. We lost my father a few years back.”
“I heard about that, and I’m so sorry. Your brother Robert has children?”
“Twins. Boys. Just learning to walk. I adore them.”
“So you’re fond of children?”
“I am.”
“I hope when you marry that you are blessed with more than a single child. It’s hard not to indulge them. But Freeman’s father was a precious child and a good man. He never gave us a night’s worry. I know he’s safe with the Lord, but losing him and Freeman’s mother in that accident was a terrible loss. She was like a daughter to me.”
“Freeman mentioned that they had died.”
“A boating accident. They were fishing on the Susquehanna. She was from Lancaster County, and her uncle took them out. We don’t know what happened. They may have struck a rock. They say the currents are dangerous. I was so distraught that the weight of it fell on Freeman’s shoulders.”
“I’m so sorry.”
Ivy sighed. “Death is part of life. But a mother should never have to bury her child. I don’t care what the bishop says. It goes against everything that is right and natural.” She ran her fingertips absently along the edge of her saucer. “You must think my faith is weak, to talk so.”
“Ne,” Katie assured her. “I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to lose both a husband and your only child.”
Ivy swallowed, her eyes, so much like Freeman’s, sparkled with tears unshed. “It was...very hard. They say it gets easier with time and prayer, but some days...” She broke off and looked out the window. A silence stretched between them, but it was one of shared loss rather than awkwardness. After a moment or two, she glanced at Katie and brightened. “How old are you?”
Katie thought it was an odd question. Why did Ivy care how old the housekeeper was? But she wasn’t offended in any way. “Twenty-three,” she answered. “Twenty-four soon.”
“And have you been baptized into the church?”
“I have. Last summer.”
“Good.” Ivy nodded her approval. “I cannot imagine living through such loss without the knowledge that those I love are forever beyond pain and sickness and that I will someday see them again.”
“That’s true,” Katie said. “I feel the same way about my father. I miss him terribly, but he suffered from his condition, and now he is at peace.”
“Ya. I do believe that.”
“And you aren’t alone,” Katie said. “You still have Freeman,” she said. “And, as you say, he’s a good man. He must be a great comfort to you.”
“He is.” Ivy sighed. “He always has been. Do you see what expense he went to building this house for me? I didn’t need anything so fancy, but I love it. And I have two bedrooms, when one should have been plenty, so if you ever want to stay over, you’re welcome to stay here with me.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Katie said.
“I’m not saying that my Freeman is without his faults. I wouldn’t want you to think that I’m as blind as Jehu. I’m afraid we did spoil him as a child. He’s a good boy, and I love him dearly, but he is fond of having his own way. Like his father and grandfather before him, there’s only one way to do something, and that’s the Kemp way.”
Katie smiled. “My brothers have accused me of always wanting things done the Katie way. They say I’m stubborn, but if my way is the best way, why should I change to please someone else? So long as the job gets done right and as quickly as needed?”
“Men do hate having women show them how to do something easier,” Ivy said. “I’m afraid it’s born in them. In some ways, I don’t believe any of them ever grow up. They’re like little boys in grownup clothing.” She chuckled. “They never get past the age of wanting a woman to take care of them and clean up after them.”
“Speaking of which, I’d best get back to my chores.” Katie started to rise. “The tea was delicious, but if we’re to have our midday meal on time, I should go.”
“Please, don’t go yet,” Ivy said. “I promise, no more sad talk. I’m ashamed of myself that I invited you to come and chat and then went on about my losses. I’m a poor hostess.”
“Ne,” Katie insisted. “I don’t mind. I’m glad that you felt you could share your heartache with me. My mother is a good person, and we’re very close. I couldn’t ask for a better parent, but she doesn’t talk about such things...about missing my father. She was never one to talk about her feelings. She says that we should keep such thoughts private. What you said about it being hard to accept... I feel the same way.” She reached out and squeezed Ivy’s hand. “It eases my heart to know that I’m not the only one who wants to put her sorrows into words. But I better go.” She gave a small sound of amusement as she stood. “As Freeman said, I’m not being paid to sit and drink tea. I came to his house to work, and if his meal is late, you know he’ll fuss.”
“Let him fuss,” Ivy insisted. “Sit down and have another cup of tea and tell me all about this offer of marriage you have from Kentucky that Sara was telling me about. If my grandson has something to say about what time his dinner goes on the table, he can say it to me because I’m keeping you here for my own pleasure. Besides...” She shrugged and mischief lit her eyes. “Sometimes, it’s good for a man to wait on a woman.”
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