FIRST LOVE FOREVER
Romance Collection

In Due Season

Whitley, Kansas
May 1901

Papa’s question shouldn’t have surprised her, but Leah Brown’s jaw muscles clenched involuntarily regardless of her attempt to school her features into a smile. She dipped her head and pretended to concentrate on stirring honey into her tea, swallowing the familiar bitterness prompted by his announcement.

Papa remarrying?

She swallowed a gulp of tepid tea. “Aren’t you asking the wrong person?” She glanced at him over their breakfast table. “Mrs. Voth’s opinion is the one that counts.”

Her father’s gray eyes crinkled into an adoring smile. “Daughter, your opinion is important too.” He poked his last bite of eggs into his mouth. “I know how close you and your mother always were.”

Leah’s heart pinched. “I’ll always miss Mama.”

“I will too.” Papa reached across the table and laid his hand over hers. “And I’ll always be grateful for the way you cared for her during her infirm years.” Moisture glistened in his eyes as he squeezed her hand. “Working with me in the apothecary and taking such good care of your mother, and the house . . . and me. You would’ve—”

She thrust both palms up. No, she’d not let him finish the sentence. Whether or not she would have made a good wife and mother was irrelevant, and she detested the words that only served to remind her that those titles were stolen from her the day the man she loved left her at the altar. “Caring for you and Mama has always been—”

Resentment nipped her and she pushed it away. The harsh feeling had nothing to do with her parents.

“—my privilege.”

Papa’s chin whiskers twitched as the corner of his mouth turned up. “But you didn’t answer my question. How would you feel about me marrying Helen Voth?”

How could she mind? While she knew Papa had loved Mama, his loneliness since her death had manifested itself on his countenance. He couldn’t hide his longing for the kind of companionship Leah couldn’t provide, and Mrs. Voth was a pleasant woman. Perhaps the widow Voth could return the smile to Papa’s face.

“Papa, I don’t mind. I want you to be happy.” Happy. Even as she spoke the word, a thread of envy spiraled through her, and she bit her lip. Now wasn’t the time to give freedom to the tears of regret that often accompanied her when she extinguished her lamp at night. The time had come for her to put away the fairy tale of marriage. Everyone seemed to have their roles. Hers was the maiden lady, as some of the elderly women said. She drew in a breath as she rose and straightened her shoulders. “I like Mrs. Voth. She’s a very nice lady.”  Picturing the two of them living out their September years together wasn’t hard.

Papa stroked his beard. “Yes, she is.” He took a sip of coffee and cleared his throat. “Harold stopped by the apothecary yesterday afternoon while you were out.”

Momentary confusion made Leah pause with her teacup halfway to her lips. “Who?”

Papa’s eyebrows pulled together. “Harold Stuart. The representative from Cunningham Pharmaceuticals. The fellow who invites you to accompany him to dinner almost every time he comes through town.”

Yes, Harold. He wasn’t a bad sort, but he didn’t interest her in the least. Her sip of tea tasted bitter despite the honey, and she shrugged. “He must not know I’m the town spinster.”