Page 114 of Our Own Light

“Would you like to see the kitchen?” he asked after a while.

“Sure.”

Oliver held out his arm and Effie linked hers with it.

“It’s so nice having such a refined man around,” Effie said, a little playfulness in her voice.

But Oliver’s stomach fluttered unpleasantly. Sometimes, he still worried that he was ruining everything, especially when it came to Effie.

“Are you sure?” Oliver asked as they walked to the kitchen. “We still have some time to back out of the purchase. I mean, everything has been moving so quickly the last couple of weeks. I can only imagine how hard it is for you to have your entire world turned on its head like this. If you’d like, I could try to purchase a small home in the city so that I won’t be in the way. I’ll still help on the farm, of course, but, Effie, your family—”

“Our family,” Effie corrected. “You’re part of the family now, Oliver.”

“Oh, but I’m not, really. I’m Floyd’s...” Oliver could feel the heat rushing to his cheeks. “God, I’m like... I’m like a piece of slate mixed in with the coal.”

“You’re not.”

“I’m so worried that me being here is hurting you.”

Effie shook her head. “We couldn’t have bought this farm without you.”

“You wouldn’t have had to. You’d have been happy—”

“Floyd was never happy. Not like he is now.”

“And what about you? And Jo?”

“Jo loves you,” Effie said. “When we told her that you and Floyd were together, she was smiling from ear to ear. Now, I never told Floyd this, but I been putting it in Josephine’s head ever since she was little that love can look all sorts of ways. I thought that... well... that if she ever found out about Matt, she shouldn’t be surprised. I never wanted her to be confused or mad or to think it was wrong. I never wanted her to look at Floyd with nothing but love.”

“Oh, Effie, that’s so kind of you. Floyd’s so lucky to have you. I’m so lucky to have you.” Biting his bottom lip, Oliver studied her face for a moment. “Are you sure you’re happy, too?”

“I’m very happy. And if you think Floyd hasn’t asked me that one thousand times himself, you’re crazy. Me and him have talked about this ’til we were both blue in the face.”

“Just tell me if you’re ever unhappy and I promise I will try to fix it. Even if that means I have to leave. I swear I will move mountains to make sure you’re happy again.”

“I can’t see that happening. I love our family.”

Oliver’s throat tightened, every positive emotion in existence seemingly bubbling to the surface at once. Our family. He could scarcely believe it. He had a family. One that was so much better than the Astors had ever been.

“Me, too,” he said softly.

Once Oliver composed himself, he showed Effie the kitchen, which was much larger than the one she’d had back in the company town. While Effie was busy exploring the cabinets, Floyd and Josephine returned from upstairs.

Oliver knelt down. “So, what did you think of your new room, Jo?”

“It’s big!”

“Yeah? What else?”

“It’s real nice.”

“Nice? Is that the best word you can come up with?”

Josephine pursed her lips for a moment, thinking.

“Phenomenal?”

“I like that better. Sounds much more exciting that way.”

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