Page 5 of A Late-Blooming Rose
Around him, conversation flowed about the upcoming Harvest Festival to benefit the new church. Even Micah contributed, expressing his excitement and detailing everything he wanted to do at the event.
Normally, Andre would be interested in every detail of the discussion, especially since he’d contributed the land and the architectural drawings for the church. In addition, the idea for the Harvest Festival sprang up during one of the Bellaire-Norton dinner parties. Ever since, he’d had his fingers in almost every aspect of the planning and almost burst with pride about how his adopted community came together to throw the biggest shindig this town had ever seen—perhaps bigger than the wholestateof Montana had ever seen.
Delia looked over at him, her eyebrows pulling together in a frown. “You’re very quiet, Papa. That’s not like you. Are you feeling unwell?”
Andre set down his spoon. “I had a letter today from Marty.”
Her brow crinkled. “Your friend in New York?”
“Marty wrote that he’s ill, and the doctor does not expect him to live out the winter.”
Delia sent him a sharp glance. “I know he’s one of your oldest friends, Papa. But you are not to eventhinkof going to New York.”
Andre couldn’t resist shaking his head and giving Joshua an amused look. “Henpecked by my own daughter. Be warned, my dear boy. This is what awaits you.”
Joshua’s slight smile made the skin around his eyes crinkle. But wisely, his son-in-law remained silent.
“Papa!” Delia exclaimed.
Andre raised a hand in placation. “I know with my creaky heart I cannot travel to New York. However, it grieves me not to see my old friend once again…to bid him good-bye before he takes that great, last journey.”
“Surely Marty has family? Haven’t you mentioned he has a son and grandchildren?”
“Before he passes, Marty doesn’t expect to see much of his son John, whose second wife is in a delicate condition and often ill. She won’t let him leave her side. But Marty has his sister Rose. She’ll take good care of him.”
Something in Andre’s expression must have alerted his sharp-eyed daughter, for Delia gave him a searching glance. “I don’t recall you mentioning Rose before.”
“Have I not?” he casually replied.
“Is Rose married? Does she live with him?”
“Rose should have married. She’s beautiful and smart.”I expected her to fall in love with a worthy man and raise a big family of bookworms.“I don’t know why she didn’t.” Guilt weighed like a stone in his stomach, making him lose what little appetite remained.Surely not because of me.
Andre became aware of his daughter watching intently. “Perhaps—” he hurried to say “—because Rose was terribly shy.” With a reminiscing smile, he thought back to their many conversations. “Although, eventually, not with me.”
The interest on his daughter’s face encouraged him to continue. “She works as a librarian.” He frowned. “Marty tells me Rose has given up her job to nurse him.”
Joshua, who’d been quietly listening, set down his teacup. “If Miss Collier has left her employment, what will become of her when your friend dies? Will she be provided for?”
The question made Andre firm his mouth and clench his jaw. He forced himself to take a breath. “In a most basic way. Rose must have some savings. Marty will leave her a small annuity and his library of books. He has quite an extensive collection.”
“I hopeyourRose has a close circle of friends,” Delia commented, her eyes fill of concern. “Else she’ll be lonely.”
He frowned at her.Sometimes my daughter is entirely too perceptive.
Andre tried to ignore Delia’s implication about the feelings for Rose he’d buried long ago. After he’d pulled away from their courtship, they’d both started avoiding each other. She took the job at Stone Street Library. When he dined at Marty’s, Rose would work late or visit friends. Later, she’d moved out of her brother’s home and into a small flat in a woman’s boardinghouse. He had no idea how she’d feel about him twenty-two years later. He calculated their ages. “Goodness. Rose must be in her forties by now. I always think of her as a woman in her twenties.”
Perhaps she’ll only view me as an old friend.He picked up his soupspoon and scooped up some broth.
“Too bad your library isn’t built.” Delia’s tone was as carefully casual as his had earlier been.“Your Rose could move out here and be the librarian.”
“She’s not ‘my Rose,’ dear one.” However, struck by the idea, Andre paused, his spoon halfway to his mouth, feeling an unexpected lift of his spirits.Would Rose think of moving to Sweetwater Springs? Perhaps she’d consider working as the first librarian in a new library an interesting challenge?
Seeing Delia’s knowing glance made Andre refrain from rubbing his hands together. Outwardly calm, he finished a sip of soup and set down his spoon. Then he couldn’t help a grin slipping across his face. “Splendid idea, daughter. That’s exactly right. No time to waste. I must get started on the Sweetwater Springs library at once.”
CHAPTER THREE
After dinner, Andre went to his study, located between the music room and the library. His son-in-law had his own space on the opposite side of the library, close to the entrance of the home, so people could discreetly enter and speak to him. A large window at the back, flanked by long, narrow panels of stained glass, overlooked the conservatory, garden, and park. On sunny days like this one, Andre had plenty of light by which to read or write.
