Page 34 of A Soft Kiss in Summer
She gave her skirts a good shake to try to get some of the wrinkles to relax before smoothing out the material, then ran a hand over her hair.She’d left it down, taking Daisy’s word for it that men liked to see a woman’s hair.How she knew this, she’d never know, but she’d seen Graham play with Rose’s hair enough to think her little sister may be right.Her hair held a curl that tended to go crazy when it rained, but today, it fell in soft waves.
She inhaled another breath and raised her hand, giving the door a few raps with her knuckles.
And waited.
She heard movement inside, then the sound of footsteps.The door opened a moment later and the knot that had been growing in her throat seemed to choke her where she stood.
“Violet,” Josiah said, giving her a curious look.“What are you doing here?”
She managed to swallow past the lump in her throat and smiled.“I thought you might be hungry.”She glanced down at the chicken pie in her hands.“I saw you head out of town after breakfast and Mabel was in the store today and mentioned you never came by for lunch so…” She help up the pie.“I brought you supper.”
Daisy’s idea of discouraging Josiah from having the marriage annulled made perfect sense when they’d discussed it that morning, but now that she stood on Josiah’s stoop, she wondered what he’d think.Would he find it odd or only natural that she was there with food?She was technically his wife, and Daisy’s plan was simple.Act like his wife and maybe he’d change his mind about wanting one.
She glanced at the pie again before meeting his gaze.“It’s not much.Just a simple chicken pie.”
“There’s nothing simple about a home cooked meal.”He leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb and grinned.“And are you sure you want to feed me?I might get used to it and come to expect it daily.”
“Well, someone has to do it.”Their eyes met and so many questions seemed to be asked without a single word spoken.He finally moved back from the door.She took it as an invitation and stepped inside.
The room looked exactly as it had earlier in the day, but for reasons she couldn’t name, being alone with him now seemed more—intimate.Was it because she’d woken in that bed along the wall with him?Or because she’d helped Daisy cook a meal for him?
The answers would probably never come, so she ignored them and moved to the small table and set the pie down.She could hear Josiah behind her, rooting around in his trunk if she had to guess by the noise he was making and stilled when he stepped up to the table.He held two plates and forks and another cup.
He set them down without a word before grabbing an empty pitcher from the top of the stove and headed outside.He came back a few minutes later with fresh water from the well and set it on the table.When he grabbed a knife and sat down to cut the pie, she realized he wanted her to join him.
Maybe Daisy was right and the way to a man's heart truly was through his stomach.
Josiah cut into the chicken pie and tried to ignore Violet as she stood on the other side of the table.His assumption that she would be joining him left him a bit confused as to why he’d thought of it in the first place.
Because she’s your wife and she cooked you a meal.
A wife on paper only.It's not real.
And it’s just a meal.Nothing more.
This whole marriage thing had him acting so out of character, he wasn’t sure what to think anymore.
All day he’d thought about her and the moment she showed up at his door, he’d invited her in, got her a plate and was serving up the food she’d made him as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
She pulled her chair out and sat down, their eyes locking briefly before she looked away, grabbing the water pitcher and filling the two mugs on the table.
He ignored her and concentrated on eating instead.The first bite made him groan.He wasn’t sure if it was because he was so hungry or if it was because it was so good.The broth was thick and creamy and seasoned to perfection.
He took a few more bites before washing it down.“You made this?”
She lifted her eyes, her cheeks turning a pale shade of pink.“Yes.Mostly.”
“Mostly?”
She grinned.“Daisy made the crust, but I did all the rest.I have scars to prove it.”She held up her arm.Long scratches ran down the inside.“That chicken wasn’t going down easy.He fought like the devil himself had him.”
He grinned.“I supposed to him that’s exactly what you looked like.”He went back to eating.“Its good.”
“Thanks.”
Another few minutes passed in silence before she asked, “Where were you all day?”
He dished out another slice of the pie and put it on his plate.“Cecil Jenkins and Randal Hyde were having a disagreement.”
