After the Shadows by Amanda Cabot

Author:Amanda Cabot
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance;Novels;FIC042030;FIC042040;FIC042110
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2023-01-26T00:00:00+00:00

Though he’d been tempted to dismiss school early, Craig did not, but he also did not linger once the last pupil left. Worries about Noah had weighed heavily on him all afternoon, even though he told himself that Emily was watching over his son.

Rather than enter Finley House through the front door, he went directly to the one that led into the kitchen. If she followed her usual routine, Emily would be preparing supper. He wanted to talk to her before he saw his son, wanted to be prepared if Noah’s life was in danger.

As Craig had expected, Emily was in front of the stove, stirring something. What he hadn’t expected was the way the warmth of her smile reassured him even before he had a chance to speak.

“I know you’re worried, but Doc said it’s not serious, and Noah’s coughing less, thanks to the syrup he gave me. That seems to have made Noah sleepy, so Mrs. Carmichael is sitting at his bedside in case he wakens and starts coughing again.”

Relief washed over Craig at the realization that this was a normal childhood ailment, not a life-threatening illness. All afternoon he’d told himself that Noah had a cough, nothing more, but all afternoon memories of other parents burying their young children had flashed before him.

“The widow’s a good woman, and so are you.”

The flush that colored Emily’s face surprised Craig. Was she unaccustomed to compliments? Surely her parents and her husband had lavished them on her. Emily was more than a good woman. Her combination of competence and compassion intrigued him. Though she had no children of her own, the way she treated both Noah and Beulah told him she had deep maternal instincts, and the way she did everything she could to maintain peace in a household whose equilibrium had been shaken by the Dietrichs’ arrival demonstrated her skills as a peacemaker.

“I haven’t done much, but I’m glad to help.” Emily was characteristically self-deprecating.

Craig looked at her more closely, frowning when he saw the circles under her eyes. “You look as tired as I feel. Did Noah’s coughing keep you awake last night?” That seemed unlikely, since their rooms were on opposite ends of the house, but he had to ask.

“It wasn’t that. My mind kept whirling, so I couldn’t relax.”

He suspected he knew the reason. “Life’s been different since the Dietrichs moved in. The only word I can find to describe it is tense.” Even Noah had sensed the difference the newcomers had made and had told Craig he didn’t like Lizzie.

“Mean,” he’d said. Craig had to agree.

“I wish the town would rebuild the parsonage.”

Emily shrugged. “That would help, but it wouldn’t resolve everything. Beulah would still be in school with Lizzie. She cries every night because she doesn’t understand why Lizzie is mean to her.” Emily appeared to be on the verge of tears herself. “It makes my heart ache.”

“Mine too.” As seemed to happen more and more often, he and Emily shared the same opinions. “I do the best I can at school, but Beulah’s sensitive.

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