As Snow Before a Summer Sun by Deborah Howard

Author:Deborah Howard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lewis Publications, LLC

That night, before dinner, Todd and family came shyly into the parlor. Todd cradled baby Nora on one side and held Nicole’s hand on the other.

“Both my girls. I still can’t believe it,” he grinned, looking from one to the other.

“I’m so delighted for you, Todd. Mrs. Otis, I’ve heard so much about you. I just know we’ll be good friends.”

“Todd’s letters are full of you, too, Mrs. Lawson. I’d be honored to be your friend. You’re a strong and courageous woman. I admire that already.”

“Why, thank you,” Cordelia replied, surprised. “Please, come sit by me until dinner is served.”

The two women retreated to the divan as Todd crossed to his customary chair across from Robert’s. Robert’s chair was empty. He hadn’t come in yet from some projects he had to evaluate, Cordelia had explained earlier.

As the young women chatted easily, Todd looked from one to the other. He couldn’t help but compare. They were exact opposites of each other. Nicole’s skin was pale, her hair dark and straight. Cordelia was all peaches and cream with that little dusting of freckles over her nose and she had that crop of curling red hair piled atop her head. Where Nicole was frail and delicate, Cordelia was strong and hearty. Being around her, you could sense her energy and vitality, whereas, Nicole seemed to struggle to raise a thin arm, so fragile he feared she would break. They were daylight and dark, night and day. Yet, both were beautiful, inside and out.

Just then the parlor doors opened and Bess, Lucy . . . and Minnie brought in the food. Bess and Lucy stood facing the divan after they had carefully arranged the meal on the table. Minnie stood back against the wall with her head down.

“Oh, good! Mrs. Otis, now you’ll get to meet these very special people.” Cordelia rushed to Bess’s side, taking her hand in both of her own. “You’ve already met Bess. She runs the place around here.”

“Oh, Miz Lawson, I don’t neither,” said Bess, bashfully.

Cordelia continued, “This is Lucy, Bess’s daughter. Lucy is my prize pupil—then again, she’s my only pupil,” Cordelia laughed, “and she is a great help to all of us.” She kissed Lucy’s cheek and moved to Min-nin-ne-wah-hah-ket.

Taking her by the shoulders, she moved Minnie closer to Bess and Lucy. “And this is our newest addition. We call her Minnie.” Turning back to her friend, she said, “You tell her your real name.”

Minnie still looked at the floor but softly uttered, “Min-nin-ne-wah-hah-ket. It mean ‘little whirlwind.’”

Nicole stood and effortlessly transported herself (and once again Cordelia marveled at her new friend’s elegance) to Minnie’s side. She took her hand and held it to her own white cheek.

Startled, Minnie raised her eyes to find tears streaming down Nicole’s cheeks.

“Miz Otis! Why . . . do you cry?” she asked.

“My husband wrote to me about you. He’s kept me informed about your recovery and now that I see your beauty, my heart breaks to think about your pain. Are you healed then?”

“Yes, ma’am.

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