To Have and To Hold by Ruth Ann Nordin

Author:Ruth Ann Nordin [Nordin, Ruth Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-11-07T10:18:45+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

By the time Mary, Dave and Grace left the restaurant, Mary was feeling better. Before she

made another attempt to talk to her mother, she needed to talk to Dave. She was about to ask

Grace if she could be alone with him, but Grace beat her to it.

“I think I’l head on to the house and see if Calvin and the children are back,” Grace said, turning

to them. “Mary, why don’t you show Dave the path we used to walk as children?”

“I’d like to show it to you,” Mary told him.

When he nodded, they headed toward the wooded area, away from the town. Even if they had

a bedroom where they could talk privately in the house, it was better to get away from

everyone else.

“You’re not stil mad at me, are you?” she asked as they passed the last house on the street

where the path began.

He sighed. “Mary, I wasn’t upset with you. I just wanted to know what your mother said to

make you cry. I don’t like it when you cry. I was upset with your mother for hurting you.

You’re such a gentle person, and people have a tendency to take advantage of it.” Dave

reached out to hold her by the elbow, but recal ing her mother’s words earlier that day, she

pul ed away. He frowned. “Why did you pul away from me? I told you I’m not upset with you.”

She tried to think of the right words to explain why without having to give away her mother’s

stinging remarks. Wiping her hands on her dress, she ventured, “I don’t think it’s appropriate to

touch unless we’re in the bedroom.”

“I was only going to hold you by the arm.”

“I know but you don’t know who’s watching.”

His steps slowed and he gave her a good look. “That’s ridiculous. There’s nothing wrong if I

touch your arm. I did that al the time back home.”

“But we aren’t home. We’re in Maine, and they do things differently here.”

“Things can’t be that strict here.”

She glanced over her shoulder and didn’t see anyone behind them, and around them on the

path were trees lining their way. Taking a deep breath, she nodded. “Alright. I suppose it’s

fine to do that here, but when we leave the path, I don’t think we should. My mother was

adamant about it.”

He stopped. She hesitated to stop and look his way since she knew he didn’t like hearing that,

but it was as close to the truth as she was going to say. She owed him an explanation. She

just hoped this would suffice. Reluctant, she halted her steps and turned to face him, noting the

slight scowl on his face.

“Dave—”

“She has no right to tel you what we should or shouldn’t do. I’m going to tel her that, too, and

if she has anything to say about it, she can tel that to my face.”

This was exactly what she was afraid would happen if she told him what her mother said. “It

doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, it does. What you and I do is not her concern. Besides, we’re married. It’s perfectly

fine for me to touch and kiss my own wife on the porch.

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