All She Left Behind by Jane Kirkpatrick

Author:Jane Kirkpatrick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical;FIC042030;FIC014000
ISBN: 9781493411009
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2017-07-12T04:00:00+00:00

Josiah argued against her taking the position at Millie’s. “There’s no need.” The two walked in the Salem dusk, accompanied by the winter mist, her arm through his elbow. She found she could express herself better facing outward rather than looking into his eyes.

“I want to know that I can meet a commitment I’ve made. And this gives us time to be certain.”

“I am certain.”

Jennie was as well, but it was happening so quickly. She had made one poor choice in a marriage and didn’t want to get swirled like a taffeta skirt into another poor one. “Your children need time to adapt to this. I want them to know I am able to support myself and my son. And paying off my Parrish debt. At least until the executor tells me the debt is freed.”

“Oh, he will.” Josiah scuffed his boots on the boardwalk, knocking off light snow. “Why not find a position as a nurse, then. Or work for a doctor. To pursue your medical interests.”

“You remembered.” She stopped and looked at him, elbows entwined, her hands warm inside the muff. They would join Ariyah and Peleg that evening, breaths visible in the night air. Their friends would be the first to hear the news, though they’d be bound in secret until after Christmas, until after Josiah spoke to his sons and their wives; Jennie to her parents and to Douglas.

“Of course I remember. You’re a natural healer. You should work, if you insist on proving your independence to my children. But why not do what appeals to you.”

“Studying with a doctor, yes, that would be welcomed.” She looked into his eyes, found herself lost in the depth of them, in the silver beard he trimmed, rounding it like a clamshell.

“It’s not necessary for you to pursue anything.”

“It is for me.” She told him then about the encounter with Miss Priscilla and Millie’s reactions. “I thought I might do some good when an undesirable, as Millie calls them, comes in. If they do. And besides, I’ll get a discount for my own Christmas purchases.” She poked him with her elbow.

“It’s temporary?”

She nodded.

“I should stay in Salem then. Why go to Portland at all?”

“Because your children expect it and because we need that time. I do.” He was quiet but she felt him tense beside her as they began to walk again. Jennie tried to catch a snowflake with her tongue. Into the silence she said, “I’m not questioning . . . us.”

“You knew what I was thinking.”

“I want time to prepare Douglas. It will be difficult for him to suddenly have a mother and a father again. I thought if I could ease him back in with me and then introduce you in your new role, it’ll be better.” She’d seen Douglas with Josiah and she’d seen Josiah’s parenting in the goodness of his children. He’d be a good father to Douglas, but it was another adjustment for her son. For them all.

“Will we have children, Jennie?”

Could Douglas

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