Mail Order Mama Read online

  She shrugged. “Irish, French and English, I believe.”

  “So your family has been here for a long time I take it?” So much for that potential conversation. What could he possibly persuade her to talk about? Was she this shy with everyone, or was it simply because she knew they’d be married in a few hours?

  “Yes. Yours?”

  “My parents immigrated here from Norway.”

  “They live near you?” She knew he was trying to get her to talk with him, but she was having a hard time knowing what to say. She was always shy, but this was the worst it had ever been. Her mother had explained about the wedding night to her, and knowing she’d be doing that with him in just a few hours was nerve wracking.

  He nodded. “All of my family is in Minnesota. Most are close.” He liked having family nearby.

  “Do you have a big family?”

  “I have seven brothers and four sisters.”

  Her eyes widened. “And they’re all close enough that I’ll meet them soon?” She tried to keep the dread from her voice. She hoped they wouldn’t all be there for the wedding. She didn’t think she could handle meeting that many new people all on one day. It was hard enough just meeting him and the girls.

  “Yes, you’ll meet most of them this evening at the wedding supper.”

  “Wedding supper? You had time to plan a wedding supper?” Why had she pictured him and the girls with her for the wedding and them all standing in front of the preacher together? She hadn’t seen this as a normal wedding with a big group of people. How was she going to handle being the center of attention that way? She felt the panic rising in her throat again, but tried to hide how very afraid she was of the idea.

  “It’s just going to be at my parents’ house. Nothing formal and just family.” Why was she nervous about meeting his family? Surely she’d realized he and his girls wouldn’t be isolated with no family around.

  “That’s a lot of people, though. Sounds like your family is the entire state of Minnesota!”

  He laughed. “Not even close. There are a lot of us, though. I’m the youngest, so you’ll meet lots of brothers and sisters and nephews and nieces today.” Now that she was actually talking to him, she didn’t seem to be so bad. “How many brothers and sisters do you have?”

  “I’m an only child. My father died when I was two, and my mother never remarried. She’s getting married next month, though.” She stared out at the scenery as they drove through the countryside. She was surprised by how pretty Minnesota was. The carriage was small enough they were pressed together from shoulder to hip. She wished she could move a respectable distance away, but they’d be married in a few hours so it probably didn’t matter too much except in her mind.

  He hadn’t been sure how he’d react physically to his bride, but he found he liked the way she was pressed against him. At first, he hadn’t liked her appearance, simply because it was so different from Anna’s, but the more time he spent with her, the more he realized that he was looking forward to his wedding night. “Is that why you answered my letter?”

  She nodded. “My mother’s fiancé didn’t like the idea of having me there after the wedding. It was either become a mail order bride or find a family who would hire me as a live in servant. My experience with the family I’ve been working for made me decide I’d rather be a mail order bride.”

  “What happened with them?”

  She thought for a moment about the best way to answer him. “I’ve been working for the same family for the past three years. I was hired to be a cook, but it’s gradually become more and more. For the past few months, I’ve been expected to cook not only three meals per day, but also do all the dusting and cleaning and take care of the two children. None of that would bother me if my pay had risen with my duties. If they’d paid me for everything I’d done, I’d have been able to find a place to live and support myself.” She sighed. “I was looking for a different position in the local paper when my mother told me about her marriage.”

  He thought about what she’d told him. “You were right to get out of that situation. I’m glad you came out here to be part of our family.” He took her hand, which was resting on her lap, and squeezed it in his own.

  She felt her hand tingling where he held it. She looked down and saw how huge his hand was compared to hers and felt overwhelmed again. He dwarfed her in every way. “Tell me about the bacon sandwiches.” She wondered how it would be to kiss a man who was so much bigger than her. Or any man for that matter. Was it wrong to think about kissing him? They would be married in a few hours, so maybe it was okay.

  He laughed. “Bacon is about the only thing I can cook. Mor brings bread into town for us every other day or so, and will usually bring a meal with her. If she doesn’t bring enough food to last until her next visit, the girls are stuck with eating bread and jam or bacon sandwiches. I’d just made bacon sandwiches again right before my girls and I sat down to write that letter.”

  It was just as she’d guessed. “So your girls would give just about anything to never have to eat another bacon sandwich?” If they were that sick of bacon, they would love her on sight. Even in her modesty, she knew she was an excellent cook. The comments she received from the dinner parties she’d cooked for had left her in no doubt about that.

  He shrugged. “The younger one especially. She’s got more spirit in her. The older one thanks me sweetly every time I put anything on the table.” And that worried him. He knew Abbie was as sick of bacon sandwiches as he and Georgie were, but she seemed almost afraid to say anything about it. Emily actually reminded him a bit of Abbie.

  “They sound like lovely children. I can’t wait to meet them.” Even though she was nervous about being a wife and about meeting his family, she was excited at the prospect of having two little girls to love.

  “They’ve been calling you their ‘Mail Order Mama’ ever since you answered the letter. I hope they’ll shorten it to just ‘Mama’ after we marry, but I’m not certain they will.” He felt the need to warn her there could be some slips from the girls.

  “I won’t mind either way. They can even call me Emily until they feel more comfortable with something else.”

  He shook his head. “No, that wouldn’t be respectful.”

  They drove along in silence for a few minutes, and she realized he was still holding her hand. She found she didn’t mind at all. It felt good to be touched.

  By the time they reached his town, she was happy to see the buildings rising before them. She had never been much of a conversationalist, and had found it difficult to keep up her end of the conversation with the handsome stranger sitting beside her.

  He pointed out his mercantile with the huge sign reading “Benjamin’s Bargains”.

  “Do you get a lot of business?” she asked.

  “I’m the only mercantile in town and all the surrounding farmers shop at my store. I do a good business.” He looked over at her. “I’ll be asking for your help from time to time. Maybe a couple of hours in the afternoon, or taking a whole day here and there. The girls are good at staying out of trouble while I work.”

  He pulled up in front of a small house just down from the church. “I thought we were on our way to get married.”

  He nodded and walked around the buggy, helping her down. “We are. My sister said to bring you to her house first. She insisted you’d need to take a bath after so many days on the train and you might need help with your hair.” He pulled his pocket watch out and looked at it. “We have just over an hour before the wedding.”

  He reached into the back and pulled her bag out, carrying it for her up to the small house. He knocked on the door and a tall blond woman opened it. “Birgitta, this is my bride, Emily. Emily, my sister, Birgitta.”

  Emily smiled glad to meet one of his siblings before the others, so she wouldn’t be as overwhelmed later. “It’s nice to meet you.” She knew her voice had dropped to a mere whisper again.

  Birgitta’s eyes met Benjamin’s
over Emily’s head. “She’s tiny!” She opened her door wide. “Come in. Come in! We must get you ready for your wedding.” She pointed her finger at Benjamin. “You go away. We’ll see you at the church. Go make sure Mor has your pretty girls ready.”

  Benjamin squeezed Emily’s arm. “Don’t let my sister bully you.” He turned and walked toward his store his strides long and hurried.

  Emily watched him go, and then turned to Birgitta. “I’m filthy. I can’t believe how dirty the train was.” She was embarrassed to meet anyone looking like she did, so she was thankful it was just one person. It was bad enough to meet Benjamin like this.

  Birgitta wrapped her arm around Emily’s shoulders. “I have a bath waiting for you in the kitchen. I just need to add hot water, and it’s already boiling.” She steered Emily toward the kitchen and added the hot water. “You can go ahead and take your clothes off. I have daughters and sisters, and you won’t bother me. I’ll wash your hair for you.”

  Emily had never taken off her clothes in front of anyone but her mother, but she was afraid to say ‘no’ to the older woman. She stripped quickly and sank into the warm water.

  Dropping to her knees beside the tub, Birgitta used a glass and poured it over Emily’s head and then scrubbed it with soap. After she finished washing Emily’s hair, she scrubbed her back for her.

  Emily sighed. No one had washed her back for her since she was a small child. “That feels nice. Thank you.”

  After a moment, Birgitta stood up. “I wish I could let you soak for an hour, but we need to get you ready for your wedding.” She walked over to the work table and got a towel she’d placed there earlier. She held it out and turned her head, so she could wrap it around Emily without making her uncomfortable.

  “You dry off, and I’ll be right back. I want to get a couple of things for you.”

  While she was gone, Emily dressed hurriedly in her chemise. She pulled her dress which had been carefully wrapped in tissue paper out of her bag and spread it out on the table. It didn’t look terribly wrinkled so she pulled it over her head. She buttoned it up the back, just finishing up as Birgitta came back into the room.

  Birgitta held a small bouquet of white and pink flowers. She had two single white flowers in her hand. “I thought you might like to carry this bouquet, and we can put these two in your hair.”

  Emily smiled utterly charmed by the details Birgitta was thinking of. “Oh, thank you. I’d love to wear them.” She took one of the single flowers and held it under her nose to smell it. “What kind of flower is this?”

  “They’re asters. There aren’t a lot of flowers still in bloom this time of year in Minnesota.”

  “They’re perfect. Thank you for thinking of them.” Emily was glad she’d have a piece of Benjamin’s home with her as she walked down the aisle toward him.

  “Your dress is lovely. If you sit, I’ll fix your hair for you.”

  Emily sat down on one of the straight back wooden chairs in the kitchen. Each one had a cushion made in a red check patter that matched the pretty table cloth. Looking around the kitchen for the first time, Emily found it lovely. The curtains matched the tablecloth and there were small paintings on the walls. “I like the way you’ve decorated your kitchen.”

  “Thank you!” She used Emily’s brush and comb to quickly comb through her hair and deftly applied pins to put it into an updo. She added a flower to one side and tilted her head to the side to look at her. “I think you’ll look better with just the one flower in your hair. Is that okay with you?”

  Emily nodded. “That’s fine.”

  Birgitta took a small hand mirror from the table where she’d laid it and held it up for Emily. “What do you think?”

  Emily stared at her reflection in the mirror for a moment. “I love it.” She really did like how it looked, but she knew she’d have lied and said she liked it even if she hadn’t. She’d do anything to keep from offending this sweet woman who had gone so far out of her way to make her happy and comfortable.

  “You look beautiful. My brother will swallow his tongue when he sees you walking through the church toward him.”

  Emily knew better. Benjamin was looking for a mother for his daughters nothing more. She looked at the clock on the wall. “We only have ten minutes. Shouldn’t we go?”

  “Yes, we need to leave. It’s a short walk to the church, but it wouldn’t do to be late for your own wedding.” She went into the parlor and called out, “Dalla, Adam, Edna, Jarl, it’s time to go!” Four tall blond teens, two boys and two girls ran into the room all dressed in their Sunday best clothes. “These are my children. The girls are Dalla and Edna, and the boys are Jarl and Adam.” She opened the door and the children walked ahead to the church.

  “Isn’t your husband going to the wedding?”

  “Lars is the pastor. He’s already there.”

  “Oh! I didn’t realize you were the pastor’s wife.” How could she live up to being in the same family as a pastor? Wouldn’t people be watching her more closely?

  “Yes, that’s my lot in life.” She smiled as they walked slowly toward the church. “He was a simple farmer when I married him and had my babies. Ten years ago, he told me he needed to answer the Lord’s call.”

  “How did you feel about it?”

  “Overwhelmed at first, but I think I’ve found my place.” They stepped into the back of the church. “Our church doubles as our schoolhouse.” She looked at Emily and fixed a stray tendril of hair before hugging her. “I’m so glad to be getting a new sister. I’m going to go take my seat. Wait until you hear the music.”

  Emily felt very alone at the back of the church. She wished she didn’t have to walk down the aisle alone, but she’d have had to do that if she’d married back home as well. There were no men who had been father figures to her. She took deep steady breaths trying to calm her nerves. She hated being the center of attention!

  After a moment, she heard the music start, and slowly walked around the corner and started walking up the aisle toward Benjamin. She saw two little blond heads in the front row peering at her with huge smiles and assumed they were the girls. They were sitting with an older woman who stared straight ahead, not even turning around to see the bride.

  She walked straight to the front and took her place next to Benjamin. He smiled down at her as Lars, the pastor, cleared his throat and began speaking. Emily let the familiar words wash over her. She’d not been to a great deal of weddings, but several of her school friends had married and she’d attended. Everything passed in a blur and she was asked to face Benjamin. Benjamin spoke his vows in a strong voice that carried throughout the church. When it was Emily’s turn she mumbled the words. Benjamin pushed a ring onto her finger and leaned down to kiss her for the first time. Lars pronounced them man and wife and introduced them to the assembled crowd as Mr. and Mrs. Johnson.

  Emily faced the audience, trying not to make eye contact with anyone. After a moment she was nearly knocked over by the two blond girls she’d noticed on her way up the aisle. She squatted down in her dress to meet them for the first time.

  “I’m Emily,” she told them in her soft voice.

  “You’re our mail order mama!” The girl who spoke was the younger, so she immediately assumed she was Georgie.

  “You must be Georgie,” Emily told her smiling at the young girl.

  Georgie nodded and pointed to her sister. “That’s Abbie. We’re really glad you’re here.”

  “I’m so happy to meet you both.” They hugged her again, and she stood back up next to Benjamin, urging the girls to stand with them.

  Benjamin smiled down at her. “Thank you for making them part of our wedding.”

  “They’re our children. Of course, they’re part of the wedding.” She squeezed the hand of the older girl who was standing at her side. She had recognized the look of shyness on the girl’s face and was pleased she’d be able to relate well to one of them.

  The four of them walked to the back of t
he church together, several people stopping Benjamin to shake his hand along the way. He introduced her to each of the people, but she knew she’d never remember their names. They went out to the buggy and he helped her in and put the girls in the back seat. “We’re going to Mor’s for the wedding supper. The girls will spend the night with my parents tonight, and we’ll pick them up in the morning before I open the store at ten.”

  Emily swallowed hard at the thought of their wedding night. She wasn’t yet ready to think about it, though, so she sat silently on the drive out to his parents’ farm. “How long will it take to get there?” she asked after a while.

  “It’s a thirty minute drive,” he told her. “I almost wish I hadn’t agreed to a wedding supper after being on the road all day, but I thought you’d want to celebrate our wedding.” He looked over at her as she watched the scenery. “You’d rather have skipped it, wouldn’t you?”

  She nodded. “It’s okay, though. I’m just not good at meeting large groups of people all at once.”

  “I’m sorry. I should have waited and asked you.” He pulled the buggy in front of a large farmhouse. “Here we are. I lived here until I married Anna.” He walked around and helped her down while the girls scrambled down on their own.

  Abbie walked over and slipped her small hand into Emily’s. “I’ll help you meet everyone.”

  Emily smiled. “Thank you, Abbie.” Emily was glad Abbie was so much quieter than the rest of her large Norwegian family. Emily and Abbie walked into the house hand in hand.

  Abbie led her straight to the woman who had refused to look at her in the church. “Farmor, this is our new mama, Emily.” Abbie stood looking between the two women as if she expected something bad to happen.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Johnson. Is there anything I can help you with?” Emily was proud of how steady she kept her voice. Every time she met someone new it was an effort to keep her voice loud enough to be heard.