A Pleasant September Evening

Supper Table of the Redmonds

                Aurelian and Lucinda had decided they would get married and also they weren't going to waste any time about it either. Certainly neither wanted a winter wedding, not that they didn't have a few months yet. But for this evening, the plan was just to tell Clara and Wyatt of their definite decision. The couple had already secured both of his children's approval earlier. So it was that joining them for the supper was both Clara and her husband, Jacob. Aurelian liked Jacob, he seemed a decent young man, and Clara only gushed about him so he was treating her right.  Hopefully he would be a good father to that baby which should be due late November, early December. He would be a grandpa then.............sobering. He didn't really care if the babe would be a boy or girl, just so it was healthy.

Clara arrived bringing some food even though Lucinda had told her not to bother. She had just rolled her eyes then and remarked this was her father who would be cooking that night...with Lucinda also pitching in. Clara placed little faith in Aurelian's culinary skills. Wyatt was excited about Jacob's arrival, the two of them had been playing checkers a few times in the past and the boy already had the board set up.

"I beat Pa all the time....OK, most of the time. You're more a challenge for me," Wyatt declared, all fired up for the competition. He too liked Jacob, still amazed anyone would have wanted to marry HIS sis.

Lucinda gave Clara a grateful smile as she found places to set the food the younger woman had brought. Thanks to Clara, tonight would be a feast, and no one would go hungry or have any reason to complain about the fare served. Which was a relief, because bad food sometimes led to bad feelings or strained discussions at the table, and she was already a little nervous about the announcement she and Aurelian would be making tonight, even though they'd already talked to Clara and Wyatt some time ago. This was just a formality, an update.

But that knowledge didn't keep butterflies from taking up residence and fluttering around in her stomach as she tried to help Aurelian with supper. It actually hadn't been too much of a disaster so far, and she'd teased him about the casserole escapade as they worked.

She pulled out a chair at the table and motioned Clara over to it. "If you want to sit down, I think I have everything under control...so far," she said with a grin. "Your father and I haven't dropped or burned anything important yet, and we still have all our fingers even after chopping vegetables." 

She glanced across the room where Jacob and Wyatt were gearing up for a chess game. "Jacob, Wyatt's been going on and on about your chess games. I hope you've got your thinking cap on."

@ [Wayfarer

@ [Javia]

Lucinda welcomed her inside. It felt strange to be ushered into what had once been her own home by anyone other than her father or brother. But Clara liked Lucinda, she had given her approval to her father and the woman marrying. He shouldn't have to live alone the rest of his life especially once Wyatt left to live his own life. Or.....maybe Wyatt wouldn't. Maybe he would stay on the farm to someday inherit it? That would be far in the fture and this was now - a pleasant evening supper.

"If you want to sit down, I think I have everything under control...so far," Lucinda said with a grin. "Your father and I haven't dropped or burned anything important yet, and we still have all our fingers even after chopping vegetables." 

"Thank you. Inside the basket I have some potato salad and also a corn relish, not sure if you have ever had that? It is quite good," Clara explained.

Her pregnancy was really showing as of late and she felt it too, "It is always nice to get off my feet."

"The chicken smells delicious and good to know about your fingers, now I won't have to look carefully at the vegetables on my plate," Clara remarked.

***

Jacob did not disappoint the boy, he was more than ready for their next exciting match. Til Miss Lucinda mentioned  'chess' ?   Wyatt glanced at Jacob's face and that confirmed it. He was as puzzled as Wyatt. Wyatt was about correct her and point out those checkers looked nothing like chess pieces but held his tongue. After all this was going to be his stepmother.

"Yes Ma'am. I always compete against my brother-in-law with the utmost diligence," Jacob assured her.

"He beats him most of the time...............OK.........all the time cept for that one game," Wyatt had to concede but he didn't mind losing to Jacob. Wyatt liked a challenge and Jacob sure was that.

And with that the two got down to the subtle tactics and surprise moves of the game, Wyatt's face was one of utter concentration. The first moves came fast and furious until both sides were locked in bitter onboard conflict then more thought was needed as to one's next crucial move.

Aurelian sat down at the table next to his daughter, "How was your day?"

"Fine, the usual. Business was good. Oh and the baby was kicking at all the worst times. I do think he or she is going to be worse behaved than Wyatt," Clara teased.

Wyatt never even heard that, it was foolish girl talk and he had a game to win!

Lucinda realized Jacob and Wyatt were looking at each other oddly. She took another glance at the pieces they were using and broke into a grin.

"I meant checkers!" she called across the room, looked back at Clara and shrugging. To be fair, both games used a checkered board, and both were traditionally men's games. She certainly didn't know how to play either chess or checkers beyond the general goal of the game. Maybe she'd get Aurelian or Wyatt to teach her sometime.

She turned her attention back to Clara, who was taking a load off her feet. "I haven't had corn relish, but I do enjoy potato salad. Thank you for bringing them both."

For a moment, she was surprised by Clara's deadpan humor, as she often was. It was so strange to hear the younger woman making a joke. But she gave Clara a smile and set the salad and relish out on the table, listening to Clara and Aurelian's conversation as she went back to the stove to check on the chicken.

It was almost ready. Just a few minutes more and they'd be able to sit down and eat.

"I meant checkers!" Lucinda called across the room, looked back at Clara and shrugging.

Clara refrained from commenting, what difference did it make. She was chatting with her father anyhow. But she figured something was up which was why she and Jacob were invited.

"Lucinda, you two cooking, hosting a big dinner, we are the guests of honor. So what is going on? No one's birthday I know of so...."Clara had a hunch but wanted them to be able to announce it.

Aurelian laughed, "I missed my girl.......oh and Jacob too. Normal enough but ...............yeah, we do have an announcement, you tell her, Lucinda."

All eyes were on her then.  OK, maybe not Wyatt's who was engrossed in the game plus Jacob was talking to him.

************

"Say, you know, Wy, old man, when Baby Arabella comes along, we're gonna have to pick a feller we can trust to be her God Father. I mean, you'll be her uncle just by dint of being around, o' course, but a God Father's something different. It's a position of responsibility. A position of trust. I need to tell you, me and Clara've been making a list of possible candidates and you're in the top three."

Now had Clara heard the Arabella part, she would have strongly objected but Wyatt paid it no attention. She had gotten along well with that girl when Arabella had first been sick and stayed with them. She had been nice enough alright, for a girl ya know.

"Godfather? So what do I gotta do to be this here godfather. I mean I ain't even an adult yet let along married. I'm not even sure I even wanna get married, don't know the big deal about it all."

"I mean I don't even know any girls that interest me to be honest. Slim pickings if you ask me. I mean look at you, you had to go and get stuck marrying  my sister. Kinda proves what I mean - you can't afford to be picky," he pronounced in all seriousness too.

Then he followed up by moving one of the checkers with a smile.

Clara had already noticed that something was out of the ordinary. Of course she had, astute young woman that she was. Lucinda bit her lip to hide her giddy smile and looked to Aurelian, but it appeared he was going to let her do the honors of telling Clara their news. Just as well, because Lucinda had been near to blurting it out ever since Clara and Jacob rode up to the farm.

"Well..." She reached for Aurelian's hand. "We're ready to get married. It'll be soon, maybe next week even!"

That was that. But she needed to say something more. She couldn't just leave it at that.

"I'll help out at the diner for as long as I can, and I'll help you find someone to take my place if you'd like me to," she offered to Clara. "I know you managed before I came, but I don't want to leave you suddenly."

She supposed they'd have to make the announcement again after they were able to pry Jacob and Wyatt away from their chess...checker game. Maybe it was better to deal with one reaction at a time? Not that she expected much of a reaction from Clara. The younger woman had already given her blessing, so to speak, and Lucinda didn't think she'd withdraw it.

"Well..." She reached for Aurelian's hand. "We're ready to get married. It'll be soon, maybe next week even!"

"Oh, you are?" Clara looked perhaps a bit surprised but certainly not alarmed. She did not mind in the slightest her father was going to get married, in fact she had given her blessing from the start.

"You're a woman, Clara, you know how impatient your sort can be about things," Aurelian added as a tease accompanied with a grin.

"I shall not dignify that with a response, Father dearest," Clara retorted.

"I'll help out at the diner for as long as I can, and I'll help you find someone to take my place if you'd like me to," she offered to Clara. "I know you managed before I came, but I don't want to leave you suddenly."

"It is not an issue. I will be fine. I can always advertise for a replacement should I decide I absolutely need the help. Besides, I remain confident Emeline will be back very soon now," Clara replied.

Aurelian turned toward Jacob and Wyatt busy with their epic checkers battle. Jacob looked to be winning at first glance at least.

"Wyatt, did you happen to hear that announcement. There is going to be a wedding in the family again."

Wyatt was inwardly savoring his very temporary victory over Jacob with his latest move but the game was hardly decided. In fact an outside observer would take one look and no doubt decide the older boy was winning still. But his father mentioned his name, he glanced that way.

"Huh? Clara can't get married again, she's already got a husband," the boy was puzzled.

Aurelian started chuckling and Clara put one hand to cover her eyes.