Chapter Twenty Two
Michelle, who had the day off from the office and had been working in the laundry room, made her way to the dining room as she whistled a lively tune. Silas had stuck his head into the laundry room and told her he'd have lunch ready for her and Mrs. Barkley in less than fifteen minutes, and it had been almost that now. However, her whistling stopped the moment she stepped into the dining room. Victoria, who had just sat down at the table, was looking at her with the most solemn expression that Michelle couldn't help but wonder what had happened. While she wanted to ask, Michelle decided the best thing to do was to simply sit down and be polite. Why do anything different when she knew that Victoria would tell her what was up if she wanted to. If not, it was none of her business. As it turned out, she might as well have spoken up for Victoria starting talking the moment Michelle sat down.
"I hear you and Jarrod had quite the time at another engagement he had to attend." Victoria kept her eyes on Michelle as she spoke. Right or wrong, when she had learned that the reason Nick was now the overly busy son instead of Jarrod, all Victoria could see was Hester Conover all over again; showing up with Nick and then trying to latch onto Heath. Oh sure, her head said if Michelle was another Hester she would not have been honest with them from the beginning and she would have made a play for Jarrod months ago. Still, even knowing it was Jarrod who had made his feelings known first, Victoria couldn't help but feel more than a bit uptight.
Michelle stiffened for a moment wondering if Victoria was against Jarrod courting her. Then again, she couldn't see why since she'd had no problem with Nick doing it. With that thought came the stories she'd heard about 'her', the *'Orange Blossom Special' as Michelle had heard Audra say once when referring to Miss Conover', and the trouble she'd caused. She would have been offended, only she could understand why Victoria was more than concerned if that was the case. Even if it wasn't, she could still why Victoria, or any mother, would worry. She sat as tall as she knew how, with her head held high as she answered in a voice just as firm, if not firmer, than Victoria's had been, "Yes, we did. I am glad Jarrod wanted me to go with him again." Michelle answered as she thought on the engagement she and Jarrod had attended in the same building they'd gone too before. The whole time she also remembered the few picnics they'd been on, along with a horseback ride.
"And Nick? You plan on simply tossing him aside?" Victoria knew her words sounded harsh and what they might imply about Michelle; she meant them to sound that way as she wished to see how Michelle would react to them…and because of the promise Nick had made while standing on the veranda just a few weeks before, ones that she could see he'd already begun to keep.
Michelle counted to ten in her head, reminding herself once again why Victoria would have just cause to say such a thing. "I am not 'simply tossing him aside' as you say; I am not that kind of woman. For one, I never promised Nick anything but a solid friendship, which we have. For another, I told him everything once I realized that Jarrod was interested in me; that is, as soon as I spoke with the detective. And," she took a deep breath, "don't ask me which one I'll choose if I choose any. I do not know… which is another thing both of them are fully aware of." She took another deep breath and added rather forcefully, "I told you when I came here I did not wish to bring trouble to this house. I still have no wish to do so. I understand your concerns; I would have them to if I were you. However, unless I have done something, besides allowing two of your sons to court me, I would appreciate it if we can at least have a civil truce between us." Of course, she hoped for more than that only Victoria's choices were not something Michelle could control.
Victoria couldn't help but smile. Michelle had not flinched or cowered when Victoria had spoken roughly and indirectly accused her of being a loose woman. She'd addressed everything head on without side stepping any issues. No wonder Jarrod and Nick had fallen for the young woman. Victoria relaxed and softened her tone. "I just don't like seeing any of my sons hurt, and …" she paused as she almost spilled the beans when it came to Nick's promise, and then continued, "there is always pain left behind in a situation like this. Yes, the pain is less than if one has misled them; however, it is still there."
A look of sadness and regret flashed across Michelle's eyes, one so intense that it took Victoria by surprised and practically knocked her off her chair. "I am fully aware of that, Mrs. Barkley." Michelle spoke softly, almost too softly. "If there was anything I could do to change that I would, but I can't." She pushed back her chair and stood up; all of a sudden she wasn't hungry. "Please apologize to Silas for me. He prepared such a fine meal; however, I seemed to have lost my appetite." She turned and quickly left the room before Victoria, who now felt rather badly, could say anything.
~oOo~
Michelle, who had left the house and made her way to the empty corral, was leaning against the corral fence when she heard someone approaching. With Jarrod in town and Nick working with McColl, she guessed it was Heath behind her. She was proven correct when he appeared beside her; he rested his arms on the top of the corral fence too. He'd been standing just inside the kitchen and the door had not been quite shut, so had overheard the conversation between his mother and Michelle. "Mother meant no insult to you." He told her remembering the short conversation he'd had with Victoria just after Michelle had left the dining room.
"I realize that." Michelle allowed a few tears to escape as she gazed around the corral. "It's just she's right. Either Nick or Jarrod will get hurt even if my father never shows up, maybe both of them. I never wanted to be the cause of anyone being hurt. In fact, to a degree, Nick has already been hurt. I never should have come here." Even as she spoke the words she knew her father would not stay away and that made her cringe even more.
Before Heath could reassure she had done the right thing in turning to the Barkleys, they both jumped due to one very loud bellow. "Don't say that! Don't even think it again! Coming here was the best thing you did!"
Heath and Michelle turned around shocked to see Nick standing roughly twenty feet away. Heath would have asked what Nick was doing back so early, only he figured his hot tempered brother could answer that one later. He quickly excused himself and disappeared back into the house; he still had lunch to eat.
"Mother told me what happened." Nick, who had surprised his mother with his early arrival as well, walked up to Michelle. "She feels pretty bad that you've skipped your meal due to things she said." He raised his hand and wiped the tears away from Michelle's face.
Michelle looked at Nick with a pleading look in her eyes and asked, "You do know that I do care a lot about you, don't you? No matter what happens, I would never purposely hurt you." She wouldn't either; just the idea of doing that made her sick.
"I know." Nick, who still held onto the hope that, maybe, things wouldn't work out between Jarrod and Michelle, answered as he gave her a shoulder a friendly squeeze. "Now, smile. I believe Jarrod has also asked you to the social Stockton is having tomorrow night."
"He has." Michelle started smiling again. "I just hope we can all enjoy it without any more unspoken accusations, for whatever reason." Little did Michelle know unspoken accusations wouldn't even be on the list of things anyone would be worried about by the end of the social.
~oOo~
Author's Note: When it comes to referring to Hester Conover as "The Orange Blossom Special", my apologizes to Ervin T Rouse (1917-1981), writer of "The Orange Blossom Special". (Sung by Johnny Cash…at least he's the one I heard sing it). Only...that stupid orange dress Hester wore was just screaming for the comment.