Free A Husband for Margaret by Ruth Ann Nordin Page B

too. It was
just a matter of jumping in and doing it.
    He didn’t look convinced. “I probably
should have asked Ralph Lindon if I could start later this
week.”
    “ You don’t think I can do
it?” she asked, surprised that the notion stung her as much as it
did. If there was one thing she knew, it was that she didn’t
collapse under pressure. Maybe she’d have her moments of weakness,
but deep down, she was tough as nails.
    Leaning forward, he kissed her. “I
didn’t mean to imply that. I remember what it was like for me my
first day with them and no one to help. They aren’t as easy as they
look.”
    “ What are you saying, Pa?”
Bob asked, letting his fork clatter onto his plate. “Haven’t we
been good?”
    “ We’ve been on our best
behavior, just like you ordered,” Doug agreed, looking as indignant
as a seven year old could get.
    “ That’s what I’m worried
about,” Joseph mumbled under his breath. Giving them a critical
eye, he told them, “And it better stay that way.”
    “ We’ll help Ma,” Doug said.
“We know she can’t do it all herself.”
    Margaret’s jaw dropped.
What?
    “ If she can’t manage, we’ll
go to the post office and get you,” Doug continued.
    “ Mercantile,” Bob corrected.
“He’s not a post master.”
    “ Oh, right. Mercantile.”
Doug grinned widely at her. “You don’t have to worry. We’ll
help.”
    She sighed but turned so they wouldn’t
see her roll her eyes. She was a grown woman for goodness’ sakes!
Besides, her mother lived three blocks away...should things get out
of hand. But she was determined it wouldn’t.
    Joseph placed his hand on the small of
her back and kissed her cheek. “I meant no disrespect and neither
do the boys.”
    Her frustration cooled. “Alright.” She
gave him a hug. “We’ll see you at three.”
    “ Have a good day. Bye,
boys.”
    “ Bye, Pa!” Bob yelled as he
jumped up from the table, knocking the chair over in the
process.
    Doug called out to Bob as he bolted for
the steps. “You got to stay and help Ma!”
    “ Oh. Yes.” Bob dutifully
returned to the table and picked up his dishes.
    With a loud sigh, Joseph strode to the
front door and grabbed his hat off a hook. “I think it’s you who
needs a good day,” he called out to Margaret as he left.
    Ben giggled and grabbed for the
tablecloth and pulled on it.
    Margaret ran over to him and stopped
him before he could drag the remaining dishes so that they fell to
the floor.
    “ Ma, Charles needs a
washing.” Doug held up Charles’ yolk covered hands.
    “ Just his hands,” Bob
added.
    “ Here. Let’s go to the
pump,” Doug told Charles as he practically dragged his brother off
his chair.
    Charles tripped and fell to the floor.
He let out a loud wail, and it was in that instant, Margaret truly
began to understand how much work four little boys could
be.

Chapter Nine

    By the time Margaret got the children
out of the house and to the park, she was ready to sit down at the
bench. It wasn’t that the morning had been a bad one. But she was
tired. She considered that some of her exhaustion was due to the
little sleep she’d gotten for the past two nights. The night before
her wedding, she couldn’t sleep much, and last night had been her
wedding night. Naturally, all of that led to her inability to
sleep.
    Now that she was married, she could get
settled into a routine, which meant she could relax. It was after
lunch, Ben and Charles had been changed, and Bob had found the
soccer ball he’d packed. So now the boys were ready to run around
and play in the grass.
    She sat down on the first bench she
found and exhaled. It felt good to get off her feet. It was 1:30.
In an hour and a half, Joseph would come home. She glanced over her
shoulder and smiled. Her new home was as quaint as she remembered,
and she knew she was going to enjoy living there.
    She turned her attention back to the
four boys who had gathered around her. Ben bent down to retrieve a
rock