Free Engaging the Competition by Melissa Jagears Page A

well admit that nothing would make her happy right now, not even a perfectly made bed.
    â€œHoney?”
    Charlie looked over her shoulder, hoping her mother wouldn’t notice how near she was to crying over frustration, indecision, disappointment, and a plethora of other emotions she couldn’t even name.
    â€œDid you need this?” Momma held out a clean pillowcase that must have dropped somewhere between the linen closet and the bedroom. She stepped across the threshold and looked around the room. “Why are you rearranging in here?”
    â€œI don’t know.” Would August want his own room, would he stay at his own place, would he want to be married in every sense of the word immediately? Should she even bother to ask since she wasn’t sure she wanted to go through with the wedding anymore?
    And she wouldn’t, except that her mother stood in front of her with eyes that didn’t sparkle but rather looked half-empty.
    Charlie clamped onto the footboard and hauled herself up. “Momma, are you worried about me getting married?”
    â€œNot if your father approves. I’m happy you’ll be joining your sisters out in the world in your own home.”
    Charlie winced. Three of her sisters had died young. Only Agatha was actually married, living somewhere in Oregon—yet she hadn’t responded to the letter informing her of their father’s death.
    If Agatha never responded, could Momma handle it? But perhaps her sister had only moved, or maybe the letters had gotten misdirected, so Charlie kept Agatha’s nonresponse to herself. Momma hadn’t yet asked about her in a way Charlie couldn’t deflect. No need to upset her precarious state when there was still hope. “I mean are you worried, Momma.”
    â€œMe? I’ll be just fine. I’ve got your father for company, but I’m surprised he agreed to the first man who asked for your hand. He always said you were too good for just anybody.”
    She shook her head. Daddy had thought too highly of her. What would he have said to the sad mess she was in now?
    Momma grabbed her hand and patted Charlie as if she was the one hopelessly lost.
    Daddy had loved Momma so much he’d have relocated a mountain with a pickax and shovel if Momma had asked. He would’ve surely squared his shoulders right alongside his daughter and done whatever it took to keep Momma happy. “I’m not going to be leaving, Momma. August and I plan to live here with you.”
    â€œOh.” She squeezed her daughter’s hand. “I suppose you want to save money. As long as your father agrees, we’ve gotplenty of room. Oh wait!” She clapped. “I need to ask him something. We could spruce things up for you two if he’ll agree.”
    â€œOh no, Momma.” She reached for her arm. “Don’t inconvenience yourself for us.”
    Her mother winked and patted Charlie’s shoulder before escaping. “Don’t worry your pretty little head about anything.” She stepped out the door and took a stride to the right, but then her shoulders drooped, and she turned back to the left and then took a hesitant step. “Hiram?”
    Charlie hugged herself as her mother’s uncertain footsteps stopped on the creaky staircase and she called to her husband again, her voice underlined with bewilderment. Could she hope Momma’s mental confusion would someday end since she’d been fine before Daddy’s death? But what if her problems had simply gone unnoticed before those months of utter grief?
    Would Reverend McCabe allow a mad woman to sign as witness to her wedding? But Momma would be heartbroken if she wasn’t asked to witness . . . if she even remembered the ceremony. And who else could Charlie ask? She had no real friends. This past year she’d worked so hard compensating for Daddy being gone and Royal’s sabotaging that her few friendships had