Читать книгу The Texan's Twin Blessings - Rhonda Gibson - Страница 14

Chapter Five

The next morning as he entered The Bakery, William marveled at the fact that both girls had slept through the night. He carried them to the nearest table and sat down. Aware of several sets of eyes upon them, he sighed. People were forever staring at him and the twins. He wasn’t sure if it was because it was uncommon to see a man with two little girls alone or if it was because the girls were twins.

“Good morning. You must be William Barns.” William looked up into the face of a smiling woman. “My name is Violet Atwood. What can I get for you and these two darlings this morning?” Violet’s hazel eyes studied him with a curious intensity.

Had Emily Jane mentioned him and the girls? Was that how Violet Atwood knew of them? Or had others been talking about him? His thoughts went to the group of ladies who’d spoken to him the day before. Now there definitely was the possibility that they had mentioned them.

He realized that Miss Atwood was waiting to take his order. William cleared his throat before saying, “Good morning. I’d like a cup of coffee for myself and a slice of bread for the girls. Nothing too sweet.” William didn’t mention that the cookies he’d given them for breakfast already had them squirmier than two playful puppies. He looked down at his nieces.

Rose was attempting to grab Ruby. Ruby pulled against his arm to get at the salt and pepper shakers on the table. It was all he could do to hold on to the two wiggling girls. He sighed.

“Be right back with your order.”

He nodded and tightened his grip on the children. His gaze followed Violet Atwood about the room. Her graying brown hair had been piled up onto the top of her head. Miss Atwood wore a brown day dress with a white apron that covered her ample stomach. William wasn’t sure about her age but was impressed with the way she zipped about the tables, refilling coffee cups and then hurrying back to the front of the bakery, where he could see her laying out slices of bread on a plate and pouring his cup of coffee.

She seemed to be the only one working in the small establishment. Had Emily Jane already finished for the day? He’d hoped to see her this morning.

Ruby knocked the salt over, and Rose kicked her feet with joy at the sight. The two girls giggled, bringing more attention from the other diners. William righted the saltshaker and pushed a little farther away from the table.

“I imagine those two keep you pretty busy.” Violet set the plate of bread and coffee on the opposite side of the table out of Rose and Ruby’s reach. “I have just what you need to be able to eat and drink in comfort. Be right back.”

William didn’t have time to comment as she whirled around and headed through a small side door that he’d assumed earlier led to the kitchen. Both Rose and Ruby were pulling against his arm to get to the plate of bread. He wished he had some form of harness to put on the little girls. William both dreaded and welcomed the day they’d be able to walk and sit in a chair on their own.

The sound of wood bumping against wood drew his attention back to the side door. He could see Violet wrestling with something and then heard Emily Jane’s soft voice. “Here, let me help you with that, Violet.” Emily Jane came through the door and held it open for the older woman.

“Oh, thank you, Emily Jane. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Emily Jane’s teasing laughter and words floated to him. “Learn to prop the door open before trying to force a high chair through it?”

Violet giggled like a schoolgirl. “I suppose so. Now, get out of my way so that I can get this to our customers.”

Emily Jane turned around. Her big green eyes settled on William and the little girls. He wondered if she’d be upset that he’d brought them to her place of work; after all, she’d seen quite a bit of them since they’d arrived.

A smile brought the dimple in her cheek out of hiding as she followed Violet to their table. “Good morning, Mr. Barns.” Emily Jane reached for Rose, who at the moment was pulling on the tablecloth, inching the bread and coffee closer with each tug.

He handed his niece over. “Good morning to you, too.” William turned his attention to the high chair. It stood about thirty-five inches tall with a dark varnish over red with stenciled white flowers on the wide headrest. “I wish I had brought one of those from Mary’s house. It sure would have made things easier at home.”

Violet finished making sure it was secure and motioned for Emily Jane to place the little girl inside. “You can always stop by Levi Westland’s furniture store and see if he has any more available. He made this one special for the bakery.” She ran her hand over the pinewood.

“That’s a splendid idea.” William grinned up at her. Rose banged her small hands against the wooden tray in front of her. Ruby tried to do the same to the table but William moved her to his other side, farther away from her target.

“Emily Jane, are you going over to the general store on your way home today?” Violet asked as she placed a bit of bread into Rose’s hand. She handed the other half to Ruby.

Emily Jane nodded. “Want me to pick up something for you?”

While Ruby’s hands were full of bread, William reached for his coffee. Maybe now was the time to go to the general store, too. He needed to replenish his grandmother’s cupboards, and if Emily Jane was going and had any suggestions on what he’d need, he’d welcome them.

“Well, if it’s not too much trouble. We could use more coffee.” Violet patted Rose on the head.

“No trouble at all.” Emily Jane smiled at her boss.

William jumped into the conversation. “Well, speaking of trouble, I’m not sure what to pick up to replenish Grams’s cupboards. Would you mind if the girls and I tagged along with you?” He sipped his coffee and watched her over the rim of his cup.

For a brief moment, Emily Jane looked as if she were going to refuse his request. Her gaze moved from him to the girls. He suspected it was the way the girls were gobbling their bread, as if they’d not eaten all morning, that persuaded her to agree. “I’ll be happy to help you find what you need.” She turned toward the kitchen, untying her apron strings as she left the table. “Let me finish up in the kitchen. I’ll only be a few minutes.”

“Take your time.” William smiled into his cup. So far the day was turning out quite nicely. The girls had slept in; he’d managed to have a cup of coffee, and now Miss Emily Jane was going with them to the general store. She’d know what he’d need for the house and the girls. His mood turned a bit somber as the familiar feelings of insecurity attacked him. There was so much he didn’t know about the care and future of little girls. Which, if he were truthful, was why he’d ended up at The Bakery today anyway. He’d forgotten to replenish the cupboards. Anyone else would have remembered that babies needed to be fed as soon as they arose in the mornings, but, no, he hadn’t even thought of it.

And their clothes. He continued the self-incriminating examination. Who would change a baby’s diaper without getting the needed items first? He’d changed Ruby this morning and forgotten the clean diaper. He shifted nervously in his seat, assailed by a terrible sense of helplessness. He ate a slice of the bread and finished his coffee.

“I’m sorry. That took a little longer than I’d anticipated.” Emily Jane breezed back in as swiftly as she had left. Her gaze moved to the girls. “Are we ready to go?” she asked, smiling at the girls.

“We’re ready.” William stood. The soft scent of cinnamon teased his nose as Emily Jane bent over and lifted Rose from the chair. “I thought you had escaped out the back door so you wouldn’t have to be troubled by us today,” he teased.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice soft and clear. “I couldn’t leave till I cleaned up the mess I made. Violet works the crowd alone when I’m gone, and the added work would not have been fair.”

Her face was full of strength, shining with a steadfast and serene peace. He realized that he felt hope when he was around her. Things didn’t look so bleak. She laughed softly at Rose’s gaze of happiness when she kissed her on the neck, eliciting soft giggles from the child. Suddenly the morning seemed to be going splendidly.

William turned toward the door without waiting for her to follow. He felt totally bewildered by his behavior. First he was sad at the loss of his family, then happy at having Emily Jane enter his life, then uncertain how to deal with the girls and his slight attraction to Emily Jane. What on earth had caused this tumble of confused thoughts and feelings?

Not since he was a kid had a woman caused so many conflicting emotions. And he’d just met this one. Maybe he was turning into a ninny. A setting hen. It had to be because he’d been taking care of babies. That had to be it. Everyone turned to mush around them. He clenched his jaw and imposed an iron control over his thoughts. Enough. He needed a little time away from Emily Jane to remind himself that she had no power to change him. She did not hold the key to his happiness, nor his thought process. And contrary to what the little old ladies in this town thought, he was not going to marry her only to have his heart broken when she decided that taking care of Rose and Ruby was too much work.