Read Online Duet for Three Hands by Tess Thompson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Tess Thompson
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everything along.”
“I’ll arrange everything with your mother.”
“Everything arranged. That sounds so final.” Her eyes went flat, and she looked suddenly young and vulnerable. “I wanted so many things for my life. I’m not ready to be a mother.”
“Frances, this doesn’t have to be the end of your life. I’ll be a good husband, I promise. We’ll have help for the baby. Whatever you need. Don’t worry. There are many interesting people here that you’ll enjoy and parties every night if we want to go. I never do, of course, but I could.” He paused, searching her face. “If you wanted to, I would. If it pleased you.”
She smiled, tilting her face upward and gazing into his eyes. He felt a flutter in his chest and was filled with the possibility of things, of this new start to his life as a family man. “We’ll live here in the city, right, Nate?”
“Yes, of course, and you can travel with me if you want. We’ll go all over the world together. Would you like that?”
She sighed, smiling again. “Well, that sounds wonderful.”
“And there’ll be a baby.” His chest expanded further. “I’ve longed to be a father, Frances, for many years now. We’ll be happy, the three of us.”
She began to cry. “I’m awfully frightened. You won’t let anyone talk you out of this, will you?”
“Absolutely not.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed her wet cheeks. “And don’t be frightened. I’ll take good care of you.” Picking up her small white hands between his own, he brought them to his mouth, brushing them with his lips. Gardenias. Frances would be his wife. Could it all have happened, or was it a dream? “I’ll go out this afternoon and find you a ring. Something beautiful for your beautiful hand.”
Her eyes widened, and she smiled wide, her perfect teeth white against her red lipstick. “It wouldn’t sadden me to have something large and sparkly.”
“I think I can manage that.” He laughed, feeling ridiculously happy that he could do this thing for her. “May I kiss you?”
“I suppose it’s only appropriate since we’re engaged.” Her voice was husky, almost breathless.
He leaned toward her, determined to give her a kiss she’d never forget, to make her forget her fear or uncertainty. Capturing her mouth in his, he gently pressed into her. She put her arms around his neck and sighed into him.
After a moment, he drew back, scrutinizing her face. “Could you ever love me?”
She giggled and placed her fingertips on his mouth. “Nate, I loved you the first time I set my eyes on you.”
Soaring happiness like the perfect crescendo in a musical movement. To love and be loved in return? Was there anything finer?
“I will be a good husband and father, no matter what comes our way, Frances Bellmont.”
“I know you will.”
A fter Frances left , Nate sat at the piano in his front room for a moment, staring at the keys. He would have to call his mother. His dear mother. Her discipline and rigidity, brought about from her strict religious upbringing, remained intact despite the changing world. She spent her days caring for the sick or poor in her little town, never tiring, it seemed, no matter how long the day. She walked everywhere in her comfortable shoes with her Bible tucked against her side, in case there was a soul that needed saving before they went on to the next world.
This rushed marriage—she would not approve. She would know straightaway why. He sighed, bracing himself. The truth must be told.
His mother didn’t have a telephone, and there was only one phone available in her small Maine town for public use, located at the dry-goods store. He called the owner, Lou, who offered to send his boy over on foot to ask Nate’s mother to be at the phone at three o’clock.
“Ma,” he said when she answered, immediately falling into the way he used to talk.
“Son? Is that you?” She always talked too loudly into the phone, not
“I’ll arrange everything with your mother.”
“Everything arranged. That sounds so final.” Her eyes went flat, and she looked suddenly young and vulnerable. “I wanted so many things for my life. I’m not ready to be a mother.”
“Frances, this doesn’t have to be the end of your life. I’ll be a good husband, I promise. We’ll have help for the baby. Whatever you need. Don’t worry. There are many interesting people here that you’ll enjoy and parties every night if we want to go. I never do, of course, but I could.” He paused, searching her face. “If you wanted to, I would. If it pleased you.”
She smiled, tilting her face upward and gazing into his eyes. He felt a flutter in his chest and was filled with the possibility of things, of this new start to his life as a family man. “We’ll live here in the city, right, Nate?”
“Yes, of course, and you can travel with me if you want. We’ll go all over the world together. Would you like that?”
She sighed, smiling again. “Well, that sounds wonderful.”
“And there’ll be a baby.” His chest expanded further. “I’ve longed to be a father, Frances, for many years now. We’ll be happy, the three of us.”
She began to cry. “I’m awfully frightened. You won’t let anyone talk you out of this, will you?”
“Absolutely not.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed her wet cheeks. “And don’t be frightened. I’ll take good care of you.” Picking up her small white hands between his own, he brought them to his mouth, brushing them with his lips. Gardenias. Frances would be his wife. Could it all have happened, or was it a dream? “I’ll go out this afternoon and find you a ring. Something beautiful for your beautiful hand.”
Her eyes widened, and she smiled wide, her perfect teeth white against her red lipstick. “It wouldn’t sadden me to have something large and sparkly.”
“I think I can manage that.” He laughed, feeling ridiculously happy that he could do this thing for her. “May I kiss you?”
“I suppose it’s only appropriate since we’re engaged.” Her voice was husky, almost breathless.
He leaned toward her, determined to give her a kiss she’d never forget, to make her forget her fear or uncertainty. Capturing her mouth in his, he gently pressed into her. She put her arms around his neck and sighed into him.
After a moment, he drew back, scrutinizing her face. “Could you ever love me?”
She giggled and placed her fingertips on his mouth. “Nate, I loved you the first time I set my eyes on you.”
Soaring happiness like the perfect crescendo in a musical movement. To love and be loved in return? Was there anything finer?
“I will be a good husband and father, no matter what comes our way, Frances Bellmont.”
“I know you will.”
A fter Frances left , Nate sat at the piano in his front room for a moment, staring at the keys. He would have to call his mother. His dear mother. Her discipline and rigidity, brought about from her strict religious upbringing, remained intact despite the changing world. She spent her days caring for the sick or poor in her little town, never tiring, it seemed, no matter how long the day. She walked everywhere in her comfortable shoes with her Bible tucked against her side, in case there was a soul that needed saving before they went on to the next world.
This rushed marriage—she would not approve. She would know straightaway why. He sighed, bracing himself. The truth must be told.
His mother didn’t have a telephone, and there was only one phone available in her small Maine town for public use, located at the dry-goods store. He called the owner, Lou, who offered to send his boy over on foot to ask Nate’s mother to be at the phone at three o’clock.
“Ma,” he said when she answered, immediately falling into the way he used to talk.
“Son? Is that you?” She always talked too loudly into the phone, not
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