Page 80 of Head Room

“Then I think you might understand...”The woman gathered in a breath and said the next words in a rush, “my resolution to no longer be entirely frivolous.For I am entirely resolute in that vow.”

But for all the momentousness expressing that sentiment had in her life, Maggie simply glanced at her and said, “That so, ma’am?”

“Yes, it is so,” she said with a surprising certainty for a vow she had allowed to take the firm shape of words only in these few moments.“And I am enlisting your aid, Mrs.Fletcher.”

Head comes up, hands stop.

Husband would be amazed if she told him that she had succeeded in halting Maggie Fletcher’s industriousness twice within so short a time.

(Note: They’ve had earlier conversations about her.)

“Me?”

(Note:...then makes Maggie an offer.Doing fine sewing for her and teaching her to sew herself, along with other practical skills.Officer’s wife teaches her social things.They help each other with figuring out the ways of the army and army wives.)

****

There was ascene break, then notes about awkwardness between Maggie and Ransom.She’s barely talking around him, finding it more comfortable to be quiet most of the time.He tells her he won’t bother her, he’ll leave the bed to her.She doesn’t know what to make of that, but relaxes a tiny bit.

I wanted to find out—.

Then I saw the time.

The clock was really getting in the way of my reading.

DAY THREE

MONDAY

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

My parents arrivetomorrow.

The drumbeat of that phrase started when I opened my eyes.

A lot of pieces joined that drumbeat.The spreadsheet.The to-dos.The pressures of even our pared-down wedding.The darts of doubt about what Mom and Tamantha slipped in while we let them take over the planning.

And maybe a murderer unidentified and on the loose.

Try finding suggestions for that one in bride magazines.

As I pulled around the Circle B’s ranch house and parked in back, Tom came out of the barn, wiping his hands on an old towel.He had on a work shirt that had gone from long sleeves to short sleeves thanks to what appeared to have been an eyes-closed fast whack with a large pair of scissors.

Didn’t matter one bit.

When we met, I gripped his forearms to leverage up to kiss him.Didn’t take a lot of leverage because he helped.

After, I said, “You know I’m oddly obsessed with your wrists.”

“I know.”

“Technically, your lower forearms and your wrists.Your hands, too.”

“I know.”

“Also the area behind your ears, the hairline down to your neck.”

In a lower tone, he said, “I know.”