Page 25 of Magic of Moonlight (The Bostwicks of Trillium Bay #2)

twenty-five

“ O h, good heavens, Trudy,” her mother said, a delicate hand covering her mouth as laughter overtook her. “Why would you ever take your Aunt Breezy’s word for anything? You know her stories are full of falsehoods and obfuscations.”

Trudy’s brow furrowed. “Do you mean to say she made it up? You didn’t send us here to find husbands?” Her posture straightened in annoyance—at herself. She should’ve known better. Her mother was right. Aunt Breezy considered accuracy tantamount to tedium and was forever embellishing. Trudy should have trusted that her mother would never betray her that way.

“No, of course I didn’t.” Her mother’s gaze softened reassuringly, the smile still tugging at her lips.

“Then why did she think you did? Or did she just pluck the idea from thin air?” That was certainly possible.

Ada adjusted a modest ruffle on her skirt, her expression turning thoughtful. “I’m going to share something with you in confidence, dear, because I believe you should be aware. Your brother has been… struggling in Boston. Your father and I went to visit him to see if we could assist him in some way.”

Trudy’s heart filled with sympathy. “Struggling in what way?”

“We weren’t entirely certain before our trip, but it seems the demands of working at Massachusetts General has left him feeling overwhelmed. I’m certain you understand that pressure better than anyone. I do think he’s feeling better now. He’s met a lovely girl, and I believe that’s helped him think about life beyond the walls of the hospital.”

“I had no idea,” Trudy said sadly. “I wish I’d known. I would have sent him encouraging words.”

Ada smiled as she patted Trudy’s hand. “That’s precisely why we couldn’t tell you. We knew you’d want to help, too, but he would be embarrassed if he knew you were aware of his hardships. He wants you to believe he’s infallible.”

Trudy shook her head in mild disbelief. “No one is infallible. I would never judge him.”

In fact, knowing he wasn’t perfect might have made her more fond of him, and softened her need to complete.

“I know you wouldn’t judge him,” Ada agreed softly, “but try convincing a man his flaws are anything other than egregious. They don’t realize it’s their imperfections that are often the things we love about them the most.”

Trudy understood that now in a way she might not have before. Alex was deeply concerned his past scandals and previous mistakes would impact the way she felt about him, and perhaps they did—they made her love him even more.

She startled herself with that sudden admission.

Did she love him?

Oh, dear.

Oh.

Dear.

She did. Of course, she did. She could ponder the idea, and look at all the evidence, and make lists of his attributes—and flaws—but she already knew the answer. It wasn’t just biology or mere physical attraction that drew her to him. It was something so much more. Something intangible yet undeniable, so, although she could not quantify it with facts, in her heart of hearts, she knew. She did love him.

How terribly inconvenient.

And wonderful.

And yet… still inconvenient.

“But how did Calvin’s struggles result in Breezy’s invitation and her spinning of the truth?” Trudy asked, setting aside her silent and seismic revelation about Alex to inquire about her aunt.

Ada shook her head. “When your father and I realized we needed to visit Calvin without the rest of you, I didn’t want to leave you in charge of the younger ones. It would’ve been too much of a burden and you would have felt you needed to keep working at the clinic if you’d stayed in Springfield. So, I asked Breezy to bring you all to Trillium Bay until Samuel and I could join you.”

“And she arbitrarily decided that meant you wanted her to find us husbands?”

Ada chuckled with bewilderment. “She’d mentioned something in a letter saying she’d make the attempt. I didn’t pay much attention to it, but I see she took my lack of dissent as an endorsement. She undoubtedly wants to find you all rich husbands so she can be smug and remind me of how I could have and should have given my daughters a better life by marrying money the way she did.”

“Does she realize that if you hadn’t married Father, you’d have completely different children?” Trudy inquired.

Ada patted her hand. “I don’t think that’s the part she cares about.”

They laughed in unison and Trudy was struck once more by how very much she’d missed these conversations with her mother.

“Even so,” Ada continued, “Breezy tells me that Coco and Lucy have captured the attention of many a suitor.”

“That they have.”

“And you? I couldn’t help noticing a certain handsome gentleman who could not take his eyes off you last evening. Tell me about him.” Ada’s voice was full of warmth, but Trudy wasn’t yet ready to share. Her feelings for Alex were too fresh and fragile.

“I don’t know who you’re referring to,” Trudy said, even as the memory of his touch set her cheeks aflame.

“Then why are you blushing, Gertrude?” her mother teased, amusement twinkling in her eyes. “Can it be? Has someone captured my independent Trudy’s attention?”

“You’re imagining things, Mother. I’ve just been in the sun. I do believe Lucy may have a beau, though.”

“Lucy can tell me about Lucy’s beau. I want to hear about yours.” Ada’s words were gentle but insistent.

“I… I don’t know what to say, exactly, Mother. It’s very new and very… complicated.”

“Love often is but I’ve never known you to shy away from a challenge.”

“I don’t want to give up being a doctor,” Trudy replied, almost by habit.

“Then don’t.” Ada wrapped a maternal arm around Trudy’s shoulders and leaned against her. “If this man is worthy of you, he’d never ask you to. I know you’ve always said that marriage and medicine don’t mix if you’re a woman, but perhaps that’s a faulty assumption. Perhaps you need to reexamine your reasons and your goals.”

Trudy nearly chuckled as her mother’s wisdom resonated deep within her. Wasn’t that the same advice Trudy had been giving herself but just didn’t trust? Maybe she’d been on to something all along but refused to accept it. Maybe Alex was correct, as well. Perhaps a modern, progressive woman such as herself could defy society, cast off the shackles of propriety, and be both a doctor and a wife. Was it possible?

At the very least, it was worth gathering a little evidence.

“You know I’ll support you no matter what you decide,” Ada continued. “But if you’ve found someone who makes you blush like this, I think it’s worth considering.”

“Perhaps, but you should be aware that Aunt Breezy doesn’t like him,” Trudy said.

“I suspect that’s something in his favor,” her mother replied.

They shared a smile and as Trudy leaned into her mother’s warm embrace, she felt safe from all of life’s challenges. Eventually, she’d have to make some difficult choices about her future. She’d have to make decisions with no clear answers. But for now, she’d simply breathe in the familiar scent of her mother’s perfume, listen to the soothing beat of her heart, and feel loved for exactly who she was.

“Is there any day that is not some sort of special extravaganza?” Trudy’s father asked as the Hart family walked down the hill and to the lawn.

“Nope,” Asher responded, jogging backwards. “Ain’t it great? Today is Mr. Plank’s birthday so there is going to be a horse race later this afternoon and then fireworks this evening.

“It’s excessive but you get used to it,” Lucy replied. “In fact, that whole Celestial Soiree came about simply because I asked Mr. Plank if he had a telescope.”

“That does seem excessive,” Samuel agreed. “But it was a lovely party. I’m sorry you missed some of it, Trudy, darling. I trust you’re feeling better today.”

Lucy let out a chuff of laughter as Trudy replied, “I feel today, Father. Thank you.”

“Anyone fancy a game of croquet?” Asher asked a moment later. “None of you will beat me but I dare you to try.”

“Son, I accept your challenge,” Samuel said. “Ladies, who is going to play with us and help me give this young man a lesson in humility?”

“I would be interested in that,” Coco said.

“I’ll join you,” Lucy added.

“Me, too,” Poppy added, skipping along merrily. “Chester loves croquet.”

“I’d rather take a stroll around the grounds if it’s all the same to you, dear,” Ada said. “I’ve long since given up trying to teach humility to any of you.”

“I’ll walk with you, Mother,” Trudy said.

As they meandered over the lawn, Ada remarked, “Oh, imagine that. There’s that handsome gentleman I was referring to. What’s his name again?”

“I’m sure I don’t know who you mean, Mother,” Trudy said but her heart raced, and her smile could not be contained as Alex and Chase approached.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Hart. Dr. Hart,” they said in unison causing laughter all around.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” Trudy’s mother replied. “How nice to see you both, but where’s that lovely wife I recall one of you has?”

“That would be me,” Chase said, raising his hand. “She’s in our room, resting.”

“Good for her. She should rest as much as she’s able to before the baby comes. And what about you?” Ada turned her full attention to Alex and Trudy braced for what was sure to come next. “Do you have a wife somewhere?”

“Somewhere,” he said slowly, causing a ripple of dark laughter between the three of them and leaving Trudy’s mother bemused.

“He’s teasing, Mother. He does that.” Trudy said. “This Mr. Bostwick is… not married.”

She’d explain that to her mother someday, but not today.

“We’ve actually come to ask a favor,” Chase said to Trudy, blithely changing the subject.

“What favor is that?”

“We were considering going to the horse race this afternoon and spending a few hours in town with Hugo. He wants to discuss some business with us but I’m not comfortable leaving Jo without having someone on hand to assist her if she needs anything.”

“Oh, of course. I’d be happy to visit with her,” Trudy responded. “You don’t mind, do you, Mother?”

“Not at all,” she said, still looking curiously at Alex.

“Splendid,” Chase replied. “Thank you. She just went up to rest so perhaps check on her in a few hours? She feels fine today. Just tired.”

“Do the same rules apply as last time? Am I to pretend you didn’t ask me to watch over her?” Trudy asked.

Chase shook his head and smiled. “No, she’s on to me and knows full well what I’m up to.”

“All right then. Carry on,” she replied with a dismissive wave of her hand.

“Might I speak with you for a moment before we go?” Alex asked, causing her heart to offer up an extra beat.

He seemed more handsome than ever now that they’d… gotten more thoroughly acquainted. She nodded, and they stepped to the side while Chase chatted idly with her mother—and her mother stared at them surreptitiously.

“I don’t know what made me say that about having a wife somewhere,” Alex whispered, clearly chagrined, but Trudy smiled.

“My mother has a fine sense of humor. She would have laughed if she’d understood the joke.”

“Are you certain? Should I apologize?”

“No,” Trudy said laughing herself. “Think nothing of it.”

His sigh was audible. “Very well. There is something else I wanted to discuss, though. Two things, actually.”

“Yes?” Her unease rose at his hesitation.

“First, I very much wish I could kiss you right now. Last night was… perfection.”

“Yes, it was.” She was glad to know he thought so, too.

“On a second, on a far less pleasant note, I spoke with Madame Moyen this morning. She says she can lead a séance next week.” Then he shook his head as if he could not believe it himself.

“That’s good. I suppose.”

“Have I lost my senses?” He gazed at her earnestly.

“No more so than the rest of us. Madame Moyen said things to me I cannot explain and if this séance works, then it will have been worth it. If it doesn’t work…”

“We try something else,” he finished for her.

“Exactly.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to step away from all of this, Trudy? I never dreamed it would become so macabre.”

If her mother hadn’t been observing them, she would have reached out a hand to touch him. “I’ll be there, Alex. Whatever you need.”

“I don’t know how to thank you for this. But I should tell you, Madame Moyen says Lorna must participate as well.”

“Lorna?”

He nodded. “They met at the Mystic Melee and Moyen says there’s some connection between Lorna and Izzy. Perhaps all of Daisy’s theories are correct after all.”

“Then let’s hope this séance provides some answers.”

“Let’s hope. In the meantime, I’ll be reminiscing about last night. Trudy, I’ve never felt so… I really wish I could kiss you right now.” He glanced at her mouth so intently she could almost feel it.

“I wish you could, too,” she whispered. “But you cannot.”

“Hm.”

They stood silent for a moment while their eyes said all that could not be said. Then Alex chuckled. “I’m quite enamored of you, Dr. Hart. Have I convinced you of that yet?”

He had, and then some. But she replied, “No, it will take a great deal more convincing. Perhaps when you are back from town.”

“I would like that, but we may be late. Hugo has a number of sites for us to tour… ah, that’s a secret.”

She laughed at his instant remorse. “Your secret is safe with me. I still don’t know what you’re talking about so I will certainly keep that private.”

His eyes lingered on her with silent longing, and she smiled in response.

“I know,” she whispered. “Me, too. Now go enjoy the horse race and whatever it is you may or may not be doing with Hugo.”

He nodded, and murmured one more time, “Damn, I wish I could kiss you.”