Emma Blooms At Last by Naomi King Page A

muster.

Chapter Seven
    A s Jerome stepped toward the Grabers’ front porch on Saturday morning, Cora and Dora scurried around him, leading little Alice Ann to the door as fast as her short legs could toddle, which made him laugh. Lizzie and Vera hefted a box bulging with colorful fabrics between them, while Amanda carried covered pans of food for their dinner. All the way from Bloomingdale, the women in his life had been chatting and laughing, eager for this day of quilting. Their buoyant mood had lifted his spirits as he anticipated his outing with Emma . . . which would be much more than a shopping trip, if he had his way about it.
    â€œIt’s going to be quite a frolic,” Jerome remarked as he steadied Jemima on the stairs. “I hope Merle can handle all the clucking you hens will be doing.”
    Jemima stopped to focus on him. Her face lit up within the curved brim of her black winter bonnet. “Merle will be glad it’s our clucking rather than Eunice’s pecking, ain’t so?” she teased.“And we’re bringing most of his dinner, so our visit won’t be a total hardship for him.”
    Jerome had to chortle at that. But it was the young woman holding the door who made him stand taller and put on his best smile. “Gut morning, Emma! The frosty air’s putting roses in your cheeks. How are you?”
    â€œI’m gut. And Mamm’s the cheeriest I’ve seen her in a long while—or at least since James and Abby got married,” she added playfully.
    Did he dare hope that Emma’s fine mood reflected a change of heart? Jerome let Amanda and Jemima step inside ahead of him; then he lingered in the doorway. In her crisp pleated kapp, wearing a mustard-colored dress that accentuated her hazel eyes and the hint of ginger in her brown hair, Emma looked even prettier than she had at the wedding. “And the newlyweds are on their first gift-collecting visit?” he asked.
    â€œThey left yesterday for Queen City,” she said as they entered the house. “Abby doesn’t have a clue about what will be going on
here
all day, either. It’s not easy, keeping such secrets from her.”
    â€œI hope we’ll locate a gift they’ll cherish every bit as much as the quilts these ladies will be making,” Jerome replied as he removed his hat. “And I’m pleased you’ll get to work with them next Saturday, too. You’re a gut sport to help me with my shopping today, Emma.”
    Jerome glanced around, immediately feeling at home. Even though a long worktable and chairs now took up the center of the front room, the recliners, sofas, and tables were of the same vintage he’d grown up with—which meant everything looked a little worn, but comfortable. A woodstove at the other end of the room put out enough heat to make the house feel cozy, and a sweet cinnamon aroma filled the air.
    Merle ambled out of the kitchen, a grin on his weathered face.“You folks got an early start. These ladies must’ve been prodding you along, Jerome,” he remarked.
    â€œThey were eager to be on the road, jah—and it smells like you’ve been baking all morning, Merle,” Jerome teased. “What’d you make me?”
    Emma’s dat laughed. “Sure you don’t want to stay and find out? What with those casserole pans Amanda carried in, you and I could be the taste testers while the girls do their quilting.”
    â€œDon’t go getting any such ideas, Jerome!” Eunice’s voice came from the kitchen. “We all want to see what sort of wedding gift you and Emma find on your shopping trip today.”
    When Eunice stepped out to stand beside Merle, Jerome went over to greet them. They were such a dear pair, as faded and worn as their sofa, yet their eyes sparkled in their weathered faces. “You two look mighty perky this morning,” he remarked. “So, how many years has it been