Gabrielle Meyer - A Family Arrangement

She couldn’t meet his eyes but simply nodded and closed her sewing box.

He rubbed his beard for a moment and then walked over to the stove, where he closed his eyes and inhaled. “There’s nothing like waking up to the smell of coffee. Before you came, I was the one who made it every morning.”

“Even when Susanne was alive?”

Abram glanced over his shoulder with a knowing smile. “Unlike you, Susanne was not an early riser.”

Charlotte smiled to herself. How could she forget? She had practically dragged her sister out of bed every morning of her life...until she had eloped with Abram.

A stilted silence fell between them.

Abram reached for a speckled mug as Charlotte stood and took a clean towel from the drying rope she’d strung over the stove the night before. She folded it on the table, laid Abram’s pants on top, then hooked a wooden handle to one of the heavy irons and lifted it off the stove.

“Would you like me to do that?” Abram reached for the iron, his hand covering Charlotte’s on the handle. “Susanne’s arms used to get tired when she ironed.”

Charlotte didn’t let go, too stunned to move. She was so used to taking care of herself, the thought of someone else easing her burden made her feel helpless, which she tried to avoid at all cost. “That won’t be necessary.” She gently tugged the iron out of his grasp. “My arms are strong from my seamstress work.”

Abram awkwardly turned to the stove and filled his mug. He walked around her and took a seat at the table.

She swallowed and glanced at him, her insides feeling a bit shaky with him watching her. “I’ll have breakfast ready within the hour. I imagine you have work to do in the barn and then you’ll want to get an early start.”

He took a slow sip of his coffee, apparently in no rush. “The men should be up soon to take care of the animals.” He paused. “I actually came down early to make a request.”

She ran the hot iron over the first pant leg. “Oh?”

“I could use a haircut before I go.”

Charlotte stopped ironing. “You want me to cut your hair?”

“Would you?”

She had cut her father’s hair, after her mama passed away, but she had never touched the head of another man, not even Thomas’s. Somehow it felt...intimate. “I don’t know—”

“I haven’t had a cut since Susanne died.” He put his hand to his head and tugged on a long strand for emphasis. “I want to make a good impression in St. Anthony—and I’m afraid George might be scared of me with all this hair.”

“You do look a bit like a bear.”

He smiled at her and she returned the gesture. It was the first time they had ever shared a lighthearted moment.

Their smiles disappeared, as if they had the same thought at the same time.

“The boys’ hair is in need of a trim, too,” Abram said quickly, toying with the handle of his mug. “Do you think you could add it to your list of duties?”

Speaking of the boys reminded her of the idea she wanted to discuss with Abram.

“I have a request of my own.”

He took a sip of his coffee and looked at her over the rim of his mug. When he set it down he let out a contented sigh. “This is good coffee, Charlotte.”

His compliment made her blush, though she couldn’t understand why. She turned from him and set the cool iron on the stove, unhooked the handle and then hooked it to the other hot iron waiting. Maybe her cheeks were warm from the stove.

“What kind of request?” he asked, taking another sip of coffee.

She cleared her throat and set to work on the other pant leg. “This past year, two men began a school for the deaf in Iowa City. I read an article in the Iowa City Reporter about their school. It sounds very promising.”

Abram set down his mug. “What are you getting at?”

“I believe Robert is too young to attend, but someday I hope to send him there—”

“Of course I want the best for Robert, but I think the best is to be had here, at home.”

“And I think he needs an education.”

“I would never deny him an education.”

She stopped her work. “How will he get it, if you don’t send him?”

“He’ll get it right here, when we have a school.”

“But how will a teacher communicate with him?” Helplessness weighed down her shoulders. “How will we communicate with him? He must be terribly frustrated and alone right now.”

Abram ran his hands through his hair. “We’ll learn sign language.”

“How will we do that?”

“We’ll make it up if we have to.”

Charlotte set the iron on the stove. “Wouldn’t it make sense to teach him the same signs they use at the school in Iowa City? Maybe they have a sign language book. I’ll ask them to send one if they do.”

“That’s fine—but I have no desire to send my son away. I’ll find a teacher who uses sign language if I have to. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him here.”

“Like build your town?”

“Exactly.” He indicated his head with a bit of frustration. “Will you cut my hair now?”

She exhaled an exasperated breath. “Only if you shave your beard.”

“Why do you always have conditions and counteroffers?”

She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. “Why are you so stubborn?”

“I don’t want to shave my beard when it’s getting cold. My face is liable to freeze if I don’t have a beard.”

“I’ll knit you a scarf.”

“Why don’t you like the beard?”

Why not, indeed? Was it because a small part of her wanted to see if he was still as handsome as he had been the night of the Fireman’s Ball? The thought sent heat coursing through her—heat of embarrassment and guilt. She shouldn’t think that way about her sister’s widower. “You can trim it, can’t you?”

He rubbed his beard, as if sad to see it go. “I suppose I could give it a little trim. I’ll go get my comb and shears.”

While he was gone, Charlotte quickly ironed his shirt and folded it next to the trousers.

Abram returned, set the comb and shears on the table, and then began to unbutton his shirt.

Charlotte put up her hands, her eyes wide. “What are you doing?”

“Taking off my shirt.”

“Why?”

“I always took off my shirt when Susanne cut my hair.”

She shook her head quickly and grabbed the towel from the table. “Please keep your clothes on and put this around your shoulders. I have no interest in seeing you without your shirt.”

His blue eyes twinkled with mischief and Charlotte was reminded of how charming he had been when he’d courted Susanne.

He sat at the table and set the towel on his broad shoulders with a chuckle.

Maybe it wasn’t just his good looks that had attracted her sister to him.

Charlotte forced the thoughts from her mind and stepped up to the job. Her hands hovered over his head. Father’s hair had been thin and greasy. Abram’s hair was thick and wavy. It looked as if he had washed it recently, too.

She took a deep breath and ran the comb through his hair. She allowed her fingers to slip through the thick waves and assess how she wanted to cut them.

He sighed and his shoulders relaxed.

Charlotte paused, aware of how her touch had just affected him.

“Nothing too short,” he said. “I like to keep a bit of insulation on top.”

She picked up the shears, and with a quick snip, the first lock of hair fell to the floor.

Charlotte worked for several minutes, combing and cutting until she was satisfied. When she was finally finished, she stepped back and admired her work.

“Well?” He turned his head this way and that. “What do you think?”

“I think your beard looks even worse now.”