Chapter Two

Sunday Services

Windemere United Church

Jake took a seat in the middle pew to the right of the dais. Not his usual seat, but that's what he got for coming in at the last minute. Someone had taken his favorite spot and filled the entire pew.

He didn't recognize the man, or the woman sitting next to him. Two young boys sat at the woman's side. Was this the new banker and his family ? The reverend would make the formal introduction during his service. Then, afterward, Jake would introduce himself. After all, any businessman worth his salt should have a good relationship with his banker.

"Scoot," Del whispered, motioning Jake farther into the row. "Not in your regular seat, I see."

"I was late, like you," Jake responded in a quiet voice. "Where's your wife?"

"She was feeling under the weather. This humidity gives her a pain in her noggin." Nodding toward the front of the church, Del asked, "Any idea who stole your seat?"

"No man owns a piece of the Lord's house. If I were a betting man, though, I'd say that's our new banker and his family."

"He looks like a banker," Del reasoned. "Spiffy suit, neatly cut hair. Those must be his children, the girl and two boys."

"Not his wife?" Jake asked.

"Don't think so. That nosey sister-in-law of mine claims he's a widower. Heaven knows she's rarely wrong."

"Despite the fact Miss Addy is my housekeeper and cook, I haven't seen her in days. She's usually gone before I get home. Otherwise, I'm sure she'd have filled me in on all the details as well."

Del was about to comment further when the door to the anteroom opened and the reverend came through, taking his place behind the lectern. Jake released a long sigh and settled in for this week's sermon.

Thirty minutes later, the reverend closed his sermon with a prayer before moving on to the week's announcements. "The women's group will be meeting on Thursday at eight. The choir practice has been moved to seven on Tuesday." Turning to his right, Reverend Sikes continued, "I'd like to welcome our newest members of the congregation, Mister Wallace Prescott, district bank manager, his lovely daughter Susana, and his two sons, Seth and Will. You are all invited to join us in the church hall on Wednesday evening for a reception to welcome the Prescott family to our community. Festivities will begin at seven."

Jake's plans to introduce himself to the Prescott family hit a snag when he couldn't get within twenty feet of where they stood. Surrounded by the majority of the congregation, they seemed buried beneath a mountain of well wishers. Half the young men who worked for him seemed to be hovering at the daughter's side.

It was just as well, Jake supposed. The church yard was no place to discuss business. Making his way toward where he'd tethered his horse, he decided to wait until the Wednesday night welcome party to offer his greeting.

Sunday Supper with the Reverend and Missus Sikes

Susana set the last few plates atop the fancy lace tablecloth before placing the silverware and napkins on the table. She supposed she should have expected her father's invitation to the preacher. She thought of the roast she'd placed in the oven before they'd left for church, and the carrots and potatoes she'd added once they'd come home.

Chowder, made from fresh corn, simmered on the stovetop. Nothing fancy, but good, wholesome food.

Once everyone was seated, the reverend extended his hand to her father and the circle of fellowship flowed smoothly around the table. Bowing his head, Reverend Sikes began. " Dear Lord, we thank you for this beautiful day, for the new friends we've made, for their belief in You and Your teachings, and for this wonderful meal we are about to share. In Jesus' name, Amen ."

As soon as the reciprocal ‘Amens' died away, Wallace lifted the lid from the soup tureen and began filling the first of the bowls stacked in front of him.

"Something smells wonderful," Missus Sikes gushed.

Her husband chuckled. "Everything, my dear. Everything smells great. From what I've heard, Miss Susana is quite the cook, and an excellent baker."

"She takes after her mother," Wallace said. "The woman could cook the way around a fancy French chef, and Susana's just as good."

"I like her desserts best," Seth admitted. "Her peach cobbler is my favorite."

"Mine is her banana pudding," Will told them around a mouthful of chowder. "Especially when there's cream on top."

"I realize you're still settling in," Margaret Sikes said. "However, the women's group at church will, no doubt, be calling on your expertise from time to time." Turning to Will, she added, "As for your cream, this property has a gentleman's barn so there's room for your own cow."

"A gentleman's barn. What's that?" Seth asked.

"It needs a bit of work to get it up to snuff," the reverend explained. "But it's that building way back in your yard. The boards were red but have faded. It's not as big as one you'd see on a ranch or a working farm. Usually, gentlemen's barns were meant to hold a carriage and one or two horses."

"We've not really had time to look around the entire property as yet," Wallace admitted. "That handyman you recommended… Mister Perkins… says there's the remnants of a chicken coop out there."

Immediately, Susana's ears perked up. "A chicken coop? I'd love to have access to fresh eggs. And, if possible, a cow would be helpful for milk."

Her father reached across the corner of the table and patted her hand. "I'll see if Mister Perkins can make a list of the supplies we'll need, and maybe hire a second helper to get the barn ready for the cooler months. Walking is fine for now, but a carriage and horse will be most welcome when the snow arrives."

The rest of the meal went off without a hitch. The boys behaved themselves admirably, even though Susana was sure the temptation to fling carrots back and forth across the table was nagging at their playful souls.

"I'll get dessert," Susana announced. "Will, can you help me with the plates, bowls and spoons?"

"Yes, ma'am," Will responded dutifully, sliding back his chair to follow her into the kitchen.

They returned moments later with a sweet potato pie and a banana pudding layered in one of her mother's favorite crystal bowls.

"Is this the sweet potato pie Miss Betty keeps going on about?" Margaret asked.

Susana nodded. "I'm not sure what all the fuss is but, yes, this is my sweet potato pie. And, of course, Will's favorite banana pudding."

The reverend pushed his chair back an extra inch from the table. "I'd like a little of both, please."

"Bernard!" Missus Sikes said sternly. Turning to Susana, she clarified, "A very little of both."

"That's okay, Reverend," Will assured him. "I'll eat the rest of your share of the pudding."

Laughter filled the room, ending only as each person took their first bite of one of her desserts. After that, the only noise in the room was the sound of silverware knocking against china, the occasional sigh of satisfaction, followed by her brother's pleas for seconds.

As her husband had done, Margaret Sikes, slid her chair back from the table and announced, "This was one of the most delicious meals I think I've ever had. You really must tell me what spices you put on that roast." Leaning a bit closer to Susana, she confided, "I've been told you don't share your pie recipe, and I'm fine with that as long as we can expect one or two at every church function."

"A lady has to have a few secrets to herself," Susana whispered back. "Maybe someday, though."

"Once you're married and have a daughter of your own, I'm sure you'll want to share with her," Margaret observed.

Will wrinkled his button nose and issued a comical, "Yuk! Who'd want to get married." Seth snickered at his brother's side despite the fact he wasn't as repelled by girls as the younger Will.

Their father shot the boys a glare, and told them, "You'd both better hope she teaches you how to cook before she finds herself a husband. Or we'll starve."

Susana put away the last of the dishes and wiped down the area next to the sink. The reverend and his wife had left an hour or so earlier. Once the boys were settled in their rooms with books to read, and papa had gone into his office, she'd come to the kitchen to finish the clean up.

While she worked, she made a mental list of the changes she wanted, both to the outbuildings here at home, as well as to her new storefront in town. When her father had handed her the keys this past Thursday, it had been all she could do to keep from shouting for joy. She was a businesswoman now, she reasoned. And businesswomen didn't shout… at least not in public. Or, at least, she didn't think they did.

Mister Perkins was to meet her at the empty storefront at ten, following her morning baking session at the café. She would show him the plans she'd drawn up… where she wanted the cupboards… the new shelves. They'd decide on paints, and flooring, and whether or not she would need to place an extra order or two at the mercantile.

The handyman had suggested purchasing the lumber they would need directly from the mill, rather than waste time and money ordering through Mister Wheeler's store. She was happy to acquiesce to his suggestions, given he knew what was needed, and the town, far better than she.

It was all coming together nicely. While she waited for the arrival of her new stove and iceboxes, Susana planned to thoroughly clean the store, apply a coat of fresh paint, and wash down the windows facing the street. Finally, assuming she could stop shaking from excitement, she'd try her hand at stenciling the name she'd chosen for her bakery on the front windows, and then fill it in with some bright, white paint.

Mama would have been so proud of her. But no more so than she was of herself.