Wistful in Wisconsin

Her brow wrinkled. “Not normal at all. I can only imagine what happened to the poor lady. Someone had to teach her to behave that way.” She raised a finger to shake it at Lilah. “And I know who it must have been. That cold-hearted husband of hers.”
Clouds in Lilah’s mind seemed to part. Suddenly, she understood. Fred couldn’t tell her he loved her. His father must have trained him not to discuss emotions.
Joy flowed through her body. Obviously, it showed on her face since Merrilee sat back in her chair and stared.
“What has brought about this change? It’s like you just found a hidden pot of chocolate.”
Unable to stop it, a giggle escaped from Lilah. She wanted to wrap her arms around her middle and laugh out loud in triumph. Finally, Lilah Levitt had a purpose.
She would teach Fred to say, “I love you.”
Her miserable experience at the brothel. The slavers who tricked her into coming to Idyll Wood. Her critical father who tried to shut her away from the world. All of those were a part of bringing her to this moment so she could save the heart of a good man.
Repeating her question, Merrilee pulled Lilah from her private celebration. “What’s brought this change? You look like you could dance around the table.”
Lilah grinned. “I know why things happened to bring me to this point in my life. It’s why I couldn’t stay away from Idyll Wood.”
She gripped her hands to keep them from gesturing wildly. “I’m meant to show Fred how to love.” Lilah ignored her companion’s gaping mouth. “Isn’t it wonderful to know your purpose?”
Fred strode into his brother’s house with a purpose riding his shoulders. Myra had to help him or he’d go crazy from that woman stalking him in town. He couldn’t think of anyone else to go to about the problem.
Typically, he stopped to knock and waited for someone to answer the door. Yes, this was his childhood home, but a lot had changed in the last two years. And, too, he didn’t live here anymore.
Today, he forgot that in his rush to get help from his sister-in-law. In the mudroom, he stomped off the slush clinging to his boots. Pushing back the wood-framed screen door, his had turned the doorknob and pushed his way into the kitchen at the back of the house.
Without looking at anyone, he turned his back to the room and secured the door. His foot nudged the weighted wool roll so that it stretched once again along the length of the door, sealing out any cold that would try to sneak in that way.
When he finally faced the family gathered at the kitchen table, Fred’s eyes narrowed at their surprised expressions. “What? Can’t a man come to visit his brother’s children?”
Joyful shouts from the four girls had him wincing. They certainly were more vocal now that Myra mothered them. Loving, too, he thought, as arms gripped his waist and thighs. Smothered in love, he reached into his pocket and pulled out candy sticks.
“Girls,” a soft voice called and four heads immediately looked in that direction. “I want you to each return to the table. Put your candy by your plate for after dinner.”
Myra focused on the new arrival then. Gesturing toward the food, she smiled at him. “Fred, have you eaten? There’s plenty of the noon meal left.”
He nodded and sat next to his brother, where Dora had been sitting. The three-year-old shared a chair now with her twin, happy to be touching her sister and excited that her uncle was visiting.
A bowl of fragrant bean soup appeared in front of him. Bowing his head briefly, Fred eagerly dipped up a spoonful and savored the smokey flavor of the ham. He wanted to compliment Myra on the meal. The words wouldn’t form, though.
Holder, his older brother, grunted in his direction and pointed at Fred’s bowl with his own raised spoon. “Good soup, yah? My wife pleases us with her cooking.”
Fred watched Holder wink and smile at Myra. The woman blushed and dipped her head. Always a modest one, his sister-in-law.
In truth, she had so much to be proud of in this home. She’d changed Holder from a cold, bitter man to a father who showed his girls affection and acceptance. Fred remembered the days when Holder refused to even look at the twins. The girls went more than a year without names because his brother wouldn’t even think about them.
Myra worked miracles in this home. Would she be willing to fix his problem with Lilah Levitt?
Across the table from him, Myra shifted, uncomfortable. Next to him, Holder cleared his throat. Fred reddened as he realized he must have been staring overly long at his brother’s wife.
Goodness! He had to explain this, and quickly!
“I, uh, well it’s just that I…” His voice trailed off, making the situation worse.
Holder stood and looked down at him. “You got a problem with my wife, Mr. Sheriff. Think she held up the bank?”
Around them, little gasps from small girls sounded in the air. Even the baby in his cradle gave out a cry of distress.
Forgetting his delicious meal, Holder got to his feet. Words rushed from Fred like a dam bursting in the spring. “No, I need help. Myra is the only one who might get through to the woman.”
With a downward motion of his hand, Holder indicated for Fred to sit. He also settled in his chair and solemnly watched Fred run a shaky hand through his golden hair.
“Woman troubles?” His brother snorted, as if he’d never heard of anyone having issues with a female. Both Holder’s first wife and his second were soft spoken, gentle women. Maybe he never had a problem with either one.
Fred typically followed whatever his brother said. After all, he was