The children ran into Travis's room, Travis chattering excitedly but Beth more subdued, almost sombre. I wondered whether she had inherited that from her mother.
Dave came out of his study and I tried to introduce them.
"This is my husband, Dave. Dave, this is ... Beth's mother."
"Martha Jones," the woman said. Though she had a somewhat Southern accent, she clipped her words off quickly, like she had to say them fast if she was going to say them at all.
"Pleased to meet you." Dave gave her his warmest smile. "Is it all right if I call you 'Martha', or are you more comfortable with 'Mrs. Jones'?"
"Seein' as how your wife asked me to call her 'Anne', 'Martha' would be fine." She nodded sharply, as though conveying a difficult decision.
"Martha is a lovely name. A blessed name. According to the Bible, Martha witnessed our Lord raising Lazarus from the dead."
I gave a little shake of my head to tell him he should take off his minister's hat. I doubted Martha would be amenable, and I felt it was important to have a chance to get to know her and little Beth, without feeling any pressure.
I made tea and put out more cookies. Martha didn't talk much, but I managed to drag a few facts out of her. She and Joe had come from Alabama. She was vague about why. They had two children, no other family for hundreds of miles. Joe worked as a labourer at a construction site. Martha didn't work. Joe felt a woman's place was in the home — literally, it seemed. Back in Alabama she had sometimes gone to a Southern Baptist church, but she didn't know of any around here.
"I would welcome you in our church," said Dave.
Martha shook her head. "Joe don't hold with religion much. He only let me go to the church in Alabama because his ma did."
"Surely it's your own choice!" I sputtered.
Martha looked at me like I was some unknown, possibly dangerous, animal. "Not hardly."
I didn't know what to say. We drank our tea in silence. After a while, Martha rose.
"I'd best be getting home. Jake will be home soon."
She called Beth, who dragged her feet coming out of Travis's room.
"You're welcome to visit us any time, Martha," Dave said.
As they left, I could hear Beth's plaintive voice. "Travis has lots of nice toys."
YOU ARE READING
A Soldier's Heart
Ficción General"Travis was a soldier with heart. His love for his family, his country and his community is unquestioned. He never hesitated to put his life on the line for those he loved- and he loved many and deeply." So begins Travis Barrett's eulogy. A true her...
