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Book online Ā«One Thanksgiving in Lusty, Texas Cara Covington (books for 8th graders .TXT) šŸ“–Ā». Author Cara Covington



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It was the twenty-first of March, and they would be leaving to come home in two weeks. Of course, when they heard what Iā€™d just learned from my fatherā€¦ā€ Pamela shook her head. Perhaps for a moment she considered keeping her own counsel. But these two women were so accepting, and so motherly, she almost couldnā€™t help herself.

ā€œWhat bad news did your father give you, child?ā€ Chelsea asked.

Pamela explained how the medical expenses incurred during her motherā€™s illness had been heavy, but her father had paid them by adding to the mortgage. She explained that sheā€™d moved back home to do her part by preparing the meals, doing other household chores, and yes, contributing financially by paying rent because that was what family did.

She soldiered on, explaining how her father, in his need to ā€œfixā€ the mess things had become, had been duped out of a lot of money and had suddenly stood to lose the farm.

And she explained how Adam had proposed, telling her that he and James would fix the problem her father had created, that she didnā€™t need to worry about him. Certainly, the solution heā€™d come up with, sheā€™d believed, had been not only very generous but crafted to make it easier for her father to accept.

ā€œI didnā€™t tell them what was troubling me to get their help. I hope you both believe that. And I did tell them what they proposed was too much money for two new doctors to invest, but they assured me everything would be fine. Adam and James know me well enough to understand that Iā€™d never leave my family home if I thought my father needed me.ā€

ā€œDo you mean to tell me they tied their investment into your family farm to your acceptance of their proposal of marriage?ā€ Maria had asked that question very carefully.

Pamela knew she was treading on tricky ground, but she couldnā€™t do anything but tell the truth. ā€œTo be honest? I canā€™t say yes or no to that. I was still trying to recover from finding out what my dad had done. I really would have said yes, regardless. I might have pleaded for a little time so I could help dad figure a way out of the mess he was in. But I would have said yes to their proposal.ā€ Might as well make this a total embarrassment. ā€œMainly because I was in love with them both and worried about having to choose between them. I was so happy and relieved to find out I didnā€™t have to choose, so of course, I had to say yes.ā€

ā€œDid they mention the family tradition of a commitment ceremony?ā€ Grandmother Chelsea asked.

ā€œThey did, but they assured me, many times, that I could wait until I was ready for that step.ā€ She looked down at her hands. When she thought of that moment, the wonder sheā€™d felt in that moment came flooding back to her. ā€œI love them both. I thought there was something wrong with me because I did love them both. And thenā€¦when Adam proposed and asked me to marry themā€¦that I could marry both of them, I knew my only dreamā€”my greatest wishā€”was about to come true.ā€

ā€œI think I have a pretty clear picture of exactly what happened.ā€ Maria shook her head and looked over at Chelsea. ā€œMother, are you thinking what Iā€™m thinking?ā€

ā€œThat your sonsā€”my grandsonsā€”need a good boot in the butt? Oh, yes indeed.ā€

ā€œBecause they helped my father?ā€ Pamela didnā€™t know what to thinkā€”until Maria reached for her hands and looked at her with the most loving expression sheā€™d seen on a womanā€™s face since her mother died.

ā€œNo, hija, because whether they intended to or not, they looked on that help as a way to buy your acceptance of their proposal. Iā€™m sure they stressed that you could have as much time as you liked before having the commitment ceremony. Likely something like, ā€˜when you feel youā€™re ready.ā€™ā€

ā€œThey did say almost those exact words, yes.ā€

ā€œAnd I will bet they never asked you how you felt about any of it.ā€

ā€œI told them Iā€™d fallen for them both, and I said yes to marrying them both. That wasnā€™t my telling them how I felt?ā€

ā€œOh, well then, thatā€™s even worse for them,ā€ Grandmother Chelsea said. She shook her head. ā€œEven with the examples of their fathers and my fathers, my two men needed a boot in the butt every once in a while, too.ā€

ā€œI can see your confusion, Pamela. My sons, bless their male hearts, didnā€™t listen to you. They likely felt a little guilty offering you what they realized might be considered a ā€˜bribeā€™ to marry them. So then, to assuage their misplaced guilt, they likely decided to woo you as they should have been doing since they met you.ā€

ā€œOh.ā€ Pamela was relieved her new mother-in-law wasnā€™t upset with her. But she didnā€™t want the woman upset with her sons. ā€œI didnā€™t think they even really noticed me as a woman at first. I fell for them more and more as we spent time together, as I got to see their hearts. It was only in the last few weeks I began to feel they might actually be attracted to me, too.ā€

ā€œOh, querida, they had taken one look at you and were done for. Do you know, they called me the day you met? They were smittenā€”just like their fathers were that first moment we met.ā€

ā€œThe ā€˜love at first sight geneā€™ is strong in the families here,ā€ Grandmother Chelsea said. ā€œWe were both wondering what was taking so long for them to move things along.ā€

ā€œOh.ā€ And she thought of the wedding night yet to come, and she blushed. ā€œThey, um, only kissed me for the first time after I said yes.ā€

Mariaā€™s eyes went wide, and she let loose a string of curses, in Spanish. Maybe I can learn to speak that language. Pamela figured it might be a way to know what her mother-in-law was saying.

She didnā€™t like being the reason Maria was upset with her

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