Chapter 3

Ann’s Point of View

On Monday, I entered the classroom. I quickly waved to Debbie and Rachel as I headed straight for my desk.

“Ann, may I say something?” Todd asked as I passed him.

I stopped, not because I wanted to but because it would be rude if I didn’t. I clutched my books to my chest and waited. He wouldn’t say anything in front of the entire class. Would he? I had the sinking sensation that he wanted to court me and hoped to make sure the conversation regarding it never came up.

He stood up. He smoothed his hair and adjusted his tie. “I’m glad to see you made it.”

I shrugged. “It was either come here or stay bored at home, staring at the walls.” It was a dumb joke but it was all I could think of. I glanced at my seat which was a couple of rows from him.

“Did I upset you Friday when I talked about Alex? I know he bothers you.”

“You’re his friend. I expect you to mention him.” I sighed. “I suppose he shouldn’t irk me so. I mean, it’s not like he does anything to me and no one else seems to mind his pranks. It probably doesn’t help that I keep calling him Creepy Alex either.”

He chuckled. “He calls you Scary Annie.”

I frowned. “I’m not scary.”

“Well, you did hit him with a broom.”

I giggled. “That was funny, wasn’t it?”

“Good for you,” someone interrupted. “I think Creepy Alex is an apt term. However, I can’t imagine you being scary, even if you did come after me with a broom.”

I paused and turned around so I could see the person who spoke. Dark brown hair, clear green eyes, and a great smile. This had to be Kent. And he was handsome! I imagined someone from New York would be fascinating but he put all of my fantasies to shame. I thought he was rude to listen to what Todd and I said, but since he set his books on the desk in front of Todd, I realized he couldn’t help but overhear if that’s where he had to sit.

“I’m Kent Ashton.” He kissed my hand.

I stared at him, bewildered that he could be so bold. That must be how New Yorkers were. Bold and charming. I cleared my throat. “Todd told me you came here last week.”

“Yes. My family moved from New York.”

“I know. He told me that too.”

“We can always talk later when your family comes over to see mine,” Todd said.

Remembering Todd, I looked at him. “What?”

His smile faltered. “Never mind. I just wanted to apologize for mentioning Alex on Friday.”

“Oh. It’s alright. I wasn’t upset with you.”

He nodded and sat down.

Blushing, because Kent still had his beautiful green eyes on me, I shyly said that it was nice to meet him and walked to my desk. I had no idea what to say to him. He was much more sophisticated than me. To my surprise, he followed me.

“May I hang your coat in the back of the room?”

My heart skipped a beat. “Uh…” None of the young men had offered to do that before. But Kent was from New York. Maybe young men did that kind of thing there.

“I promise I won’t run off with it,” he teased.

I laughed. “I know.”

Feeling somewhat awkward and aware that Debbie and Rachel watched me with amused expressions, I took my coat off and handed it to him. I watched as he put it on one of the hooks.

He returned to me. “I hope you don’t think I’m overstepping my bounds, but I think you’re the best looking lady in this room.” Then he went to his seat.

My eyes grew wide. He was definitely bold! I numbly sat down and stared ahead at the front of the room where the teacher was getting the day’s lecture ready. Kent Ashton was better than I thought he’d be. The teacher stood up to speak, so I turned to my books and got my things ready for the day.

Kent turned out to be very charming and attentive. He seemed to care for me and we did have fun talking about how creepy Alex was whenever he pulled another one of his silly pranks. I spent Saturday afternoons in my parlor listening to Kent tell me how exciting New York was. He even brought pictures of New York and of the people he knew there. It sounded better than Debbie claimed it to be.

“If we get married, I’ll take you there so you can see it for yourself,” he once said.

When December came, he asked my father if he could court me, and my father said no. This was the second him he refused to let Kent be with me. Greatly upset, I confronted my father about it that night at dinner.

“Your mother and I don’t trust him,” my father replied.

“He’s not what he appears to be.”

“Have you met his parents? You always told me that I should judge a man by his parents.”

“Ann, I am the voice of experience and wisdom. You have to trust my judgment.”

“No one else is appealing to me, Father. I have been paraded through this town in front of countless bachelors who are only interested in my dowry. And a couple of those men were old enough to be your age. What kind of life am I going to have if I’m confined to a loveless marriage? All these men care about is what I can give them instead of who I am. At least Kent doesn’t know about the dowry, and he enjoys my company.”

My mother sighed. “What about Todd?”

“We’ve already had this discussion. I don’t want to marry him.”

“Ann,” Father began, “marriage is more than fleeting emotion. It is best built upon a foundation of friendship. You aren’t looking at things clearly. Kent may be charming but there’s something wrong with him. Todd, on the other hand, is stable, trustworthy, and loyal. You can be sure that he won’t do anything to harm you.”

“What proof do you have that Kent would do that?”

He stared at the fork in his hand. “I don’t have proof. I just have a bad feeling about the boy.”

My mother nodded. “You should consider Todd. I see the way he looks at you during church and when we’re at the Brothers’ home. He loves you. Why, a boy like that will treat you as you deserve to be treated. What you and Todd need is to spend time together. Then you might see him the way he really is.”

“I spent time with him in October. He’s alright but he’s not... Well, to be frank, he’s not exciting.”

My father set his fork aside. Picking up his pipe, he looked at me. “So you are opposed to Todd?”

“Yes! I don’t love him.”

“Alright. Your mother and I will speak with Kent’s parents so we can get a better idea of what he is like.”

He kept his promise and both he and my mother concluded that his parents were respectable people, so they allowed the courtship. I was ecstatic. Kent did mention marriage and the possibility of checking Europe out on our honeymoon. He said he had an uncle in Ireland who could give us a personal tour. He even brought over brochures and pictures. He frequently told me I was pretty and bought me little gifts for no reason at all. I loved surprises, so this was a treat. He took me to symphonies and the theatre. He would only kiss me on the cheek and occasionally hold my hand, so I knew he respected me.

Debbie, Rachel and Agnes sat with me and planned out my future wedding. Agnes would be my maid of honor while Debbie and Rachel would be my bridesmaids. They were excited for me and it was fun to look forward to the future instead of dreading it.

Then April came.

I got ready for Kent’s arrival at my house.

“Miss Ann, you have a caller,” Ginny announced.

I turned from my bedroom mirror in anticipation.

Ginny giggled.

“Do I look alright?” I asked her. I wore a dark blue satin dress. He liked the color blue the best.

“You look as beautiful as usual. Come along. It wouldn’t be right to keep him waiting.”

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. When I entered the parlor, my heart raced with excitement. He looked to be larger than life with his broad shoulders and tall frame. “Good afternoon, Kent,” I greeted warmly as I approached him. “It’s good to see you. Will you sit down?”

“No thank you, Miss Ann.”

Surprised by his formality, I stood awkwardly. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Ginny shrug, just as bewildered as I was. I waited for him to speak but he refused to look at me. I knew something was wrong, so I took great care in asking my question. “Did you have a bad day?”

“No. I...I have to tell you something,” he mumbled, staring at the lace curtains on the other side of the room.

I was afraid of what he had to say, so I didn’t press him to continue.

He sighed loudly. “I don’t know how to tell you this.”

I remained silent. Part of me needed to know while another part wished to remain ignorant. At last, I asked, “Is someone in your family ill?”

“No, nothing like that.”

By now, I was squirming. When I could not stand the awful silence anymore, I demanded, “What is it?”

“I cannot call on you again.”

“What?” I dumbly asked.

“I love Rebecca Johnson, and I intend to marry her.”