Harriet snuggled their son Walter. Outside of Walter being a very big baby his delivery had gone perfectly fine, according to her Mother Clara. Clara had stayed the first week to make sure Harriet was recovering fine and that she was able to feed without problem. Conri had been so nervous about touching her that he'd slept in his old cot in the attic for the first month after Walter's birth. Harriet learned from her mother that by all accounts hers had been both a smooth pregnancy and delivery. Whereas Abigail Smith had nearly died during premature labor and only one of the twins she'd been carrying had survived. Harriet also learned to appreciate Conri's gentle approach after learning that one of her former school mates nearly died of infection when her husband hadn't waited for her to recover from delivering her third child in less than three years. While Conri didn't fuss to much about how much time and care a baby took, Harriet knew that like herself he was looking forward to a solid night's sleep. Some days when she had finished feeding Walter Conri would take him outside and walk around the garden and yard with him. The first time Conri took Walter for a short walk she'd fallen asleep instead of tending to the neglected laundry. When she'd tried to apologize for falling asleep Conri had gently shaken his head and kissed her on the forehead. After that day he made it a habit to take Walter at least twice a week so she could get some extra rest. Walter was close to nine months of age and eating small bits of mashed peas in addition to the nursing when Harriet decided to stop waiting for Conri to resume some of their pre baby cuddling. Before falling asleep she murmured her contentment to Conri who hushed her with another deep kiss. He whispered they had time, and there was no rush. Harriet carried the ever growing Walter on her hip for his bath and decided it was past time for him to have a bed of his own. Especially as she suspected she wouldn't be able to lift and carry him for to much longer. Harriet thanked Conri for the years anniversary gift. It had taken him and two other men the better part of a day to move the old fireplace back outside. Now though it was facing the garden and close to the door so she could use it in the summer when it was hot out. In it's place she had a proper cast iron stove and oven. Once the hired men had left Harriet pulled Conri in close and whispered her news in his ear. Harriet wasn't sure she'd ever seen someone look both giddy and shaken at the same time before. Yet that was the only way she could think to describe expression. She watched intently as his eyes glazed and unglazed, he started to get a dopey grin and then their was a bolt of something fear or perhaps panic across his face before he suddenly bolted out the door. When she cracked the door open just a little she could hear him shifting through his wood and tools. Smiling she closed the door gently so as not to distract him. There had been a flurry of activity, and more hired men had come along with her father Harry and Johnson Smith. Her mother Clara and Abigail Smith had shown up too with hampers of food. Harriet had wanted to object to muddy tracks across her clean floor, but instead Clara had insisted that they bundle the toddling and very independent Walter up in warm clothes since the fall was colder this year than last and herded them off towards the abandoned apple orchard. Every so often one of the men would take a break and come over for a beverage or a cold sandwich. There were a few times when Harriet or all three women would hold their breath as the men took the fates on a ride raising beams where an attic had once been. By the end of the day everyone sat down to eat warm hand pies as they admired the days work. Unsure of what to expect as Conri held the door open and gestured for Harriet to enter, she was thrilled to see that the worst of the dust and dirt from the construction had already been swept away. Turning to take a tired Walter to his bed she was shocked to see the wall gone from the far side of the room. The table was now full center and two new chairs had been added to it. Leading her through what had been the door to their room Conri pointed to a small bed and encouraged Walter to check it out. Conri also pointed to a small child sized chamber pot by the door to the wash room, and explained that it would probably be safer to teach Walter on a chamber pot than in the outhouse where he might fall in. Conri managed to apologize for the lack of banister in the same breathe that he used to usher Harriet up the stairs to their new spacious room which did at least have a railing around the stair well. Walter, who made Harriet think of Conri at every turn with his matching lavender eyes and red hair, kept his parents very much on their toes. On days when the new pregnancy was making Clara tire faster than usual Conri would step in take over the care of Walter. Whether it was helping him with lessons, playing outside, showing him the tools he used for wood working, or answering a why question for the millionth time in a row Conri did his best to see that Harriet was able to rest when she needed it. Something was wrong Harriet knew her husband well enough to know when something was bothering him. She was fairly certain he wasn't overly upset about the unrest in the Caribbean, yet his edginess was making her worry. Finally he blurted out that he'd been recognized from his days as a pirate while delivering a tub to a general's home to the north. He explained that he was to return to Riverview the following week to discuss the charges. Conri also explained that he would be taking her father, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Wallace with him as character witnesses and solicitor. Harriet asked why he couldn't ask his half brother to intervene on his behalf. Conri shook his head and reminded her that legally all ties to his life as a Dukes son were severed. Plus it would be very improper for a Duke to meddle in another countries legal affairs. Harriet burst into tears, and bawled that she didn't care she didn't want to loose her husband. Harriet didn't like her husbands news when he returned from Riverview. His change in course and hard work within the community had been taken into account. It was decided however that he still had to atone for his time as a pirate, no matter how he'd ended up sailing under the black flag. That a solicitor from the Dukes estate had been there to verify Conri's story of being sold into service as a child surprised him. He suspected that had been Harriet's doing which his father in law Harry confirmed in private. Conri was grateful that the judge was willing to listen to the full story, as well as his witnesses to his new life, as a hard working joiner supporting a gravid wife and small son. As he had expected the judge wasn't willing to let him walk free, but he was allowed to choose between prison or the military. After Conri reviewed the choices carefully along with careful consideration of what the living conditions of each option were likely to be like, Conri told the judge that he would like to serve his time with the military. To alleviate any concerns anyone might have regarding his name it was decided that Conri would use his mother's maiden name of Ross while serving. He kept reminding himself that with the military he'd be allowed leave once in awhile to spend with his family. That Harriet was less than thrilled was obvious by the shrillness of her voice. Conri tried his best to explain that he couldn't just get out of it. He also tried to explain how the barracks would be cleaner than a prison cell and he'd be allowed leave to come home from time to time. Two nights before Conri was to leave they hosted Harriet's family and the Smith's for a going away dinner. Conri could've worn the uniform he'd been issued but didn't have the heart to do so. Late after the last guest had left Conri heard a gentle rap on the door. It was Harry, Conri's father in law. Together the two men talked about when Conri thought he'd be back to visit, and made arrangements for Harriet to sell produce and flowers through her fathers business. Conri had already moved the candle making station upstairs on the off chance she could find a few minutes free. Although she'd partially abandoned the candle making once Walter was born as he'd taken up so much of her time. They also agreed that Clara or Elisabeth would come stay for short periods as Harriet got closer to her due date. Harriet discovered that she hated the emptiness of their small home, it just wasn't the same without Conri around. She had never realized before just how much his presence had completely filled a room before. She found herself trying to figure out just when it was that she'd fallen in love with him. Eventually she realized that it hadn't been any one moment in particular. That her love for him came as a culmination of how he'd shown her respect even that first day that they'd met as teens. The ways he'd made her laugh at some of the silliest things like the dead mouse inside the jar of preserved black berries that hadn't been capped properly after a meal. Harriet smoothed her dress as she stood, and went to reread his latest letter again. As his letter had promised Conri was home for a days leave, he'd been accompanied by another soldier who was being hosted at her parents farm. Conri made jokes about the Sargent being his keeper, but Harriet understood from the other mans scowl that he wasn't pleased with being assigned to babysit a private on day leave. He asked the usual questions of how was she faring. How Walter was faring. What gender she thought their baby might be. Eventually Harriet cut him off and told him out with it. He was home two days sooner than expected and being way to cheerful. Conri sighed, it turned out there was a downside to being a former cabin boy and sailor. He'd been a little to good as a private on a rigging challenge and had been reassigned from the field unit to a battleship. He waived a thin sheet of type writer paper from his pocket. "I've been assigned to the Maine, it sets sail in a few days possibly for Havana I don't know for sure." Conri promised that he would write whenever he could, but he wasn't sure how often the battleships mail was sent out, let alone received. With the help of her mother Clara and Abigail smith Harriet delivered a healthy a baby girl, who was promptly named Sorcha after Conri's mom. Harriet asked her mom if second deliveries always went smoother than the first and Clara replied with a firm no. Once Clara was certain that Harriet and baby were both doing well she returned to her farm down the road. Walter had been taught how to go from their small home on the hill to his grandparents bigger farm. Harriet explained that it helped her rest easier knowing that her son knew where to go in an emergency. That Walter was learning at a good pace made Harriet happy. She wished Conri could see his son playing with the stacking blocks he'd made for their children. Harriet forced herself to eat. Walter had dragged the metal from the shelf to the table again. Papa's? Walter had questioned. Harriet didn't have the words, mind she had the telegraph that had accompanied the medal with it's short sentence. Conri H. Ross missing presumed dead. That same evening her parents had shown up with the evening paper. She'd sunk into the chair by the door as the headline sunk in Explosion Sinks The Maine, Sailors missing. Harriet found the page listing the assigned service members. "Conri's not here", her tone puzzled as she pointed at the list. Her father explained that Conri was unlikely to ever be listed given the nature of why he was in service. Harriet tried to say that it was a mistake and that Conri was fine and that he'd be home again soon. Her father Harry tapped the medal still on the table and shook his head gravely and mouthed, No. Clara hugged Harriet and rocked her gently as only a mother can do. Sorcha's wailing cut through, and Harriet dragged herself upstairs to tend to her daughters needs. It was about a week later when Harry and a military chaplain showed up at the door. Conri's remains had been found and identified. Harriet broke down and cried. So long as Conri's body had been missing she had held on to some glimmer of hope that he'd come home to stay with a full pardon. Now there was no more hope. He was gone for good. When her father suggested she sell the house and move back in with him and her mother, Harriet felt something inside snap. Straightening her spine and wiping her face dry with handkerchief she dryly thanked her father and told him that she had no intention of selling Walter's inheritance out from under him. When her father suggested that maybe Walter wouldn't want the house when he was older Harriet replied back calmly, because her son was watching them both intently, that when Walter was old enough to make that decision it would be his and his alone to make, and that in the meantime she would do her best to maintain their funds and home. Harry stood and pulled his daughter in and whispered "that's my Harriet, you had me worried for a moment there." Harriet did her best to explain to Walter that his Papa would never be coming back. Some days he seemed to get it, and other days he would tell her she was reading the book wrong, and that she needed to make papa come back and read it instead. Harriet did her best keep everything running smoothly, but it wasn't easy with two small children in the house. She was grateful that Conri had left them with a decent amount of funds set aside, she'd been shocked to learn that they had a few thousand in the bank. She knew that so long as she was frugal with the money, and kept up on the taxes everything would be in good order for Walter once he was old enough to obtain his majority. Sometimes Harriet's younger brother Henry would stop by instead of her parents. He claimed he was there to help. Harriet suspected that Henry was really trying to get out of going to the office out on the docks and helping out their father. Harriet tried to talk Henry into talking to their father about not being interested in shipping and receiving, but Henry wouldn't listen. Harriet stared at her daughter, trying vainly to keep her face straight as she reprimanded her wild child yet again that it was not okay to make messes all over the floor with grains from the cupboard.
Harriet struggled to not break down, those violet eyes were just like Conri's, the only difference was Sorcha stared at her from under dark brown bangs. It had been well over two years since she'd lost Conri, yet she felt no desire to set aside the black threads for grey as some younger widows did. Her mom had brought over some grey fabric, but Harriet had shaken her head no, and tried to explain that she just couldn't see letting someone else into Conri's home. Passing her hand across several of the wooden pieces of furniture that Conri had built she tried to explain to her mother that it wasn't just a house, rather a home built from love, and that she wasn't sure that another man would respect that. Clara admitted that she didn't understand what her daughter was talking about, and took the bolt of grey fabric with her when she left.
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