Worthington Wives

Chapter Seventeen

After breakfast the next morning, Agnes told Cecelia and Reyanna that she wanted to show them something, so she had the girls wait in the parlor for her. She brought in an old photo album. Marybeth brought them hot tea to drink. Agnes thanked her and opened the photo album on the coffee table.

“This was my great grandmother Lucille,”she said. “This is my grandmother Mary Louise,” she said, turning the page. “This one was my mother Gertrude, and this is me,” she told them, pointing at a younger picture of herself. “Now, tell me girls, what do you see in these ladies that stands out to you,” she asked the girls, taking a sip of tea. Both girls turned the pages and compared the photos.

“They are all very regal looking, very beautiful, very proud looking,” Reyanna said. “Aristocratic, dignified, well dressed, ladylike,”Cecelia noted. “Now, I want you to notice them with their spouses,” Agnes said, showing them more photos.

The girls studied the pictures of how the women looked when standing beside their spouses. “They all seem proud to stand by their spouses,” Reyanna determined. “Yes, they look content, like that’s where they belong,” Cecelia added.

“My girls, this is what a Worthington Wife is. She is always ladylike, always acts dignified, and she brings honor to her husband by her beauty, her strength and her attitude. She raises her children to be respectful and polite. She raises her girls to be proper ladies and her sons to be gentlemen. She is strict in discipline, but abounds in love. She puts her family’s needs above her own. And she never lets her problems or her emotions show in public,” Agnes explained.

“Now, within these walls, we face problems together. There is strength in family. We argue in private, but we suffer together. The Worthington Wife, my dears, is the epitome of the Proverbs 31 woman. So, I want you to remember what I have told you and I want you to study the Proverbs 31 woman. You will bear the Worthington name, soon….wear it well, my daughters,” she said, hugging them both.

“Sounds like we’ve got our work cut out for us, Sister,” Reyanna said. “Yes…..I’m a little nervous about it,” Cecelia admitted. “Me too, but we love our men. We can do it. God will help us be Worthington wives Mom can be proud of,” Reyanna told her.

“We need to stick together. Like Mom said, there’s strength in family…..Sister,” Reyanna said, hugging Cecelia. She wasn’t normally a touchy-feely person, but it felt good when Reyanna and Agnes hugged her, and of course Phillip. Maybe she was evolving, Cecelia thought. Her parents were not emotional people. They did not hug.

Family….her new family. Cecelia smiled at the thought. She went from being an only child to having a big family, and it felt good, she decided. “The Ice Queen” that she feared so much was not so bad behind the scenes. She was a loving mother who valued her family, and Cecelia was coming to love her as such.

Avery Sr. developed pneumonia and had to stay in the hospital for IV antibiotics. Ben and Reyanna took Agnes to see him that evening. He smiled when he saw them and offered one sided hugs. His left side was getting stronger, though, as he proudly showed his strength to them.

“Dad, you have pneumonia?” Reyanna fretted, touching his shoulder. Avery Sr nodded with frustration. “Three….days,” he said, pointing to the IV antibiotic. “Well, it’s just a little snag, but atleast they are continuing your therapy,” she said. “Yes….strong,” he said proudly, moving his left hand open and closed. “You are getting strong! I’m so proud of you,” Reyanna told him and kissed him on the cheek.

“Wife….kiss,” he said with a smile, reaching for Agnes. “Avery, it’s not dignified to kiss you in public. What if a nurse walks in?” She protested. “It’s okay, Mom, look we will pull the curtain and you can kiss him in private,” Ben suggested, pulling the curtain around the two. “Miss….you,” Avery Sr said. “I miss you too,” Agnes said and kissed him softly on the lips. “Okay, you two, just kissing,” Ben teased them. “Avery!” Agnes scolded with red cheeks as she quickly pulled the curtain back. “Sorry, Mom,” he said with his head hung in shame, but grinning.

Meanwhile, Phillip and Cecelia walked in the garden hand in hand. “How was your day today, Philly?” she asked. “It wasn’t bad, but I couldn’t wait to get home to you, my sweet love,” he said, kissing her on the cheek. Cecelia smiled at his sweet words and his kiss.

“Your mother had a wonderful talk with Reyanna and myself this morning, and I’m really starting to get close to the both of them,” she admitted. “The Ice Queen?” Phillip asked incredulously. “You stop calling her that!” Cecelia scolded. “She’s your mother, and she’s a good woman,” she told him. “Oh, I’m in big trouble if you two have joined forces,” Phillip teased. Cecelia smiled and kissed his cheek. Then, to her surprise, he pulled her around in his arms and kissed her fully.

“I hate taking you home,” he said, looking into her shining blue eyes. “You don’t have to. Your Mom called my parents. She wants me to stay another two weeks for her to give Reyanna and I proper debutant training,” she said with a giggle. “Well, she’s a pro,” he said, smiling. “I’m just glad I get to keep you here close to me,” he said, kissing her again.