Some Scars Never Fade

August

None of it was supposed to happen like this. As Nicholas looked out his bedroom window, he dreaded the arrival of the carriage that would take him and his family to an unknown town, to a stranger's house. Even though she was not really a stranger, now was she? They were now engaged, he couldn't possibly still think of her as someone he did not know.

Her name was Mary Clark. A woman of three and twenty. She lived in a small town in Boston. Her mother deceased, her father, a farmer. He was a general in the Civil War, Nicholas served under his command when he joined the California 100. When Mr. Clark returned to his town in Boston, he was greatly respected man for he was one of the few that made it back from the Battle of Gettysburg. He came back from the war to his daughters, with an amputated leg, but he got himself around just fine, as far as Nicholas could see.

General Clark came to visit Nicholas one windy day to see a loyal friend. They kept in contact after the war through long letters, each expressing their struggles to adjust to their daily life routine after the long violent war. They discussed their nightmares, and thus finding support in each other regardless of the three thousand miles between them. General Clark arrived with one of his daughters, Mary.

Mary was tall, fair skinned, and a very dashing woman. How was she still unmarried, he did not know. General Clark adored his daughters, he spoke so well of them in his letters that Nicholas looked forward on meeting them. They arrived to his childhood home, as he was in the yard helping his mother with her rose garden. Their arrival brought back some terrible memories, but some great ones as well.

Mary pushed her father in his wheelchair and Nicholas felt sorry for him. A strong, brave man, trapped in a wheelchair, if that wasn't unfair, he did not know what was. Though the visit was unexpected, it was very well welcomed. Nicholas mother, Mrs. Gregson, knew exactly who General Clark was and she treated him with courtesy and respect. They stayed over for dinner and they discussed everything and anything. Nicholas's sisters, Jane of twelve years old and Josie of fifteen, admired Miss Clark's beauty. She let them braid her long dark hair, which made his sisters smile all day.

After dinner, the conversation between General Clark and Nicholas took an unexpected turn. He wanted Nicholas to marry his daughter.

Nicholas stood there unable to process his proposal. Nicholas was twenty seven years of age, unmarried, and at one point, he was very handsome. But the war did not leave him unscarred. During the Battle of Cedar Creek, a confederate soldier swung his sword towards Nicholas and it got him on the right side of his face. It slashed his lips and it took a piece of his cheek right off. Now a dark, scar reminded him of that horrible war.

"Please, " General Clark said. "I don't mean to meddle but I do believe you make a beautiful couple. Mary is so very fond of you already."

Nicholas turned to him not believing a single word. Mary was unable to look at him in the face ever since she arrived. "I don't understand why you want me to marry into your family, " he admitted quietly.

"I just want my daughters in good hands. What better hands than yours."

As Nicholas discussed the matter to his mother later that night, his mother shook her head sadly. "It was bound to happen sooner or later."

He knelt before her and held her hands tenderly. "I won't leave you."

"Oh but you must, " she replied rapidly. "Since your father's death, you haven't been able to enjoy your own life."

"Of course I have. I enjoy being here with you and my sisters."

"You need to make a living for yourself, " she replied gently. "You need to find a girl and get married, make me a grandmother before I get too old."

"What about father's business?" he asked referring to the sale of farming equipment that his father had left behind.

"We can handle it. Just because we're women, it doesn't mean we don't know how business is done."

Nicholas chuckled knowing very well what a great business woman his mother was. "You think I should try then?"

"Of course! You won't lose anything by trying and who knows, maybe Miss Clark will be a great wife to you."

Nicholas nodded. With his face looking the way it did, he doubted he would get any more offers.

The journey was long and tedious. The carriage sent by General Clark was spacious, but it still gave Nicholas anxiety. Ever since he joined the war and spent time in the trenches, closed spaces made him uneasy. He looked out the window, the sight of the desert made him feel slightly better, the hot, dry air was a constant reminder that he had made it home.

It took them days to arrive, but the change of scenery was very welcoming. The differences between Sacramento and Boston were so many that Nicholas' mother, who had never been outside of her home state, awed and admired the very green state. The air felt lighter, even fresher. The tall buildings welcomed them and the smooth roads were a nice surprise.

At last, they arrived at the Clark residence and Nicholas' expectations were disappointed. He expected a grand house with a great entrance, instead, they were brought to a small, single floor house next to a very lonely farm. Nicholas was not sure why he was expecting such a prosperous house, General Clark always said he came from a humble town in Boston. His sisters scrunched their noses at the sight of a cow calmly eating hay. They weren't very wealthy back in Sacramento, but as they stood there covering their noses, they realized they were more than others.

General Clark was the first to greet them; Mary assisted him outside the screen door, as he stepped out with cane in hand attempting to make good use of his leg.

"Nicholas!" he greeted cheerfully as Nicholas reached out to embrace him. He gave Mary a smile and she smiled back, surprising him. He wasn't sure if she would even look at him considering how she acted around him the first time they met.

"You haven't met my other daughter, " said Major Clark as they pulled away. "She's Olivia."

Nicholas expected to see the sister walk out the door until Mary stepped forward and said, "It's so great to meet you. I have heard wonders about a Nicholas Gregson, I feel like I already know you."

Nicholas blinked unsure if they were playing a prank, and for a while he did not reply.

"Please forgive my son, " came his mother's voice from behind him. "It appears as he did not know you had twin daughters, Mr. Clark."

General Clark laughed loudly. "I apologize, I think I failed to mention it."

Olivia giggled along with him. "Oh, you thought I was Mary, " she said now understanding Nicholas' odd reaction. "I'm afraid Mary isn't home yet. She wanted to make herself presentable so she went to the salon."

Nicholas extended his hand. "Forgive me for the confusion."

"No problem at all. It happens all the time, " she replied as she shook his hand.

"This is my mother, Jennifer Gregson. My sisters, Josie and Jane."

"It's such a pleasure to meet you."

They started with their pleasantries but Nicholas could not take his eyes off of Olivia. They must be identical because he could not spot any differences between her and Mary. The long dark hair, the beautiful face and the big round eyes were exactly the same as Mary's.

"We must come in, dinner is ready, " Olivia announced as she held her father's arm and helped him inside.

"We won't wait for your sister?" asked Mrs. Gregson.

Olivia reached for a chair so her father could sit in as she replied, "She's going to be here any minute. She likes to make an entrance."

As Olivia uttered the last word, Mary appeared from somewhere in the house, Nicholas assumed the back door, with her head held high. "I so apologize for my tardiness, " she said as she went around the room giving everyone a peck on the cheek.

"It's quite alright, you look ravishing, " complimented Mrs. Gregson.

Nicholas had to admit she looked beautiful. Her elegant dress seemed oddly out of place in the room, her hair was curled and done into some complex hairstyle that made her look as if she was of a higher class. Her face was beautifully adorned making her eyes really stand out. He can't help but feel sorry for her sister. She looked so insipid in her brown dress and her hair tied in a bow down her back.

She came to Nicholas side and sat beside him holding on his arm. "I see you met my twin sister."

"I have, " he replied feeling odd having her so close to him.

"You look so alike!" commented Josie as she kept looking back and forth.

Olivia simply smiled.

The food was served by their single servant, Nicholas started to feel pity for her for the number of guests was twice of what she was accustomed to. Olivia sat beside her father and helped him settle in his chair. She then stood and disappeared behind a door.

"She's not joining us?" asked Josie slightly disappointed that she won't be able to compare the sisters anymore.

"Of course she is, " replied Mary. "She's just helping Maggie in the kitchen."

"So have you thought of a date for the wedding?" asked General Clark.

Nicholas froze as he felt the air being sucked out of his lungs. They hadn't even discussed anything on their own. "I don't know."

"I was thinking next month?" interrupted Mary excitedly. "What do you think, Nick?"

Nicholas felt his face go hot. Why was she in so much hurry? "A month you say?"

She reached for his arm and held his hand tightly. "Yes, I don't see the point on delaying it."

Nicholas wanted so badly to reply exactly what was in his mind. He wanted to say he wanted to wait, that he wanted to get to know her better, to know her likes and her dislikes, or see her in normal clothes when she wasn't trying to make a good impression, that he wanted time to decide if this was truly what he wanted. Instead, he nodded and replied, "Next month sounds great."

Mary shrieked with happiness and gave him a peck on the cheek taking him off guard. Why was she being so affectionate? They barely held hands when they were back in California.

Olivia appeared from the kitchen with a tray in hand. "What are we celebrating?"

"We're getting married next month!" Mary replied.

Olivia seemed taken aback. "Already? Didn't you just meet two weeks ago?"

"Good old Olivia, always being so supportive, " replied Mary clearly disliking her opinion.

Olivia seemed to want to answer to her sister but decided against it and focused on serving the food.

"Since the wedding shall take place next month, it would be pointless to send you back to California, " started General Clark as they started enjoying their dinner.

"Oh are you suggesting we plan the wedding here?" replied Mrs. Clark.

"Of course, it's traditional for the wedding to take place in the bride's hometown."

"Yes, well where would we stay?"

"We had three spare bedrooms all prepared for you arrival, " added Olivia.

Mrs. Clark turned to her daughters for advice. "We could explore Boston?" suggested Jane excitedly ignoring the fact that she did not enjoy being near a farm.

Mrs. Clark smiled. "Very well, if you are certain we won't be of any inconvenience."

"Not at all, " replied Mary happily. "We're going to be family, you'll never be a bother!" She turned to Nicholas who was mutely listening to the exchange. "Isn't this exciting? I am so excited."

He nodded without saying a word, as he looked up, he locked eyes with her sister who simply stared back at him so intently, it made him conscious of his scar so he attempted to hide behind his napkin.