Della: Bride of Texas (American Mail-Order Bride 28) by Trinity Ford Page B

weeks from now, Pastor. That will give us time to improve her attire and acquaint her with those on our guest list before the wedding.”
    Mabel and Pastor Littlejohn shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Della knew they could see it written all over her face that she was disappointed. Milton, on the other hand, hadn’t seemed to notice how she felt. “My attire?” she asked, confused by his comment.
    “As a banker’s wife, you’ll be unable to make appearances in clothes such as these,” Milton said, gesturing toward her as his eyes looked her up and down in disapproval.
    “Clothes such as these ?” Della asked, the tone of her voice beginning to sound impatient and highly annoyed. She was quickly becoming disillusioned with Mr. Milton Tidwell…especially the thought of spending the rest of her life with him.
    “Oh, they’re fine for housework and even work in the store,” Milton said. “But for public appearances by my side, they’ll never do.”
    “I know the loveliest shop for dresses,” Mabel interrupted, obviously attempting to lighten the mood. “We can stop by this week and see if they have anything you like!”
    Della finished her meal in silence. Her whole day was spiraling downward. First, she’d had a run-in with Hank, then Milton had turned out to be less than she expected. Now, her mere appearance was being called into question! Mabel got up to clear the table and Della stood along with her. “Let me help,” she begged, looking for any opportunity to get away.
    She followed Mabel into the kitchen and cleared the plates. “He takes a bit of getting used to,” Mabel said quietly as she put her hand on Della’s shoulder.
    “I…I was just expecting someone a little more…kind,” Della said, refusing to let the tears she felt in her eyes escape and roll down her cheeks.
    “Sometimes, we have to look for admirable qualities that might be hidden,” Mabel said, trying to cheer Della up. “For example, Milton may not be the most gracious man, but he’ll be a good provider, and you won’t ever have to wonder what he’s thinking—because it’ll come shooting out of his mouth as soon as he thinks it.”
    Della let out a small laugh. It was true she didn’t want a man who was unpredictable. In fact, aside from his looks, which she’d always said were unimportant anyway, she was getting exactly the kind of man she’d said she wanted. “I’ll just focus on the good provider part,” she said, smiling up at Mabel.
    The two women walked back into the dining room to see the men had moved to the parlor again. “Stanley?” Mabel asked. “Can you give me a hand in the other room, please?” Pastor Littlejohn understood it was his cue to leave, so he excused himself and left Milton and Della alone.
    “Now’s your chance to ask me anything you want to know about me,” Milton smirked.
    “I guess I want to know everything,” Della replied, hoping to improve her outlook on the man she was set to marry just six weeks from now—who, by the way, had never formally asked for her hand in marriage—just set a date, as if she were no more than a business transaction taking place.
    “I am a banker by trade,” Milton began. “I live in a two-bedroom house located in town near the business district. Both parents are deceased. I have no siblings. I attend church on Sundays. I do not drink, nor use tobacco.”
    It’s like a grocer’s list! Della thought, unimpressed. “Have you been married before?” she asked.
    “No, I have not,” Milton said. “Nor do I have any offspring, although I assume you’re amenable to the prospect of rearing children to carry on the family name?”
    “Yes, I want children,” Della said. She couldn’t quite picture what Milton’s children would look like…and God help her if they had his personality. All she could imagine was a miniature version of him, complete with mustache, which made her erupt in a giggling fit.
    “I’m afraid I don’t understand