stacked trays stopped by the table. “Do you think I should go with them,” Henry asked.
Father shook his head. “No need. Bonnie and the lads will have things in order, you can count on that. Here in the city, it’s safe enough. Tonight, you and your lovely wife should enjoy your private room,” Father said, his eyes full of meaning.
Claire looked at Mary Anne. The imp had cherry juice on her lips and Claire raised her napkin to blot it away.
“You told me I could have half of your dessert, I just figured you wouldn’t mind if I ate the first half” Mary Anne said.
Claire stared at the mangled cherry pie, the soft cream almost melted around the plate, surrounding mostly crust. “I guess it is what I said.” Determined to be happy and enjoy the rare evening of fun, Claire took a bite of the pie. Even with melted cream and mostly crust, there was enough of the sweet tart cherries to turn the corners of her mouth up in delight. “Hmm, remind me to not be so generous next time.”
But the little girl was helping Mother eat the brown chess pie she had ordered. When Claire looked across to see what Bella had ordered, she watched Bella hold out a forkful of white layer cake for Henry. He made a moan of delight and the couple shared a secret smile. Flustered, Claire looked around the large room. She laid her napkin down, then determinedly finished what remained of her own dessert.
The waiter returned to serve coffee and clear the table. Somehow they had managed to make all the food and desserts disappear.
<><><>
Once more in the hotel room, a curtain drawn between the beds, she and Mary Anne lay giggling, too happy to sleep. In between the pauses in their own conversation, they could hear the reassuring murmurs of her parents talking in the next bed. After they had shared their favorite things about the grand dining room, the amazing music and dancing, and the delicious food, her father called. “Good night, girls. Early start tomorrow.”
Lamps blown out, in the dark the small girl quickly fell asleep. Claire could not relax so easily. The conversation with Bella came back to her. Now her mind wanted to come up with clever lines to say. But it wasn’t a play, and there would be no chance to go back and tell her ‘...’ and there Claire lay. What could she tell her? The woman was right. If she had Bonnie’s courage, she would want to live an independent life. But what kind of woman actually did that? Even Bonnie planned to live near her brothers and friends. Maybe her answer was the best one. Bella had been able to leave home because she had a husband and wanted to make a new life with him.
Claire put a hand over her heart. That wasn’t what she wanted, to be far away from her parents. She wanted to live a normal, happy life. One surrounded by family and friends who shared her values and faith, who would be there in her hour of need, who would love her. A board outside her door creaked. Claire waited until the door at the far end of the hall closed. A man traveling to the hotel bathroom. There was one at the end of the hall nearer their room for women to use. Such a modern, beautiful building. Feeling safe and happy again, Claire drifted into a deep sleep.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Claire argued all the way down the path from the hotel. “Why do we have to leave in the dark? Can’t we stay another day, there is so much more of the city to explore. Henry and Bella still have merchandise they need to sell.”
Father was repeating what he had told her while they dressed and packed to leave the room. “Time is money. We don’t want to end up on the trail in cold weather, we have to make every day count now.”
Bonnie had a fresh pot of coffee brewed when the travelers came down the path from the hotel. She offered the sausage and campfire biscuits and was pleased when all were accepted. “I thought you would be eating fancy again this morning. I’ll need to stir up some more for our lunch.”
“The
Father shook his head. “No need. Bonnie and the lads will have things in order, you can count on that. Here in the city, it’s safe enough. Tonight, you and your lovely wife should enjoy your private room,” Father said, his eyes full of meaning.
Claire looked at Mary Anne. The imp had cherry juice on her lips and Claire raised her napkin to blot it away.
“You told me I could have half of your dessert, I just figured you wouldn’t mind if I ate the first half” Mary Anne said.
Claire stared at the mangled cherry pie, the soft cream almost melted around the plate, surrounding mostly crust. “I guess it is what I said.” Determined to be happy and enjoy the rare evening of fun, Claire took a bite of the pie. Even with melted cream and mostly crust, there was enough of the sweet tart cherries to turn the corners of her mouth up in delight. “Hmm, remind me to not be so generous next time.”
But the little girl was helping Mother eat the brown chess pie she had ordered. When Claire looked across to see what Bella had ordered, she watched Bella hold out a forkful of white layer cake for Henry. He made a moan of delight and the couple shared a secret smile. Flustered, Claire looked around the large room. She laid her napkin down, then determinedly finished what remained of her own dessert.
The waiter returned to serve coffee and clear the table. Somehow they had managed to make all the food and desserts disappear.
<><><>
Once more in the hotel room, a curtain drawn between the beds, she and Mary Anne lay giggling, too happy to sleep. In between the pauses in their own conversation, they could hear the reassuring murmurs of her parents talking in the next bed. After they had shared their favorite things about the grand dining room, the amazing music and dancing, and the delicious food, her father called. “Good night, girls. Early start tomorrow.”
Lamps blown out, in the dark the small girl quickly fell asleep. Claire could not relax so easily. The conversation with Bella came back to her. Now her mind wanted to come up with clever lines to say. But it wasn’t a play, and there would be no chance to go back and tell her ‘...’ and there Claire lay. What could she tell her? The woman was right. If she had Bonnie’s courage, she would want to live an independent life. But what kind of woman actually did that? Even Bonnie planned to live near her brothers and friends. Maybe her answer was the best one. Bella had been able to leave home because she had a husband and wanted to make a new life with him.
Claire put a hand over her heart. That wasn’t what she wanted, to be far away from her parents. She wanted to live a normal, happy life. One surrounded by family and friends who shared her values and faith, who would be there in her hour of need, who would love her. A board outside her door creaked. Claire waited until the door at the far end of the hall closed. A man traveling to the hotel bathroom. There was one at the end of the hall nearer their room for women to use. Such a modern, beautiful building. Feeling safe and happy again, Claire drifted into a deep sleep.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Claire argued all the way down the path from the hotel. “Why do we have to leave in the dark? Can’t we stay another day, there is so much more of the city to explore. Henry and Bella still have merchandise they need to sell.”
Father was repeating what he had told her while they dressed and packed to leave the room. “Time is money. We don’t want to end up on the trail in cold weather, we have to make every day count now.”
Bonnie had a fresh pot of coffee brewed when the travelers came down the path from the hotel. She offered the sausage and campfire biscuits and was pleased when all were accepted. “I thought you would be eating fancy again this morning. I’ll need to stir up some more for our lunch.”
“The
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