A new start, a new hope

At dinner Gloria mad most of the conversation begging to hear stories of Boston and Aunt Iris was more than happy to oblige her sweet niece. If you had never been to the house you would think Gloria was one who always sought off to her own adventure.

            Finally Fiona said "Gloria, let Iris eat you have hardly allowed her to get two bites into her meal."

            "No Fiona I don't mind."

            "See she likes talking no one else here does. We used to talk about everything under the sun. Now no one says a word not even to a little argument over Emmy's improprieties. And I hate it!"

            "Gloria," Fiona snapped at her but in her tone she was mostly surprised by Gloria's outburst.

            They sat silently for a moment then Emmy began to giggle, at first softly so no one heard but then it grew. No one in the house had heard Emmy laugh for about a moth so at first the shock moved from Gloria's attention to Emmy. Then Iris cracked and started giggling, followed closely by Gloria and Fiona. No one knew what was so funny but they could not help but laugh. Then Emmy cracked and her laughter turned to tears as Fiona was about to reach over to her daughter but Emmy jumped out of her chair so fast it knocked over and she ran out of the room. Fiona almost got up when Iris told her she would go after Emmy. But once Iris left the room she stopped to give Emmy a few minutes to calm herself.

            It did not take long for Iris to find Emmy, she remembered that when Emmy was a child she would always run into the library and pull herself into a corner and hide a way only to come out when she thought no one was looking for her. That is where Iris found Emmy tucked away in the space between the shelves and space between the shelves and the wall. Only now she was bigger and her dresses were bigger too. Iris heard her little whimper when she came into the library and started the game she always played with Emmy when she was younger.

            "I don't see Miss Emmy, she must not be here. Oh wait what was that a bird chirping or a little girl crying."

            "You know I am in here Aunt Iris, I am not a child any more those games won't work on me."

            "I know you are not a child anymore, I just cannot see you going through so much pain I thought I would one of our old games would cheer you up."

            "Cheer me up from forgetting the one man I loved has left me."

            "No, of course not. I have only loved one man, so I can't understand what you are going through but from what I understand about love if it is true it won't ever go away."

            At that Emmy threw herself on Aunt Iris. Iris caught her in a hug and was able to guide her over to the sofa where she could have Emmy's head resting on her lap. Iris did not try to hush her but let her cry until she was all out of tears all the while going back and forth between stroking her hair and patting her back. When Emmy had stopped crying Iris spoke very softly to her.

            "There, there my little Emmy. No matter what happened I am her for you. I have loved you all your life and I will never leave you. I think you and Laurel should come to Boston, it may not cheer you up however it will get you out of this house where everything reminds you of him. Plus with your cousin, Nicholas, marrying Caleb's sister I am sure he will be at the wedding and you two can be reunited. Whatever silliness came over him, I am sure your charm you can knock it out."

            "Oh Aunt, do you really think so, Do you really want Laurel and I to come to Boston."

            "I came to Pine Haven with no other desire in mind. My house is so lonely without my Cromwell girls running in and out and now you being out in society I can show you off properly."

            Emmy threw her arms around Aunt Iris' neck and smiled. She whispered a thank you in her ear and they held each other for a few minutes. Then Fiona walked in.

            "Oh good you found her, I was getting rather worried."

           

            Emmy looked at her mother with a smile.

            Fiona had not seen Emmy light up the room in the way she did since Caleb had left. "What happened, Emmy you look glowing."

            "Aunt Iris has just invited Laurel and I to Boston for the Fall. Oh mother can we go."

            "With a smile like that how can I refuse."

            "Oh thank you mother," Emmy get up and practically skipped over to her. "I will be extra good in Boston, I will be so happy to see it again for I hardly remember any of it since I was there as a girl."

            "I must say you and your sister's beauty will be the talk of the town."

            "Oh how will we convince Laurel she was so set against it when Kathryn invited us."

            "Do not worry," Iris spoke up. "I am sure there is a young man in town that could peek her interest."

           

            The three of them giggled.

            "Mother, what has happened to you all?" Gloria poked her head in.

            "Oh my little Gloria," Emmy cheerfully embraced her.

            "Is everything all right?"

            "Oh yes, my sweet Gloria and I am so sorry for how I have been acting."

            "What has changed so sudden."

            "Aunt Iris is taking Laurel and I to Boston."

            "Can I go?"

            "Of course not, you are far too young," Fiona said.

            "Oh please I will be twelve soon."

            "Absolutely not, you and I must stay behind to care for Grandma Danford plus you have a school starting soon, and I will not have you missing school."

           

            Gloria whined a bit but Emmy hardly noticed.

            "Oh Aunt Iris, this is the most pleasant news ever. I am so excited I do not know how I will sleep."

            "Well you must, you must look your best when we go to Boston. That means resting properly, eating all your meals and no more sulking around."

            "Oh yes Aunt Iris I will behave."

            "Good, then I will show you off to all of Boston."

            "Thank you Aunt Iris," Emmy threw her arms around Aunt Iris again, then hugged her mother "and thank you mother for letting me go."

            "Of course, it will be good for you."

            Though Emmy slowly came back to them over the coming weeks as she prepared for their journey. Laurel did not seem so positive about the trip. She agreed to go to Boston, and she kept her world but she still seemed hesitant.

            No one knew of the book from Ethan, Laurel kept it private hiding under her pillow only to bring it out at night when she was alone. Before the book she could tell herself that she had made it up, and that he did not care for her like she thought. But now she could not tell what he was feeling. He called himself her true friend but something in the wording gave more passion then what was really written. He had said it to her once before, they were walking in the garden, her shawl had dropped and he had picked it up. When she thanked him he said any true friend would do the same. They were standing close to each other than she had ever stood with a man and she could feel her heart racing more violently than it had ever done as her looked at her, a look that was kind but also a look that seemed to stare deep into her. Then he was gone and she could dismiss it all to her own foolish behavior. Now if she was able to go to Boston and see him once again she would not know how to act or feel and that scared her more than anything.

            "What happened?" Aunt Iris asked Emmy one night as they were preparing her trunks. "Between Laurel and this Mr. Foster."

            "I don't know. They seemed really happy together we all thought they were going to get engaged but then he got a letter and took off and we have not heard from him since."

            "Are you sure he has not contact her?"

           

            "If he has why would she keep it a secret. Wait a minute when Caleb was here he told me he thought Ethan Foster was engaged to a Sally Lawrence. I told him it couldn't possibly be the same Ethan Foster there must be a thousand Ethan Fosters on the east coast. But her seemed  pretty adamant that it was one in the same. Though Laurel has never told me, perhaps Mr. Foster told her of his engagement and that is why she does not want to go. Oh poor Laurel, no wonder, she is dreading this trip. If she goes she will have to see him Nicholas' and Kathryn's wedding, after all they are very close friends and Mr. Foster is sure to come."

           

            "Perhaps then it would be best for us to make our arrangements nor to be in town for the wedding, we can avoid his society till then."

            "But I promised Kathryn I would go, she has been such a dear friend and I would hate to disappoint her."

            "Then I suggest you and I go to the wedding, so you a proper escort, though we cannot drag Laurel to it, we do not want to break her poor heart any more than it is."

            "That is perfect Aunt Iris. You are so kind to look out for both Laurel and I."

            "But I do think while we are in Boston we should investigate this supposed engagement. I cannot imagine that Laurel would fall for a man with questionable principles and only a man with questionable principles would be engaged to one lady and allow another to attach herself to him."

            "Beyond brilliant Aunt Iris. I always know Caleb could not be right in thinking Laurel's Ethan Foster would be engaged to another girl. Oh Aunt Iris if you had only seen time I ever saw Laurel completely happy since father passed away. We shall find out that Mr. Foster is not engaged and we should reunite them at the wedding, won't that be wonderful."

            "Yes my dear Emmy."

           

            After that all the arrangements were settle and complete. Aunt Iris' housekeeper knew of the extra guest and was preparing the home and her cook was arranging the menus with the girls favorite meals. Emmy sent a short note to Kathryn announcing her soon arrival and how she could not wait to see her again. She told Kathryn by the time her note would get to her she suspected they would already be in Boston so she gave Aunt Iris' address for any return correspondence.

            Every thing felt wonderfully different to Emmy, she saw this trip to Boston, not just as a trip but a journey and a new start.