The house was warm and cozy as a blazing fire crackled in the huge fireplace. A tantalizing aroma of the sweetest cherry pie being baked seeped in from the kitchen, filling the whole house and its occupants with the spirit of the season. Peering through the living room window at a rabbit whose fur had been turned white by the winter season, Julianne wished it would snow. That would make things seem so Christmassy. She had not had that feeling since she was a little girl. Perhaps learning that Santa was only her own father dressing up in a bright red suit and creeping around the house in the wee hours of the night had something to do with it.

One year, Julianne had been bound and determined to stay up late enough to personally thank Santa when he came to visit. Being quite the curious individual that she was, Julianne had also wanted to ask Santa how he had always known exactly what she wanted. Her father’s explanation that Santa Claus knows everything there is to know was no longer satisfactory.

“You’d better be getting to bed, young lady,” her father had warned. “You know the routine. Santa won’t come by if you’re not sound asleep.”

“Really?”Her eyes were wide with interest as if she hadn’t heard that same speech the previous six years.

Mr. Johnson picked her up smiling. “That’s right.”

“How will he know if I’m asleep?”

Mr. Johnson carried her to her room. “I’m not sure how he knows, but he does. When I was your age, I missed out on a visit from Santa because I didn’t go to sleep when my parents asked me to. You don’t want the same thing to happen to you.”

When she was tucked in, he sat beside her to explain further. “Now if Santa has the smallest inclination that you are not asleep, he will fly right past our house. And he won’t come back for a whole year.”

“But I want to thank Santa for all the toys he brings.”

“Don’t worry about that.” Her youthful innocence brought a smile to his face. “He always knows who appreciates him. That’s why you always get such nice things. You are a good girl. And Santa knows it.”

“But how does he know? Did you tell him?”

He had not expected Julianne to take her initial inquiry any further. Usually his daughter would accept his answers to her questions as the God-given truth, and that would be the end of it. But not this time. Santa Claus was Julianne’s hero and she wanted to know all about him.

“He just does. He knows everything that happens in the whole world.” He hoped Julianne would find his vague response sufficient. He needed her to sleep so that he could get the Christmas tree ready for the big day. She lay on her pillow, seemingly satisfied with the answer he had given. The temperature was dropping, so Mr. Johnson spread another blanket over her and sang a lullaby. Although his voice was brassy and quite pitchy, Julianne enjoyed his singing immensely. She had dozed off to sleep during his song, but to his dismay, she had awakened just as he was about to leave.

“Daddy, will you thank Santa for me?”

“I certainly will, Sweetheart. Now be a big girl and go back to sleep. He’ll be here soon.”

Mr. Johnson decided to stay up a few hours before setting the presents under the tree. It was important to him that Santa remained real to his daughter. He cautiously sipped a steaming cup of the bitter black coffee that Mrs. Johnson had given him to help him stay awake.

He had asked for his coffee that way. Dark, strong and unsweetened. When Mr. Johnson had first started drinking coffee, it was because he needed the caffeine boost. Although he loved the smell, he hated the taste. So he started with half a cup of coffee and then filled it with milk and sugar. Pretty soon the bitter taste did not bother him as much and he only used a couple of sugar cubes and a teaspoon of milk. But tonight, he had planned to stay up very late. He’d asked his wife to leave out the cream and sugar. It was his theory that there was no way he could fall asleep while sipping on something that tasted so horrible. But he soon discovered that it tasted just fine. It was official. He had acquired a taste for coffee.

An hour later, when Mr. Johnson returned to check on his daughter, she was sleeping quite soundly. She snored ever so softly. Mr. Johnson hurried to his bedroom and changed into a pair of bright red pants and an equally bright red coat. He placed a red cap on his head and pulled on a snow white beard that the wife had fashioned out of cotton balls and felt. If Julianne should wake, he thought, she will be delighted at the sight of me.

He went out to the barn to retrieve the presents that he had hidden in the loft weeks earlier. Mr. Johnson was fairly certain that his little girl would sleep through the rest of the night, but thought it was such a shame that she would not get to see him dressed up like Santa. As he carefully arranged the wrapped gifts under the tree, Mr. Johnson mentally prepared himself in case his daughter should walk in. He hoped she would. He was prepared to create quite a memory for her to cherish. When all of the presents were in place, he sat on the couch. Mr. Johnson was exhausted since he had spent most of the day working in his vegetable garden. He felt quite blessed that those pesky rabbits had not gotten into his potatoes and carrots. With an overall sense of accomplishment, he fell asleep rather quickly.

Julianne had been so filled with excitement that she could not keep her eyes closed for long. She tossed and turned constantly, then finally had gotten up to see if she could get a glimpse of Santa, despite her father’s warnings. She wanted to see for herself that he was real. Even if he kept her presents, it would be worth it. Julianne walked towards the living room, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Her eyes widened with wonder when she entered the room.

Santa is real, she thought. And he was actually taking a nap in her house!

She dropped her doll and gently patted her father’s thigh. “Santa? Is it really you?”

Julianne startled her father. He jumped up, trying to straighten the fake beard on his face. “Santa is a bit sleepy from his long trip. Hope you don’t mind me taking a nap.”

Julianne found his act believable to begin with. But in a drowsy stupor, he dropped the beard at her feet.

It had been such a big disappointment to Julianne. She wondered how her own parents could have lied to her with such sincerity in their voices. “Santa does exist,” her parents had tried to explain. “Santa represents the spirit of giving.”

Even though Christmas no longer seemed magical, Julianne still found that time of year to be special— marked by the unmistakable aromas of tempting dishes that her mother only cooked at Christmas and the holly that garnished their home.

Julianne sank down onto the floral heirloom cough that had been passed down a couple of generations.

“Please let it snow,” she thought out loud.

“Wouldn’t that be something?” Her father interrupted her thoughts as he strode proudly across the oversized room, his broad shoulders squared, just as he had been trained to stand during his service with the U.S. Army.

“It sure would, Daddy. It would be just like old times.”

“Probably won’t happen tonight though. It feels just like the first day of spring right now. Nice and warm out there.”

“Isn’t it strange how one day it’s freezing, then out of nowhere, it’s warm?”

“The weather does tend to change drastically sometimes. Better enjoy it. Won’t last long. The temperature will be dropping later on. I can feel it.” Mr. Johnson’s aches and pains gave him an almost precise ability to predict changes in the weather.

Mr. Johnson sat beside her, an unlit pipe dangling from his lips. He had given up smoking, thanks to Mrs. Johnson’s boisterous complaints over the first five years of their wavering marriage. Although most of her friends advised that she was wrong, she had come very close to leaving him because of his habit. It had been a truce of sorts. Her dubious husband could keep his precious pipe. Even fill it with tobacco if he wanted. But he could not light it. The pitiful guy clung hopelessly to his fixation of having that old pipe with him at all times. It was in his shirt pocket, if not in his mouth.

“Yeah, we sure had some good times in this old house while you were coming up. And we’ll surely have plenty more if the Lord’s willing.”

There came a familiarly timid knock at the door.

“I’ll get it.”

Before Mr. Johnson could reach the door, it opened. In walked Carol, Julianne’s best friend. Actually, Carol was her only real friend. Because of her shyness, Julianne had not made friends easily. She had always felt that it was a blessing to have Carol in her life. Carol had been her rock. Whether Julianne needed a joke to cheer her up or a shoulder to cry on, Carol was right there.

“Why are you knocking girl? You are welcome in our home at any time. You know that.”

“I know Mr. Johnson. You’ve told me a hundred times.

She glanced over at Julianne with distaste while giving Mr. Johnson a hug.

“I just wanted to give a little warning before I entered.”

Mr. Johnson took Carol’s coat and hung it on a rack in the corner. She wore an elegant black lace and satin dress that clung to her unusually tiny waist, accenting her curvy hips as she glided over to join Julianne on the couch. A deep neckline revealed her bulging cleavage. When she sat, the split presented the inner thighs of two perfect legs.

Mr. Johnson looked away quickly. Though Carol was like a daughter to him, the fact that he could not help noticing her femininity, made him feel rather uneasy. He could not help noticing how attractive she was becoming each time he saw her. And Carol was well aware of how her presence affected him. A woman of her stature would always get noticed. If she wanted him, no man could resist her. She would have bet anything on that fact.

Carol spat out a brief hello to Mrs. Johnson who peered through the kitchen entry, and then she turned her attention to Julianne.

“Why are you sitting there like you are glued to that chair?” She wrinkled her nose at the very sight of the tattered frock that Julianne had the nerves to be wearing. She had always advised her friend that a lady looking to wed should take care to look presentable at all times. Even if she is just lounging around the house. “Is that what you are wearing? The Christmas Ball is tonight. And you have to go with me. Now you promised that you would.”

Julianne ignored her friend, still sulking in self-pity. But Carol was undeterred. She continued making her plea. “Tonight we have the chance of a lifetime. Who knows? You might just find and marry the man of your dreams.”

Mr. Johnson listened intently to the girls’ conversation. He looked as though he had something important to add to the discussion, yet he never uttered word.

“Who wants to spend Christmas Eve chasing after some men that we probably won’t ever see again? That’s what happened last year.”

Carol overlooked Julianne’s pitiful excuses not to go. She was determined to get her friend out of the house that night. Julianne was always looking for some lame excuse to continue her antisocial tendencies. But not tonight. Carol would not have it. “Forget about last year. There will a much better selection this year. I can promise you that.”

“How do you know that?”

“I know people. And people are talking.” Julianne had made her a promise and she was not about to let her back out of it. Not without a good enough reason. Carol would tell her anything to get her to go with her. “Future doctors and lawyers from the university will be attending. If you don’t go, you’re definitely going to miss out.”

“I attended last year. I missed out last year. So what’s the difference?”

Carol cupped Julianne’s firm breasts. “Last year, you did not have these.”

“Carol! Julianne quickly pushed her hands away. “My father is right there!”

That did not matter to Carol. She felt right at home with the Johnson family. “Or would you prefer Raymond?” She continued teasing her bashful friend. “That’s the man that your mother would certainly pick for you to marry.”

“I heard that,” Mrs. Johnson called out in Raymond’s defense. “Raymond is a very nice young man. One of you should be so lucky to have him.”

“Sorry, Mrs. Johnson.” There was not the least bit of sincerity in Carol’s voice as she unleashed a mocking grin.

Julianne flinched at the mere thought of marrying Raymond. He was one of the sweetest people she had ever known. The guy always did anything that he could to please everyone that he met. He had earned the reputation of being honest and kindhearted. But the poor guy was simply trapped in the wrong body. He was not at all the type of man Julianne could ever imagine spending the rest of her life with. Raymond had been a long-time friend to the Johnson family. That’s all he could ever be to her. Just a friend. He was, as Mrs. Johnson had once tried to put it nicely, a bit corpulent. His belly lapped at least ten inches past his waistband, jiggling at his slightest movement. Julianne could never look past his sloppy appearance.

Julianne was slightly amused by the thought of Raymond’s big belly. She commented that maybe she would still believe in Santa Claus of only her father had asked Raymond to play the part.

Mrs. Johnson again came to his defense. “Looks do not necessarily make a good man. That’s something that you girls should consider if and when a man asks you to marry him.”

Julianne had heard all of her mother’s lectures about men. She did not respond to her mother and neither did Carol. They both knew that any response would only extend her speech about how to choose the right husband.

“Besides Julie, you know we don’t have too many desirables here. Men from miles away come to our town’s Christmas Ball every year, just to meet beautiful women like us.”

Carol exuded much confidence. Something Julianne definitely lacked. Julianne thought that she was starting to sound even more conceited than she usually did.

“If you don’t go, there is a real chance that you will marry Raymond or someone who is just like him.”

Carol’s expression was so intense that it made Julianne laugh out loud. “Okay! You’re right,” she declared. “Come help me get dressed.”

They hurried to her bedroom.

“What are you going to wear?”

“Oh, a lovely purple and lavender gown that my daddy bought from Aunt Bessie’s store. And a pair of jeweled boots.”

Aunt Bessie, as far as anyone in Houston County knew, was not an actual person. It was just the name of a local store owned by Charles B. Westin. He had decided to give his store a name that sounded friendly— one that would catch the attention of people passing through, as well as the locals. When he had chosen the name for his store, he hoped that it would make people curious enough to venture inside. As far as he could tell, he had picked the perfect name. Business sure was good.

Julianne held her boots up proudly. They were covered with sparkling amethysts. “Well, what do you think? Do you like them?” She was eager for Carol’s approval.

“Cute. They look rather nice together. You’ll definitely get noticed tonight. To be honest, I thought I was going to have to pick something out for you to wear. But I see you really came through this time. The colors match perfectly.”

For a brief moment, Julianne thought she sensed a note of jealously in Carol’s voice. She quickly shrugged off that notion though. It was silly of her think such a thing. Why would Carol be jealous? She had the body and the looks of a goddess. Her flowing red hair perfectly complemented her olive eyes. And her fair skin was smooth and flawless. The minimum amount of makeup that she applied was not necessary. At only seventeen years of age, she had a body like that of a fully developed woman. With curves in all the right places, she could easily catch any guy’s attention. Carol Ann Hendricks had no reason to be jealous of anyone.

Satisfied that Carol’s approval of her attire was genuine, Julianne sat in front of her antique vanity and carefully lined her thin lips with a deep purple, hoping to make them appear fuller. Then she filled them in, being careful not to go outside the perfect line that she had drawn. To Carol’s amusement, Julianne applied an even darker shade of purple above her eyes.

Julianne had almost never worn makeup. Now Carol knew exactly why. Her friend did not have a clue about matching colors to her skin tone while accenting her outfit at the same time. Luckily, Carol thought, she has me to help her.

“How do I look? Be honest with me. Do you like it?”

“The outfit is perfect, Julie.” Carol was very blunt. She had to be. Although she had joked about it, Carol was not about to let her friend end up with the likes of Raymond. “But the make-up is all wrong. You look like you’re getting ready to perform at a circus.”

Julianne sat in front of the mirror and stared into it trying to figure out why she looked so strange. She was disappointed in herself for thinking that she could paint her own face. She never could before. How could she have been foolish enough to think that today would be any different?

“I’m here to help, not criticize.” Carol removed the unsightly colors with a handkerchief. “Sky blue with a just a hint of lavender is for your eyes.” She dabbed some of it away, making sure that one color blended in smoothly with the next. “And deep scarlet lip color is a more suitable color for your darker complexion.” Carol put a light layer of the color onto her lips. “The trick is to use only enough color so that your natural beauty still shines through.”

It all made perfectly logical sense to Carol, but Julianne thought that the makeup should have been the same color as the dress. She trusted that once again, Carol was going to make her look fabulous.

When Carol finished working her magic on Julianne, she looked just like the princess that her father had always declared her to be.

“Oh Julie, this is going to be such a good night,” she said looking at Julianne squarely and admiring her own artistic work. “And I owe everything to you. Thanks for coming with me. It really means a lot to me. I know tonight will be special for the both of us. I can hardly wait.”

Julianne was not so sure about that. She just wasn’t feeling like her usually cheerful self. She would much rather stay at home and sulk the night away while listening to her father talk endlessly about the good old days.

Mr. Johnson had his camera ready when they returned to the living room. He wanted to add this occasion to his book of family photographs. He and Mrs. Johnson bragged about how lovely the two girls looked, and marveled at the work that Carol had done on her face.

“I have got to get a picture of you girls before you leave,” he announced.

They held hands as they stood next to the gigantic spruce which Mrs. Johnson had elegantly decorated with ribbons and holly. They smiled with glee as they awaited the blinding flash.

“Perfect! I’m definitely going to frame this one.”

Julianne took a thick shawl from the hall closet and draped it about her shoulders, in spite of the mild weather. It was an old worn thing that her mother had given her years earlier. It didn’t quite match her outfit, but she took it just in case the temperature should drop later on that night, as her father had predicted it would. Because she was very sensitive to cold weather, Julianne was thankful for the mild temperature. She practically hibernated during the winter months, venturing outside only when she felt it absolutely necessary.

Mr. Johnson drove them to the town hall, which would later come to be known as the Grand Opera House. Unlike the previous year, the place was crowded. A bit too crowded for Julianne’s liking. And the competition was abundant. There seemed to be just as many women arriving as men, if not more. They were beautiful women too. All geared up in their fancy outfits— ready to mingle. The event had gained popularity. Many of the women were not even from Houston County.

“Oh Julie, there are so many people here. We’re sure to meet someone tonight. I can just feel it.”

Julianne did not share her friend’s optimism. The butterflies in her stomach had her feeling queasy. Julianne had never been the type to faint, but she felt as though she might if she were to get just a little more excited.

“Oh,” she groaned, “I really don’t know about this.”

“What’s the matter with you? This is what we’ve been waiting for. It’s going to be splendid. And we are going to have a sensational time. Come on!” Carol tugged at her arm, eager to get inside.

“That’s what scares me,” she said softly as she made no effort to move. “I just don’t know if I can do this.”

Mr. Johnson waited patiently for her to decide whether or not she would go with Carol. He was not going to try and persuade her one way of the other. It was her decision to make. His little girl was becoming a woman, and he would not stand in her way.

Julianne had been quite comfortable living with her parents. They had provided her with everything she needed. Not that she had been, by any stretch of the imagination, a spoiled child. She was expected to do chores around the house, just as everyone else. She simply was not ready for a major change in her life. She wanted things to stay as they were. Julianne felt safe and secure with her mother and father there to protect her.

“Maybe I should just stick with Raymond.” She giggled, trying hard to relax. Julianne pushed open the carriage door. “He’s really not so bad,” she joked.

Carol laughed at her absurd retort. “You know I would never believe that. Not in a hundred years.”

The girls left their coats with Mr. Johnson who hugged them both. They were his girls. They were his heart. His reason for living.

The entrance was elaborately decorated with large clusters of red and white flowers that emitted the sweetest aroma. Inside, colorful ribbons were streamed from the walls to the ceiling. And more bouquets of colorful flowers could be found on every table. At the very back of the room was an enormous spruce, aglow with large metallic ornaments. The girls thought it must have taken days to prepare the room for the occasion.

They timidly hurried over to some seats in the corner near the entrance. Now Carol too felt a bit tense, as it seemed that all eyes were on her.

“Let’s just sit here for a while. We need to get a feel for the place. Then we can start meeting people.”

Julianne agreed that it was s good idea. She certainly was in no hurry to mingle with a bunch of strangers.

They sat for a time, comparing the other ladies’ dresses to theirs. Carol pointed to a woman in a multi-colored gown. “Now she is definitely here to drive men straight to us.”

“What does that mean?”

“Isn’t it obvious? No man is going to look her way in that awful dress.”

Julianne had actually thought the dress looked nice, but didn’t share that with Carol.

Eventually, Carol and Julianne decided that their attire would most likely afford them the attention that they both wanted so much.

Carol noticed two gents staring at them from another table.

“Julie, those two men have an interest in us.”

“How do you know?”

“Because they are staring at us. And whispering.”

“So. Maybe we just remind them of someone that they know. I just don’t think we should get our hopes up so soon. Besides, we don’t want to look like we are desperate. We certainly don’t want to limit ourselves by wasting the entire night with the first men that look our way either,” she lectured, sounding too much like her mother. “Remember what happened last year?”

“As a matter of fact, I do remember last year. And we are desperate,” Carol joked.

One of the servants came over to offer drinks, and in doing so, he blocked their view of their admirers.

“No thank you. We’re fine,” said Julianne.

“And you, ma’am?”

“She doesn’t want anything either.”

“But I would like to dance,” said Carol, as she suddenly felt the need to prove that she was perfectly capable of answering for herself.

“Ma’am, I’m afraid that would not be appropriate.”

“I don’t want to dance with you! Are you crazy or something?” Carol leaned over to look past him. “Tell those two men that we’d…”

To her dismay, one of the men had left. Her perfect plan was already falling apart.

“Oh that’s just great,” she grumbled in a not-so-ladylike fashion. “Now my man is probably off dancing with someone else. Thank you very much.”

“Your man? How do you know which one is interested in you? Maybe the other one wants to meet you.”

“No, he definitely wants to talk to you. You know how I sense things, Julie.”

“But how could you possibly know that?” Julianne continued to argue. “How could you be sure? They are on the other side of the room.” Julianne was starting to feel as though Carol had planned the whole incident. It was the kind of thing that she had come to expect from the devious Carol Hendricks. “Do you know them, Carol?”

“No. Of course not. If I knew them, we would be sitting at their table right now. Trust me Julie. That man only has eyes for you.”

Julianne was not in the least convinced.

The servant, who had listened to the girls, moved on to serve some of the other guests, smirking to himself. He had found their conversation quite entertaining.

Julianne suspected that her friend was only trying to offer encouragement, something that she definitely needed at the moment. She had an uneasy feeling that Carol, with her outgoing personality, would surely meet a wonderful guy. And she would really be left with Raymond—corpulent Raymond. Her mother would be the only one happy about that.

While Julianne was back to feeling sorry for herself, Carol was busily scanning the room in search of her man. She soon spied him dancing with the woman in the multi-colored dress. They seemed to be enjoying each other’s company as the blissful music guided them across the massive ballroom floor.

Carol was beside herself as she looked the woman over. “She’s not even pretty,” she said sounding a little crossed. “She has no sense of style. Look at them. They are certainly not a match. The guy is obviously wasting his time and hers. And more importantly— mine.”

Carol stood and grabbed a drink from a passing server’s tray and drank it fast. “I will be back, Julie.”

Julianne frowned. She was becoming more frustrated with her friend as the night progressed. First she was dragged to the dance against her seemingly better judgment, and now Carol had abandoned her. That seemed to confirm her previous skepticism about coming to the ball in the first place. “I knew I should have stayed home.”

She looked out the window, hoping her father would still be there so that she could leave. No such luck. He had left right before they had entered the building, eager to spend some private time with the Mrs.

Carol marched right up to the man that she had claimed as her own, and tapped him on his shoulder. The woman dancing with him glared at Carol. She was quite annoyed that she had had such nerves. What a rude woman, she would have said if her partner had not seemed so interested in Carol.

The woman’s obvious revulsion for Carol went ignored as she deliberately focused her full attention on the gentleman. She had come this far and was not about to let anyone get in her way, unless of course, they just happened to be married.

“Excuse me. I’m Carol,” she said boldly, noticing that he was not wearing a ring. “I would very much like the opportunity to dance with you. When you two are finished, of course.” She saved her very last comment for the irritated woman. “I’m sure you can understand. A man has to check out the bargains before he realizes that only prime merchandise is appropriate, right?” Carol turned away before divulging a devilish grin.

“Well that was rude,” the woman snapped. “Do you know her?”

“I’ve never met her before,” he answered. “But isn’t that what this whole event is about?”

His eyes stayed focused on Carol until she was back at her table, further annoying his partner.

Julianne pretended to be mad when Carol returned. “Some friend you are,” she mumbled, “leaving me here all alone.”

“Julie, I did it! I found my man. Even though he was dancing with someone,” she boasted, “I let him know that I wanted to dance with him later. I don’t know what came over me.”

Julianne forgot to be mad, as things were becoming a little more interesting. “You actually did that?”

“Sure did.” Carol exuded much confidence. “He’ll be coming over soon.”

“What’s his name?”

“I don’t know, she said defensively, “but he’s still mine.”

“So how do you know they are not married?”

“First of all, he is not wearing a ring. I checked. Second, if she was his wife, she would have said something.”

Julianne held her fist up, shaking it playfully at Carol and laughing. “Or she would have done something.”

“I like that. I see you are comfortable enough to make jokes now.”

“Married couples have been known to come for the entertainment, you know.”

“You really believe that?”

“Of course. I’ve seen them. As a matter of fact, Will Rivera and his wife are her.”

“Married couples can entertain themselves at home. The ones that show up here are out to take other couples home with them.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Julie. You are precious. You have so much to learn.”

“Why don’t you teach me?” She was eager to know what Carol meant.

“Couples that have been married for a number of years get used to the same old routine. So they come here to bring a little excitement into their bedrooms.”

Julianne still wore the same dumbfounded look that she had before Carol had tried to enlighten her.

“If you don’t understand what I’m saying by now, life will teach you.”

When the song ended, a large part of the crowd left the dance floor as others moved onto it. Carol searched to see if her man was still there. She did not see him right away, but was pleased to see that the woman was now dancing with another gentleman. She gave Carol a look that warned; her new partner was off limits.

Carol could care less about the guy she was with. He was not looking for a relationship. Besides, he was not her type. Carol was more than pleased with herself. Well at least I got rid of her, Carol thought. But where was he? Perhaps he had been embarrassed by the whole incident and had gone home. She hoped that was not the case.

Carol was adamant that this was surely the right guy for her. She continued to look across the huge room, hoping that he would still be there. She finally spied him back in the corner with his friend. Again, the two men were watching Carol and Julianne. And apparently, they were the topic of their conversation.

If only she could have heard what they were saying.

“Julie, it’s obvious that they are interested. Why don’t we both just go over and properly introduce ourselves? Before any more of the competition does.”

“No. I told you I don’t want to look like I am desperate, Carol. And you shouldn’t either. Besides, if they really have an interest in us, they will come over like gentlemen and let us know.”

“I just hope you are right. I have absolutely no intention of losing him just because you’re too shy to ask for what you want.”

“What do you mean, lose him?” Just as she had done the previous year, Carol was focused on only one guy. Julianne tried to talk some sense into her. “He is not yours. And for all you know, he and that colorful broad could be married. They could be looking to pick you up.” Julianne wasn’t so dense after all. It had taken some time, she understood what Carol meant.

“Well, we will just see about that. I got a feeling about him, Julie. He’s not married.”

Carol was serious. Julianne could not believe how similar her friend’s actions were to those of the previous year.

“If they don’t come over in the next half hour, I am going over there. And like it or not my dear, you are coming with me. We had a deal.”

“I guess you’re right.” At this point, Julianne would have said anything to shut her up. “We should give them half an hour.”

Julianne glanced over at the men. She quickly looked away as chills formed on the back of her neck. They were still staring.

“He’s so handsome,” she admitted.

“Sure is. Now wouldn’t you feel just awful if you left here tonight knowing that you had a chance to meet him, and didn’t?”

“I will go with you in half an hour,” she confirmed, still unsure that she would have the nerves to when the time came.

Julianne hoped that the men would come over to them. She would be so humiliated if she were to find out that the men were already married, or that they had brought dates with them.

Two hours passed and neither of Julianne nor Carol had found the courage to venture over and meet their future husbands. Carol had decided that approaching the man a second time would indeed make her appear desperate, and that was not her style. She didn’t chase men. They chased her. But she still persistently urged the reserved Julianne to go over.

“Perhaps they will both come back with you. And you can introduce them to me. And everything will work out from there.” Carol had done her best to make Julianne see her logic. But Julianne still refused. She was not as bold as Carol.

The server passed the two again, smiling as if he was not surprised to see them still sitting there alone.

“I think he just winked at me!” Julianne did not realize just how loudly she was speaking. And for the most part, she did not care.

Carol only had one thing on her mind. “Who? Your guy?”

“No. That damn servant!”

Carol’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?”

“No, I’m not sure. That’s why I said I think.”

“Maybe we should tell somebody.”

Their admirers overheard them and felt that now was the perfect chance for them to introduce themselves and perhaps be seen as heroes at the same time. They rushed over to the young ladies.

“We will handle this.”

The two men grabbed the servant by his arms and roughly led him away. They did not speak to him until they were outside the building.

The servant was a nervous mess, fearing that he’d be beaten mercilessly. “What did I do?”

“Nothing. Calm down. We would really like to get to know those ladies, and we need your help.”

“You don’t need my help, suh.” He was relieved. “They been talking ‘bout you two all night. No suh. You don’t need my help,” he insisted.

The two men were pleased to hear that, but they insisted that they still needed him.

“What do you want me to do?”

“All you have to do is say, ‘Please don’t, and we will take care of the rest.”

“Please don’t?” He was puzzled.

“Yes, now say it as if you are begging for your life.”

He repeated the words.

“That’s good, now louder, so they can hear you inside.”

He shrieked, “Please, don’t!” The servant had finally understood exactly what they wanted. The two men began kicking the wall to give a more dramatic effect, hoping they would be heard over the music.

“Now wait a little while before you come back inside.”

“But who’s going to serve my drinks?” He was still holding the wine tray. “I won’t get paid if the drinks are not served.”

The taller of the two gentlemen gave him a gentle slap on the chin. “I think you’ve earned a couple of drinks. Just enjoy yourself. And if anybody got something to say about it, tell them I gave you permission.”

They returned to check on their distressed damsels. Finally, Julianne got to see her new love interest up close. Carol had been right. He was a very fine man. And she loved his beautiful blue eyes.

Julianne was glad that her friend had chosen to pursue the other fellow, whom she found to be a repulsive. Even more so than Raymond. But unlike Raymond, the guy was actually well dressed. Not a strand of his greased hair was out of place. She guessed that was what really mattered to Carol— the way he carried himself. If a man took good care of himself, surely he would do the same for his woman, is what Carol had often said. That was a notion that Carol lived by. She had a feeling about that man.

“I’m sorry you ladies had to see that. He won’t be bothering you anymore.”

“Actually, we did not see anything.”

Julianne was rudely cut off by her not so subtle friend who always assumed that if a handsome man was talking, he was talking to her. “Not at all. Thank you very much.” Carol’s gesture along with a long pause, hinted that she wanted to know his name.

“Grady. Grady Loveland. And you are?”

“I’m Carol,” she said placing her perfectly manicured hand in his, and moving it upwards for him to kiss. “I was wondering how long it was going to take for you to come over,” she said in her sexiest voice. “I thought I was going to have to come to you.”

Julianne was annoyed. Carol had spent the majority of the evening trying to convince her that the man would be right for her. Now she was making advances towards the guy. Maybe she’d finally realized that the other guy was nothing to look at. She figured her friend was going to try and convince her that the short fellow would be right for her. Some friend she was turning out to be. Julianne wondered if anyone would give her a ride home if she asked. And if not, walking home was a real consideration at this point.

“This is my very best friend, Julianne Johnson. Would you like to dance with her Grady Loveland?”

Caught off guard, Julianne’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Carol! How could you?” She scolded her friend, but hoped that his answer would be yes.

“I would like that very much,” he said, giving Julianne a sincere smile and taking her hand to help her up.

“You already met Bernard,” Grady affirmed.

Bernard stared at Carol through his thick bifocals, awkwardly landing on the seat that Julianne had previously occupied.

Julianne fought hard to hold back a grin. He was so clumsy.

“You ran that other girl off. I hope you don’t have a boyfriend around here. I’d probably have a pretty hard time doing the same,” he chuckled.

“I didn’t have a boyfriend until now,” she said, making sure her claim to him was official.

Bernard nodded his head in agreement. “Sounds like you know exactly what you want.”

“I do.”

Carol was his type of woman too. And it was apparent that he had appreciated her persistence.

Julianne had Grady Loveland’s undivided attention for the rest of the night. They conversed as their bodies swayed to the sweet sounds of the traditional melodies that the band played. The couple looked as if they had practiced dancing together before they arrived.

Eager to know everything about him, Julianne had listened intently, clinging to his every word. She soon learned that he lived less than a mile away from her parent’s farm. They were practically neighbors. And according to him, they had been for years.

“How can you afford so many slaves? We only have one who helps with cooking, and cleaning the house.”

“Well, I kind of inherited most of them. Many have been in my family for years,” he said as if that fact called for an enormous amount of pride. “My father, Tomley Loveland, left the place to me when he died.”

His father had died, leaving him a big house with plenty of acreage and all the help that a man could possibly need to run a farm. Grady had allowed even more of them to move up North in hopes of finding a better life.

“I’m sorry to hear about your father, Grady,” she said sadly.

“It’s all right. I miss him, but I have accepted that he is gone.”

Julianne was anxious to return their conversation to its previous disposition. “But how can you afford to feed all of them?” She sounded so naïve.

He didn’t mind her innocence. In fact, it made her more attractive to him. “They feed themselves. They keep part of the crops that they grow, in exchange for an honest day’s work. Works out just fine for everyone. Now that’s more than enough about my family,” Grady insisted. “You will know everything about me in due time. Right now, I would love to hear about yours.”

“Well,” she began thoughtfully, “there really is not much to tell, I’m afraid. My parents are the only family that I have. And of course, there’s Carol. She’s like a sister. But I am an only child. I guess you can say I’ve been blessed. At least I have my parents. Carol has no one except me and my folks.”

“What happened to her parents?” Grady asked only to keep her talking. He wasn’t really interested in Carol’s life, but thought that it was only polite to listen to what she had to say.

“That’s a long story. But I will say she has been on her own since she was fifteen. Her parents moved away years ago. Carol has done well for herself, though. She makes a good living sewing clothes for babies. She’s really good at what she does. She owns her own house. She’s thinking about opening a store in town. I hope she will be able to do that someday. She deserves to have a good life.”

Julianne paused. Her life was admittedly somewhat boring. But now was not the time to be talking about Carol. The man wanted to know about her life. Not her friend’s. Julianne was disappointed in herself for not being as interesting as Carol.

Grady sensed her frustrations. Thanks to his experiences with many women, he could easily read her emotions. He took it upon himself to change the direction of the inept conversation. “We would have come over to meet you ladies earlier, but Bernard and I were just getting reacquainted ourselves. We were neighbors, growing up. I just wanted to catch up on some old times with him. He hasn’t changed much these past few years. He is still the same old Bernard that I’ve always known and loved. That Bernard— he really has a good soul.”

“That’s quite all right, Grady. I didn’t mind waiting for you at all.”

They danced until the last song ended and the host announced that the place would be closing in ten minutes. Grady and Julianne returned to their friends, who also seemed to be getting along quite well.

“I guess this is it,” Grady announced, hoping he could spend more time with his new love. Julianne had definitely made a good impression on him. “I would very much like to meet your folks, Julianne.”

Julianne was pleased to hear it, but decided it would be best for him to meet them after she had a chance to tell her mother and father about him. It was just the proper way to go about doing things.

When Bernard stood to escort Carol to the door, he seemed much shorter than he had earlier. But that did not matter to Carol. She was certain that she had found someone special too. And to make her feelings known to all who might have been the least interested, she planted a firm kiss right on Bernard’s lips.

Mr. Johnson had arrived on time, just as he had promised he would. So had the cooler temperatures that he predicted. He watched as the gentlemen held the door for Julianne and Carol when they exited the building. He thought they would make fine couples and wondered if the men had impressed his girls enough for them to introduce them to him. Apparently they had not. They went their separate ways, once outside the building.

Julianne wrapped the shawl around her shoulders, shuddering from the cold.

“Did you girls meet anyone of particular interest tonight?”

“Yes, Daddy. We both did.”

“Oh, let me go first,” Carol butted in without giving her friend a chance to object. “I met a real nice fellow. He lives in Montgomery. He’s a good dancer. Well, I didn’t actually get a chance to dance with him, but I saw him dancing. And I must say, he is quite talented.”

Carol realized too late that what she had said sounded a bit silly, but she could not change it. “Anyway, he says he would like to move here when he finishes his schooling. He is studying to become a doctor. We are going to write to one another until he comes back for me.” Carol placed her hand on Julianne’s. “Sorry, Julie. I just wanted to go first because my story is not nearly as good as yours.”

“I’m glad for you, Carol. I really am,” Mr. Johnson said with much sincerity. “I take it you met someone nice too, Julianne?”

“Oh Daddy, he is a very nice man. And the good news is that he lives right here in Houston County, just a mile away from us. He wants to meet you and Mom, but I thought I should tell you about him first. I wanted to see if you approved.”

Mr. Loveland knew his daughter was falling in love. She’d never talked about a young man with such enthusiasm before. “Well, we can’t approve until we actually meet the young man. You should tell him to come by soon. Maybe he can come to dinner this Sunday.”

Although it pleased him to see that sparkle in his daughter’s eyes, the thought of her leaving home did not sit well with him. How could he be sure the young man would treat his daughter right? He was left with a feeling of emptiness. Once she married, he would no longer be able to see her as often as he liked. He would greatly miss his own daughter, as well as Carol, his adopted daughter.

The two of them had grown up so fast. He wondered where all the time had gone, and wished that he could somehow get it back. But there was no turning back. All he could do was move forward and embrace all circumstances that destiny would bring his way. Alas, he only hoped that the men his girls someday married would always take care of them. And show them the love that they deserved. Julianne and Carol had grown up to be such respectful young women. And he only wanted the best for them.

It had seemed like an eternity to Julianne, but Sunday finally came. She had gotten dressed much earlier than usual— long before Mrs. Johnson had breakfast ready. She was eager to see Grady again. She wondered if he would still find her as attractive as he had seemed to on the night that they met. She hadn’t bothered to put on much makeup. She only used the scarlet lipstick that Carol had suggested for her tan complexion. It would have to suffice, she thought. Anything more, without Carol’s assistance, would surely be a disaster.

When she stepped onto the front porch, Julianne shuddered as the bitter wind hit her face. She pulled her coat tightly about her neck to block some of the blustery weather. Her exposed fingertips quickly became numb. She quickened her pace for warmth. But that did not help much at all. She soon lost all sensation in her toes. She had not dressed properly for the cold weather.

She stopped by Carol’s house, which was on the way to Grady’s home. She needed to warm up. She did not want to be shivering when she reached Grady’s place.

Carol was busily working on one of her latest designs. The clothes that she made were far from the norm. Especially the ones for little girls. The styles that she invented were often similar to, and just as extravagant as the attire of adult women. Many were much fancier than one would have expected. And that’s why she had been so successful. People didn’t mind paying more money for something original.

“Hey Julie, what brings you by? I thought you would be spending your time with that handsome man of yours. I know I would be.”

“Actually, I was on my way over there. I just wanted to warm up a little. I am almost frozen solid.”

“You mind if I come too?”

Julianne thought that was kind of odd. Carol rarely took time away from her work. She was suspicious of Carol’s true motives, as she remembered how flirty Carol had been with Grady at the ball. Was she only pretending to be crazy about Bernard? After all, the man was nothing to look at. Especially for Carol, who could easily have any man that she desired.

“I don’t mind at all,” Julianne fibbed. She wanted to make sure that her friend understood how she felt about Grady. “In fact, I could use some company to help relieve the tension. I get chills, just thinking of him. I really think he is a special man, Carol. I think he will be good to me too.”

Carol did not seem to get the point that Julianne was trying to make. If she had, she did a really good job of not letting it show. She was focused on hemming the silk garment.

Julianne removed her coat and shoes and stood beside the fire to thaw out while Carol worked.

“It is unusually cold out today. You better put on a thick coat, Carol.”

“Oh, I will,” Carol affirmed. “I ventured out earlier and got quite a chill.” Carol pulled on a long fur made from rabbits’ hide when she was finished sewing.

They walked about a quarter of a mile before reaching the path that led up to Grady’s house. The Loveland family name was engraved on a post that stood at the start of the narrow path. Because of the many tall pines growing there, only the top of the two-story mansion could be seen from the road. Julianne had been eager to see it up close. She hurried down the path much faster than Carol had wanted to. Julianne’s hands clinched her freezing arms.

The mansion was more beautiful than she had imagined. It was elegant in detail. White lace curtains adorned its numerous windows.

Julianne knocked. Waiting patiently for an answer, she wondered where all the servants were, that Grady had spoken of. It took several minutes, but Grady finally answered. He looked surprised to see them. He walked onto the porch, closing the door behind him.

Julianne had hoped he would invite them inside. The brutally cold wind whipped under her wool skirt, sending chills all over her body. She held her teeth together tightly to stop them from chattering. Grady noticed, but he just stood there as if he hadn’t, holding the doorknob firmly. He acted as if he was hiding something.

Maybe the help was not much help at all, Julianne thought. Maybe his place had not been kept tidy enough for company. Whatever the reason, she decided that she would find out soon enough. For now, she needed to let him know why she had come, so that she could be on her way back home to the warm fire that her father had built. “The reason for my visit this morning is to invite you over for dinner tonight,” she said stumbling over her words. “My parents said they want to meet you.”

He smiled as though he had been expecting nothing less, revealing a perfectly white set of teeth. “Sure. I would like that. I will be there.”

Grady moved his hand away from the knob as someone turned it from inside the house. It was Bernard. Looking as frumpy as Julianne had expected he would without his fancy suit. But his looks did not seem to bother Carol at all. Her face lit up when she saw him. She strolled past Julianne to give him a hug.

“I thought you would be back in Montgomery by now.”

“Actually, I am leaving tomorrow. Grady was kind enough to let me stay here for a few days.”

Carol didn’t seem bothered by the fact that he had not come to see her all week. She explained that she had to be getting back to work and that she would come back to see him when she was done.

Julianne’s bones were aching from the extended exposure to the cold weather on the way back. So she decided to stop at Carol’s place once more. She again thawed her hands and feet by the fire as Carol returned to the pleasurable task of sewing.

“You know, you should spend the night with us sometime, Carol.”

“Sure. I miss sleeping over with you,” she responded, though she did not really mean it. She loved sleeping in her own bed. She had no desire to be cramped up in Julianne’s little bed, having to share the covers.

“How about tonight, then?”

“Hmm, maybe I will if I finish this last bundle today.”

“I’m going to get out of your way so you can finish. And I hope to see you later on.”

She hugged her friend and braced herself for the bitter cold that awaited her, shivering at the very idea of getting back into it. She hated being out in such freezing weather. Along the way, she could think of nothing else but the warm fire at home as she forced each step.

The temperature seemed to be dropping much more rapidly now. Perhaps they would soon be getting the snow that she had wished for.

Her mother and father had just finished eating breakfast when Julianne returned. “You’re up and out pretty early, young lady. That’s not like you,” her father teased. “Must be that new fellow.”

Julianne only smiled at the comment. She knew that a reply would encourage him to tease her to no end.

“You better eat before the food gets cold,” her mother urged.

“I will. I just need to warm up first.”

Julianne hung her coat on a nail in the corner near the door and hastily made her way to the fireplace, rubbing her hands together briskly. They did not seem to be warming up as quickly as he wanted. They were practically frozen, and for the moment, had no feeling left in them.

“I invited Grady over for dinner tonight. I hope we are having something good.”

“I’ll make sure dinner is special, dear,” Mrs. Johnson assured her. And Julianne knew that she could count on her mother to do just that. She was certain that Grady was going to enjoy his meal with them.

Julianne ate her breakfast in a hurry. The warm oats rushed a much needed warmth throughout her whole body. Eager to pick out an outfit for the evening, she practically ran to her bedroom when she was satisfied. She did not want to disappoint Grady. She wanted to look her best for him. Her heart rate quickened as she thought of him actually sitting across from her at their table. It is going to be a special night, she thought fondly to herself. And my folks will surely love him. There was no way that they would not. He knew how to talk to people. And Grady was a perfect gentleman. At least he had been at the ball on Christmas Eve.

A large portion of Julianne’s day entailed making sure that everything in the house was dusted and in its proper place. Although she had no intention of inviting Grady to her room, she took the time to carefully make her bed. Usually, she would just throw the covers into the closet until he needed them. Today, she just felt like making everything perfect. She wanted to make sure Grady felt comfortable in their home.

An anticipated knock came just before sunset. Mr. Johnson opened the door for Grady who stood there, waiting to be invited in. two other people in hooded coats were standing behind him.

“Hello Sir. I’m Grady Loveland. I hope it’s okay that I took the liberty of bringing some extra guests.”

Mr. Johnson gave Grady a firm handshake. He didn’t mind at all, especially when he saw that Carol was one of the extra guests.

“Come in. We have plenty for everyone.”

“Actually, Bernard and I came over on our own. Just so happens that we arrived just after Grady.” Carol felt the need to take full responsibility for bringing Bernard with her. “I hope we are not intruding. I just wanted Bernard to meet you too.”

“Don’t make such a fuss. Of course you and your friend are welcome,” Mrs. Johnson insisted, taking their coats and encouraging them to gather around the fireplace. “Come on in. I made plenty for everyone.”

Mrs. Johnson had roasted a savory duck, glazed with a buttery wine pottage. Among a number of other dishes, she had also made Julianne’s favorite, green beans and potatoes in a thick white sauce.

After giving her guests ample time to warm by the fire, Mrs. Johnson ushered them all to the kitchen. “Let’s eat while the food is still warm.”

Carol took a seat next to Julianne. “This is nice of you to have invited me and Bernard,” she whispered. “Otherwise, we would be having sandwiches and milk.”

Julianne gave her a smirk. She was not really interested in Carol’s remark. She was too focused on Grady, who was just as she had hoped, sitting directly across from her. She was pleased that he seemed very comfortable conversing with her parents. As far as she could tell, they were glad to have him in their home as well.

Carol and Bernard announced that they had to be leaving not long after they had finished their meal. Ordinarily, Julianne would have encouraged her friend to stay longer. But fewer people meant more time for her to spend with Grady.

“Won’t you two at least stay for dessert? I made a strawberry pie.”

“Sounds tempting, but I’m quite satisfied. Carol replied. If it’s all right I would like to come by tomorrow for a piece.”

“That will be fine dear.”

“Okay. I will be stopping by.”

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson escorted the couple to the door while Julianne and Grady indulged in a couple of slices of the pie.

“Mmm. This is so good. You must get your mother to give the recipe to me.”

“I’m sure she will. She likes you.”

“I sort of got that feeling. I am a likable guy,” he bragged.

Julianne grinned. “I hope you will come back again.”

“Sure. Just let me know when you want me.”

“Next Sunday?”

Grady readily accepted. He had enjoyed Mrs. Johnson’s cooking so much that he would have liked to come over every Sunday, but felt it would be inappropriate to say so.

When they had finished a second slice of pie, Julianne walked out to the porch with Grady.

“I’m looking forward to coming back next week. I know we just met a week ago, and this may seem awkward to you, but there’s something I have to ask.”

“What is it, Grady?”

“Will you marry me?”

The question was unexpected. “Marry you? Oh my. I thought you were going to ask if we could meet before next Sunday. Marry you?”

Grady grinned. “It’s all right if you cannot say yes right now. Just don’t say no. I still want to see you. I just wanted to let you know how I’m feeling. Trust me. I’m just as surprised as you are. Two days ago, I found myself down at Aunt Bessie’s looking for a gift for you. Unfortunately, there was nothing in the store that I thought you would like. So I went down the street and bought a ring.”

He reached into one of his coat pockets. His expression changed as he felt around. He had forgotten to bring it with him.

Julianne did not need a ring to confirm that she had been feeling just a strongly for him. “Yes.”

“Yes? That’s your answer?”

“Yes. I will marry you. But you must ask my father’s permission.”

“All right, then. I’ll bring the ring with me next week.” He placed a feather-light kiss on her cheek before mounting his horse. Grady is one unpredictable man, Julianne thought. She had expected a real kiss after she had accepted his proposal.

Julianne gazed through her bedroom window at a star filled sky. She sighed happily. Everything in her world seemed absolutely perfect. She would soon be married to Grady Loveland and would perhaps bear his children. She was not the least bit concerned that he had forgotten to bring the ring with him. She only cared that he wanted her.

She pulled the covers back and crawled beneath them. Though it was hours past her usual bedtime, she could not sleep. She anxiously tried to imagine how her life with Grady Loveland was going to be. How would his servants react to her?

Grady showed up promptly at six o’clock the following Sunday. Julianne could hardly wait to see the ring. But he made no mention of it. He conversed with her parents through dinner as he had done the week before. Mrs. Johnson enjoyed his compliments on her cooking.

Julianne seemed rather reserved. She said very little. She was starting to worry that he had forgotten, or even worse, changed his mind altogether.

Grady seemed to sense her fears and announced that he had something very important to ask them. “I care deeply for your daughter. I would like her hand in marriage.”

Julianne smiled with relief.

Mrs. Johnson seemed pleased, but Mr. Johnson was not so easily convinced. “I’ll have to think about that. You’ve only known my daughter a short time. We Johnsons make decision as a family. When my wife and I have had a chance to talk with our daughter about this matter, we will give you an answer.”

“Well, I can certainly respect that.” Grady seemed confident that the answer was going to be yes. He kissed Julianne and left. She was disappointed that he still had not given her the ring. Perhaps her father’s unpleasant tone made him rethink his proposal of marriage to her.

“He is a good man. He will be good to me.”

“How do you know that? You’ve only known him a couple of weeks.”

“I just know, Daddy.”

“I’m not one to judge a man by rumors, but his father had a reputation.”

Mrs. Johnson didn’t care for the direction of his rebuttal. “Just because his father has a certain way of doing things, does not mean he is the same. Julianne will have to get to know him.”

“If you are sure that he is a good man, you have our blessing.” Mr. Johnson frowned as if his wife had forced the response out of him. She was a strong willed woman an always got what she wanted from him, whether she verbalized it or not. “I just hope you know what you are doing. We only want what is best for your life.”

“I know. Thank you, Daddy. You won’t regret it.”

The wedding ceremony was held at the community church less than a month after Grady had proposed. Carol cried through the whole thing.

Afterwards, Julianne had tried to console her friend. “You are not losing a sister. You are gaining a brother. We will still see each other all the time.”

“It’s not that. Bernard told me that he is moving to Texas in a few weeks. And he didn’t even ask me if I wanted to go with him.”

“Why don’t you just ask if he wants you to come too?”

I can’t just ask him that. Besides, if he wanted me to go, he would have asked. Right? What if he is moving to get away from me? What if he thinks that I am too pushy?”

“Well, you are pushy. That’s what drew him to you. Remember?”

Carol realized that she was ruining what was supposed to be the happiest day of her friend’s life. She blinked repeated to keep more tears from falling. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be just fine.” With her tears dried, she put on a smile. “Come on. Let’s celebrate your day.”

Julianne gave Carol a dry handkerchief just in case. “Everything will work out. You will see.”

Bernard acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary. He spent the afternoon dancing and drinking.

After the celebration, Mr. Johnson brought a white carriage from behind the church. It was pulled by a white stallion that he had rented from a neighbor. Mrs. Johnson and Carol had attached lots of flowers to it. The carriage made the most beautiful background in their wedding photograph.

The Johnsons had placed an aged bottle of wine and a basket of cheeses and bread inside the carriage for the newlyweds to enjoy on their ride home.

Grady carried his bride up the front steps and into her new home. Maryangel and Lizzie had been awaiting their arrival. Julianne was surprised by their fair complexions. Grady introduced them briefly and led Julianne to their bedroom. She wanted to see the rest of the house, but Grady insisted that she would have plenty of time for that the next morning.

The room smelled of fresh flowers, though there were none in sight. Maryangel had saturated the covers with rose fragrance that morning and had hung them in front of the fireplace to dry. A fire was still burning nicely in the room.

Julianne expected her new husband to be all over her the moment they entered the room. But Grady was in no hurry. He poured a glass of red wine and fed her some cheese on a piece of rye. They sat and talked for hours.

Finally, Julianne kissed him, thinking that he wanted her to make the advance.

“We have the rest of our lives, Julianne. We can take all the time you need. Am I your first?”

She smiled innocently.

“I knew it.” He smiled as if he’d just won a prize. “We don’t have to do this right now. I want you to decide when you are ready.”

“You are my husband. I want to make you happy. I’m ready.”

“You sure?”

She pulled him close to prove it, awkwardly caressing his most sensitive area and kissing him deeply. He was surprised at how much she wanted him. He had expected her to be much more reserved. Grady was not one to disappoint his lover. He blew out the candles that lit the room and joined her on the bed. He entered her much too easily. He thought she was much too lax to be a virgin. Only moments after they had engaged in their lovemaking, Grady abruptly withdrew. She had pretended to be someone that she was not.

Julianne was confused. Was that it? If this is what I’ve heard so much about, she decided, I could do without it.

“I’m disappointed in you.”

Grady paused so that she could respond. But she did not know what to say. The statement made no sense to her. What had she done wrong? It wasn’t her fault that it was over so quickly. How dare he, she thought, blaming me for his shortcomings. I should be the one who is disappointed.

The dim light from the flickering flames of the dying fire shone on his face. He was staring at her hard, but she could not read his expression.

“I thought you were a virgin.”

“I never actually said it. You assumed that I was.” Julianne was surprised by her own words. That was not what she had intended to say.

“Well you implied it when you insisted you were waiting for marriage. You and Carol are just alike. Playing games. This is not my first time, Julianne. I know what a virgin feels like. You are not one.”

“Grady, Carol has nothing to do with this.”

“She has everything to do with this. Everything you two did was just to trick Bernard and me into marrying you.”

“I swear, I am a pure woman. I wouldn’t lie about that.”

“But you are lying. I can tell. You know, I would love you no matter what. I just hate being lied to.”

Grady dressed hastily and left the room. She heard the back door slam, and wondered where he was going. Julianne wanted to call him back and explain that she no longer felt like a virgin because she often masturbated. She feared he would never understand. He would think that she was an awful person. If only she had ignored Carol’s advice that masturbating would make her first sexual encounter easier for her.

Julianne decided that she had to do something. She dressed and went down the long hallway. Maryangel and Lizzie were sitting by the fireplace.

“Can we get anything for you?”

“Where is Grady?”

“He went out for a little while. Don’t worry. He’ll be back. It’s nothing unusual. He likes the night air.”

Julianne walked in the direction that Lizzie was pointing. She pulled the door open a little to look out. Grady was walking towards the cottages. Julianne suddenly had a feeling of guilt for spying on him. She quickly closed the door and returned to the bedroom.

She wondered where Grady was going. More importantly, she contemplated whether or not she was going to tell him the truth about her virginity. She decided that she would tell him if the issue was ever brought up in the future.

Rosalie stepped just outside her little home. She had been hoping to talk to Grady. “How are you tonight?”

“I’m good. Where is Nathaniel?”

“Visiting Emma Lee. She sickly these days.”

Grady had considered bringing Emma Lee to the Loveland plantation. There was no reason for her to be so sick. She was perfectly healthy before she was brought by Mr. Tullis.

“I just needed someone to talk to,” he admitted. “It seems no matter what goes wrong in my life, I can always depend on you as a friend.”

She liked that he thought of her as a friend. Even though he’d always been very kind to her, Rosalie was surprised that she had earned such an important status with Grady. He’d never held a real conversation with her before.

“I heard you got married today. Congratulations.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Rosalie wondered why he had come to visit her after such a significant event. “Shouldn’t you be with your wife?”

“That’s kind of what I wanted to talk about. She’s not who I thought she was.”

“Maybe that’s just the feeling so many people get when they are first married. It takes time to love someone.”

“Do you love Nathaniel?”

“Well, yes. Of course I do.”

Grady placed a kiss on her lips. She had not expected that. When Rosalie smelled the alcohol on his breath, she quickly pulled away. “I think you should go back to your wife now. Things will work out. You’ll see.”

Grady pulled her back to him and thrust his tongue against hers. This time she responded to his kiss. She wanted it too. She had only allowed herself to love Nathaniel because she had always felt that she and Grady would never be together. Raw feelings of desire that were once hidden, were now exposed. He caressed her breasts, concentrating mostly on her hardened nipples.

“Not here.” Rosalie suddenly remembered that her children were inside. Although they were asleep, she worried that they would wake and see the two of them together.

Grady took a blanket from the chair and led her to one of the cottages that was no longer occupied.

Julianne had watched from the bedroom window. She had not witnessed the kiss, but she could tell that the two were lovers. She could have confronted her husband. Instead, she turned away. She chose to ignore the awful truth staring her right in her face. Grady was her husband. No matter what , he would be coming back to her. Julianne convinced herself that that was all that mattered.