With the return of the sun on Saturday Ottaline, Providence and Heloise took one of the wagons into town to collect newspapers to use as bedding for Racket and Bambi. After they had collected a considerable amount they sat on the porch of the general store to eat frozen treats, dripping them on their pinafores.

They were suddenly distracted by a carriage drawing up to the St. Cloud's shoe store. Mr. St. Cloud came out and shook hands with the driver Mr. Kelly.

"Travis still not operating, I see," Heloise said. "I don't see what the matter is, the wedding isn't for a while."

"I forgot the St. Clouds were leaving today," Ottaline said. Finishing off her treat she got to her feet. "I'm going to say goodbye. Will you come with me?"

"Just give me a minute to finish this," Heloise said. "I don't want to drip it on their floor."

Ottaline watched Mr. St. Cloud go inside and return with some luggage. "Come when you're ready," she said then raced off to the shoe store. She pushed the door open and stepped inside. All the shoes were in their usual place and the store was neat and tidy. Aside from the luggage bags at the door she couldn't tell that they were leaving.

Assuming Mrs. St. Cloud and Jethro were still at the house she left the store and slipped between it in the general store to the yard that separated it from the St. Cloud's home. In the yard she found Jethro standing under a shade tree while his mother stood on the front porch talking to his nurse.

"He's been so quiet lately," she heard her say. "But Harold and I agree with Mr. Fairchild that this is for the best. We hope this trip to Fall River will lift his spirits."

Turning to Jethro Ottaline looked into his face. He seemed entirely lost. Was it possible for people in love to become one person? Did one decide to be the heart while the other decided to be the mind, impossible to survive without each other?

"Good morning, sir," Ottaline said and he turned in her direction. The soft breeze tussled his light brown hair as he matched her voice to her face.

"Ottaline? Good morning. How are you?"

"I am well," Ottaline said leaning against the tree. "It's a lovely day after all that rain." She fiddled with the string of her pinafore.

"I don't mind the rain to be honest," Jethro said. "I like a sky with character, the same way I like my people." He smiled.

Ottaline nodded. "I agree," she said. "I see you're leaving out today."

Jethro turned his head downward. "Yes," he said sadly. "I'm not sure when I'll be back if I will at all. Maybe when my parents return I'll instead go live with my uncle and aunt in Enid. They don't like an empty nest and now my cousins are gone."

"I'm sure they would like that," Ottaline said. She looked over his clothes, stepping closer to him. "You know, it would be a pity if you didn't come back. And it would be a greater pity if you didn't say goodbye to her."

Jethro smirked. "You are sly, Ottaline but our parents forbade it unless it is professional," he said. "I can fit her for shoes but that is about it."

"I see," Ottaline said. "Since you are going to see family I know you want to look your best."

"Yes."

"So you wouldn't want to go with a tear in your vest pocket."

Jethro felt the vest. "What tear?"

Ottaline stepped forward and grabbing the pocket with one hand she pushed against him with the other yanking down on the material until the threads popped leaving the pocket hanging sadly.

"Ottaline!"

"Uhoh," Ottaline said. "What a terrible accident, you had better see a seamstress before you go. Fortunately for you, I know one who was very professional." She rocked back on her heels and Jethro smiled.

Forgetting about Heloise and Providence in town they made a hasty inaudible excuse to Mrs. St. Cloud then Ottaline took Jethro by the hand and rushed him home. The back door leading into the workshop was wide open and she left him on the back porch and peeked inside.

Selene sat alone threading a needle, readying to sew buttons down the back of Astrid's dress. Stepping back out she took Jethro by the hand and led him in. Selene was so distracted by her work that she didn't even hear them approach her table.

"Selene, you have a customer," Ottaline announced.

Selene looked up and stiffed a gasp. She quickly got to her feet rounding the table and watching the door. "Jethro, what are doing here? she asked as Ottaline stepped back outside.

"I wanted to get this pocket sewn," Jethro said taking both her hands. "And to say goodbye to you."

"Jethro," Selene shook her head. "I...I can't believe it's come down to this. I thought my father would be happy for us."

"It isn't your father," Jethro said. "It is the world we live in. But I promise you, Selene Fairchild, everything is going to be all right."

Selene nodded. "I had better get started fixing that pocket," she said. "Should I...should I take your trouser legs up, they're a little long."

"I'm not sure they are," Jethro said.

"I'd better check anyway," Selene said kneeling down. "Oh I see the problem now; you'll need a new pair entirely. I reckon I'll just have to take your measurements then." She got up to retrieve her measuring tape as Jethro removed his vest. Selene placed it on the table behind her then returned to the floor. Before she could even take the first measurement her hands were trembling. She put one over her mouth to keep herself from crying out.

Jethro placed his hand under her chin and tilted her head up running his thumb over her trail of tears. He raised her to her feet and wrapped his arms tightly around her pressing his lips to hers. Breaking the kiss he rested his chin on her forehead and she closed her eyes embroidering the moment on her memory forever.

Jethro suddenly turned his head in the direction of the hall entry and when Selene looked she saw Alifair standing there. "I'd better go," he whispered to her.

Selene reluctantly nodded and they broke apart from each other. When Jethro stepped back onto the porch Ottaline was their instantly to walk him home. Selene let out a deep breath as Alifair, pinafore in hand, stepped into the workshop.

"Astrid dress looks nice," Alifair said going over to the bins against the wall. "I think you should give it a peach sash. Peach makes me think of celebrating in spring time."

"I'll take that into consideration," Selene said as Alifair searched the bins until she found a small scrap of fabric.

Alifair turned to Selene then looked at the doorway. Selene didn't consider her sister a tattler but she was more like Miriam than the rest and not at all a romantic. "He left his vest."

Selene turned to the table and sure enough there was the vest still torn at the pocket. She wished suddenly that she had given him a memento.

"Papa said you could see him professionally," Alifair went on to say. "I don't see you breaking his rules." She looked down. "What more, Selene, I have read the Bible from beginning to end and there is nothing in it that speaks against a woman loving her man. It only ask that they marry only in the Lord."

Selene's eyes filled with tears and she embraced her sister. Alifair felt strange in her arms and she realized that she perhaps didn't hug her enough.

"Selene, you're crushing me!" Alifair said pushing away. She straitened her dress and picked up the scrap fabric which she had dropped. "I had best get to mending this." With that she turned and left the room and Selene was alone with the dress again.

/

On Monday after leaving the girls of at school, Ladybird, Wysteria and Selene and Beatrice went into Brickyard to view their future building. Mr. Sweetland waited outside while they went indoors. It was missing next to all of its paint both and inside and outside and had come under the judgment of the mold and mildew, the dastardly offspring of the Florida humidity. All the windows would have to be replaced and the whole wraparound porch as well. Doors had collapsed or were missing entirely and in some places the floor threatened to give way.

Upstairs was the same. In total there were five bedrooms and walls would have to come down to accommodate a dance floor.

"She has potential," Beatrice said. "She certainly couldn't be lived in now and it is going to take a lot of work. She took out her handkerchief and put it to her nose. "A lot more than I thought from the picture."

Wysteria went over to the open window and looked out across the yard. "We could plant flowers along the walkway," she said. "And maybe we could take one of the saplings from the garden back in Old Town. The yard here is plenty big enough for a tree."

"That's a lot of trash," Beatrice said. "We're going to need helpers."

"Well if we do right by the house it will do right by us," Ladybird said.

"Indeed," Selene agreed. "A house can be as family." She touched one of the walls. "Oh, we have to win this place!"

Wysteria nodded eagerly. "It must be ours, no one else will love it as much as we will, I just know it."

Ladybird smiled. She was glad to see Selene happy after saying goodbye to Jethro St. Cloud. She went over to the window and looked out. A carriage had pulled up to the old house and Mr. Sweetland was talking to the man inside. She couldn't see the passenger but few had such white horses as these. She remembered Hannah saying that Mr. Christenson had a fairy godmother that turned his white mice into horses at his will. But what would Mr. Christenson care about an old house.