Zorell was in a deep sleep when images came into her mind. She was dreaming, and it was the same dream she had been having for the last few days. Instead of fighting the dreams as she always did, she succumbed to them.

Zorell sat in a chair inside her room at the boarding house. She was reading a book as she usually did before going to bed when a gust of wind caught her attention. She looked up to see a dark figure standing in the doorway.

She rose to her feet without an ounce of fear and walked towards the figure. She was her nightgown and robe made of white lace. Once she came face to face with the dark figure she realized it was a man, and not just any man. He was smiling at her and touching her face.

She should have shooed him away but she just stood there mesmerized by the sight of him, his smell and the way he touched her. His arms wrapped around her waist and she melted into him.

His lips crashed down on hers and...

A rapping at the door jostled her awake. Sweat was beading on her brow. She didn't realize how long she had slept until she looked over at her wind-up clock. It was exactly six and she remembered Miss Kastor saying something about dinner being served at exactly that time.

She flew out of bed to answer the door. Her hair was a mess, but at least she was wearing a dress and not a nightgown. She cracked the door to see that it was Wendy. She was all smiles with a pretty red ribbon in her hair and looked like she had on a full face of makeup, which made her look older. Wendy Stiller was a contrast in herself, simple and complicated at the same time.

"Dinner is ready, and Miss Kastor asked me to come and fetch you," Wendy said as Zorell opened the door. "Are you coming?"

"I'll be down in a few minutes," she said trying to wipe the sleep out of her eyes.

"Okay," Wendy said and Zorell swore she was skipping down the hall. That little girl walk reminded her of Baby Peggy. She had to laugh at the girl's behavior, and she wondered what it was like to be that young and free.

She closed the door and searched for her brush and hair pins. One bad thing about moving is that she couldn't find anything.

She checked both her carry-on bag and finally found them in the last place she thought of looking. That was the problem she had the most with looking for something when she was in a hurry. She was already late, and she hoped that Miss Kastor wasn't going to be angry at her.

She brushed her hair quickly and pinned it up at the sides with the flower pins Eloise gave her a few years ago for her birthday.

She straightened her dress and headed towards the bathroom to wash her hands. She swiftly walked down the hall going as fast as she could without running. The staircase was a little steep, so she was careful so she wouldn't fall.

She made it to the bottom of the stairs without embarrassing herself and walked into the dining room. It was divided from the long hallway by a pair of French doors. The dark cherry oak that was carved with roses was quite elegant. This house was much more artistic than her father's home and a bit bigger as well. She hadn't had a chance to explore the entire house, but it look larger from the outside.

When she entered the dining room everyone turned to look upon her. It made her feel uncomfortable to be the center of everyone's attention. She gave a little awkward wave, and Miss Kastor stood up and walked over to her.

"Please, come and sit down, dear," the older woman said and led her to an empty seat.

It was one that sat next to the head of the table, and Zorell wondered if she had planned it that way. She sat down but still felt that everyone was staring at her.

"Now, everyone, if you haven't made her acquaintance this is the newest member of our little family. Zorell Dupree. She's a nurse at Harden just like Sophia."

"Don't forget about Ava," Wendy said as she was eying the plate of roast beef that was sitting in the middle of the table.

"Where is Ava, Miss Stiller?" Miss Kastor asked. Zorell noticed that she never called anyone by their familiar name. It was all very formal, and she felt she was attending a dinner party in a Jane Austin novel.

"Oh, she's with one of her admirers," a girl at the other end of the table said with a dreamy look in her eyes.

Her long brown hair was styled in pencil curls and swept to the side by a rose pin. She wore a white lace dress that covered her neck and arms and a pair a white lace gloves that covered her hands just past her wists. Her modest attire made Zorell wondered if she had something to hide.

"Whoever it was I'll bet he's handsome," a blonde girl said with a giggle. She looked much like a little girl with her curly hair up in pigtails held in place by two pink lace ribbons. Her face was more mature, and Zorell couldn't tell if she was really young and trying to look older or the other way around.

"Ava will have to watch out when it comes to Mara," Wendy said, while loading her plate with potato salad. "I hear she wants to hang on to that one."

"Handsome and rich," Viola said and took a drink out of her glass. "She would be a fool not to."

"What does she need a man for?" Sabrina asked, shaking her head. "She has a job. She's too smart to waste her youth and beauty on a mere man."

Zorell wondered what she meant by that. Perhaps she did have something in common with Sabrina. She had no desire to give up her life to simply be married. Something told her there was more to it, but she dared not ask.

She went back to enjoying her dinner and listening to the chatter of the other girls but keeping her involvement at a minimum. She learned long ago the way to get to know someone was to remain on the outside and observing their movements. She learned more about a person from their mannerisms than any engagement in conversation.

Dinner was not only entertaining but educational. She learned a few things about the other girls, one that Ava rarely attended evening meals. She always had young gentleman callers coming to take out somewhere. Viola and Sabrina shared one of the larger rooms but that was no surprise since they were both members of the same dance troupe, and that Mara only lived in the boardinghouse because she refused to marry and her rich father wanted to be rid of her. She received a monthly allowance and remained here, until the idea of marriage would appeal to her.

There was also Trixie and Della who were sisters. Trixie being the older of the two and was a skilled milliner while Della made shoes. They both worked for a local design house and offered to give Zorell a nice discount when she was ready to add to her wardrobe. She would have to keep that in mind since she would need some new hats and shoes very soon.

Then there was the quiet girl at the end. She had straight shoulder length black hair and barely even acknowledged anyone at the table. She didn't learn until after dinner was over it was because she was deaf and only Wendy and Miss Kastor knew how to communicate with her.

Zorell learned how to sign a few years ago, when she first started nursing school. One of the very first patients she was assigned was deaf and could not speak or hear. She learned that the girl's name was Evelyn but she preferred to be called Eve.

Some of the other girl was standoffish to her, but if they could just learn to communicate with she thought that would change. 

Finally got another part up and another one is coming in a few minutes. Thanks for your patience.