Charmaine would
want to go into town again, like they'd done the last time. Charmaine loved to
shop, or Annie could suggest a visit to the public library. It was open every
weekday. Packing took on more excitement at the hope of seeing Luke soon.
That evening she sat at her
aunt and uncle's table, a more relaxed affair than dinner at her home, and
joined her uncle in a conversation about the man who was running for governor.
"How do you know about
such things, Annie?" Charmaine asked.
"News of the upcoming
election has been in the newspaper every day," she replied. "I can't
talk about it at home, though. Mother has a fit."
“Does she have something
against one of the candidates?"
“No, you know Mother. She
thinks ladies are supposed to avoid pretentions of learning."
"My friends had
instructions on that, too," Charmaine offered. "Young women aren't
supposed to let on that they know as much as gentlemen. It's pedantic, they
say."
"So you're supposed to
pretend to be dumb?" Uncle Mort asked the girls. “What kind of man wants
a dumb wife? Or daughter for that matter?''
"A gentleman, I
guess," Charmaine said with a sigh.
"What about Diana? She's
not one to hold her opinions to herself," Mort said. "My nephew
obviously didn't take to that thinkin'."
"Diana drives Mother
crazy," Annie said with a grin. "Although she does know a lot of
influential people, and Mother is impressed by that. There's bitter mixed with
the sweet, I guess."
"Mama,
may I stay home from school while Annie's here?"
Annie's
Aunt Vera cast her daughter a knowing look. "The answer is the same as
last time and the time before. Annie and I get along just fine while you're in
school."
Charmaine
pouted prettily for all of thirty seconds, then turned to Annie. “What shall we
do after school tomorrow?''
Annie's
heart gave a little leap. “Would you like to shop?"
Charmaine
appeared to be thinking. "I'll bet there are more interesting places to
shop in Denver. Wouldn't you like to go with your parents one of these
days?"
Annie
pushed some turnips around on her plate. "I don't know. I don't much like
going into cities—there are too many people. I feel awkward."
"Well
if you should ever want to, you know I'd be happy to accompany you."
Annie
gave her cousin an amused smile. "Thank you for the offer. We could go to
the library."
"All
right. Let's help Mama with the dishes, and then she'll have more time to work
on the dress she's making for me."
Annie
was always more than glad to help with the dinner chores. The Renlows didn't
treat her as though she were an invalid; they allowed her to help with meals
and dishes and any household task she put her hand to. Here it was as if her
help was expected, and that tiny measure of normalcy gave Annie a deep-down
sense of value.
Mort
went off to the barn, and the ladies completed the dishes, then Vera had
Charmaine try on the bodice of the new dress. The creation was a lovely
moss-green print, with a high collar and a cinched waist.
Annie fingered the fabric
of the basted skirt lying on the dining room table. "Oh, this is just
lovely."
Charmaine and her mother
turned their heads toward Annie at the same time.
"It's a simple
pattern," Charmaine said. "And not an expensive fabric."
Annie glanced at her own
dress: silk taffeta with outsize cap sleeves and three layers of ruffles around
her neck and at the hem. People had seen her dressed like this her entire life;
why it should matter now, she didn't know. But it did. She wondered how others
saw her—how Luke saw her. "My clothes are childish," she said
honestly.
"They're elegant, Annie," her aunt said.
"And expensive," Charmaine added.
Vera nudged her daughter.
"Well, they are."
"I stand out enough in
this chair." Annie tapped the arm. "But combined with the dresses,
I'm a carnival act. I should learn to juggle."
"Stop it, Annie, you
are not a freak." Charmaine came and knelt beside her. Charmaine picked up
Annie's hand and brought the backs of
want to go into town again, like they'd done the last time. Charmaine loved to
shop, or Annie could suggest a visit to the public library. It was open every
weekday. Packing took on more excitement at the hope of seeing Luke soon.
That evening she sat at her
aunt and uncle's table, a more relaxed affair than dinner at her home, and
joined her uncle in a conversation about the man who was running for governor.
"How do you know about
such things, Annie?" Charmaine asked.
"News of the upcoming
election has been in the newspaper every day," she replied. "I can't
talk about it at home, though. Mother has a fit."
“Does she have something
against one of the candidates?"
“No, you know Mother. She
thinks ladies are supposed to avoid pretentions of learning."
"My friends had
instructions on that, too," Charmaine offered. "Young women aren't
supposed to let on that they know as much as gentlemen. It's pedantic, they
say."
"So you're supposed to
pretend to be dumb?" Uncle Mort asked the girls. “What kind of man wants
a dumb wife? Or daughter for that matter?''
"A gentleman, I
guess," Charmaine said with a sigh.
"What about Diana? She's
not one to hold her opinions to herself," Mort said. "My nephew
obviously didn't take to that thinkin'."
"Diana drives Mother
crazy," Annie said with a grin. "Although she does know a lot of
influential people, and Mother is impressed by that. There's bitter mixed with
the sweet, I guess."
"Mama,
may I stay home from school while Annie's here?"
Annie's
Aunt Vera cast her daughter a knowing look. "The answer is the same as
last time and the time before. Annie and I get along just fine while you're in
school."
Charmaine
pouted prettily for all of thirty seconds, then turned to Annie. “What shall we
do after school tomorrow?''
Annie's
heart gave a little leap. “Would you like to shop?"
Charmaine
appeared to be thinking. "I'll bet there are more interesting places to
shop in Denver. Wouldn't you like to go with your parents one of these
days?"
Annie
pushed some turnips around on her plate. "I don't know. I don't much like
going into cities—there are too many people. I feel awkward."
"Well
if you should ever want to, you know I'd be happy to accompany you."
Annie
gave her cousin an amused smile. "Thank you for the offer. We could go to
the library."
"All
right. Let's help Mama with the dishes, and then she'll have more time to work
on the dress she's making for me."
Annie
was always more than glad to help with the dinner chores. The Renlows didn't
treat her as though she were an invalid; they allowed her to help with meals
and dishes and any household task she put her hand to. Here it was as if her
help was expected, and that tiny measure of normalcy gave Annie a deep-down
sense of value.
Mort
went off to the barn, and the ladies completed the dishes, then Vera had
Charmaine try on the bodice of the new dress. The creation was a lovely
moss-green print, with a high collar and a cinched waist.
Annie fingered the fabric
of the basted skirt lying on the dining room table. "Oh, this is just
lovely."
Charmaine and her mother
turned their heads toward Annie at the same time.
"It's a simple
pattern," Charmaine said. "And not an expensive fabric."
Annie glanced at her own
dress: silk taffeta with outsize cap sleeves and three layers of ruffles around
her neck and at the hem. People had seen her dressed like this her entire life;
why it should matter now, she didn't know. But it did. She wondered how others
saw her—how Luke saw her. "My clothes are childish," she said
honestly.
"They're elegant, Annie," her aunt said.
"And expensive," Charmaine added.
Vera nudged her daughter.
"Well, they are."
"I stand out enough in
this chair." Annie tapped the arm. "But combined with the dresses,
I'm a carnival act. I should learn to juggle."
"Stop it, Annie, you
are not a freak." Charmaine came and knelt beside her. Charmaine picked up
Annie's hand and brought the backs of
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