“I’ll be right inside if you need me.” She left the door to the balcony open, both so she could hear Avery and continue airing out the apartment, then just stood there, in the middle of the kitchen, her hands on her hips. “I don’t even know where to begin.”
Hours later, Tresia dropped onto the sofa, whipped off the kerchief tied around her head, and let out a heart-felt sigh. “I’m done! I don’t think I could wash another window or another dish! Look at my fingers! They’re all pruny.” She held up her fingers to Avery, proving that they truly were wrinkled like a prune.
Truthfully, she was exhausted, but the apartment reflected her hard work. Avery’s, too, as she had decided to help her after all.
Avery flopped down on the sofa beside her. “Me, too!”
“And I’m hungry.” She reached out to tickle the girl’s tummy.
Avery giggled and tried to pull away, then moved closer for more. “Me, too!”
“What do you say we go home, change out of these dirty clothes and wash up, then take your Daddy out to dinner at the hotel? We could pick him up at his office. Would you like that?”
Avery nodded and ripped the matching kerchief she insisted on wearing off her head. “We can surprise Daddy!”
“Yes, we can. And I can tell him what a big help you were today.”
Avery jumped up from the sofa, her excitement seeming to overwhelm her. “Do you think Daddy will let me have some ice cream?”
Tresia rose as well and took Avery’s hand. “Absolutely, my sweet girl. It’s our reward for all the hard work we did today.”
CHAPTER 19
Tresia stared at her reflection in the mirror, watching as Lucy swept her long auburn hair away from one side of her face to pin it back with an ornate gold comb, then did the same to the other side.
“Perfect!” Lucy said as she took a step back to admire her handiwork.
Yes, it was perfect. The whole day was perfect. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, a light breeze ruffled the lacy curtains hanging from the window, and in a few short moments, she would marry Marshal Devlin Goodrich and begin her new life with the man she loved.
Last night, Mr. Peabody, the Justice of the Peace, had arrived in town in time to go over last-minute details and now waited downstairs in Lucy’s parlor, which she had graciously offered instead of the courthouse.
“Stand up. Let me look at you.”
Tresia rose from the dressing table after one last glance in the mirror and turned to face her friend.
“Oh, you look lovely. Leslie Carmichael did a beautiful job on your dress.”
Tresia looked down at the ivory gown embroidered with tiny white and gold flowers. “She did, didn’t she?” She turned toward Avery, who sat on the bed, Cecily clutched in her arms. She, too, had a new dress, compliments of Miss Leslie, the seamstress, who had created a matching dress for the doll. They both looked adorable. “What do you think, Avery?”
“You look beautiful, Mama!” Avery scrambled off the bed and held out a small red box she pulled from the pocket of her dress. “Daddy said to give you this.”
Tresia opened it. Instant tears filled her eyes as she gazed upon an amethyst necklace. She pulled it from its black velvet bed by the gold chain, allowing the pendant to twist and turn. It caught the sunlight shining in from the window and cast pale purple sparkles on the walls. “It’s beautiful.” She glanced at Avery, who stood before her expectantly. “Did you know about this?”
Avery nodded enthusiastically, her light brown curls dancing around her head. “Me and Daddy picked it out.”
“You did?” It was a wonderful surprise. More importantly, it was perhaps the only time in her life that Avery had kept a secret. Tresia wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. She was used to Avery just blurting everything out. She drew Avery into a hug. “I love it, sweetheart. Thank you!”
“Let me put that on you.”
Tresia handed over the necklace to Lucy then turned around, lifting up her hair so Lucy could clasp the gift around her neck. When she was done, she turned around and looked in the mirror, adjusting the necklace so the pendant lay against her skin just above the top of her dress. It was beautiful, something she would treasure, and every time she looked at it, she would remember this day.
“Are you ready?” Lucy asked as she did a last-minute adjustment to her hair and puffed out the sleeves of the dress she wore.
She smiled. “I am.”
“Devlin is champing at the bit. He’s ready, too. When I went downstairs earlier, he was pacing back and forth in the parlor, barely acknowledging the conversation going on around him.” Lucy laughed. “I think he’s nervous.” She paused and looked into her eyes. “Are you nervous?”
“Not in the least.” She left the room and stopped at the top of the stairs to catch her breath. She hadn’t lied. She wasn’t nervous. She was happy and excited, anxious to begin her married life.
