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“Yes, please.” Susan looked at Sydney. “Now let’s bake some bread for these sandwiches.”
Together the two women baked eight loaves of bread. When Sydney tried to protest it was too many, Susan shook her head. “If the men like these sandwiches of yours we’ll use more than half that on supper tonight.”
“I can understand that,” Sydney said, though she still had her doubts.
Once the bread was in the oven, Susan showed Sydney how to make a pie crust. “I’ll give you the receipt and all my others when you marry.”
“That would be wonderful.”
“I’ve already started copying them for you. Since you are coming from a family of wealth, there’s no real question as to whether you’ll need them.”
Sydney nodded eagerly. “I need all the help I can get.” She frowned. “Oh, snotdragons. I forgot to buy fabric for aprons and nightdresses. I always wear these silk nightgowns because that’s all my mother would allow. They are much too hot here, in my opinion.”
“I have plenty of muslin for aprons and nightdresses. Don’t worry about that.”
“I’ll make certain to replace it.”
“No need. It’s part of my wedding gift to you.”
Sydney made a face. “You realize I’m still not certain if it’s Lewis I want to marry?”
“Of course, I do. I’m not even trying to push you in his direction. You choose who you want to be married to, and I’ll be happy for you.”
Susan took the bread from the oven and slipped the pies inside. “Now let’s make our potato salad.”
“I have no idea how.”
“You will soon. You’ll get the receipt for this as well.”
Together they boiled potatoes and eggs, sliced them, and turned them into the most delicious potato salad Sydney had ever seen. Of course, that hadn’t taken much. Her mother had said potato salad was for poor people, and she’d never even had one taste.
Sydney stared at it for a moment, and then she asked, “May I try a bite? I’ve never had potato salad.”
“I don’t know how you stayed alive!” Susan said, reaching for a clean spoon, and handing it to Sydney.
Sydney dipped the spoon into the potato salad before putting it in her mouth, a smile transforming her face. “It’s delicious.”
“It is. And you’ll serve it to Lewis. Do you have any idea where you’ll go on your picnic?”
Sydney nodded. “I’ve been eyeing your gazebo since I got here. I thought that would be a nice romantic spot for a picnic, and a little talking.” And some kissing. There’d better be some kissing.
As soon as the bread cooled, Sydney introduced Susan to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Carefully slathering peanut butter on one piece of bread, she added some grape jelly to the other piece. And then she smooshed them together and cut the sandwich down the middle, offering half to Susan.
Susan took a bite and her eyes widened. “This is good!”
“Yes, even small children like it. I haven’t found anyone yet who isn’t fond of peanut butter.” Sydney bit into her own half, realizing just then she’d yet to eat that day. It was odd to feel too busy to eat, but that’s just how she’d felt all day. She couldn’t wait to start cutting on her new dresses.
Susan swallowed the last of her part of the sandwich. “Why don’t we invite some friends of mine over tomorrow. And Alice, of course. We’ll have a tea party sewing what you need.”
Sydney’s eyes grew wide. “No one would mind helping me that way?” The only time anyone had ever helped Sydney had been when they were paid to do so. She truly felt as if she’d fallen out of her world into one where people worked together to get things done, and where they helped one another, even if they didn’t expect anything in return.
In short, she’d fallen into a very hot version of heaven.
