I'm sorry for my absence. Life has been stressful and busy, I haven't had that much time to write so the chapters aren't coming along as quick as I'd like them to. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Leave a review if you'd like. Thanks for those that review, especially SmallNotesConcerningMyThoughts, Erin-Elizabeth and CantDecideOnUsername! You guys are awesome.
Mandie followed Liza through the mansion to the parlor where her grandmother, Uncle John and mother sat conversing quietly. Are they ever not talking? thought Mandie feeling annoyed. Mandie's eyes briefly caught Celia's who was sitting on the other side of the room with Dimar and Sallie. Her eyes relaying a message that she'd tell Celia when she could.
"You wanted to see me grandmother?" asked Mandie, a hint of annoyance showing in her voice.
Mrs Taft half-smiled, her eyes narrowing, reprimanding Mandie for speaking in such a tone. "Yes, your mother and I were just talking and we were wondering if you wanted to come home after Christmas and spend the New Year with me in Asheville?"
"Oh.. that would be nice, thanks. I'll have to check with my friends to see what they're doing and I'll let you know," replied Mandie politely.
"Okay, don't take too long to let me know."
Mandie took that moment to leave her grandmother and head back outside to Joe but he was already sitting on the settee with her friends. Disappointment flooded Mandie. Why could she never have a moment alone with Joe? She had to tell him she loved him before the Christmas holidays were over. She had to know whether her feelings were still reciprocated. The young adults sat together talking quietly among themselves talking about past adventures that all brought them together. This only seemed to torment Mandie more. Most of the stories involved Joe and it made Mandie feel sullen. Her emotions were all over the place and she couldn't sit there any longer. Abruptly while Celia was talking Mandie rose and mumbled an 'excuse me' and left the room in search for Liza. Finding her in the kitchen cleaning the benches, Mandie beelined for the chair located in the far corner of the room and fell into it, sighing.
"Oh Liza," groaned Mandie.
"Oh hi Miss Amanda! Is somethin wrong? Can I get anythin for you?" asked Liza with concern.
"Oh Liza, I love Joe and I haven't been able to tell him. I feel so uneasy about the whole thing. I've always been able to keep my emotions in check but now I feel so helpless. Why do I feel so helpless?" rambled Mandie.
"Miss Amanda! Yo finally come to yo senses!" exclaimed Liza.
Mandie quickly rose to her feet and brought her index finger to her lips, quietening the young Negro maid.
"Liza! Keep it down, Aunt Lou and everybody else in this house will hear you! Don't make me regret telling you," responded Mandie sternly.
"Don't you worry, I ain't tellin' nobody," replied Liza with a grin. "Did you need anythin?"
"Would you be able to run a bath for me? It might help me relax and I won't have to talk to anyone while I feel so flustered," asked Mandie gratefully.
"Sure thing, Miss Amanda."
Mandie lay in the bath till the water turned cold and her skin became wrinkly. It was just what she needed, the warm water had relaxed her muscles and calmed her emotions that seemed to be all over the place. It was a soft knock at the door that brought Mandie out of her daze and to the realisation that the water was no longer warm.
"Mandie?" a females voice called.
Mandie's eyes bulged. How long had she been in the bath? "Yes, I'm in here. Who is it?"
"It's just Sallie and I, we were wondering what you were doing. You got up so suddenly and disappeared. We were worried about you."
"Oh, just give me a moment," responded Mandie, feeling embarrassed by being caught in the bath.
When Mandie came out of the bathroom she was met by Sallie and Celia sitting on their beds in her room. Concern etched on both of their faces.
"Mandie, something is most definitely wrong. Why have you been acting strange today?" questioned Celia as Mandie sat down on the edge of her bed.
"I don't really want to talk about it. Not just yet, please." said Mandie softly, her hair falling over her slumped shoulders, hiding her face from the two girls. The calmness she felt from her bath disappearing.
"Okay Mandie, just know Sallie and I are here to listen when you need to talk," assured Celia. "I guess you won't tell us about your conversation with Joe?" probed Celia again.
"Celia.. I just said not now. I'll tell you another time, alright," said Mandie feeling agitated. "Could you let me know when dinner is ready. I'd just like to sleep right now." Reluctantly Celia rose with Sallie and left the room. The sound of the door closing brought silence again, leaving Mandie alone to her own thoughts.
Mandie awoke from her nap to her room a little darker than when she had fallen asleep. Her eyes felt heavy but her spirits were higher than before. After making herself presentable she made her way downstairs, running into Celia and Sallie who were sitting at the bottom of the staircase talking quietly.
"How come you're sitting down here?" asked Mandie, confused.
"We sat here so nobody could bother you," replied Sallie. Warmth filled Mandie's chest.
"Aww. Thank you so much. Well I feel so much better."
The girls made their way into the parlor where Joe and Dimar sat talking. As soon as Joe saw Mandie he rose and made his way over to them and gave a look to Sallie and Celia. The girls left Mandie alone with Joe.
"I have a question for you Mandie," started Joe, his expression looking hopeful. Mandie's heart rate accelerated. What's he going to ask? "Would you like to come back with my parents and I after Christmas?"
Oh! "That sounds like fun! Sure I'll go with you. My grandmother asked if I wanted to spend New Years with her, would you want to come with me?"
"Sure thing, Mandie. I'd love to," agreed Joe. "Well that's all I wanted to ask, shall we go back to our friends?"
"Okay," replied Mandie as Joe led her back to their friends.
"What have you been talking about?" inquired Mandie as she sat in down next to Celia.
"We were just talking about our plans after Christmas," replied Sallie who was next to Celia. "What do you say to coming back to Deep Creek for a few days before you go back to college?" Sallie asked.
"Oh I'd love to Sallie but I've already got plans. Joe just asked if I'd like to go back to his place before New Years and my grandmother wants me to stay with her too. Maybe you could come and celebrate New Years at my grandmothers?" replied Mandie.
"Oh that sounds nice. I'll have to talk to Dimar about it."
The next few days passed in a blur to Mandie. Joe didn't approach her to talk about their conversation on the porch and it was biting away at the little patience she had left. Wasn't it important to him to let her know what he was about to say? What was holding him back? He could talk to her about everything except how he felt about her. It was painful to Mandie.
It was now Christmas Eve and the Shaw household was buzzing with excitement for the celebrations the next day. All the presents were wrapped and under the freshly decorated tree and the noon meal had just been eaten. Joe had been looking at Mandie throughout the entire meal and it made Mandie feel self-soncious. Why was he looking at her so much? It wasn't till after the meal that Joe approached Mandie to ask if she'd like to go outside with him for a walk. Mandie's heart was beating faster than usual, it was only lately that Joe seemed to have that affect on her. What had changed that she got so nervous around her best friend?
"Mandie, you haven't answered. Are you rejecting my offer to go for a walk with me?" Joe asked, feigning to be hurt.
Mandie laughed. "Oh Joe, of course not. Sorry I was just lost in thought. I'll come for a walk with you."
Once again Joe offered to put on Mandie's coat but she politely declined. Instead of walking down the porch and onto the snow covered ground, Joe led Mandie to the swing.
"I thought we were going for a walk?" questioned Mandie.
"Well I decided it's probably better if we sat down and talked. Hopefully this time we won't get interrupted," said Joe chuckling. Did he find it funny that they had gotten interrupted? It annoyed Mandie to no end when her conversations got interrupted with Joe.
"Okay?" replied Mandie, a little confused. Why is he acting differently? Is he going to tell me that he's courting Marie?
"Mandie, I'm just going to get straight to the point, I've been thinking of how to go about this and I'm still not sure," began Joe sounding nervous. Since when is Joe nervous? It's only me? thought Mandie. Instead of being shoulder to shoulder, Joe turned his upper body to face Mandie. His large gloved hands gently grabbed Mandie's small ones and squeezed them. "I..I just want you to know that I still love you. What I was trying to say to you a few days ago was that Marie reminded me of you and it really showed me that I only love you. I know I upset you and I'm sorry for that but Mandie you have to let people finish talking before you react to what they're saying, okay? I-"
"Joe, I'm sorry," interrupted Mandie.
"Don't say anything okay, you interrupted me again," teased Joe, with a cheeky grin. Before continuing he breathed in through his nose and out again. His confidence seeming to be slowly disappearing.
"I was going to ask you tonight but I want to ask you now..I want to court you Mandie, if you'd allow me to, I still want to marry you. But first we'd have to court, I'm sure you understand" Joe chuckled anxiously. Mandie sat there in silence, her eyes glazed over and shock clearly visible on her face. He took her silence as a bad sign and continued to nervously ramble. His posture slightly sagging and his eyes losing the hopefulness.
"I want to be in your life and not just as a friend. What I'm trying to say is, will you court me Mandie?"