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When a Daughter Became a Woman

Chapter 9: The Same Way (Sarah's POV)

For the second time in a few minutes, I heard someone run down the hall. I walked out of my room and glanced down the hall. No one was there. I walked quietly down the hall and down the stairs. Then I heard someone sigh. I turned and saw James, sitting on the sofa. I sat down beside him and he turned towards me.

"Good morning, James," I said, before kissing his cheek.

"Good morning," replied James, glumly.

"James are you alright?"

"No."

"What has upset you?"

James shook his head and stood up. He paced in front of me, his face showing many different emotions. One minute he looked sad, another curious, then joyful, concerned, and finally confused. After a few more moments of pacing he sat down next to me again.

He looked me in the eyes and whispered one word, "Nathaniel."

"What has Nathaniel done to you?" I asked. The man had just arrived. What trouble had he gotten himself in?

"He did not do anything to me, Sarah…he asked me something."

"What could have he asked, that troubles you so much?"

"He asked if he could court Anne."

I gasped. I never expected that. Nathaniel had just arrived, yet he asked to court Anne? It seemed rather improper. But why was James so troubled by this…unless…he did not want to let her go.

"James…you do not want to let her go. Do you?"

James turned away from me and answered, "She is just a little girl, Sarah—"

"James she is an eighteen year old woman!" I paused and took a deep breath. "She is no longer a little girl, James…though I know you still want her to be. You want her to run up to you, and hug you for no reason. You want her to sit on your shoulders and laugh, as you run errands together. You want her to laugh with you. But most of all…you want her to be close to you again."

James nodded his head and ran his hand down his face, "I miss those moments."

"I know James. Now what did you say to Nathaniel?"

"I told him he could not…then I told him he could."

"Did you have a change of heart?"

"Not really," answered James grinning. "Nathaniel just had not said the right words."

"Which were?"

"The ones I used to get your father to let me court you."

"Which were?"

"I want to stand beside her, because I care for her."

At that I felt tears roll down my cheeks. I wrapped my arms around James' neck and buried my face in his chest. James rested his arms around my waist and rubbed my back. I had eavesdropped on James, when he asked my father if he could court me. But I never thought he would ever tell me what he actually said to him.

"Sarah," began James, "are you alright with Anne courting?"

"Yes James," I replied. "After all I was her age when I began to court you."

James smiled and leaned his face closer to mine, "And I am glad you did."

I opened my mouth to reply, but James put his finger on my lips, "Since it took you long enough."

"Excuse me James—I was not the one who could not admit their feelings."

"But I admitted mine first."

"Why are you acting like a child?"

I did not get an answer from James. Instead he leaned towards me and brushed his lips to mine. I brushed mine back against his, and then he kissed me. Every kiss from James still felt like the first we had shared. It made my heart beat faster and my head felt light. I ran my hands through James' soft, golden hair. James ran his hands up and down my back. I felt renewed and free as I kissed James harder.

Suddenly I heard footsteps on the stairs. I broke away from James and picked up a book from the table. I sat back on the sofa, while James stood up and went over to the press. He grabbed a rag and started cleaning it.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Anne and Nathaniel walk down the stairs. Nathaniel led Anne over the sofa and she sat down next to me. Nathaniel then kissed her hand, before going over to James. As Nathaniel walked away Anne blushed and sighed.

"Someone is in love," I whispered, my eyes focused on my book.

Anne looked at me and took my book from my hands, "How do you know?"

"Anne, I know for three reasons. The first is motherly instincts, the second is that your father told me, and third…I act the same way when I am with your father."