March 1899
"How are things at home? You know…ever since Nancy and Ellie…" Skittery asked. They walked along the riverbank after Skittery had sold all of his papers. The sky was gray with clouds.
Maggie sighed. "Okay," she said. "Even though I didn't know them very well, it's hard. The other girls loved them very much."
Skittery nodded, putting his arm around Maggie. "Yeah, they were great girls," said Skittery.
"Lily seems to grieve the most for Ellie," said Maggie. "Even now, she still starts to cry when she sees Ellie's empty bed."
Skittery nodded. "Ellie was Lily's first and best friend. Race is havin' a hard time too. As far as siblings go, Race and Ellie were close."
Even after four months, it astounded Maggie how close and trusting of each other these people were. It was so foreign to everything she knew.
"I couldn't imagine losin' you like that," said Skittery. "I can't tell you how glad I am that you're in a safe shop."
Maggie looked up at him and smiled. "Me too. I'm very lucky to have a job like that."
The rain began to pour down. Maggie shrieked, shocked by the sudden force of it.
"Come on!" Skittery grabbed her hand and they ran across the street to the entrance of a shop, just to get under the awning.
"That came on fast!" Maggie said, laughing. "Look at us, we look like a couple of drowned rats."
Skittery smirked at her. "Your English is gettin' so good," he said. "You're even using our sayings."
"What, you don't think we have drowned rats in Germany?" she asked.
Skittery chuckled and pulled her closer and kissed her. "You're so cute when wet," he said.
"You are not so bad yourself," she smiled.
Skittery took off his hat and shook his hair, spraying droplets all over her.
Maggie laughed and backed away. Skittery pulled her closer once again. He brushed away a few strands of her hair that were plastered to her face.
"When do you think it's going to let up?" Maggie asked.
"I don't care," said Skittery, leaning down and kissing her, longer and deeper this time.
Maggie put her arms around his neck, forgetting everything about who she was pretending to be, and just enjoyed being with Skittery.
Ten minutes later, the rain stopped as suddenly as it had started.
"Hungry?" Skittery asked.
"Starved." Maggie smiled, giving him one last kiss.
Skittery took her hand and they walked to Tibby's. When they walked in, it was fairly empty, except for Amelia sitting at a table with Lily and Race. Amelia smiled and waved when she saw Maggie walk in. Maggie and Skittery walked over to their table.
"Come on, Lil. Please eat something," said Race, pushing his plate towards her.
Lily shook her head. "I'm not hungry," she said sadly.
"Please?" Race asked. Lily just shook her head.
"I may be speaking out of turn," said Amelia, "because I didn't know Ellie very well. But from what I did know of her, she would hate to know that you're not eating. You need to keep your strength up. And if she saw you, she'd probably yell at Race over there for not taking care of his girl. You really want her wrath directed at him?"
Lily looked up at Amelia, giving her a stony glare for a few beats. She sighed and broke off a piece of roll and ate it. Race gave Amelia a grateful glance.
"What brings you down here?" Maggie asked Amelia.
"I was visiting Father at his office when the rain started," said Amelia. "This was the closest place and Lily and Race were in here, so I had company. But I need to be going. Father has a gentleman he wants me to meet." Amelia smiled and stood up. "Here." She tossed a couple bills on the table. "Have dinner on me."
She walked out of the restaurant. Maggie almost didn't want to accept the money. It was just given to her. No lies or deception or fancy act required. Amelia just doled it out.
