The Shoppe

Marty arrived by carriage at Melinda and Blair's shoppe. It was like stepping back into time. Nothing had really changed. When Marty walked in, she felt a warm feeling of safety and familiarity, as if she had returned to an old place that had been special to her from her youth. She remembered sweeping the floor and cleaning all the shelves. More than anything, she recalled all the fun times she had experienced with Melinda and Blair. It had been a rare moment of happiness in her life, but it had all ended far too soon.

As she approached the counter, she hoped that Melinda or Blair would be there to greet her. Marty wasn't disappointed. Blair walked in from the back of the store and immediately recognized her childhood friend. "Sara Beth!" she gasped, calling Marty by the name she had given in order to keep her true identity a secret. She had been terrified of Miss Priscilla somehow finding her after her great escape.

"Mother, it's Sara Beth!" Blair called out to Melinda who came running at once.

When Melinda saw Marty, her face lit up in a brilliant smile. "Ohhh our dear, sweet Sara Beth. It's really you," said Melinda as tears gathered in her eyes. "You've finally returned. Have you come for a visit?"

"Yes," Marty replied. "But you have to know, my real name is Marty Saybrooke. I was just using the name Sara Beth, because I didn't want to be returned to my mean and abusive aunt. I had run away from a boarding school."

"Ohhh, no, I was afraid it might be something such as that," Melinda said. "We were heartbroken when you left us. We went looking for you... but we couldn't find you. I am so sorry for the way my sister Dorian treated you before you left."

"No need to apologize," said Marty. "You did nothing wrong."

"Won't you come in? We were just about to have a cup of tea," Blair offered.

"I'd love to," Marty agreed with a smile.

After they had taken their places at the wooden table in the living quarters of the store, Marty told them she was living in Llanview now and announced that she was happily married. "My husband Todd should be here soon," she added after taking a tiny sip of her tea. "He'd love to meet you."

"I am so happy for you that you are happily wed. I too will soon be married. Aunt Dorian's husband died and I have fallen in love with my aunt's stepson," Blair stated. "So, you're having a little one, I see. When is the baby due?"

Marty felt uncomfortable with Blair's questioning. The last thing she wished to discuss was the coming baby. She was evasive with her answers when Blair and Melinda were gushing over the baby-to-be.

Thankfully Todd showed up then and the questions abruptly stopped. When Todd arrived at the shoppe, Marty introduced him to her friends. "I would like you to meet Todd, my handsome husband," Marty said with pride as Todd wrapped an arm around his wife affectionately. "Todd, please meet my dearest friends, Blair and Melinda."

"Todd, won't you come in and have some tea with us?" Melinda asked graciously.

"Thank you so much, but I just had a cup of tea during my recent visit with an old friend."

When Blair saw Todd, she did a double-take. She kept staring at Marty's husband as if she knew him or perhaps she had seen him somewhere. She couldn't place where she might have met him, but there was something oddly familiar about Marty's husband. Todd wondered about Blair's odd reaction to his presence, but Blair just shook her head, saying nothing.

"What happened to Dorian after her husband's death?" Marty asked with curiosity.

"She's a bitter and unhappy woman. When her husband's will was read, he left everything to his children and his mistress. All Aunt Dorian got was this business and the small cottage on the edge of the estate that she's been living in," Blair replied.

Marty remembered quite vividly how mean Dorian had been to her. Dorian had kicked Marty out on the street when she was a child and had nothing. She really didn't feel that sorry for Dorian's recent misfortune. She struggled to find the words to say anything even halfway kind about the woman who had insisted that she leave the premises.

"What a shame," was all Marty could think to say, although she was sure her response to Dorian's plight was lame at best.

Marty felt a sudden sense of unease. Blair kept staring at Todd strangely and the innocent questions about her advanced pregnancy had gotten to her. "Todd, I am feeling quite tired all of the sudden. I think we should go to our hotel now," Marty said as she gently squeezed Todd's hand.

"Must you go so soon?" Melinda said with a touch of sadness.

"Yes, I am afraid that we must. We are going to New York," Marty stated.

"Safe travels," Blair said. "It was so nice to see you again."

Marty hugged her friends and Todd wished Melinda and Blair a polite farewell. Minutes later, they were in a carriage, headed toward their hotel.

"Marty, what's bothering you?" Todd asked as he could sense that Marty was agitated.

"It's nothing, Todd," she lied. "I am just tired. I need a little rest."

Todd looked at her knowingly as he was certain that she wasn't being entirely honest with him. He kissed her on the top of the head. "A night of sleeping in my arms will make you feel better."

"You always make me feel better," Marty whispered as she snuggled up in Todd's arms.