After Mary left the others finished their breakfast. Robert watched his son-in-law cheerfully make conversation with Edith and Bertie. He had to admit that were it not for Mary's late-night confession, Robert never would have guessed that there was anything bothering Tom. He wondered at his son-in-law, being so jovial after a rejection. Robert had to admit to himself that there was something he respected in the younger man's attitude, although he could not quite understand it.
"Well," Tom said, putting his napkin down, "I think I better start my day as well," he stood up.
"Will you be headed to the office now?" Edith asked. It was an innocent question, she told herself.
"No," he smiled to himself. "Not right away. I think I'm going to spend the morning with Sybbie."
"Sybbie?" Edith repeated in surprise. Everyone looked at her. "How nice," she stuttered out.
"Won't you be needed at the office?" Robert asked.
"Oh, I think Mary can handle things pretty well on her own for a few hours," he smiled out the window in her direction. "I'm just going to take some time to check in with my little girl."
"Of course," Robert approved.
Shortly thereafter it was time for Bertie to leave for the station. He and Edith walked hand-in-hand as they said their farewells.
"I'll miss you terribly," Edith said.
"It won't be for long," he smiled. "I'll be back before you know it."
"Will you?" she pressed.
"Of course I will," he smiled. "Try to be supportive to Tom and Mary," he said, glancing in the direction of the office. "I think they could use a friend."
"Mary and I have never been friends," she said somewhat sadly.
"Then maybe now is as good a time to start as any," he said cheerfully. Edith smiled at that and he kissed her hand. "Farewell, for now," he bowed.
"Till next we meet," she said with a smile.
Edith thought over what Bertie had said after he had left. There was no use trying to find Tom, he had taken Sybbie to town, so the only one she could talk to was Mary. She started towards the office, unsure exactly of what she was going to say once she got there.
She wanted to follow Bertie's advice. He had told her to be a friend to Mary, but also not to interfere. This was going to be a fine line to walk. She still hadn't decided what she was going to do when she found herself at the office door.
"Ah, Edith," Mary looked up from her books. "This is a surprise."
"I came to talk to you. It's rather urgent."
"I rather thought it would be, to bring you all the way out here," Mary observed, standing up. Edith ignored the sarcasm. "What's troubling you this time?"
"I know that Tom is in love with you," Edith stated firmly.
Mary's eyes widened. "What makes you say that?"
There was no stopping her now. She couldn't help herself. "Well, the way he looks at you for starters. Not to mention the way you look at him. And then there's the fact that he kissed you."
"Who told you that? Sybbie? Henry?" Mary's jaw dropped. She realized a moment too late that she had just given herself away.
Edith looked at her older sister in triumph. "Actually no one did; I was just guessing. Thank you for confirming it, though."
Mary closed her eyes. She had fallen right into her sister's trap. She was torn between anger and embarrassment. "That's not what I meant – I think you misunderstood…" she began stupidly.
"Come off it, Mary. I'm not blind. For heaven's sake, even Bertie could tell there was something going on between you two."
"It's none of your business," Mary insisted. Edith looked undeterred. "Besides, there's no more to it."
"No more to it?" Edith repeated with a straight face. "Really? That's the story that you're going with?"
"Oh Lord, Edith, what do you want me to say?" Mary stormed across the room in a huff.
"How about you admit that you're in love with him as well?" she suggested.
Mary turned on her, her eyes shooting daggers. Edith instantly knew she had overplayed her hand. "Oh, now you presume to know my feelings? You expect me to trust you with them? You've never trusted me. In fact, you've done your best to destroy me in the past."
"Oh, Mary, let's not get tangled up in the past. I'm trying to be your sister."
"You want me to confide in you, and yet you still haven't confided in me," she answered readily.
"What are you talking about?"
"Marigold."
Edith recoiled as if she'd been punched in the stomach. Mary smiled triumphantly. Edith slowly sank into a chair.
"How long have you known?" Edith finally asked.
"It took me a little while to piece it all together, I'll admit. But how dare you ask me to share my secrets with you when you've kept her a secret from me? How big of a hypocrite are you?"
"Don't tell Bertie, please," Edith begged, tears coming into her eyes.
"Don't interfere in my life, and I won't interfere in yours," Mary answered.