"Amanda Shaw, would you quit your shaking?" Celia Hamilton scolded her best friend with a drawn out sigh.
"I'm sorry Celia! I'm just so excited!" Mandie giggled, nudging Celia with her elbow.
"I know." Celia began to giggle too, "It's been forever since we've seen Jonathan!"
"Not forever…but close to it." she smiled at the thought.
Jonathan Guyer was Celia and Mandie's friend from when they went on their European Tour. He had been a stowaway on the ship, and was allowed to travel Europe with Mandie and Celia, alongside Mrs. Taft. His father was one of the richest men of the time, and a secret government agent. They'd visited him at his house a few times, but a spring break permitted them to return to New York and visit him. Jonathan was about their age, and in Mandie's secret opinion, very handsome.
"I wish you could have been there when the Guyers came for Christmas, Celia."
"I know, but at least we can see him now. It's a wonder our parents agreed to let us go to New York, by ourselves, to see Jonathan."
"It's amazing, but your mother will come later, and so might Joe, when he's gets out of college." Mandie sighed, Joe Woodward was her lifelong friend, determined to marry her when they grew up. Mandie had told him many times there was a lot of time between then and now, they might change their minds, but Joe stood firm.
"Are Jonathan and Joe friends now, Mandie?" Celia asked.
"Well, I suppose. They were still slightly edgy last time, but Jonathan seemed to enjoy Joe's company." Mandie fidgeted thinking of the boys. When she had brought Joe and Jonathan together at Christmas, she had suddenly become aware that there was much jealousy between them. A second problem interfering was the infamous Polly Cornwallis, Mandie's neighbor. Her affections rotated back and forth the entire season.
Sallie Sweetwater, her Cherokee friend, thankfully hadn't had that problem. But Jonathan seemed to like her, which made Mandie feel strange. Jealous? No. She couldn't be jealous. Jonathan was just her friend. And so was Joe. Right?
"Mandie, I think we're here." Celia interrupted Mandie's train of thought, as they stepped down from the carriage and were lead to Jonathan's doorstep.
"What do we do?" Celia asked, "Do we just knock?"
Mandie shrugged, "Shouldn't he have been expecting us?"
"MANDIE! CELIA!" a voice called out, somewhere behind them. The girls turned to see Jonathan running over to meet them, a little white dog chasing him.
Mandie and Celia both squealed with delight, "Jonathan!"
Running towards him, they met in the middle and all stopped and caught their breath.
"But, we didn't expect you until this afternoon!" Jonathan laughed, impulsively, he grabbed Mandie's arm and hugged her. He hugged Celia second.
"Jonathan! It's so good to see you." Celia smiled.
"It's good to see you too." He said with a big grin.
Mandie laughed at the dog at Jonathan's feet, "How is Whitey?" she asked.
Jonathan chuckled, "Happy as ever. Where's Snowball?"
"I left him back at the house. I couldn't risk the trouble he might cause." She was thinking about all the scrapes Jonathan and she had gotten into because of the cat, including being stuck on a roof.
"Probably best, although, I'll miss him." Jonathan smiled, "Shall we go in?" He asked, politely.
"Oh, yes please." Celia smiled, as he offered both of the girls his arms.
Accepting the guesture, they walked inside together.
"Father, you will never believe what lovely ladies I ran into on my walk." Jonathan said to his father, winking at the girls.
His father turned around from his seat on the couch, "Mandie, Celia! How good to see you." Lindall Guyer exclaimed, standing to greet them.
"Jonathan has spoke of nothing but your arrival for the past few days." Mr. Guyer said, with a twinkle in his eye.
"Father…" Jonathan whispered under his breath.
"Oh, it's so wonderful to be here Mr. Guyer!" Celia clapped, "We've been looking forward to it."
"So have we. Now, can you tell me where your mother is?" Mr. Guyer asked Celia.
"She had to stay at the farm with Aunt Rebecca for a few more days. She was sick. But she's coming in a few days."
"Good. Good." Mr. Guyer smiled. He turned to Mandie, "How is everything at your home?"
"Good." Mandie grinned, "Although, we've had some incidents with Polly Cornwallis." She said, mostly to Jonathan.
Jonathan's dark features flushed, "Her? What's she done this time?"
"She was determined to come with us, but I flatly told her no." Mandie smirked at Jonathan.
"Oh, yes. Her mother is an excellent cook, but her daughter…" Mr. Guyer trailed off into thought as the telephone rang, "I should get that." He left the room.
"So, Jonathan…" Mandie began, looking at her friend.
"Mandie, we should get our bags into our rooms." Celia sighed.
"Oh, don't worry about that." Jonathan quickly put in, "Monet can do that."
"Monet? Oh goodness, Jonathan!" Mandie laughed.
Monet was a French maid who thought to highly of herself.
Monet walked in the room, "I already have." She walked off quickly before having to say another word.
"Well, perhaps we should change out of our traveling clothes, and then talk about something to do." Celia said, looking pointedly at Mandie.
"Um, yes. We should."
Jonathan nodded, "I'll meet you girls in the parlor later."
They split their separate ways, and the girls walked to their rooms.
"Same as last time, good." Mandie said, with a grin, "What was that look about Celia?"
"I just wanted to talk to you about something." Celia started, "And change…"
"What?" Mandie asked, leafing through her closet looking for something to wear.
"Do you like Jonathan?" Celia asked, pulling out a green dress and twirling around in the mirror.
"What kind of question is that, Celia?" Mandie asked, knowing exactly what Celia was asking, but avoiding answering.
"I know you like Joe, but do you like Jonathan as well?"
"Celia, Joe and I, well we..." Celia rolled her eyes, and Mandie decided not to approach that subject. "I must like him enough to visit his house." Mandie answered, feeling her cheeks grow hot.
Celia sighed, "Yes, but do you like him? In more than a friend way?"
"Since when do you meddle in my relational affairs?" Mandie asked, pulling a light blue gown over her head.
"Since now. Since I saw Jonathan look at you lovingly. Since I saw you blushing at him. Since…" Celia smirked.
"Well, okay! Yes. I suppose I do." Mandie said, brushing her hair.
"Do you think he likes you?" Celia asked, leaning over Mandie's bed.
"I don't know." Mandie replied shortly.
"I see." Celia smoothed her dress, "Suppose we go back down to the parlor?"
"Celia, just to let you know…I care for Joe…just as much maybe?" Mandie braided her hair.
"Is that a lot, or a little?" Celia asked.
"A…lot?" Mandie blushed.
"Hmm. Let's go down to the parlor now." Celia smiled.
"Okay. But…don't say anything to Jonathan about this conversation." Mandie said, eyeing her friend.
"Of course not Mandie, why would I say something?" Celia asked.
"Just…making sure."
The girls found Jonathan in the parlor.
"Finally you ladies come to grace me with your presence." he teased.
"Have you been waiting long?" Celia asked, sitting down on the settee.
"Nope. Just a few minutes." Jonathan pet the white dog in his lap.
"That's good. So Jonathan, what are we going to do while we are here?" Mandie questioned, sitting down next to Celia.
"It's up to you guys, it is your vacation." Jonathan's eyes twinkled.
"I imagine that when my mother gets here, it'll be all shopping and sight-seeing." Celia sighed.
"My Father is leaving for business before dinner, so it'll just be you girls and I. He says he's sorry. He'll be back by tomorrow though." Jonathan shifted.
"It must be so interesting to be left in this big house in New York by yourself while your father works for the government." Mandie smiled, "It would be incredible."
Jonathan shook his head, "No. It's not that great, I never know where he is or what he's doing. Thankfully, I have you girls to keep me company, otherwise, I'd die of boredom." He frowned.
"If Mandie runs into a mystery here, Jonathan, you defiantly won't die of boredom." Celia smiled.
"No, I don't think she'll run into one, Celia, I think she'll find one." Jonathan grinned mischievously, at Mandie.
"Ya'll hush up." Mandie said, blushing, "It's not my fault that I get into adventures. Ya'll should be happy I'm not a boring person."
"I am. But I think I'd like you no matter what, Amanda Shaw." Jonathan said, looking into her blue eyes.
Celia tried hard not to laugh watching Mandie deal with several different emotions at once.
"Well…That's good to know." Mandie finally said.
"Jonathan?" Celia asked, feeling devilish.
"Yes?" Jonathan took his eyes off of Mandie to look at Celia.
"Do you still have Mandie's handkerchief?" Celia chuckled.
"Celia!" Mandie fumed.
Jonathan just laughed, "Actually, I do."
"I was just curious." Celia smiled.
Jonathan smiled, "Europe was fun, wasn't it?"
"Yes. We should go again sometime. Although it's very far away and very expensive." Mandie sighed.
"I wonder if we'd meet another stowaway?" Celia asked, pointedly looking at Jonathan.
"I wonder if he'd pretend he didn't speak English." Mandie smirked.
"I wonder if he'd invite you to his grand house in New York after you poked fun at him?" Jonathan laughed.
"I wonder…" Celia began.
"I wonder if he'd be as nice as you?" Mandie interrupted Celia but smiled at Jonathan.
Jonathan blushed, "That would be interesting to find out."
After supper, the girls decided they would turn in early after their journey so they could start finding adventures the next morning.
"Sounds good to me." Jonathan said, grinning as usual.
Celia grinned, "I wonder when Mandie will find a mystery."
"How do you know it won't find me?" Mandie asked her friend.
"She's right Celia, Mandie Shaw is a mystery attracter." Jonathan joked.
"Well, if one doesn't find her, she'll go looking for one." Celia laughed.
"Gosh, it is getting late." Mandie frowned.
"We ate a late supper." Jonathan shrugged.
Celia frowned, "Well, I'm going to bed because I'm plumb tired out. I'll see you when you come Mandie."
"Night, Celia." Jonathan smiled and watched her go, "Mandie," he said, turning to the girl, "I've got something to tell you."
"What's that?" Mandie asked.
The telephone rang and Jonathan jumped, "I'd better get it. Probably my father. See you in the morning, Mandie." He ran down the hallway.
Mandie shrugged, "I'll find out tomorrow." She went to her room, and found Celia writing in a journal.
"What's up?" Celia asked.
"Nothing…"
"I heard Jonathan say he had something to tell you. What was it?" Celia pressed.
"The telephone rang before he could say. He got all serious Celia, I wonder what it was." Mandie unbuttoned her dress.
"He'll probably tell you tomorrow. Let's hit the hay."
"Good idea."
The girls went to bed and almost immediately fell asleep in the pleasure of knowing they'd made it to New York and adventures awaited. Their Wednesday was over.