Chapter 15.
Emily was glad she and Nick were able to resume the comfort of their relationship without any talk about marriage.
She was up early the next morning and happy to see the sun shining on such a crisp fall day. She went about her morning routine contented and even left the stove on to warm to warm the shop.
This was a fortunate choice for no sooner had she unlocked the front door and placed the "OPEN" sign in the window than Audra entered.
Emily was happier to see her than she thought she would be and noted a change in Audra's usual demeanor. For while Audra's greeting retained its familiar warmth, it now held a graceful calm which Emily surmised came from growing up while away.
Audra said she stopped by to let Emily know how grateful she was for all the beautiful garments she'd made for her and how she'd worn them every day over in Europe.
Audra also wanted to invite her to a small party her mother was hosting the next day to celebrate her safe return. Emily accepted the invitation only to worry about it later. Audra didn't say what kind of a party it would be or how many people had been invited. What she did say, however, was that Nick would be by with the buggy at one o'clock and that she was happy she and Nick were spending time together.
Emily had never really considered what the Barkley family thought of her in general or how they regarded her relationship with Nick. She wondered if they considered her and Nick as courting and what kinds of expectations they might have from that. To be sure, she was always treated very well by the family, but people as gracious and kind as the Barkleys, no matter their social status, tend to keep their sincere feelings to themselves. Emily hoped she hadn't missed any clues about the family's true regard for her.
Whatever doubts she harbored evaporated on her arrival to the house the following afternoon. Victoria greeted her with particular enthusiasm in front of the other guests and led her into the parlor and sat next to her so they could catch up with each other's lives.
The party went well, too. Its guests were mainly a few of Audra's young friends, Carl among them, with a few neighbors stopping in to say hello and leaving.
Emily was pleased not to have any particular attention paid to her, not even by Nick who, none the less, never seemed to stray too far from her. She felt she blended into the milieu and so felt relaxed enough in the absence of the pressure to perform that, ironically enough, she was happy to play the piano at Audra's request. And so, she was given the opportunity to engage in one of her favorite pursuits surrounded by people who paid attention to each other and not to her. She simply provided the background music.
Dinner with the family was later than usual, after the guests had left. Carl stayed for dinner and Victoria insisted Emily join them, as well. Heath had taken Sarah home early to be with her mother who had taken ill a few days before.
At dinner, Emily was impressed by the young woman lady Audra had become and noted her interactions with Carl revealed more than romance; they demonstrated mutual kindness and respect
Nick noticed the interaction between Audra and Carl, too, and on the ride home he and Emily speculated on a possible marriage between his sister and Carl. Nick had known Carl for years and considered him a good friend. He said he would welcome him as brother-in-law. Nick did not, however, notice any change in his sister's general demeanor and Emily wondered aloud if that was because he was a man or because he was a brother.