The next day I rode into town. I stopped in front of the dress repair shop.
“Ah. What can I do for you today?” the shopkeeper said.
“These need some work please.” I said as I put the gowns and the list on the counter.
“Yes Miss” he said as he went to grab the gowns.
“Take care of those.” I said as I looked at some fabric.
“How’s life?” someone said behind me. I turned around to find Daniel. He was the shopkeeper’s apprentice
“Daniel.” I said as I gave him a hug. I backed up to get a better look of my brother.
“How’s everyone?” he whispered.
“Not good since Mother’s death.” I whispered back as I held up some lovely blue fabric.
“When are you coming back home?” I whispered.
“Soon.” He said. “Soon as in?” I asked.
“As in the end of the business day.” He said. I squealed like a little kid and hugged him.
A week later, I went back into town with Daniel to go pick up the dresses. I paid for the repairs and walked out to find Daniel flirting with a girl.
“So this is why you wanted to come with me?” I asked as I went up to them. Daniel smiled.
“My dear sister, this is my girlfriend, Ashley” I nodded and said
“Pleasure to meet you.” Ashley smiled.
“Pleasure. Do you mind if I borrow your brother for a while?” she said.
“Not a problem. I’ll be in the library if you need me.” I said. I decided to find what “Turmun” meant. After dropping the dresses off with Chesnutt, I walked to the library. I first looked in all the language books. No luck. Next I tried ancient cultures. Again no luck. That’s when Daniel came in with his face as pale as a ghost.
“Daniel, what’s wrong?” I asked.
“Ashley’s pregnant.” He said.
“Oh my.” I said. There was silence for a little bit. Then I asked Daniel what he was going to do.
“I don’t know what to do.” He said as he put his head in his hands
. “Dang gone it!” I said as I slammed my fist on the table. “You’re going to be a Father. You need to be there for your child, not follow in your father’s footsteps.” Daniel and Alice are the oldest ones. Their father wanted nothing to do with them so he left. The week after he left, Mother, Daniel and Alice got the news of his death. They threw a big celebration. Where Mother met John’s, Robbie’s and my father and so on and so forth.
“You’re going to take Ashley to meet the rest of us. Then at dinner, you are going to purpose to her. Now go get a good ring.” I said as I pulled him up out of his seat. Daniel smiled and left. I shook my head and got back to work.
At dinner, Daniel purposed and Ashley said yes. So afterwards when the men went to the stables, us ladies sat in the sitting room talking about the wedding.
“I was thinking about pale blue gowns for the bridesmaids.” Ashley said as she drank from her tea. “Perfect” Alice said.
“Now how do you want your dress to look?” I said as I pulled out my sketchbook.
“Well, I thought about having a tight bodice but having it flowing at the bottom. Maybe some ruffles on the top.” She said as I sketched away.
“Like this?” I asked after a while.
“It’s perfect.” Ashley said. Alice shook her head.
“Better make it have more flowiness than tightness. She is also with child remember.” She said as she grabbed my sketchbook.
“Yeesh. You ladies are already getting the dress ready.” Gin said as he came in.
“Of course.” I said “Weddings take a lot of work.” Gin shook his head.
