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Lily knocked on Caroline's door for the third time.
"Coming!" a voice called from within.
A moment later, the door flew open and Caroline Shannon stood looking somewhat disheveled. She pushed a lock of golden hair behind her ear. It refused to stay in place, however, and soon a vicious battle ensued. Caroline pushed the lock back into place, the lock broke free and fell across her eyes, Caroline pushed it back again, and this time, it nearly got caught in her mouth. Finally, Caroline reached into her pocket, pulled out a pin, and fastened it.
"Forgive my appearance," Caroline said. "I'm having a difficult morning with the children."
As if on cue, Hannah and Dewey came out of nowhere and wrapped themselves around their mother's legs. The four-year-old twins shared their mother's yellow-gold hair but had their father's blue eyes. Lily wondered if they still thought about him or if they'd pushed him from their minds and accepted Dr. Gilbert Shannon as their father.
"Won't you come in?" Caroline asked, opening the door wide for her.
Caroline's house was a large one. Lily had been here many times and never gotten used to it. There were at least five bedrooms, the parlor, the sitting room, the kitchen, the formal dining room, and Dr. Shannon's office where he saw his patients.
Everything was made of dark wood, and the furnishings were elaborately designed. That Caroline should have three children of her very own to go along with such a place was almost too much to bear. Lily's heart pinged with jealousy.
"Forgive the intrusion," Lily said. "I only wanted to pay a visit. I thought I might see small Ethan, but I can easily return another time if now is inconvenient."
"Not at all," Caroline said as Dewey tugged at her dress.
"Mama," he whispered. "Can I have sweets?"
"Absolutely not," Caroline said, forcing his small hands to break free of her dress so that she might be able to move without stepping on him. "You and your sister already have far too much energy. Go and play in your room for a while, and we'll see about sweets after supper."
Dewey frowned but did as his mother told him. He grabbed Hannah's hand, and they ran up the stairs together, laughing for no reason that Lily could decipher.
"Hannah and Dewey seem well," Lily said as she took a seat in the parlor.
"They are," Caroline replied. She paused, and Lily could tell she was studying her face. She was self-conscious of the bruises that so frequently appeared there but knew there were no new ones for her friend to find. At least, none that she could see.
"And how are you doing?" Lily asked. "How's Dr. Shannon?"
Caroline let out a breath. "Gilbert's fine. He's with a patient now, in fact."
"And you?" Lily pressed.
"I'm fine as well," Caroline said with a smile. "Only a little tired. Our nanny has come down with quite a bad cold, I'm afraid, and she's been unable to help the last few days. Poor thing. She just lies in bed and coughs. Gilbert says she should be up again in a few more days."
Lily noted the look in Caroline's eyes at the word 'days' and thought her friend might not last that long. A sharp cry rose from the near distance.
"Oh, that's Ethan. I'll just go and fetch him." Caroline hurried from the room, calling out to ask if she'd like tea.
"No, thank you," Lily said, not wanting to put her friend to more trouble than she already had.
Caroline returned a few moments later, setting Ethan in his bassinet. Lily leaned over, cooing playfully at him.
"He's a month old as of last week," Caroline declared proudly, as if he'd won some sort of award rather than aged as infants do.
"He has such a sweet look about him," Lily said, holding one finger out to him. He reached for it with his tiny pink hands and grabbed onto it, laughing happily.
"Whatever sweetness he has comes from Gilbert," Caroline said. "Floyd certainly didn't have a sweet bone in his body."
Lily saw her friend bristle at the mention of her abusive ex-husband. She was glad Caroline had managed to get away from him and marry Dr. Shannon.
"You know," Caroline began, "Gilbert's brother recently wrote and inquired after you. He said his offer still stands if you ever change your mind about Ray."
Lily pressed her lips together and retook her seat. "Thank you," she said, wishing with all her might that she could accept Robert Shannon's help, but it was an impossibility. "I have no need for a lawyer at this time."
"You felt quite differently about it just two months ago."
"I changed my mind."
Caroline hesitated. "Yes, I know. Why did you change your mind?" she asked, taking the seat opposite hers.
Lily looked at the floor and said nothing for a full minute. It was not the first time Caroline had asked her this question. Della had asked it before, too. Sometimes, she was not sure they would ever stop asking.
"I'm fine," was her reply. "Ray and I are fine."
Caroline gripped the edge of her seat, her knuckles turning white. Lily could tell she wanted to say more, but she held her tongue, and for that Lily was grateful.
Ethan let out another cry, drawing Caroline's attention.
"Perhaps I should go," Lily said, rising from her seat.
"But you've only just got here."
"Yes, but it seems you have your hands full."
"Nonsense. We've hired a housemaid, you know. I've asked her to bring us some tea and cookies. I know you said not to, but a little tea is always a fine thing to have between friends."
"I didn't know you had a housemaid," Lily said, that familiar ping of jealousy returning. She hated that feeling. It made her feel... dirty. As if she were a bad person... a lesser person... for envying her friends.
It's not envy, her brain reminded her. It's a desire to succeed. To do better for yourself.
Yes. That was it exactly.
"Well, I suppose I can stay for tea, at least," Lily said but remained standing. She was worried that Caroline might resume her line of questioning and wanted nothing to do with it. If that was to be the case, she might as well go now, because she had no intention of answering Caroline's prying questions.
Dr. Shannon's office door was down the hall just off the parlor. She heard it open and close, footsteps sounded as well as voices.
"Thank you, Doctor," said a man's deep voice. Lily recognized it even though it was slightly raspy from illness.
"It's going around," Dr. Shannon said. He was an amiable man who was well-liked in the community. He was nearly as tall as Edward, with a thick mass of dark, wavy hair.
Lily looked around the parlor as if searching for a place to hide. Caroline did not seem to notice; she was already heading toward the men. They stopped in front of the parlor entrance, and Lily was forced to meet Edward's eyes.
He looked surprised to see her. She tried to temper her own expression so that it showed nothing more than a blank disinterest in his presence, but she was not sure how successful she was at it.
"Lily," Edward said, then blushed at such a display of familiarity. "I mean, Mrs. Dickinson, how are you?"
"Fine, thank you, Mr. Saunders," Lily said and gave a small curtsey. Her heart was thundering in her chest, and her breath had quickened. Caroline was watching her now, her eyes narrowed.
Dr. Shannon said, "Edward's been to see me for a slight cold he's caught. It's much like our nanny’s, I'm afraid. The thing seems to be spreading like wildfire." He stepped into the room, looking suspiciously at Lily. "You look rather pale yourself," he said. "You're not feeling ill, are you? Perhaps I'd better have a look." He started walking toward her and Lily jumped back.
"I'm all right," she said. "I only have a slight headache. I haven't eaten much today."
That much was true, at least. She'd attempted to prepare breakfast for herself and Ray this morning, but he hadn't like the way she'd prepared his eggs and so had flung their meal to the floor before punching the side of her stomach, which still ached and had grown a large purple bruise.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Caroline asked. "It's almost the supper hour. You should stay and dine with us." She turned to Edward. "You as well."
Edward looked taken aback. "Oh, no. I'm unwell. I must go home and rest. Dr. Shannon has instructed me to do so."
Dr. Shannon said, "I've also instructed you to eat, since you confessed to me that you've also had no breakfast this morning. And I know for a fact our cook is serving soup with our meal this evening. It's the very thing to lift you."
"I assure you that my own cook is perfectly capable of preparing soup," Edward said somewhat testily.
"Of course, she is," Dr. Shannon replied with good nature. "But dining with us means you'll get a rest from your father's gastric ulcer. You forget I know your father well, and I suspect his wailing has taken its toll on you in your current condition. Besides, you are already on the mend. The worst of it is behind you."
Lily could see that Dr. Shannon had gotten to him. He opened his mouth to protest but no sound came out.
"It's settled then," Caroline said, delighted. "You shall both dine with us this evening. I'll inform the cook."
Lily opened her mouth to give one final protest herself, but Caroline was already running out of the room.
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