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reminded Abigail of her own mother stepped out onto the wide porch. “Marcus, dear, don’t dawdle. Bring Miss Connors inside—I’ve been waiting all day to meet her.”
    When Abigail stepped up onto the porch, Mrs. Wellington gave her a quick hug. “I am so glad to finally meet you, dear. You look just like your mother at your age! Isn’t she lovely, Marcus?”

Four
    Abigail held her breath, waiting for Marcus Wellington’s answer to his mother’s question.
    “Yes, Mother, she is very lovely. And she’s been looking forward to meeting you and Father, too, so let’s get her inside out of the heat.”
    Abigail felt the color rise up her neck and onto her cheeks. She wondered if Marcus was just being polite or if he was being sincere. She had a feeling he was uncomfortable in having to answer his mother’s question. But Mrs. Wellington paid no attention and pulled Abigail inside the large foyer.
    “Your father is in his study; would you go get him, Marcus? We’ll be waiting in the parlor,” Mrs. Wellington said. She led Abigail over to the right and into a parlor that made her feel right at home. It was so much like her parents’ parlor that her mother could have decorated it. Obviously, the two women had similar tastes.
    “Please, dear, take a seat anywhere,” Mrs. Wellington said, sitting on the burgundy-colored settee. A tea tray laden with all kinds of sandwiches and sweet treats rested on the round table in front of her. “I’ll pour tea as soon as Marcus and his father join us. I can’t tell you how pleased I am that you are here. I’m hoping that your parents will pay us a visit soon. Although we keep letters going back and forth, it’s been much too long since we’ve seen them in person.”
    Marcus and his father entered the room, and Abigail could see that Marcus looked very much like Mr. Wellington. They both had that engaging dimple when they smiled.
    “Well now, how pretty you are,” the older Mr. Wellington said as he came over and took Abigail’s hand in his. “You do look like your mother. We are so glad you are here in Hot Springs and we have this chance to meet you. You were only a child the last time we saw you.”
    Abigail couldn’t remember actually meeting them, so she must have been young.
    “I’m very pleased to meet you all, too, Mr. Wellington. My parents think of you as among their closest and dearest friends.”
    Mrs. Wellington poured their tea, and Marcus handed round a tray with delicate sandwiches and little iced tea cakes. The afternoon passed pleasantly with the Wellingtons telling her stories about her parents when they were all younger. When it was time to leave, Abigail hated to depart. The evening loomed long and lonely to her.
    “We’d love to have you join us for church tomorrow and for dinner here afterward, if you would be so inclined,” Mrs. Wellington invited.
    Abigail didn’t hesitate to accept. “I would love to. Thank you for the invitation!”
    “Wonderful! Marcus will pick you up in the morning, then, won’t you, dear?”
    “I’ll be happy to,” Marcus answered.
    For a moment, Abigail’s heart skipped a beat. Then she remembered that he was actually working for her father and escorting her would be part of his job. Still, she managed a smile. “I’ll be ready. Thank you again for the invitation, Mrs. Wellington.”
    “You are quite welcome, dear. We are looking forward to introducing you to our church family and others in town. We really are quite excited about having you here.”
    The older Wellingtons followed them out onto the porch, and Abigail waved to them as she left. She dreaded the long evening awaiting her back at the hotel after Marcus dropped her off.
    Once they were on their way, Abigail turned to Marcus and said, “Your parents are wonderful, Mr. Wellington. They made me feel very welcome. Thank you for taking me.”
    “They felt the same about you. I could tell,” Marcus replied. And his parents did. It was obvious that