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didn’t worry about her appearance as much, but their eyes, nose, and cheeks were similar. Bella and her mother were both raven haired and dark eyed. If anything, her mother was even darker than Bella, with eyes that were nearly black. Although Bella was a tiny, thin woman, her mother was even thinner. They were both all sharp angles and shrill voices and seemed to have forgotten everything and everyone but each other.
    Claire had to contain her sigh of relief when the cook finally had the maid call everyone into the dining room.
     
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    Perhaps the most impressive room to Claire was the large dining room. All the furniture was waxed and polished mahogany, highly carved and massive. It gleamed under the lit chandelier. The table was set for twelve with matching, gold rimmed china and gold lipped glassware. Remarkably, the glass-fronted, china cabinet still held more dishes. The food had been set out on a huge sideboard. It all smelled strange and delicious.
    After Mrs. Switzer assigned everyone a place, she directed them to carry and fill a plate, with orders for the children to go first.
    The same maid who had freshened the beds and shown them to their rooms, stood patiently answering questions and helping the children. There was plain meat, cold mutton, neatly sliced. There were an array of vegetable dishes, stewed or pickled, but all familiar. There was some thin sliced, hard brown bread which the girl offered to spread with soft cheese or butter for the three older children. There was a hot dish of cabbage rolls. Bella managed a small plate and filled it carefully for Barney.
    Claire smiled at Bonnie at the strange way of serving guests, but both eagerly took their place in line. The food smelled good and tasted great. Bella’s mother had seated her daughter at her right, Mother Wimberley on her left and the girl’s and children beside her. The men and boys she seated at the opposite end, flanking her husband.
    Claire studied Bella’s parents. They did not look old, but they acted older than her own parents. They were cordial to Henry, but it was clear they did not know what to say to him. The same was true for little Barney.
    During dinner, Bella whispered to get her mother to look at her grandson. Barney sat listening in his mother’s lap, watching Mary Anne sing him a lullaby. When Mary would stop he would make little crooning sounds back to her. His eyes were shining with love and there was always a smile on his face. The women watching sat silently, until Bella’s mother reached out to touch him for the first time. Smiling through their tears, mother and daughter hugged.
    At the other end of the table, Bella’s Father and Henry were smiling at the women when Henry said something that made the man turn to stare at him.
    “What do you mean you sold the store? That was not in our agreement.”
    Bella’s mother stared at the man, her face as amazed as her husbands. Suddenly there was a loud and noisy argument. It was easy for Claire to see where Bella learned to yell and complain.
    The Wimberley’s stood hastily, and made their apologies before withdrawing for the night out to the wagons, leaving the family to work out their disagreements, urging the children outside with them. Claire and Bonnie crept upstairs. The argument was fierce now and little Barney, the only child present, was crying. Bonnie made a face at her, but Claire remained by the door, holding it open a crack so she could continue to listen.
     
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    Her parents were furious that Bella sold the store without letting them know. Claire heard Bella’s mother yell. “We could have bought it back. You knew your father was struggling now that the bank has failed.”
    Claire felt her own body tremble when Bella didn’t answer. When Bella couldn’t defend herself, Henry took over.
    “It was just a matter of time before we lost the business. You don’t understand how difficult it is to run a store when the city’s commerce is