For the first time in her life, Sue spent considerable time getting dressed for Friday night. She knew that appearances were important to Jake, and she decided she would do her part to look as good as possible for the dinner and dance. She decided to wear a hunter green long sleeve dress with a heart shaped neckline. It would show a slight amount of cleavage but there was little she could do to help that since she couldn’t change her bust size. She wore the diamond necklace and earrings that Jake had given her and slipped on her hunter green high heeled shoes. She brushed her hair so that it fell in soft curls around her shoulders. She finally decided to pull the sides of it back with a hunter green barrette so that her earrings would show. She examined her reflection. Maybe I am as pretty as Jake claims. When she was ready, she went to the den since he spent most of his free time sitting at his desk. He was doing more paperwork. He spends so much time working. When does

ake spent the weekend setting things up in his bank. He used his pent up frustrations for energy. He couldn’t believe the nerve of the bachelors in town who kept asking Sue to dance on Friday night. He would try to get back to her when someone came up to him to discuss his bank. Had it not been for the fact that she declined most of the invitations to dance so she could talk to some of the wives, he would have picked her up and dragged her home. Fortunately, she seemed to be blissfully unaware of their intentions. Why didn’t the men take the time to notice her before he married her? It wasn’t his fault that they didn’t get to her first. He tried not to let his sour mood show when a box of chocolates and flowers from an Ethan Bower arrived at his house on Sunday afternoon shortly after he and Sue came home from church. Since Sue was in the den reading, he was able to throw them out before she discovered them. He immediately added Ethan Bower to his list. He was able to cro

The next day, they took the train to Richmond. He was glad she could join him. His trips were usually boring, though he spent most of his time reading. It was nicer to have her to talk to. She hadn’t been on a train before and he grinned at her enthusiasm for the experience. With her, this was a new world. She was used to the farm and the library, but outside of that, her life had been limited. What would it be like to take her to Europe? What would she think of seeing Greece in person? They reached Richmond in good time, and he took her to lunch before his business meeting at Brother’s Bank. He didn’t feel like parting from her but reminded himself that he would see her in a couple of hours. “I’ll be at the library. Do you want me to come back here or will you stop by to get me?” she asked him. “Why don’t you do some shopping before you read a book? Buy yourself something you like.” “Well, I can’t really think of anything to get.” “Is there nothing yo

The pretty twenty-two year old nodded and walked to the front of the desk. “May I be of assistance to you gentlemen?” Ben took a good look at her and smiled. “Actually, yes. Would you help me find a book I’ve been looking for?” She smiled back. “What is the book called?” “I’m not sure but it is about two young star-crossed lovers whose parents are enemies, so they get married without their parents knowing but it all ends in tragedy when both die.” “Are you talking about William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet?” Sue asked in disbelief. Of all people, Ben York didn’t strike her as a literary enthusiast, much less a romantic. “Yes, that’s the book,” he replied. Turning to Miss Stallone, he asked, “Can you help me find it?” She giggled. “I know where the book is.” He eagerly followed her as she went to the appropriate bookshelf. “Well, it looks like I have you all to myself,” Ethan said. “I’ll help you with those books if you’d like.” “I have to be honest with you, Mr.

When Jake came home that evening, his mood was worse than it had been when he woke up. This time ten more bachelors sent Sue flowers. He recognized a couple of names. He sighed. What am I going to have to do? Get all these men into a room and tell them to leave her alone? Then an idea came to him. Why not? Lydia ran over to him. “Sue’s home early, sir!” “Go stall her,” he ordered. “How?” He watched as Sue walked down the sidewalk. Why does she have to look so nice? “Take your son out there. She goes crazy every time she sees a baby.” Lydia nodded and went to wake up her sleeping child. Jake started throwing the flowers into a trash can, but the trash can got too full. Lydia quickly ran to the front door and opened it just in time to stop Sue from entering the house. “Would you like to see Timmy?” “Uh...sure. Can I see him inside the house?” “No. Actually, he needs some fresh air. He’s been cooped up all day.” She shut the door before Sue c