"In here, Muriel," Clive called back from the parlor.
Muriel headed toward the parlor with Izzy following behind her. "Clive, I think my motor car?" Muriel stopped what she was beginning to say as she stepped inside the parlor door and spotted an unfamiliar face. "Oh, hi. I didn't realize we were having company tonight."
Clive and the young man of about 20 years old stood up. "Izzy, Muriel, this is Jonathan Lewis. Jonathan, this is my wonderful wife Muriel, and my beautiful daughter, Isolde," Clive introduced his family. "Jonathan is the son of one of my friends from the military. We go way back. I remember him when he was a little tyke," Clive smiled as if Jonathan were his own son.
"Hi, Jonathan. Nice to meet you." Muriel smiled and shook his hand. "Were you just traveling through town and decided to stop by?" she asked.
"No, Mr. Pettibone asked me to come for a visit. I wanted to get away for a while and so I took him up on the offer."
"Oh!" Muriel was surprised. "I don't recall you telling me about him coming," she looked at her husband.
"I didn't! I mean, I wanted to surprise you."
Jonathan turned toward the younger woman. "Miss Pettibone," he gave her a slight bow in greeting.
"Hi," Izzy greeted him with a hesitant smile.
"You, Miss Pettibone, are more beautiful than your father described," he winked. Izzy looked uncomfortable.
"Well, let's all go into the kitchen for some pie," Clive smiled and waved his guest out of the parlor and towards the kitchen.
* * * * * * * * * *
A few days later, Izzy was back to working at the store with Muriel. "Here you go, Mrs. Bugle. Two cans of peas, a pound of sugar, five pounds of flour, and a dozen eggs," Izzy rattled off Eulalie Bugle’s shopping list. "That will be 75 cents."
"75 cents!!!" she exclaimed. "My goodness. Prices just keep going up," she complained as she handed Izzy the money. "Won't be much longer and we will have to pay 15 cents for a pound of sugar." She grabbed her items and walked out the door muttering complaints under her breath, not even noticing Cecily King coming in the store until she crashed into her.
"Sorry, Mrs. Bugle," Cecily apologized.
"Get out of my way," she said as she slammed the door behind her.
Cecily walked over to Izzy and Muriel. "What's her problem?" she glanced back at the door.
"Mrs. Bugle had to pay 75 cents for her groceries." Izzy rolled her eyes.
"Oh, No!" Cecily said as if it were the end of the world.
Muriel just chuckled. "I'd say that too, but I haven't changed the prices of anything in the store for months."
The girls laughed. "So how are you doing, Iz?" Cecily asked her best friend.
"I'd be better if Father wouldn't keep asking that Jonathan over to the house to call on me."
"That military guy's son you told me about?"
"Yeah."
"Now, now, Izzy. He seems like a very nice young man," Muriel said.
"Father obviously thinks so. Can you believe, Cecily, he wants me to marry this guy?"
"Marry him? You just met him a few days ago."
"I know." Izzy leaned against the counter and propped her head up with her hands and sighed. "If father likes him so much, he should marry him."
"Hmm...I'm afraid that he's already married." Muriel put an arm around Izzy's shoulders.
"Jonathan?" Izzy got excited.
"No; your father."
Izzy groaned. Cecily giggled. "If he's cute, can I have him?"
"Take him! Please. I'm not ready yet."
"Izzy?"
"Muriel. It hasn't even been two months." Tears started to form in her baby blue eyes again.
Cecily leaned in to give Izzy a hug. "I miss him too, Iz," she consoled. "He was the best big brother I ever had."
"He was your only big brother," Izzy laughter and cried at the same time.
"The whole family is still taking it pretty hard."
The three quit speaking for a moment and then Cecily decided to change the subject. "Hey, why don't you and I go for a ride later, Iz? I get off work at the telephone office in three hours."
"May I, Muriel?"
"Sure. I can handle the store."
"Great. Meet me over at the telephone office at four."
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