Page 24 of Ash

Behind it was a lamp and shade that looked like it belonged in a Victorian era home instead of her room. The shade was decorated with gathered fabric and sparkled in the sunlight. "I'm dreaming." She reached out a hand and traced the tips of her fingers on the doily, feeling all of the stitches.

That's when she remembered her late night arrival.

She couldn't remember the exact time that Aaron and Celeste Winter brought her to the house.

Thank goodness Aaron had the key, because it was long past the time when she would expect anyone to be up and greet her.

Her cheeks pinked with another wave of shame for having missed the bus.

Celeste had assured her that her bags had been picked up from the bus and brought inside the house.

"My bags!" Sitting up suddenly was a rush to her head and her legs were tangled in a blanket and she had to unwind the fabric before she fell.

Laughing she managed to untangle herself and stood, with the blanket dropping down to pool at her feet.

That's when she saw the mirror.

She remembered from a book series she used to read that it was called a cheval mirror. It was taller than she was and stood on two ornate feet. The mirror frame and glass were oval and reaching out, she could tilt the glass backward and forward. It looked like it belonged in the bedroom of a fancy lady from the past.

Smoothing her hands down her slept-in dress, Suzannah could only imagine what it might be like to stand before a mirror like this in a wedding dress and veil.

Suzannah lifted her hands and touched her cheeks to feel how warm they were. "A wedding dress."

Her cheeks cooled quickly and she felt her mood dampen a little.

How strange that she should think of a wedding. Her wedding.

She had no prospects for that. Not back in Sylvan City.

Certainly not here, in a new place.

A whole new town.

Her eyes turned back to the night stand and looked at the clock.

It was seven o'clock.

"The bakery!"

Oh goodness! The letter from her Great Aunt's attorney talked about the bakery.

She remembered the small square storefront that Celeste had pointed out the night before.

Or was it the morning?

She'd been so exhausted.

It was only her pride that had helped her get out of the truck when they arrived and not stumble over her own feet. Celeste has offered Aaron's help to get inside if she was too exhausted to walk, but after the pleasant conversation she'd had with the couple in the truck, the last thing she wanted to do was impose on Celeste's husband, but as soon as she'd gotten inside the house and found the bedroom, she'd barely managed to take off the bag she had around her body and flop down on her face.

She didn't even know the name of the woman who owned the bakery along with her aunt.

Wait. Maybe she did. Celeste... or Aaron had mentioned the name Hetty?

Scrubbing her hands over her face, Suzannah knew that she should get dressed and go and help out.

Moving around the room, she didn't see her bags, so she moved out of the bedroom into what looked like the main room of the cottage.

Everything looked like it had come out of her dreams. The sofa and chairs were covered in a floral chintz fabric and more lamps like she'd seen in the bedroom would light up the room in a warm and welcoming fashion.

---