married. “This was our daughter Emily’s room until recently. We moved her to a different room since she wanted to be closer to the nursery. She loves her little brother.”
Gina smiled. “I’ll bet they’re both adorable.”
Lacey said, “Yes, they are. Even if I weren’t their mother, I’d say that.”
Ryan looked at the room and said, “There’s too much pink.”
Lacey laughed. “Well, little girls like pink.”
Gina said, “I am going to apologize in advance for anything that Ryan might say. He means no harm, but a lot of the time he comes out with inappropriate things. I’m just warning you.”
“Oh, good. He’ll get along with Emily then. She’s just like Joe and usually says whatever is on her mind,” Lacey said. “You’ll see.”
Randall said, “We have a nice room for Master Ryan as well. Follow me, please.”
“Mommy, can I stay and play with the toys?” Chloe asked.
“Yes, honey. Go ahead,” Gina said.
Chloe smiled happily and went to the large dolls house by the window.
Ryan’s room was appropriate for a little boy. The furniture was walnut and there were all manner of games and toys with which to play.
Gina asked, “Do you have a little boy, too?”
“No. We have Emily’s friend Zach over quite a bit. They became friends a couple years ago and always play together. Zach is the son of the Bradburys who own the general store in town,” Lacey explained.
“So he has his own room here?”
“Joe’s idea,” Lacey said and smiled. “He spoils everyone, including me.”
“What if he comes over while we’re here?” Gina asked as Ryan started playing with some toy soldiers he found.
“He doesn’t mind sharing,” Lacey said. “It would be good for Ryan to have another boy close to his age to play with.”
Gina nodded. “Yes, it would.”
“If madam will come with me, we’ll get you settled as well,” Randall said with a kind smile.
Leaving Ryan to play as well, Gina trailed behind the butler. She thought it was unusual that the Dwyers had a butler, but didn’t comment on it. As Randall led her into the room across the hall from Ryan, she knew how Chloe had felt about her own room. It was spacious with a four poster bed. All of the furniture was done in dark cherry wood. A Persian run covered the floor and lovely jade green drapes hung at the windows.
A large armoire would more than accommodate her meager amount of clothing. She noticed that there was also a desk in her room.
“It’s amazing,” Gina said as she gazed around at it all. “I’ve never seen a room like this.”
Lacey said, “It was the same way when I came here. I felt as if I’d walked into a fairytale or something.”
“Yes. I can see why.”
“Daddy, I saw a coyote today,” came a little girl’s voice from down the hall.
“You did? Y’all mean here at home?” a male voice answered.
“No, when we were with Uncle Reckless in the woods,” the girl said.
As the pair came into view, the man said, “Oh, ok.”
Gina saw that he carried two of her suitcases, which he put down in the hallway.
“Joe, this is Gina Silvetti.
Angela Andrew;Swan Sue;Farley Bentley
Reshonda Tate Billingsley