Chapter 6

Winnie awoke at the sound of creaking floor boards near by. The culprit, Georgia,

stood frozen once seen.

"Oh, you're up!"

"What are you doing sneaking around?" Winnie streched her arms out as she asked, to

which Georgia replied, "I was coming to wake you up-"

"Well, you did."

"And," She started, "to ask how yesterday went?"

Winnie thought back to the prior night and broke out in a childish grin when she did.

She felt like she was walking on air the whole night. Butterflies had fluttered in her

stomache each time he looked at her, spoke to her, or paid any mind to her at all. She hadn't expected she'd be such a romantic!

"It went well." Winnie replied simply, not wanting to give too much away, for she

didn't want to get too ahead of herself. They hadn't even set the wedding date yet!

Georgia headed towards the window as she remarked, "You're beaming Winnie! I think it went better than just 'well'-Hey, Winnie. What does Henry look like again?"

"Well,...he's tall, and has brown hair, and brown eyes. He's young looking, but not too young." She explained then added in with a laugh, "If that makes any sense at all. Why do you ask?"

"I think he's here."

"What?!" Winifred jumped up and headed straight to the window, and sure enough,

there he was, being let into the front door by Winifred's mother. Winnie rushed to get

dressed. She wouldn't dare let him see her so unkempt. Once ready, she ran down the

stairs to greet her fiance, who was already being entertained by his future in-laws.

"Henry!" She gave a breathy greeting, to which he reciprocated, "Good morning,

Winifred. I hope you don't mind my sudden appearance. I was just mentioning to

your parents that there's going to be a dance tonight at the Hilinsky estate, and I just stopped by to ask if you'd like to join me?"

Winnie couldn't find the words to say, for she felt such joy in that moment, that no

words would quite be able to express how she was feeling. In all her seventeen years

of life, she could never have dreamt that she'd one day be going to a dance, let alone going to one arm-in-arm with a dapper young man like Henry. She was elated!

She finally spoke. "Of course! But,...I don't have anything to wear."

"That's no problem. I can take you in to town and find you something." He told her,

making her smile brightly with an exuberant nod of her head. He could tell she was excited, and he couldn't have hoped for a better reaction from her. To see her happy,

made him even more so.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Henry watched the curious creature next to him carefully. Her eyes shined as she

looked around at all the shops on the main street, asking him about each one as they

passed.

"And, this one up ahead is-"

"That's Wilkinson Footwear!" She called out proudly. "Right?"

He laughed, "It sure is! I'll have to take you inside one day soon."

"I look forward to that." Her eyes darted over to the store beside the family shop, "Is

that it?"

"Yep, that's the seamstress." He confirmed and added in, "The lady who owns the

place had made a lot of my mother's dresses. They were good friends. Her daughter is working there now, I do believe."

"Ah, I see."

They entered the store and were swiftly greeted by a young lady named, Patricia

Stokes, who gave one look at Winnie and knew of just the things for her to try on.

She first pulled out a lilac shaded satin dress adorned with flowers and delicate lace,

and next to that one she hung a royal blue one with ruffles and rouching, and a pair of

blue gloves to match.

Without hesitation, Winnie pointed to the lilac one, for she knew the instant she saw

it that it was the one. Henry had a feeling that she'd be privy to that one, if only

simply for her love of flowers.

"My aren't you one lucky man!" Patricia mentioned to Henry. "Your wife sure makes

up her mind quickly."

Henry didn't correct her, for he only replied, quite proudly, "Yes, I sure am."