I wasn’t entirely sure of the meaning of that question, so I simply thanked him. “I’ll be down shortly. I’m looking forward to one of Lizzie and Mrs. Wu’s wonderful meals.”
“Very good, Dr. Barnes.”
The pride in his voice made me smile. Being home was indeed very good.
After he left, I looked around the room, which hadn’t changed much since I’d last seen it. Lilies in a vase on the dresser gave off a lovely scent, one I remembered well from my childhood. Walnut furniture, a yellow-and-red braided rug, and the easy chair by the window were familiar and comforting to me. I’d lived lean during my university years, renting a room close to campus and eating meals at the cafeteria or the neighborhood diner. Because of the vigor with which I’d approached my schooling, I’d done little else but study.
I hung my few items of clothing in the wardrobe and placed the rest in the dresser. I bathed and shaved, happy to wash away the grime of my travels. I’d just finished dressing, having chosen a light blue linen suit, when there was a knock on the door. “Theo, it’s Fiona and Cymbeline. Are you available for a visit?”
“Yes, yes, come in,” I called out to them.
They came into the room, bringing the scent of their rosewater perfume, and sat on the end of my bed. Like two pretty bookends, they wore white dresses with dropped waists and had their hair pulled back in a way that made it seem as if they had cut their hair like so many of the girls did now. I was happy to see they’d kept their long tresses.
“You’re actually here,” Cymbeline said. “I thought you might never come home.”
“Why would you think such a thing?” I sat in the armchair. “I’d never planned on staying away forever.”
Cymbeline lifted one shoulder in a casual shrug. “I don’t know. We thought you might meet a lady and not want to leave her.”
“Did you meet any ladies?” Fiona asked.
“No, I was too busy for that,” I said.
“Thank goodness,” Fiona said. “We
wouldn’t have liked you to choose someone without all of us having a good look at her first.”
I laughed. “Pity the poor woman who has to face all of you.”
“True enough.” Cymbeline rolled her eyes. “No one in this family can stay out of anyone else’s business.”
“But we’re lucky to have one another.” Fiona smiled sweetly. “Cym likes to pretend she doesn’t need us, but it’s not true.”
Cymbeline shot me a sassy grin. “Fiona always sees the good in people, even me.”
“You are good,” Fiona said. “Having opinions and wishing certain things about this world were different doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.”
“Do you see what I mean, Theo?” Cymbeline asked. “Fiona’s the good one.”
“She is pure of heart,” I said. “And we love you for it, Fiona.”
Fiona beamed at us. “I love you both very much too. I’m glad we’re all back together.”
“Have you seen any of the old gang from school? I’ve exchanged a few letters with Isak, of course, but he’s not the best correspondent.”
Isak, Flynn, and I had all served together during the war. Like Flynn, he’d started a business upon his return to Emerson Pass. I hadn’t anticipated that he’d open a bakery. “I had no idea Isak wanted to be a baker.”
“He makes the most delicious breads and pies,” Fiona said. “Even Lizzie says so.”
“Is he courting anyone?” I asked. “I thought he’d be married by now.” Isak and his brother, Viktor, resembled Vikings from the storybooks we’d read as children—tall, wide-shouldered, and blond hair that looked red in certain light. If anyone wanted to make either of them mad, all you had to do was mention that their hair was red. Regardless of what they thought about their hair, they were popular with the young ladies.
“Not that we know of,” Fiona said.
“How’s Viktor?” I asked, cautiously. Viktor was a sore subject with Cymbeline. His adoration of my sister seemed to agitate her instead of the desired effect. He’d been enamored with her since we were young.
“He’s back in town,” Cymbeline said. “Not that I care.”
“He’s returned home with a degree in mathematics,” Fiona said. “He’s working at the bank.”