Chapter Twenty-Five - Nora - When One Door Closes, Another One Opens

The rest of the ball passed as somewhat of a blur, with Mr. Samuelson and I spending as little time as possible with one another, at our own celebratory dinner party. I didn't mind much, and Mr. Samuelson couldn't come up with anything to smooth everything over, making every disposition that passed between us somewhat  awkward. At last, he bid his time until he was the last guest to leave, bidding my father a hearty goodbye, and me giving him the slightest curtsy as he bowed, wishing me a goodnight.

Needless to say, once the ball was over, all the guests gone, and the dinnerplates all returned to the sink for the servants to wash, I was more than relieved, I was exuberant. Now I could relax and not care about fake fiancé, or snotty neighbors. And I did just that, because as soon as I had my dress off and slipped into my night gown, I fell upon my bed and fell soundly asleep, not even realizing I had done so until the morning light hit me in the face.

When my eyes finally popped open, I realized it was late morning, unusual for me because I usually awoke very early, only to help Nelly dress and make sure Hettie did her chores, which she rarely ever did.

Still, it felt good to allow myself to relax for once, and I desereved it too. I had just gone through a very mentally trying night, and had ever right to lay in bed all day long, take no responsibility for anything, and pretend I wasn't entangled in a very fake web of lies, all of which, were not mine.

As tempting as that sounded, it wasn't really what I wanted to do. What I really wanted to do was scream my lungs out until I felt somewhat normal again. The only light at the end of this dark tunnel was that Mr. Samuelson was going to find a way out of all of it; we didn't actually have to go through with marrying each other, thank goodness.

Eventually, I found strength enough to get up and get myself dressed. I had to face the day, that much was certain. Unfortunately, as I made my way through the house, it seemed I was the only one that felt that way. Not even my father was up, which meant either he missed all his early business meetings or had made sure not to schedule any after the party.

For now, I decided that I would let everybody else sleep in, at least for a little bit. It was harming them, and we really had nothing that had to be done so soon anyhow.

Only then, that's when the doorbell rang. I rolled my eyes. So much for letting everybody get the rest they deserved.

Trying to finish tying my apron on, I clomped down the stairs, knowing my hair probably looked like a disaster, along with the unflattering bags under my eyes from staying up so late last night. Oh well, I was an engaged woman for the time being, I didn't need to impress anybody anyways.

I threw open the door, thoughts racing about who could come at such an hour as this, and unannounced too. Whoever I had been hoping it would be, mostly Hodges, but unfortunately it wasn't. All hope crushed, by the devestating fact that my fiancé stood only feet apart from me, hand in the air again as if to knock once more.

He was impatient I'd give him that. He opened his mouth, and without another thought, I slammed the door, unprepared to deal with such as him at this hour. I was still half-awake, and probably looked the part too. I did not need him to put me in a bad mood that would surely last the rest of the day. And besides, I had had all I could take of him last night. Surely even he didn't need another round of me yelling at him this morning.

I began to walk away, conscience guilt-free, when I hear a knock on the glass paine of the window. I turned, wondering what the poor man wanted now. He had his face squashed up against his hands as he tried to peer into the window.

"Uh...? Hello? Anybody home....? Nora?" He was clearly at a loss. Perhaps no one had slammed a door in his face before. Well, he could consider it a gift from me. And I'd gladly do it again too.

"Someone at the door?" My father's voice made me swivel my body in surprise. He stood at the top of the stairway, sleepy-eyed and still in his nightclothes. His hair poked up in several places, making me want to laugh at the absurdity.

I cracked a smile instead. "No one of importance, I assure you."

"Great. Have Peggy send up breakfast to me in my room. I think I'm a little too old to be staying up as late as we did last night." He yawned, and scratched at his stomach, before turning around and directing himself back to bed.

Slamming the door on Samuelson had quite the positive effect on me, and I hummed as I made my way to the kitchen. Just as I found Peggy and gave her her orders, the backdoor in the kitchen burst open, Hodges skidding inside, out of breath, but grinning.

"Hodges! What a surprise! And just look at you!" I laughed, rushing to his side to assist him into a chair, he took my shoulder, sat and he held his chest as he took a few huge gulps of air to get them into his system.

"Nora, I have just had the most brilliant of ideas! I couldn't waste anytime, I had to get over here and tell you all about it. Undoubtedly, you'll approve." He grinned, taking his hat off and setting it on the table.

*

"I'll see you sunday then?" Hodges asked, as I saw him out.

"Sunday it is." I grinned, opening the door for him.

Hodges was so excited he practically danced out the door. "Don't be late Nora!" He waved a goodbye, and I waved back, laughing at the idea of it all.

Tomorrow was going to be a very interesting sermon, I was sure.