JANUARY 31, 1861
Grace smiled as Lee entered the shop. There were no customers around so she could talk with her friend. "How are you today
"I'm good and you?"
"I'm good too. What brings you by the shop?" She smiled to her, "Not that I mind the company."
"Well, I have a delivery for you," Lee said handing over the note.
Grace smiled and took it thinking it was from Henrietta she opened it and looked puzzled.
"Something wrong, Grace?" Lee asked curiously.
"No, it's a certificate for a free meal to the Silver Spoon, but it doesn't say who it's from. It also says Happy Valentine's day. Who gave this to you?"
Lee smiled brightly, "I was just told to deliver it to Grace Hunter. Sounds like someone has an admirer. That's a really a nice gift, a free meal at a nice restaurant."
Grace eyes lit up, "Did Ike give this to you?"
"I, uh, no. At least I'm pretty sure it's not from Ike."
Grace held the certificate to her, "But you can't be too sure right?"
"Look have you had lunch yet?" Lee didn't want to tell her Charlie had given her the note. Because if Charlie had wanted Grace to know who it was from he would have signed it. She hated keeping it from her friend especially since she thought it was possibly from Ike. She couldn't blame her for thinking that. Everyone had seen how close Grace and Ike had become. But Grace had said that her and Ike were just good friends. Lee smile reassuring herself that this would turn out well because Charlie Montgomery was a very nice and handsome man.
"No I haven't."
Lee took her arm and steered her towards the door putting the �out to lunch� sign up in the window. "Then by all means go over to the Silver Spoon and use your certificate. You have no customers right now so this is as good of time as any."
Grace smiled shyly, "All right. Do I look okay?" She didn't know why all of a sudden she was concerned with how she looked.
"Grace you're the town seamstress. You always look nice and that color brings out the blue in your eyes."
Grace smoothed out the folds of her blue dress and looked at herself in the mirror as
they walked by. She put her coat on and brushed though her hair why Lee teased her a bit
and waited.
"Okay, I'm ready. You're going with me right?" Grace looked to Lee.
"I just," she didn't want to say she had just come from the Silver Spoon.
"No, I already had lunch today. Relax Grace it's just a meal. But I'll walk you
over."
Grace smiled and took Lee's offered arm and giggled, "It's hard for me to see you as
a man, Lee. I forget sometimes that appearances are everything."
The two walked over to the entrance of the Silver Spoon, and Lee smiled, "Have
fun."
Grace smiled then walked inside. She had no idea why she was so nervous. She handed Ivy
her certificate as she led her over to a table.