“This is the office or study I guess both apply,” Alexandria indicated the interior with a sweep of her hand and then quickly pulled the door to and indicated the back stairway which stood nearly directly beside them.
“I can’t believe that in all the years we knew Elijah and Martha I have never been up here but I haven’t,” Anna mused aloud as they topped the stairs into a wide hallway the same dimensions as the one below. The upstairs, however, contained more rooms.
“That’s my room,” Lilly pointed to her own room.
“We’ll start there,” Alexandria gave her step-daughter an indulgent smile. Alexandria stepped into the room and let Anna look around at the pale yellow walls and floral curtains that had been lovingly decorated for the little girl that had now become Alexandria’s whole life. Alexandria couldn’t see this room without recalling Martha’s excitement while decorating for a then infant Lillian.
“It’s a beautiful room,” Anna acknowledged.
“It is. I still remember Martha showing it to me once when I came to call with Mama; I think you were at school that day.”
“Rub it in that you’re older,” Anna crinkled her nose at her sister.
“In a few years you’ll be rubbing in that you’re younger,” Alexandria predicted with a smile. They continued down the hall to the middle room which was set up a guest room as Lillian was the only child. The front room was the same.
“Here’s my favorite,” Alexandria crossed the hall and opened the bathroom. A pull chain toilet dominated the back wall with a sink to the right and the tub to the left. Her childhood home had an indoor toilet but not an in room tub.
“It’s big! Ooohh, look at the tub and a sink!” Anna walked into the room and looked around in awe.
“Isn’t it great? I love to soak in this tub,” Alexandria admitted. “Elijah added this after Martha got sick.”
“Wow! You think I can convince Daddy to add one?” Anna’s eyes were sparkling with merriment.
“Good luck,” Alexandria smiled in return. They exited the bath and Alexandria showed Anna the sewing room which was smaller due to the bathroom enlargement taking from its square footage. A small bed and chest did occupy the corner in case it was needed for guests but the room was predominately used for sewing projects including several dresses Alexandria was currently working on for Lilly.
“Where’s your room?” Anna queried as they exited the sewing room.
“Right here beside the bath,” Alexandria led her into the room overlooking the back yard and porch. The room was done in a rose patterned paper and was dominated by a large four poster bed, flanked by windows. A chifferobe sat opposite the bed and the wall the door occupied contained a chest of drawers and a long full length mirror. The wall opposite the door held the fireplace flanked by two arm chairs and two more windows. In the corner was a dressing table and stool.
“It’s very lovely,” Anna commented as she walked around the room and trailed her fingers over the furniture.
“It is,” Alexandria acknowledged. Her home wasn’t as large and grand as some in their community but was relatively well appointed.
“What a large wardrobe,” Anna pulled the doors open to admire the interior. Her face crumpled and her lips came between her teeth as she closed the doors and turned to her sister.
“I think I hear a buggy coming; it’s probably Daddy,” Alexandria quickly announced before her sister could ask questions. Alexandria led the way and hurried for the main staircase as fast as her feet would carry her.
“I haven’t seen this room,” Anna protested as she deviated from her sister’s trail and into the last remaining room. She stopped short just inside the door and then turned to frown at her sister who now stood behind her. That Elijah occupied the room was obvious. His brush and hair tonic sat on the dresser as well as a photo of Martha; a pair of his trousers lay across a chair. Anna turned and marched to the wardrobe and opened it to find it filled with Elijah’s clothes.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Alexandria said before her sister could even speak.
“You aren’t sharing a room?” Anna stared at her sister in horror. “Do mom and dad know?”
“No, and you aren’t going to tell them either. There is nothing they can do to fix this, Anna. This is between me and my husband and I don’t want to talk