Chapter 3-- Dinner with the Evensons

January, 1917
Columbus, Ohio
(Esme is now 22 years old)

“Esme,” my mother poked her head into my bedroom. “Lily and Thomas are here to see you, make it a very short visit. The Evensons are coming to dinner.” she seemed very excited by that fact.

“Alright mother,” I stood up and walked down the stairs. There at the bottom stood my two best friends. Lily and Tom Bentley. I smiled as I went to hug them both. “I haven't seen you in two years!” I told them.

Tom leaned down to kiss me on the cheek. I blushed. I knew he had a crush on me but he was married now. “That's hardly appropriate Thomas Bentley,” I grinned as I fake scolded him. “You're a married man now,” he laughed.

“Same old Esie,” he smiled and hugged me again. “God it's good to see you, it's been far too long,”

“It has, Tom cried every day for a month after we moved, always staring at a picture of you might I add,” Lily smiled.

“I did no such thing,” Tom blushed slightly and looked down. “I.... was having severe allergies, they made my eyes water,” he muttered.

I laughed along with Lily. “Sure you did,” I smiled and patted his shoulder.

“Well. We'd better get going. Don't worry, we're in town for a few days still but we hear you have an important family dinner with the Evensons tonight,” Lily giggled. She had always had a slight crush on the oldest Evenson boy Charles. Personally, I found him to be quite obnoxious, I'd have to endure his sarcasm for tonight though. If only tonight.

I talked to Lily and Tom for a few more minutes before mother shooed them out the door. “The Evensons will be here in a moment Esie,” she informed me as she roughly pulled the braids out of my hair, leaving a frizzy mess. “Mother, there is no way this is tamable within a few moments,” I told her as she started pulling a brush through the tangles.

“Nonsense. There's always time,” my eyes began to water as she pulled relentlessly at my hair finally making it look at the very least that I wasn't a savage. I waited with her, my father, and my two younger siblings at the door. My father answered it when the Evenson's knocked.

The Evenson family was one of the most high class families in Ohio and Mr. Evenson was father's employer and he was a very well know.... drunk. I could smell the liquor on his clothing and skin. As well as his son Charles. Mother led us all into the dining room. The entire time Charles stared at me with a strange look of satisfaction on his face. I sat in my place, he sat across from me all the time with the same look on his face, I was dying to know what it was about.... yet in my gut I already knew.

Mother served dinner and we all ate more than one serving. After dinner father began to lead Mr. Evenson to the Parlor. My mother grabbed his arm and shook her head no. I looked at both of them as they looked at me. I was far beyond confused. Charles walked over to me and my parents smiled. Then Charles spoke. “Esme?”

“Yes Charles?” I looked at him.

“I have talked to your parents. They agree that it's a fine idea..... and Esme, we're getting married,”

I looked at him speechlessly. There were no words coming. No words that could fit this moment. I hardly knew the man and we..... no this wasn't possible.

“See. She's so happy she's speechless!” he proclaimed taking my hand. Everyone talked for a few more hours. My mother let me go to bed. She agreed that it had been a long day. I sat on my bed and let the tears flow until sleep finally claimed my mind.