By the time the girl finished the dishes, Amelia had lit the fire and reboiled the kettle. She then swept the main rooms and took another chair outside. Making the tea, she asked Elise to take a seat while she finished up.
After checking the pantry to make sure she had something to offer for the noonday meal, Amelia joined her guest in the morning sun.
'I love your place,' Elise said. 'It is just as Damon described it.'
'It suits me,' Amelia answered, and an awkward silence fell.
'I must apologise for dropping in like this,' Elise started. 'And without even Damon to introduce us. It is just I did not know what to do with myself today. Of course it is all right for Damon. He is able to work to take his mind off things. What was I supposed to do? Just sit around and wait while our parents talk?'
The girl's words nudged something loose in Amelia's mind - the big meeting between the parents. Today must be the day.