Floyd did not welcome Leon, but he did not seem surprised at his frequent presence. Enough time had elapsed since their closeness and subsequent estrangement, which neither had ever explained to himself, for them to meet as friends again. As Leon learned to appreciate Floyd’s skill in his work, their pleasure in each other’s company increased. Not much was said, but there was after the first few visits a feeling of “I didn’t know you could do that” and “you’ll see more,” of pride and approval. Without their charting the progress of renewed friendship, Leon began to hand Floyd things the second before he reached for them himself, and they began to work together almost like master craftsman and apprentice, Leon never forcing his way, Floyd never excluding him. If Floyd felt resentment over the fact that Leon, by the nature of things, was able to seek him out when he needed him, whereas he must wait to be sought, he was generous enough to smile over the fact.

And Ezra—Papa to one, Uncle Ezra to the other—was in and out, his visits small, bright punctuations in a long day. The young men began to talk to each other again, about little things at first, then about little and big things alternately and together. Leon felt himself growing toward a kind of health and acceptance of himself not unlike that his sister was experiencing from the attendance of Pauline. When Deborah received Penelope’s letter saying they were coming and when they expected to arrive, that was her sign that past events might work themselves out as best they could; and that the future was now to commence.

17

Leon drove the carriage in to Highboro on the afternoon the stage was expected to bring the Misses Pennington. Skeeter followed with a wagon. Leon smoked a cigar with Bonard and his Uncle Felix in the latter’s office, and then he went to the house and drank tea with his Aunt Nell. Skeeter arrived just as they were about to set off for the post office where the stage would arrive. Nell and Felix had engaged to spend a few days at Beulah Land at the beginning of the visit of the Penningtons. Nell would go out with Leon and the guests; Felix would go out later in the afternoon, as Bonard went home. Skeeter set Felix and Nell’s hampers and one small trunk on his wagon and followed the carriage as Leon drove down to the post office.

In good time the stagecoach arrived, and Nell and Leon welcomed Penelope and Sarah. Skeeter took onto his wagon the belongings of the guests, including Ricey.