It’s been years since Asia saw him. In that time, he’s grown to resemble Father so much, her breath stalls in her throat. He looks simultaneously enormously pleased and slightly abashed. “Surprised?” he asks them.

x

The railroad across Panama is nearly complete and that perilous journey now reduced to a comfortable four-hour train ride. June makes it sound as if dropping in unexpectedly from San Francisco will soon be normal, as if they might expect him at any moment. Nancy Hall runs off to find John and bring him back to the house.

June doesn’t escape a scolding. Ann Hall is mortified by the dinner she’s cooked, which is now too simple and contains none of his old favorites. Mother is appalled not to have a room ready so that poor, exhausted Hattie can immediately lie down. Rosalie has a grip on June’s arm that shows no sign of loosening. Asia takes the baby.

Asia loves babies. Marion’s face crumples at the sight of her and she sobs for her mother, but Asia’s not discouraged. She peeks from behind her hands, sings songs, waltzes Marion about the room, determined to make herself a favorite. She can’t wait to give Marion a bath. Right now, Marion smells of urine and spoiled food. Her dress is stained and clean cloths will have to be found to diaper her since the ones Hattie brought, including the one she’s wearing, all need a desperate washing. And yet, she’s adorable, lots of hair and big brown eyes.

Asia’s feelings for Hattie, who also has hair and eyes, are more complicated. On the one hand, Asia hardly knows her. On the other, Asia’s awed by this woman, only a few years older than Asia herself, who’s already traveled so far and seen so much.

The dinner hour is filled with stories of San Francisco, stories that center on theaters and culture rather than the brothels and murders for which the city is also famous. The notorious Catherine Sinclair has been performing there, often with Edwin as her romantic lead, though she’s sixteen years his elder. Catherine Sinclair is a beautiful woman, but her success is due mostly to her divorce from the far more famous Edwin Forrest. Affairs were alleged on all sides, the newspapers all but eaten by the scandal for days on end. That’s the woman people pay to see.

“And what do we know of Laura Keene?” Mother asks. Edwin has recently left with Keene to tour Australia.

June doesn’t understand what’s being asked. “Promising, but unseasoned,” he says.

Hattie does a better job of cracking Mother’s code. “A complete professional. Edwin is safe with her.”