A knock sounded on the door, and Gloriana smiled. “See there? I’ll bet that’s him. Why don’t you go see?”

JT scurried off, and Gloriana followed with Sally on her hip. She reached the kitchen just as JT was explaining to Luke all his frustrations and reminding him to take off his shoes.

“I’m sure we can figure it out together, so don’t fret,” Luke replied. He glanced past JT to where Gloriana stood with Sally. His expression changed to one of adoration. “There are my two beautiful girls.”

Gloriana smiled. “I was just about to get her bottle ready. She had a nice long nap and now, with her dry diaper, I believe she is more than ready to visit and play.”

“But Luke is going to help me with nouns,” JT protested. “He can’t play with the baby and help me at the same time.”

“No, he’s quite right. Why don’t I wash up and go help JT? You can feed Sally, and then I’ll entertain her while you finish up with supper.” He glanced around. “Is something different? It seems, I don’t know, brighter or something.”

“Gloriana’s been spring cleaning today,” JT informed him. “It always smells extra good when she does that.”

Luke looked at her and shook his head. “You are amazing, you know.”

She laughed. “I’m tired, not amazing. Now, go help JT. Sally and I will be just fine.”

There was something in Luke’s expression that changed. “I do have something to tell you.”

She had known him long enough to know it was serious. Whatever it was, she knew it might not be pleasant. “I’ll be here.”

She warmed Sally’s bottle and tried not to fret. Whatever Luke needed to tell her, they would just face it together and do whatever needed to be done. Perhaps something had gone wrong with the house or with his job. Maybe Jay Cooke wanted him to return to Philadelphia. Oh, what if it were that? What would she say or do? Would he leave Duluth to do his work? He did have a responsibility. How could she fault him for honoring that?

When the bottle was ready, Gloriana sat in the rocker by the fire and fed Sally. The baby took hold of the glass bottle herself and half chewed, half sucked on the leather nipple. They would have to replace it soon. Mrs. Sedgwick had even suggested feeding the baby by using a little mug and teaching her to drink from it. To Gloriana it sounded like a lot of work and cleanup.

Luke came back just as Gloriana was burping Sally. “Here, that’s a job I can do.” He reached down and drew the baby up to his shoulder. “Hello, little one. Aren’t you looking pretty today?”