He Sings a Love Song As We Go Along

[Adella Calendar]

As they came to a stop at the end of the short line for the sleigh rides, she idly watched Mrs. Haynes nearby and wondered if the woman would come or if the driver of the sleigh would count enough for a chaperon. Probably not, she figured, but also assumed the widow would sit up with the driver and not be staring herself and Philip in the face while they were enjoying the ride.

Regardless, Della focused instead on Philip as he spoke. She rather enjoyed thinking of him on a first-name basis though would never dream of doing so aloud. Not yet anyway. She was determined not to let anything else mar her day out. Whatever was going on at home could just stay there for her to deal with when she returned. Right now, she was going to enjoy herself. "I'm so very glad they decided to hold something in Irvingly, I haven't been previously." The town itself intrigued her and Dell took a moment to revel in the fact that their conversations always flowed without any issues. She'd begun to grow very fond of Philip over their visits, though she dared not get too far ahead of herself; she was not the most lucky when it came to love. "I would quite like to visit again, I think. When the weather is warmer and wandering the town wouldn't be so chilly!" Dell added with a flash of a smile.

Managing not to tense up at the mention of family, Dell knew very well it was an innocent and appropriate question. "Yes actually, everybody is home! My father should be home by the time I arrive back and he is the last one. We even have a surprise visit from my brother-" She realized how strange that must sound, given that Philip probably didn't know about Shaymon, but did know about Bentley's passing. "I say brother, Shaymon was a ward of my mother's when we were little, he grew up with us, but he's been traveling for a few years. He and Bentley were very close, so he's always been like a brother." His return had most unfortunately been harder than she wanted it to be, though she needn't let on about that. "And you? Will you be spending the holidays with family?" It was much easier to turn the question back on him than to answer it any further.