1890s: Engagement parties, freedom and young love

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Now that Ida has been formally introduced to society, it is acceptable for suitors to start paying visits. The first to do this, is Loyd Brennan! Yes, the very same who was a prospect for Abigail once. He has since married and been widowed, but without any children. The woman he married was a practical choice. Someone who would do well when it came to running a store, a widowed mother of a teenage girl. She was hard working and a sensible choice. Ida is young and beautiful and Loyd wouldn't mind some beauty in the store. Neither Joseph nor Frank is very pleased by the prospect, and while Ida is polite, she tries to speak as little as she can with the man. He leaves the house very quickly, with no hopes of a young beautiful bride from this household.


While Ida is forced to entertain hopeless suitors, Anna finally learns how to ride a bike! 


She loves her new freedom! Already the first night she ends up late for dinner because she is out, and the second, she ventures even further into Willow Creek (after all what's the fun of riding your bike only in areas you already know?). And there, in the more rural parts of town, she sees them. Horses! Anna is in love! She cannot help herself. One minute she's riding her bike, the next she's boldly climbed into the paddock with the horses and are petting and talking to them. Once the owner, Mr Latour comes home, he finds her there. Luckily he does not mind, and even lets her try to ride one of the kinder, gentler ones! Anna is in heaven!


By the time she gets home, it's already dark. She's beyond missed dinner, her younger siblings are asleep and Abigail, having been besides herself with worry, is furious. As Anna wants to tell her about the marvelous, fantastic thing that has happened, Abigail is in no mood to listen to tales of horses and adventure. She yells at her daughter, lecturing her of responsibilities, of decorum, of not scaring her parents and of behaving like a girl instead of a boy!


She does make sure Anna gets some left over into her before sending her off to bed. Anna, dejected, promises she'll behave.


The next day, it's time for Frank to visit Emily and her family again. As her fiancé it's his duty to spend a lot of time in her family home, rather than the other, and spend time with her family, as much as his beloved. Their engagement is still formally only a family affair, but soon, on Saturday, it will be announced to the world. For now though, only their families have been informed. Frank does enjoy spending some time with his father-in-law to be, however, and seems not adverse to talking about Edward's favourite topic. Politics.


For once, his fun-meter is not in the bottom! Could this be the career path he's supposed to pursue? Soon to apply for college, it's time for him to make up his mind. But perhaps politics is the way to go? Perhaps having a father-in-law high up might not be the worst way to get ahead in such a career either? 


While Frank is figuring his future career out, the next potential suitor to come visit the Whittaker household. This is a less formal affair, as Matthias Bradshaw has visited the family on several occasions before and officially does so as a classmates of Frank's. He still spends more time socialising with Ida than Frank, however. Now this is a match Joseph has less to interfere with, though Abigail isn't so fond of his hotheadedness. Can a hotheaded person make a good husband to someone as sensitive and gentle as Ida? Either way, there are plenty of more young men in town, and plenty of time to decide.


On Saturday, finally according to Frank, it's time for the Duncan's to host Frank and Emily's engagement dinner. Apart from both families, the most prominent members of society is invited, along with the Duncan's new neighbors, the Edwardsons. The dinner goes off without a hitch, and is quite the success. From now on, Emily and Frank will always be invited to any gathering as a couple, they'll always be seated next to each other at dinners, and can be seen alone in public and go on official dates (as long as they stay in public). From now to their marriage there will be an endless stream of invitations and gatherings, gift givings and romance. Frank can't wait!


And for Ida, the engagement dinner brings with it something else. The acquaintance of a certain Charles Edwardson, new citizen of Willow Creek: 


Abigail is more realistic, perhaps the two should get to know each other first before they rush into anything, and Joseph simply explains that one child married at the time is sufficient. Besides, he knows nothing about this family. But perhaps it's time he start finding out?

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