Boston, 1775
Nicole Harrison hurried down the street on the cold, wet April afternoon. Squinting through the rain, she managed to make out the sign that read Harrison's General Store. Gripping the bundle in her arms more tightly, she quickly opened the door and entered.
"Hello, Nicole dear," Edward Harrison said as his oldest daughter closed the door and removed her wet cloak, hanging it on a hook behind the door.
"Hello, Father," Nicole replied, handing him the parcel she held. "Here's your dinner. Mother said to bring it over now, before the storm comes, and that I should stay here until it's over."
"Would you like to help behind the counter?" Edward asked, knowing the answer already.
"Yes, of course!" Nicole exclaimed. "It is such fun, and I do enjoy helping people find what they need."
Edward smiled. "I must warn you, however, that the shop has been quite busy of late. And I will be working in the back, teaching your eldest brother Isaac how to run the store, since he will take over for me eventually. Can you manage it?"
"Yes, I think I can," said Nicole. "Oh, I dearly hope Julia comes in! I haven't seen her today, you know."
"Yes, I know. And I also know she is your best friend, and I also know that I must return to the back now. I will come now and then to check on you."
"All right, Father." Nicole took her place behind the counter.
After several minutes and customers had gone by, Nicole saw with delight the familiar dark head of Julia Edwards. "Hello, Julia," she called as her friend entered the small shop.
"Nicole! I was hoping you would be here."
"No, you were hoping my brother would be here," Nicole teased.
Julia blushed. "Well, I was hoping to see him, yes, but I also wished to speak to you."
"About what?" asked Nicole.
"The whole situation with England. I just wish they would leave us alone!"
"Oh, I know exactly how you feel. But I fear that the only way for them to leave us alone would be for the Colonies to revolt. Oh, Julia," Nicole said fearfully, "what if it should come to war?"
"Well, it might. I won't lie to you and say that it will not come to war. I hope it doesn't, but at a time like this, anything can happen."
"Especially with the Tea Party recently. Well, war would be terrible, I know, but would the outcome be worth it? Even if we were free of England, would that be worth war? I don't think it would."
"I agree with you, Nicole. War would not be worth it, even to be free of England." Then she changed the subject. "Enough of this gloomy talk. Nicole, is your brother here?"
"I knew it!" Nicole laughed. "Yes, he's in the back, working with Father. You could go back there if you would like...I'm sure Isaac would not mind."
"All right. I'll see you in a few minutes, Nicole!"
"Tell me if anything happens with him!" Nicole called as her friend disappeared.
After a few minutes, Nicole's father returned from the back room. "How's my little shopkeeper?" he asked. "Have there been a lot of customers?"
"Yes, there have been a lot, but not so many that I could not handle it. How is Isaac?"
"He learns very quickly. I think I could turn the shop over to him tomorrow and it would be fine. I decided to leave him and Julia alone for a few minutes, though. I thought they would prefer to speak privately."
"I know they appreciate that! Father," Nicole said seriously, "what do you think will happen with England? Do you think it will come to war?"
"I hope not, Nicole. But if it does, then I must go and fight for our freedom. You understand, don't you?"
"Yes, Father. You would feel obligated to help us win our freedom, even if you did not like the means of winning."
"That's right. But let's hope that it does not come to that."
Just then, Julia and Isaac returned from the back room, their faces radiant. Isaac went to speak to his father, while Julia joined Nicole.
"Did he...?" Nicole asked.
Julia nodded happily. "He asked me to marry him!"
Nicole shrieked and hugged her friend. "I knew it! Congratulations...sister!"
"Thanks...sister! I'm so happy, Nicole," she confided. "I never knew a person could ever be this happy. I only hope that you, too, will be this happy someday soon."
"So do I, Julia," Nicole said earnestly. "So do I." Just then, the shop got dark. "Here comes the storm!"
"Good thing I got here before it hit!" said Julia. "I guess there won't be any more customers here today."
"Probably not, but there are some pretty crazy people out there," Nicole said, laughing. "Isn't this romantic, Julia? You, and your fianc‚, in a dark room, in the middle of a storm! It's so romantic!" Then she was quiet for a minute.
Julia saw the yearnful look on her friend's face and knew that Nicole was envious. She put an arm around her friend. "Nicole, don't worry," she said reassuringly. "You will find the right man for you, I promise."
After a few minutes, the storm died away. Julia left, saying she had to get home to tell her parents her news. She and Nicole made plans to meet the next afternoon to discuss the wedding.
The next day was Sunday. After church, Nicole quickly completed her chores before a light lunch. When she had finished eating, she left the house to meet Julia in the park.
It was a lovely day, not at all like the previous one. The sun was shining, birds were singing, and Nicole felt like singing herself. There was not a single cloud in the sky...not a hint of the storm the day before, nor any sign of the one that was to come.
As Nicole entered the park, she spotted Julia seated at a table near the pond, gazing off into the distance. Nicole knew she was thinking of Isaac. She sighed, a little unhappily. Nicole was feeling more than a little jealous of Julia. They had been so close for so long, and now Julia was engaged, making it seem as though she was so much older than Nicole. All Nicole wanted was for someone to love her like Isaac loved Julia. But Nicole knew that she would find that one person eventually, and when she did, she knew it would be worth all her waiting. She shook off the gloomy thoughts then. Julia was getting married, and Nicole was not going to let anything spoil it. She hastened to join her friend.
"Hi, Julia," she called as she got near. Julia turned and waved happily when she saw who was calling her.
Nicole sat down at the table. "So...have you thought about who you want to invite yet?"
"Well, all my friends, of course...Elizabeth and Catherine and Sarah. And, of course, I just have to invite Robert Anderson." The last sentence was with a glance at Nicole.
"All right, but why must you invite Robert? I mean, he is my friend, but why the emphasis on 'have to'?"
"He likes you, Nicole. Can't you tell?"
"Maybe," Nicole admitted. "But I don't like him, at least not like that. He is my friend, and that's all."
"Yeah, whatever," Julia said absently.
"It's true!" said Nicole.
"Maybe for now it is..." Julia trailed off.
Nicole knew where this was heading. She had seen Julia's talent for matchmaking many times before. "Julia, please don't try to get us together. It would never work. As I said, he is only a friend."
"I know, I know. I was just teasing. I'd never try to match you with someone you didn't like. But when you do find that someone...and you will, I promise...can I help to get you two together?"
Before Nicole could answer, the loud BOOM of a drum rang through the quiet afternoon. Nicole looked over and saw a hundred men in red coats marching through the square.
"Why must they always do this?" Julia moaned. "Every time I try to plan something, those stupid British have to come and ruin it! It's so annoying, is it not?" she asked.
"Yes, it certainly..." Nicole trailed off as her gaze was caught and held by a pair of blue eyes. She didn't notice, or care, that those blue eyes belonged to a man in a red coat.
"Hello? Nicole?" Julia said, unsuccessfully trying to regain her friend's attention. "Nicole, what are you - Oh!" she exclaimed, finally noticing what the other girl was looking at. "Nicole...Nicole, listen to me!" she said, shaking her friend.
"Huh...what?" Nicole asked, dazed.
"Nicole, he's English!"
"I don't care," the girl said defiantly. "I have to meet him...get to know him. There's just something about him, Julia...I don't know. I just have to find out."
"I don't like it, Nicole," Julia said, "but if it really means that much to you...I'll help you."
"Thank you, Julia," said Nicole with a smile. "It does mean that much. Thank you."
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