"I've got a few more people if that's okay." William told his father while his arms were wrapped 'round his mother. She looked up at him with a smile. She was beautiful with long red hair that William wished he inherited. Her eyes were the same shade of blue as him. Her skin was pale but her cheeks rosy. And her lips forever appeared as though they had rouge on them.

"It'll be quite alright. Anyone you bring here has a place to stay." She told William. "Invite them in."

William ran off outside to the car. His loafers hit against the stone ground as he made his way over. Then he opened the door and poked his head in. He was filled with energy after seeing his mother. "Everything is alright. We can stay here."

"Great, let me park the car." Connor said as he began to start it up again.

William held out a hand. "It's fine. Leonard can handle it."

"I forgot." Connor rose his eyebrows and turned the car back off. Eliza began scooting to get out of the car but William froze. She held out her hand for him to help her exit the vehicle, but he simply stared at her.

"Will it be an issue? My color?" Eliza knew exactly what that stare meant.

"I don't believe so." William answered, then helped Eliza out of the car. Bunny got out of the car next. Together, they all made their way to the front door.

William's father already wasn't ecstatic about his son's return, but he especially looked shocked once seeing the company he brought to his home. His mother seemed much more understanding, although she too was shocked. Leonard stared at Eliza, shocked that there was another black person in the house and they weren't The Help.

"This is my pal Bunny." William explained. "And this is my friend Eliza."

Both of his parents were silent. But his father spoke first. "Where is Jack?"

Everyone looked to one another. Then William began to get flustered, unsure how to break the news to him. "Your nephew got locked up."

"Jack's in jail?" Mr. McGill asked. "I've never been so disturbed in my life. How could you let this happen, William?"

"We were ambushed." William explained. "There wasn't anything anyone could do."

"It's because you've wrapped yourselves up with organized crime. You've become hardened criminals!" Mr. McGill shouted. "I always knew you were a disappointment, but this is more than I can bear."

"We should all get some rest." Mrs. McGill announced. "How about we all cool down and choose where we'd like to sleep?"

"Lord knows you all have enough rooms for it." Connor looked at the coffered ceiling of the foyer. He'd always enjoyed looking at the Victorian carvings swirling around chandeliers that adorned it.

"Come with me." Mrs. McGill invited as she took Eliza's hand. "We can get you a nightgown."

"Thank you, Mrs. McGill." Eliza smiled as she squeezed her hand.

"You may call me Florence." She told her. William watched Eliza with his mother and smiled to himself. He never imagined returning home, but seeing the girl he loved with his mother made him all the more happy.

"I don't believe there will be enough room in the house for her." Mr. McGill declined. "With all these men in the house it just wouldn't be fit."

"But these aren't just random men. It's Connor and William's friend. They're all upstanding." Florence argued. "She can stay by our room."

"She will stay in the guest house." Mr. McGill insisted. Florence's face fell as she looked to her Eliza.

"I apologize, Eliza." Florence told her. "We can still get you a dress."

"I don't believe we can." Mr. McGill corrected. "I'm sure she has her own attire she can wear."

Eliza tried to conceal the sorrow she felt. William's father was particularly hardened toward her. Through it all, his mother continued holding her hand in comfort.

"Let's get you out to the guest house." She told her, then led her through the house toward the back door where they could easily access the guest house.

"Must she take her through the house?" Mr. McGill mumbled as he watched the women walk off. William stepped close to his father, almost as though he were ready to throw down with him.

"Listen, you're not going to be rude to my girlfriend." William mumbled. Connor knew that things would soon turn bad, so he patted Bunny on the shoulder.

"We should go upstairs." Connor told him.

"Shouldn't we wait for one of them?" Bunny pointed to William and Mr. McGill.

"We'll wait upstairs." Connor insisted. The two of them walked off and went up the large, curved steps. Leonard walked off into the kitchen area to give them privacy.

"When you lived here I didn't let negroes in this house. And now you tell me you've got a negro girl on your arm?" Mr. McGill asked. "I raised you better."

"You raised me to hate." William told him. "And I refused to do that. How could you? Especially as an Irishman."

"Irishmen have transcended above negroes, and when it comes to our family we have always had the privilege of respect in this country. We owned plantations for the past hundred years. We're not your average Irish family." Mr. McGill corrected William. "Your ancestors worked hard to get you where you are."

"And I don't want what they worked for. They worked for hatred. Oppression. It's not what I ascribe too." William insisted.

"Yes, you ascribe to crime and probably murder." Mr. McGill corrected. William fell silent. "Get her out of my house."

"Mother would never let that happen." William told him. "You know she isn't like you."

"Your mother is young and hasn't learned her lesson when it comes to coloreds. I was born in the good old days before the war. When they knew their place!" Mr. McGill told his son. "The worst thing you can do is have them in your home. They steal, they become jealous and may ruin the place. Who knows—"

"I won't take this." William walked off. His father called after him as he walked upstairs, but he didn't care to listen. He was determined to have Eliza stay.