“You are not an employee, Ella. Sit down and relax,” Tilly said with an exasperated smile. “I hate just being in the way; I want to help,” Ella said, trying to sound convincing. “You could never be in the way, Honey. If Porter thought he’d let you spend the day with me to be wiping down tables and doing dirty dishes, I’d never get him to fix a darn thing around here again. You’re simply here to keep me company and look pretty. Do you want a drink?” Ella laughed because it was ten in the morning. “No thank you, maybe later.” Tilly shrugged her shoulders and gave a wink to Ella. “When more help gets here I want to take you out for lunch.” Ella was a little surprised by the invitation. “I don’t want to be any trouble, we can just eat here.” “I’ve eaten ninety percent of my meals for the last twenty years here. Indulge me a little and go out to lunch with your future mother-in-law.”
