After her warm bath and changed into dress and put a light pink sweater over the top. With some clean shoes on she went into the lounge room and sat on the couch. Her wet hair was dripping on her shoulders Lailey was never the one to go over the top in physical appearance, although her mother tired to encourage it ever since she was a girl. But then again she was not a normal a child. Most girls would play with dolls and love to help their mother in the kitchen. Lailey loved to read and would spend most of her time reading a book going to the library and helping out her dad with the farm work.

After her relaxing bath her parents arrived home while she was getting dressed.

Laila, dear we werent expecting you home for a few more days her mother said tightly hugging her. She got the same warm welcome from her father who wrapped his arms tightly around her.

How is my baby girl?

Fine papa, how was the Wilsons?

They were great, how did you know?

Mr McGregor saw walking on the way here he told me Lailey replied.

You walked here dear? her mother asked disapproving. Her mother Celia was very old fashioned and always taught her daughter to be dependent on a man. That was how Lailey saw it, but Celia called it being a lady and etiquette.

Yes, I did mother and it was a lovely walk there was a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

Well we have to have a big dinner in your honour for returning home from graduating medical school, we have a doctor in the family Ricardo was Laileys father. He was very proud like most Italian fathers. He encouraged her to go to medical school and to be educated. He always told her

Respect comes from knowledge and education. While her mother wanted her to get married to a fine boy have all these babies and be a house wife. She remembers all the men she had lined up for Lailey. All stuck up and snobby for her likes. They were too busy trying to impress Celia and not Lailey. All talk no action. Lailey would sit there all done up to look as attractive as possible, sit on the couch drinking her  tea in the most lady like way as she could, while Celia did all the talking. It was agony for her, but her father had nothing to do with his daughter marrying at a young age when she could be getting an education. He always stuck up for her but Lailey was a little guilty as she seemed to be the object of most of their arguments.

Yes, we will invite your brother and his lovely wife Jennifer Celia emphasised the word wife.

Oh and the Wilsons, Mr Harrison and George as well Her father suggested. Mr Harrison was a member of the town council and a very old friend of Laileys father. George was his drinking buddy and childhood friend.

Dont forget Mr McGregor Lailey piped in

Yes him as well, Laila would you like to invite him yourself? Celia asked

I will do it first thing tomorrow mother

Good let me get dinner ready and we can discuss what you have been up to? Celia said rushing into the kitchen. Celia was a perfectionist, always has been since Lailey can remember. The house was always spotless, and so was her appearance. She was quite thin and her skin was a pasty while. Almost unhealthy looking, her blonde hair was high maintenance. She looked the part of a perfect wife. She even had pearls that she would wear doing the house work. Her blue eyes were big and bright. It was dominantly one of her best features. Those and her naturally long eye lashes, she was beautiful, but she had aged. But gracefully, and sometimes Lailey secretly wished she had her mothers features. Only her blue eyes, she looked more like her father and his mother. Nonna Irena, her grandmother was a very independent woman and raised all of her seven children and ran a restaurant at all the same time. After her husband Francesco died she took care of everything, and that is why Laileys father believes in women not being dependent on a man. Ricardo thought if his mother could do it alone than his daughter could.

That night at dinner Lailey discussed her time at medical school.

It was very inspiring and hard work she began to describe, Everybody was friendly

Were there any nice boys? her mother asked.

Are you looking for a job here Laila? Ricardo asked changing the subject. Lailey could see her mother was hurt by his actions.

I am not sure yet, I want to see what is out there and if I can expand my learning, he smiled because this is exactly what he wanted to hear. Lailey tried to sugar coat her experience at medical school, but she really hated it. Being the only girl she was taunted by the boys who thought a womans job in the medical field was being a nurse or mid-wife. At first it discouraged her and her self-esteem sunk. But she learnt to get over it and made her a stronger person and by the end she proved them wrong and they stopped. She even made some friends with a few of them who were pretty much like herself in a way.

The dinner finished and her parents asked if she would like to sit with them and listen to the radio. But she politely declined as she was tired from her trip. Lying in her bed she looked at her dream keeper and remembered it was given to her by a boy. Although she cant remember his name it is on the tip of her tongue, she remembered his face and his eyes. Those big brown eyes and one stage in her life he was her everything.