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“Why’d ya let him tell you what you could or couldn’t do?”
“Oh, I assure you, I do not. I just let him think he does.” Rainee winked.
Selina smiled. “I knew I liked you.” In the very next second a plan worked through Selina’s mind. “Rainee, could I ask you somethin’?”
“Yes, you may.”
“Do you think…” Selina looked down at the floor. “Do you think you could…” She pulled in her bottom lip and chewed on it. This was a might harder than she’d thought it would be.
“Selina, do not make yourself uneasy. Just ask.”
Selina slowly raised her head. Seeing the sincerity in Rainee’s eyes, she plucked up her courage. “I was wonderin’ iffen you could teach me to talk good. And to read and to write. Iffen you have the time, that is.”
“Sure I have time. But I see nothing wrong with the way you talk. I rather like it. Why do you want to change?”
“I have my reasons.” Never before had she wanted to change for anyone, but now that she was married to Michael and loved him, she wanted to make him proud. If somehow she could do that, maybe he would come to love her, too.
“Please forgive me for asking, but if you cannot read nor write, how did you answer Michael’s advertisement?”
“My friend Aimee did it for me.” Boy did she ever. Selina still couldn’t believe what Aimee had done to her and Michael. She had thought Aimee was different than the rest of those rich folks. Turned out she was just like them after all.
“I see.”
No, she didn’t see, but Selina didn’t want to talk about that.
“I would be happy to help you. If you want to, come by after lunch, and we will start then.”
“I’ll be there.” Selina walked her visitor to the door. “Thank you kindly, Rainee. That’s mighty nice of you.”
“You are most welcome. I am looking forward to it.”
“Iffen you don’t mind, I’ll walk with you. Katherine invited me for a visit.”
“I do not mind at all. I would love it.”
They headed down the stairs. Rainee looped arms with Selina as they disappeared down the path in the trees.
In two shakes of a squirrel’s tail, Selina climbed the steps to Michael’s ma’s house. Her ma now, too. That put a smile on her face. She raised her hand to knock on the door just before it swung open.
“Selina, I’m so happy you came. Please, come on in.” For having money, everyone around here was sure friendly. Maybe Michael was right. She shouldn’t clump all rich folks together.
Katherine stepped back and motioned Selina inside.
Two girls stood next to the kitchen table staring at her.
“Girls, stop that staring.”
“Sorry, Grandmother,” they both said.
The taller girl had blue eyes and blond hair and looked just like her pa. The shortest one had doe-colored hair and eyes like her ma. She glanced up at Selina. “You sure are pretty.”
Selina squatted down to her eye level and smiled. “So are you. Anyone ever tell you ya look just like your mama?”
She tilted her head and lowered her eyelids. “Yes, ma’am, they have. Thank you.”
Selina rose and turned her attention to the older one. “You look like your papa. And you’re every bit as purty as your sister.”
“Thank you.” Her face brightened like the morning sun.
Katherine went and stood between the girls and faced Selina. “Selina, this is my granddaughter Emily.” The oldest one squatted and rose. “And this one is Rosie.”
The younger girl squatted like the older had. Selina wondered what that was all about.
“Nice to meet y’all.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” Emily said. Her sister repeated it.
“Okay, girls. Why don’t you go back to working on your quilts now.”
As the girls headed into the living room, Katherine asked, “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, ma’am. But thank you anyway.”
“Very well. Let’s head to the living room where we can get comfortable.”
Selina followed Katherine and sat down in one of the chairs.
“Don’t mind the mess. I’m keeping the girls occupied by teaching them how to quilt.”
Selina looked down at the girls sitting on the floor and the squares of material between them.
“I’ve never made a quilt before. Always wanted to learn, though.”
“How come you didn’t?” Rosie asked.
“My ma took sick when I was a youngin, and she died when I was ten, so I never got a chance.”
“We’ll teach you.” Emily looked up at her grandma. “Won’t we, Grandmother?”
