AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The next person to arrive was Beverly. She brought little cakes for everyone, putting them in the kitchen. It was obvious these two friends of Susan’s spent a lot of time at her house.
“Should I have brought something to share?” Alice asked. She suddenly felt like she’d done something wrong.
Susan shook her head. “You were exempt this time. Next time, you have to bring something to be allowed inside the house.”
Beverly sat down, in the parlor, holding up a panel she was working on. “I’m making new curtains for Joy’s room. She insists that her room is ugly.”
Alice smiled. “I love the yellow gingham. It’s so bright and happy looking! I’m sure Joy will be thrilled.”
“It’s a surprise for her birthday next week, so I have to work quickly,” Beverly said with a smile.
“How old is Joy?” Alice asked. It was obvious the other two knew Beverly’s daughter.
“She’s going to be twelve. She thinks she’s grown.”
“Don’t all girls that age?” Susan asked.
A loud knock on the door interrupted the conversation, and Susan jumped up. “Must be Sarah.”
A glance at the clock told Alice the girl was twenty minutes late. Everyone else had either been early or on time.
Sarah walked into the room, carrying nothing. “Didn’t you bring a sewing project?” Susan asked.
“I don’t feel like sewing. I’ll just watch you all work.” Sarah’s eyes were on Alice as she took a rocking chair in one corner of the room.
“I suppose that’s all right,” Susan said, looking a little confused. “Welcome.”
“Thank you.” Sarah looked at her fingernails as if she was already bored. “I wouldn’t have come if Jason hadn’t insisted. He said I need to make friends, so I don’t stay home and mess the house all day.”
That downright befuddled Alice. “You don’t clean the house?” What kind of new wife made messes and didn’t clean?
“Oh, no. Of course not. His mother comes over and cleans every day after she finishes her house.”
“Why?” Alice asked. “Are you ill?”
Sarah glared at Alice. “I’m not ill. I just don’t care to clean. Jason told me he’d get me a housekeeper if I married him, and then I found out that he doesn’t have the money to hire one.” Sarah shook her head. “I should have married Albert instead. His family has money.” She looked around the room as if she planned to control the house one day. “Oh, didn’t you know Albert is in love with me?”
Alice smiled through gritted teeth. “Is that so?”
“Oh, yes. Everyone knows about it. I guess I made a poor choice choosing a man who said he had money over one who truly did.”
“I clean my own house,” Alice said. “And I put supper on the table every night. I don’t think you’d be in a better position married to Albert.”
“Yes, but Albert would have hired a housekeeper for me. He wouldn’t want me to get calluses on my fingers.” Sarah looked pointedly at Alice. “How does it feel to know your husband is in love with someone else?”
Alice smiled sweetly. “I’m sure if he’d gotten to know you better, he would have known better than to love you. But it’s all right with me. He’s a good husband.”
Sarah laughed. “Until he realizes I’m available.”
Is she planning to take her husband out with a billy goat’s horn through the eye?“How could you possibly be available?” Alice asked. “You’re married.”
“We’ll see.”
Susan looked at Sarah, an alarmed look on her face. “I believe you’ve overstayed your welcome, Sarah. I knew if Albert got to know you, he would have moved on to someone else. He definitely chose the better bride.” She got to her feet. “I’ll walk you to the door.”
Sarah grunted her displeasure but she stood up to leave.
Alice didn’t look up from her sewing as her sister led the other woman away from them. When Susan returned, she looked at Alice. “Well, she was even more dreadful than I’d realized. Sorry to inflict her on you.”
