Read Online Daughters by Florence Osmund - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Florence Osmund
Ads: Link
this little apartment on the north side, and she seemed to be able to schedule her work around my school.” She smiled at him. “I have a feeling you had something to do with that.”
“Let’s just say I made sure the two of you had everything you needed.”
Walter pulled the limo up in front of the bank where Jonathan had business. “Take Miss Costa to wherever she wants to go.” He turned toward Marie. “How much time do you need?”
“Can I have two hours?”
“Sure. I’ll meet you in the lobby of the bank.”
Walter nodded and then looked at Marie for further direction. “Marshall Field’s, please.” The anticipation of going back to her old place of work made her shiver. So many memories. When Marie had found herself in a position where she had to flee from her husband, it had meant she had to flee from her job as well, something she regretted up to this day.
Marie walked with a taut chest through the cosmetic department where she and Richard had had their first encounter. It hadn’t changed much in four years. The store’s impressive architecture, with its twenty-foot-high ceilings and massive ornate columns, was awe-inspiring, especially the center of the floor which opened up into a nine-story domed ceiling that crested with colorful mosaic tiles.
She made her way to the seventh floor where her office used to be. That had changed. The seventh floor was now menswear. She walked toward the elevator looking for a directory.
“Oh my God! Tell me it’s not you.”
Marie turned around to the sound of the familiar voice. Esther looked the same. They hugged each other tight and then in unison swiped tears from their cheeks. “Is there somewhere we can talk?” Marie asked.
Esther pushed the elevator button. “My office is one floor up.”
“Your office?” When Marie was there, Esther had held a junior position in the store that didn’t warrant an office. “And what may I ask are you doing these days?”
Esther grinned. “Assistant buyer.”
“What? Congratulations!” Marie hugged her again.
Esther closed her office door and examined Marie’s face. Marie had been her former boss and friend. She shook a finger at her. “Marie Marchetti, we all thought you were dead!”
She flashed open palms. “I know. I’m sorry. C’mon, let’s sit down, and I’ll explain everything. I have only two hours, so all I can give you are the highlights. But I’d like to get together again when I have more time.”
Marie talked nonstop for the next hour, telling Esther how she escaped from Richard and ended up in Atchison. She told her about her design business there and her coach house apartment. Then she told her about Jonathan.
Esther’s mouth was agape the entire hour. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“I know. It’s a lot to absorb.”
“So you’re telling me that sweetheart of a husband of yours turned out to be a real creep? Do you know how we all envied you? Oh my God! And your father is a Negro ? C’mon, Marie. That’s hard to believe.”
“I know. For me too.”
Esther’s brows met in the middle. “Why didn’t you contact us to let us know you were okay?”
“That was so hard, Esther. But I didn’t want you to know anything about me in case Richard contacted you. If he found out you knew something and didn’t tell him…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t have been good for you. I did call Mr. Bakersfield eventually, when I thought it was safe.”
“That rat—your husband, that is. You know we called your house that night.”
“The night of the retirement party when I didn’t show up?”
“Yep. He told us you were running a little late.”
Marie smiled. “That was putting it mildly. Did you have any other contact with him after that?”
“No, but I could swear I’ve seen him drive by our house a few times over the years. That car of his is unmistakable.” Richard drove a 1936 Auburn Boattail Speedster.
“I know.” She paused a few seconds while her mind
“Let’s just say I made sure the two of you had everything you needed.”
Walter pulled the limo up in front of the bank where Jonathan had business. “Take Miss Costa to wherever she wants to go.” He turned toward Marie. “How much time do you need?”
“Can I have two hours?”
“Sure. I’ll meet you in the lobby of the bank.”
Walter nodded and then looked at Marie for further direction. “Marshall Field’s, please.” The anticipation of going back to her old place of work made her shiver. So many memories. When Marie had found herself in a position where she had to flee from her husband, it had meant she had to flee from her job as well, something she regretted up to this day.
Marie walked with a taut chest through the cosmetic department where she and Richard had had their first encounter. It hadn’t changed much in four years. The store’s impressive architecture, with its twenty-foot-high ceilings and massive ornate columns, was awe-inspiring, especially the center of the floor which opened up into a nine-story domed ceiling that crested with colorful mosaic tiles.
She made her way to the seventh floor where her office used to be. That had changed. The seventh floor was now menswear. She walked toward the elevator looking for a directory.
“Oh my God! Tell me it’s not you.”
Marie turned around to the sound of the familiar voice. Esther looked the same. They hugged each other tight and then in unison swiped tears from their cheeks. “Is there somewhere we can talk?” Marie asked.
Esther pushed the elevator button. “My office is one floor up.”
“Your office?” When Marie was there, Esther had held a junior position in the store that didn’t warrant an office. “And what may I ask are you doing these days?”
Esther grinned. “Assistant buyer.”
“What? Congratulations!” Marie hugged her again.
Esther closed her office door and examined Marie’s face. Marie had been her former boss and friend. She shook a finger at her. “Marie Marchetti, we all thought you were dead!”
She flashed open palms. “I know. I’m sorry. C’mon, let’s sit down, and I’ll explain everything. I have only two hours, so all I can give you are the highlights. But I’d like to get together again when I have more time.”
Marie talked nonstop for the next hour, telling Esther how she escaped from Richard and ended up in Atchison. She told her about her design business there and her coach house apartment. Then she told her about Jonathan.
Esther’s mouth was agape the entire hour. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“I know. It’s a lot to absorb.”
“So you’re telling me that sweetheart of a husband of yours turned out to be a real creep? Do you know how we all envied you? Oh my God! And your father is a Negro ? C’mon, Marie. That’s hard to believe.”
“I know. For me too.”
Esther’s brows met in the middle. “Why didn’t you contact us to let us know you were okay?”
“That was so hard, Esther. But I didn’t want you to know anything about me in case Richard contacted you. If he found out you knew something and didn’t tell him…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t have been good for you. I did call Mr. Bakersfield eventually, when I thought it was safe.”
“That rat—your husband, that is. You know we called your house that night.”
“The night of the retirement party when I didn’t show up?”
“Yep. He told us you were running a little late.”
Marie smiled. “That was putting it mildly. Did you have any other contact with him after that?”
“No, but I could swear I’ve seen him drive by our house a few times over the years. That car of his is unmistakable.” Richard drove a 1936 Auburn Boattail Speedster.
“I know.” She paused a few seconds while her mind
Similar Books
