Read Online Daylight Comes by Judith Miller - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Judith Miller
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she picked up her cloak and spotted Fern walking up the back stairway with a tea tray. “Mother is sleeping and I’m going to the newspaper office. No need to set a place for me at supper as I’ll be dining out this evening.”
Fern gave a curt nod and retreated back down the stairs without comment. No wonder poor Lucy had been reduced to tears. Fern’s icy stare would wound even the hardest heart.
Sashaying toward the newspaper office, Macia loosened the top button of her cloak. The sun now shone brightly, and all evidence of the earlier chill had vanished from the air. Sunlight dappled the windows of Harvey’s office and formed tiny prisms that danced like colorful rainbows across the glass. The unexpected beauty caused her to smile as she entered the office.
When the bell over the door jingled merrily, Harvey looked up from his work. “Don’t you look happy.”
His pronouncement reminded Macia why she’d come. Her smile faded. “Happier than I truly feel. I’ve come to see if you can help me solve a problem.”
He tilted his wooden chair back on two legs and laughed aloud. “Now there’s a request I never thought I’d live to hear—my sister actually seeking my advice.”
Macia waved the comment away and launched into a full recital of the recent events involving Fern and Lucy. She remained forthright and honest as she explained her anxiety regarding Fern. “Though my initial reservations about Fern were due to my own embarrassment, I am truly worried that she may be cruel to Lucy. Yet if any of us say anything to Jeb, I’m afraid he will go directly to Fern with his questions.”
“And Fern will blame Lucy and make her life miserable.”
“Exactly. Even knowing all of this, my impression is that Father will not dismiss Fern unless she has the promise of employment elsewhere.”
The front legs of Harvey’s chair banged onto the wood floor as he dropped forward and stared out the front window. When Macia could bear the silence no longer, she waved her handkerchief in front of his face.
He frowned. “There’s no easy solution. Even if Fern leaves Father’s employ, it doesn’t resolve Lucy’s issue. This matter needs more thought than I can give it at the moment.” He waved his arm at the printing press. “I must get back to work, but I’ll try to come up with something.”
She thanked him and headed back outdoors. When she arrived home a short time later, her mother called her into the parlor. Though she had planned to go upstairs and read, Macia joined the older woman. “You’re looking well this afternoon, Mother.”
Mrs. Boyle thanked her and motioned for Macia to sit down and pour the tea. “Where have you been? I’ve been wondering.”
Macia frowned as Fern walked into the room. “Why didn’t you tell Mother I had gone to the newspaper office?”
“How could I? You didn’t tell me you were leaving the house.”
Macia gasped. The woman was boldly lying over an inconsequential matter. Did she hope to cause Macia difficulties with her own family members?
Taking up one of the china teacups, her mother bobbed her head in a placating manner. “We all forget things from time to time, my dear.”
Macia gritted her teeth. She quickly downed her tea and excused herself to dress for her evening supper with Garrett.
The day had been nothing short of disastrous. She hoped this evening would be the opposite. A quick glance at the clock revealed she had sufficient time to relax a bit before dressing. She lifted her Bible from the chest and opened the book. An audible sigh slipped from between her lips as her eyes settled upon a passage in Romans.
“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.” A twinge of guilt pricked her heart. Perhaps if she reacted with kindness, Fern would see the error of her ways and treat Lucy with fondness. Macia closed her eyes and uttered a prayer for God’s help, for she would surely need it. She closed the Bible, and as she considered the
Fern gave a curt nod and retreated back down the stairs without comment. No wonder poor Lucy had been reduced to tears. Fern’s icy stare would wound even the hardest heart.
Sashaying toward the newspaper office, Macia loosened the top button of her cloak. The sun now shone brightly, and all evidence of the earlier chill had vanished from the air. Sunlight dappled the windows of Harvey’s office and formed tiny prisms that danced like colorful rainbows across the glass. The unexpected beauty caused her to smile as she entered the office.
When the bell over the door jingled merrily, Harvey looked up from his work. “Don’t you look happy.”
His pronouncement reminded Macia why she’d come. Her smile faded. “Happier than I truly feel. I’ve come to see if you can help me solve a problem.”
He tilted his wooden chair back on two legs and laughed aloud. “Now there’s a request I never thought I’d live to hear—my sister actually seeking my advice.”
Macia waved the comment away and launched into a full recital of the recent events involving Fern and Lucy. She remained forthright and honest as she explained her anxiety regarding Fern. “Though my initial reservations about Fern were due to my own embarrassment, I am truly worried that she may be cruel to Lucy. Yet if any of us say anything to Jeb, I’m afraid he will go directly to Fern with his questions.”
“And Fern will blame Lucy and make her life miserable.”
“Exactly. Even knowing all of this, my impression is that Father will not dismiss Fern unless she has the promise of employment elsewhere.”
The front legs of Harvey’s chair banged onto the wood floor as he dropped forward and stared out the front window. When Macia could bear the silence no longer, she waved her handkerchief in front of his face.
He frowned. “There’s no easy solution. Even if Fern leaves Father’s employ, it doesn’t resolve Lucy’s issue. This matter needs more thought than I can give it at the moment.” He waved his arm at the printing press. “I must get back to work, but I’ll try to come up with something.”
She thanked him and headed back outdoors. When she arrived home a short time later, her mother called her into the parlor. Though she had planned to go upstairs and read, Macia joined the older woman. “You’re looking well this afternoon, Mother.”
Mrs. Boyle thanked her and motioned for Macia to sit down and pour the tea. “Where have you been? I’ve been wondering.”
Macia frowned as Fern walked into the room. “Why didn’t you tell Mother I had gone to the newspaper office?”
“How could I? You didn’t tell me you were leaving the house.”
Macia gasped. The woman was boldly lying over an inconsequential matter. Did she hope to cause Macia difficulties with her own family members?
Taking up one of the china teacups, her mother bobbed her head in a placating manner. “We all forget things from time to time, my dear.”
Macia gritted her teeth. She quickly downed her tea and excused herself to dress for her evening supper with Garrett.
The day had been nothing short of disastrous. She hoped this evening would be the opposite. A quick glance at the clock revealed she had sufficient time to relax a bit before dressing. She lifted her Bible from the chest and opened the book. An audible sigh slipped from between her lips as her eyes settled upon a passage in Romans.
“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.” A twinge of guilt pricked her heart. Perhaps if she reacted with kindness, Fern would see the error of her ways and treat Lucy with fondness. Macia closed her eyes and uttered a prayer for God’s help, for she would surely need it. She closed the Bible, and as she considered the
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