Read Online Fated Memories by Judith Ann McDowell - Free Book Online

through the window, surprised at all the changes. The Matsen Theater, with its thick, deep-red curtains parting twice a month for as long as she could remember, was now a museum. She recalled it was a few blocks further on where the Franz Opera House resided. The grand old building had stood in that spot for well over sixty years and had been privileged to offer some of the greatest operatic voices of Europe. Charlotte smiled as she recalled how much her mother had enjoyed getting dressed up in her finest gowns, furs and her best pieces of jewelry to come to the Franz with Charlotte’s father and sit in the great balcony. Now, instead of the grand old building, there stood a hat shop, a dress shop and, on the corner, the Law firm of Scott, Jamison, and Sexton.
    “ Looks like a lot’s changed.” She drew the curtain closed.
    John glanced over at her. “Do you ever miss living here, Charlotte?”
    “ I did at first,” she said, recalling how she couldn’t wait to get dressed for a night out on the town. “But the theaters and ballet hold little interest for me now. I’m happy on the ranch.” The smile left her face to be replaced with a look of sadness. “‘Course, Eathen and I see very little of each other.” She shrugged her shoulders. “But I guess that can’t be helped. He spends a lotta time in Helena on business.”
    “ I know I shouldn’t ask, but I’m going to.” John turned in his seat to bring her fully into his view.
    “ Why didn’t he come with me?” Her hands knotted up in her lap then relaxed.
    “ If you don’t wish to talk about it, I’ll understand.” John berated himself for causing her this discomfort.
    “ I don’t mind.” She patted his hand as it lay on the seat between them. “You’re askin’ because you care.”
    “ Yes, I do, Charlotte,” he told her, taking her small gloved hand into both of his. “I care a great deal.”
    “ Eathen hasn’t been the same since Jessie got herself in trouble,” Charlotte told him, with an ease that surprised her, as she settled herself beside him. “We felt bad enough when she went away to have the baby, but now…” She grew silent, unable to finish.
    “ Charlotte, I realize this entire incident has to be very difficult for him. But, right now, he needs to realize how much you need him.” John gave her gloved hand a gentle squeeze. “In my line of work I see a lot of misery. Sometimes a hardship or tragedy can draw a couple closer together. Then again,” he glanced at her then looked away, “I’ve seen it destroy families.”
    “ I hope I’m wrong, John,” she covered the hand holding hers, needing that added touch of another human-being, “but, I’m afraid this is the situation Eathen and I are in right now. He’s never come right out and said it, not really, but I feel he blames me for all this.”
    “ You can’t be serious.” He drew his head back to stare at her.
    “ I’ve never been more serious. When your wire came, tellin’ us about Jessie’s death, I thought I’d lost him, too.”
    “ Why would he blame you? You didn’t know about her relationship with this young man.”
    “ No, I didn’t. When I did find out, everything had already happened. Eathen feels I neglected Jessie by not warnin’ her soon enough about the perils of young love. I raised her to be a good girl, John.” Charlotte looked into his steady gaze, needing so much right at that moment to see belief and assurance, instead of ridicule and doubt looking back at her. The warmth in his eyes told her she had achieved her purpose. “I never dreamed she would go and get herself into trouble.”
    “ My heart goes out to you, Charlotte.” He heaved a heavy sigh. “For that matter, Eathen too.”
    As she felt the carriage lull to a halt, she turned a sad smile on him. “I hope I’m makin’ the right decision, John, in lettin’ you and Martha raise Tia. God knows I can’t keep her. If only she looked like Jessie instead of her