Read Online Maggie's Journey (McKenna's Daughters) by Lena Dooley Nelson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lena Dooley Nelson
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dresses your mother designed when she came west.” At least that was part of the truth. “When I saw the label, I knew it was one of them.” And one of the reasons she wanted to wear it to the party.
Aunt Georgia gazed up and down Maggie’s figure. “I’m surprised it fit you so well. I thought Florence was taller than you when she wore that.”
So more information had to come out. “I had Mrs. Murdock, our seamstress, hem it for me, but the rest of the dress fit just fine.”
“My sister was very thin when she was younger, which made her as small as you are, just taller.” Georgia watched Ingrid’s fingers as they fairly flew while she created the elaborate hairstyle. “My goodness, you are really good at that.”
Ingrid blushed at the compliment. “Thank you, ma’am.” She didn’t slow down a bit, continuing to weave the ribbon and green beads through the curls and anchoring them with hairpins.
When she finally laid the three long curls beside Maggie’s slim neck, she stepped back to admire her own handiwork. “Does it look all right, Miss Maggie?”
After turning her head this way and that, so she could see every part of the style, Maggie smiled. “I believe this is the best you’ve ever done. Thank you, Ingrid.”
“You’d be the belle of the ball even if you weren’t the birthday girl.” Aunt Georgia came to stand behind her. “You’re very beautiful indeed.”
“But I don’t look a bit like you or Mother.” The soft words slipped out before Maggie could corral them.
She stared in the mirror at her aunt’s startled reflection. Maggie wondered if Florence would share that same startled expression when she walked down the stairs in the dress. Of course , she will. Maybe worse. Maggie’s lips pulled into a slight smile at that thought.
•••
Florence stood in the foyer of their home beside her husband, content with the knowledge that everything looked perfect, just the way she had intended for it to be. It wasn’t every day that a family could celebrate their daughter’s coming-of-age party.
“So glad you could join us.” She extended her gloved hand to Mayor Yesler and his wife, Sarah. She loved welcoming people into their home, especially important people. This was a far cry from their first home at the end of the long wagon trip west.
Oregon City was very provincial, but just for a moment the memory of happy times there flitted through her mind. Even so, they couldn’t stay there where everyone knew her shame. That was why she talked Joshua into moving to Seattle. And even though they lost some of the more fun aspects of their life with the move, just look at the contacts they had made. They held an important place in the society of this lovely city.
“Thank you.” The mayor moved on to Joshua, and the men’s deep voices blended into the general hubbub. Probably talking about business, which was the way of most men.
Light laughter and murmuring rippled through her parlor, where the furniture had been moved aside to make room for the string quartet and dancing. As Florence turned toward the next people coming through the front door a scuffing sound drew her attention toward the top of the stairs. Georgia started down the steps. Her sister looked lovely in that particular shade of blue, and the cut of the dress really showed off her svelte figure. And then Margaret came to the top of the stairs.
Florence’s heart almost stopped beating. That wasn’t the dress she told Mrs. Murdock to make for Margaret. Instead, her daughter wore one of the dresses her mother had designed for Florence when she was younger. An off-the-shoulder style in a brilliant, emerald green silk. The brocade shimmered as Margaret descended the stairs, outlining every move her daughter made. She glanced around, and the eyes of every man in the room followed Margaret.
Florence remembered wearing the dress and never really feeling comfortable in it. Of course, it hadn’t looked as good on her as
Aunt Georgia gazed up and down Maggie’s figure. “I’m surprised it fit you so well. I thought Florence was taller than you when she wore that.”
So more information had to come out. “I had Mrs. Murdock, our seamstress, hem it for me, but the rest of the dress fit just fine.”
“My sister was very thin when she was younger, which made her as small as you are, just taller.” Georgia watched Ingrid’s fingers as they fairly flew while she created the elaborate hairstyle. “My goodness, you are really good at that.”
Ingrid blushed at the compliment. “Thank you, ma’am.” She didn’t slow down a bit, continuing to weave the ribbon and green beads through the curls and anchoring them with hairpins.
When she finally laid the three long curls beside Maggie’s slim neck, she stepped back to admire her own handiwork. “Does it look all right, Miss Maggie?”
After turning her head this way and that, so she could see every part of the style, Maggie smiled. “I believe this is the best you’ve ever done. Thank you, Ingrid.”
“You’d be the belle of the ball even if you weren’t the birthday girl.” Aunt Georgia came to stand behind her. “You’re very beautiful indeed.”
“But I don’t look a bit like you or Mother.” The soft words slipped out before Maggie could corral them.
She stared in the mirror at her aunt’s startled reflection. Maggie wondered if Florence would share that same startled expression when she walked down the stairs in the dress. Of course , she will. Maybe worse. Maggie’s lips pulled into a slight smile at that thought.
•••
Florence stood in the foyer of their home beside her husband, content with the knowledge that everything looked perfect, just the way she had intended for it to be. It wasn’t every day that a family could celebrate their daughter’s coming-of-age party.
“So glad you could join us.” She extended her gloved hand to Mayor Yesler and his wife, Sarah. She loved welcoming people into their home, especially important people. This was a far cry from their first home at the end of the long wagon trip west.
Oregon City was very provincial, but just for a moment the memory of happy times there flitted through her mind. Even so, they couldn’t stay there where everyone knew her shame. That was why she talked Joshua into moving to Seattle. And even though they lost some of the more fun aspects of their life with the move, just look at the contacts they had made. They held an important place in the society of this lovely city.
“Thank you.” The mayor moved on to Joshua, and the men’s deep voices blended into the general hubbub. Probably talking about business, which was the way of most men.
Light laughter and murmuring rippled through her parlor, where the furniture had been moved aside to make room for the string quartet and dancing. As Florence turned toward the next people coming through the front door a scuffing sound drew her attention toward the top of the stairs. Georgia started down the steps. Her sister looked lovely in that particular shade of blue, and the cut of the dress really showed off her svelte figure. And then Margaret came to the top of the stairs.
Florence’s heart almost stopped beating. That wasn’t the dress she told Mrs. Murdock to make for Margaret. Instead, her daughter wore one of the dresses her mother had designed for Florence when she was younger. An off-the-shoulder style in a brilliant, emerald green silk. The brocade shimmered as Margaret descended the stairs, outlining every move her daughter made. She glanced around, and the eyes of every man in the room followed Margaret.
Florence remembered wearing the dress and never really feeling comfortable in it. Of course, it hadn’t looked as good on her as
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