Read Online Maggie's Journey (McKenna's Daughters) by Lena Dooley Nelson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lena Dooley Nelson
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it did now on her daughter. What has been going on in my own home without my knowledge? After the party, she’d get to the bottom of this. However, no need to create a scene in front of all the people attending. She pasted a stiff smile on her face and accepted the hand of the next guest.
•••
Charles Stanton loved parties and had been looking forward to Maggie’s birthday celebration. Now his attention was immediately drawn to Maggie as she started down the curving staircase in the foyer. He’d always thought of her as pretty, but tonight she was more than that. The green dress showcased her womanly figure to perfection, and the color brought out her eyes. Even though he was standing a few feet away he could see every detail. The golden flecks in her eyes glittered in the light from the gilded, crystal chandelier.
He hoped to catch her eye, but her attention was fastened on someone close to the door. He shifted, and through the crowd, he spied Mrs. Caine. The women acted as if no one else was in the room. For a moment, some unspoken communication passed between Margaret and her mother. Mrs. Caine’s lips thinned and her jaw clenched before a tight smile masked her reaction. Maggie slowed momentarily and swayed slightly, concern puckering her brow.
If only he knew what was going on with them. For the first time in his life, he actually wished he could read minds. Florence Caine had been nothing but kind to him. So had Maggie. What caused this evident animosity between them?
Quickly he made his way through the throng until he stood near the archway that led into the large parlor. He propped his shoulder against the wall and crossed his arms. His gaze followed Maggie as she greeted people in the crowd, always polite and friendly. Soon another woman, who looked like a younger, softer version of Florence, joined Maggie. They greeted each other with wide smiles. No animosity there.
What a beauty! Her golden hair was swept to the top of her head with tendrils caressing her cheeks. The blue silk dress emphasized her femininity and intensified the hue of her eyes. She looked like one of the china dolls for sale in the store, but she was very much alive. Now there was a woman he could be interested in. She had to be some relative, maybe Mrs. Caine’s younger sister. She couldn’t be more than a year or two older than he was. He hoped he’d get a chance to meet her. Wonder if she lives in Seattle. If so, why had he not met her? He might have if he had gone to church more. He promised himself he’d remedy that this coming weekend.
The two women went to the refreshment table and put a few items on each of their plates. He couldn’t take his gaze from the new woman. Then he noticed something odd about Maggie. While she continued to visit with others at the party, she never took a single bite of the food on her plate. Her fork just nudged the morsels around.
Quickly he crossed the room. When he arrived near Maggie, the other fascinating woman stood beside her.
“Are you going to introduce me to you friend?” Even though Charles was talking to Maggie, he couldn’t take his eyes off the blonde beside her.
“You mean my aunt Georgia? But she is my friend as well.” Maggie’s words snatched his attention.
“Your aunt?” He had guessed right.
“Yes. Aunt Georgia, this is Charles Stanton. We’ve been friends for a long time.”
“Since you were in pigtails.” When he laughed, Maggie didn’t join him. He wondered why. She used to like to be teased.
“You would bring that up.” The frown in her tone matched the one on her face. “Actually, sometimes Charles got me into trouble, but I have to admit that often he also got me out of trouble.”
The aunt lifted her hand. “I’m Georgia Long.”
He glanced at her ring finger. It was adorned by a dinner ring with lots of pearls, but no wedding band. Good. He lifted her hand and pressed his lips against the back. For a moment her eyes widened, and she looked
•••
Charles Stanton loved parties and had been looking forward to Maggie’s birthday celebration. Now his attention was immediately drawn to Maggie as she started down the curving staircase in the foyer. He’d always thought of her as pretty, but tonight she was more than that. The green dress showcased her womanly figure to perfection, and the color brought out her eyes. Even though he was standing a few feet away he could see every detail. The golden flecks in her eyes glittered in the light from the gilded, crystal chandelier.
He hoped to catch her eye, but her attention was fastened on someone close to the door. He shifted, and through the crowd, he spied Mrs. Caine. The women acted as if no one else was in the room. For a moment, some unspoken communication passed between Margaret and her mother. Mrs. Caine’s lips thinned and her jaw clenched before a tight smile masked her reaction. Maggie slowed momentarily and swayed slightly, concern puckering her brow.
If only he knew what was going on with them. For the first time in his life, he actually wished he could read minds. Florence Caine had been nothing but kind to him. So had Maggie. What caused this evident animosity between them?
Quickly he made his way through the throng until he stood near the archway that led into the large parlor. He propped his shoulder against the wall and crossed his arms. His gaze followed Maggie as she greeted people in the crowd, always polite and friendly. Soon another woman, who looked like a younger, softer version of Florence, joined Maggie. They greeted each other with wide smiles. No animosity there.
What a beauty! Her golden hair was swept to the top of her head with tendrils caressing her cheeks. The blue silk dress emphasized her femininity and intensified the hue of her eyes. She looked like one of the china dolls for sale in the store, but she was very much alive. Now there was a woman he could be interested in. She had to be some relative, maybe Mrs. Caine’s younger sister. She couldn’t be more than a year or two older than he was. He hoped he’d get a chance to meet her. Wonder if she lives in Seattle. If so, why had he not met her? He might have if he had gone to church more. He promised himself he’d remedy that this coming weekend.
The two women went to the refreshment table and put a few items on each of their plates. He couldn’t take his gaze from the new woman. Then he noticed something odd about Maggie. While she continued to visit with others at the party, she never took a single bite of the food on her plate. Her fork just nudged the morsels around.
Quickly he crossed the room. When he arrived near Maggie, the other fascinating woman stood beside her.
“Are you going to introduce me to you friend?” Even though Charles was talking to Maggie, he couldn’t take his eyes off the blonde beside her.
“You mean my aunt Georgia? But she is my friend as well.” Maggie’s words snatched his attention.
“Your aunt?” He had guessed right.
“Yes. Aunt Georgia, this is Charles Stanton. We’ve been friends for a long time.”
“Since you were in pigtails.” When he laughed, Maggie didn’t join him. He wondered why. She used to like to be teased.
“You would bring that up.” The frown in her tone matched the one on her face. “Actually, sometimes Charles got me into trouble, but I have to admit that often he also got me out of trouble.”
The aunt lifted her hand. “I’m Georgia Long.”
He glanced at her ring finger. It was adorned by a dinner ring with lots of pearls, but no wedding band. Good. He lifted her hand and pressed his lips against the back. For a moment her eyes widened, and she looked
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