Read Online Murder on Mulberry Bend by Victoria Thompson - Free Book Online
Authors: Victoria Thompson
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hovering only inches away, to catch him if he fell. But he didn’t fall. He staggered triumphantly into his father’s arms. Malloy enveloped him, burying his face in the sweet curve of the boy’s neck. Sarah felt the sting of tears as she stepped back.
Brian could walk. The wonder of it washed over her, leaving her weak with gratitude. “You’ve done a miracle, David.”
“All in a day’s work,” he demurred. “Bring Brian into the office when you’re ready, Mr. Malloy,” he added. Taking Sarah’s elbow, he guided her into his adjoining office and drew the connecting door almost shut behind them, allowing Malloy a measure of privacy to deal with his emotions.
For herself, Sarah could hardly hold back her own, and she couldn’t even begin to imagine what Malloy must be feeling. Brian would be able to walk. Soon he could run and play in the street like other children. His world would no longer be limited to the small flat where he lived with his grandmother.
And he would never become another cripple begging on the streets for his livelihood.
“Anne is angry with you,” David was saying as he seated himself behind his desk. Anne was his wife and a dear friend of Sarah’s.
“I hated breaking our dinner engagement, but I can’t plan my schedule the way you can,” she reminded him. “Babies come when they want to.”
“I was instructed to tell you that we expect you for dinner tomorrow evening, no excuses.”
“I’ll be there if you promise to allow me to come early so I can play with the children.”
“I’m sure we would all be delighted,” David assured her. They chatted for a few more minutes, and Sarah was grateful for the distraction. By the time Malloy brought Brian into the office, she had regained her composure.
But she almost lost it again when she saw that Brian was walking. Malloy held his hand and was giving him more than ordinary support, but he was taking his own steps, however uncertain. His small face was a study in determination and pride as he glanced up to see her reaction.
This time she didn’t try to hold back the tears. Her eyes filled and overflowed even as she laughed in delight. “Oh, Malloy, isn’t it wonderful?”
But when she looked up at him, his expression remained grim. “He’s still deaf,” he reminded her.
She felt as if he’d slapped her. She stared up at him, but he didn’t even glance at her as he took the other chair and hoisted Brian into his lap.
David had been shocked, too, but he was too professional to let it to show. He explained to Malloy what to expect and answered his questions. All the while, Brian kept examining his new foot, tracing the scars with his finger and poking and prodding and wiggling his toes, then comparing his two feet and silently marveling at how alike they now were.
His wonder was enchanting, but Sarah still felt the sting of Malloy’s rebuke. What was wrong with him? Why wasn’t he overjoyed? And why on earth was he taking his anger out on her?
When David was finished and Malloy had no more questions, Malloy gathered Brian up and rose. He shook David’s hand and thanked him. Then he turned to Sarah, nodded, and took his leave. Brian reached back longingly. Plainly, he wanted her to come along with them, but Malloy didn’t even glance back.
“We’ll see you tomorrow then,” David said to Sarah, pretending not to notice how rude Malloy had been. “Come as early as you like. Anne will be glad for the company.”
Sarah made her own escape as quickly as propriety would allow and hurried out into the street, hoping to catch up with Malloy and confront him. Luckily, the traffic had stopped them at the corner, so she was able to simply encounter them without resorting to any unseemly behavior, such as running after them or calling out.
Brian saw her first, and he squealed with joy and flung himself toward her. Caught by surprise, Malloy would have dropped him, but Sarah saved the boy from falling to the pavement and
Brian could walk. The wonder of it washed over her, leaving her weak with gratitude. “You’ve done a miracle, David.”
“All in a day’s work,” he demurred. “Bring Brian into the office when you’re ready, Mr. Malloy,” he added. Taking Sarah’s elbow, he guided her into his adjoining office and drew the connecting door almost shut behind them, allowing Malloy a measure of privacy to deal with his emotions.
For herself, Sarah could hardly hold back her own, and she couldn’t even begin to imagine what Malloy must be feeling. Brian would be able to walk. Soon he could run and play in the street like other children. His world would no longer be limited to the small flat where he lived with his grandmother.
And he would never become another cripple begging on the streets for his livelihood.
“Anne is angry with you,” David was saying as he seated himself behind his desk. Anne was his wife and a dear friend of Sarah’s.
“I hated breaking our dinner engagement, but I can’t plan my schedule the way you can,” she reminded him. “Babies come when they want to.”
“I was instructed to tell you that we expect you for dinner tomorrow evening, no excuses.”
“I’ll be there if you promise to allow me to come early so I can play with the children.”
“I’m sure we would all be delighted,” David assured her. They chatted for a few more minutes, and Sarah was grateful for the distraction. By the time Malloy brought Brian into the office, she had regained her composure.
But she almost lost it again when she saw that Brian was walking. Malloy held his hand and was giving him more than ordinary support, but he was taking his own steps, however uncertain. His small face was a study in determination and pride as he glanced up to see her reaction.
This time she didn’t try to hold back the tears. Her eyes filled and overflowed even as she laughed in delight. “Oh, Malloy, isn’t it wonderful?”
But when she looked up at him, his expression remained grim. “He’s still deaf,” he reminded her.
She felt as if he’d slapped her. She stared up at him, but he didn’t even glance at her as he took the other chair and hoisted Brian into his lap.
David had been shocked, too, but he was too professional to let it to show. He explained to Malloy what to expect and answered his questions. All the while, Brian kept examining his new foot, tracing the scars with his finger and poking and prodding and wiggling his toes, then comparing his two feet and silently marveling at how alike they now were.
His wonder was enchanting, but Sarah still felt the sting of Malloy’s rebuke. What was wrong with him? Why wasn’t he overjoyed? And why on earth was he taking his anger out on her?
When David was finished and Malloy had no more questions, Malloy gathered Brian up and rose. He shook David’s hand and thanked him. Then he turned to Sarah, nodded, and took his leave. Brian reached back longingly. Plainly, he wanted her to come along with them, but Malloy didn’t even glance back.
“We’ll see you tomorrow then,” David said to Sarah, pretending not to notice how rude Malloy had been. “Come as early as you like. Anne will be glad for the company.”
Sarah made her own escape as quickly as propriety would allow and hurried out into the street, hoping to catch up with Malloy and confront him. Luckily, the traffic had stopped them at the corner, so she was able to simply encounter them without resorting to any unseemly behavior, such as running after them or calling out.
Brian saw her first, and he squealed with joy and flung himself toward her. Caught by surprise, Malloy would have dropped him, but Sarah saved the boy from falling to the pavement and
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