A Place Called Home Read Online Free PDF Page B

sadness disappeared at the sight of this little girl’s room. Everything was in pinks, delightfully feminine. Frilly curtains and bed ruffle perfectly matched a flowered quilt and wallpaper. In one corner was a doll’s cradle with several doll babies sleeping peacefully. In another corner stood a tiny rocking horse, and a stack of books was resting neatly.
    Susanne then led the way to the master bedroom across the landing from Emily’s room. It was larger, with windows on two walls, and was dominated by a huge bed. Christine’s eyes went briefly to Susanne’s petite frame and thought she must feel lost in it. She had decorated the room in warm brown tones with a touch of rust and tan. Beautiful lace doilies donned the tables flanking the bed. Bookshelves near the windows were filled. Christine assumed they were medical journals. The room was warm and bright. Christine praised Susanne’s decorating style.
    The last bedroom upstairs was the baby’s, the smallest of the four bedrooms and perfect for the expected infant. The cradle was filled with quilts and the walls were painted a soft yellow. Susanne opened a chest under the window and brought out a few tiny nightclothes. Christine fingered the soft material, thinking of the two women she had known with babies. They really had been more acquaintances than friends.
    Descending the stairs put them in the entry by the front door. To one side of the entryway Susanne showed her a door, explaining that at one time it had been the parlor but was now Mark’s office.
    Opposite the office door and right off the entryway was the front door, but Susanne led them down a back hall that ran along the stairs and took them to the kitchen.
    The kitchen was bright and perky. The cupboards were painted white and appeared spotless. There was an alcove holding a table and four chairs. The curtains, tablecloth, and fabric covering the pantry shelves were all red gingham. Another door, Susanne said, opened to Maggie’s bedroom. The massive stove and oven were shiny and clean, making Christine think that Susanne certainly had enough to keep her busy.
    Christine followed Susanne from the kitchen to the dining room. All along one wall was a beautiful built-in sideboard andglass-fronted cupboards with lovely glassware and dishes. They walked past the dining table and chairs into the front room.
    The front room had a lived-in elegance about it. The couch and chairs were all covered in varying shades of blue, and all sat on a beautiful cream-colored rug. An upright piano sat near the stairs, music opened, looking ready to be played. The piano, bookshelves, and tables were all in a dark wood.
    When Susanne stopped, Christine told her how lovely she found the home. Susanne smiled in her quiet way and suggested that Christine sit and rest a bit before lunch.
    More tired than she cared to admit, Christine simply thanked her and took a chair by the window. Susanne took her leave to the kitchen and Christine turned her attention to the street.

9

    Christine noticed that things were fairly quiet out on the street. She noted that houses across the street were nicely painted and maintained. She watched two little boys walk by, and then a woman with a large basket. Christine sat absorbed with the activity in the street until she heard light footsteps on the carpet. Turning, she found a beautiful little blonde girl regarding her with big blue eyes.
    Christine smiled and said, “You must be Emily.”
    Emily nodded.
    â€œMy name is Christine.”
    â€œWhy are you wearing my Aunt Julia’s dress?”
    The question took Christine by surprise. “Well, I didn’t have a dress to wear and your aunt was kind enough to let me borrow hers.”
    â€œWhere are your dresses?”
    Unaccustomed to speaking with children, Christine was not quite sure how to answer. She opted for honesty. “I left my home in a hurry and my dresses were left