All the Blue of Heaven Read Online Free PDF Page A

I am pleased to make your acquaintance,” she said, her
voice loud and clear, with the faintest tremble on the last word.
               
“You’re most welcome here, Jane. I am your grandmother.” The older woman turned
her graying head, eyeing Janey for a moment. “She has her father’s hair, but
the color is just a bit lighter. Don’t you think?” To Allie’s surprise, she
seemed to be addressing Thomas.
               
“I do,” he said, smiling.
               
Janey beamed and said, “And I’ve got my mother’s hands. See, her pinkies were
crooked just like mine.” She held out each hand for inspection. “And my
auntie’s eyes, blue with a little green in the middle. That means I’ll be a painter,
too.”
               
The silence was so sudden, Allie felt as if the air was sucked from the room.
               
She struggled to speak. “Janey, why don’t you sit and have a sugar biscuit?”
she said, hurriedly ushering her niece to a chair.
               
Her mother made no move to enter further into the room, her hands folded in
front of her, eyes narrowed. Thomas cleared his throat and asked, “Is there
anything further you might need, Mrs. Leeds? I must visit an ailing mare on
Mercyside Street.”
               
“No, and thank you, Thomas, for collecting them,” she said.
               
 “It is a serious situation or I would stay.” He spread his hands
apologetically. “Miss Hathaway, is there anything else I might do for you?”
               
“No, really, thank you,” she stumbled out. It occurred to her that this might
be the last time they would speak for a very long time. She wished there was
some way to keep him here, and then hated herself for wishing it.
               
“If that is all, I will bid you goodnight.” He grinned the crooked smile that
made Allie’s heart skip a beat.
               
“Thank you, Thomas. I don’t know what I would do without you.” She leaned over
to peck Thomas on the cheek. Allie covered her surprise by arranging Janey’s
napkin on the little girl’s
lap.              
           
               
She kept her head down, but Allie heard her mother move slowly through the
living room until she was standing near the windows. She stood, silently,
staring out into the night and then said, “I know you do not want to be here.
But I am thankful that you are returned to us safely.”
               
Allie swallowed a lump in her throat. She couldn’t deny that she would give
anything to turn back the clock.
               
“It’s good to be home. Thank you... for allowing us to stay.” She fervently
wished her mother would turn toward her, so she could see her expression. “I
must ask, why did you not tell anyone of the fire? Mr. Bradford was surprised
by my hair.”
               
Her mother sighed, her silk gown rustling from the slight movement. “You have
been through a terrible tragedy. I thought it best if I said as little as
possible to everyone here. When I received your letter, I was relieved but knew
you had a long recovery.” She turned to face Allie.
    “Would you rather I told everyone
all you worked for was destroyed? Everything for which you rejected us is now
gone? I thought you would have preferred to avoid the smug glances of your
acquaintances.”
               
Allie’s heart felt like it was being squeezed in two. Shame rose up in her.
               
“Mrs. Gibson is aware of your injuries, but I have told no one else. You may
tell them what you wish, but I would advise you to choose wisely. Perhaps if
you leave the details vague, there will be less scandal. When you left us, there
was so much talk, but many people have forgotten exactly what was said in those
last days.”
               
Of course her mother was referring to Allie’s