Keeping Secrets Read Online Free PDF Page A

orange at one time, but now it was a color somewhere between brown and rust. The girl’s skirt was torn, her T-shirt hanging from one shoulder, the neckline completely stretched out of shape. She was carrying a small, leather satchel, not a purse or a duffel bag, but a homemade bag bulging with items that were anyone’s guess.
    The children stared up at Sadie, their black eyes bright with fear.
    Sadie opened the door wider.
    “Hi!” she said, smiling brightly, hoping they felt welcome enough to share their names and what they needed.
    They didn’t answer.
    “H … hello!” Sadie said, trying again.
    “I’m Marcellus. This is my brother.”
    The voice was soft and musical, spoken in perfect English with only a hint of an accent.
    “My name is Sadie Miller.”
    “My brother is named Louis.”
    “Hello, Louis,” Sadie said quickly.
    “Good morning.”
    Sadie was unprepared for the perfectly pronounced greeting, the voice as soft and cultivated as his sister’s.
    Looking around her, Sadie was undecided what to do. Invite them in? She did not want to get anyone into trouble, but she couldn’t let these poor little souls out here by themselves.
    Where was that Dorothy?
    Taking a deep breath, Sadie asked them to come in. Immediately, the children stepped inside, dropping the satchel on the rug inside the door. Their black eyes opened wide as they took in the vastness of the kitchen area.
    “Where … where did you come from?”
    “Our mother set us out of the car. She drove away. Our father went away first. There is a man who comes to our house. Our mother cries. We are not allowed to go with her. She will come back soon.”
    This was all spoken in perfect English, in the musical voice by the little girl named Marcellus.
    There was an audible gasp, and Sadie turned to find Dorothy behind her.
    “What in the world is going on here?”
    Dorothy for once spoke calmly, in disbelief. Her usual bristling personality quieted at the sight of these little ones.
    Sadie heard a sniff, then turned to see Dorothy lower her round, little frame to her knees, holding on to the kitchen chair as she did so. Tears pooled at the corners of her eyes, as she held out her short, heavy arms.
    “Angels, that’s what they are,” she whispered. “Come here,” she said, louder, in her usual commanding voice.
    The children stepped over obediently, and Dorothy’s arms enfolded them to her breast. She smoothed their filthy hair with no thought for the grime. She kissed the dirty little faces, murmuring to herself.
    “It’s God hisself came to our door. It’s a test. These little angels,” she kept murmuring.
    Sadie bit down on her lower lip, trying to keep her composure.
    When Dorothy asked them where they were from, Marcellus repeated what she told Sadie. Dorothy got up, still holding the grimy little hands close, then sank into a chair. Her hand went to her head as if it was almost more than she could bear.
    “My little darlings!” she cried, suddenly. “Sadie, go get Richard Caldwell. Hurry up! He’s still eating in the dining room.”
    “But…”
    “Go!” Dorothy thundered, and Sadie went.
    A sea of faces looked up as she entered the vast dining room. She found the face of her boss quickly and went to him. He slid back his chair, knowing it was important if Sadie appeared in the dining room when he was eating breakfast with the men.
    “Excuse me.”
    “Yes, Sadie?”
    “Dorothy… I… You need to come to the kitchen for a minute.”
    Richard Caldwell followed her as she made her way through the swinging oak doors, then stopped at Dorothy’s side. She watched Richard Caldwell’s face as he looked at the children.
    He gave a low whistle, then shook his head back and forth. “Likely some drunk threw his kids out,” he muttered.
    Dorothy’s eyes flashed. “Now don’t you go sayin’ that, Richard Caldwell. These is angels sent from God to see what we’re goin’ to do with ’em. You ain’t turnin’ ’em out, so