Loving Treasures Read Online Free PDF

dependable. All she needed was faith.
    When she lifted her head, an amusing reality settled into her mind. Living with the Hartmann sisters would be as jumbled and unpredictable as living with Claire. And she loved Claire.
    In the momentary silence, Sissy let out a gasp.
    Both women turned to her with concern.
    “What about Mrs. Dorchester?” Sissy said.
    Jemma waited, wondering where Sissy was headed. Who was Mrs. Dorchester?
    Abby’s face registered interest. Her eyebrows lifted, followed by a slow nod. “It’s a possibility,” she said.
    Like two sleuths solving a case, the sisters settled on a possible solution. Jemma wished she were in on the conversation. They seemed to have a connected thread of thought and their unspoken bond made Jemma feel like an interloper.
    Sissy pressed her fingers against Jemma’s forearm. “The room is for you, am I correct, dear?”
    Jemma nodded, wishing she could have been more subtle. She could almost picture the sisters darting from the house after she left and flying to the boutique to discuss the situation with Claire. No more delay. Jemma had to talk with Claire.
    “We know of a position,” Abby said.
    Jemma waited for a clue.
    “It’s a live-in situation at the Dorchesters’,” Sissy added.
    A live-in position. Jemma tossed the thought through her mind. This could be what she needed. “What type of work is it?”
    “Poor Mrs. Dorchester’s mother is ill,” Abby said, “and she needs someone to care for her.”
    “I think there’s housework, too,” Sissy whispered as if she hated to mention the nasty word.
    Jemma let the idea settle. A housekeeping job wasn’t exactly what she had in mind, but if it came with a room, it could work. At least, temporarily. She’d clung too long to Claire’s skirts. She needed to prove she could survive on her own.
    The sisters’ chatter continued with stories about Mrs. Dorchester and her mother. With nonchalance, Jemma rose and inched her way to the door. When her feet hit the sidewalk, she had second thoughts about the Dorchesters and headed for the newsstand. Maybe today a suitable position would be in the want ads.
    She had to be honest with Claire and tell her what she intended. No more sneaking around like a naughty child. Time she took control. Control? She lowered her eyelids and Philip’s handsome face rose behind them. Definitely, she needed control.

Chapter Three
    W atching Claire’s forlorn face after she broke her news, Jemma had been prodded to call Philip. She had needed someone to talk with and he seemed the logical person. Since she’d told Claire about her plan, she’d felt her mother-in-law’s quiet withdrawal. She prayed that once Claire understood, she would know that Jemma’s move was for the best.
    Jemma had struggled with indecision. Finally she called Mrs. Dorchester. After the interview, Jemma had more concerns, but she’d already accepted the position and didn’t want to disappoint the woman. Facing the new job, she needed reassurance that she’d done the right thing.
    After telephoning Philip, Jemma tried to relax. Though he’d been slow to agree, he promised to meet her for coffee later in the day. She wondered about his hesitation but dismissed it, knowing he was busy.
    To avoid Claire’s sad demeanor, Jemma pulled out the new boxes of stock and filled the shelves. She glanced periodically at the clock, watching the time drag.
    By three o’clock Jemma was ready to leave. She’d winced, watching Claire drop the price on a leather handbag so low that she was sure it barely covered the cost. Besides that, Claire had given a customer a free brooch, one the customer had admired, with the sale of a silk scarf. Jemma could only shake her head.
    Philip was waiting for her at the coffee shop as he’d promised. When she approached him, unbidden tears flooded her eyes. Blinking them back, Jemma caved into the chair beside him.
    “What’s wrong?” Philip asked, his face filled with