Mara Read Online Free PDF Page B

not easy for her either. I looked at the slender woman wearing her black habit and I pretended to smile. It was better this way. It’s no good placing too much value on relationships.
    The nun embraced me yet again and I could feel how she slipped something into my pocket. She whispered a quick ‘all the best to you’ in my ear and that was that.
    My silent ‘goodbye’ accompanied her as she walked away. I watched her as she walked toward another nun, younger, who welcomed her warmly. I kept watching until my view was blocked by a group of people assembling beside one of the trains.
    I checked my pocket and found a small, tightly folded piece of paper. I unfolded it and saw her name and address. Sister Olivia’s home was in Amsterdam. What strange combination of circumstances had brought us together that day?

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    ‘C ome along, Maria. You must be so tired.’ Auntie broke the silence and I quickly replaced the piece of paper in my pocket. I would keep it safe, although I suspected I would never see Sister Olivia again. I might write to her.
    Auntie picked up my suitcases, and all I needed to carry was my bag. I felt guilty to let her carry my cases but I didn’t offer to take them from her. The sleepless night and the exhausting journey had taken their toll and I feared I would collapse, suitcases and all, if I were to carry them. We left the crowded station hall where people kept coming and going. Auntie lead the way, checking often to make sure I kept up.
    ‘The wagon is just a little ways further. You think you can make it?’ My exhaustion must have been obvious to her, but I nodded, determined to follow. We followed a busy road to a large square and arrived at Auntie’s wagon. A large brown dog sat beside the wagon and it walked up with wagging tail to greet Auntie. She hoisted the suitcases over the side of the wagon while the dog circled at her legs. It didn’t seem to bother her at all and she deftly avoided the dog each time. She took the bag from me and threw it also into the back of the wagon. Then she called the dog and motioned me to come closer.
    She took my hand and held it at the dog’s nose. ‘This is Maria. You’ll have to be kind to her.’
    When the dog gave a short bark, I quickly pulled my hand away from his nose and I stroked him between the ears.
    ‘Shall we go?’ Auntie asked. I nodded gratefully. The sooner the better, I thought. I knew we would have quite a ride ahead of us yet with the wagon. I walked around to the other side and climbed on. Auntie was seated already and patted the seat beside her invitingly. The dog jumped on the wagon and found a spot with the luggage, and we could depart. The city was crowded and Auntie seemed to need all her attention to drive. My thoughts moved on ahead, towards the farm of my youth and the new life that awaited me.
    As we approached the farm I started to wonder what it was exactly that my mother – or the Reverend for that matter - had written in the letter to Auntie. If had been the Reverend, I could well guess what kind of a letter it was: your sister’s daughter has lost her virginity to some bum and is now expecting a bastard. We want her to live with you for now. Period.
    I could hardly imagine that Mother had written the letter. She had not written any in all these years because the Reverend did not allow her to have contact with her sister. But if she had written this time, I could not begin to imagine what the letter would be about. What did she know of it after all?
    ‘Do you think you can tell me what the matter is, or would you rather not talk about it?’
    I carefully considered her words. So carefully that, had they been objects I would have taken them in my hands and looked at them from every angle to see where the catches were and what possibilities there were. I was silent for a long time as I considered her question. She allowed me the freedom to not discuss it, an easy way out. I wouldn’t have to talk about my current sad