My Heart Remembers Read Online Free PDF

Maelle could react, the woman snatched Molly from Maelle’s arms and held her out to the man. Mattie looked at Maelle, his eyes wide, and she shrugged in response. The woman exclaimed over Molly, touching the baby’s curls and smoothing her plump cheek with her fingers. The man leaned in close. Molly grasped his chin with her dimpled hand, and he and the woman laughed.
    “Oh, Reginald, look at her!” The woman beamed up at her husband. “As red-haired and green-eyed as my mother. Oh, she’s just as I imagined her to be!”
    Maelle carefully examined the couple. Older than Da and Ma, and wearing fancier clothes than she’d ever seen, they seemed nice enough. Though not as pretty as Ma, the woman’s face was pleasant, her blue eyes shining. The man had thick whiskers growing on both sides of his face leading to a mustache that grew over his upper lip. At first glance, the facial hair gave him a gruff appearance, but when Maelle looked into his eyes, she saw a tenderness there. Surely they would be loving parents.
    The woman kissed Molly’s cheek, and finally her gaze drifted to Maelle. She flashed a quick smile. Then the man put his hand on the woman’s back and they turned toward the front doors. Molly blinked at Maelle over the woman’s shoulder.
    Maelle picked up their bag and took Mattie’s hand. “C’mon, then.” They followed the couple.
    Halfway to the door, the man glanced back, and his brows came down. “Boys, you go back to the stage.”
    Maelle and Mattie exchanged startled looks.
    The woman stopped, turning to face the children. Molly leaned toward Maelle, reaching to be held. Maelle dropped the bag and stretched her arms toward her baby sister. But the woman pulled Molly against her shoulder. Molly began to cry.
    “Take the baby outside, Rebecca,” the man said, and his wife swept toward the doors while soothing Molly, who continued to wail. When Maelle tried to follow, the man placed his hand against her chest. “No, boy. You stay here.”
    “But . . . but . . .” Maelle swallowed, her heart pounding so hard she could hardly catch her breath. “That’s me sister she’s takin’.”
    “We are adopting the baby.” Though firm, his voice was not unkind. He started to turn away, but Mattie jumped forward and gave the man a kick on the shin.
    “You canna take me sister!” Mattie pulled his foot back, ready to kick again.
    Miss Esther rushed over. “Matthew Gallagher, I’m ashamed of you!” She glowered at Mattie briefly, then turned to the man. “I apologize, Mr. Standler. I will explain the situation to the children. You and your wife have a safe journey home.”
    The man nodded, sent one more frowning look at Mattie, and left the building. Miss Esther hauled Mattie to a corner, where she shook her finger under his nose and scolded. Maelle took advantage of the moment to snatch up her bag and run after the couple.
    She slid to a stop in the sunny churchyard, frantically looking both right and left. She spotted the man climbing into a fancy enclosed carriage. Dashing across the grass with the bag banging against her leg, she cried, “Wait! Mister, please wait!”
    The man folded his arms as she came to a panting halt beside the carriage. “Young man, I am sorry, but my wife and I are only adopting the baby.”
    Tears stung behind Maelle’s nose. Although she had considered begging them to take her, the look on his face immediately silenced her pleas. Instead, she drew a deep breath and made a request she hoped would be honored. “Please, sir, can I kiss me sister good-bye?”
    For long moments the man stared down at her while she held her breath, silently pleading with her eyes. Finally he gestured toward the carriage with a sweep of his hand. Maelle pulled herself onto the little step leading to the carriage and leaned in. The woman kept hold of Molly’s waist, but Maelle hugged the baby as best she could and kissed both of her cheeks, forehead, and nose.
    “Good-bye, Molly. I love