Tangled Betrayals Read Online Free PDF

shook her head knowing Thomas and her father ate what little she knew how to fix and rarely complained , even when she over-cooked it. “I know Miss Minnie will help me. I shall not be long.”
    Mary walked the three blocks to Miss Minnie’s Dress Emporium with great sadness. Her mother had worked for Miss Minnie since Mary was a baby. She claimed Minnie was like the sister she never had. Miss Minnie would often drop by with food when she visited them after her mother had gotten too ill to work. Mary was always grateful when she didn’t have to prepare the meal and could enjoy the wonderful food Miss Minnie brought. 
     
    *****
     
    “Mary, what are you doing here?” Minnie asked after Mary unexpectedly entered the shop, yet, knowing what the answer would be.
    “Oh Minnie,” was all Mary got out as she ran to be held in Minnie’s open arms. She hadn’t planned to fall apart. In fact, she was going to show everyone how brave she was. But when she saw Miss Minnie, Mary found she was unable to hide those tears she’d hidden from everyone for the past several months.
    Mary knew they’d only need enough food for the minister, her father, Thomas and Miss Minnie, who was her mother’s employer and dear friend. There was no one else they had contact with except their father’s sister, Aunt Bertha, who had refused to come help them in their time of need. Besides, she lived too far awa y to make it in time for the funeral.
    “Has she passed, child?” Minnie asked as she rocked the young girl who was obviously heart-broken.
    “Aye, in her sleep last night, what am I suppose to do? I want her back!”
    “Everything will turn out fine, Mary, wait and see. I’ll always be here. I promise.”
    Mary felt Minnie stroking her hair and kissing the top of her head. “Do you think you could hire me to help you? I know I don’t know how to sew, but I can clean the floors and handle the scraps of material which are left from the cuttings. I can start after the funeral on Wednesday. I fear we need the money. Please, Miss Minnie.”
    Minnie knew her own heart breaking as she smiled down and nodded. “Yes, Mary, I think I might be able to use you. If you help me out in the store, I can be sure you are doing alright. I can see you every day but Sunday, the only day we’re closed. As you get older, I’ll teach you the things I know your mother would have wanted for you to learn.
    “ I’m sorry for your loss, Mary. Your Mother was my dearest friend. I promised her I’d look after you and Thomas and I plan to do just that!” Minnie was amazed by the inner strength shown in such a young child. Strength she was sure had been inherited from her mother.
    “I was hoping you could use me , Miss Minnie. I think we need the money to put food on the table. At least, father always said he needed the money mother made. I worry how we’ll pay our bills.”
    “Your father will see to your needs , Mary. Don’t you worry any! I’ll start you Monday. How does that sound? You’ll then have a couple extra days to take care of things in the cottage. And I’ll gladly help you with the funeral dinner, if you wish.”
    All Mary could do was nod and bite her lip. Thomas had already taken a job at the docks a few months earlier. Their father had found Thomas work once their mother had become too ill to continue with their book learning. Mary took over the cooking and cleaning the house. It wasn’t near as clean as her mother would have had it, but no one complained.
    “I miss her, Miss Minnie. I miss her already!”
    “I know child, I know. I miss her, too. I always will.”

C hapter Seven
     
    London 1827 
    Mary had just finished cooking dinner when Thomas and her father entered the cottage. “Sure smells good,” Thomas stated as he started to wash up for supper.
    Mary rolled her eyes. Thomas made the same remark every night when he entered the cottage. Couldn’t he come up with something different to say just one time, she