The Mill River Redemption Read Online Free PDF

were the opened bronze urn, the photographs of Josie, several floral arrangements, and Daisy Delaine.
    “Miss Rose, I’m so sorry, Miss Rose, I was only trying to give you a jar of my grief potion,” Daisy stammered, trying to get to her feet.
    “Oh, my God,” Rose said again. She blinked and stumbled backwards. The front of her black dress was now covered in gray powder, and her stiletto heels made sharp cracking noises as they crunched down on bits of glass. She brushed at her face frantically and glared at Daisy. “How did you … do you realize what you’ve done?”
    “Oh, Miss Rose, I lost my balance and fell against the table,” Daisy tried to explain. The stout little woman was on her handsand knees now. She gasped when she pushed herself into a kneeling position and looked down to see a piece of glass protruding from the palm of her right hand.
    “You clumsy
idiot!
” Rose screamed down at Daisy. “I swear, Ivy,” she continued, whirling around. “Couldn’t you have gotten an urn with a screw-top? Or at least seen that whatever cheap container this is was properly sealed?”
    “But Miss Rose, I never would’ve … I didn’t mean to do it. I’m so sorry, Miss Rose,” Daisy cried, cradling her hand. Tears began leaving darkened streaks down each side of Daisy’s ash-coated face.
    Father O’Brien and Jim hurried toward Daisy, stepping gingerly through the mess until each of them could grab one of her arms. Together, they eased her to her feet and helped her over to Ruth.
    “Daisy, dear, come with me. Let’s go get a better look at that cut,” Ruth said, putting her arm around her. “Are you hurt anywhere else?” Jim kept his hold on Daisy’s other arm and walked with them to the kitchen.
    “Rose,” Ivy said, “I know you’re upset, but it was an accident. There are fresh towels in the bathroom. You can wash up while I find something clean for you to wear.” She approached Rose and reached out to touch her elbow, but Rose jumped away.
    “I don’t need your help,” Rose said. “Move it, Sheldon!” She marched to the front door, threw it open, and walked out.
    “I am so sorry about that … about everything,” Sheldon said to Ivy. “You know how worked up Rose can get. She’s been upset for days, and today was especially tough. We had better get out there, but please let … Daisy? Please tell her, from me … from us, actually … that accidents happen, and there is nothing to forgive.” After a final glance around at the mess in the living room, he put his hand on Alex’s head and gently steered him out the front door.
    “I’m sorry, Aunt Ivy.” Emily slipped an arm around Ivy’s shoulders. “I know you went through a lot of trouble to try to make this nice for Mom. To do what she wanted.” Emily paused a moment, and her eyes filled with tears as she looked down at the ruined ashes. “I don’t have to leave for a few hours. I’ll clean this up.”
    “Thanks, kid,” Ivy said, and Emily left in search of cleaning supplies. Ivy looked at Father O’Brien and shook her head. “What a disaster.”
    Father O’Brien nodded. “And poor Daisy, bless her soul, she never meant any harm. She’s probably beside herself, and she may need to see a doctor for her hand.”
    “She’s still in the kitchen with Ruth,” Ivy said, as Emily returned lugging a bucket of cleaners and paper towels, along with Josie’s old Kirby vacuum. “Would you check on her? Em and I can tackle this mess.”
    “Of course,” he said. Before he left, Emily pulled the table back into an upright position and tenderly picked up the bronze urn and its lid.
    “I didn’t pick out that urn,” Ivy said bitterly to her great-niece. “It’s one your mom chose for herself, years ago, when she decided it was time to get her affairs in order.”
    “It’s more like a vase. It doesn’t have a threaded top like it should, but it’s still beautiful. Let’s try to salvage what we can of her