When the Bough Breaks Read Online Free PDF Page B

restless at night – from the heat, I guess. Father asked me to say that he is expecting you this evening, sir. He'll see to Charlie.”
    “Good, good, we cannot make deliveries with a lame horse, can we, now? Thank you for bringing the message, Millie.”
    He moves over to the shelf where the infants' remedies are kept, and takes down a small bottle of gripe water. “All the young mothers swear by this mixture – it flies off the shelves. Which reminds me, I must place another order. A most effective and soothing answer for colic and restlessness. Offer the baby a quarter of a teaspoon, no more, at bedtime, if he continues to be uncomfortable. No charge this time, Millie. Call it a sample. We will see you at your usual time on Friday, I trust?” He does not wait for my reply, but turns away. I must tell him what I really came to say.
    “Thank you for the gripe water. It is very kind of you, sir. I'll try giving it to the baby tonight … um … Mr. Mercer, I need to speak to you about working this Friday. I wanted to ask you … I was wondering … if I might come the following week instead, so that I can get caught up at home. I have so much to see to now….”
    Mr. Mercer looks soberly at me, purses his lips, and says, “Indeed, it is a great responsibility for someone your age, Millicent. Do you think working here will be more than you can manage with all your other duties? I must be able to count on my staff… to rely on you.” He polishes his spectacles on his spotless white sleeve. “Because if not, that young lady you sent me – Denise Tetrault – is working out quite nicely. And I am sure she would be pleased to stay on. She seems very keen, and grateful for any work I can find her. In fact, I expect her at any moment. She volunteered to help young Mr. Horace, our salesclerk, with the inventory – on her
own
time, I might add.” He emphasizes “own,” as if he's forgotten that I worked two whole weeks here without pay, when I first started. “Ah, there is your little friend now. Such a pleasant, hardworking young lady.”
    Denise said that we're friends? That I sent her?
It's the first I've heard of it. How typical of her to worm her way in here, trying to take advantage and push me out.
Haven't I got enough to bear?
I'd never recommend her for anything, nor would anyone else who really knows her.Funny how grown-ups can get taken in so easily by a sneak like Denise. Well, I won't let her get away with it! I need this job. Without it, how can I make a Christmas for Father and Hamish, and Eddie? His first Christmas. Our first Christmas without Mother. I take a deep breath.
    “Mr. Mercer, I really love working here, and it is truly important for me to keep this job. I need only a few more days. It won't happen again. Please, let me come back to work next week, sir.”
    I'm embarrassed having to beg like this, and I haven't even worked out what I'll do with Eddie while I'm away.
    Denise has been hovering close by, eavesdropping. She smiles brightly at Mr. Mercer, batting her eyelashes as hard as she can.
Who does she think she is?
Anyone would think I was the one on trial here. She looks at me and says, “I am so sad for you and your family. Isn't it hard keeping house? It's so lucky I can help out here, now that you are confined to home.”
    Fortunately, Mr. Mercer speaks before I have a chance to lose my temper: “Denise, my dear, I have just been saying to Millie that we would appreciate your coming in to work for another week.”
    Denise looks up at Mr. Mercer, smiling coquettishly (I read that word in a magazine and looked it up in the dictionary – it means she's a big flirt).
    “I'd be happy to, sir. Excuse me, Millie, I must get on,” Denise says, and sidles past me.
    Mr. Mercer brushes an imaginary speck of dust off the front of his coat, and says, “Very well, Millicent, I appreciate that you need a few more days to set up a routine at home, and as I informed Denise that her position is