A Fragile Design by Tracie Peterson Read Free Book Online

acceptance today was as welcome as a cool drink on a hot summer day.
    ‘‘Would you prefer to see the rest of the house or have your tea first?’’ Miss Addie inquired.
    The girls quickly agreed they would take the tour first and the tea later if time permitted.
    The older woman chuckled. ‘‘I knew that’s what you would choose,’’ she said as she stood up and led them to the stairway. They ascended at Miss Addie’s slow pace, finally reaching the top floor. ‘‘One step short of heaven, that’s how I feel when I finally arrive in this room,’’ Miss Addie said, the words bursting forth in short puffs as she made her way around the girls’ baggage.
    The three girls glanced around the room, Bella taking note of the personal belongings atop a small chest and clothing strewn about. ‘‘It would appear this room is already occupied, Miss Addie.’’ Addie carefully lowered herself onto one of the two beds and began rubbing her knees. ‘‘It’s only partially occupied—at least until today. You girls will room with the other three girls already assigned to this room. Three in each bed. You share the chests and what other bit of space you can find available.’’
    ‘‘I told you the room would be crowded,’’ Ruth said. ‘‘But we won’t spend much time up here.’’
    ‘‘It looks like someone needs to spend some time up here,’’ Bella replied, retrieving an embroidered glove and satinbordered sash from the floor and placing them on one of the beds. ‘‘It’s obvious your boarders aren’t particularly interested in tidiness.’’
    ‘‘They’re up early and busy until bedtime. I fear tidiness isn’t their top priority. They’d rather spend their free time at a lecture or visit in the parlor. Not that I blame them, of course.’’
    ‘‘You launder the bedding, and we wash our own clothing. Isn’t that correct?’’ Ruth asked.
    Addie nodded. ‘‘Right as rain,’’ she said with a smile. ‘‘I clean the downstairs, but you girls are responsible for your rooms. Some are neat and clean while others are rather . . . shall we say, unkempt?’’
    After one bump on her head, Bella moved about the room more carefully, examining what little space wasn’t occupied. ‘‘And there are no other rooms available?’’
    Addie shook her head. ‘‘You’re taller than most of the girls, and I know these sloping walls and low ceiling will be difficult, but this is the best I can offer for now. You will have an opportunity to move downstairs when a space becomes available; however, you’ll have to wait your turn. First ones here have priority in choosing if they want to move to another room. Since this is pretty much the worst of it, they almost always want to move,’’ she said while checking the timepiece pinned to her dress. ‘‘Goodness, look at the time! The girls will soon be home. You get settled; I’ll go down to the kitchen.’’
    Bella met Daughtie’s look of alarm with a waning smile. ‘‘We can make this better. We’ll put pegs on the wall to hold our clothes, and if we move those chests over here,’’ she said, pointing across the room, ‘‘it will provide additional space. This bed can be moved against the wall.’’
    Ruth bobbed her head in agreement. ‘‘We had ten girls in the room at my former boardinghouse.’’
    Bella glanced at Daughtie. A tear trickled down her friend’s cheek. ‘‘We’re going to be fine, Daughtie. I promise.’’
    Now Bella prayed that God would provide her with the capability to keep that promise.

C HAPTER 5
    Clad in a dove-gray cutaway and matching cravat, Kirk Boott stood in the foyer of his large frame home awaiting the arrival of his guests, members of the Boston Associates and the key employees of the corporate operation in Lowell.
    Matthew Cheever placed his hat and gloves upon a receiving table as was the routine, then turned to greet his employer. ‘‘Good day to you, sir.’’ Matthew knew that as far as Boott