A Pearl Among Princes by Coleen Paratore Read Free Book Online Page A

“he was quite pleased with Cook’s progress.”
    â€œOh, that is good news, indeed, Sister,” I say, tears filling my eyes. I clasp my palms together in gratitude. “When he wakes please tell him that his daughter came to visit with her fondest love and that I shall return bright and early tomorrow.”

CHAPTER 9
    The Glory of Girlfriends
    Polly, put the kettle on,
Polly, put the kettle on,
Polly, put the kettle on,
We’ll all have tea.
    Â 
    Sukey, take it off again,
Sukey, take it off again,
Sukey, take it off again,
They’ve all gone away.
    I nearly skip away from the hospital I’m so happy to hear Father is on the mend, but the closer to home I get the heavier my heart grows, and my skip slows to a somber trot, dreading the dark and lonely cottage without Father.
    Turning the bend, I’m surprised to see a lamp in our front window and another light flickering inside. Lu’s face appears in the window. What a nice surprise.
    Dear Lu has brought egg salad sandwiches with pickles chopped in the way we both love best, and sweet fried onion chips, succulent strawberries picked fresh from the patch today, a cloth sack filled with warm chocolate cookies studded with walnuts, and her famous sea taffy. And last, but not least, gossip about the princes.
    Ahh, the glory of girlfriends.
    I take a bite and then another. “It is you who should be the cook one day, Lu. Such talent is wasted cleaning.”
    â€œHmm . . . maybe someday,” Lu says.
    I try the sweet fried onion chips. “Oh my heavens, these are delicious! “
    I was in such a hurry to visit Father, I passed up Nora’s spread for the servants. I’m sure she didn’t treat the kitchen crew with the pomp and dignity Father always offers on this special evening. She probably fed them in the kitchen instead of insisting they sit in the fine chairs at the royal tables, but nonetheless, I’m sure the food was tasty. No one can say Nora Baker can’t cook.
    Suddenly ravenous, I devour another sandwich, popping one salty crunchy chip after another into my mouth, washing it all down with fresh sweet lemonade from the jug. Lu laughs, happy to see me eat.
    â€œYou’re worm thin,” she says. “Get some meat on those bones. You’ll never fill out a ball gown unless you plump up some.”
    â€œYou’re such a mother, Lu.”
    â€œI can’t wait to be, someday, Grace. I want to have a house full of children and a big bright kitchen to . . .”
    She stops. Her face clouds. “What, Lu? Tell me,” I say.
    â€œMy dreams are not meant to come true,” Lu says. She turns and begins clearing up from our picnic.
    â€œThat’s preposterous,” I say. “Come here, Lu, right now.” I fetch the jewel-rimmed mirror and hold it up to Lu’s face. “Look in there,” I say.
    Lu giggles. “You’re silly.”
    â€œGo ahead, look,” I say.
    Lu does.
    â€œNow,” I say, “repeat after me. I, Lu.”
    â€œI, Lu.”
    â€œI, Lu, am beautiful . . . bright and beautiful . . . inside and out.”
    Lu giggles. She looks away from the mirror. I hold it back up to her face. “Go ahead, say it.”
    â€œI, Lu, am beautiful, bright and beautiful, inside and out.”
    â€œAnd the dream I dream will come true.”
    Lu pauses, then begins to smile. “And the dream I dream will come true.”
    I grin. “This, I believe.”
    â€œMe too, Gracie. This, I believe.”

    There’s a knock and then the cottage door swings opens. Nuff pokes her head in carrying a blanket and a pillow. “I thought you might like some company tonight.”
    â€œCome in!” I shout. “Now we’re all here.”
    Lu slides down the couch, making room for Nuff to join us.
    I look at them and my heart fills with joy. What would have been a dark and lonely cottage quickly fills to bursting with laughter and