Five Brides by Eva Marie Everson Read Free Book Online

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    “Want to talk about it?” Betty sat in a nearby squooshy chair. She crossed her legs before delicately swinging the one on top.
    “Talk about what?” Joan asked, taking a sip.
    “Whatever was in that letter that has gloom and doom all over your sweet face.”
    Joan held the cup to her lips but didn’t drink. Instead, she took a moment to just breathe in the comforting aroma of the fresh-brewed beans, her focus on Betty’s shoe—a fur-lined moccasin-style house slipper—as it bounced up and down . . . up and down. Even in house shoes, she managed to look like a magazine cover. “Betty?” Betty brought her eyes to Joan’s. “Do you know of anyone who’s hiring?”
    The bobbing of her foot stopped. “As in a job?”
    Joan nodded.
    “For who? You?”
    She nodded again. “Mmm-hmm.”
    “Is something wrong with your job at Hertz? Something I need to know about?”
    Joan eased the cup and saucer to the low coffee table. “Gracious no. But as you know, I’ve been sending some money to my family. To help out. And . . .” She held the letter up. “Mum says it’s been a help, but I can tell by the tone of her words that more would be appreciated. Plus, with Christmas right around the corner . . .”
    Betty stood and placed her cup and saucer next to Joan’s. “Hold that thought,” she said before disappearing down the hall. Withina minute, she returned, her handbag dangling from her fingers. She flipped the clasp, reached into the brown satin-lined interior, and brought out a card. “A friend of mine—her name is Delores—is the private-showing manager at David & DuRand.”
    Joan took the card, read the name and the address.
    “On Michigan Avenue,” she said.
    “Not too far from the office. So, if you get some evening hours, you won’t have far to walk.” Betty returned to her seat with her cup of coffee.
    Joan waved the card. “And you just happened to have a business card?”
    Betty swallowed the sip of coffee she’d just taken, the sound of it echoing in the room. “I went in yesterday to pick up a dress for Mother. Ran into Delores and she gave me her card.” Betty smiled. “She told me she was hiring and that if I knew of someone at Hertz who might need some extra cash . . . Consider it serendipity.” She cocked a penciled brow. “It’s part-time, mind you.”
    “I only need part-time.” Joan stared at the card again. “A fine apparel department store. I don’t believe I’ve ever been in a fine apparel department store.” A sudden thought pressed a frown to her face. “Or own anything appropriate for an interview, I’m afraid.”
    Betty placed her coffee on the butler’s tray next to her chair. “Not to worry. Between your closet and mine, we’ll pull something together.” Her eyes widened and sparkled with an idea. “Why don’t I give her a call and let her know you’ll come by Monday on your lunch break.”
    Joan pondered the possibility for a moment. Working behind a desk was one thing, but in a fine apparel store? Sure, Betty had something she could borrow for the interview, but what would she wear all the other days—or evenings—she worked there? Certainlynot the same dress over and over. And Betty’s offer to raid her closet wouldn’t mean—or shouldn’t mean—helping herself every other day, even though some of the prettiest clothes she’d ever seen hung there.
    Then again, she held the card of a woman who could give her part-time work without her having to put her feet on the pavements of Chicago in the frigid cold.
    “Okay,” Joan finally said. “Call her and let her know.” She sighed in both contentment and apprehension. “Thanks, Betts.”
    “More coffee?” Betty asked, standing and reaching for her cup and saucer.
    Just like Betty. When she did something nice for you, she didn’t expect anything in return. She didn’t gloat over what she’d just done—or might possibly be doing for you. This was simply her nature. She was a