Romancing Olive by Holly Bush Read Free Book Online

Mary’s face. “Please,” Olive added. “Mary, look at me. When I told Mr. Butler I needed help with chores, I didn’t mean I wanted you to do them. I meant we would all work together. You are not my servant, Mary. Nor do you have to earn your keep.”
    “If John and me are goin’ to eat then I have to do my chores,” Mary said.
    “I may be disappointed you choose not to help but I would never deny you food because of it. My love for you and John are not based on how much work you do,” Olive said softly.
    Mary rolled her eyes and Peg stepped close to Olive. “You love John and Mary?” Olive nodded at the little wide-eyed girl and she continued, “My mama loved us. She told us every night when we said our good nights to God.”
    Olive pulled Peg onto her lap and squeezed her tight. “Of course your mama loved you. How could she not?”
    “Daddy says she watches us from heaven and she still loves us,” Luke said as he laid his hand on Olive’s arm. John inched close to Luke.
    The grief and wanting was so clear on the four faces before her that Olive struggled to speak. Instead she gathered John and Luke onto her lap with Peg and kissed all three heads.
    “A mother’s love doesn’t stop because she’s not here.” Olive looked up to Mary and continued, “We don’t always know why things happen the way they do but we can always be sure that our mothers loved us.”
    Mary turned back to the sink and Olive watched with resignation. “And,” Olive said, “if we get the chores done quickly we can begin making some new clothes for everyone.”
    The little ones on her lap cheered and hugged and their eyes lit up with anticipation. Olive directed each of them in a task and although it took twice as long, Olive was sure, she had each small hand busy with something. Mary handed Mark a tin cup and he proceeded to pound it on the table. Olive looked at Mary over the din of the children’s voices and constant drumming from Mark’s cup.
    “He stays quiet when he has his cup to bang,” Mary said and shrugged.
    Olive laughed. “This is quiet?”
    The corners of Mary’s mouth began to turn up. She quickly turned her attention back to sweeping the floor in front of the hearth.
    “Alright children. Let’s cut this fabric, so I can begin on some new clothes,” Olive said as she unrolled the first piece. “Now this denim, we’ll make into pants for Luke and John. Mary, Peg picked the ginghams and prints. Do you like any of them? I think with your blue eyes this rose colored flower design will look lovely on you.”
    Peg’s head barely reached over the table and she rested her chin on the edge. Mary and John’s eyes darted between each other and John went to his sister. Mary’s face was white and Olive could see John squeezing her hand.
    “What do I have to do?” Mary asked grimly.
    “Pick a fabric, Mary. That’s all,” Olive said.
    “Ma said ya never get something for nothin’,” Mary said and John looked up at Olive.
    “Your mother was wrong in this case. I bought this fabric to make some new clothes. I was just hoping I could teach you to sew.”
    Mary edged closer to the table and felt the cloth. Her head did not lift when she asked, “Ya think the pink one would look good on me?”
    “I do.”
    Olive spent the rest of the day cutting and sewing and trying to keep eight dirty hands off the new fabric. Mary sat down to sew a long straight seam and Olive watched the girl struggle.
    “Oh dear,” Olive said as she lay Mark down in his crib for a nap. “I didn’t start anything for supper.”
    Mary followed Olive into the pantry and the girl’s eyes widened at the new stores on the shelves. “We could make ham and beans with a piece of the bacon,” the girl said as she picked up the dry goods.
    “Perfect,” Olive said. “What do I do?”
    Mary looked up at her aunt. “Why don’t I get it started?”
    The day rolled on, the house full of clutter and the smell of bacon and beans simmering on