Adaline's Rose by Bess McBride

Author:Bess McBride [McBride, Bess & McBride, Bess]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-12-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Christopher studied Adaline’s face as the young girl, Alice, brought a cloth sack out to the living room. He did not think the gardener, Smythe, was pleased with his daughter but did not stop her.

Alice set the sack on the table and retrieved several items of clothing—a men’s white undershirt and another bit of cloth that he did not recognize.

Adaline picked up the cloth and held it up to reveal voluminous pantaloons of which he had not seen the like.

“That is a men’s undershirt, surely. Do you mean to say she wore men’s clothing?” Christopher asked.

“No,” Adaline said, her voice breathless as if she was struck with wonder. “That’s a T-shirt.”

She searched the waistband of the pantaloons and found a label sewn inside.

“She really was,” Adaline murmured.

“She was what?” Alice asked, beaming with pride at her treasured mementos. “The stitching is very fine on the clothing, is it not?”

“It is,” Adaline said, looking up. She showed Christopher the label.

Made in Bangladesh

100% Rayon

Machine wash cold gentle cycle with like colors.

Only non-chlorine bleach needed.

Tumble dry low.

Warm Iron.

Lavar a maquina con agua fria en ciclo

delicado y con colores similares.

“Do you see it?” Adaline asked.

“Where is Bangladesh?” he asked. “What is rayon? What sort of machine does it refer to? Is that second language Spanish?”

“What do you see?” Alice asked, attempting to peer at the label.

“Just a laundry label,” Adaline said, looking up. She folded the pantaloons. “We have them in America. Is there any chance I can keep these?”

Alice’s eyes filled with tears.

“I’m sorry, Alice!” Adaline exclaimed. “Could I borrow them for a few days and then return them?”

“Let her have the clothing, Alice. They are not yours. Miss Scott will likely see Sarah sooner than we will, and she can return them to her cousin.”

“Yes, of course,” Alice said. “You must keep them.”

“I don’t need to keep them,” Adaline said. “I can see how much they mean to you, how much Sarah meant to you. I’ll bring them back.”

“What will you do with them?” Alice asked.

“That is enough, daughter. It is not for us to ask. Take them, Miss Scott. Alice must return to the house, and I have tasks yet to do.”

“Can I see the rose that Sarah loved?”

“No!” Christopher barked.

Adaline looked up at him in surprise, a frown on her face. “Wait a minute—”

“Miss Delia Story would not appreciate strangers wandering through her garden,” he began, hoping that Adaline would understand his warning.

“That is probably true,” Mr. Smythe said. “You could call on her, though. I know she was very interested in meeting you.”

“We met,” Adaline said. “I will ask her to see the garden sometime in the future, but Christopher is right. We do have to get going.”

“I was glad to see you,” Mr. Smythe said. “I hoped to ask you about Sarah as well.” He escorted them to the door.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you more about her,” Adaline said.

“I enjoyed meeting you,” Alice said, her spirits seemingly restored. “If you hear from Sarah, would you ask her to write to us?”

“I will,” Adaline said, nodding.

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