Secrets of the Heart by Al Lacy

Author:Al Lacy [Lacy, Al]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-56912-7
Publisher: The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group
Published: 1998-06-28T16:00:00+00:00

“Kathleen, I’ve hired a neighbor girl to look after Meggie during the time our guests are here. She’s seventeen and quite responsible. Her name is Alta Washburn. Alta will see that Meggie is fed and will keep her upstairs in Peter’s room.”

Kathleen nodded.

Maria took Meggie in her arms, kissed her cheek, and said, “Grandma loves her little Meggie doll.”

“I love you, too, Grandma,” Meggie said, putting her arms around Maria’s neck.

Maria turned cool eyes on Kathleen. “Go on into the parlor and sit down; I’ll take Meggie upstairs to Alta.”

John left Kathleen alone and went outside to stand on the front steps, waiting for the carriages and buggies pulling into the drive.

When the guests had gathered and refreshments were passed out, Kathleen tried to mingle with the friends and associates of her late husband and his parents, but she was snubbed by most of them, and the rest were only slightly cordial. She couldn’t ask John to take her home before the guests were gone, so she found herself a corner chair in the parlor and sat down to wait.

After an hour or so, when the first guests departed, Kathleen left her chair and stepped up to John, who was in conversation with two men in the hallway outside the parlor. When he paused to give her his attention, she said, “Mr. Stallworth, I really am very tired. Would you mind taking Meggie and me home now?”

John smiled and said, “Pretty soon, dear. Could you give me a few more minutes?”

“All right. I’ll go upstairs and see how Meggie’s doing. We’ll come down in a little while.”

John nodded, and Kathleen headed for the sweeping spiral stair-case. When she reached Peter’s room, the door was ajar. She could hear Alta Washburn’s voice.

She tapped on the door lightly. “Hello…it’s Meggie’s mother.”

“Come in, Mrs. Stallworth.”

Kathleen pushed the door open and saw Alta sitting in a chair next to a window, with Meggie on her lap, holding a book.

“Mommie!” Meggie cried, sliding off Alta’s lap and dashing to her mother’s side. She wrapped her arms around her mothers legs and squeezed hard. “Are you all right, Mommy?”

“I’m fine, honey,” Kathleen assured her. She loosened Meggie’s grip, bent down, and took her in her arms. “Are you all right?”

“Uh-huh. Alta’s been reading me some stories from a book.”

“That’s nice, honey.” Kathleen rose to her feet and smiled at the girl. “Hello, Alta. I really appreciate your looking after Meggie.”

“It’s been my privilege, ma’am. She’s such a sweet little thing.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Kathleen said, patting her daughter’s head.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yes. Meggie’s grandpa is going to drive us home.”

Alta hugged the child and told her good-bye.

Maria was waiting at the bottom of the staircase when they descended. She greedily lifted her granddaughter in her arms and said to Kathleen, “John told me you wanted to go home.”

“Yes. I’m very tired.”

She set Meggie on her feet again and said, “All right. I’ll get him. Most of the guests are gone now.”

After a few minutes, John returned and indicated he was ready to take them home.

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