The Liars by Ida Linehan Young

Author:Ida Linehan Young
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Flanker Press
Published: 2020-04-26T16:00:00+00:00

22

Alice told Beatrice that her parents were going with her to North Harbour, and the little girl was very excited. John came out moments later, and Erith told him that things had already been settled, if he agreed.

“Are you sure, John?” Alice asked him.

“It’s for the best,” he replied.

“Can I get a hat?” Beatrice asked.

“Yes,” both Erith and Alice said at the same time.

“Maybe your mom will get one, too, and I’ll get one for my little Annie,” Erith said.

“Is it safe for us to go out?” Alice asked as an aside to John.

“I’ll go with you,” Danol said. “John, are you coming?”

“No,” John said abruptly. “No, I have things to attend to in the room we rented.”

“The Angel should be in,” said Danol. “We can stay on the boat tonight.”

“We’d rather stay at the boarding house,” John said.

“Please, Daddy, can we stay with the angels,” Beatrice asked.

Alice searched John’s face. “Mind your father, Beatrice,” she said.

“I’ll go,” Danol said. “Maybe I’ll buy a hat, too.”

“Boys don’t wear hats,” Beatrice said.

They ate lunch at a small restaurant on Duckworth Street not far from their solicitor’s office. Erith felt much better about the whole situation with Beatrice. The little girl was well-behaved and was quite jolly. She seemed to have had a happy life up to this point. Erith was very grateful for that.

At Ayre and Sons Department Store, Danol left them so he could run a few errands. He told Erith to take her time and that he’d be back before they finished. Erith felt a new freedom in the city she hadn’t known before. She realized that before meant before Danol. He had changed her life in so many ways.

At first, Alice protested that she was spending too much, but Erith was insistent on the dresses, undergarments, hats, footwear, and so much more. Beatrice was having a wonderful time, but Erith made sure that she was not stealing the little girl’s favour from her mother. Beatrice helped her pick out items for Annie, and when Danol returned, he selected some things they thought George and Tommy would like.

The bill was totalled, and Erith added the items to her account. She signed and asked them to send the invoice to her solicitors.

“Your husband doesn’t mind you spent all that money?” Alice asked after Danol left to arrange for the packages to be delivered to the ship. He had confirmed to her that the Angel Endeavours was docked and being loaded while they shopped.

“This is the money that I inherited from my father,” Erith said. “But if it were Danol’s, I don’t think he would mind at all.”

“I’m sorry. That was not my place to speak,” Alice said. “This is all new to me.”

“It’s okay,” Erith said. “I didn’t always have money. I came into my father’s fortune a few years ago. Before that, I worked three jobs in order to adopt the children from the orphanage.”

Alice tried to hold back a gasp. Erith laughed. “I’ll tell you all about me on our trip around the coast.

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