What the Heart Keeps by Rosalind Laker

Author:Rosalind Laker [Laker, Rosalind]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Published: 2014-06-16T22:00:00+00:00

Ten

When morning came Lisa was free of the aftermath of shock although her bruise matched the amount of pain it had caused her. She had bathed, dressed and breakfasted by eight o’clock when Minnie arrived in great anxiety. The girl had left Harry with Tuula Saanio and brought Lisa a bunch of flowers which she accepted gratefully.

“They’re lovely, but I don’t deserve them. See how well I am today.”

“I wanted to come back last night, but Risto said Mae was in charge and putting you to bed and I was not to worry.” She gave a gulp. “But I did worry.” With a gush of tears she threw her arms about Lisa. “I remembered how it was on the train to Calgary.”

“Hush. It was nothing like that. Don’t upset yourself, Minnie dear. Dry your eyes. That’s better. Have you eaten? No, I thought not. I’ll order some breakfast for you.”

Minnie was in luck. Risto served the food, soon convulsing her with giggles as he behaved like a comedy waiter in a movie, pretending to stumble and almost drop the tray. Afterwards he danced about as if he had burned his fingers on the coffee-pot. Fortunately they were in Mae’s own parlour or else his antics would have brought forth a furious reprimand.

“That boy!” Mae shook her head between exasperation and amusement as she handed Lisa the cashbox that she had taken from the safe, where it was to be placed every night in future. “He should be on the stage, not waiting at table. Oh, my! Look at him now! He’s juggling with the bread rolls.” She slapped her hands together sharply and stamped her foot. “Risto! Stop!”

He caught the rolls deftly and tossed them back into the basket, which he bore out of the room with gliding steps as if on skates. Lisa and Minnie both burst out laughing afresh, but Mae’s patience had ebbed. She made to follow him out to the kitchen but Minnie quickly blocked her way.

“Don’t be cross with him, Mrs. Remotti,” she pleaded, her eyes dancing. “That’s the best breakfast I’ve had for a long time.”

Mae chucked her head in sustained exasperation, although she took notice of the girl’s appeal and let him be. “He’s seen too many movies, that’s his trouble,” she declared.

“It’s too late now,” Minnie answered merrily. “He’s like me. We’re both movie-struck.”

Minnie went with Lisa to pay the cashbox money into the bank after they had left the hotel. Lisa had decided it should be a daily event instead of the twice-weekly procedure it had been before. Everyone they met had heard of the attack on her, women stopping in the hope of gaining more details, the men raising their hats and expressing the hope that she had recovered from her ordeal. If she had had any thoughts of meeting Peter as he had wished, however innocently, this particular morning would have eliminated them. People in a small community seemed to gather news of everybody’s business in a matter of seconds, almost as if they drew it in from the air itself.

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