Wicked Child by Martha Pound Miller

Author:Martha Pound Miller [Miller, Martha Pound]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-04-21T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The next morning, August looked out the front window of the shop, hoping he might see Samuel waiting. Instead, he saw Twinka hurrying up the sidewalk.

His mood was expansive, excited, almost ecstatic after his evening with Celia.

I’m floating in an ocean of warm feelings and happy thoughts.

But then, another thought intruded.

Would what I want to do for Celia be an impossible task? And did her brother suspect anything when he got home last night?

Why would he? There was no reason he should.

Was there?

But on this sunny morning, feeling happy and buoyant, it seemed to August that all things were possible.

He greeted Twinka as she walked into the shop, then gave her an uncharacteristic hug. “Let’s have some coffee.” he said.

She stared at him. “You hardly ever drink coffee. And you never hug me.”

“My dear Twinka, I am a new man this morning.” He strode into the workroom and pulled the coffee pot out of the cupboard. “I believe I have some excellent coffee here somewhere.”

She eyed him suspiciously, which made him smile. He remembered then an old song that seemed to fit his mood perfectly. Spreading his arms wide, he burst out in song: “Everything is beeyoo-tiful, in it’s own way . . .”

“Oh my God,” said Twinka. “You’ve seen that Dove woman, haven’t you?”

“What if I have?” By now he was almost delirious with happiness. And delighted that Twinka recognized it.

She frowned. “Didn’t I warn you to be careful?”

“You certainly did. You did your very best to spoil my happy mood. And I challenge you to give me one good reason why I shouldn’t see her. And why I shouldn’t be happy about it.”

“I’m glad to see you happy, Auggie. But since you asked, let me tell you a couple reasons why you should be more careful. First, the Dove family automatically means big—I mean great big trouble.”

“And the second reason?” he said, opening a nearby cupboard looking for the coffee.

“The second reason,” Twinka said slowly, sounding like an exasperated schoolteacher talking to a difficult student, “is that things are not always what they seem.“

“Yes, the Dove family is big trouble,” he said. “And Celia Dove is right in the middle of it. Ergo, she needs my help.” He laughed. “So, put that in your pipe and smoke it.”

Twinka glared at him. “Have you been drinking?”

He shook his head, grinning. “No, but that’s not a bad idea.”

“Whatever makes you think you can help her?” Twinka asked. “Come on, Auggie. Explain why you think you can fight all those mean lawyers and come out a winner.”

“Twinka, my dear,” August said, opening another kitchen cabinet but keeping his eyes on her. “Why are you so intent on spoiling my happiness?”

“I don’t want to spoil anything.” Her expression softened. “And I do want you to be happy. But you must be very careful. Old man Dove is trouble with a capital T.”

“Old man Dove is confined to a wheelchair. I really don’t see him as much of a threat.”

“Maybe not. But his son is.

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