The Uncertain Season by Ann Howard Creel

Author:Ann Howard Creel [Creel, Ann Howard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781477809044
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2017-08-22T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

ETTA

She was invited to go sailing for a day aboard a yacht owned by Viola Waverly’s father, one of the founders of the United Fruit Company, which had holdings spread across the Caribbean. A servant delivered the invitations to both Grace and Etta after dinner one night.

The three women of the Hilliard household were spending some rare moments together in the parlor. Bernadette was embroidering, Grace was reading, and Etta had been daydreaming.

After opening the invitation, which was for Friday of the same week, Etta looked over at Grace, who had just put aside her book and opened her identical invitation. “Where are we to sail?”

“I guess wherever the winds are favorable,” Grace answered. “I’ve gone out many times, and I’ve never asked where beforehand. It’s exhilarating. Have you ever been out on open water?”

Etta said, “No.”

“They most likely have planned a picnic on Red Fish Island. You’ll get from the yacht to the island by rowboat,” piped in Bernadette.

Grace said, “You’ll enjoy it. There’s no other feeling like sailing.”

“Are you going?” Etta asked Grace.

“Friday is a workday for me.”

A spark of tension ignited in the air, and Bernadette set down her embroidery hoop. “Grace, this is becoming ridiculous. You must take a day off and go. In fact, I insist.”

“I have a prior commitment.”

Pursing her lips, Bernadette said, “I never meant for this duty of yours to take over your life. Perhaps you’ve done enough. I’m certain you’ve made your apologies to Etta, so for now let bygones be bygones. You haven’t painted in weeks. I scarcely see you.”

“Are you saying my penance is over?”

“Yes.”

“Very well. Now I’ll be going on my own. I feel much better about it then.”

“You wish to continue?” Bernadette swatted a hand in the air. “Nonsense. You must get back to your life. Reacquaint yourself with your friends and Jonathan.”

“Jonathan is busy all day. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t be, too.”

“You’re getting too carried away about your work and letting your social life suffer. I’ll have none of it.”

Grace simply smiled and picked up her book. But not long after, she left the parlor in favor of her room.

“Oh, Etta dear,” Bernadette said pleadingly. “I don’t know what to do with her. I know I’m not the warmest person, but I do love my daughter. Why must she defy me like this? She has never been this bold before.”

Etta moved quickly to her aunt’s side. “May I offer you my opinion?” When Bernadette gave a tiny nod, Etta continued: “I think you should let her go as long as she pleases. This has clearly become some sort of rebellion, and if you try to stop her, it will only make it worse. Her determination will grow stronger. Let her go until she tires of it. What harm could there be? She’s doing some good for the poor, probably learning a little humility, and she’ll grow weary of it eventually.”

Bernadette stared into Etta’s eyes with a kind of appraising concentration, and Etta feared she may have overreached.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.