Fragile Blossoms Read Online Free Page A

mind,’ he’d said waving a long strip. ‘I took it from behind the dresser. She’ll never know it’s gone.’
    Leaving the house that day Julia offered apologies. Evelyn had raised her big blue eyes. Lips soft and breath smelling of violets she’d kissed Julia’s cheek. ‘Don’t worry, Ju-ju. I’ll not hold you to blame.’
    ‘I’m sure he meant no harm.’
    ‘I’m sure he did. It’s what angry children do to gain attention of the one they admire. They shout or slap. At least he didn’t slap.’
    Julia is getting to know and love the cottage. Walking the gardens she learns of the sisters and the animals they loved by the headstones scattered about. There are dogs, Marlow and Meribone, buried behind the herb garden, and cats, Samson and Saraband, opposite the dogs. Exploring her new home she had good moments and bad, wonderful finds and terrible losses. A double tragedy was found in the wash-house tea-chests filled with broken china.
    ‘Oh no!’ She covered her mouth in horror. ‘That’s too dreadful.’
    Albert Roberts removed his cap. ‘So it is, ma’m.’
    A mindless jigsaw of razor edges the tea-chests were full to the brim with precious, worthless, Meissen porcelain. She didn’t know the exact contents, it couldn’t be counted, but from what Luke said who’d sifted the debris the chests contain at least two dinner services. ‘There’s something sick about this,’ said Albert. ‘Hidden away year-after-year, why would you keep such ruin?’
    ‘It’s a reminder,’ said Luke.
    ‘Of what?’ said Julia.
    ‘Of how it felt when he or she took a hammer to them.’
    Luke buried the china as one would bury the dead. For a time then nothing in the cottage gave pleasure, not even the finding of full size beds and truckle beds beneath. Nothing gave pleasure until the piano.
    It was discovered hidden in a back closet. Hearing of the find Julia rushed to the cottage. Albert was in the kitchen supping from a mug. ‘Mornin, ma’m.’
    Julia shook her umbrella. ‘Mr Luke not here yet?’
    ‘Aye, he’s up in the attics and none too happy about it.’
    ‘Forgive me for asking but is he ever happy?’
    ‘He’s not the cheeriest of men, I grant you, but today having been here since early light he’s got cause. Last night’s storm shifted tiles on your roof and with the downpour you’ve rain coming through.’
    ‘Is there much damage?’
    ‘Nothing that can’t be fixed.’
    ‘And you say he’s been here since early light?’
    ‘He has. He heard the rain and couldn’t sleep.’
    ‘And I called him miserable!’ Julia was mortified. ‘What an ungrateful wretch! Your son is entitled to do what he wants. He wasn’t hired to smile and play the fool, only to prove worthy of hire and that he has most assuredly done.’
    ‘Don’t fret, lass,’ said Albert. ‘He is a moody chap. Nobody knows that better than me. He’s never been what you might call a smiler. That was his brother. Our Jacky smiled for Queen and Country.’
    ‘Jacky?’
    ‘Jacky, my youngest lad that was drowned.’
    ‘Drowned!’
    Albert nodded. ‘In the quarry.’
    ‘Oh, Albert, I am so very sorry!’
    ‘As are we all.’ Albert stood contemplating the piano. ‘You’ll be alright with this. It was stored with lovin’ care as the china wasn’t. We’ve an upright in the public bar a chap plays of a weekend. You play the piano, do you?’
    ‘I do.’ Afraid of again speaking amiss Julia patted the keys. ‘You’re right it is well preserved. It speaks well of the cottage.’
    ‘Speaks well of the cottage?’ Hair plastered to his head and shirt wringing wet Luke stood on the stairs. That he’d overheard their conversation was evident. ‘I’d say it speaks well of the ladies that took care of it.’
    ‘I’m sure it does,’ said Julia. ‘I meant only that the condition of the piano might’ve been helped by thick walls and an ambient temperature.’
    ‘I got what you meant! Next time I’m up at two in the