Secrets of a Charmed Life Read Online Free Page B

sisters. Emmy had been annoyed atfirst, but realized quickly that such a mistake meant she came across as the adult she was so ready to be. The sooner she was independent of Mum, the sooner Emmy could chase her own dreams. Mum behaved as a sister toward Emmy most of the time anyway, confiding secrets one moment and withholding them the next, reading magazines and smoking cigarettes while Emmy made dinner, coming home late at night when the mood struck her, asking Emmy for advice when it came to dealing with Neville, Annie’s on-and-off-again lover and Julia’s father. Mum’s intermittent displays of maternal competence were largely spent on Julia, who had never been mistaken for Mum’s sister.
    â€œLet’s go, then,” Mum said when she reached them. She slipped a little white parcel that she had picked up for her employer into her handbag.
    â€œLook what happened to the bridal shop, Mum,” Julia said urgently.
    Their mother cast a disinterested gaze toward the ruined window. “Well, that’s too bad. But no one’s getting married these days, anyway. Come on. I still need to go to the butcher before work. Mrs. Billingsley demands a ham.”
    â€œThat’s not true,” Emmy said.
    Mum, already several steps ahead, turned halfway around. “Yes, it is true. I told you yesterday that I had to work today.”
    â€œI mean it’s not true that no one’s getting married. If that were true, this shop wouldn’t still be open.” And the owner wouldn’t be hiring.
    â€œFor the love of God, Em. There’s a bloody war on, in case you’ve forgotten.” She swung back around to resume her hurried pace.
    â€œBut the Germans didn’t break this window!” Julia chirped.
    Mum turned in midstride, her frown deepening. “What are you filling her head with, Emmy?”
    â€œI’m not filling her head with anything. She asked if the Germans bombed this place and I told her they hadn’t.”
    Mum sighed but kept walking.
    â€œWe like looking at the wedding dresses,” Julia said. “We don’t want to go to the butcher.”
    â€œYes, well, I like looking at the crown jewels,” Mum called out over her shoulder.
    Emmy pulled her gaze away from the remains of the window, the yards of organza, and the placard lying on its face.
    Julia slipped her hand into Emmy’s as they stepped away from the shop, their shoes crunching on silvery slivers. “I don’t like the butcher. His store smells like dead things. I don’t like it.”
    â€œWe can wait outside.”
    The girls had taken only a dozen steps when Emmy heard the swish of a broom and the tinkling of glass against the edge of a dustpan. And then a voice cried out, followed by a murmured curse. Emmy turned to see a broom hit the pavement. The owner of the shop held one hand in the other and her face was wrenched more in annoyance than in pain. The broom and dustpan lay at her feet.
    â€œCatch up with Mum.” Emmy turned from Julia and retraced the few steps to where the owner stood. A crimson line crisscrossed her palm where a piece of glass had cut her.
    â€œAre you all right, ma’am?” Emmy asked.
    â€œYes, yes,” the owner mumbled as she yanked a handkerchief from a dress pocket and shook out the folds. She pressed the cloth to the wound. Emmy bent to retrieve the broom and dustpan.
    â€œCareful there! No sense in both of us slicing our hands to ribbons,” the woman said.
    â€œWould you like some help with this? I can sweep this up while you take care of your hand.”
    The woman peered at Emmy, as if unprepared for such spontaneous kindness from a stranger. Then her eyes widened in recognition.
    â€œI know you. I’ve seen you looking in my window, haven’t I? Many times.”
    Heat rose to Emmy’s cheeks. “Yes, ma’am. I like . . . I like your gowns. I hope to have a bridal shop of my own