Read Coal River for Free Online Page B

life.”
    Uncle Otis tapped his fingers on the table, thinking. “But everyone knows she’s in mourning,” he said. “What would we tell them?”
    Aunt Ida reached for her wineglass, smiling like a fox. “We’ll tell them Emma’s parents were stars of the stage. We’ll say they went to all the big city fashion shows and were on top of the latest styles. You heard Emma. People in the city don’t dress in black these days. No one around these parts will admit they’re not up-to-date on those things. You leave everything up to me. I’ll get everyone to come around.”
    Uncle Otis shrugged. “All right, dear,” he said. “I’ll let you handle this.”
    “That’s right,” Aunt Ida said. “Sometimes I wonder what you would do without me.” She smiled and tapped her cheek, indicating Otis should give her a kiss. He stood, leaned over the table, and did as he was told.
    Percy glanced at Emma, embarrassed by his parents’ display of affection. His ears turned red around the edges.
    Uncle Otis directed his attention back to Emma. “On account of the rules changing, you have my permission to stop wearing black.”
    Emma nodded, her nails digging into her palms. She had planned on waiting a few days before attempting the plan she had come up with on the train, but maybe this was the perfect time.
    “I feel horrible causing so much trouble for all of you,” she said. “But I might have a solution if you’re willing to listen.”
    Uncle Otis raised his eyebrows. “This ought to be good,” he said. He took a sip of wine and set down his glass, looking at her expectantly.
    “What is it, Emma?” Aunt Ida said. “Have you come up with a way to help everyone take a liking to you?”
    Emma cleared her throat, ignoring her aunt’s remark. “Back in Manhattan, I was working in the theater box office and attending classes part-time to become a teacher. I really don’t want to be more of a burden to you than I already am, so I thought, if I could get a little help . . . to go away to normal school—”
    Aunt Ida coughed, as if choking. “You want to go away to school?” she said, eyes wide. “Do you have any idea how much that costs?”
    “Yes,” Emma said. “But you’re already spending so much money by taking me in and putting a roof over my head. You’re having clothes made for me, and sharing your food. I’m certain there’s a normal school here in Pennsylvania. It might be cheaper to send me there than to—”
    Aunt Ida leaned back in her chair and laughed, a small bitter sound, like a baby pig caught in the mud. “Well, don’t you worry about that,” she said. “You’re going to help out around here. You didn’t think we were going to house you and feed you for free, did you? How are you going to earn your keep if we send you off to school?”
    “I could pay you back when I’m finished,” Emma said, struggling to keep her voice even. “After I got a teaching job. I could—”
    “Maybe she brought a suitcase full of cash with her on the train,” Uncle Otis said, laughing.
    “Or maybe, because we live in a real house and have nice things, she thinks we’re made of money,” Aunt Ida said.
    “Of course she does,” Uncle Otis said. He eyed Emma. “Just like her parents thought we were made of money when they left her and her brother here for four months while they had a high time of it in Manhattan.”
    Aunt Ida’s face fell. A hot coil of anger twisted beneath Emma’s rib cage. She started to respond, but her aunt interrupted.
    “Oh no,” Aunt Ida said, wagging a finger at her husband. “You leave my sister out of this. I won’t stand for you speaking ill of the dead in my house.”
    “Your house?” Uncle Otis said. “Last I checked, I was the one going to the mines six days a week!”
    “Here we go,” Percy said, rolling his eyes. He finished the wine in his glass.
    “Now, you listen here, Otis Shawcross,” Aunt Ida said. She leaned toward him, practically coming out of