Read Making Waves for Free Online Page B

custard. Colorless. Bland. Ordinary.
    She moaned inwardly.
    Lord, I can’t live in his mashed potato world. I need my tubers scalloped and diced and baked and fried and different every time. I need excitement and change as much as I need air. I know what I’m planning is deceptive, but You understand. After all, You made me this way. Right?

    Hurrying around the corner of the tent, Marguerite nearly toppled Alice into her washtub. She grabbed the cook’s ample arm and steadied her.
    “Alice, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going. I’m afraid my mind was on my own affairs.”
    “Ain’t it always?” Alice chuckled and rubbed a bar of lye soap on a jelly stain on one of Edward’s cotton shirts. She briskly scrubbed it between her sausage-shaped fingers. “Where’s my Lilly?”
    “I-Isaiah took her to town for some things I needed.”
    “I see.”
    How did Alice always make Marguerite feel transparent? Unlike her own mother, Lilly’s mother wasn’t condemning, just mildly omniscient. She had been with the Westings for years, and she had practically raised Marguerite alongside Lilly. Little that happened went unnoticed by the housekeeper and cook. And she seemed to have a keen sense about anything related to Marguerite.
    Alice glanced at Marguerite and held her gaze.
    Marguerite tried not to flinch. Stay calm. Look her in the eye .
    “Hmmm. It might’ve been nice to know you sent Lilly off on your errands since it’s wash day.” Alice dropped another shirt into the cloudy water.
    “I’m sorry. She should be back soon. I could help if you like.”
    The heavyset woman laughed. “Your mama would sure like that. Can you picture her face if she found you up to your elbows in wash water?”
    They both smiled. “I really wouldn’t mind,” Marguerite said.
    “I know you wouldn’t, missy.” She eyed Marguerite from head to toe again. “You been carrying your parasol?”
    Marguerite touched her pink cheeks. “I forgot it this morning.”
    “The pink looks good on you. Gives you some color.” She swished the shirts with the wash stick and displayed a gaptoothed smile. “I suppose my Lilly can use a break now and then. Every girl needs a little fun.”
    “I believe my mother would disagree.”
    “Probably, but that’s never stopped you before.”
    Marguerite started to walk away. Her heart stopped when Alice called out to her.
    “And missy, you be careful with whatever you’re planning, you understand?”

    Marguerite felt exposed.
    Made of soft, light-blue striped serge, the bathing suit hugged her waist and then flared out with a bouncy skirt that barely brushed her knees. She adjusted the wide sailor collar, running her fingers along the white braided edge. She took a second look in the long mirror her mother had insisted on bringing to the lake. The trim on the capped sleeves matched that on the collar. The pantaloons beneath exposed her stocking-clad calves and ankles much more than any of her cycling costumes did.
    Her mother would probably call it scandalous, but Marguerite preferred to think of it as daring, bold, fun.
    She slipped into her shoes just as Lilly arrived.
    “What do you think?” Marguerite spun to show off the attire.
    “It’s a fine costume.”
    She tugged on the skirt. “I wish you could join me. You swim much better than I.”
    “You hardly swim at all.”
    “I’m not that bad.” Marguerite paused. “On second thought, maybe you should come along just to keep me afloat.”
    “I don’t think your mother would approve.” Lilly picked up Marguerite’s discarded dress and folded it. “Just remember what I taught you when we were kids.”
    Marguerite recalled the afternoons Alice had taken both girls to a pond outside of town and let them swim in their chemises and drawers. Lilly dove and swam like a mermaid, while Marguerite found it a struggle just to dog-paddle across the pond.
    “How’d you convince your mother to let you go?”
    “I didn’t.”