Read MM03 - Saturday Mornings for Free Online Page B

at the library during the day and sitting with her father during the evenings. But she hadn't regretted it. Not much, at least. Not until tonight.
    At the thought of Andrew McGill's arms around her and his body pressed closed to hers, she was filled with longing, longing to be the kind of woman who kissed as naturally as she breathed, the kind of woman who encouraged a man's embrace and knew what to do once she was in his arms.
    “Aunt Bertha,” she whispered, “what have you done to me? Why?”
    She pulled off her shoes and tiptoed up the stairs to her safe attic bedroom.
    o0o
    “Good morning, Aunt Bertha.”
    Bertha jumped and slammed her diary shut at the same time. “Lord, child, you scared me to death. What are you doing up so early?” Pushing her straggly hair back from her face, she looked up at Margaret Leigh standing in the doorway. Her color was higher than usual. A hard lump of fear settled in Bertha's stomach.
    “It's not early, Aunt Bertha. It's almost time for church.” Margaret Leigh came into the room. “You look peaked. Didn't you sleep well?”
    “Actually, I didn't. I was too worried to sleep.”
    Margaret Leigh came into the downstairs bedroom, which had become Aunt Bertha's since her advent, and sat on the edge of the bed.
    “I hope you're not worried about a place to stay. My home is yours for as long as you like.”
    “I don't like to keep imposing on you and Tess.”
    “It's not an imposition. You've been a mother to us. We want to take care of you. You deserve that.”
    'There are some in the family who would disagree with you.”
    “Who?”
    “Grace.”
    At the mention of her mother's younger sister, Margaret Leigh wrinkled her nose. There had been three Adams sisters—Bertha, the oldest and, judging by old photographs, the prettiest; Margaret, the only one who had married; and Grace, the baby, with a build like a grizzly bear and a temper to match.
    If fate had to decree the death of the gentle Margaret Adams Jones, Margaret Leigh was thankful that at least Bertha and not Grace had been left in charge. Aunt Bertha had been strict, too strict Tess always said; but Aunt Grace would have been impossible. She considered it her duty to tell the entire family what to do. Aunt Bertha even remarked that if Grace weren't so scared of hell fire and damnation, she'd tell God how to run the world.
    “Don't pay any attention to what Aunt Grace says.”
    “She says I ought to get a little apartment of my own and leave you girls to yourselves.”
    Margaret Leigh felt guilty that she had sometimes thought the same thing. She crossed the room and put her arms around her aunt's shoulders.
    “Put that thought right out of your head. I’ll take care of you.” She smoothed her aunt's straggly gray hair back from her face. It was not like Aunt Bertha to neglect combing her hair. “I don't want you worrying another minute.”
    Bertha's eyes were watery when she looked up at Margaret Leigh.
    “That dog trainer. He didn't do anything to you, did he?”
    Margaret Leigh squelched her irritation. If Aunt Bertha acted as if she and Tess were still sixteen instead of over thirty, it was only because she loved them. And she was getting old.
    “We danced. Aunt Bertha. That's all.”
    “He seemed the wild type to me. Maybe you shouldn't see him again, honey.”
    “Don't worry, Aunt Bertha. I'm plenty old enough to take care of myself.”
    “Still and all...”
    “Anyhow, chances are very good he’ll never ask me for another date. I don't think I'm his type.”
    “Don't look so crestfallen over it, honey.” Patting Margaret Leigh's hand, she added, “Someday the right man will come along, a real proper gentleman. Just you wait and see.”
    Margaret Leigh wanted to say if she waited much longer, she'd be too old to care, but she didn't. Instead she kissed the top of her aunt's head and went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
    That Sunday Margaret Leigh did everything in her usual way. She went to