Read Online His Errant Educator (Willamette Wives Book 3) by Maggie Ryan - Free Book Online
Authors: Maggie Ryan
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question.
"We aren't looking for gossip, Ma. It's just that Roger is courting her and, well, there was a spot of trouble the other day that caused him some… um… well, let's just say he wasn't too happy with the resolution. We just want them both to be happy."
"I'm not exactly sure what was said, but Roger didn't appear too pleased when Ben confronted him, and Teresa has been a bit grumpy ever since Saturday. Oh, this for you." Catherine handed the package to Agatha, who opened it to find her dress inside.
"I'm afraid it got torn but I was pleased when Teresa insisted she mend it herself before I washed it."
"Torn? How did that happen?" Charity asked as Agatha lifted the hem of the dress.
"Well, Agatha is taller than Teresa so I suppose it's understandable that her heel caught in the hem. It wasn't really a big tear. You can barely even tell," Catherine explained. "The stitches aren't perfect, but…"
"That doesn't matter," Agatha said. "I'm just glad she didn't catch her death that day."
"We all are," Catherine said. "To tell you the truth, I think she is trying to make up for the tantrum she threw when Roger brought her home. She might not care about perfect stitches, but I assure you, she certainly cares about that young man. I think she fears that he might decide she isn't worth the trouble."
"That's exactly what we need to talk about," Agatha said. "Ma, we want to help her but we need to know where to start. Is she always so… I don't know…"
"Spoiled?" Anna offered.
"I wasn't going to say that," Agatha corrected. "I'm sure there is a good reason for her behavior. What do you think, Ma?"
Catherine took a bite of her cookie before responding. "Don't get me wrong. Most of the time, both girls are a delight. But, well, when one or the other gets upset, the smallest grievance can set off a huge battle."
"Why doesn't Mr. Goldman do something about their behavior?" Charity asked, shaking her head. "James wouldn't be oblivious if I was always bickering, believe me."
"I'm not sure, really. I can tell it upsets him, especially when they get so loud that customers can hear them all the way out in the dining room, but while he'll ask them to stop, and even threaten to send them out to the shed, he never follows through."
Anna's huff told the others what she thought of that.
"So you think their pa just doesn't care?" Agatha asked, stroking the fabric of her dress.
"That's just sad," Charity said. "He's the only parent they have left."
"Oh, no, I don't want you to think that," Catherine said. "I know he loves them dearly, and I'm not saying they fight all the time." She paused and then sat forward. "You know, I think you might be right, Charity. When they fight, it's almost as if they are doing so in order to get attention. I know they miss their ma."
"That's just it," Agatha said. "Teresa needs some women friends who can guide her. That job falls to us."
"I don't know," Anna said. "From what I've seen, I get the impression that Teresa feels she is perfect just the way she is. I'm not too sure she'd appreciate our offer of friendship."
"Especially not when she learns that when we act that way, we get our heinies spanked by our husbands—" Charity immediately slapped her hand over her mouth as her eyes flew to Catherine. "Um, I didn't mean… they don't… I mean…"
Catherine smiled and patted her hand. "I know exactly what you mean, dear."
Flashing her friend a look, Agatha said, "Ma, we don't want you to think that we fear our husbands. I assure you—"
"Girls, please," Catherine said, sitting back in her chair and giving them each a look. "I am not some naïve schoolgirl, nor some fragile woman who will break down at the least little conflict…"
"Ma, you don't have to explain—"
"I do, Agatha," Catherine said. "It's time you know the truth. Yes, Wallace was an awful man, one who was quick to cut with words and threats, but I assure you he never laid a hand on me in anger. He used his hate and his
"We aren't looking for gossip, Ma. It's just that Roger is courting her and, well, there was a spot of trouble the other day that caused him some… um… well, let's just say he wasn't too happy with the resolution. We just want them both to be happy."
"I'm not exactly sure what was said, but Roger didn't appear too pleased when Ben confronted him, and Teresa has been a bit grumpy ever since Saturday. Oh, this for you." Catherine handed the package to Agatha, who opened it to find her dress inside.
"I'm afraid it got torn but I was pleased when Teresa insisted she mend it herself before I washed it."
"Torn? How did that happen?" Charity asked as Agatha lifted the hem of the dress.
"Well, Agatha is taller than Teresa so I suppose it's understandable that her heel caught in the hem. It wasn't really a big tear. You can barely even tell," Catherine explained. "The stitches aren't perfect, but…"
"That doesn't matter," Agatha said. "I'm just glad she didn't catch her death that day."
"We all are," Catherine said. "To tell you the truth, I think she is trying to make up for the tantrum she threw when Roger brought her home. She might not care about perfect stitches, but I assure you, she certainly cares about that young man. I think she fears that he might decide she isn't worth the trouble."
"That's exactly what we need to talk about," Agatha said. "Ma, we want to help her but we need to know where to start. Is she always so… I don't know…"
"Spoiled?" Anna offered.
"I wasn't going to say that," Agatha corrected. "I'm sure there is a good reason for her behavior. What do you think, Ma?"
Catherine took a bite of her cookie before responding. "Don't get me wrong. Most of the time, both girls are a delight. But, well, when one or the other gets upset, the smallest grievance can set off a huge battle."
"Why doesn't Mr. Goldman do something about their behavior?" Charity asked, shaking her head. "James wouldn't be oblivious if I was always bickering, believe me."
"I'm not sure, really. I can tell it upsets him, especially when they get so loud that customers can hear them all the way out in the dining room, but while he'll ask them to stop, and even threaten to send them out to the shed, he never follows through."
Anna's huff told the others what she thought of that.
"So you think their pa just doesn't care?" Agatha asked, stroking the fabric of her dress.
"That's just sad," Charity said. "He's the only parent they have left."
"Oh, no, I don't want you to think that," Catherine said. "I know he loves them dearly, and I'm not saying they fight all the time." She paused and then sat forward. "You know, I think you might be right, Charity. When they fight, it's almost as if they are doing so in order to get attention. I know they miss their ma."
"That's just it," Agatha said. "Teresa needs some women friends who can guide her. That job falls to us."
"I don't know," Anna said. "From what I've seen, I get the impression that Teresa feels she is perfect just the way she is. I'm not too sure she'd appreciate our offer of friendship."
"Especially not when she learns that when we act that way, we get our heinies spanked by our husbands—" Charity immediately slapped her hand over her mouth as her eyes flew to Catherine. "Um, I didn't mean… they don't… I mean…"
Catherine smiled and patted her hand. "I know exactly what you mean, dear."
Flashing her friend a look, Agatha said, "Ma, we don't want you to think that we fear our husbands. I assure you—"
"Girls, please," Catherine said, sitting back in her chair and giving them each a look. "I am not some naïve schoolgirl, nor some fragile woman who will break down at the least little conflict…"
"Ma, you don't have to explain—"
"I do, Agatha," Catherine said. "It's time you know the truth. Yes, Wallace was an awful man, one who was quick to cut with words and threats, but I assure you he never laid a hand on me in anger. He used his hate and his
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