Tangled Betrayals (3 page)

Mary shrugged her shoulders.
“My life’s now empty, Minnie. What am I to do? At least father will be happy to know I’ll now be staying in England. I can barely stand the thought of how I’ll have to hear him say he told me James was nothing but an arrogant American. I should have listened to him. Even drunk, father knew he wasn’t what he claimed. Father was the only one who saw through his lies.”

Minnie couldn’t believe
it; she too, had been fooled by James. She had always prided herself in the ability to judge people. This was the first time she’d failed in her analysis of someone’s character.

There
’d been nothing about James to alarm her he wasn’t the wonderful man he portrayed himself to be, until he hadn’t written to Mary. Even then, Minnie only had some unproven doubts. Now, watching as Mary struggled to barely hang on, tore her apart. James would pay for what he had done to Mary, Minnie vowed silently. Somehow, someday, he would pay.

Then,
Minnie thought of Thomas. He and Mary had been as close as siblings could be. They had shared everything. Thomas would have known this would destroy Mary, yet, he did nothing to stop her from going to the docks today. What happened in America to change Thomas into such an uncaring person? Minnie hadn’t a clue.

“
Mary, child, once you are able, please go home. You need a few days off. I’ll explain your situation to Alice, she can finish any work you’ve started or take over any commitment you’ve made, until you are up to returning. When our regular patrons come to the shop, I’ll explain your wedding was called off as gently as I can. By the time you return, many of the customers will be aware what’s happened and little should be said,” Minnie pleaded, but she saw to no avail. The look on Mary’s face told her she wasn’t about to go home.

“Aye,
but that will not end my pain. Think of the pity I’ll receive. Poor, Mary Ball, jilted right before the wedding. Or would they say I should have known better than to expect a wealthy American to marry a seamstress. I feel so stupid. I hate myself for having been so trusting. I’m nothing more than a mere, naive child! No adult would be so foolish.

“
But what really hurts, as much as anything, is not only did James betray me, my own brother allowed me to believe I’d be getting my ring once I reached the ship. He should have warned me! I would have warned him if the situation had been reversed. I would never have allowed him to be humiliated.

“And
I don’t wish for anyone to pity me, Minnie, not now, not ever! Everything I ever wanted is gone. Still, I won’t have people pitying me!

“
All the while I’m planning my future; James is making his home with someone else. I’ll never allow myself to be put in that situation again. Ever! I shall never marry! I’d rather remain alone the rest of my life, than to endure this horrible pain ever again.”

Mary knew s
he’d never allow any man to take her heart after today. Minnie survived just fine without a man in her life, and she would, too.

“Mary, don’t go saying things
you’ll regret. You’ll fall in love again, trust me. And when you do, he’ll be a better person than James Parker.”

Chapter F
ive

Mary
rested on the sofa. No, she thought, she wouldn’t fall in love, again. Finally, after several minutes, she was somewhat composed. She saw Minnie observing her. “I know it’ll take a long time to rid my soul of that bastard.”

“Aye, Mary,
it will. But another hard cry will help some, too.”

As
Mary heard Minnie exit she felt her heart breaking into a million pieces. How much pain could one person endure? Somehow she would survive this. She had to. But could she ever stop loving James?

Mary
could almost hear her mother speaking, “
Mary, stay strong
.
You can get through this, no matter what
.”

“Oh Mother, what a fool I
’d been. I don’t think I’m strong enough to overcome this pain. I don’t. The cost was much too high
.
” Mary didn’t care how foolish she sounded talking out loud. Nothing mattered to her especially her pride.

M
ary knew she would have to handle this bitter disappointment alone. If she didn’t want people to pity her, she couldn’t pity herself.

“
Tonight, Mother, I shall look for the brightest star. I’ll seek your comfort. If only you were here. I need you now more than ever. Why did you
leave me so long ago?”
Mary sobbed uncontrollably.

C
hapter Six

Ten years earlier

London 182
0

Mary
sat quietly by her mother’s bed moving her small fingers as if she was playing a piano. For the last year she sadly watched the light fading from her mother’s eyes. Those same eyes which once shone brightly and laughed so easily as Mary told her silly stories or Thomas mimicked different animals and their sounds. Their mother would laugh until she cried with pleasure at their antics, until she became too ill to respond.

Now, the light
in her eyes grew dim and her words came out barely audible. She’d lost weight and could barely eat. The physician said she had some type of disease for which there was no cure. Most of the people who had fallen ill from this dreaded disease had died within a year. He told her there was nothing more he could do.

When Mary looked
once again to her mother’s face, she was surprised to see she had awakened from her sleep and was watching her.

“Mary,
do you move your fingers to try to stay awake so you can linger longer? You need your sleep, darling. Please, don’t look so sad. Your father and brother will take good care of you. You’ll be safe and loved. I wish it didn’t have to be this way. Yet, I am thankful you, your brother and your father seem to be immune to this dreadful disease.

“
When this is over, Mary, anytime you wish to speak with me, all you’ll need to do is look out into the evening skies and I shall be the brightest star you find. I’ll always be there for you, Mary; all you have to do is look.”

Mary saw the tears her Mother refused to let fall.
No one had to tell her it was close to the end. Even as little as she was, she could sense it. She’d not allowed her mother to see the tears she saved to shed at night after she crawled into bed. She had to keep a brave front so her mother could pass with the knowledge she could manage without her.

But she was only
a child of eight. She wanted her mother to still give her hugs and kisses. Who would read her bedtime stories and tuck her into bed? As it was now, she went to bed by herself. She pretended she didn’t mind, but that wasn’t true. So many nights she cried and cried until there were no tears left to shed.

Mary
tried to be brave. Deep down she wasn’t sure how life could go on when the one person you loved the most dies.

When her mother first became ill, s
he prayed for God to spare her. But like so many others, her mother would be another death caused from this deadly outbreak that went through London.

“Mama, I don’t want you to leave
. But I promise to be good for Papa. When you’re gone, I’ll talk to you every night so you’ll know we’re all right. I shall tell you everything Thomas and I are doing. You’ll always be a part of our lives. I’ll even tell you if Thomas or I have done something bad.”

Mary saw her mother
’s weak smile. Her mother nodded but said nothing. Mary knew she should leave for her mother was very tired and needed her sleep. Yet, she feared, as she had for the last few days, when she left her mother this night, she would slip away forever.

F
inally, Mary knew she could no longer remain, “Goodnight Mother, I’ll see you in the morning,” Mary whispered as she kissed her cheek. Mary quietly left the room, hoping when she awoke, her mother would be with them for one more day.

W
hen Mary awoke the next morning, she saw her father weeping at the table. She went to him and without speaking laid her hand on his shoulder and cried. He gently reached up and patted her hand. Words did not need to be spoken, for Mary knew her mother was gone.

“It
’s over, Mary, your mother passed during the night. Thomas is getting the preacher now.” Her father said visibly shaken. He was always strong and in control. She noticed he had a drink before him. Her mother would not have allowed him to drink so early in the morning. But she was gone now, and her father obviously needed something to get through his pain.

Mary said nothing
as she observed the quiet household. She continued to stand and quietly cry. How could this be happening? Now, she must rely on her father to teach her how to become a young lady. Who would be there to comfort her when she was sick or to help Thomas when he had a scraped knee?

Thomas returned with the preacher
in tow. As plans were made for her mother, Mary was surprised to hear her mother would be buried in the church cemetery. Normally, the church cemetery was for people who could afford to purchase a plot and stone.

Mary had no idea where the money
came from to allow her mother to be buried at the church cemetery. She knew better than to ask her father about money matters. But she was very proud of the fact her mother could now have a tombstone. She would now be able to visit her in the beautiful cemetery not far from their cottage.

T
hey rarely attended church after her mother had taken ill and Mary had not met the new minister before he came to their cottage this morning. She thought the new minister looked nice enough. His eyes seemed kind, his hair had some gray and he was very soft spoken. He wore glasses that seemed too small for his head and he had a small scar on his chin. Mary wondered how he got it.

“Mr. Ball,
I’ll have the dates inscribed on the stone as we discussed earlier. Are you sure you wish the stone to read only the name of Mary Ball? The letter you gave me stated her parents wished to have her maiden name included on the stone.” the minister stated.

“Aye, I
’m sure. They didn’t want anything to do with her while she lived and frankly I’m surprised they sent enough money to cover the burial. Jane wouldn’t have been happy if she’d known I’d written her parents, asking for money. Let’s leave things as they are. I don’t want to discuss this any further in front of the children.”

Mary was confused
. Her father had always told her their grandparents were all dead. She wondered why no one ever mentioned her mother’s parents were alive and why hadn’t they ever come to see her or Thomas.

Mary knew h
er grandparents on her father’s side had died long before Mary was born. Mary realized Thomas, her father and her aunt were the only family she had left, except now for her mother’s parents, which she’d just learned were still living. For reasons unknown, they were not to be a part of the arrangements.

Before the
Minister left, he told Mary and Thomas how sorry he was about their loss and he would see them tomorrow at the funeral service. The house again became eerily quiet.

“Mary, why don’t you go to Miss Minnie’s
shop and make her aware of your mother’s passing. She needs to know it’s finally over. Your mother has left us for a better place.”

“Yes
, Papa.”

“Do you think you
’re able to fix the funeral meal by yourself? I’m not too good in the kitchen, as you know. But I think Miss Minnie might help, if you ask. You’ve managed so far by yourself and neither Thomas nor I’ve made too many complaints, now have we?”

Mary shook her head knowing Thomas and her father ate what little she knew how to fix and rarely complained
, even when she over-cooked it. “I know Miss Minnie will help me. I shall not be long.”

Mary walked the
three blocks to Miss Minnie’s Dress Emporium with great sadness. Her mother had worked for Miss Minnie since Mary was a baby. She claimed Minnie was like the sister she never had. Miss Minnie would often drop by with food when she visited them after her mother had gotten too ill to work. Mary was always grateful when she didn’t have to prepare the meal and could enjoy the wonderful food Miss Minnie brought. 

*****

“Mary, what are you doing here?” Minnie asked after Mary unexpectedly entered the shop, yet, knowing what the answer would be.

“Oh Minnie,” was all Mary got out
as she ran to be held in Minnie’s open arms. She hadn’t planned to fall apart. In fact, she was going to show everyone how brave she was. But when she saw Miss Minnie, Mary found she was unable to hide those tears she’d hidden from everyone for the past several months.

Mary knew they’d only need enough food for the minister, her father, Thomas and Miss Minnie, who was her mother’s employer and dear friend. There was no one else they had contact with except their father’s sister, Aunt Bertha, who had refused to come help them in their time of need. Besides, she lived too far awa
y to make it in time for the funeral.

“Has she passed, child?”
Minnie asked as she rocked the young girl who was obviously heart-broken.

“Aye,
in her sleep last night, what am I suppose to do? I want her back!”

“Everything will turn out fine, Mary, wait and see.
I’ll always be here. I promise.”

Mary felt Minnie stroking her hair and kissing the top of her head.
“Do you think you could hire me to help you? I know I don’t know how to sew, but I can clean the floors and handle the scraps of material which are left from the cuttings. I can start after the funeral on Wednesday. I fear we need the money. Please, Miss Minnie.”

Minnie
knew her own heart breaking as she smiled down and nodded. “Yes, Mary, I think I might be able to use you. If you help me out in the store, I can be sure you are doing alright. I can see you every day but Sunday, the only day we’re closed. As you get older, I’ll teach you the things I know your mother would have wanted for you to learn.

“
I’m sorry for your loss, Mary. Your Mother was my dearest friend. I promised her I’d look after you and Thomas and I plan to do just that!” Minnie was amazed by the inner strength shown in such a young child. Strength she was sure had been inherited from her mother.

“I was hoping you could use me
, Miss Minnie. I think we need the money to put food on the table. At least, father always said he needed the money mother made. I worry how we’ll pay our bills.”

“Your father will see to your needs
, Mary. Don’t you worry any! I’ll start you Monday. How does that sound? You’ll then have a couple extra days to take care of things in the cottage. And I’ll gladly help you with the funeral dinner, if you wish.”

All Mary could do was nod
and bite her lip. Thomas had already taken a job at the docks a few months earlier. Their father had found Thomas work once their mother had become too ill to continue with their book learning. Mary took over the cooking and cleaning the house. It wasn’t near as clean as her mother would have had it, but no one complained.

“I miss her, Miss Minnie. I miss her already!”

“I know child, I know. I miss her, too. I always will.”