Bob stuck his tongue out at Margaret. “We don’t want you anyway.”
Debra brought her hand up to her mouth and gasped.
“I don’t know what kind of woman Hannah was, but she didn’t teach those children any manners. They’ve been flippant ever since the wedding.” Margaret nudged Charles and Ben toward the other woman. “I hope you mean it. You know. About being able to discipline them and all. I give up.” She wiped her hands and gave a loud sigh. “What a relief! I feel so free.” She patted Debra on the back, purposely using more force than necessary but not hurting her. “Good luck. You’ll need it.”
“Margaret-” Joseph began.
“Enough dilly dallyin’. I need you to deliver those barrels for me. Pronto,” Ralph ordered.
Margaret glanced at Ralph who winked at her while Bob snickered. Debra was too busy watching Joseph to notice the silent messages exchanged around her. Margaret hid her smile. That particular kid was much too clever for his own good. She didn’t know how Bob got Ralph to join in, but she could ask later.
Joseph gave Margaret a wary look before he stepped toward the mercantile entrance.
Debra made a move to get close to him, but he edged away from her like a scared little mouse and scurried into his safe hole—the mercantile. Margaret rolled her eyes. If that was how Joseph and Hannah handled Debra—by always running from her—it was no wonder Debra wouldn’t leave.
Bob yanked on Debra’s dress with his sticky hand. Debra yelped but Bob didn’t let go. “We want the park, new Ma.”
“Yeah! We sure do!” Doug chimed in. “Please take us.”
“Please!” Bob added.
Soon, Debra was surrounded by a chorus of pleas to go to the park.
“Better you than me,” Margaret enthusiastically said and headed off down the boardwalk.
She breathed a sigh of relief. Good. Joseph hadn’t stopped her. The plan was still in motion and now she could enact the next part.
Chapter Fourteen
Margaret made her way to Connie James’ residence but didn’t go up to the porch. Instead, she sat on a bench nearby and waited for Jessica to finish her brief visit with Mrs. Lonny. She rehashed exactly what she planned to say when Jessica lured the woman out of her house.
It wasn’t too long before Jessica rounded the corner of the block. Margaret stood and hurried to the house next to Connie’s so that Connie wouldn’t see her. Jessica knocked on the door, holding a quilt that Mrs. Lonny wanted to give Connie. Even if Connie could grieve some people, she managed to be popular. Margaret would never understand it, but then, this served her purpose for this particular moment and she’d use it.
When Connie opened the door, Margaret took a deep breath, straightened her shirt, and got ready for her part. She slipped back onto the sidewalk and pretended to be surprised to see Jessica and Connie.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” Margaret called out as cheerfully as she could manage. Without waiting for an invitation to join them, she walked up the steps of Connie’s porch and gave a contented sigh. “Isn’t it a wonderful day? It’s just the right day for a nice stroll in the park.”
Connie slowly took the quilt from Jessica and said, “Where are those children?”
“What children?” Margaret asked, adjusting her hat. Folding her hands, she looked pointedly at Connie and waited for her to respond.
“The four boys you’re now a mother to,” Connie reminded her, as if she couldn’t believe she had to spell it out.
She laughed and waved her hand. “Oh, those little hellions? I decided that Miss Potter can have them.”
“You what?” Jessica asked in feigned horror.
Margaret shrugged. “It just didn’t work out. I’m going to post an ad for another man. This time, if one comes off the train with a child, I’m going to send him right back home.”
Connie clucked her tongue and shook her head. “I must say that is in poor taste. You made your vows, and now you’re stuck.”
Margaret shrugged. “Vows are made to be broken.”
Jessica sighed. “That’s horrible.”
Connie nodded. “A woman doesn’t shirk her responsibilities. It’s up to you to be their mother, even if they aren’t as good as my Peter.”
“Speaking of which,” Jessica began, “how is he doing these days?”
“Oh, he’s managing. You broke his heart, you know. The poor man doesn’t come out and say it, but he needs a good woman to cook his meals, clean his house, and have his children.”
Margaret took that as her cue. “Where could such a woman be?”