Circle of Love(46)

Mrs. Dunkling nodded. “I know what to do with unhappy boys,” she said. “Give them a lot of love.”

Mr. Knowles gave his approval of the Dunklings, and Frances helped them fill out the proper papers. She hugged Harry, wiping away some of his tears, but he stiffened, and she could feel his anger.

“Harry,” Frances whispered, “the Dunklings are good people. They’ll be good to you and make you happy.”

“How can I be happy without Adam?” Harry said, but he allowed Mr. Dunkling to take his hand as they left the building.

Another couple stepped up. The man was plump, with rosy cheeks and deep laugh lines in his face. His wife was tall and thin and looked as if she rarely smiled.

“We’re Ethel and Carl Oliver,” the woman said. “We’ve been approved by the committee—just ask Arthur Knowles. Everything’s in order, and we’d like to sign up to take Jessie with us.”

Frances glanced at Mr. Knowles, who smiled and nodded. Frances suddenly remembered what Sheriff Malloy’s wife had said about committee members approving their best customers or best friends without question, even though they might not be the most satisfactory parents.

Mrs. Oliver kept a steady gaze on Frances. “Could we please sign the papers now? We have a long ride back to our farm.”

“I have some questions first,” Frances said. “Do you have other children?”

“I gave birth to five. Two survived childhood. They’re grown and off on their own.”

“What is the purpose in taking Jessie?”

Mrs. Oliver bristled, but Mr. Oliver chuckled. “Our house is too quiet. We’d like to have a child in the house,” he said.

Frances took Jessie aside. “Do you want to go with the Olivers?” she asked. “You have the choice to go or not.”

Jessie looked around the room. “I’d say I didn’t have much of a choice. This is the third stop and no one’s wanted me until now.”

“I promise you, Jessie, I’ll find a family who’ll make you happy,” Frances said.

Jessie shrugged. “The Olivers are all right. She’s down in the mouth, but he laughs a lot. I’d just as soon know I’ll have a home than have to go through all this again.”

Frances made sure the papers were in order and watched Jessie—still solemn-faced—being led away.

Only a few people were left in the room when an elderly couple entered. They paused, glanced around, then made their way directly to Aggie.

The woman was arthritic and walked slowly and carefully, the man’s hand under her elbow to steady her. They smiled at Aggie, and Frances sighed with relief. Their smiles were warm and their eyes were kind. Frances hurried to join them.

“We’re Bertha and Eldon Bradon,” the man said.

“We’re so glad you’re here,” Mrs. Bradon said to Aggie. “We wanted a girl.”

Aggie’s mouth fell open in surprise. She struggled to compose herself and said, “You want me?”

“What’s your name, child?” Mr. Bradon asked.

“Aggie. That is, it’s Agatha Mae Vaughn,” Aggie answered.

“A beautiful name,” Mr. Bradon said.

“We live less than a mile from this school, Aggie,” Mrs. Bradon told her, “and we’ve always felt that learning is important. So come late September, after the harvest, when school starts up again, you’ll be enrolled. How do you feel about going to school?”

“I like to read, and I’m good with my numbers,” Aggie answered.

Mr. Bradon’s eyes twinkled. “I knew you would be,” he said. “I could tell right off you were smart.”

Frances saw the corners of Aggie’s lips turn down as she glanced at Mrs. Bradon’s twisted fingers. “I know why you want me. It’s to do your household chores,” she said bluntly.

Mrs. Bradon looked surprised. “Only your share, dear. In a family, everyone helps,” she said.

Aggie looked from Mrs. Bradon to Mr. Bradon and back again. Seemingly embarrassed by her outburst, she said, “I do want to help around the house, and I’m good at sewing, too.”

“Will you come with us and be our little girl?” Mrs. Bradon asked.

Aggie threw a quick, desperate glance at Frances. Frances knew that Aggie had been hoping for young parents to love her. Frances smiled and nodded at Aggie, hoping she’d get the message. There was no rule that parents had to be young. The Bradons were kind, loving people.

Aggie glanced around the nearly empty room and then at Eddie, who sat alone on one side of the stage. “I’ll come with you,” she said.

After arrangements had been made with the Bradons, Aggie surprised Frances by impulsively wrapping her in a goodbye hug.