LITMIR.BIZ

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bit back a growl of frustration and rose from the kitchen table, the eviction letter in her hand. She’d spent yesterday evening and all morning trying to get her mother to commit to leasing a room at either Terchie’s Boardinghouse or above the drugstore, but Ma would not settle for less than a house.

      “For the hundredth time, we can’t afford a house. If you won’t decide, then I will. We’re moving to Terchie’s, and that’s that.”

      She crumpled the vile letter, and tossed it into the stove’s firebox.

      Ma looked up from her grocery list. “Should you have done that, dearest?”

      Though Ma had explained that Brandon’s father was the one who’d sold the house, Anna couldn’t forgive Brandon. He could have renegotiated or done something to change the outcome. After all, he was rich. Instead, he was forcing them from their home at Christmastime.

      “We only have twelve days.” Anna laughed bitterly at the irony. “The twelve days of Christmas, only instead of receiving gifts, we’ll sell our belongings.”

      “Why on earth would we do that?”

      “Because they’ll never fit into a boardinghouse room.”

      Pans and dishes filled the kitchen cupboards. Every closet contained linens and clothes and coats and galoshes. And that didn’t even include the attic. Ma had never thrown out Papa’s things. She’d packed them into trunks, which then went into the attic. None of it would fetch more than pennies, but they couldn’t take it with them.

      “We’ll hold a sale this Saturday,” Anna stated. “It will be a lot of work, but we can use the money. We’ll put everything we can lift into the living room, and Hendrick and Peter can move the rest.”

      “Slow down, dearest. There’s no need to get rid of anything. We have plenty of time to find a house. Besides, this coming Saturday is just two days before Christmas. We can’t hold a sale then.”

      “Yes, we can. It’s the perfect time.”

      “But you can’t mean to sell your father’s gifts.”

      Anna choked back tears at the thought of parting with the dolls Papa had given her, but they didn’t have room for sentimental treasures. “Maybe someone who can’t afford new toys this year can get something from us.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “It’s time a little girl used my old dolls. I won’t be having children anytime soon.”

      “Oh, my darling girl. All things in good time. There’s no need to sacrifice your dolls just yet. If we don’t find a house right away, perhaps Mariah and Hendrick will keep them for us at the orphanage.”

      “Maybe,” Anna mumbled, ashamed she hadn’t thought of that solution. “The girls there could enjoy them.” She wiped her tears on her sleeve. “But there are still the rest of our things. They won’t fit into a single room.”

      “Have patience. There’s no need to lease a room just yet,” Ma insisted. “The Lord will provide exactly what we need.”

      “What and how? Tell me exactly, because I don’t see it.”

      “Through faith.”

      “Faith?” Anna pressed a hand to her throbbing forehead. “Faith is fine, Ma, but God expects us to act. We need to leave this house in twelve days. That’s a fact. We haven’t leased another place to stay. That’s another fact. I don’t see a grand house out there with our name on the signpost, and even if there was, we couldn’t afford it. No, we have to rent a room. Terchie’s Boardinghouse is the best option. If something comes up later, we can move again.”

      Ma’s shoulders slumped. “Can’t we wait a bit?”

      “No, we can’t. Nor can we expect Hendrick and Mariah to house all our belongings. The orphanage is overfull as it is, and the factory is still under construction. Neither has room for old pots and pans. We’ll hold a sale.”

      Ma’s hand shook as she lifted a tin soldier from the shelf above the table. From Anna’s favorite doll to Papa’s anniversary gifts to Ma, this shelf traced a lifetime of memories. The toy soldier’s paint had flecked off long ago. “Your father gave this to your brother on his seventh birthday—before you were born,” Ma mused. “He saved every penny so he could buy it. Hendrick loved this soldier. He should have it.” She cupped the toy in the palm of her hand. “Your brother wanted to join the war, but I was so grateful they wouldn’t let him enlist.” Tears misted her eyes.

      Now she’d done it. Anna hadn’t meant to make her mother cry.

      “I’m sorry, Ma.” Anna wrapped her arms around her mother’s shoulders.

      “Good memories.” Ma kissed the top of her head. “I pray you find as wonderful a man as I did.”

      Ma still missed Papa terribly, even after so many years. “I don’t think there’s anyone as wonderful as Papa.”

      “I’m sure there is. He’d be good and caring. He’d value honor and integrity, and he’d love you above all but God.”

      For a moment, Anna allowed herself to sink into girlish dreams. “And he’d be handsome.”

      Ma stroked her hair. “Of course he would be. Take Mr. Brandon, for example. He’s quite handsome.”

      Anna pulled out of her mother’s arms. “No, he’s not.” Though she could hardly take her eyes from him, she wouldn’t admit it to anyone, especially since he’d proven heartless and cruel. “His nose is too large.”

      “It’s perfectly proportioned.”

      “His eyes are too close together.”

      “I found them quite nicely spaced. Deep blue too.”

      “Not blue. They’re gray.”

      “Ah,” Ma said softly, “I must have been mistaken. But you can’t deny he carries himself well. So strong and commanding.”

      “He limps and has to use a cane.”

      Ma clucked her tongue. “Anna Marie, that’s unkind. He suffered an injury. Why, as a boy he ran around like any other child. He must have been hurt in the Great War. That’s something to respect, not turn your nose up at.”

      “But he doesn’t respect us.” An angry tear rolled down her cheek. She could forgive his infirmities but not his actions. “If he really cared, he wouldn’t evict us from our home.”

      “Hush, dear. He is simply doing what he must. We are tenants and have no claim on this house. I always knew this day might come.”

      “You did?”

      Ma looked off into space, lost in the past. “Your father sold this property and his portion of the business to Brandon’s father years ago. I’m afraid your papa wasn’t a very good businessman.” Ma smiled softly. “But I loved him still. He had a heart of gold, would give to anyone who asked for help, even if they didn’t deserve it. I’m afraid some took advantage of him.”

      “Like Mr. Landers.”

      Ma shook her head. “Mr. Landers was simply doing what any businessman would do. Don’t blame others for our own faults.” She ran a finger down Anna’s cheek, wiping dry the track of a tear. “Your father knew that riches in this life did not matter.”

      Anna wasn’t so sure. A decent income would get them out of this predicament. “What about Mr. Thompson? Maybe he can help us. Didn’t he own part of the business?”

      Ma shook her head. “When your father and Mr. Thompson started the garage, your papa took out the loan for both properties. Mr. Thompson worked for him. He never owned a share of the business, even though your father called him a partner.”

      Anna’s heart sank. Was there no way they could keep the house?

      “Sales weren’t too brisk that first year. Before long

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