Suitor by Design

by Christine Johnson

  “Of the entire country,” Jen snorted. “As if anyone in Pearlman has anything to do with the rest of the world. We’re so far removed from places like New York and Hollywood that it takes years for trends to reach us.”

  That brought a troubling thought. “Would a newcomer think I look silly?”

  “A newcomer? Such as that man driving the Pierce-Arrow?”

  “You know what kind of car it is?” Minnie marveled at her sister’s knowledge of all things mechanical.

  “Of course, but that’s not the point. Was he handsome?”

  Minnie hedged, “I didn’t get a good look at him, but he sure had a nice suit. Did you see those gold cuff links?”

  “Who could miss them?”

  “Are you thinking what I am? Could he be another Mr. Cornelius?” A year ago, nurses at the Battle Creek Sanitarium had told them the story of a wealthy patient, Mr. Cornelius, who fell in love with a nurse and whisked her away to a life of ease. Ever since, the sisters had clung to the hope that just such a philanthropist would give their father the lifesaving treatment he needed.

  “If not Mr. Cornelius,” Jen said, “then surely Mr. Rothenburg.”

  After the sisters had hatched the idea to help each other marry wealthy men, their older sister, Ruth, had literally stumbled into department-store heir Sam Rothenburg and ended up marrying him.

  “But Sam didn’t turn out to be any help,” Minnie pointed out. “Instead of owning a business empire, they run the dress shop and live across the hallway.”

  “They’re in love. Ruthie says that’s most important of all.”

  “I suppose so.” Minnie folded up her hair so it was jaw length. “I just hope Vince likes short hair.”

  “Vince?”

  “That’s the man’s name.”

  “Then you met him.”

  “No,” Minnie had to admit. “Peter told me his name. They’re friends.”

  “I didn’t know that Peter had any friends from out of town. I mean, this Vince doesn’t look like the kind of guy who would work at an orphanage.”

  “I think he did. Peter said something about Vince teaching him carpentry.”

  “Huh. Doesn’t look like a carpenter, either, not with a suit like that.”

  “I know.” Minnie sighed. “He’s a mystery. Isn’t that exciting?”

  “Maybe for you.” Jen snapped the shears again. “So, do you want to make sure he likes short hair before we do this?”

  “Stop stalling.” Minnie squared her shoulders and gripped the seat of the battered oak chair. “I’m ready. Do it now.”

  Jen grabbed a clump of Minnie’s hair and hacked through it. Fourteen inches of dark blond hair dropped to the floor.

  Minnie gasped at the jagged gap and instinctively clapped her hands to her head.

  “Are you all right?” Jen asked.

  Minnie nodded while trying to stifle the tears. “It’s just that I’ve never had it cut before. Not really. Not like this. It looks so—” she searched for a word that wouldn’t offend Jen “—peculiar.”

  “No turning back now, sis.” Jen snapped the shears in front of Minnie’s face. “Unless you want to walk around with a hunk of hair missing. I’ll tell you right now that no guy is going to fall for you looking like this.”

  “Oh, no-o-o,” Minnie wailed.

  “You want me to stop?”

  “No.” Minnie moved her hands from her hair to her eyes. She couldn’t watch. “Cut it all. Now.”

  Jen snipped and snipped until Minnie feared she wouldn’t have any hair left at all. What had she been thinking? Jen had cut her own hair so short that Mother had dropped into a chair speechless when she saw it. Now Minnie would look just as bad, and Vince would never notice her. Not in a good way. She’d have to wear a hat until autumn.

  “All right.” Jen whisked the towel off Minnie’s shoulders. “I’m done.”

  “Do I have anything left?”

  “Just enough.”

  That didn’t make Minnie feel any better. She peeked through her fingers. “Oh, Jen.” She dropped her hands and jumped to her feet to get a better look. “It’s gorgeous. Absolutely perfect.”

  Her head—indeed her whole body—felt lighter, as if she could float off the floor. She cupped the soft ends of her hair where it caressed her jaw. The waves in her hair had turned to loose curls, creating a soft bob. She looked just like the picture on the cover of Photoplay.

  Jen tossed the shears onto the dresser. “Glad you like it. Hope your guy likes it, too.”

  Minnie grinned. “He’s not my guy yet. But after he sees me, he might be.”

  “Oh? He’s still in town?”

  “He’ll be back on Saturday.”

  “Then you have four days to get used to your new hairstyle,” Jen said as she left the bedroom. “I’m getting a cup of tea. Want one?”

  Minnie shook her head.

  Four days. She had to wait four whole days. It might as well be an eternity. Between now and then, Minnie would have to clean houses and work her hands raw getting Mrs. Neidecker’s house ready for the Valentine’s Day Ball. Everyone would stare at her at tomorrow night’s church supper or even on the street. Kate would probably make a snide remark.

  The waiting would be dreadful, but she could bear it if Vince liked her. Saturday! Between now and then, he might decide not to return at all. She couldn’t wait. Peter said Vince was staying the night. There was only one place to stay in Pearlman—Terchie’s boardinghouse. She could meet him there. But to do that, she would need an excuse. An unmarried girl simply did not go to a boardinghouse alone to talk to a man.

  She tapped a finger against her lips and pondered the possibilities. Her gaze wandered over her dresser. Inside the top drawer she’d hidden the face powder and lipstick she’d bought earlier. On top sat the old bottles she’d collected as a child and the talcum powder Mother gave her for Christmas last year. On the wall she’d tacked a calendar that kept track of where she worked each day of the month. Of course! She cleaned houses. She could go to the boardinghouse at breakfast time and ask Mrs. Terchie if she needed help. If Peter’s friend was still there, he’d see her.

  She’d make sure of it.

  Chapter Three

  The next morning, Peter left Constance House before the sun rose. Mariah’s reaction to Vince’s appearance still puzzled him. Sleeping on it hadn’t helped, but the icy predawn air cleared his mind. Vince had changed since Mariah knew him. He’d done well and wanted to spread the wealth. Why not accept his generosity? The income would help everyone. He might even be able to take the older boys off Mariah’s hands after school and teach them carpentry. Best of all, Minnie’s eyes would light up when he offered her the job.

  The sun rose late this time of year. At seven o’clock, it barely grayed the horizon. Peter jammed his hands into his coat pockets and hunched his shoulders against the bone-deep cold. Each breath rose in a white cloud, illuminated by the lights brightening the windows of the houses and businesses he passed.

  Smelled like snow.

  Peter had always been able to sense bad weather. A storm was coming, sure enough. After talking to Minnie, he oughta warn Vince. That car of his might cost a fortune, but it could get just as stuck as a rusty old Model T.

  By the time Peter passed the drugstore, he couldn’t feel his toes. He needed a new pair of work boots, but they would cost his entire savings. Some things were more important than cold feet. Minnie’s pa, for example. He’d make do with this old pair as long as he could. A couple strips of rubber from an old tire would bolster the thin soles.

  “Good morning, Peter,” Pastor Gabe called out as he opened up the church.

  “Morning.” Pastor Gabe was Mariah’s brother. That made him some sort of a relation by marriage. Peter liked Pastor Gabe
. He wasn’t like most preachers. A regular fellow could understand him, and he didn’t traipse around in fancy robes or put on airs. Most times, he dressed no better than Peter, even though his folks had plenty of money. Gabe said God had blessed his family so they could help others. That was why he and Mariah had given so much time and money to the orphanage in New York. That was why she’d opened the one here in Pearlman. Peter remembered them stopping by the New York orphanage almost every day. That was how she’d met Vince. Maybe Pastor Gabe would remember him, too.

  “Hey!” Peter hustled across the street. “Do you have a minute?” Even though he was anxious to catch Minnie, he figured he had a minute or two to spare.

  “Sure, come on in.” Gabe held open the door.

  “No, thanks. I got a simple question. You remember Vince Galbini?”

  “Sure. He helped out at the orphanage. Good with his hands, if I recall.”

  Peter was relieved that Pastor Gabe didn’t look as concerned as his sister.

  Gabe let the door swing shut and tucked his hands in his jacket. “Why do you ask?”

  “He showed up yesterday.”

  “Here? Why would he come to Pearlman?”

  “Back when he stopped working at the orphanage, he promised he’d look me up again.”

  “I remember that. You were disappointed when weeks passed and he didn’t show up. I’m glad he finally kept his promise.”

  Peter wondered if he should tell Pastor Gabe about the job that Vince had offered him. That was what seemed to bother Mariah, but then she was a woman, and women had a way of worrying about things that could drive a man crazy.

  “Anything else?” Pastor Gabe stomped his feet. He must be getting cold toes, too.

  “Nope.” Peter retreated down the church steps. Minnie would be leaving for the dress shop before too long. “I gotta get going. Have a good day.”

  “You, too.”

  Peter hustled back across the street, feeling better about his decision to take the job. He fingered the hundred in his pocket. This would impress Minnie. He grinned when he imagined her look of surprise. She’d probably never seen a hundred-dollar bill before. He hadn’t, and he sure never dreamed he’d hold one.

  After passing the mercantile, he rounded the corner onto the side street. On his right loomed the massive Hutton’s Department Store. The Foxes lived across the alley from it. Second one in. Lights glowed warmly in the kitchen window. The curtains were still drawn, so he couldn’t see who was up, but he figured the whole family would be eating breakfast about now.

  He couldn’t show up at the kitchen door. No, a man had to call on a woman at the front door. That meant crossing the street, going around the corner and navigating the short walkway in the dark. This wasn’t the rich part of town. Most folks didn’t have electricity, and a little town like Pearlman sure didn’t have streetlamps like the big city. He hurried, his breath puffing like a steam locomotive. When he reached the walk, he noticed the front windows were dark. What if Minnie’s pa was resting in the parlor? He paused, unsure whether to continue, wait a while or go to the kitchen door.

  What he wouldn’t give to take Minnie to the church supper tonight. She’d sure look fine on his arm. Maybe he could even convince her to wear her hair loose, instead of all pulled up like she wore it when she was cleaning houses. Peter liked long hair on a woman, and no one had prettier hair than Minnie. The color reminded him of toffee, all warm and sweet and inviting. In the summer, streaks of gold ran through it like shining ribbons. It floated in gentle waves, a little curlier near her temples. Perfect.

  He looked up at the moonless sky and dreamed of taking her to the supper. Ma would smile. She liked Minnie and made little comments suggesting they were meant for each other. Peter liked to see his foster mother smile. She was the kindest woman he’d ever met.

  While he daydreamed at the gate, the front door of the house opened and a slender female slipped out. Dawn’s gray light only silhouetted her, but he’d recognize that figure anywhere. His pulse accelerated as he stepped forward to greet Minnie.

  She bounced down the steps, and he halted in confusion.

  This woman had bobbed hair. It couldn’t be Minnie. Only Jen had short hair, and it wasn’t bobbed. Ruth always wore her hair back in a bun, as did their mother. No other women lived there. Then who on earth was leaving their house so early in the morning?

  * * *

  Minnie almost died of fright when a towering man approached her out of the dark. Though thin, he was big enough to overcome her. Her shriek trumpeted through the still-morning air, but was it loud enough for her mother and sister to hear it all the way back in the kitchen?

  “Keep away,” she warned, raising her fists.

  “It’s me. Peter.”

  “Peter?” She dropped her hands, but her pulse still raced, fear turning to anger. “You frightened me out of my wits. Why are you skulking around in the dark?”

  “Sorry.” He toed the ground, suddenly getting all bashful. “Didn’t mean to scare you. Just wanted to talk.”

  “Talk? At this hour? In the dark?” Oh, that guy could get on her nerves. Of all the rotten timing. Why did he have to show up now, when she was on her way to see Vince? She sure didn’t want Peter following her to the boardinghouse. Neither could she wait. Vince might leave at first light. Maybe sooner. She tapped her toe. “Well, say what you came to say. I can’t wait all day.”

  “What do you got going on that’s so important?”

  She crossed her arms. “It’s none of your business.”

  “Maybe it is. A lady doesn’t go sneaking out of her house in the dark.”

  “It’s not exactly dark, in case you happened to notice.” She tossed her head, delighting in the carefree swing of her new bob, and pushed past him. “Besides, it’s my house. I’m hardly sneaking out of it. I have things to do.”

  He quickly caught up and matched her stride. “Are you going to work?”

  Minnie didn’t want to lie, but she couldn’t have him following along after her, either. “Where I go and what I do is none of your business.”

  “Then you’re not going to work.” He kept pace with her. “If you’re fetching something from the drugstore, I can help carry it.”

  Fiddlesticks. Was he going to follow her the whole way? She couldn’t very well impress Vince with Peter hanging on behind her. Minnie gritted her teeth and quickened her pace. “I’m not going to the drugstore.”

  That had to be obvious, since they’d already passed Terchie’s boardinghouse. She’d have to double back once she shook Peter. If she could shake him. This street didn’t have many businesses, just Terchie’s and the cinema. The movie house wouldn’t open for hours and hours. She could pretend to head for the parsonage, which she cleaned on Saturdays, except it was Wednesday. Moreover, Peter would know she wasn’t supposed to go there, since he was some sort of relation to Pastor Gabe.

  “So, where are you going?” Peter asked. “The flight school’s not open.”

  “I know that.” She halted and planted her hands on her hips. “Don’t you have somewhere to go, Peter Simmons? Like the garage?”

  He shrugged, hands in pockets. “Got some time yet.” He shot her a glance. “Don’t you have to open the shop?”

  “Ruth and Sam do that.” She pulled her coat closed at the neck and fastened the top button. Now that she was standing still, the frigid cold seeped into her bones. She had worn her Sunday gloves, and her fingers were starting to ache.

  Back a block, the side windows of the boardinghouse reflected the crimson clouds on the horizon. That light also revealed the sleek Pierce-Arrow dusted with frost. Vince was still here. If Peter would just leave her alone, she could catch him before he left.

  But Peter was staring at her as if she had a dab of egg yolk stuck on her face.

 
She glared back. “What’s wrong?”

  His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Your hair. Don’t like short hair. But it’s all right.”

  “Oh. Is that all?” She didn’t know why he talked all choppy around her, but it was getting annoying. “Is that why you were standing at our gate?” Impossible. Jen had cut her hair last night. Only the family had seen it. Mother had gasped and fanned herself, but at least she didn’t faint. Ruth had shaken her head. Tears had risen in Daddy’s eyes, but he’d still told her she looked beautiful.

  “Uh, no,” Peter muttered.

  “Then why?”

  He showed no inclination to answer, which only perturbed her more.

  “I don’t have all day,” she snapped. “I need to get going.” Unfortunately she couldn’t walk to the boardinghouse with Peter glued to her side. Maybe if she headed toward the dress shop, he’d go to the garage. Both businesses were located back in the direction from which they’d come.

  Since he made no move to do anything, she trudged back through the ankle-deep snow, regretting that she’d decided to wear her good shoes rather than boots.

  Naturally, he followed. “Me, too. I got to catch up with Vince before he leaves Terchie’s.”

  Minnie growled with frustration. Now she’d never get to see Vince alone. She plodded forward, Vince’s car in her sights. Smoke curled from the boardinghouse’s chimney. Breakfast would be under way by now, with everyone gathered around the table. She supposed her chances of catching Vince alone were slim anyway. Maybe she ought to go there with Peter. It would ensure she actually saw Vince and not just Terchie.

  “What a coincidence.” She forced a laugh. “I was on my way to ask Terchie if she was hiring.”

  Peter’s brow pinched in dismay. “You’re looking for another job? Things not going well at the shop?”

  Minnie wasn’t about to tell him the troubles they faced. He couldn’t help. He didn’t have any more money than they did. Maybe less. “Just looking for a little extra spending money. Why don’t we go there together? You know, take care of two things with one visit.”