Free Tender Love by Irene Brand Page A

Mark’s reaction.”
    â€œPerhaps he won’t know about it.”
    â€œWith two kids involved, to say nothing of Ethel, whom I’m convinced reports to Mark on everything I do! He’ll hear about it.”
    The Sabertons and Ethel left about the same time, and Alice went to check on Eddie. He was in bed, and Kristin was reading to him. Alice sat down on the edge of his bed.
    â€œTummy sore?” she asked, as she gently lifted the blanket and ran her hand over his stomach. She couldn’t see a bruise of any kind.
    â€œJust a little,” Eddie said, “but Ethel said I’dhave to stay in bed. I wanted to play some more and show Troy Saberton that I’m not a sissy.”
    Alice lifted Eddie and cradled him in her arms. “Of course, you aren’t a sissy. That could have happened to any of us. Troy didn’t mean to hurt you. You rest until dinner is ready, and you can get up then.”
    At that inauspicious moment, Mark bolted into the room.
    â€œDaddy, you’re home early,” Kristin said.
    He didn’t answer her, but rushed over to Eddie. “Are you all right, Son?” He ignored Alice, and she gave him her place on the bed and left the room.
    She stood at the sink peeling potatoes when he entered the kitchen fifteen minutes later. She supposed he’d gotten the whole story from the children—hopefully they’d described the situation more correctly than Ethel would have done. Alice turned to face him, and he was angry—she’d seen him disillusioned, discouraged and downhearted, but she hadn’t seen him angry until this moment. His blue eyes flashed like steel, and his lips trembled.
    â€œI told you to take it easy with him. I hadn’t paid much attention before when Ethel told me you were pushing Eddie to try things he shouldn’t do.”
    She resented being put on the defensive, and she spoke more harshly than she would normally have done. “And his doctor told me that Eddie has been pampered too long and that he should be treated like any other boy. Every time Ethel comes here, she undermines any progress he’s made by telling him he’s sick.”
    Alice was so disappointed that Mark had chosen to believe Ethel rather than her, that her normallylow voice was shrill when she continued, “If you want Ethel to take care of your children, that’s your decision, but if I stay, she has to stop interfering.”
    â€œI usually don’t pay much attention to Ethel, but it’s obvious that Eddie could have been hurt badly today. What if that ball had hit him in the head?”
    â€œI’m terribly sorry that Eddie was hurt, but if he lives a normal life, he’s bound to have these accidents. Have you forgotten what it’s like to be a boy? If he doesn’t get out of that room and learn to play with other children, he’s always going to be a recluse.”
    â€œHe’s my child—don’t you think I can make the right decisions for him?”
    Alice wanted to tell him that he hadn’t made the right decision when he stopped taking his children to Sunday school, but this wasn’t the time to bring up that subject.
    â€œIn three days, I will have been here a month when we were to determine if I was suited for this position, but it isn’t too early to make the decision now. Perhaps I have overstepped my authority, but I only did what I thought was best for Eddie, while at the same time trying to lift the burden you’re carrying. If you can’t see that Kristin and Eddie are happier, better adjusted children than they were when I came, I want to leave. I’m going to finish dinner now, but before the evening’s over, I want to know your decision.”
    Ignoring the stricken look in his eyes at her words, she turned her back and tried to peel potatoes with hands that trembled. The blood pounded so loudly in her head that she couldn’t hear, so she felt his