Free Promise of Yesterday by S. Dionne Moore Page A

Marylu regarded herself as a lady, but a woman, of course. Even if regarded by others as a servant who happened to have black skin.
    “I know how much his attentions mean to Miss McGreary. It must pain her deeply to watch his attention shift to me.”
    Marylu took another hard stab at the material and poured out every prayer for grace she could think of. Let the woman blather on about her catch. If Aaron Walck thought Sally Worth worth his time, then he wasn’t the one for Jenny.
    “The material is so soft and so beautiful and so expensive,” she purred. “But daddy told me to get what I wanted.”
    Marylu had no idea why Sally’s daddy would be so keen on his daughter marrying a widower, versus one of the other nice and never-married young men in town. Unless it meant money.
    “Daddy thinks his business, combined with Aaron’s, could be very prosperous.”
    Marylu hid the small smile that twitched at her lips. Let people talk long enough and they’ll answer all the questions for you.
    Sally tapped her foot, and Marylu imagined the woman was getting tired of carrying on a one-sided conversation. “Jenny said the dress would be done this afternoon.”
    She raised her eyes to the young woman. “Done so that you can try it on but not done for you to take home. Miss McGreary’ll want to fit you before finishing the dress.” She lowered her eyes again. “I’ll be finished basting it up in about fifteen minutes.”
    The sound of voices carried from the back. Mrs. Burns and Jenny made their way into the room. “I’ll send Teddy over to pick up the gowns tomorrow morning.”
    “That would be fine, Mrs. Burns.”
    Without further conversation, but a nod to Sally, the elder woman glided toward the door and pulled it open.
    Tension seemed to build as Miss Jenny turned to face Sally. The smile on her friend’s face flattened at the corners and proved, at least to Marylu, how stressful Sally’s presence was.
    “I hope Marylu has helped you, Miss Worth.”
    Marylu watched Sally swell up for her response. Something caught Marylu’s eye at the front of the store, where the door never had shut upon Mrs. Burns’s exit. Instead, another person entered, tall and handsome. As Sally’s voice raised in irritation at Jenny, Marylu nodded to Aaron Walck. He returned the greeting almost absently, his attention hooked on Sally and Jenny and the tirade falling from Sally’s lips.
    “And it’s not even done yet! I’ve got a busy schedule, and now I’ll have to wait until tomorrow. I wanted to wear it to the minstrel show at Town Hall. You better hope it gives me enough time to find new shoes!”
    Jenny gave Marylu a sideways glance.
    Marylu signaled with her eyes at the tall form standing just inside the door, even as she responded to Sally’s words. “Told her I’d be done with the basting in fifteen minutes.”
    When Jenny caught sight of the newcomer, she gasped.
    Sally turned. “Aaron! Did you get what you needed at the hardware store?”
    Marylu’s stomach soured at the hypocrisy of the woman.
    Jenny’s expression showed nothing. “If you could wait, Miss Worth, I’m sure Marylu will be as good as her word and have the dress basted for a fitting.” There were equal parts steel and politeness in Jenny’s voice.
    Sally sashayed over to Aaron and took his arm. “We were just talking about my dress for the variety show. Want to see it?”
    Aaron stared down at Sally for a full minute before allowing himself to be drawn closer to the spot where Marylu worked over the fabric. She didn’t see one bit of warmth in the man’s demeanor and hoped that witnessing Sally’s tirade might help him realize his mistake.
    “As I said,” Sally’s voice held a forced edge of gentleness as she finally replied to Jenny’s suggestion, “I can’t wait. Aaron is taking me on a picnic.” She gazed up at him with more heat than Marylu thought fitting.
    Aaron grimaced. “About that …” He fidgeted. “I won’t be able to