Free The Heart's War by Lucy Lambert Page B

their places in the kitchen.
    The smell of the bread reminded me how close we'd come to lunch, whetting my appetite. With that bread, I imagined we'd be having sandwiches of some sort.
    Mother and I had been eating sandwiches before our fight, I remembered. My appetite faltered slightly, but remained on its feet. Everything had turned out well so far. Certainly, I'd lost nearly all my possessions: my collection of Bronte novels, my dresses and other clothes, all of my toiletries. But thanks to Marie's kindness I wasn't out a roof over my head, or food in my stomach.
    I'd searched to see if Marie had any interesting novels to read. I'd been wanting to re-read Jane Eyre . But there were few books that weren't philosophy or religion, and no fiction. While that had disappointed me, I hadn't been surprised. Marie didn't seem the type to lose herself in tales of the love lives of British gentry.
    Marie came into the kitchen and sat at the table, laying the various envelopes down. I couldn't make out any of the addresses or names. But I did sit down across from her. It would be rude to start making myself lunch, even though my stomach panged.
    "Any news from Jeff?" I asked, still trying to read the envelopes to see if any were telegrams.
    "None," she said.
    She grabbed an envelope marked with the crest of the Royal Bank of Canada and tore it open. Inside had to be several hundred dollars in newly minted bills. Marie counted them out on the table as I frowned. What was she doing with all this money?
    I watched in silence as she licked one thumb and continued counting. Outside, a horn howled its protest and a horse whinnied in return. The sunlight came in through the windows, catching the dust in the air and leaving shimmering patterns of shadow across the countertop. I grasped my knees and smiled in my ignorance. I hoped that she'd mention lunch soon. I didn't know how much longer I could keep my stomach quiet.
    Then Marie sat back, blinking. She had the tip of her tongue held lightly between her teeth.
    "Yes," she said finally, "This should be enough."
    "Enough for what, Marie?"
    "Oh," Marie said, jerking slightly at my interruption as though she'd forgotten that I sat right across from her.
    "First, Eleanor, let me apologize for being so secretive earlier. I just didn't want to tell you without first knowing whether it was possible. I didn't want to get your hopes up only to chop them off at the knee, you see?"
    I had no idea what she was talking about. I kept looking down at the little stacks of bills. She'd tapped them all against the table to straighten them out. What was all this money for?
    "Tell me what, Marie?" I asked.
    "Well, with the trains all in use for transporting our boys and moving all those supplies around, I didn't know if I'd be able to get a ticket. But I spoke to a boy who works there—he's the son of one of Jeff's father's friends—and he said that he could sell me a ticket..."
    "A ticket to go where, Marie? For whom?" I asked. My fingers had tightened around my knees, rumpling that plain skirt I had on. My stomach had clenched, and my mouth had gone dry. What was she getting at? Something about her tone, her smile, sent my heart racing. The kitchen felt like it had jumped ten degrees hotter in moments.
    Marie laughed. She got up from her chair, came around the table, and hugged me, pulling the side of my face against hers. Her hair smelled of soap, and the shoulder of her blouse scratched against the underside of my jaw. I hugged her back, still confused. But I did smile. Her laughter sounded so happy. I just wished that I knew why.
    "Oh, Eleanor! I got you a ticket to go to Halifax! You'll be leaving tomorrow!"
    My trembling turned to outright shaking, and I gripped handfuls of Marie's blouse as I pulled her closer.
    "Marie! That's wonderful, just wonderful..." I said. I had to swallow a lump rising up my throat, and moisture built in the corners of my eyes, waiting for the opportunity to fall down my