oldest sister had married the brother of Pastor Gabe’s wife.
She took a deep breath. “Ruth got bad news from New York last night. The company isn’t going to buy her designs.”
If anything, Peter looked more crestfallen. “Sorry.”
Her fingers were getting numb again. “I’ll ask Ruthie if she wants to do it.”
“I suppose.” But his shoulders drooped.
She wasn’t waiting around to ask why. “’Bye, then.”
After he echoed the farewell, she headed for home while he trudged toward the garage. For some reason, having her work on the car mattered to him. If not for Ruth’s tears, Minnie might have snatched at the opportunity, but to keep Vince coming back, the work had to be done right, and Minnie was an amateur next to her sister. Besides, she could always come along whenever Vince was in town. Ruth might need her help. Minnie could carry something for her or hold the leather in place or something.
The kitchen was steamy hot when Minnie stepped inside. She wiped off the face powder and lipstick with a handkerchief and then tugged off her good gloves and shoved them into her coat pocket before her mother saw them.
Mother sat at the table mixing flour into milk and yeast to make bread dough. “You were out early this morning.”
“I had something to do.” Minnie held her numb fingers near the coal stove’s firebox. “Do you want help?”
“I thought you were working in the shop this morning.”
Minnie glanced at the clock. “It’s not nine o’clock yet.”
“You know your sister wants you there before the shop opens.”
Minnie sighed. Go here. Do this. Take care of that. The duties never seemed to end. Already the excitement of Vince’s arrival had worn off. Though he’d greeted her in the romantic European fashion and called her darling, she didn’t feel the flutter of excitement that she’d expected. It was more like...well, like greeting an uncle or older brother. How disappointing. Worse, the flutter had shown up when she least expected it. Why should Peter’s statement that she could do anything send her stomach flip-flopping? Why then? Why Peter? He was just a friend, wasn’t he?
“Go now.” Mother motioned toward the door with flour-covered hands.
Minnie dragged her feet across the room.
“And put on boots,” Mother chided. “Your good shoes are for Sunday only.” She sighed. “Ask Ruth to trim up that dreadful mop of hair when you get there. It should at least look neat.”
Minnie picked up her boots, stiff and dry from sitting near the stove overnight, and sat in the nearest chair. This day was going from bad to worse in a hurry.
She hadn’t finished lacing the boots when Ruth pushed open the door, letting in a blast of icy-cold air. Ruth’s face glowed pink from the cold, and she stomped the snow off her boots.
“I’m coming,” Minnie said, tying off one lace, “as soon as I get my boots on.”
Ruth didn’t seem to hear her. “We’ve come to a decision, Mother.” Her eyes shone bright.
Mother stopped working the dough. “A decision about what?”
“I promised Sam I’d tell you and Daddy at the same time, but I’ll burst if I can’t tell someone right away.”
Mother rose on shaky legs, her face drawn in concern. “The baby?”
Ruth touched her abdomen. “Fine. Perfectly fine. Nothing’s wrong, Mother. In fact, everything’s right. We’re going to New York!” She let out a squeak, which was about as excited as Ruth ever got.
Mother sank back into her chair. “New York City?”
“Yes. Sam thinks we have a better chance of selling my designs in person. He wants to show them to the clothing-line representatives. You know how persuasive he can be.” She paced around the kitchen, more animated than Minnie had ever seen her. “Mariah’s parents offered to let us stay with them. The train fare isn’t too terribly much, and you and Minnie can run the shop while we’re gone.”
“Me?” It was Minnie’s turn to squeak.
“You know how to do everything,” Ruth said, “and Mother will help. Daddy is handling the orders and bookkeeping. It’ll be a breeze.” She turned back to Mother. “Isn’t it exciting?”
Mother frowned. “I understand Sam going. His business sense and contacts are essential, but are you sure you should travel, what with the baby and all?”
“Mother, I’m only three months along.” Ruth sat down, still coiled with eager excitement. “Where Sam goes, so will I.”
Mother pulled a hand away and tugged a handkerchief from her apron pocket. “Like Naomi and Ruth, going to a strange land.”
“Don’t worry,” Ruth said. “We’ll be back long before the baby is born. Why, we’ll probably return before the end of winter.”
Mother managed a feeble smile. “I’ll miss you, dear.”
“Me, too.” Ruth hugged their mother. “There is one thing I need to ask.”
Mother pulled away. “What is that?”
Ruth ducked her head. “The fare. We don’t quite have enough saved. I wondered if you might loan us the rest.”
“You’ll have to ask your father.”
Ruth hurried off to do just that, but Minnie knew what the answer would be. Daddy would never deny his most talented daughter a chance at her dream. That left Minnie at home and in charge of the shop. The responsibility was enormous.
Mother must have realized that, too, because she gave her a very stern look. “Are you ready to take charge, Miss Wilhelmina?”
Minnie cringed at her full name. Mother only used it when angry or extremely serious. “I guess so.”
“Humph,” Mother grunted, returning to the bread dough. “We’ll see what your father says. This will be an added burden on him.” She looked up. “And you’ll have to quit your cleaning jobs in order to manage the shop.”
Minnie hadn’t thought of that. Though she’d longed to stop cleaning houses, quitting those jobs meant less money coming in. They would have to get even more frugal. No more cherry sodas or magazines. No frivolous purchases at all, unless she took the job that Peter had offered. Ruth couldn’t do it. Ten dollars would buy a lot of food. She would have to accept the offer—and pray that Vince found her so enchanting that he overlooked the poor workmanship.
* * *
Peter stepped away from Mr. Kensington’s Packard and scratched his head. His plan had gone wrong somehow. Now he was stuck working with Ruth instead of Minnie. Worse, Minnie had tittered and giggled at everything Vince said. It was disgusting. What could she see in Vince? He must be ten years older than her. Then again, she’d been fascinated by Reggie Landers,
