Mail Order Matron (Brides of Beckham Book 9) by Kirsten Osbourne Page B
Authors: Kirsten Osbourne
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“So you’re blaming the fact that you’re fat on me? Don’t you talk to me that way! You’ll respect me!”
Julia forced the memories out of her head while she picked up the casseroles. She made the slow walk across town carrying six of them. She’d carefully labeled who the dish needed to be returned to for each one, but there was only one place in town she knew of that could consume that many casseroles.
She didn’t want to set the dishes down, so she gently kicked the back door of the orphanage, hoping it would sound as if she was knocking. When an older woman, Rebecca Spivey, who had worked there when she’d volunteered just after finishing school, opened the door, she smiled. “A lot of different people brought me casseroles when my mother died. They’re going to go bad if they don’t get eaten.”
Mrs. Spivey smiled, clasping her hands to her bosom. “Julia! It’s been ages.” She took the casseroles and set them on the counter before turning to hug Julia. “I’m sorry to hear about your mother, but so happy to see you.”
Julia smiled and accepted the woman’s invitation to sit. “She just died two days ago, so I’m at a loss for what to do next.” She shook her head. “I know I’ll pack up her things and donate them. Money isn’t really a problem, but all my friends have moved on. I really don’t know anyone anymore. Mother resented every minute I spent anywhere but with her.”
Mrs. Spivey frowned. “I always hated that you devoted all your time and energy to her. At least for the first month or two, she still let you come here, but after that you were her slave. You should have hired someone to come in, if only for a few hours per week, so you could have time to do the things you wanted to do.”
“Mother didn’t want that. She said that if I wasn’t with her, she had no idea what kind of shenanigans I’d be up to.”
“Once her things are packed, you’re welcome to come back here. We can always use the help. I know volunteering is probably not what you’re thinking about doing, but at least you wouldn’t be alone all the time.”
Julia nodded. “I’m certain you’ll be seeing a lot more of me as I work through what I want to do next.”
“Have you thought about marriage?”
Julia laughed. “I was all set to marry before Mother got sick. Who would I marry now? Joseph married thirteen years ago.” She’d never forget the day he’d come to her and told her he was going to start courting Mary. She had cried and cried. She’d understood of course, but that hadn’t made her feel any less terrible about it. The man she loved had given up on her and was off to marry someone else.
Mrs. Spivey nodded slowly before standing up to get something. She came back and put the local newspaper in front of Julia, pointing to an ad. “It’s in there every day, and has been for years. Wording is a little different now, but I think that’s what you should do.”
Julia looked at the advertisement, her eyes widening with surprise. “Mail Order Bride agency needs women who are looking for the adventure of their lives. Men out West need women to marry. Reply in person at 300 Rock Creek Road. See Miss Elizabeth Miller.”
A mail order bride? She’d heard women did things like that, but there was an agency for it right here in Beckham? Was she that desperate to get away?
Julia’s eyes met Mrs. Spivey’s. “I’ll think about it. I’m not sure if I’m quite that desperate yet.”
Mrs. Spivey shook her head. “I don’t see it as desperation. You’re not doing it for money.” She took Julia’s hands in hers. “You have lived with your mother doing nothing but caring for her for years and years. You can’t have happy memories in that house. I’ve met your mother and can only imagine the way she’s talked to you over the years.”
Julia didn’t respond, but her eyes
Julia forced the memories out of her head while she picked up the casseroles. She made the slow walk across town carrying six of them. She’d carefully labeled who the dish needed to be returned to for each one, but there was only one place in town she knew of that could consume that many casseroles.
She didn’t want to set the dishes down, so she gently kicked the back door of the orphanage, hoping it would sound as if she was knocking. When an older woman, Rebecca Spivey, who had worked there when she’d volunteered just after finishing school, opened the door, she smiled. “A lot of different people brought me casseroles when my mother died. They’re going to go bad if they don’t get eaten.”
Mrs. Spivey smiled, clasping her hands to her bosom. “Julia! It’s been ages.” She took the casseroles and set them on the counter before turning to hug Julia. “I’m sorry to hear about your mother, but so happy to see you.”
Julia smiled and accepted the woman’s invitation to sit. “She just died two days ago, so I’m at a loss for what to do next.” She shook her head. “I know I’ll pack up her things and donate them. Money isn’t really a problem, but all my friends have moved on. I really don’t know anyone anymore. Mother resented every minute I spent anywhere but with her.”
Mrs. Spivey frowned. “I always hated that you devoted all your time and energy to her. At least for the first month or two, she still let you come here, but after that you were her slave. You should have hired someone to come in, if only for a few hours per week, so you could have time to do the things you wanted to do.”
“Mother didn’t want that. She said that if I wasn’t with her, she had no idea what kind of shenanigans I’d be up to.”
“Once her things are packed, you’re welcome to come back here. We can always use the help. I know volunteering is probably not what you’re thinking about doing, but at least you wouldn’t be alone all the time.”
Julia nodded. “I’m certain you’ll be seeing a lot more of me as I work through what I want to do next.”
“Have you thought about marriage?”
Julia laughed. “I was all set to marry before Mother got sick. Who would I marry now? Joseph married thirteen years ago.” She’d never forget the day he’d come to her and told her he was going to start courting Mary. She had cried and cried. She’d understood of course, but that hadn’t made her feel any less terrible about it. The man she loved had given up on her and was off to marry someone else.
Mrs. Spivey nodded slowly before standing up to get something. She came back and put the local newspaper in front of Julia, pointing to an ad. “It’s in there every day, and has been for years. Wording is a little different now, but I think that’s what you should do.”
Julia looked at the advertisement, her eyes widening with surprise. “Mail Order Bride agency needs women who are looking for the adventure of their lives. Men out West need women to marry. Reply in person at 300 Rock Creek Road. See Miss Elizabeth Miller.”
A mail order bride? She’d heard women did things like that, but there was an agency for it right here in Beckham? Was she that desperate to get away?
Julia’s eyes met Mrs. Spivey’s. “I’ll think about it. I’m not sure if I’m quite that desperate yet.”
Mrs. Spivey shook her head. “I don’t see it as desperation. You’re not doing it for money.” She took Julia’s hands in hers. “You have lived with your mother doing nothing but caring for her for years and years. You can’t have happy memories in that house. I’ve met your mother and can only imagine the way she’s talked to you over the years.”
Julia didn’t respond, but her eyes
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