Suitor by Design. Christine Johnson
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Peter smashed the last pea. “Maybe I will.” If he got up the nerve. But if Minnie turned him down—which she probably would—he’d feel worse than he already did. “Maybe I won’t,” he added, just in case.
“If Mr. Galbini decides to stay longer, please invite him to stay here with us.”
“That’s not necessary, ma’am.” Peter couldn’t quite imagine Vince in a house full of orphans. But it was big of Mariah to offer the invitation. “Thank you, though.”
“You’re welcome,” she said with a soft smile.
Still, the raw undercurrent of concern hung in the air. For some reason, she didn’t trust Vince, but Peter did. He had to. Vince offered hope. If Peter did this job right, maybe Vince’s boss would hire him to do more work. More work meant more income. He could help out Hendrick and Mariah. If there was enough work, maybe he could teach a couple of the older orphans to help out. And if the work included upholstery... The thought of working with Minnie made any risk worthwhile.
Today, she’d come to see him. In all the years he’d known Minnie, she’d never set foot in the garage. Nor had she come to Constance House. She barely acknowledged him at church. In school, she’d made faces at him, probably because he’d played tricks on her. She constantly pointed out that she was four months older than him—or at least she thought she was. He’d never told anyone that he’d lied about his age. But today she’d come to the garage to see him. And she’d complimented his woodworking. Maybe he stood a chance. Maybe she’d even agree to go to the church supper with him.
Winning over Minnie Fox would take effort. Asking her to help with the upholstery might be a good start. He’d find her first thing in the morning, before the dress shop opened. He fingered the hundred-dollar bill in his pocket. Maybe that would catch her attention.
* * *
“Cut it just like this.” Minnie pointed to the picture on the cover of Photoplay and settled onto the chair in front of the cracked wall mirror. The silver beneath the glass had been scratched and tarnished years ago, so her reflection looked wavy.
Jen gathered a handful of Minnie’s long hair and snapped open the shears. “Are you sure?”
The sound of the shears made Minnie hesitate. Her hair had always been long. This was a big step. She gripped the magazine and squeezed. After Ruth and Sam’s devastating news that the clothing company hadn’t bought her designs, this family could use a change. If short hair brought fame to moving-picture actresses, it could change her life, too. Maybe one day, she would step on the stage to grand applause. Wouldn’t that make everyone take note?
She took a deep breath. “I’m ready, but make it quick.”
Instead of snipping, Jen hesitated. “Mother will have a conniption. You know how she says that you have her hair.”
“Which she always wears up so no one can see it.”
“And that she thinks bobbed hair is boyish and a symbol of the ‘degradation of our country’s youth.’” Jen perfectly mimicked their mother’s tone of voice.
In spite of her nerves, Minnie laughed. “I’d hate to become a symbol.”
“Of the entire country,” Jen snorted. “As if anyone in Pearlman has anything to do with the rest of the world. We’re so far removed from places like New York and Hollywood that it takes years for trends to reach us.”
That brought a troubling thought. “Would a newcomer think I look silly?”
“A newcomer? Such as that man driving the Pierce-Arrow?”
“You know what kind of car it is?” Minnie marveled at her sister’s knowledge of all things mechanical.
“Of course, but that’s not the point. Was he handsome?”
Minnie hedged, “I didn’t get a good look at him, but he sure had a nice suit. Did you see those gold cuff links?”
“Who could miss them?”
“Are you thinking what I am? Could he be another Mr. Cornelius?” A year ago, nurses at the Battle Creek Sanitarium had told them the story of a wealthy patient, Mr. Cornelius, who fell in love with a nurse and whisked her away to a life of ease. Ever since, the sisters had clung to the hope that just such a philanthropist would give their father the lifesaving treatment he needed.
“If not Mr. Cornelius,” Jen said, “then surely Mr. Rothenburg.”
After the sisters had hatched the idea to help each other marry wealthy men, their older sister, Ruth, had literally stumbled into department-store heir Sam Rothenburg and ended up marrying him.
“But Sam didn’t turn out to be any help,” Minnie pointed out. “Instead of owning a business empire, they run the dress shop and live across the hallway.”
“They’re in love. Ruthie says that’s most important of all.”
“I suppose so.” Minnie folded up her hair so it was jaw length. “I just hope Vince likes short hair.”
“Vince?”
“That’s the man’s name.”
“Then you met him.”
“No,” Minnie had to admit. “Peter told me his name. They’re friends.”
“I didn’t know that Peter had any friends from out of town. I mean, this Vince doesn’t look like the kind of guy who would work at an orphanage.”
“I think he did. Peter said something about Vince teaching him carpentry.”
“Huh. Doesn’t look like a carpenter, either, not with a suit like that.”
“I know.” Minnie sighed. “He’s a mystery. Isn’t that exciting?”
“Maybe for you.” Jen snapped the shears again. “So, do you want to make sure he likes short hair before we do this?”
“Stop stalling.” Minnie squared her shoulders and gripped the seat of the battered oak chair. “I’m ready. Do it now.”
Jen grabbed a clump of Minnie’s hair and hacked through it. Fourteen inches of dark blond hair dropped to the floor.
Minnie gasped at the jagged gap and instinctively clapped her hands to her head.
“Are you all right?” Jen asked.
Minnie nodded while trying to stifle the tears. “It’s just that I’ve never had it cut before. Not really. Not like this. It looks so—” she searched for a word that wouldn’t offend Jen “—peculiar.”
“No turning back now, sis.” Jen snapped the shears in front of Minnie’s face. “Unless you want to walk around with a hunk of hair missing. I’ll tell you right now that no guy is going to fall for you looking like this.”
“Oh, no-o-o,” Minnie wailed.
“You want me to stop?”
“No.” Minnie moved her hands from her hair to her eyes. She couldn’t watch. “Cut it all. Now.”
Jen snipped and snipped until Minnie feared she wouldn’t have any hair left at all. What had she been thinking? Jen had cut her own hair so short that Mother had dropped into a chair speechless when she saw it. Now Minnie would look just as bad, and Vince would never notice her. Not in a good way. She’d have to wear a hat until autumn.
“All right.” Jen whisked the towel off Minnie’s shoulders. “I’m done.”
“Do I have anything left?”
“Just enough.”
That didn’t make Minnie feel any better. She peeked through her fingers. “Oh, Jen.” She dropped her hands and jumped to her feet to get a better look. “It’s gorgeous. Absolutely perfect.”