Reverie (Hollow Hearts Book 1) Read Free

never quite adjust to the sternness those eyes held. “I must tell you that my sister is not well.”
    “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear her health is poor,” Hetty said as she reached out and touched the woman’s hand.
    “Thank you, child. Her health is struggling and she has informed me in her letter that she has grown quite lonely. I imagine she has been unable to be as involved as she used to with social outings. I tell you this because she has asked me to return to Philadelphia.”
    Hetty leaned back against the soft fabric of the couch. Is there a possibility she might travel to Philadelphia? Might I be going with her?
    “I’ve decided to take her up on her offer. She is my only sibling and, frankly, my only living family. Samuel and I were never blessed with children so my sister is really all that I have left.”
    “I understand, Mrs. Calhoun. Family should come first, especially in a time of crisis,” Hetty said, nodding her head in agreement.
    “Indeed, child. With that said, I’ll be making arrangements to relocate to Philadelphia for the foreseeable future. I can’t say with any amount of certainty when I shall return to Hollow.”
    “It is too soon to worry about returning when you have yet to see your sister,” Hetty said, knowing any travel plans would require a bit of leeway for weather and the uncertain circumstance of poor health.
    “Exactly. I will have Solomon escort me to Philadelphia and assist with my travels. He will then return here and tend to the house until I see fit to return.”
    The news left Hetty shocked. “Oh, I see.”
    “I ask for your understanding, child. When I first received my sister’s letter and made the decision to travel to Philadelphia, I was planning to have you accompany me so we could carry on our arrangement. But my sister’s house is well staffed and I realized that, by spending my time tending to her, I’ll have no need of companionship.” Mrs. Calhoun said, knowing the words sounded harsh, but she’d never shied away from truth.
    Hetty diverted her eyes and willed herself to hold back tears. What will I do, Lord? Where will I go if Mrs. Calhoun doesn’t need me anymore? I’m too old to return to the orphanage now. A hundred questions ran through her mind as she processed the news, the news that soon she would be without a place to live and without a job. This was the last thing she expected and the news nearly made her lose her breath.
    Hetty was struggling to keep her emotions under control and she knew she couldn’t hide them from Mrs. Calhoun. While Mrs. Calhoun normally held little patience for emotional displays, Hetty knew the she would understand the news would be troubling. It wasn’t Mrs. Calhoun’s intent to hurt her, and she knew that caring for a family member was the right choice for Mrs. Calhoun.
    “I understand this is a shock, child. I fully expected to remain here in the home I built with my dear Samuel until the Good Lord called me home. Frankly, I detest travel these days. All the dust and stuffy train cars make for a terrible experience. It’s not like it was when I was younger and Samuel and I would travel together. But, I cannot leave my sister with no one to care for her besides a staff of paid employees. I plan to give you a good reference, and I will do my best to assist you in securing other employment before my departure.”
    With her voice registering barely above a whisper, Hetty asked, “When do you plan to make the trip?”
    “I’ll be leaving in ten days. I want to make the journey and be settled before the weather turns cold. As I said, I hate traveling to begin with, but if I must endure the train for multiple days I’d rather do it when the weather is holding steady.”
    Hetty felt like her world was collapsing. She was losing the only place she felt truly safe since leaving the orphanage. She was losing her job. And she was losing what little sense of belonging she had. She rose from her seat, left the room