Page 80 of The School Mistress (Emerson Pass Historicals 1)

“I wouldn’t want your wrath.” Her brown eyes were as shiny and happy as a child’s at Christmas. She fingered the stockings, then rubbed the gloves against her cheek. “I’ve never felt anything so soft before.”

“Open the other one,” Fiona shouted as she jumped up and down.

“Inside voice, please,” Quinn said.

“Yes, Miss Quinn,” Fiona said. “I forgot.”

“It’s all right. Would you like to pull the string?” she asked.

“Yes, please.” Fiona’s chubby fingers untied the bow. Quinn lifted the lid of the box. “Skates?”

“Yes, skates. Now that you’re a resident of Emerson Pass, you must have skates,” I said. “There’s a skating party this afternoon. Shall we all go?”

The children all shouted enthusiastic agreements with this idea. I turned back to Quinn. To my alarm, tears had formed in her pretty eyes.

“What is it?” I asked, coming closer. “Do you not like skating?”

“I’ve never skated before,” Quinn said.

“We can teach you,” Flynn said. “There’s nothing to it.”

Quinn wiped her eyes. “That’s not it. I’m embarrassed to admit how much I longed for a pair when I was a child. In Boston, skating is quite popular. I was never able to join any of my friends.”

“Even though you wanted to?” Cymbeline asked.

“That’s right. I asked Santa for skates every year for a long time,” Quinn said.

“And they never came?” Fiona asked, tears in her eyes.

Quinn held out her arms to Fiona, who went into them. “Don’t be sad. This is such a happy day for me.”

“Papa, this was thoughtful of you,” Josephine said in her grown-up voice. “We couldn’t have possibly gone skating without Miss Quinn.”

“We might have gone anyway,” Cymbeline said, looking doubtful that she would have been able to make a sacrifice for Quinn. The child knew herself well.

“But now we don’t have to,” Flynn said.

“I would’ve gone with you and watched,” Quinn said. “Which I might have to do today, since I’ve never been on ice other than the kind you walk on because you have to get somewhere.”

“We’ll teach you,” Flynn said. “But you might slip a little at first.”

“Don’t be scared to fall,” Theo said.

“That’s what Papa always says,” Fiona said, gravely. “Because that’s the way you learn.”

“Very wise words.” Quinn smiled at me, making my heart race. “For skating and the rest of life as well.”

“I’m not afraid of anything,” Cymbeline said as if anyone had asked. “Including falling.”

“Me either,” Flynn said. “Not that I ever fall. I’m the fastest in the whole town.”

Quinn and Theo exchanged a glance and a smile. For the second time in a half dozen minutes, I filled with gratitude that someone was managing to reach inside the heart of my sweet boy.

Chapter 23

Quinn

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