An Unsinkable Love

chapter 28


Melody tried on yet another dress, stepping over the pile of discarded gowns already on the floor. She knew Marybeth would be livid when she had to re-iron them, but she didn't care. All that mattered was when the post arrived earlier it included a note inviting the Parsons family to a community get-together at the DuMont home so everyone could meet Bree Barry. It was important Melody make a good impression at the soiree. She had to convince Malcolm he'd chosen the wrong woman, or at least manage to drive the girl off.

Her mother burst into the room, a haze of flowery perfume trailing behind. She waded right through the pile of clothing and plopped down on the bed. "What do you intend to do about Malcolm now, my dear?" she demanded without preamble.

Melody gritted her teeth. How like her mother to expect her to come up with all the ideas. Between them, her parents didn't seem to have a clue how to keep the family fortune together. "Why, I'm going to show Malcolm he's made a big mistake, and convince him I'm willing to overlook his foolishness this one time. But he'll pay for it before I'm done."

"You'd better convince him. If something doesn't happen soon, we'll lose the mill, our home, and everything we own. I do not intend to go to the poor house because you weren't able to hold on to your man," her mother griped.

Melody whirled in fury. "If Father had any business sense at all we wouldn't be in this mess!"

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An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

Her mother didn't flinch. "If your father had any business sense, he would have sold the damn mill to Percy when he offered to buy it. But no, he played coy and demanded more money. Even then, Percy probably would have paid it if he hadn't up and died on us." She stood and paced, then stopped in front of Melody. She grasped her daughter's chin in a hard grip and tilted her head side to side. "There's not a prettier girl in the whole state. If it was just beauty Malcolm craved, we wouldn't have a worry in the world." She paused, frowning. "Although I heard this Bree is lovely." She glanced at her daughter, seeking confirmation.

"Hah! Who did you hear that from? She's no better than a child, with pasty skin, hideous red hair and freckles for God's sake." Even as she played down Bree's appearance, Melody knew she was quite extraordinary. Malcolm's fiancée might look young, but the body under the stylish clothes was that of a full-grown woman. Melody turned back to the mirror and closely observed her own figure. She was taller, more statuesque, she thought with a smile, then frowned as she noted her breasts were not quite as prominent as the redhead's. If Mother was any indication, her hips would eventually broaden too much but until then Melody felt confident she could outshine that country bumpkin Bridget if given the proper presentation.

She kicked at the pile of rumpled clothing. "I need a new gown for the party."

"And how do you expect to pay for it?" her mother snapped. "We've no credit left in town."

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An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

"You'll have to find it. I can't attend the party in any of these—everyone has seen them before."

Her mother got a sly gleam in her eye. "Perhaps if we hurry we can get Mrs. Belvins to make you a dress on Malcolm's credit before she finds out he has a fiancée. She's so hard of hearing, unless someone has told her straight out, she won't know a thing." She stood and bustled out of the room.

Melody sighed with relief. If Mother was good at anything, it was wringing concessions out of the trade's people. If anyone could finagle a new dress, her mother could. It might be the last unless she won Malcolm over. She sat at the dressing table and played with her hair to find a becoming style for the party.

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194

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson