Chapters (71)
- Copyright Notice
- Dedication
- Part One
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Part Two
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Part Three
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Part Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Part Five
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Books by Barbara Taylor Bradford
- About the Author
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Emma nodded but did not say anything else. As usual, she kept silent, following her own rule: the less people knew about you, the safer you were. Like the north-country adage, “a still tongue and a wise head.” Little did Emma know that meeting Abraham Kallinski on this hot summer Friday afternoon was her lucky day indeed. Almost immediately her life would change for the better, her feet on the path to the success she craved.
Fifty-Seven
“Please, do come inside for a moment,” Abraham Kallinski begged. “I want my wife to meet you. She will wish to thank you for coming so promptly to my rescue.” They had stopped in front of a terraced house at the end of Imperial Street, well kept, with wooden shutters and starched lace curtains. Abraham Kallinski’s face had relaxed, joy in his eyes at reaching his home.
“I really think I must get home; time is passing. I don’t like to walk home in the dark, not in these parts,” Emma explained, being absolutely truthful.
“Just one second and you can be on your way,” Mr. Kallinski said, then thought to add, “My two sons come home around this time of day. They will escort you to your home.”
Against her better judgment, but understanding she could make it only a minute at the most, Emma agreed to his request. She was terribly thirsty.
As Abraham Kallinski led her into the house, Emma experienced a feeling of welcome, kindness and peace.
They entered the main room, which was large, comfortable, nice looking. The air was filled with delicious smells of food cooking. It was an all-purpose room.
Janessa Kallinski swung around at the sound of Abraham returning. She was tall, with jet-black hair and large pale blue eyes below dark brows. The welcoming smile on her face slipped, to be replaced by one of concern. She hurried to her husband, exclaiming, “What has happened to you, Abraham? Your clothes are dirty and you have bruises on your face! Are you hurt?”
“It was nothing, really. I fell down and two hooligans threw stones at me; you know what that sort are like. It was Mrs. Harte who came to rescue me. She frightened the boys so much they ran away. And then she kindly helped me to come home.”
Janessa swung around and took hold of Emma’s hands, thanked her profusely, then said, “Sit down in this chair, Mrs. Harte. You look tired and hot. Let me get you some refreshment.”
“Thank you,” Emma answered, and sat down with some relief. She did feel exhausted and thirsty. “Could I have a glass of water, please, Mrs. Kallinski?”
“But of course.”
Emma relaxed in the chair, as Mr. Kallinski came over to her and said, “Excuse me. I must go and tidy myself up.”