As Time Goes By (The Californians 2) Read Online Free

week, but they would get by; they always did.
    Maryanne walked into Riggs Mercantile and headed straight to the fabric counter. She had priced and finred
    several bolts when someone spoke behind her. "Hello, Maryanne."
    "Hi, May, I didn't even see you."
    "I was upstairs talking with Rigg. Are you looking for fabric?"
    "Yes, I'm sure you know that Jeff asked our Bobbie to the lagoon outing, and I want to surprise her with a newdeSS."
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    May smiled. "I almost asked how you could have it done in time, and then I remembered I was talking with Maryanne Bradford."
    Maryanne beamed over the compliment and asked May what she thought of a certain piece of cotton. The background was a jade green with a pattern of tiny white flowers.
    "Bobbie's eyes are green, aren't they?"
    "Yes."
    "Oh, this will be perfect."
    "I emptied my purse last night to see if we could afford this, and then had to ask the Lord to help me accept the fact that we couldn't. Then today I got paid a little extra. If we're careful until next week, Bobbie should have her dress. I usually cut my own dresses down for her and she never complains, but I can't wait to see her face when she finds out she'll have a dress from new cloth."
    "There's something inside us, isn't there, Maryanne, that yearns for our children to have all they need and a little more?"
    "Isn't that the truth! Don't get me wrong, May, I'm not hearing wedding bells or anything, but you wouldn't have believed the look on Bobbie's face when she told me Jeff asked her. It was a mixture of excitement and fear all rolled into one."
    "I know they'll have a good time." May touched Marynne's arm and then said she had to be on her way. Maryanne took the fabric to the front and started home again in a few moments.
    Bobbie had started supper and was up to her elbows in a flour mixture for fried chicken. Maryanne made her wash her hands and sit at the table.
    "But, Mom, I'll just get them all messy again when I pick up the chicken."
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    'q know, but for the moment you need clean hands. Now close your eyes." Bobbie's brows lowered for a moment, but then she did as she was told.
    Maryanne popped into the living room to retrieve a small parcel wrapped in plain brown paper. Her husband, Jake, came in the front door at that instant and Maryanne signaled him over.
    'll right, now you can open your eyes and the package." Mother and Father stood silently by as their daughter tore the paper back to reveal the most beautiful fabric she said she had ever seen.
    "It's for youmfor a new dress to wear on Sunday afternoon."
    "Oh Morn, Dad!" Bobbie breathed as she smoothed the wonderful material with her hands. She missed the meaningful glance exchanged between the adults.
    "I'll explain later," Maryanne whispered softly as Jake put his arm around his wife. They had discussed it the night before and Jake had been as regretful as Maryanne over Bobbie not having a new dress.
    The women went to work right after supper and Bob-hie was so excited she could barely hold still. The dress was finished by lunch the next day and all she could do was stand in front of the mirror in her parents' room and look at herself.
    Bobbie thought her mother had to be the most clever seamstress in all the world. The dress bloused out at the waist, which gave hint to a fuller chest than there actually was. The sleeves were short and puffed and the neckline was high. The fullness at the waist also made Bobbie's hips more attractive for a change and not just skinny.
    "I take it you're pleased."
    "Oh Daddy, didn't she do a wonderful job?"
    "She always does."
    "Do you think Jeff will like it?"
    "How could he not?" Her father said with a smile, and Bobbie turned back to the mirror with her eyes shining.
    'How could he not?' She repeated to herself. 'How could he not?'
    Jeff and his date were the last to arrive at the lagoon. Bobbie noticed the change in Jeff from the wagon ride over, where he had been fairly talkative, to