Her First Mistake by Carey Baldwin (books for 10th graders txt) 📕

“I’m sorry,” Mia said. “I should’ve realized the last thing you need is more flowers.”

“Oh no!” Alma rushed over to join Mia on the couch. “I meant it when I said I adore these. Iris is my favorite flower—next to the California poppy—nothing can beat those. It just came out wrong. And I’m grateful for every arrangement. But between you and me, the outpouring of support can be overwhelming.”

“Ah, Mia. I didn’t realize you were here.” Baxter Cooper strode into the room, kissed his wife and took a seat in the wingback chair opposite Mia. “I’m not interrupting, I hope,” he said, looking like a man who had no intention of clearing out no matter the reply.

And why should he? This was his home. The other evening at the academy, when he’d walked her to her car, she’d felt so safe with him. She liked being around him, but still, she’d rather spend time with Alma alone.

“I asked Mia over.” Alma smoothed her hair, and her gold charm bracelet jangled pleasantly.

“I can see that,” Baxter said.

“To thank her, again, for fending off that horrible reporter.”

“I’ve been meaning to call you myself, Mia.” Baxter caught her eye.

“Me?”

“Yes. I’ve been thinking quite a lot about what happened at St Michael’s. My understanding is the reporter accidentally pushed Alma.”

“But I would’ve hit the floor if Mia hadn’t caught me. I was rickety from my medication, and she was too aggressive.”

He shifted onto one hip, rummaging in his pocket. “I think we owe you more than gratitude, Mia. I’d like to compensate you for your trouble. And… while I don’t mean to be critical, I wouldn’t be looking out for my wife if I failed to mention that there’s been quite a bit of negative press about the incident.”

“Oh no!” Mia fanned her warm face. “I never meant to make a scene.”

“I’m hoping we can avoid any unseemly public displays in the future.” Baxter pulled out a money clip and peeled off a thick offering of crisp bills.

“We know it’s not your fault,” Alma rushed in. “You were only trying to protect me. Just let us compensate you for your trouble.”

“I can’t take money from a friend—if that’s not too presumptuous of me to say.”

“Of course not. I am your friend.” Alma waved Baxter off, and he tossed the bills onto a side table. “Please don’t take offense.”

What just happened? One minute everything was fine, and the next Baxter seemed to be blaming Mia for the publicity. It was almost as if he wanted her to stay away from Alma. Hopefully she was reading him wrong, but, if not, she was sure she could change his mind. He was looking out for his wife and so was she. She just needed to make him see how good she’d be for Alma.

“How have you been sleeping?” To Mia, Alma’s complexion seemed sallow, her arms too thin.

“Oh, perfectly. With all the mother’s little helpers how could I not?”

“Are you eating?”

“I’m trying,” Alma said.

“You look run down. And you mentioned feeling overwhelmed. Maybe there’s something I can do to help out.”

“I have to admit, if you’re sure you wouldn’t mind, that I could use help sorting through all of these.” Alma rose, made her way to a sideboard and opened a door to reveal stack upon stack of envelopes. “But I’d insist on compensating you.”

“Letters from the public,” Baxter said. “Honey, no one expects you to reply to every one of those.”

“But they’ve taken the trouble to send their prayers for Celeste. I can’t ignore them.”

“Roseanne can help you,” Baxter said.

“Darling, no. You’ve forgotten she’s reduced her hours to three mornings a week.” Alma cut her gaze to Mia. “Our housekeeper. I think you met her, or maybe not, but her sister’s come down with some mysterious illness and Roseanne has become a second mother to her nieces and a nurse all at the same time.”

“Then I’ll hire you a proper secretary,” Baxter replied.

A look passed between Alma and him that Mia didn’t know how to interpret. “But why not, if Mia has the time?”

“It’s too much to ask.” He shook his head, firmly. “We’ve offended her once already. She said she doesn’t want our money, and it would be a terrible imposition otherwise.”

Mia eyed the mountain of letters. Clearly Alma needed to give up on the idea of answering all of them. And likely some would be ghoulish, not fit for Alma’s eyes. There were a lot of crazies out there. “What if I come by after work every day and help sort through them—just until you find someone official. I don’t mind at all.”

“Absolutely not. We won’t take advantage,” Baxter said, rising to his feet, towering above both her and Alma. “Unless we pay you, and you’ve already made quite clear how you feel about that, so it wouldn’t be fair.”

Alma reached for her husband’s hand, and he pulled her up.

“I’m right, and you know it.” He kissed her hand, and Alma’s bracelet tinkled melodically.

Suddenly, inexplicably, Mia couldn’t catch her breath.

“Mia.” Alma reached an arm around her. “Are you all right? Don’t worry at all about this mess. Baxter will get me a secretary. That’ll be just fine. I shouldn’t have mentioned anything. I can see we’ve upset you.”

“You haven’t.” She hesitated and looked from Baxter to Alma. “I-I was just admiring your bracelet, and I lost my train of thought.”

But that wasn’t the whole of it. Alma’s bracelet, with its melodic sound, had triggered something—a memory.

Mia could see her mother’s delicate wrist, a silver bracelet encircling it—hear the soft tinkling of charms.

“This?” Alma held up her arm for Mia’s inspection.

Reaching out, Mia touched the charms, three golden ovals with miniature photos of Celeste, Angelica, and Isaiah as children. “It’s beautiful. It just reminded me of a bracelet my mother had. Hers was silver, not gold, and it had three charms. I can see them—a star, a heart and a cross. I’d forgotten until just now.”

Alma turned to Baxter. “You remember what I mentioned