Shine On by Allison J. Jewell Page B

parlor. “Emma, watch the shop.” She folded the dress and put it in the basket with her sewing things and walked to the counter to help an older lady waiting patiently to buy some sugar and a bolt of white fabric.
    Her mind was still reeling from the scene just minutes ago. But the thing that stood out most… Silas believed in her. He believed she should go to school… and he told Mr. Thomas. That was better than any apology he could have given.
    ***********
    Gabe and Trick picked up speed to keep up with Silas as he walked out the store.
    “How’d the apology go?” Gabe asked, smashing out his cigarette.
    “Fine,” Silas answered, passing the bag of groceries off to his brother.
    Gabe nodded, not wanting to push his friend any further. Silas wasn’t really one to be pushed.
    “That’s all you’re gonna say?” Trick didn’t mind pushing. “My big brother, that I have never in my life heard say he was sorry, is only going to give me a ‘fine’?”
    “Shut up, Trick,” Silas smiled and lit his own cigarette. They walked the next block in silence. He knew they wanted to know what had happened in there. Damn, in this tiny hicktown they’d probably know before this weekend anyway.
    “I don’t know if the apology took. She heard it though, so Vince and Ava should be satisfied,” Silas added. They’d given him seven kinds of hell, discovering she’d left when they were out of the room last night.
    Gabe nodded again, accepting the information without asking for more. That’s why their friendship had worked all these years. Trick looked eager for more. Dumb kid. Silas grinned. He would tell them one more piece but that was it.
    “I didn’t make any friends outta her boss Mr. Thomas though. That guy hates me,” he laughed. Just when Trick looked like he might ask why, Silas cut him off. “I gotta go check on Uncle’s firm. I haven’t made an appearance in a couple days. Tell Ava I asked Emmie to come over tonight.”
    ***********
    When Will came out of the office he looked all flustered. He just started opening crates of goods without saying anything as he walked past her.
    “Emma, I need to speak to you,” Mr. Thomas barked. She knew she was in trouble. Although she had done nothing wrong, she hated this feeling. Her hands started to tremble, like always. Even when she was younger and Ronnie had some halfhearted excuse to spank her, she had felt half scared to death. This was why she’d spent most of her life trying to be as perfect as possible. If you were what everyone else expected you to be, you didn’t have to feel that awful trembling feeling.
    When she walked into the parlor he patted the couch for her to sit down next to him.
    “Emmie, we need to talk. I don’t like what happened here today. You cannot bring your personal life here to work.”
    She nodded.
    “I’m just going to lay it all out here Emma.” He looked at her right in the eyes. “I can understand why you have a soft heart for Walter’s family. I understand why you have taken such a liking to that little…” he paused, thinking of the right word, “the little boy, Max. But I must say something about your choice of acquaintances. You are better than your friends.”
    “What friends?” Emmie asked puzzled, “Silas?”
    “All of them Emma, dear. The whole clan of them: Ava, her parents, Vince, Silas, the others. You know you are better than them. They are no good.” He touched her knee. “They are one step removed from immigrants. Half of them Italian, the other half Irish heathens.”
    “Mr. Thomas,” she started then paused when he arched his brow, “…Paul, they are Americans.” He snorted at this. “And they most certainly are not heathens. They go to church more than I do.” She threw her arms out exacerbated.
    “Dear that is not church. They don’t even call it going to church. They are Catholics,” he spit out like he’d just told her they were atheist.
    She actually laughed at this. “Oh, Mr.