The Glovemaker’s Daughter by Shari J Ryan EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available for Free Download
- Author: Shari J Ryan
- Language: English
- Genre: Historical World War II Fiction
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 2 MB
- Price: Free
LAST YEAR, MAY 1942
Paris, France
The bulky brass metal locks unclasp one by one as I release the choke hold
on the shop’s front entrance. Ten years ago, I might not have remembered to
lock every one of my doors but now I can’t sleep unless every door in my
building is secure with a deadbolt. I flip the closed sign so it faces me
instead of the locals on the street.
Until two years ago, when Germany invaded our country, Notre Dame’s
bells would ring out in the distance, rattling the light fixtures ever so gently.
I sometimes wondered if my life revolved like a clock because of the
fifteen-minute intervals I was so aware of, but then they stopped, silencing
the city with grief as we lost hold of what should be ours. Even though it’s
been two years, the church bells continue to play in my head, keeping my
life in sync until they someday, hopefully, return for all to hear again.
I straighten the disorderly array of wallets and belts perched on the shelf
along the back wall. I’ve gotten into a good habit of straightening up after
closing the shop at night, but I sometimes forget. When we were children,
Mère and Papa assigned my brother, Alix, and I different tasks. I would
keep track of inventory and Alix would straighten up the products to ensure
their displays were perfect for opening hours the next day. We maintained
these tasks long after Papa passed away, then Mère too. But when I
convinced Alix to move to Zurich two years ago to obtain a college degree,
I had to add his responsibilities to my already full plate. I’ve carried on fine
but there are days some tasks slip my mind.
The flower-filled resin-globe paperweight next to the cash register pins
the small stack of custom-order slips. I also forgot to organize these for
Charlette last night. I sort through each one, separating simple tasks such as
stitching repairs to the more time-consuming leather embossing orders.
Charlette prefers to work through the challenges in the morning and end her
workday on a lighter note.
I can’t say I blame her. She wasn’t always so
particular and organized. When we first became friends in grade school, I
remember her frenzied moments of digging through her knapsack searching
for a homework assignment. The papers were usually crinkled when she
found them, but she always handed them in on time. In grade school, we
were determined to achieve the best marks possible, thinking it would give
us a better chance of a lavish future in fashion design. We dreamed of
having our own clothing-line and becoming known as inspiring, successful
women in Paris.
We haven’t talked about our visions these last few years. Not since they
floated out of reach.
When Mère passed away, my future became a blur between what I
wanted and what I needed. There was no way I would give up on the family
business that had put food on our table for generations.
For More Read Download This Book
EPUB