rate in the summer,” Dr. Carter said.
“It is, sir,” Johnny said. “But your daddy always paid six dollars at Christmas.”
“An extra dollar?” Dr. Carter said.
“Yes, sir.” Johnny had a way of speaking that did not stoke tempers. Sadie, on the other hand, had a tone that riled up folks no matter how much she smiled or how many sirs she sprinkled around.
“Well, if that is what my father agreed to, then, Mrs. Fritz, please give them an extra dollar,” Dr. Carter exclaimed.
Mrs. Fritz turned toward a cookie jar shaped like an apple and, after lifting the lid, rooted around inside until she had a crisp dollar bill. She handed it to Johnny.
Her brother’s face was a shade or two redder, and Sadie could not tell if he was embarrassed or relieved. “Appreciate it.”
Dr. Carter pressed his hand to the woman’s back. “This is my wife, Olivia.”
Johnny nodded. “We heard you had married. Our best wishes.”
“Thank you, Johnny,” Dr. Carter said. “We’ve been married a full three months now.”
Miss Olivia smiled sweetly but did not extend her hand. “It’s a pleasure.”
Her voice was soft and had a different kind of sound that Sadie supposed was the way it was back in England.
“This is my cousin, Malcolm Carter,” Dr. Carter said. “He’s spending the holidays with us and celebrating our nuptials.”
When Malcolm grinned, it made him all the more like Mickey Rooney. “Pleasure.”
“Again, our congratulations to you, Dr. and Mrs. Carter,” Johnny said. “We’re happy for you both; isn’t that right, Sadie?”
“Yes, sir. Real happy.” Sadie noted the woman was looking at her. The polite thing to do was to drop her gaze, but Sadie was not feeling so polite right now. They had almost been shortchanged on Christmas Eve of all days.
“Johnny’s family has lived in the area for as long as the Carters,” Dr. Carter said to Malcolm and Olivia. “What is it you do, Johnny, now that the soapstone plant closed?”
Sadie wanted to point out that the plant had closed nine years ago and that Johnny had never worked there. But her brother’s warnings of staying silent kept the words bottled up.
“Working in the machine shop in Waynesboro when I can get the work. But I’ll be leaving in a couple of weeks. I’ve enlisted in the army.”
“Army?” Dr. Carter said. “My wife, Olivia, and I experienced the war firsthand when we were in London. The Blitz was a terrible thing.”
“What’s a blitz?” Sadie asked.
“They are bombing raids,” Dr. Carter explained. “The city endured nightly bombing raids for eleven straight weeks. My wife was nearly killed in one of the explosions last summer.” He rubbed his hand over his leg. “I would be signing up for military service if I hadn’t also been injured in one of those raids. My leg will never be the same.”
Miss Olivia did not speak, but her brow knotted, as if the dark memory was not far away. “You be very careful, Johnny,” she said. “We will pray for you.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Johnny said.
“If I had my way,” Sadie said, “I would follow my two brothers into the army and maybe find me a job driving trucks. Heck, I’d be willing to work in a mess hall peeling potatoes if it meant I could go.”
Johnny shot her a glance that told her to stay silent. “My sister will be staying put in Bluestone.”
“Sadie, can you really drive?” Dr. Carter asked.
“Yes, sir,” she said with pride. “Been driving since I was twelve.”
“How old are you?” he asked.
“Almost sixteen.” She was five months from her sixteenth birthday but close enough.
“Is she a safe driver, Johnny?” Dr. Carter asked.
Her brother did not spare her a glance. “Yes, sir. She knows the roads in the county as well as I do.”
“Hey there, I have an idea,” Dr. Carter said. “Olivia is going to be on her own much of the days while I work in my office. I often have long hours, and I know she is going to need help getting around. Perhaps your Sadie could assist us, Johnny.”
Sadie straightened her back, trying to look a little taller. Her own smile felt as tense as Miss Olivia’s hoity-toity face looked.
“She’s been driving a good three years,” Johnny said. “No one knows these roads better other than my brother and me.”
“You still drive that jalopy of a truck?” Dr. Carter asked.
“Yes, sir,” Johnny said. “It runs well enough. Never left me on the side of the road, and I’ll be leaving it behind with Sadie.”
“I can’t have Sadie