Chapter 69

The thing about being an amnesiac was that I had some knowledge stored in my mind, yet I had no idea where it came from. It had happened many times before. With flowers, with my ability to write and count, with fabrics' names….

Good things come to those who can wait.

That was something I might have read, might have been told, or might have heard somewhere. I had no idea of its source, yet I knew its meaning. Our time enduring hardships had finally passed and only good things awaited us.

I remembered I had gotten a bag of coins from the Commissioner and had somehow forgotten to check how much the man had given me as reward. I had to admit I sat dumbfounded for a couple of seconds after seeing the amount.

50 coins!

50 coins as reward for a dress that a spoiled girl was going to wear. It was a huge win! With the money I had saved, I could actually buy the patch of land beside the house all by myself. However, I had promised the brothers to buy it together.

I had wondered how long that would take, yet after hearing Ethan was hired, it was going to happen sooner than expected. Maybe one more month of earning as much as possible, then we would be ready to get married. 

For that, I had to make a few preparations!

That's why, I asked Lucas to accompany me to town. Ethan was already gone to work, and Joseph and Felix were preparing the patch to plant more fruit trees. Besides, fruits were starting to ripen and needed to be cut. After all, that was going to become our source of income for the time being.

I hoped Lucas and Joseph, the ones in charge of that task, sold as many as they could. Though, if they could not, then it was fine. We just had to find ways to preserve fruits as they spoiled easily. Perhaps I could ask Jean or Cory. I had to buy the weekly supplies anyway.

But first, I had to give Mrs. Priddy the purses I made with the leftover fabric I had and the broadcloth I bought. Some were purses for coins, and others were bigger, like small bags, perfect for carrying small things, like the handkerchief, the coin purse, maybe make-up or snacks. 

I had come up with it because it was tedious for me to carry my pouch of water in my hand, my purse anywhere in my body, and my new handkerchief hidden who knows where. No, everything was placed in my small bag.

If Mrs. Priddy could sell them, then that was more income for me. I still had to earn my salary, either way. Though, in hindsight, my salary heavily depended if my things were sold. 10 coins was the maximum. If few things were sold, that was the only money I would get.

I really signed up a bad contract. 

Though, my salary was insignificant in the face of the commission I earned, so I had not much to complain about.

"Hello, Isabelle." Patricia greeted me, then her eyes widened when she looked at Lucas. "Ah! You!" Well, that was unexpected. I turned to look at my impassive mountain in askance. 

He looked down at me with a serene gaze. "I bought your pads here."

"Oh!" I looked at Patricia's blushing but awkward face and realized she must have sold the pads to him. Well, I was finally cured of that awkwardness as I let Felix wash my used pads. Though, I could understand Patricia's uncomfortable moment. "It was hard for you." I told her.

"No!" She squeaked. Her reactions were a bit funny. "I mean, it was, but it's fine. I just… um, he said he's your… husband, and that other day..." She hemmed and hawed, stuttering in her words. It was difficult to catch the gist of her idea, but I did.

"Joseph and Felix, the ones from last time, are also my husbands. I have four." I explained to her. Contrary to Jean's face full of shock and wonder, Patricia looked at me with pity.

Well, to have four husbands mostly meant the woman was bought and that the men were dirt poor. Our situation was not the same, yet it made me realize that most people would see it that way. I had neither the time nor the willingness to clear any misunderstanding, so I left it like that.

"I came to leave this things to sell at the shop. The coin purses could be sold at the shop's normal price. But, these small bags had to be sold at 5 coins. Nothing less." I said as I took out the things from the basket Lucas carried.

"5 coins..." Patricia trailed off in surprise. But, she gasped when she saw the bags. 

The bottom was made of the light brown broadcloth, the top was made of the leftover colorful Poplin fabric. They had flowers of different kinds embroidered on them. To close it, a trip was used to tighten the mouth of the bag.

"I could only make eight. Do you think they could be sold?" I expectantly looked at Patricia. She seemed to have been working at the shop for a while, so she must know the market.

Patricia looked back and forth, rummaged in her clothes and took out her purse. She quickly counted 5 coins and grabbed a bag, a light green one with daisies embroidered on it.

"The shop will get 30% of the sale. You'll only get 3 coins and 5 dimes for them."She took my hand, put the 5 coins on my palm and ran off to the back of the shop, probably to put the bag with her things.

"She is a good girl." I commented, putting the coins in my own purse. Her reaction, though, did tell me that the bags could be sold. It would just take time. 

Voices and the sound of steps on the wooden floor let me know Patricia was back accompanied with someone. I was aware there were two other employees I hadn't met yet. Maybe she was back with one of them. 

Mrs. Priddy was the one who appeared.

"Patricia told me you brought seven new items for the shop." I glanced at Patricia, then my gaze returned to Mrs. Priddy, who was already checking the bags. 

"They are small handbags. The price for them is of 5 coins." I repeated.

Mrs. Priddy hummed. "People tend to bargain for things." 

"No less, Mrs. Priddy. If they cannot buy it, it is fine. If none is sold in the shop, then I can only sell them independently." Mrs. Priddy was a nice boss when she wanted to be. Yet, she was a merchant at the end of the day. Too bad she met me. 

I was not going to lower prices knowing how much time and effort I had spent in making the bags. The fabric was even bought by me!

"Leave them at the shop. 5 coins it is." Mrs. Priddy backtracked and grabbed all seven bags plus the purses. 

"Thank you for giving them a chance." I smiled. "Also, I want to buy some embroidery thread." I almost used the 5 coins I had just earned just in buying thread. Though, for my wedding preparations, I bought several red and white reels.

As we were leaving to head to the market, someone came into the store. I had no time to react or even notice what was happening. As I turned around, I saw a woman clinging onto Lucas. 

I kind of expected that to happen to Joseph or Ethan, but Lucas?

"You finally showed up!" This new woman looked up at Lucas with an ecstatic and blushing face. "I have been waiting for you."

I sincerely was getting tired of all these women trying to take my men away. Where were they when the brothers were poor or desperate?

Since they were well, women started jumping from their dirty holes?

None of that. I walked up to this woman, grabbed her arm and pushed her away. I, then, took Lucas' hand and dragged him out. However, the woman did not give up and grabbed his shirt.

The shirt I made, and he was proudly and contentedly wearing.

"Let go." I warned the woman.

"Who are you? What are you doing to him?" She asked annoyed.

"I am his wife. Now, let go." I warned again.

She shook her head. "No, that's a lie!" Fine then. I slapped her hand away, and she cried out in pain.

"Isabelle!" Mrs. Priddy scolded. I saw her cradle the younger woman's hand, as if it was a precious little treasure.

"If you know her, Mrs. Priddy, you should teach her not to jump at any man she sees on the streets. One day, she will end up in a bad position she will not be able to get herself out." I told the older woman, who looked back at me with irritation.

To say I was disappointed was putting it mildly. I could guess this new woman was someone important to Mrs. Priddy; the latter was even willing to offend another person to defend the first. According to Mrs. Priddy's attitude, I had to stand another woman flirt with my man?

Dream on!

I turned and exited the shop, still dragging Lucas with me.

"Wait!" The woman cried out before I banged the door shut.

The saddest thing was that, if I was under any other circumstance, I would have fought with Mrs. Priddy and even quit working for her. However, we were in dire need of money, so I could not throw my job aside.

That did not erase my disappointment and disillusion.