“Shut up, you’ve made me ashamed to call you my son. Doc Erin is trying to help us. Only your brain is so fuddled by that stuff you guzzle every day, you can’t see it. Now get out of my sight. I can’t bear to look at you.”
Joe paled and then stood up making his way to the door in silence. He closed it softly behind him. Erin looked to Carmel and, seeing her shocked face, guided her gently to a chair.
“Ruth, make her a strong cup of tea. Do you have any sugar?”
Ruth nodded, too shocked herself to answer.
“Actually, why don’t you sit down and I will make the tea,” Erin said.
“Doc Erin, did you mean it? Do you think he could see again?” Ruth asked.
“Not completely, but I think they could restore some of his sight. I should have spoken to the eye doctor first. Joe was right on that count. I can’t go around getting people’s hopes up. It isn’t fair.”
“You did nothing wrong, Doc Erin. I’m sorry you had to see me strike my son. I haven’t done that since he was a boy in short pants. I just, well, I can’t bear to see the state of him now. Where has my son gone?”
Erin didn’t know how to answer that question, so she busied herself making the tea. She hoped she hadn’t made life worse for this lovely family. Some of what Joe said had hit home. She didn’t believe she was a goody two-shoes but she should be careful what promises she made. Her patients deserved better.
Chapter 26
Erin sat back farther in the chair. She had spoken to a doctor at the New York Eye and Ear Hospital about Joe Doherty. Having described the explosion and his subsequent loss of sight, the doctor had suggested there may be a way to make Joe see again. He had underlined the fact it would depend on the extent of the damage and it may not be possible to return perfect sight, but given what Erin had told him, he was cautiously optimistic.
Now, Erin had to convince Carmel and her son, Joe, to let Alicia and herself cover the costs involved. The hospital did provide treatment to the poor but there was a long waiting list. It would be much faster and more beneficial for everyone involved if Joe were to attend as a paying patient. But Carmel had already stated the family would accept no further monetary help from Erin or her friends. She knew Carmel had her pride but unless Joe got help, he was likely to drink himself into the grave.
Erin had some pity for the man. He had his pride and had gone from being the main provider for his family to being totally dependent on them for almost all his needs. She also felt like shaking him. His behavior toward his wife and mother was unacceptable. Having witnessed his temper, she could understand why Nora was sick of him. If Joe were her father, she would have dragged him to the eye hospital months ago.
“What’s on your mind?” Alicia asked her as she came in to find Erin staring out the window.
“I was just thinking about Joe Doherty.”
Alicia took a seat, smoothing out her skirts as she sat down. “Did the visit to the eye hospital not go well?”
“No, it went very well. They do amazing work over there. They’ve expanded into ear and throat work too. It’s fascinating what problems they can now cure.”
“But they can’t help Mr. Doherty?” Alicia asked.
“No, that’s the really frustrating thing. I told the doctor how I had examined Joe’s eyes and believed he could make out some shapes or shadows. He isn’t totally blind. I explained how he sustained the injuries and the doctor was very keen to meet Joe and examine him himself.”
“So why are you looking like everyone around you died yesterday?” Alicia asked.
“It’s going to cost money. Not a huge amount, but more than the Dohertys have.”
“So we will pay for him.” Alicia shrugged. “You know that’s not a concern.”
“I know, and you are very generous, Alicia.” Erin smiled over at her friend.
“You don’t think the Dohertys will take the money?” Alicia asked, understanding dawning on her face.
“No, I don’t. I can’t see Carmel talking them into it either. She has just as much or even more pride.”
“Well, we just have to find a way around it then. You can’t leave Joe blind because he’s too stubborn to take the help he needs,” Alicia stated firmly.
“Any ideas on how to get him to see the light, if you pardon the expression?” Erin asked.
Alicia considered the issue carefully. Erin didn’t say anything but let her friend think in peace. The more time she spent with Alicia, the more she realized her friend would have made an excellent lawyer. She had a way of looking at a problem and considering it from all angles. If anyone could find a solution, she would.
“I’ve got it. Or, at least I think it’s a solution. Carmel has suggested you bring Nora back to Clover Springs with you when we leave, correct?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure Nora wants to leave her family,” Erin said.
“Maybe she doesn’t have to. If you get Carmel, Joe, and Ruth to come too. You can pay for the surgery and tell Joe if it’s successful, he can work off the debt in Clover Springs. If it isn’t, you said yourself Carmel and Ruth are both wonderful cooks. We need a small café in town so they could come and open one.”
“But they wouldn’t have the money to get it started.”
“No, but I do.” Alicia’s eyes twinkled.
Erin looked at her, about to argue that the Dohertys wouldn’t take any money.
“Don’t look at me like that. I know they won’t take a gift, so I can draw up a business agreement. I will lend them fifty percent of the cost and make an investment to cover the rest, making me a fifty percent shareholder. They will pay me interest on the loan amount and we will split all profits equally. As the business expands, which we know it will, they can buy me out at the original amount of the investment.”
Erin moved to embrace her friend. “That’s a wonderful plan! It gets Carmel and her family out of the city for good and also gives Joe a chance to rebuild his life. You’re the most generous person I know.”
“Not really,” Alicia replied. “I get fifty percent of the profits and repayments on the loan. I’ll make money on this too.”
Erin approached the Dohertys’ door nervously. She hoped they would see Alicia’s offer as a business deal, rather than an act of charity. She smoothed down her dress before taking a deep breath and knocking on the door. She wished she had said yes when Mick offered to come with her. But she thought Carmel and Ruth would prefer if she came alone.
“Doc Erin, what a wonderful surprise. We weren’t expecting ya today. Is the family with you?”
“No, Carmel, I came alone. I wanted to speak to you and Ruth.”
“Ruth’s in the other room. She’s been baking all morning. She does that when she’s upset. Or at least she used to when Joe was working. She hasn’t had much chance to bake lately but with the money you gave us…You really are a guardian angel.”
“You looked after me when I needed help. I’m just returning the favor.”
“Come in and sit down. Ruth, Doc Erin is here. Put the kettle on and we’ll have a nice cup of tea and a chat.”
“Where is Joe?” Erin asked, removing her cloak and taking a seat.
Carmel’s smile dropped for a couple of seconds before she recovered, but Erin saw the pain in her eyes.
“His friend Fred came calling earlier. He took him out. Can always rely on Fred to know when my boy has a few cents on him.” Carmel leaned closer to Erin. “Don’t tell Ruth I told you. She’s upset enough already.”
“It’s good he is out. He’s part of the reason I’m here.”
“You’re here about my Joe. Why?”
Nora’s mam came over to greet her.
“It’s good news, Ruth. I spoke to my friend at the eye hospital and he would like to examine Joe himself. He doesn’t want to get your hopes up, but after he heard what I had to say, he thinks he may be able to help.
“Make Joe see again?” Ruth groped for the chair as if she were going to keel over.
“Maybe not completely, but to improve his vision to the point he could make his own way around. He probably won’t work a full-time job again. So please don’t get your hopes up too high.”
“Anything would be better than he is now. I know he’s not himself, it’s the drink, Doc. If he could see a bit better, he mightn’t feel the need…” Ruth muttered, her voice fading away.
Erin wasn’t convinced. She had seen too many patients become addicted to alcohol, but she wasn’t about to say that now. She was determined to stay positive.
“I’ll go in the morning and make an appointment for him,” Ruth said decisively.
“You could do that, Ruth, or you could let me do it,” Erin said tentatively.
Ruth and Carmel looked at her, their expressions telling her they would refuse.
“Hear me out, please. The waiting list for the free care is very long and it could be months or longer before he is seen. If he were a private patient, he could be seen next week.”
“We don’t have that sort of money,” Ruth stated the obvious, but Erin caught the glance she threw at her mother-in-law. Ruth could be persuaded so she needed to focus on Carmel.
“I know that,” Erin said quietly.
“I won’t take any more charity from you, Doc. I appreciate all you done for my family but no more. Dohertys always pay our way.” Despite Carmel reacting just as she’d thought she would, Erin couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
Erin knew she would have to proceed carefully. She didn’t want to hurt Carmel or her family but she had to persuade them there was a way to fund the operation. “I know that dear, that’s why I have a business proposition for you.”
The Doherty ladies looked at each other as if wondering if Erin had lost her mind.
“Pour us a cup of tea, please, Ruth, and I will explain it,” Erin said, adopting her most confident “I am in charge of this situation” tone she often used with men who didn’t want to be examined by a lady doctor.
Ruth poured the tea and handed her a plate with a slice of cake. The cake was mouthwatering as usual. Erin was filled with a sense of excitement, the likes of which she hadn’t felt since her wedding day. This could actually work.
“You asked me if I would consider taking Nora to Clover Springs. I would love to but it seems Nora doesn’t want to leave her family behind,” Erin began.
“Nora will do what she is told,” Carmel said firmly interrupting Erin.
“Or her family could move with her?” Erin suggested.
“Us, move to Colorado? We couldn’t. New York is our home.” Ruth protested, but Erin saw a glimmer of interest in her eyes.
“I understand, but I think you could be happy in Clover Springs. I was talking with Alicia. As you know, from my letters and our little chats, the town is growing and we are trying to attract more couples. We want to make it a nice place for those with families to settle in. We have a store and a boarding house, a school and a church. We have a mill and the doctor’s clinic and a saloon. But what we don’t have is a café. Somewhere people can meet and enjoy a cup of tea and some cake or cookies.”
Erin saw the light of hope brighten in Ruth’s eyes. Carmel’s expression was harder to read, but she hadn’t said no which was a good sign.
“I thought you and Carmel could go into business together. Carmel knows how to manage a house and a kitchen so running a café wouldn’t be any problem.” Erin smiled over at Carmel before looking back at Ruth. “Once the men in town get a taste of your cooking, I think you will have to fight them off with a stick.”
“You think we could have a business?” The wonder in Ruth’s voice was lovely to hear.
“But where would we get the funds to open this café?” Carmel asked. “No bank is going to lend us any money.”
Trust her old housekeeper to be the practical one.
“No, the bank won’t. But Alicia will.”
As soon as she uttered those words, the mask came down over both of their faces.
“Doc Erin, you are very kind but I told you before. We won’t take any more from you. Or your friends.” Carmel’s tone, accompanied by her stone-faced expression, made Erin grateful Alicia had come up with such a good plan.
“That’s good because there is no charity or gifting involved.”
The disbelieving expressions on both women’s faces made Erin cross her fingers hoping her plan would work. “Alicia is a very good businesswoman. If things had been different, she would have qualified as a lawyer. But she doesn’t have the time or the inclination to run another business. She also, and she wouldn’t mind me saying this, doesn’t have the skills for this type of venture. Men would pay her not to eat her cakes.”
The Doherty ladies smiled.
“What Alicia proposes is the following: she will invest in the business by fronting fifty percent of the total costs. She will lend you the money to cover the other fifty percent of the costs involved, and she’ll charge you interest on the loan. These costs will include building and decorating the property, furnishing the kitchen, the foodstuffs you need, etc. In addition, she will take fifty percent of the profits. In time, assuming you are successful, you can repay both the loan and the original capital invested, at which point, you would become the sole owners.”
“She would do this for us?” Ruth asked a little bewildered.
“Yes, but she is also doing it for me. I am being selfish, but I miss you. And it would be so nice to have you living near me in Clover Springs. You may just find Mick and I become regular customers, as my cooking skills haven’t improved any. But I will leave you to think it over. It could be a fantastic opportunity. Clover Springs is a lovely town, and it’s growing in size so I believe any property investment will show positive rewards. But of course I’m a doctor, not a lawyer or banker.”
“Thank you so much, Doc Erin. Even if we decide to say no, I will never forget your kindness or that of your friend. Ruth and I will discuss it and we will also think about Joe and the hospital. But if we come to Clover Springs, we will repay the medical costs from the business.”
“That’s fine by me. But please don’t wait too long to make up your mind. I would like to accompany Joe to the hospital as his doctor, but I am also keen to get home. I miss Clover Springs.”
“We won’t. Thank you so much, Erin. Please take these cookies for your husband and Alicia’s boys.”
Erin kissed Ruth on the cheek. “Thank you. They’ll love them.”
Chapter 27
March 10,1888
“It will soon be time to go home,” Mick said giving Erin a cuddle.
“I love being here and seeing everyone again but I do miss home,” Erin said, snuggling into her husband’s side.
“Glad to hear it. For a while, I thought you may want to move back here,” he said.
Erin shuddered. “I don’t remember it being so dirty or noisy. No, I want to go back to Clover Springs. To see our friends and our home.”
“I love you, Mrs. Quinn.” He kissed her gently. “I think Lily may want to stay though. She seems to like it.”
“I think she likes the fact everyone treats her as another young woman. She doesn’t have to deal with people staring or making unkind comments.”
Mick nodded his agreement.
“So, what shall we do today?” Erin asked, changing the subject. “The sky is clear and it’s quite warm.”
“Says here in the paper, some guy at a store called E. Ridley and Son’s bought a lot of snow shovels—they’re calling him Snow Shovel John.”
“Snow?” Erin peered up at the sky though the window. “It seems too warm for snow and there are lots of people out and about already. Maybe we could go and see some sights. Then tomorrow, why don’t we take a picnic to the park? We can invite the Dohertys as well.”
“Sounds good to me.”
They had a very enjoyable day seeing New York. It was different being here as a tourist, Erin thought, as she wandered around the city. But she would never move
back to New York. She loved her life, and her freedom, in Clover Springs.
“It’s hard to believe it’s only March. It’s such a sunny day with hardly a cloud in the sky,” Alicia said.
“It’s lovely, isn’t it? The people of New York know how to enjoy it too. I don’t think I ever saw as many buggies on the streets,” Erin noted.
“Never mind the buggies. I want a go on one of them,” Mick said, pointing.
“It doesn’t look too safe to me,” Alicia said doubtfully.
Aaron laughed at his wife’s nervousness. “I don’t think Mick means for you to try, Alicia, I don’t think the dress would go well with those wheels.”
“No, I didn’t mean for the ladies. I meant for me and Aaron. Maybe Robbie? What do you think, Robbie? Are you up for a go?”
Robbie shook his head. “I’ve been on a bicycle before. I didn’t last long and it’s not an experience I want to repeat. But you go ahead.”
“How hard can it be?” Mick asked. “That fella doesn’t look like he’s having any trouble. Come on, Aaron, let’s see if we can have a go.”
“New York is bringing out my husband’s youthful side I think,” Erin said, smiling at Mick’s antics. He had persuaded the man to lend him the bicycle, but he seemed to have problems staying upright.
“I think he may need your medical expertise before too long, Doc Erin,” Robbie commented. They looked at Mick shaking precariously.
“I do hope not. I could do without having to splint him up in the middle of this park,” Erin replied. “Look at Aaron, he’s a natural.”
Aaron was cycling along as if he were born to it.
“He’s going to have fun teasing Mick, especially as it was Mick’s idea to have a go,” Erin said. The children enjoyed their trip, but they soon tired and Lily offered to take them back to the hotel. Robbie said he would accompany her, leaving the two couples to enjoy the three-mile-long torchlight parade staged by Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Chapter 28
New York Bound Page 10