September Sky (American Journey Book 1)

by John A. Heldt

"Then it's set. We'll leave for the station after we drop off Anna."

  The girl in the bow protested.

  "I want to go too."

  Justin looked over his shoulder.

  "OK. You can go too."

  Anna beamed.

  Justin tightened his grip on the oars and returned his attention to Emily.

  "Do you mind if she comes?"

  "No," Emily said. "Anna was part of the wedding party. She should be there."

  "I agree."

  Emily turned away for a moment and gazed at an amorous couple on the shore. When she looked again at Justin, she did so with mischievous eyes.

  "Do you mind if I ask you a question about something that's none of my business?"

  "How could I mind when you phrase it like that?" Justin asked. "Of course I don't mind."

  Emily smiled prim-and-proper-like and spun her parasol.

  "It's nothing really. I was just wondering in a roundabout way where your father is going to live now that he's married."

  Justin laughed to himself. He could see where this was going from Cuba.

  "He's moving in with Charlotte and Rose."

  Emily pulled back a grin.

  "I thought that might be the case. So you'll be all alone in that little old shack?"

  Justin nodded.

  "Won't you be lonely?" Emily asked.

  "No. I'll be all right. I'll manage."

  Emily blushed.

  "I'm sure you will. I'm only expressing my concern, Justin. Be sure to let me know if you need anything."

  "I will."

  Justin took a deep breath. He didn't need a cold shower. He needed Niagara Falls. He couldn't remember the last time a girl had laid it on that thick, but he didn't mind. He didn't mind at all. He loved the interest almost as much as he loved the girl.

  What he didn't love was the challenge he faced in the coming weeks. He still had not figured out what to do with someone he couldn't live without but probably couldn't take with him.

  "Now I have a question for you," Justin said.

  "OK."

  "Have you ever considered leaving Galveston?"

  "No," Emily said. "Why would I do that?"

  "I don't know. Suppose you wanted to go back to college or take a job. Suppose you wanted to pursue something important. Would you consider it then?"

  "I might," Emily said. "It would depend on what I was pursuing."

  She raised a brow.

  Justin smiled and sighed. He could see that Emily was more interested in teasing him than in providing him with helpful information. Determined to sound her out, he tried again.

  "I guess what I'm trying to ask is … would you consider living permanently in a place that was a long way from Texas – a place like, say, California?"

  Emily grinned.

  "Is that all you want to ask me, Mr. Townsend?"

  "Yeah. That's it."

  Justin regretted the clinical answer the second he saw the smile vanish from her face and the light go out of her eyes. He began to wonder whether he could say anything right.

  "I see," Emily said.

  "Would you consider it?" Justin asked.

  Emily gave Justin a you-blew-it-buddy frown and turned away. She glanced again at the amorous couple and apparently gave the question some thought. When she returned her attention to the man with the oars, she did so with eyes that revealed sadness, regret, and longing.

  "No. I probably wouldn't," Emily said.

  "You wouldn't even think about it?"

  "No. I might consider living somewhere else for a short period of time, but not permanently. I can't imagine living in a place where I couldn't see my family on a regular basis. That was the thing I liked least about attending college in New York. I was able to see Anna only twice during the school year. I didn't like that at all."

  "So you wouldn't do it for any reason?" Justin asked.

  Emily shook her head.

  "No. I wouldn't. I like it here. This is home."

  Justin felt his stomach turn.

  "I see."

  "Did I answer your question?" Emily asked.

  "Yes. You did," Justin said. "You sure did."

  CHAPTER 52: CHUCK

  Saturday, July 28, 1900

  "It is with great reluctance then that I accept these resignations. I wish Mrs. Townsend and Miss O'Malley the very best in the years to come. Please stay for music and refreshments."

  Chuck joined a hundred others in a round of applause. He had to hand it to the old fart. The chairman of the board of the Texas Maritime Library knew how to send two valued employees into the world, even if he didn't know how to compensate them properly for their work.

  Chuck watched Charlotte and Rose accept gifts from the chairman and then welcomed them with hugs when they returned to a circle of friends in a corner of the library's meeting room. The women had notified the board that they would resign from the library on August 31.

  "These people are going to miss you," Chuck said a moment later.

  "I certainly hope so," Charlotte said. "I've put a lot into this place. So has Rose."

  "Who's going to take over when you leave?"

  "Goldie will if a new director hasn't been found by then. She'll have the help of more than a dozen volunteers. I'm not sure if Emily will stay. I haven't had the chance to talk to her much since we returned from Missouri, but I think she's struggling with the decision."

  Chuck knew for a fact that she was. He had learned from Justin that Emily was thinking about resigning immediately and returning to Vassar College, which had awarded her a full one-year scholarship on Thursday. He didn't know why she had not yet accepted the offer, but he had a pretty good idea.

  Chuck glanced at Justin, who stood next to Emily a few feet away, and noticed that his mood had not improved. He looked as dejected and lost as he had for most of the past week.

  "Has Justin mentioned anything about a fight with Emily?"

  "No. Is something wrong?" Charlotte asked.

  "I don't know," Chuck said. "I just know that he hasn't been the same since we got back. He's done little but mope the last few days. I think he's eager to get back to Los Angeles."

  "I don't blame him. I know what it's like to be away from home at his age. I know what it's like to be away from home at my age."

  "You say that like you're old."

  Charlotte gave her husband a playful glance.

  "I am old."

  "You're thirty-two, Mrs. Townsend," Charles said. He pulled her close. "In the world I come from, you're still a college girl."

  "Thank you for the flattery, dear. I may need more of it in the coming year."

  Chuck smiled. He returned his attention to the crowd, which had not thinned since the board chairman had made his remarks, and saw several people he knew, including Levi MacArthur, Goldie Gates, the Becks, Deputy Chief of Police Patrick O'Malley, and three library volunteers.

  He also saw Thomas Mack, his mysterious, irritating, and seemingly omnipresent shadow. Mack leaned against the opposite wall and quietly observed the guests at the reception.

  Chuck gave serious thought to walking over to Mack and telling him that he was on to him when he detected motion on his left. He turned just in time to see Silas Fitzpatrick approach. The co-owner of the Gulf Star Line wore what appeared to be a genuine smile.

  "I see the happy couple has escaped the spotlight," Silas said.

  "We like standing in the wings," Chuck said. He grinned. "It makes it easier to observe those who prefer to occupy the center stage."

  Silas laughed.

  "I see."

  "How are you doing, Silas?"

  "I'm doing well, thank you. I'm very sorry to hear that Charlotte will be leaving not only the library but also the state," Silas said. He turned to face Charlotte. "May I say, Mrs. Townsend, that you will be sorely missed?"

  "You may," Charlotte said.

  All three people laughed.

  "I do mean it," Silas said. "You have done
wonders for this fine facility. I can only hope that your permanent replacement is as knowledgeable and helpful."

  "Thank you, Silas. That means a lot to me."

  Silas acknowledged the comment with a nod and returned to Chuck.

  "My brother tells me that you'll be leaving for Los Angeles in September. Is that true?"

  "It is," Chuck said. "We plan to leave on the fourth or the fifth."

  "I see," Silas said. He looked at both of the Townsends. "Then plan on dinner at the mansion before you go. I'd like to send you to California on a proper note."

  "Thank you," Charlotte said. "That's very kind of you."

  "It's my pleasure."

  Charlotte smiled at Silas and then shifted her eyes to a spot about twenty feet away, where Rose talked with a board member who looked like he was about to depart.

  "Can you hold this, Charles?" Charlotte asked as she held out an empty wine glass.

  "Of course," Chuck said. He took the glass. "Are you all right?"

  Charlotte nodded.

  "I'm fine. I just want to say goodbye to Mr. Chapman before he leaves the reception. He's going on vacation tomorrow and won't be back until October."

  "Take your time."

  "It was nice seeing you, Silas," Charlotte said. "Thank you again for the dinner invitation. I'm looking forward to making another trip to Houston. Please excuse me."

  Silas nodded as Charlotte stepped forward and disappeared into the crowd.

  "She's quite a woman," Silas said.

  "Yes, she is," Chuck said.

  Silas finished his glass of wine and placed it on a small table next to the wall. When a waiter came by with more wine, he grabbed another glass off of his tray and turned to face Chuck.

  "I confess I didn't come over here solely to pay my respects."

  "I didn't think so," Chuck said. "What do you want to talk about?"

  Silas sipped his wine.

  "Wyatt seems to think a spate of bad weather is on its way and for that reason wants to make some changes in how we do business. He wants to send each of our vessels to Mobile for maintenance at the end of August and cancel all of our scheduled runs in early September."

  "That's interesting," Chuck said. "Why are you telling this to me?"

  "I'm telling you because you are the man who put this ridiculous idea in his head."

  "I take it you don't approve of the idea."

  "I don't," Silas said. "We have operated in the Gulf of Mexico for many years and have never encountered insurmountable difficulties during hurricane season. I have no reason to believe that this year will be any different."

  "Then why don't you put a stop to the 'ridiculous idea'?" Chuck asked. "You have just as much say in running the company as your brother."

  "That 'say' means nothing in a situation like this. Wyatt and I each have the authority to redirect our ships for up to three weeks without the other's consent. Our father included that specific provision in his will. He was a conservative man who wanted to give each of us the ability to err unilaterally on the side of safety."

  "I see your problem. I wish you the best in resolving it."

  "I can't resolve it without your help," Silas said testily.

  "What is it that you want me to do?"

  "I want you to talk some sense into Wyatt and get him to at least moderate his position."

  Chuck sipped some wine.

  "Why should I do that? I think that sending your ships away from Galveston for a few weeks will save your company. In my mind, I'm doing you a favor."

  "It's a favor I don't want and can't afford," Silas said. "Will you please at least talk to him?"

  Chuck nodded.

  "I'll talk to him, but I can't promise he'll listen."

  "Just talk to him."

  "OK."

  Chuck took a breath as Silas took his leave and headed for the door. He didn't know what to make of the curious exchange, but did know one thing. Either Silas Fitzpatrick knew nothing about the coming storm or he was the dumbest businessman on Earth.

  CHAPTER 53: EMILY

  Emily gazed at the sad young man and sighed. She had done more gazing and sighing in the past six days than in the past six weeks but still didn't know what the fuss was about. She knew only that she had said or done something to upset Justin and wished she could find out what.

  "So you're still not going to tell me?"

  "There's no point, Emily."

  "Of course there's a point," Emily said. She looked around the library's meeting room and decided to lower her voice. "I care about you and want to know what's bothering you."

  "Can we argue somewhere else?" Justin asked. "I really don't want to spoil Charlotte and Rose's reception by getting into a fight."

  "We're not arguing – and we're certainly not fighting," Emily said. She lowered her voice again. "We're trying to find out why you've been so difficult lately. That's different."

  "In other words, we're fighting."

  Emily frowned.

  "Come with me."

  Emily grabbed Justin's hand and led him out of the meeting room, out of the library, and down the Strand. She didn't stop until she found the café table that had lent itself to more than a few constructive and contentious conversations.

  Emily scanned the surroundings and saw that they had the outdoor dining area to themselves, which did not come as a surprise. The café did not open on Saturdays.

  "Sit."

  "Don't tell me what to do," Justin said.

  "OK. I won't. I'll ask you. Please sit."

  Justin did as requested.

  Emily grabbed the other chair at the table and made herself comfortable. When she was sure that Justin wasn't going to run away, she resumed the conversation that wasn't a fight.

  "Will you please tell me what's bothering you? Does this have something to do with my unwillingness to leave Galveston to 'pursue' whatever it is I might pursue?"

  "It might," Justin said.

  "Then just say so."

  "OK. It does."

  Emily stared at her friend with the wavy blond hair and shook her head. She thought she had seen the last of difficult boyfriends and fiancés, but she was wrong. Justin Townsend was as challenging as they got. Were it not for the fact that she loved him, she would have put him on the fastest train to Los Angeles or the slowest boat to China.

  "Justin?"

  "Yeah?"

  "I didn't mislead you the other day. I really can't imagine living apart from my family, except to attend college. I can't imagine moving so far from Anna that I couldn't see her every day."

  Emily reached across the table and grabbed his hand.

  "Under the right circumstances, however, I would do just that."

  "You would follow me to California?" Justin asked.

  Emily nodded.

  "I would prefer not to, but I would if I had to."

  Justin took a deep breath and mustered a weak smile.

  "That means a lot to me."

  Emily tilted her head and leaned forward.

  "Do you mind if I ask why?"

  "No," Justin said. "I don't mind. I just don't know if I can answer the question."

  "Why is that?"

  "It's complicated, Emily. The only thing I'm sure about is that I love you and don't want to lose you. Beyond that, I can't give you any answers – at least not right now."

  Emily laughed.

  "Well, at least you love me."

  Justin smiled warmly.

  "I've loved you since you said most men were bad."

  "I said no such thing. I said that all men were bad," Emily said. "If you're going to quote me, Mr. Townsend, at least quote me correctly."

  Justin chuckled.

  "OK."

  "Do you feel better now?" Emily asked.

  "Yes. I do."

  "Do you want to go back to the reception?"

  Justin shook his head.

  "No. I want to give you something instead."

  Emily's heart raced
when Justin withdrew his hand, reached into a jacket pocket, and pulled out a velvet box. Her heart slowed when she realized that the box was wider and larger than the ones that typically contained a ring.

  "What is it?" Emily asked.

  Justin placed the box in front of her.

  "Open the box. You'll see."

  Emily slowly opened the box and saw that it contained a sterling silver heart-shaped locket on a silver chain. She pulled the item from the box and quickly put it around her neck.

  "Anna picked it out," Justin said.

  "Anna?"

  Justin nodded.

  "When you went to the salon last week and asked me to get Anna some ice cream, I did more than get her some ice cream. I took her shopping. She knows you better than your parents."

  Emily smiled sweetly.

  "She does," Emily said. She looked at Justin. "This is beautiful. Thank you."

  "You're welcome. I had planned to give it to you in the rowboat on Sunday, but I couldn't bring myself to do it after our little disagreement."

  "I understand."

  "Open the locket," Justin said.

  Emily did just that. She saw her initials engraved on the left side and Justin's on the right.

  "I wanted to put photos in it, but I didn't have any," Justin said.

  "Maybe we can do something about that," Emily said.

  "Yeah. Maybe we can."

  Emily gazed at Justin again and resisted the temptation to jump across the table and smother him with hugs and kisses. She didn't know if it were possible to love a man more than she loved him at that moment.

  "With or without pictures, it's perfect. I will wear it always."

  "Do you want to go back to the reception now?" Justin asked.

  "No. I'm happy right here."

  "If you do, we can. I've said what I wanted to say and given you what I wanted to give you."

  "That's good," Emily said, "because I haven't."

  Emily rose from her chair, scanned the area again for nosy neighbors, and walked slowly around the table. When Justin, still seated, lifted his head, she placed her hands on his cheeks and gave him a long, tender kiss.

  "I love you," Emily said. "I think I always have."

  She kissed him again and returned to her chair. When she settled in, she put the velvet box in her purse, and resumed looking at the young man she did not want to live without.