Somewhere to Call Home (Love Inspired Historical)

by Janet Lee Barton

  Violet took Mrs. Heaton’s suggestion and they finished their breakfast in a companionable silence until Michael surprised her by entering the dinning room.

  “Mother, I took a call for you. Mrs. Wentworth wanted to remind you of the meeting today.”

  Mrs. Heaton gasped. “Oh, dear, I forgot all about that meeting. And it is important I be there. Oh, Violet—”

  “It’s fine, Mrs. Heaton. I’m sure the hack driver will take me wherever I ask him to and back home. Please don’t miss your meeting on my account.”

  “Oh, but I—”

  “Mother, there is no need to miss your meeting. I’ll be glad to accompany Violet on her job search.”

  “Michael, you gave up a day of work last week, I can’t let you—”

  “Violet, Mother will miss the meeting if you don’t let me. Besides, I’ve been working much too hard lately and it will be good for me to take another day off.”

  Mrs. Heaton chuckled. “He’s right on both accounts, Violet. So, what’s it to be? Do I miss my meeting and deprive Michael of a much-needed day off?”

  Violet shook her head at the two of them. “You two are a pair for sure. Thank you for the offer, Michael. I believe I’ll take you up on it.”

  “Good. The hack should be here any minute now.”

  The hack he’d hired did show up right at eight-thirty, and Violet couldn’t deny that she was a bit relieved not to have to find the places she’d be applying to alone. Nor could she deny that she was happy to have Michael’s company once more.

  He helped her into the hack and sat down beside her. “Where would you like me to tell the driver to go first?”

  In spite of Lila’s offer to help the night before, Violet still had a feeling that she did not want her working at the same company—no matter what she said around the Heatons. Because of that, she asked Michael to have the driver stop at the bank that’d advertised for a receptionist first.

  “I thought you wanted to start with Butterick first.”

  “Well, I have no real experience, and surely being a receptionist won’t take a lot of training. I believe I could handle greeting people without too much trouble.”

  “I’m sure you can do anything you set your mind to, Violet. If you want to start with the bank, that is what we will do.” He gave instructions to the driver and it seemed no time before they pulled up in front of a very imposing building.

  “Would you like me to accompany you?” Michael asked.

  “I think I’ll be fine, but thank you for the offer.”

  “I’ll just wait here, then. Good luck, Violet.”

  “Thank you.” Violet hurried inside, but her confidence quickly deflated once she found that they were only looking for someone with several years’ experience.

  “I’m sorry, Violet. Didn’t they state that in the advertisement?” Michael asked when Violet returned and told him what happened.

  “No. But I suppose I should have known.”

  “I don’t know how you would have without them saying so.”

  “Thank you for being so kind, Michael.”

  The next stop along the way was at Hearns Department Store, where she was treated much more kindly and told that they would get back to her, as did Macy’s when she put in her application there.

  “I’m sure both places will be ringing you up on the telephone by the time we get back home, Violet,” Michael said. “But why don’t you try Butterick next?”

  Violet agreed. She couldn’t very well tell him that Lila didn’t seem too happy about them possibly working together...not after she’d acted as though she’d love it just the night before. Her hopes starting out this morning had been dashed, but she might as well get it over with. If her earlier interviews were any indication of how this one would go, Lila wouldn’t have to worry about it.

  By the time the hack arrived at Butterick and Company, Violet was so nervous she wished she hadn’t eaten that morning. Her stomach felt as if a hundred butterflies had been taken captive and were all trying to escape at the same time.

  “I’ll wait here for you, Violet,” Michael said. “You’ll do fine, I’m sure.”

  “If this is like the others, you won’t have to wait too long,” Violet said as Michael helped her out of the hack.

  “I’ll say a prayer all goes well.”

  “Thank you, Michael,” Violet said. “It helps to know that I have you and your mother praying for me. Gretchen said she would be praying, also.”

  The knowledge that she had people talking to the Lord on her behalf suddenly calmed the flutters in her stomach, and Violet felt at peace as she entered the building.

  A young woman about Violet’s age was sitting at a desk and looked up as she entered. Violet assumed she was the receptionist and walked up to her.

  The young woman smiled. “Good morning, miss. What may I help you with today?”

  “I’d like to apply for the position advertised in the paper, please.”

  “Of course. Your name, please?” The young lady motioned to another young woman and had her come forward.

  “Violet Burton.”

  “Miss Rogers, this is Miss Burton. She would like to apply for employment. Mr. Wilder is taking interviews today. Would you take her to his office, please?”

  “Of course. Come this way, Miss Burton.”

  Miss Rogers led her up a staircase to the second floor. “Don’t be too nervous, Miss Burton. Mr. Wilder is very nice and we do need help.”

  Her kind words helped keep Violet calm as she followed the woman down the wide hall. At the end of the hall, Miss Rogers knocked briskly on a door.

  “Enter,” a male voice said.

  Miss Rogers opened the door and led Violet inside a room that was paneled in beautiful hardwood, with windows that looked out onto Broadway. There were two people there, a man and a woman. The man sat behind the desk and the woman in one of two chairs in front of the desk. “Mr. Wilder, Miss Carter, this is Miss Burton and she’s come to apply for the cutting/folding position.”

  Mr. Wilder stood as Violet and Miss Rogers came farther into the room. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Burton. Take a seat and we’ll talk.”

  Violet wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but it wasn’t a talk. Still, she took the seat Mr. Wilder motioned to, and was encouraged a little by the smile Miss Carter gave her as Violet took the chair beside her and Mr. Wilder sat back down.

  “You may go, Miss Rogers. Miss Carter will show Miss Burton out when we are finished.”

  “Yes, sir.” Miss Rogers smiled at Violet before taking her leave.

  “Now, Miss Burton, what makes you want to work at Butterick?” Mr. Wilder asked.

  What to tell him? How much should she tell him? Violet set up straighter in her chair and cleared her throat. “Well, sir, I’m new to the city and I need work.”

  “Where are you from, Miss Burton?” Miss Carter asked, her pencil poised above a stenographer’s pad.

  “I’m from Ashland, Virginia.”

  “And why did you decide to move here?” It was Mr. Wilder asking this time. Perhaps they were going to take turns.

  “My mother passed away recently and, to be honest, I have family debts to pay and there was no work to be found in my small hometown.” Violet grasped her shaking fingers together. Her nervousness was threatening to come back much quicker than it went away.

  Miss Carter looked at her in a sympathetic manner. “And why did you decide that Butterick is a place you wanted to apply to?”

  Violet laughed and she wondered if she sounded as anxious as she felt. “Butterick is a familiar name to me. I love the patterns and The Delineator magazine. My mother and I spent many an hour poring over the pages of it, looking at the patterns and—”

  “You are a seamstress, Miss Burton?” Mr. Wilder asked.

  “Not a professional one. Just a home seamstress who loves your patterns because they make it possible for the everyday woman to make clothing for her family that actually fits them
well.”

  Mr. Wilder leaned back in his chair, placed his fingertips together over his chest and rocked back and forth. He had a huge smile on his face. “That is music to our ears, Miss Burton.”

  “Indeed, it is,” a voice from behind Violet said. She turned to find an older man sitting in a chair in one corner of the room. He was dressed in a black suit and sported a long white beard. He stood and walked toward them. “I’m Ebenezer Butterick, and I believe you’ve just found yourself a position at Butterick and Company, Miss Burton.”

  Violet looked from Mr. Butterick to Mr. Wilder and then to Miss Carter. All three were nodding and smiling. “But...but I don’t know if I am qualified for the work and—”

  “Most everything we do here can be learned, Miss Burton,” Mr. Wilder said. “And I have a feeling you already know what you need to, to work here.”

  A wave of relief washed over her at his words.

  “And we do like to help those who need work, and we love to hire those who understand what it is my wife and I started out to do when this company was formed in ’68,” Mr. Butterick said. “You are hired, Miss Burton. Miss Carter will help you fill out all the information we need from you and you can start tomorrow at eight o’clock sharp. You’ll be shown how our operation works and then we’ll start you working.”

  “Oh, I—” She remembered the letter Mrs. Heaton had given her and pulled it out of her reticule. “I do have a letter of recommendation from my landlady. She used to be a neighbor of ours and—”

  “The fact that you are willing to give us a letter of recommendation and are concerned that we might want one is enough, Miss Burton.” Mr. Wilder waved away the letter. “You are hired.”

  “Oh...thank you so much!” Violet didn’t know what else to say. She’d never thought to be hired so quickly—especially after her earlier interviews. She could only give credit to the prayers that Mrs. Heaton and Gretchen were saying on her behalf, for she knew she did nothing to get hired on her own. Thank You, Lord, for answered prayers.

  “You are quite welcome, Miss Burton,” Mr. Butterick said. “I’ve pretty much retired from the daily overseeing of things. But Mr. Wilder and Mr. Pollard are doing a fine job of taking care of the business. However, I’m glad I was here today, to be in on your interview.”

  “I’m glad as well, sir.”

  “Come this way, Miss Burton,” Miss Carter said.

  Violet stood and followed her. But just before they left by a side door leading to another office, she turned back. “Thank you again!”

  “You are quite welcome, young lady,” Mr. Butterick said.

  Violet fought the urge to run back into the room and hug the man. She couldn’t believe it. She had a job at Butterick. She would be able to pay off the mortgage on her home. Violet couldn’t wait to share the news with Michael.

  Chapter Six

  Michael jumped out of the hack as soon as Violet came out of Butterick. She didn’t try to hide her smile and he grinned at her. “You got the job, didn’t you?”

  “They hired me. I start tomorrow, Michael.” She placed a hand over her hammering heart.

  “Oh, Violet, that’s great news. I’ve been out here praying that you would be hired, but never did I dream that you would find out today, especially not after—” Michael stopped speaking and looked at Violet apologetically.

  “My earlier interviews today.” Violet smiled and said the words for him. “It’s all right, Michael. I was thinking the very same thing. I’m finding it hard to take in, but it’s true. I really have work. I still can’t believe it! But they were so very nice, and Mr. Butterick himself told me I was hired!”

  “From what Lila has told us, I thought he was retired now.”

  “I think he is. But evidently he comes in from time to time to see how things are going and today was one of those days. I didn’t even realize he was in the room until he spoke up from behind me.”

  Michael chuckled. “I’m sure that surprised you.”

  “Oh, it did!”

  “You must have impressed him as one who will work hard and do your best for the company.”

  “I’m not sure about that. I think he might have had some sympathy for me with my mother’s passing and all.”

  “Well, for whatever reason you were hired, I am sure they’ll never regret it.”

  “I certainly hope not.”

  Michael helped her back into the hack and took his seat beside her. “You know, Mother probably isn’t even home yet, and I’m taking at least half a day off. Why don’t you let me take you to lunch to celebrate?”

  Violet loved his suggestion, but she didn’t want to impose on his time any more than she already had. “Oh, Michael, you don’t have to do that.”

  “I know I don’t, but I’d like to. Unless you don’t want to—”

  “Oh, I’d love to have lunch with you, Michael. And I must admit I’m in the mood to celebrate.”

  “Well, then. That’s what we’ll do. And you’ll be doing a lot of it this week. Mother loves to have something to celebrate.”

  Michael leaned forward and said something to the driver, but Violet couldn’t understand what he said. And it really didn’t matter where they went, she was just glad to get to spend more time with him.

  The hack moved out into traffic, and the route he took was one Violet hadn’t seen before. Of course, as large as New York City was, she doubted that she’d ever see it all. Still, she loved looking at the buildings, seeing all the hustle and bustle on the streets.

  Michael turned to her. “You know, Violet, now that you have a job, I must admit to not knowing a lot about why you came here to find employment instead of staying in Virginia—not that we’re not glad you did, but—”

  “Your mother didn’t tell you?”

  “Not really, only that you needed to come here and find work to pay off the mortgage on your family home because you couldn’t find employment there. When I asked why, she said it was your story to tell. And if you’d rather not tell me, that’s all right.”

  Violet shook her head. She was impressed that Mrs. Heaton hadn’t told even Michael all about Harlan. Since she was staying at his mother’s and he’d been such a help to her, she felt she owed it to Michael to tell him what had happened.

  “No, I don’t mind. I just thought you knew. I couldn’t find a position in Ashland because, well, the banker who holds the mortgage to my home made it impossible for me to find work.”

  “Why would he do that? Seems to me he’d be helping you and not trying to hinder you.”

  “One would think so. But he had other plans. He thought that if I couldn’t find a position at home, I’d give in and marry him. Said he’d forgive the loan if I did.”

  “He tried to blackmail you into marrying him?”

  “Why, yes, I suppose that is what he did. But I couldn’t bear for him to...” Violet shuddered, remembering that last time she’d talked to him.

  “Violet, he didn’t try to— He didn’t hurt you did he?”

  “No. Other than grab my arm and try to convince me. But I must admit I wonder what might happen if he ever finds out where I am.”

  “He doesn’t know?”

  “Not that I know of. And I hope not. I went to some lengths to keep him from knowing.”

  “I see. And who is this banker? What’s his name?”

  “Harlan Black. Do you remember him?”

  “I do. I’m glad you turned his offer down, Violet.”

  “Yes, so am I. Now I just want to get that mortgage paid off so that I can have my family home back free and clear.”

  Suddenly, a crash was heard up ahead, and their driver brought the hack to an abrupt stop, jostling her and throwing her against Michael.

  “Are you all right?” Michael asked as he gently helped her sit back up.

  Violet nodded and Michael turned to the driver. “What is it? What’s happened?”

  “I’m sorry, sir, but it seems there has been an accident up the street
.” He stood to get a better look before turning to Michael. “Could be a while. Looks like there’s been a pileup of vehicles in the intersection.”

  “Oh, dear. Is anyone hurt?” Violet asked.

  “Don’t look like it, ma’am. But traffic is piled up ever which away. Don’t you worry none. I’ll get us around it all.” He sat back down and quickly turned the horse to go back the way they’d come. Then he took a detour along one of the side streets, turning the hack this way and that into areas Violet knew she hadn’t seen.

  She noticed that the area seemed to be more residential than commercial, yet there were buildings, not homes, up and down the blocks. When their driver stopped at the next intersection she asked, “What are these buildings, Michael? It looks as if people live here.”

  “You’re right. They do. These are apartment buildings and multiple-family residents. Some are two- and three-family dwellings along here and some much larger. On farther down there are what we refer to as the tenements, where many immigrant families live. There is much crowding together there and the living conditions for so many have been atrocious.”

  Violet craned her neck to look down the street as their driver took the hack into the intersection and turned once more. Soon they were in what must be the middle of what Michael had called the tenements. Violet could see all manner of trash piled up in front of many of the homes. And the smell was... Violet prayed she didn’t gag before they got out of the area.

  She saw young children playing in the streets, even in the trash, and some just standing on the street corner. Two little boys in particular caught her eye as they stood, holding hands and looking sadder than any children should.

  “Oh, Michael, look at those two little boys.”

  “Stop, driver,” Michael said. He motioned to the two little boys to come closer, and at first they started to move forward and then they stopped. Their eyes were big and blue and looked as if they’d been crying.

  “They’re afraid to come near,” Violet said. She pulled some coins from her reticule and held them out so that the boys could see, but they shook their heads. Then she dropped them on the street and Michael told the driver to be on his way.