Violet turned in her seat to watch the two little boys as they hurried into the street and gathered the coins. She waved and, after a moment, they waved back with the most wistful expression she’d ever seen in their eyes. Surely there was more to do there. She watched until the driver turned down another street and she didn’t think she’d ever forget the look in their eyes.
“Driver, get us out of here—now,” Michael said when he turned down one more wrong street. “Surely you could have found another way to go!”
“Sorry, sir! I took a wrong turn up there for sure. We’ll be out of here soon.” The driver flicked the reins and the hack picked up speed as he did as told.
“I’m sorry, Violet. You need to know this way of life exists here, but I never wanted you to see it like this. I know it’s nothing like you’ve seen back in Ashland.” Michael sighed and shook his head. “Sadly, this is as much a part of the city as the mansions we passed the other day are.”
Violet could see the sorrow in Michael’s eyes as he went on, “It is absolutely horrible what some in this city endure. But with the publication of Jacob Riis’s manuscript called How the Other Half Lives, many have been fighting to change things for the poor.”
“I’m relieved to hear that. I can’t imagine living in those conditions.” She’d really had only a glimpse of it, but it’d been enough to throw her imagination into high gear and now she felt she must know more.
“The reality of it is heartbreaking. And sometimes, I wonder if Becca could have been caught up in... If she might be—” Michael broke off and shook his head.
“Michael? Surely you don’t think Rebecca could be living in that kind of...” Violet didn’t even know how to continue the thought. Didn’t want to.
“I simply don’t know, Violet.”
His voice was hoarse and his eyes so sorrowful, Violet wished she’d kept her mouth shut. “I’m sorry, Michael.”
As if it were too painful to talk about, he shook his head. He continued as if his sister hadn’t been mentioned. “With the right people finally in office, things are changing, thank the Lord. Since Mayor Strong was voted into office last November, real effort is being put into cleaning up the streets and helping to make living conditions somewhat easier for those who must live in such crowded spaces. But living in the tenements is nothing like what you and I are used to, Violet. The streets have been much worse than you see now—filled with rubbish, trash...so much so that vehicles could barely get down them. It’s a shame what the city allowed.”
“It’s that bad?” Violet asked. Her heart broke for those children and the people living in such dire conditions as Michael described. The overcrowding, the filth and disease they were forced to live with. What she’d seen was bad enough; she hated to think of it being worse.
“Yes. Of course, it is a big city and I suppose it is to be expected. And I’m hopeful that with Theodore Roosevelt, the new police commissioner in charge of fighting the crime in the city, the crime rate will come down. Much has been done since the elections, but more must be accomplished.” Michael sighed. “So much more.”
Hearing that things had been even worse than what she’d seen, Violet could only nod in agreement.
“Do you have that book you mentioned, Michael? May I borrow it?”
“I do. It’s in Mother’s study, and of course you may borrow it.”
Curious as she was about the tenements and those that lived in them, Violet felt even more blessed that she had the Heatons to turn to in this city and she was eager to get out of this area of it.
As they made it back to Fifth Avenue, Violet breathed a deep sigh of relief. But the comparison between the tenements they’d passed through earlier and the wealth in this part of the city—not to mention the conversation about Rebecca—was almost more than she could take in. Violet tried to put the sights she’d seen in the tenements out of her mind and concentrate on celebrating her new job. Besides, she didn’t want to spoil Michael’s plans.
* * *
Michael took Violet to one of his favorite restaurants not far from his office. It catered to both men and women, so he felt sure Violet would feel comfortable. He tried to keep the conversation on lighter things.
He owed it to her. He hadn’t meant to put a damper on her day by bringing up the reason for her move to the city, but he had. He had managed to bring up hurtful memories for her—to think any man had treated her that way had him clenching his teeth.
And then—how they’d ended up in the part of town they had was beyond him—but it had only served to diminish her joy in finding a job even further...and brought up memories of the sister he couldn’t find. He couldn’t believe he’d opened up and confided his fears to Violet. He rarely talked about Rebecca to anyone anymore. Maybe it was because she’d been open with him—or maybe it was simply because she knew Rebecca and no one in this city did. But the fact remained that he’d managed to make her smile disappear and he wanted it back.
“Would you like to help me surprise Mother, Violet?”
“Surprise her?” Violet leaned her head to the side and smiled at him. “What do you have in mind?”
“Well, I feel sure she would have wanted to take you to the Ladies’ Mile to celebrate your good news—did she mention it?”
“She might have. But it’s all right, Michael. I’ll get to go another day.”
“Why don’t you let me take you?”
“Oh, Michael, I’ve imposed enough on your time. I’d never ask you to take me to the Ladies’ Mile.” She giggled. “But thank you for the offer.”
“You haven’t imposed on me. I believe it was my suggestion to take you and Mother around the other day, and I know it was my suggestion to go with you today. And you’re right to assume I might be a bit uncomfortable visiting most of the shops in the Ladies’ Mile. But we could go to Macy’s. It has most everything anyone—man, woman or child— might need or want. Would you like to go there?”
“Michael, really you don’t have to—”
“Actually, I could use a new cravat, and you could help me choose one.” He’d gotten her to smile again, but now, his goal seemed to be to get her to let him take her to Macy’s. “Please.”
Violet’s laugh was light and melodious. “Well, if you put it that way, I’d be glad to go to Macy’s with you, Michael.”
“Let’s go, then.”
He pulled out her chair. As they headed out of the restaurant, he couldn’t ignore the admiring glances Violet received from the men at other tables. But she seemed oblivious to them and he smiled. She truly was like a breath of fresh air in this city.
He hired a hack to take them to Macy’s and once inside, watching Violet’s expression as she saw all that was offered in the store, Michael couldn’t remember when he’d enjoyed shopping so much.
And Violet did help him choose a new cravat—a red one no less. He wasn’t sure where he’d wear it, but she seemed to like it. “It will look wonderful with the black suit you wore on Sunday or the gray one you have on now,” she said.
He was flattered that she remembered what he wore and once he’d made his purchase, he turned to her. “Now, what would you like to look for?”
“Oh, I don’t need anything right now, but I do like browsing. I’ve never seen so much merchandise in one place in my life.”
He laughed. “No, it’s not like anything back home, is it?”
“Do you miss Ashland, Michael?”
“Sometimes I miss the times I lived there. But nothing there is the same now and I’ve come to love living here in the city. It took a while, but now I feel this is home. What about you? Do you plan on going back to Ashland or—”
“Oh, it’s still home for me. And, of course, once I pay off the mortgage, I’ll be returning.”
Her words didn’t really surprise him, though they did seem to put a pall on his mood. He knew the whole reason she was here was to earn enough money to get her home paid off. But he was going to have to warn his mother aga
inst becoming too attached to Violet so that she didn’t take it too hard when she did leave. And he couldn’t let himself enjoy her company too much for the very same reason.
“Well, you don’t have Macy’s back in Ashland, so you might as well see what it has to offer. We’ll take a tour so that if something should catch your fancy, you’ll know where to find it when you come back with Mother.”
“All right. I’d like that.”
They spent the better part of an hour going from one floor to another, browsing in the book department, the jewelry department and on to the fine-art and china department. Then Violet turned to him. “One truly could spend a whole day here and not see it all, I’m sure.”
“Mother says the same thing, and I can tell you that you haven’t seen anywhere near half of it yet.”
“Well, I’ve taken up enough of your time for today, and I really need to make sure that my clothes are ready for work. I suppose we should be going.”
Michael had a feeling Violet avoided browsing the women’s department for fear of embarrassing him, and he had to admit he appreciated her thoughtfulness. Still, he almost hated to leave. It was the most time he’d ever spent with Violet alone and he’d thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her better.
* * *
By the time they returned to Heaton House, Violet’s heart felt lighter than it had since she learned Harlan Black held the deed to her home. Now she had hope that she could pay off the debt against it. And even if she stayed here, she would have a home to keep in her family as part of a dowry if she should ever—
Violet caught her breath. Where in all the world did that thought come from? She had no need for a dowry, nor did she want to have need of one. She’d been disillusioned by Nick and then Harlan and wasn’t sure she could trust any man. All she wanted now was to have her family home free and clear of the likes of Harlan. What she did with it could be decided when that was accomplished.
She’d had a wonderful time with Michael, seeing a side of him she’d never known. She’d enjoyed lunch and the shopping trip and she’d been surprised at how easy it was to open up to Michael about Harlan and her fears. Maybe it was because she had known him a long time and she trusted him and his mother. After all they’d done for her, how could she not?
Violet kept busy for the rest of the afternoon, and by the time she started downstairs that evening, she was confident she was ready to start work the next morning. She’d pressed and brushed her clothing, deciding exactly what she would wear each day. She was nervous, to be sure, but excited, too. She looked forward to beginning this new phase of her life more than she’d thought she might.
Michael asking her if she would be returning to Virginia had given her a lot to think about. She was a bit bothered that the thought of returning home didn’t fill her with joy, but told herself that it was because she had no family living to return to. She did love her home and she wanted to keep it, but she wasn’t quite so certain that she would be happy to leave here when the time came. Violet sighed. Now was not the time to be worrying about it all. She needed to be thankful that she had work and would be able to keep her home.
“Violet, wait!”
Violet stopped her descent and turned to see Elizabeth hurrying down the stairs.
“How did your interviews go today? I’ve been praying off and on all day.”
“Thank you for asking and especially for praying for me, Elizabeth. The first one didn’t go well at all. The next two said they’d be in touch with me.”
Elizabeth sighed. “I’m so sorry. I thought for sure that you would have several and come home with a position.”
“But I did come home with a position.” Violet smiled at her new friend.
“You did? Oh, I am so happy. Where are you going to work?”
“The fourth interview was at Butterick. And I got the position. I’m still finding it hard to believe that I start tomorrow. It seems we’ll be coworkers now...just like you and Lila.”
They were both laughing when they stepped into the parlor.
“What is so funny?” Ben asked.
Violet was just about to announce her good news when Michael came into the room and announced, “Mother says dinner is ready, everyone.”
There seemed to be a mass exit from the room, but Violet stayed put as Michael walked over to her. “Mother was quite pleased that I took you to lunch and shopping, Violet. Thank you for making me the son she can be proud of today.”
Violet laughed. “She’s proud of you every day, Michael.”
“That may be, but she was quite pleased and surprised that I’d thought of it.”
“So was I. It was very nice of you, and it made the day even more special for me.” She took the arm he held out and let him lead her across the foyer and seat her at what had become her place at the table.
Ben seated Mrs. Heaton. When everyone else had taken their seats, she looked to her son. “Michael, will you say grace, please?”
Everyone bowed their heads as he thanked the Lord for the day and the food and for Violet’s good news. He’d barely finished with an “Amen” before everyone started asking questions.
“What good news?” Lila asked from across the table. “You found a job?”
“Did you find a position?” Luke leaned forward from down the table.
“I did. I applied at Butterick this morning and it looks like we’ll be working together, Lila.”
The other girl looked a little stunned, and Elizabeth rushed in to fill the silence. “It appears we have another ‘coworker,’ Lila. Or at least you really will.” Her chuckle drew laughter at the running joke between the two women and even Lila managed a giggle—if it did seem a bit forced.
Everyone else congratulated her heartily as Michael began serving the main course and Gretchen began to pass the side dishes around.
“When do you start?” Lila asked as she took the bowl of creamed potatoes and served herself.
“First thing tomorrow morning.”
Lila surprised Violet once more by saying, “I usually leave at seven-thirty. If you’re ready by then we can go to work together.”
Maybe there was hope for a friendship with Lila. Her change of heart from the evening before seemed genuine. “Thank you, Lila. I’ll be ready.”
“That’s nice of you, Lila,” Mrs. Heaton said from the other end of the table.
“Well, there’s no sense in her going by herself when we can keep each other company on the way.” Lila looked back to Violet. “Did you give me as a reference? If so, I wasn’t asked about you.”
“They didn’t seem to need any references,” Violet said. “They didn’t even take the nice letter Mrs. Heaton gave me.”
“Hmm, that’s odd. Who did the interview?”
“Mr. Wilder and Miss Carter both interviewed me. But Mr. Butterick was there, too, and he seemed to have the final word.”
“Oh!” Lila seemed a bit surprised as she continued. “Well, how nice. I—”
“I’m sure it’s a relief to know that you have employment,” Luke interrupted.
Violet was glad of the interruption. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what Lila was going to say next. “Oh, yes. It is.”
“We’re all very happy for you, Violet,” Elizabeth said.
“Thank you. I feel blessed to know I have everyone’s good wishes and prayers.” Looking around the table, Violet realized she was among friends, and she sent up a silent prayer, thanking the Lord above for Mrs. Heaton and her boarders.
Chapter Seven
Michael watched as everyone congratulated Violet on finding work. He’d been pleasantly surprised by Lila’s offer to accompany Violet to work, even though he’d been hoping she would. Had she not, he’d been prepared to suggest it.
What he hadn’t been prepared for was the relief he felt that Violet had gotten the position, which meant that she would be staying with them. She’d never given any indication that she would go back home, but he’d wondered if she might if sh
e didn’t find something right away. Many who came to New York City did just that if they couldn’t find employment quickly. He was glad Violet wouldn’t be one of them, because his mother seemed to have perked up considerably since Violet’s arrival and he wanted to make sure she stayed that way.
He had to admit he liked having Violet around, too. But he and his mother had to keep in mind that she would be leaving at some point. Her only reason for coming here in the first place was to find a job to be able to pay off her family home and go back to Virginia. And Michael had no intention of moving back to Ashland. His life was here in the city now. If his sister was still alive she was out there somewhere, and he’d never find her if he left. Besides, his mother’s life was here, helping other young women. So he’d best keep reminding himself that Violet’s stay here wouldn’t be permanent. It wouldn’t be wise to let himself become too attached to her.
“Did you go on other interviews, Violet?” Julia asked.
“Yes, I did. The first three came up empty, and I was sure Butterick wouldn’t be any different. But I was hired before I left.”
“Oh! I thought perhaps they’d telephoned you to let you know you had the position.”
Violet looked lovely—her face was flushed with color and her eyes sparkled. She looked as relieved as Michael felt about her getting the position.
“Well, actually, you did receive a telephone call this afternoon. Gretchen remembered to tell me just before dinner,” his mother said. “There seemed to be no hurry to let you know, with you getting the position at Butterick. It was the personnel director at Macy’s asking that you come in and have another interview tomorrow. Gretchen told her she’d give you the message.”
“Thank you for letting me know, but you were right that there needn’t be any hurry to tell me. I’m quite pleased that I was hired by Butterick.”
“And I’m so glad you and Michael celebrated your good news by going to lunch and Macy’s, since I didn’t get to go with you,” Mrs. Heaton said.
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