“Yes, well, I’m sure you do take after your mother in more ways than that. And I’m certainly glad you do,” Michael said. “Your instincts are very good, Violet. Trust them.”
He watched Violet flush the most delectable shade of pink. He wanted this thing with Harlan Black settled. There were other things he wanted to take up with Violet, and her feeling about another man wasn’t one of them.
* * *
On Sunday, Mr. Atwood had joined them for church and the sermon seemed one meant for them all. It was about how one should not worry about tomorrow, that today had enough worry of its own, that had her turning it all over to the Lord and asking Him to protect Michael and Mr. Atwood as they tried to discover what Harlan Black was up to.
As they’d left church, Violet felt more peace about the situation with Harlan Black than she ever had. Both Michael and Mr. Atwood had assured her they were on top of it all and that had helped, but it was knowing that the Lord was in control of it all that really calmed her. She’d been able to fully enjoy going to lunch with Michael and his mother and Mr. Atwood before they took him to catch his train back to Virginia.
At quitting time on Monday, Violet was surprised when Lila told her she’d be coming home later.
“I made plans with an old friend who used to work for Butterick. He started up his own pattern company several months ago and he asked if I’d have an early dinner with him since we both have something to celebrate. He’s probably going to try to get me to work for him.”
“You wouldn’t quit Butterick after just getting a promotion, would you?”
“No, of course not. At least not until I know how his company is coming along.”
The man showed up just then, but Lila didn’t make any introductions. She simply said, “Please let Mrs. Heaton know that I’ll have an escort to get me home if I’m not there before dark.”
“Yes, I will.”
“Bye!” Lila waved and took the arm of the gentleman as they headed in the opposite direction Violet was going.
It seemed odd that Lila had never mentioned her friend before now. Violet didn’t think she was romantically interested in the man—not the way she acted around Michael. But truthfully, she knew very little about Lila. From what she’d heard from the others, no one else knew much about her either.
Violet headed toward the trolley, thinking it would get her home faster and she was more familiar with its stops, since that was the way she and Lila traveled back and forth to work, most days.
She looked in her reticule, just in case, to make sure she still had the map and directions Michael had given her weeks before. As long as she had it, she wasn’t overly worried about getting back to the boardinghouse.
Once on the trolley, she felt a new kind of independence. It was the first time she’d ever traveled anywhere in the city alone. She knew she wouldn’t want to go anywhere alone after dark, but it was a relief not to have to put up with Lila’s up-and-down emotions. Or her total silence.
Violet took a deep breath and expelled it. It was quite nice to relax on the way home. She looked around and noticed that many of the people on the trolley were the ones she traveled with most days. A new gentleman had begun to ride the same trolley a few days earlier and she’d wondered about where he worked and lived. He nearly always got on the trolley when she and Lila did, and he got off at the same stop in the mornings. But afternoons, when the trolley stopped just down from Mrs. Heaton’s, he stayed on it. She couldn’t help but wonder if he had a second job somewhere. Not that it mattered, really. It was just something to think about as she and Lila traveled back and forth. Only today, she couldn’t help but wonder if he was one of Michael’s men. The thought that he might be, did make her feel safer.
She felt a sense of accomplishment when the trolley stopped and she got off and walked home. She almost wished Lila would have somewhere to go every afternoon. This had been the most peaceful ride home she’d had since beginning work at Butterick.
* * *
They were just finishing up dinner when Lila came home. Her eyes were bright with excitement, and Violet couldn’t help but wonder what had brought that about.
Nor, it seemed, could anyone else.
“Good evening, everyone,” Lila said, slipping into her seat at the table just as Mrs. Heaton began cutting into the chocolate cake that was a favorite of the boarders. “I see I’m right on time for dessert. I was hoping I’d make it.”
“We’re glad you made it, dear,” Mrs. Heaton said. “You should have asked your escort to join us.”
“Oh, I’ve been with him long enough today.”
“You look as if you enjoyed yourself. Where did you go for dinner?”
“We went to that new little café down the street from Butterick. The food was pretty good. Mostly we were celebrating my new position and his new company. Of course he’s trying to get me to come work for him, but I only told him I would think about it.”
“But Lila, you just got a promotion. Surely you aren’t going to quit Butterick now,” Elizabeth said.
“I’m not planning on it, but you never know.” Lila took a bite of cake and chewed before continuing, “At this time it probably wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do. But he’s got some great ideas and I’d like to help him if I can. The day may come when I do go to work for him.”
Violet bit the inside of her mouth to keep from saying anything. Part of her wanted to let Lila know what she thought of her even considering changing companies after she’d just been promoted. But there was another part of her that would be almost relieved if she quit Butterick. She knew she needed to pray about her attitude, but as time went on, Violet wasn’t sure she liked Lila any better than Lila liked her. So maybe she’d better reserve judgment and leave it all in the Lord’s hands.
“He also asked me to keep an eye out on others who might be willing to change companies. His starting pay is more than Butterick—”
“But he’s only been in business a short time. How can he possibly compete with Butterick and the other large pattern companies?” Luke asked. “That doesn’t make sense unless he came into some kind of inheritance to start up his business.”
Lila shrugged. “I didn’t ask. But it is a growing business and there should be plenty of room for new pattern companies, don’t you think?”
“Quite possibly,” Julia said. “Still, I would much rather work for a well-known company than one just starting out. But it will be your decision to make, Lila.”
“True. And I’ll let you all know if and when the time comes that I make it.”
“My goodness, Lila, one would think you were talking about being a department manager instead of a seamstress position.”
“Well, maybe I am.” Lila smiled and looked over at Violet. “You might think on it, too, Violet. Being a department manager would pay really well.”
“I like what I’m doing a lot, Lila. I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere else for employment. I like the people at Butterick. Why would I want to leave?”
“Well, that will be your decision eventually, I suppose. But you might want to keep an open mind.”
“Thank you for your advice, Lila. I will keep an open mind, I can assure you.”
Chapter Sixteen
The next day, no one was more surprised than Violet when she was called into the offices of Mr. Wilder and Mr. Pollard and offered the position of assistant supervisor of the sewing department.
“But, Mrs. Waters does such a wonderful job.”
“And it is for that reason that we want an assistant for her. She works very hard and has said that she is thinking of turning the reins over to a younger woman with more energy,” Mr. Pollard said.
“Why, Mrs. Waters has more energy than anyone in the sewing room,” Violet said.
“She certainly expends much energy. We think it may be that she is just tired, and we don’t want her to leave. We’ve discussed it with her and she’s said she would stay if we get her an assistant and she can have a little mor
e time off. She also recommended you for the position.”
“Oh, but I’m so new to the company—and, well, I’m sure there are several women in the department that have much more experience than I do and have been here longer.”
“Not really,” Mr. Wilder said. “And those who do have the experience aren’t much younger than Mrs. Waters. According to her, the others don’t show the same regard for the work they do that you do.”
Violet was touched by the other woman’s high opinion of her. But, oh, how she dreaded Lila’s reaction to her getting yet another position higher than hers. She would be livid. And they lived in the same boardinghouse. Violet began to shake her head. “I’m not—”
“Please think it over, Miss Burton. I know there will be some resentment from some of the younger women,” Mr. Pollard said. “They are going to try to make your job very difficult. But you are the one we want and the only one Mrs. Waters is willing to stay on and train, as she says. Should things get too bad, I expect you to come to us so that we can take care of it. Just think about it and let us know tomorrow. Agreed?”
“Yes, sir.” Violet couldn’t help but smile. She worked for some very nice people and they’d been good to her. She owed them the courtesy of thinking it over. “I’ll let you know my decision tomorrow.”
“Good, we hope you decide to take the position, Miss Burton,” Mr. Wilder said. “You are the kind of person we like working for us. We look forward to talking to you tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wilder, Mr. Pollard.”
Violet left their offices unsure of what to do next, other than to think on their offer and pray hard about it. It was a wonderful opportunity and she knew it. She didn’t want to turn it down, but she knew Mr. Pollard was right. It wouldn’t be easy. Still, it hadn’t been easy to leave her home and move to New York City either. But she’d done it. It wasn’t easy to think that she might lose her home, but she was doing all she could to be able to make those payments— unless it was proved that Harlan Black was a crook and her mother hadn’t needed to take out that loan. Until then, she had loan payments to pay and this promotion would make that much easier.
“Where have you been? Are you in trouble?” Lila asked when Violet got back to the sewing room.
“No. I’m not in trouble. I—”
“Violet, could you come here, please?” Mrs. Waters called from her glass-enclosed office doorway.
“Well, if you weren’t before, I’m sure you are now,” Lila whispered. “Mrs. Waters isn’t going to be happy you were gone so long from your machine.”
Violet didn’t miss the smirk on Lila’s face as she got up and hurried over to her supervisor’s office, thankful for the interruption.
“Yes, Mrs. Waters?”
“I just wanted to see if you accepted the position I know you were offered. I’m hoping that you did.”
“Oh, Mrs. Waters, I am so grateful for your recommendation, but I don’t know what to do. I don’t have near the experience I feel I’d need to be an assistant to you.”
“Violet, you have all the experience you need. I’ll be training you to be a supervisor while you take a great deal of pressure off me. I can’t think of a better arrangement—at least for me. You didn’t turn it down outright, did you?”
“No, ma’am. I am to give an answer tomorrow.”
Mrs. Water sighed. “Oh, I’m glad. Please say yes, Violet. I’m not quite ready to retire yet, but I can’t keep going at the pace I have been. I truly need help, and you are the only one in the department that is young enough, trustworthy enough and that I like well enough to work with in that capacity.”
“I promise you I will truly think about it and pray on it. I do want the position, Mrs. Waters. I just am not sure...” Violet hesitated. “There are women out there who are going to be very upset and—”
“Oh, I know. I remember well when I was given this position. I had some trouble from some of the other girls. That is to be expected anytime one is promoted over another, I suppose. And some will try to make things hard for you. But it is a good promotion, Violet. Look at it this way. If you take the assistant job, you will one day be qualified for my position. And even should we both leave at some point, another position has been created. You will have helped with that.”
That was something to think about. “Thank you, Mrs. Waters. It has helped to talk to you.”
“Good. Just know that I’ll be praying that you take the position.” She looked at the clock on the wall. “Looks like it’s quitting time. You go do that thinking and praying and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.” Violet felt like hugging the woman for wanting her to take the position and for recommending her. But she was sure Lila and all the other seamstresses were curious enough about their meeting and she didn’t want to make it worse. She didn’t have a clue what she was going to tell Lila as it was, but from the look on her face, Violet knew she’d better figure something out quickly.
As soon as the quitting bell rang, Lila ran up to her and asked, “Did you get in trouble?”
“No, Lila. Why would I? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Well, I certainly wouldn’t get away with being gone as long as you were this afternoon. Is someone getting fired or quitting?”
“Lila, I really can’t say.”
“Violet, I thought we were becoming good friends. Why won’t you tell me why you were gone so long today and what you and Mrs. Waters were talking about?”
Somehow, Violet had a hard time believing that Lila considered them good friends. She’d never given any indication before that she wanted to be friends at all. “Thank you for your concern, Lila, but I’m not at liberty to say what our talk was about.”
“I see,” Lila said. “Well, I’m not going to be riding home with you today. I’m meeting my friend again. Will you tell Mrs. Heaton?”
“I’ll be glad to. Have a good time.”
Lila only gave a brief wave and hurried off.
Violet breathed a sigh of relief that she would have a peaceful trip home. She needed some time to herself for she had much to think about.
* * *
After dinner Violet went in search of Mrs. Heaton. She knocked on the door of the study and said, “Mrs. Heaton, do you have a minute?”
She was surprised to hear Michael’s voice. “Come in, Violet.”
She entered and looked around, but Mrs. Heaton wasn’t there. “I’m looking for your mother. Do you know where I might find her?”
“She said she was very tired and went on up to bed. Is there something I can do for you?”
He was sitting in one of the chairs by the fireplace, an open Bible in his lap.
“Oh, I’m sorry. No, that’s all right. I don’t want to interrupt your Bible reading.”
“You aren’t. I’ve just finished my reading for tonight. Come join me for some tea.” He didn’t wait for Violet to accept, but poured her a cup and handed it to her instead.
“Thank you.” Violet took the cup and sat down in the other chair.
“What can I do for you? Is something wrong?”
“No, not really. I just need some advice and I know your mother will tell me what she really thinks.” That was one of the things she loved about Mrs. Heaton. She felt she could come to her about anything—with the exception of her growing feelings for her son.
“I’d be glad to listen, if it’s something you can talk to me about. What is it that’s happened?”
“Well, it’s nothing bad. It’s quite the opposite, in fact. I’ve been offered a promotion—”
“Another one? That’s great news, Violet. Mother has always said Butterick was the best place for you. What is it they want you to do?”
“They want me to be the assistant supervisor of the sewing department.”
“Oh, that is quite a step up. But you don’t seem terribly excited or happy about it.”
“Oh, I am, or at least I want to be. But I know that I’m goin
g to have some resentment in the department. I can’t blame anyone. I might feel the same way if I’d been at a business for as long as some have and a new person came in and got promoted over me. I don’t imagine I’d like it either.”
“Well, I suppose there might be some who won’t be happy about it, but it is that way in any business, Violet. You aren’t thinking of turning it down, are you?”
“I’m not sure. I want to take it, but, oh, Lila is going to be so upset.”
Michael shook his head. “You taught her to sew so that she could get the promotion to the sewing department, Violet. You can’t live your life worrying about Lila’s reaction to your good news.”
“I know. And Mrs. Waters has said she needs me. Mr. Wilder and Mr. Pollard seem to think she will resign if she doesn’t get some help soon. And from what she said, I believe she might.”
“Well, then, if you are considering feelings, you might want to think about what it would mean to her if you don’t take the position.”
“Oh, I have. She’s been so good to me, and as far as I can tell, everyone in the department thinks highly of her. But she did say that when she got promoted, she had some who resented her, too.”
“It didn’t stop her from taking the position, did it?”
“No, it didn’t. I suppose it shouldn’t stop me either.” Violet took a sip of tea and made her decision. “I’ll let them know I’ll be happy to accept the promotion first thing tomorrow.”
“Good. I think that’s exactly what you should do and I’m sure my mother would tell you the very same thing.”
Violet smiled. “I think you’re right. Thank you, Michael.” Her heart slammed against her ribs at the smile he gave her and her pulse began to race at the sight of those dimples.
“Still, I don’t want to make it hard on everyone living here,” Violet said, giving a small smile. “I feel the tension between Lila and me pours over to everyone.”
Michael shook his head. “Well, you’re wrong. Everyone living here knows Lila and her moods. No one is going to blame you for those. Enjoy your good news, Violet. Lila can get another migraine if she doesn’t want to celebrate with us. You do know Mother is going to want another celebration dinner, don’t you?”
Somewhere to Call Home (Love Inspired Historical) Page 18