"So, Collin, can you stay for lunch? Sean and Faith are at work, of course, but the rest of us are about to sit down for a light meal. It's not much, since we're fasting our full meal until this evening, but you're welcome to join us." Patrick looked tired, but his eyes were eager.
"I'd love to, Mr. O'Connor."
Nothing was said of anything that might have transpired three weeks earlier. The conversation was simply the usual banter he had grown to love in his brief time with this family. Patrick seemed careful to avoid talk of war while Katie babbled on about Easter and the candy she hoped to receive. Charity never took her eyes from his face while Marcy finished up the preparations for lunch. When it was ready, they all sat in the warmth of the kitchen to pray and eat, and in the midst of their warmth and love, Collin felt revived from weeks of death.
He had come here to end it, to say good-bye to the only real family he had ever known. Endless hours of whiskey and wondering convinced him there was no other way. How could he marry one sister when he was in love with the other? And how could he love the other at the expense of the betrothed, especially when he had no certainty the other would even have him? It was all too complicated, too painful to ponder, and it would be best, he decided, to simply do away with it all. But as he sat basking in the glow of this family he loved, he found he was reluctant to let them go. It suddenly occurred to him that, perhaps, time should make the decision for him, and Collin found his heart much lighter at the thought.
When the meal was finished, Marcy offered stout cups of coffee. Collin gratefully accepted, and he sipped it as they chatted on about Easter, school, and work at the Herald.
Collin put his cup down and took a deep breath. He pushed his chair back to give himself room to breathe. "Speaking of the Herald, Mr. O'Connor, I suppose it's abuzz these days with talk of the war?"
Patrick nodded. A slight pall seemed to settle on the room.
Collin pressed on with his point. "I wanted to come here today to tell Charity something. . ." He looked around the table. "To tell you all something. I've decided to enlist."
Collin felt as if he had just released the first of the wartime bombs that would shatter their lives. The deathly quiet of the room clotted the air in his throat.
"Collin . . . what are you saying?" Charity's color blanched to chalk.
Collin looked at her, his eyes tender as he put his hand over hers. "Charity, I've decided to join the AEF."
"What's the AEF?" Elizabeth wanted to know.
"It stands for American Expeditionary Force. It's our military force that will be fighting overseas."
"You're going to war?" Steven asked, his freckled face bunched in a frown.
Collin nodded, and Charity let out a faint cry.
"Collin, why enlist now, why not wait until you're called?" Marcy's voice wavered.
Patrick gave her a strong look. "Marcy, Collin has to do what he thinks is best. How we feel cannot factor in."
Collin glanced up at Patrick, his eyes stinging. "Oh, but it does, Mr. O'Connor. How your family feels affects me a great deal. I wouldn't be here today if it didn't. You're the family I never had ..." He fought a tremor in his voice.
"Then why?" Charity cried.
"Because my country needs me, and because you and I need time to sort a few things out. My duty overseas will give us that time. And when it's over, God willing ... I'll return, and we can see where things stand."
"Are you going to marry my sister?" Katie asked.
"I don't know, Katie," he whispered.
Charity began to cry.
"Collin, the problem between you and Charity-is there anything we can do ..." Patrick seemed at a loss for words.
Collin shook his head. "No, sir. I just think it needs the test of time to make sure it's what we both want to do."
Collin turned to Charity. "Let's wait until after the war and see how we both feel." He stroked her wet cheek with his fingers. "If you don't want to wait, Charity, I'll understand."
She swiped tears from her eyes. "I'll wait, Collin," she whispered, "as long as it takes."
He wound his arms around her, cheek pressed hard against her hair, and all at once he felt as if a great burden had lifted.
"When do you think you'll leave?" Patrick's tone was sober.
Collin looked up. "The first troops will be in France by June for training. I hope to be among them, but I'll know for sure today or tomorrow as to exactly when."
"June! Will we see you until then?" Charity asked.
"Try and stop me," he whispered. She laid her head on his shoulder. Sitting there, holding her in his arms, Collin felt strangely at peace. He had come to end his relationship with this woman. How could it be that it felt so natural to be holding her again? He stroked her hair as she leaned against him.
His mind suddenly wandered to thoughts of Faith. Some of the peaceful feeling faded as he remembered that it always felt more natural with Charity when Faith was out of sight. Would there ever come a time when he'd be free enough to marry Charity? A part of him hoped so. But then, it was at war with a part of him that didn't.
"Collin, will you be joining us for Easter?"
The sound of Marcy's voice lulled him back to the present. He smiled. "I would like that, Mrs. O'Connor."
"Do you think your mother would be up to coming? We'll be going to mass at noon, then dinner is at four."
"She hasn't been feeling well, but I'll certainly extend the invitation."
"Good. I met her years ago, but it would be lovely to see her again. We'll have a full house, I can tell you that. Mrs. Gerson will be here, of course, and Faith has invited Danny and Maisie and ... Briana, I think it is, to join us. Have you met any of them, Collin?"
He stiffened at the mention of Danny and Briana, as did Charity. "Yes, ma'am, all three."
"Good. It'll be fun, I think. And I suppose we could do with more of that lately."
"Yes, Lord, and amen to that, eh, Collin?" Patrick laughed, pushing his plate away.
"Yes, sir," Collin agreed, not sure how much "fun" would be derived from an encounter with either Danny or Briana again. But he smiled, nonetheless, at Patrick's words. In all his years he'd never seen such a family as this, and he doubted he ever would again. Where all things-whether run-of-the-mill conversations or matters of great importwere laid at the foot of the Almighty.
Faith opened her eyes to a room where the last remnants of moonlight were fading into the dusky light of dawn. Rising early on Easter had become a habit, she supposed, from years of sneaking out of bed at the first crack of light to see what the Easter Bunny had brought. A habit that lingered on, she found, long after the magic of the Easter Bunny faded.
The rhythm of Charity's shallow breathing harmonized with the soft ticking of the clock as she slept in her bed across the room. Charity had taken the news of Collin's enlistment hard, as they all had at the thought of someone they loved in harm's way. But for the moment, he was back. And the effect of that short reprieve could be seen in the soundness of her sleep.
Faith pulled the covers more tightly about her, curling up in bed and allowing her thoughts to drift. The timing for Easter couldn't be better, she decided with a bit of melancholy. Over the last few years, Easter had become a time of rebirth for her, much like the beginning of her new relationship with God. Her parents had raised her to know God and know about him, but it had been such a long-distance thing, too far away for her to touch or feel. And then she met Mrs. Gerson, and her eyes suddenly opened to the depth of God's love for her, personally. Faith had always known about Jesus, but for the first time he became her best friend as well as her Savior. Suddenly she understood his words to Nicodemus: "Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." For Faith, the change had been earth-shattering, taking her from the shallowness of the world to the depth of the spirit. She would never be the same again.
Though they never spoke in terms of a spiritual rebirth, Faith knew her parents embraced the same life-changing faith as she. It was
evident in the strength of their marriage and the joy in their hearts, even in the midst of trials. Faith lay there in the early morning shadows, her eyes becoming misty just thinking about them. A swell of gratitude filled her soul. No one had to tell her how blessed she was to be a part of this family. She felt it to the core of her being. It was God's greatest gift, aside from his Son, to be surrounded and nurtured by the amazing love of these two remarkable people.
It was during moments like this that Faith had great difficulty understanding her sister. They were only a little over two years apart, born and raised in the same family, with the same loving parents and values, yet Charity was more of a stranger than a sister. A cold chill in an otherwise warm and wonderful existence. A thorn in the flesh, Faith thought as she remembered Mrs. Gerson's comments about St. Paul. Charity was definitely that. But no more, Faith supposed, than she was to her, especially where Collin was concerned.
Faith rolled on her back and shivered, sadness suddenly cloaking her like the weight of her blankets. A dull ache throbbed in her heart, and she wondered when she would ever be free from it, free from him. There was no question about it-it was the perfect time for Easter and the rebirth she hoped it would bring. Collin was leaving. And although the thought produced a sick feeling in her stomach, Faith had no doubt at all it was exactly what she needed. Collin would leave, Charity would pine, and Faith would move on.
She thought of Danny, and a smile pulled at her lips. Who knows, perhaps he would be the one who would deliver her. She hoped so. From the start, Danny had such a soothing effect on her. True, he didn't elicit the passion of her star-crossed encounters with Collin, but with time and prayer, she believed she could love him. Perhaps then she would, as one of her favorite verses from Psalm 144 declared, "sing a new song." One whose melody would be as sweet as that of her parents'.
A squeal floated up from downstairs, and Faith knew slumber was short-lived now that Katie was up. Thrusting her covers aside, she sat up and glanced across the room.
"Charity, are you awake?" No answer. As quietly as she could, Faith dressed and headed for the door; she turned to look at her sister one last time before leaving their room. Charity's covers were still, with only the gentle movement of her breathing. "Happy Easter, Charity," Faith whispered, more to herself than to her sister. "I hope it's a new beginning for Collin and you." She closed the door behind her and sighed. A new beginning for us all.
Marcy had outdone herself. The dining room was aglow with the light of her prized candlesticks, and the lacecovered table was laden with the bounty of her kitchen. Her china sparkled in the candlelight, and the silverware was polished to a gleam, cushioned by delicate folds of lace-trimmed napkins. A profusion of Easter lilies graced the center of the table, their heady fragrance drifting in the air. Marcy herself was breathless and glowing. She hurried back and forth from the kitchen to deliver steaming platters of ham and turkey while Faith and Charity fetched bowls heaped high with vegetables.
A knock sounded at the door, and Sean jumped to answer it.
"That must be Danny with Maisie and Briana," Faith said, setting a basket of rolls on the table. "Right on time!"
Sean ushered them into the dining room, and Faith reached for Danny's hand. "Thanks so much for bringing Maisie and Briana. I really appreciate it."
Danny grinned. "I'd bring the pope if it meant I'd spend Easter with you," he quipped.
"Name-dropper," Collin muttered to Sean. Sean laughed.
Faith raised her voice over the commotion as she linked arms with Briana. "Everybody, this is Briana, a good friend of mine from work."
Briana smiled when introduced to each of Faith's family members, then blushed just a hint of rose when she came to Collin.
"And, of course, Briana, you know Collin."
Briana smiled shyly. "Of course I do. Hello, how have you been?"
Faith couldn't resist a peek at Collin. It was one of the few awkward smiles she'd ever seen on his face. She detected a sudden rash creeping up his neck. "Fine, Briana, and you?" He folded his arms, as if at a loss as to what to do with his hands.
"Never better," she said with a smile.
He nodded, his discomfort growing more obvious with each passing second. Charity stepped up and grabbed his arm, flashing a superior smile. "I've heard so much about you, Briana. It's good to finally meet you." There was the slightest note of disdain in her voice.
"And I, you," Briana responded in kind, causing Charity's smile to waver just a bit.
Briana leaned to hug Mrs. Gerson, who was already seated at the table, while Patrick ushered everyone in. Katie insisted on sitting by Maisie while Sean quickly claimed the other seat beside her and pulled out the chair for her to sit down. Danny did the same for Faith. He whispered in her ear, and she laughed, whispering back. Looking up, she saw Collin's lips tighten into a flat line as he seated Charity.
The meal began, as always, with a prayer from Patrick. "Lord, in the midst of a difficult time, we come together to rejoice in the resurrection of your Son. Thank you for sending him to die for us and then to rise again, offering each of us the joy of new birth, new beginnings. Help us to live for you, oh Lord, and guide us through the months ahead with your steady and loving hand. Amen."
Everyone consumed until full, both of the food and the intoxicating warmth pervading the room. They laughed as Patrick told stories of Easters past-of the time Faith and Hope had hidden chocolate behind the wood-burning stove to keep it from Sean, which resulted in a sticky mess for Marcy and a stomachache for Blarney. Or the morning Sean and Faith awakened to baskets filled with nothing but grass while Charity's fairly toppled with candy.
"So, that's why I wake up so early on Easter!" Faith exclaimed.
Everyone laughed, even Charity.
When the meal was done, Marcy rose and looked around the table. "So ... who wants coffee? I also have tea, if anyone would like it."
"And hot chocolate?" Katie asked, her tone bordering on alarm.
"Yes, even hot chocolate, although my maternal instincts warn that a certain little girl may have already had more than her fair share."
"Who?" Katie asked. Marcy shot her a cynical look.
Mrs. Gerson rose from the table. "Marcy, would you mind terribly if I took my tea in the parlor by the fire? I'm afraid my rheumatism is not cooperating, and I think I would be more comfortable there."
"Of course, Christa," Marcy responded. "Maisie, Briana, would you mind escorting Mrs. Gerson to the parlor? I can bring your tea in there, as well, and you three can visit while Faith, Charity, and I do the dishes."
Maisie chuckled. "Oh, please, Mrs. O'Connor, don't deny me the dishes!" She rolled her eyes at Briana.
"You're just jealous 'cause I get to pick at the leftovers," Faith said with a smirk.
"Just one of many reasons, I'm sure," Maisie returned, winking at Danny.
The women left the room, and Patrick broached the subject weighing on his mind. "So, Collin, have they given you an exact date when you'll be leaving?"
Collin folded his arms and leaned back in his chair, a sober look on his face. "June 15."
Patrick nodded. "At least you'll be here for Charity's graduation. I'm glad."
Danny bent forward, one arm resting on the table. He looked at Collin in frank surprise. "Don't tell me you're going overseas to fight?"
Collin glanced at him, an amused look on his face. "As a matter of fact, I am. Why does that seem strange? Haven't you heard there's a war on?"
Danny shook his head. "It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense, that's all. You're engaged to a beautiful woman. Why risk getting shot when you don't have to?"
Collin's eyes narrowed as he gave Danny a cool look. "Because more than likely, we'll all be going sooner or later."
Marcy reentered the room with a tray of steaming coffee cups, and Collin's smile was stiff. He thanked her and took a sip. Patrick nodded when she left, then stared blankly at his coffee, stirring in the cream. Sean stretched back
in his chair and began idly tracing his finger on his mother's lace tablecloth.
Collin exhaled. "As you know, there's talk in Congress about something they're calling the Selective Service Act, which would mandate conscription-drafting men into the army. Right now, they're talking about registering men between the ages of twenty-one and thirty. If your lucky number is called, congratulations-you're a doughboy. Figured I'd get my bid in early."
"I'm willing to go, even if they don't call me." Sean took a gulp of coffee, then another. "Somebody's got to stop Germany from riding roughshod over the rest of the world."
Patrick glimpsed up with knitted brows. "You're right, Sean. Much as I hate to admit it, I don't think we can sit back on this one. I'll be going if called."
Danny's mood sobered as he stared at the untouched coffee before him. He looked up at Patrick. "I thought the draft was for the ages of twenty-one through thirty, Mr. O'Connor? Why would you be called?"
Patrick slumped in his chair and rubbed the back of his neck. "True enough, Danny. Right now they're going for the youngsters such as yourself, but I've heard rumors of extending the registration to all men between eighteen and forty-five. If that happens-which I suspect it might later this summer-well, then, I'm right there with you boys."
Sean turned to his father, his forehead creased with worry. "Father, if that happens, what would Mother do without your income?"
Patrick sighed and sipped his coffee. "I don't know, Sean. I've been pondering the possibilities since last year. With Marcy's grandmother ailing, I'd originally thought perhaps Marcy and the rest of the family might go to Ireland to help her out. I thought we could put our house up for rent while they're gone. I even have an old friend who is the editor of the Irish Times in Dublin. I know I could get Faith on at the paper there, and Charity might get a job in a shop somewhere, I don't know. But now, with ship travel so dangerous, I'm not sure what I would do. It's something I haven't really figured out yet."
A Passion Most Pure (Daughters of Boston, Book 1) Page 20