“They’re coming to see the students, not me.”
“You must play.” Kum Yong folded her arms. “The girls are so proud—they want to show you off.”
Ruby laid the folded curtains on the front table. “Pray about it, Elizabeth. He’ll lead you.”
Sinking into one of the seats, Elizabeth fought the sensation of being lost at sea. That’s what I’m afraid of.
A spark of mischief glinted in Kum Yong’s dark eyes. “There’s one other thing Donaldina asked me to tell you. We’re taking the children on a surprise outing tomorrow to the beach.”
Elizabeth glanced up, her heart lightening. “Is it safe, considering what happened to Tien Gum?”
“We’re bringing along chaperones. The board has sent money for train tickets.”
A smile darted across Ruby’s face. “Gerald and I could come, if it helps.”
Warmth spread through Elizabeth. The day sounded better and better. The beach, the children, and her family? Maybe she’d met with God’s approval after all.
Kum Yong tipped her head, her lips curving upward. “Miss Cameron invited Mr. McKinley, too.”
Ruby covered her giggle with the back of her hand.
Elizabeth closed her eyes. “Of course.”
18
Charles lifted two baskets from the back of the Larkspurs’ automobile, the sun warming his shoulders as gulls wheeled on the light breeze. The sea air chased away the tension of courtrooms, cases, and surly supervising attorneys. Trading heaps of paperwork for mounds of sand sounded like an undeserved gift. “I’ve never ridden in a car driven by a lady before.”
Ruby gathered a large canvas bag from the rear seat and grinned, a silk scarf holding her hat in place. “I am a King sister, after all. We’re a rather unconventional bunch.”
Gerald chuckled, hoisting a blanket over his shoulder. “Truer words have never been spoken, though I think your baby sister might take the prize in that contest. Marching in suffrage rallies, performing in concert halls, rescuing Chinese slave girls—what will she attempt next?”
Charles stopped, sand already finding its way into his shoes. “What did you say?”
Gerald paused as his wife hurried off to join the others. “Which part?”
“Concert halls?”
The good doctor cocked his head, as if conducting an examination. “Elizabeth’s a concert pianist. Or rather, she was. Hasn’t she told you?”
“A concert pianist? Elizabeth King?” He thought back to the beautiful piano in their home in Sacramento. Not to mention those long graceful fingers. Charles shook away the stray thought. No need to let his mind go there. “Why did she stop?”
“You can try asking her, but Ruby says she won’t talk about it.” The corner of his mouth lifted. “Perhaps you’ll have better luck.”
Charles clamped one of the baskets under his arm. “I’ll do that.” He shook his head. “The woman is one surprise after another.”
Gerald patted his shoulder. “I think you’ll discover that’s true of every woman, Charles.”
The two men strolled out to Ocean Beach, the children already running through the sand and squealing in play.
Charles pulled in a deep breath of ocean air. “It must be a relief for them, escaping the walls of the Home. Being normal children for a day?”
The doctor nodded. “They have a difficult life, in some ways, but so much better than before.”
Near a clump of sea grass, Elizabeth organized the picnic hampers.
Charles joined her, adding his two baskets to the collection.
She straightened. “There you are. I thought perhaps you weren’t coming after all.” Her words sounded clipped, as if it would have been a relief if he’d never arrived.
“These belong to your sister. She said something about Gerald’s mother packing enough for armies of children.”
The words coaxed a smile to Elizabeth’s face. Her white lace dress fluttered in the breeze. “I’m sure with all this fresh air and exercise, they’ll be famished by lunch time.”
“As will I. I hope they’ll share.” Charles patted his stomach, desperate to keep her smile intact. He turned and glanced down the shoreline. Miss Cameron strode along the water’s edge with several of the older girls.
A youngster raced up to Elizabeth, sand flying from under her bare feet. “Teacher, teacher—come see! There are little crabs.”
“Crabs, you say?” Elizabeth bent down to speak to the child. “Then maybe you should watch out for your toes.”
“Come see.” The girl ran off, swinging her arms like a broken windmill.
Elizabeth set down the hamper and moved to follow.
“I’ll join you.” Charles had resolved not to chase her around like a puppy dog the entire afternoon, but the day was young. “After all, you might need protection from dangerous crustaceans.” He hooked his fingers in the top edge of his vest and smiled.
“If you’d like.” She shrugged. “It’s a public beach.”
Not exactly an invitation, but he followed regardless. “You’re going to have to help me with the children’s names. That is, if they’ll even speak to me.”
“They’ll speak to you. You’re the hero who rescued Donaldina from jail.”
The woman’s dimples would drive him to distraction. He focused on the children, three of the littlest darting in and out of the water under the watchful eye of a young Chinese man. One of the girls grasped the man’s wrist and tugged him toward the water, giggling.
Elizabeth paused at the water’s edge. “This is Yoke Soo, Ah Cheng, and Ah Lon.” She nodded at each before gesturing to the man. “And this is our friend, George Wu. George, I’d like you to meet Mr. Charles McKinley. He’s the attorney who assisted with Tien Gum.”
Still holding the child’s hand, the man bobbed his head. “Mr. McKinley. A pleasure to meet you.”
Elizabeth turned to Charles. “George owns the apothecary shop on Stockton Street.”
“I’m honored to meet you. I haven’t visited many of the shops, yet.” Charles nodded. “I’m sure Miss Cameron appreciates your help today.”
George smiled down at the little girls. “This is pure joy to me. I’m not married, so for now—these are my children.”
Yoke Soo splashed her feet in the water. “It’s so cold I can’t feel my toes!”
“Don’t go in too far. The waves will carry you off.” George swooped her up and carried her to the sand, the other two following.
Elizabeth’s hands were both captured by children within moments, but she stepped back from the waves. “Oh, no, you don’t. I’m not going in there.”
“Please, teacher, please!” The girls tugged on her arms.
Charles chuckled. Elizabeth would have a difficult time staying out of the water if her students had anything to do with it. “Did you bring a bathing costume?”
She freed herself and shooed the girls back to their play. “I was told this beach was too cold for swimming. But I wore my sandals.” She lifted the hem of her dress, showing the black leather slippers with lilac ribbons. “I’ll let them convince me in a while.”
“I never understood why women wore those. What’s wrong with feet?” Charles pulled off his shoes and socks, rolling up the legs of his trousers.
She smiled and held out her hands. “I’ll take your shoes. You take the girls.”
He tucked the socks inside and handed them to her. “That’s very kind.” He clapped his hands. “Come on, girls, I’ll be the lifeguard.”
Little Ah Cheng grabbed Charles’s leg and held on. Yoke Soo claimed the other. Charles lifted each girl high in turn, as if he were pulling his foot out of clinging mud with each step.
He glanced back to see Elizabeth standing on shore, his shoes pressed against her chest, one hand shading her eyes.
Even with his feet turning to ice, heat coursed through his body. The evidence was conclusive. She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
***<
br />
Elizabeth placed Charles’s shoes beside the blanket, taking a moment to run her fingers along the warm leather. The clothes he wore today confirmed what he’d told her about his upbringing. The trousers were well-worn—appearing almost soft to the touch. The cuffs on his jacket were frayed around the edges, too. So different than what he normally wears.
Now as she watched the children frolic with George and Charles in the surf, she regretted not bringing a bathing dress. Charles was right. Why must women wear stockings and shoes in the water? The girls were splashing with their bare toes and having the time of their lives.
Kum Yong joined her, flopping down onto one of the blankets. “This is what Heaven will be like, I am most certain.” She laughed, the sun and wind tinting her cheeks pink.
“I agree.” Elizabeth stretched, the cool breeze sending shivers across her skin. “Sunshine, fresh air, and no fog.”
Kum Yong opened the nearest basket. “And plenty of good food. Are these cookies I smell?”
Tucking her skirt under her, Elizabeth knelt on the blanket. “Probably. Ruby brought two baskets. Her mother-in-law likes to bake.”
Kum Yong closed the lid. “I dream of my own kitchen, sometimes. And a nice mother-in-law.”
“Don’t you need a husband for that?”
Her friend ducked her head to hide her smile. “Yes. Maybe. I suppose so.”
“Did you have someone in mind?” Elizabeth sat up straight. Kum Yong rarely spoke of herself.
“No.” The young woman’s gaze flickered toward the shore. “Forget I said anything.”
Elizabeth followed her gaze. “George Wu?” Her heart twirled upward like leaves in a whirlwind. Why hadn’t she considered the possibility before? “Does Donaldina know?”
“You mustn’t say anything. Elizabeth, please.” Kum Yong covered her face with her hands. “It’s nothing. Just a dream.”
“A beautiful, sweet dream.” Elizabeth leaned back, bracing her palms in the sand and crossing her ankles in front of her. “I would give anything for such a dream.”
“What of Charles?”
Elizabeth’s heart dropped toward her stomach. “I make poor choices when it comes to men. I think I’m safer on my own.”
Charles lifted one of the girls and spun her around in the air. The squeals carried across the sand to where she and Kum Yong sat.
A good man. He’d make a good father, someday.
George stumbled out of the surf, laughing, as Yoke Soo flicked water toward him with her toes.
When Kum Yong sighed, Elizabeth clambered to her feet. “That’s it.”
“What?” Kum Yong’s eyes widened as Elizabeth grabbed her hands and puller her up as well.
“I’m not going to let you sit here and pine away all afternoon. You’re going to have some fun.” Elizabeth yanked her friend forward, jogging toward the shoreline.
The expression on the men’s faces was worth getting her skirt wet. Elizabeth darted into the waves, one hand holding her skirts above her knees, the other dragging a giggling Kum Yong.
The three children squealed. Ah Cheng reached her arms in and flung handfuls of water at them.
“Oh, no you don’t, little miss.” Elizabeth dropped Kum Yong’s hand and snatched the little girl up, swinging her over one shoulder. Drips of icy water caught her neck as Ah Cheng grabbed her and held on for dear life.
Charles grinned. “I thought you weren’t coming in.”
“I said I wasn’t coming in, yet. I needed motivation.”
He gave Elizabeth a sideways glance. “What got you moving?”
“Seeing all the fun you were having. I don’t like being left out.”
Kum Yong shrieked, splashing away as the little ones chased her through the shallow water.
George laughed, a huge smile spreading across his face. He tucked his hands into his sleeves and watched Kum Yong play with the children, a softness crinkling around the corners of his eyes.
Elizabeth’s heart warmed. Kum Yong might not be alone in her dreaming. She swung Ah Cheng down, landing her on her feet with a gentle splash. “Kum Yong is getting away. Why don’t you go help?”
The girl hurried off, joining the group further down the beach. George followed a few steps behind.
Elizabeth stood still, the water lapping at her ankles. She unpinned her hat and took it off. Closing her eyes, she let the sunshine warm her face even as her toes ached from the cold. For one blessed moment, her past with Tobias was a million miles away—perhaps even washed clean by the tortuously cold water. Let Kum Yong go find romance. She’d be perfectly content to bask in the California sun.
***
He’d never seen a painting near as beautiful as the actual sight before him.
Elizabeth stood silhouetted against the horizon, wisps of her blonde hair floating on the ocean breeze, her head tipped back as if admiring the grandeur of God’s creation. She’d released the hem of her dress and it rose and fell with the rippling water.
Charles’s heart pounded, like the current against the sand. How could he not fall in love with this woman? She was everything he’d ever wanted. When she’d tossed aside convention to jump into the waves with the rest of them, it took everything he had not to capture her in his arms.
He stepped close behind her. “I could stay here forever.”
“Me, too.” Her voice was nearly lost in the sounds of the surf.
Reaching forward, he grasped her fingers. “Elizabeth . . .”
She jumped, yanking her hand away. “What are you—” Her words cut short as she flailed her arms, eyes widening.
Charles reach out to grab her, but arrived a second too late.
Elizabeth tumbled face-first into the surf. She popped up sputtering, silt dripping from her chin.
He reached down to assist.
She knocked his hand away. “Don’t.” She spit the word toward the foamy brine. Pushing up to her knees, the sandy seawater cascaded off the front of her no-longer-white gown. “I can’t believe I just . . .” She shook her head, several locks of hair coming free and hanging bedraggled over her shoulders.
“Elizabeth!” Ruby came running. “My goodness! What happened?”
“I—I slipped.” She cast a burning glance at Charles.
He crouched at her side. “Please, let me help you. It’s my fault, I startled you.”
After wiping a muddy palm across her chin, she nodded. “All right.”
He gripped her arm and helped her stagger to her feet, the dress hanging sodden against her legs, like she’d washed up from a shipwreck. “Your dress—I’m so sorry.”
“You didn’t push me in, Charles. I stumbled.”
“You wouldn’t have if I hadn’t . . .” The words stuck in his throat. Had he really tried to hold her hand? “If I hadn’t surprised you.”
She leaned against his arm as they floundered through the shallow water back to the beach. “I’m so clumsy.”
Ruby reached out to grab Elizabeth’s other hand and help her to dry land. “Elizabeth, where’s your hat?”
Elizabeth’s hand flew up to her hair. “I took it off, just before I fell.” She spun around. “Oh.” She pointed to the waves, the flowered hat bobbing on the surf like a brightly colored duck decoy.
“I’ll get it.” Charles rolled his pant legs higher above his knees.
“It’s too far.” Elizabeth’s voice quavered. “It’ll be halfway to China soon.”
Charles set his jaw. “I can retrieve it. That’s the least I can do.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’ve done enough.”
Her words froze him worse than the water pulling at his ankles.
As Ruby helped Elizabeth back to the blankets, Charles gazed out at the waves in frustration. The bobbing hat drifted further away, much like his chances with Elizabeth.
***
Elizabeth collapsed on the sand, the drenched clothes pulling her toward the earth. A shiver coursed through her limbs.
“You
’re going to freeze.” Ruby shook out of one of the blankets and wrapped it around her shoulders. “What were you thinking, going out there in your clothes?”
“I wasn’t planning on swimming. The wave sucked the sand out from under my feet.”
“Pity Charles didn’t catch you.” Ruby clucked her tongue.
Elizabeth lowered her head to her knees. “Why do things like this always happen to me?” She muttered the words into the damp wool covering.
“Should I drive you home? You can’t stay in those wet things.”
“I think Kum Yong packed some extra clothes for the girls. I can borrow something. Just let me catch my breath.”
Her sister’s jaw dropped. “You can’t wear one of those—those costumes.”
“Why not?” The girls’ loose white tunics and trousers looked like the epitome of comfort. “If they’re suitable for the students, why shouldn’t I wear them, too?”
Ruby wrinkled her nose. “I suppose.” She chewed her lip for a moment. “I’ll go find her.”
Elizabeth shivered in the cool breeze. She had no one to blame but herself for this indignity. Just when she thought she’d finished reliving the past, a man’s touch sent her back into chaos.
In the distance, Charles walked along the shore, the water lapping at his bare feet. His shoulders hung like they’d become disconnected from his frame.
A lump grew in her throat. There’d been no denying the expression on Charles’s face the moment their eyes met—not so different from the ones Tobias used to melt her defenses. Elizabeth pushed her hands up into her hair as the memories battled for her attention. Tobias’s eyes held other desires, too—possession, ownership, control.
She’d never give herself to another man. Tears spilled down her cheeks. Charles deserved someone better. She must find some way to explain as much to him without revealing herself.
Ruby returned, Kum Yong in tow.
Kum Yong’s brow furrowed. “Elizabeth, I’m sorry I ran off and left you.”
Elizabeth pushed up to her feet, scrubbing the blanket across her face to obliterate any tear tracks. “As I keep telling people, this is no one’s fault but my own.”
Through the Shadows Page 17