Looking To The Future (#11 in the Bregdan Chronicles Historical Fiction Romance Series)

by Ginny Dye

  She sighed as she stared out at the weary city. She was ready to go home. She turned when there was a knock at the door. “Come in.”

  Marietta entered the room with a big smile, but her eyes narrowed when she looked at Carrie. “You are not wearing that dress for your graduation ceremony.”

  Carrie looked down and shrugged. “Why not?” The navy dress she was wearing was fine. “It’s only going to be Dr. Strikener and a couple of my professors. I would have loved to have Dr. Hobson here, but it is too much to expect he could come from Richmond. It’s not actually a real graduation ceremony, but it’s the first time I’ve been willing to leave the clinic long enough to get my diploma.” She turned and stared out the window again. “It’s funny. I worked so hard, and fought so long to actually get this medical degree, but I think I would rather them just mail me the actual diploma. Perhaps I would feel differently if it were a celebration with all my schoolmates, but this seems rather pointless.”

  Marietta nodded. “I suppose I can understand that. All the diploma does is give legal confirmation of what you have been doing for a long time—being a doctor. Still,” she said, “it is an important occasion. Have you forgotten Jeremy and I will be there? And Matthew and Janie?” She put her hands on her hips. “You are simply not going to wear that dress.”

  Carrie shrugged again. It had been a long morning at the clinic. Carolyn had forced her to leave so she wouldn’t miss the ceremony. “You pick something out,” she said carelessly.

  Marietta grinned. “I will be happy to.” She walked straight to the closet and pulled out a soft green gown with white piping around the collar and sleeves. “This will do nicely. It will go wonderfully with your eyes.”

  “I’ll freeze!” Carrie protested.

  “It’s spring,” Marietta reminded her. “You can wear a coat, but you are most certainly not going to wear a winter dress. I won’t allow it.”

  Carrie chuckled. “Are you practicing being a mother for the twins?” she teased. “You seem to get bossier every day.”

  “That’s because you never saw me in my classroom,” Marietta retorted. “If you insist on acting like a child, I will have to treat you like one.”

  Carrie laughed again, feeling some of the fatigue drop away. “I smelled good things in the kitchen when I got home. What are you cooking?”

  “You’ll find out when we return from the ceremony.”

  “Tell me,” Carrie pleaded. “I might starve before I get my diploma,” she complained.

  “I doubt it,” Marietta said ruefully, “but…” She reached into her pocket. “I brought you a ham biscuit because I knew you would be dramatic about it.”

  Carrie felt a sudden surge of joy. She wrapped Marietta up in a warm hug. “I’m actually doing this,” she cried. “I’m getting a medical degree!”

  Marietta stepped back with a satisfied smile. “Now you are acting like someone about to earn the title of Doctor Borden.”

  Carrie froze. “Doctor Borden,” she repeated. “It sounds rather auspicious.”

  “It sounds perfect,” Marietta replied. “You have earned this, Carrie. You’ll only have this one time to celebrate your accomplishment. Then, I know you’ll go back to working like a crazy woman. For just this one night, you are going to celebrate.”

  Carrie grinned, but felt a moment of sadness.

  “What is it?” Marietta pressed.

  Carrie swung to stare out the window. “I wish Robert could see this,” she said quietly. “And Father, and Abby…” Her voice trailed away. “I know it’s impossible for them to be here, but it somehow doesn’t seem right. This wouldn’t have happened without them.”

  “I know they wish they could be here,” Marietta said sympathetically. “But,” she added firmly, “I believe Robert is cheering you on right now, so excited for you, and so very proud of you.”

  Carrie nodded slowly, knowing it was true.

  *****

  Carrie, flanked by Matthew and Janie, and Jeremy and Marietta, stepped from the carriage. She watched Janie carefully. This was her friend’s first trip out of the house since Robert’s birth, but she seemed to be fine. Her incisions had healed, and her energy increased every day now that her son was finally sleeping. Alma was watching Robert and the twins while their parents joined her for the graduation ceremony.

  “Freedom!” Marietta cried. “I love my babies, but it’s wonderful to act like a free woman for an afternoon.”

  Janie grinned, but didn’t express the same exuberance.

  Marietta laughed. “You’ve only been a mother for a few weeks. Just wait until you haven’t been away from Robert for almost six months. I promise you’ll be more excited.”

  Janie nodded, looking a little wistful as she turned to Carrie. “You’re sure he’ll be all right? What if he starts crying from the colic again?”

  “Hasn’t the Chamomilla been working well?” Carrie asked.

  “Yes, but…”

  Carrie interrupted her with a chuckle. “I know, you wouldn’t be Janie if you didn’t worry about Robert. Let’s go inside. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner you’ll get home to your son.”

  Janie immediately looked remorseful. “It’s not that I’m not thrilled to be here,” she cried.

  Carrie waved her hand. “Pooh! I’m glad you’re here, but I’m eager to get it over with, too. I don’t know what Marietta is cooking, but it certainly smells wonderful! I’m starved. I really just want to get home to eat.” She smiled at Marietta, and then paused. “What is that look on your face?”

  Marietta straightened. “What look?” she demanded.

  Carrie stared at her. “There was a look,” she insisted. “You’re hiding something.”

  Marietta snorted. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I do know we’re going to be late if we don’t get inside.” She turned and walked toward the front entrance of the Homeopathic College.

  Jeremy took her arm. “Let’s go, Carrie. You know all things are revealed in time.”

  “She is hiding something!” Carrie exclaimed. “I knew it!”

  “Perhaps, but it’s true that only time will reveal what it is,” Jeremy replied. “Marietta does know how to keep a secret.”

  Carrie, knowing he wouldn’t reveal anything more, heaved a dramatic sigh and followed him into the building.

  “Hello, Carrie.”

  Carrie smiled brightly as Dr. Strikener approached, his warm, brown eyes glowing with their usual vibrancy beneath thick hair that was now more gray than brown. “Hello, Dr. Strikener. It’s wonderful to see you.”

  “I think since we are soon to be colleagues, it is time for you to call me Lucas, Doctor Borden.”

  Carrie laughed. “That will take some getting used to—both calling you Lucas, and the Doctor in front of my name.”

  “Perhaps, but you have worked hard for it,” Dr. Strikener replied. “You, more than any student I’ve ever had the privilege to teach, deserve that title, Dr. Borden.” He took her arm. “We’re ready for you in a room down the hall.”

  Carrie stopped in confusion. “I thought I was supposed to meet you in your office.”

  “We changed the location,” Dr. Strikener replied, continuing forward. “We don’t want to keep the other professors waiting. We all have class this afternoon.”

  Carrie had no choice but to follow, but she didn’t miss the look Marietta exchanged with Janie. She could do nothing but gape in astonishment when she walked into the room.

  “Surprise!” Abby cried, walking forward to envelop her in a fierce hug.

  “You didn’t really think we would miss this, did you?” Thomas asked, stepping forward to give his own hug.

  “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me this was happening,” Anthony scolded as he grabbed her in an embrace.

  “You were in Richmond on business,” Carrie protested. “That’s more important.”

  “And that is where you are so wrong,” Anthony said. “We all arrived last night.
”

  “You’ve been here since last night?” Carrie cried. “Where did you stay?”

  “At the Continental Hotel,” Abby responded. “We wanted to surprise you.”

  “You succeeded,” Carrie assured her, and then turned to the others in the room.

  Elizabeth and Florence stepped forward with brilliant smiles. “We’re so glad Marietta let us know you’re graduating today.”

  Carrie smiled. “Are you sure it is safe for you to be here?”

  “I assured them I wouldn’t report them to the enemy,” Dr. Strikener said with a twinkle in his eye.

  “We’ve decided to risk colluding with the enemy for one day,” Elizabeth said lightly. “Especially for someone who worked the miracle you managed to perform.”

  “What miracle?” Carrie asked in confusion.

  “The one that got me released from the insane asylum.”

  Carrie gasped, and then turned slowly, not able to believe she was hearing correctly. Her gasp turned to laughs and tears as she sprang forward to wrap Alice in her arms. “Alice! Alice! You’re free!”

  “Thanks to you,” Alice said, tears flowing freely down her own cheeks. She was still thin, but she was gaining weight and her eyes shone brightly.

  “Alice wouldn’t let me tell you we were coming,” Wally Stratford said apologetically as he stepped around a pillar in the room. “When she found out you would be graduating two days ago, she insisted she wanted to surprise you. I know you received your telegram two days ago, but Alice decided to be the letter you are waiting for.”

  Carrie could hardly find words as she turned back to Alice. “Surprise me? I’m surprised my heart is still beating. You’ll tell me the whole story later?”

  “I’ll tell you the whole story,” Alice promised.

  Carrie hugged her again, and then embraced Wally and Nancy before looking around the room again. “I’m afraid to ask if there are any more surprises. I doubt my heart can handle it.”

  “I have it on quite good authority that the heart can handle any amount of good surprises,” Dr. Strikener said solemnly. “I was telling the truth, however, when I said I have classes to teach this afternoon. We need to get this diploma in your hands.”

  “Wait! Not without us.”

  Carrie looked up as Carolyn, Randall, Nathan, and Melissa rushed into the room. She stared at them. “What are you doing here? Who is running the clinic?”

  “We closed it,” Carolyn answered, holding up her hand to stop Carrie’s protest. “I know we promised to keep it open, but when our patients found out you were graduating this afternoon, all of them walked out of the clinic. But not before making us promise not to miss the graduation. They love you, Carrie.” She smiled brightly. “There is just one more surprise for you.” Carolyn walked out into the hallway, and then re-entered holding Faith by the hand.

  Carrie laughed and rushed forward to wrap her tightly in her arms. “Thank you so much for coming, Faith,” she whispered.

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Faith replied. “I owe you a lot, Doctor Borden. You have gotten that clinic up and running, and you gave me back a reason for living. Having Carolyn move into that big, old house was just what I needed.”

  “I’m so glad,” Carrie murmured.

  Dr. Strikener stepped to the front of the room and cleared his throat. “If we are finally all here for this private graduation ceremony for a handful of people, I suggest we get started.”

  Carrie stared around the crowded room, her heart so full she was finding it difficult to breathe.

  Dr. Strikener motioned her forward. “I’m not going to bore everyone with a typical graduation ceremony that goes on endlessly. I’m simply going to say that I have worked with a multitude of doctors over my years in practice, and I have seen many students graduate from both medical and homeopathic colleges. Never have I felt the excitement I feel now as I present you with your diploma and your medical degree, Doctor Carrie Borden.”

  He gazed around for a moment. “The love and support in this room shows how cherished Carrie is, and it reveals just why she is so extraordinary. No one finishes medical school without the support of family and friends.”

  “Amen,” Carrie murmured.

  “Carrie Borden, with the passing of this diploma, you are now officially Doctor Carrie Borden.”

  Carrie slowly reached for the diploma. She had thought receiving the engraved sheet of paper wouldn’t mean very much. Now, she discovered it meant more than she could have imagined. She closed her eyes tightly, envisioning Robert’s eyes glowing with pride. He had refused to let her join him when he died. He had sent her back to the living. She had not wanted it, and she had struggled for months to discover a reason to live. Staring at the diploma in her hands, she knew she was holding the reason.

  “Thank you, Dr. Strikener,” she said softly. “Thank you for everything you have done for me.”

  “You’re welcome, Dr. Borden.” Dr. Strikener reached out and clasped her outstretched hand with both of his. “Is there anything you would like to share with everyone here today?”

  Carrie nodded slowly. “Yes.” She closed her eyes for a long moment as her thoughts congealed. When she opened them, she knew what she was going to say. “The road to get here today has been much longer, and much more difficult, than I ever imagined it would be. I remember coming to Philadelphia nine years ago. I had just turned eighteen, and all I wanted to do was become a doctor. I thought if I could get to Philadelphia and talk to someone at the University, they would welcome me with open arms.” Everyone laughed when she grimaced.

  “Things certainly didn’t happen that way, but I met Abby and Matthew during that trip, and they have been constant lights in my life.” She smiled brightly at them both. “I would not be standing here without both of you.”

  “Nothing happened according to plan after that,” she mused. “I went home to find my mother ill, a war started, and I ran a plantation.”

  “Very well, may I add,” Thomas said.

  Carrie smiled, walked forward, and gave her father’s cheek a warm kiss. “You have been my rock for my entire life, Father. You have allowed me to be who I am from the minute I was born. There are not many fathers who would have allowed me to do the things I have done.”

  “Allowed?” Thomas teased. “I believe endured would be the better word choice.” His eyes softened. “You have been extraordinary since you were born. All I had to do was step out of the way to let you become who you were meant to be.” He paused. “I will admit it was terrifying at times, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”

  Carrie kissed him again and then stepped back. “Every person in this room has played such an important role in my journey,” she continued. “Janie, I never would have made it through the war years without you, and I can’t imagine life without you now.”

  Janie smiled as she blinked back tears and nodded.

  Carrie turned to Jeremy and Marietta. “I know we are all wishing Rose and Moses were here, but I’m so glad to have my best friend’s twin brother and his wife in my life now. You have both taught me so much about courage and tenacity, and Marietta, you have taught me it’s never too late to learn how to cook if I ever decide I want to,” she added playfully, laughing along with everyone else.

  She turned to Anthony, her eyes softening. “Anthony, you have given me the encouragement to become a doctor, and…” Her voice trailed off as his eyes bored into hers with a promise she couldn’t miss. “You have taught me… it is possible… to love again.” Her voice broke. “Thank you,” she whispered. It was true she didn’t yet know what she was going to do with the love she felt, but it was time to declare it. She was happy to see her father’s delighted smile.

  “Elizabeth, Florence, and Alice… I thank you for colluding with the enemy today.” She laughed, but immediately grew serious. “We joke about this, but it is going to take people leading the way who can blend the two medical disciplines. I believe both of them are necess
ary to treat the whole person.” She looked at each of them. “Most importantly, you have taught me that friendship is about forgiveness and new beginnings.” She let her eyes rest on Alice. “And you, my dear friend, have taught me that we can survive anything.”

  “Only because you cared enough to fight for me,” Alice said in a trembling voice. “I hate to think, now, of how close I was to giving up on life. You gave me hope to hang on long enough for help to come.”

  “That’s what friends are for,” Carrie said softly, knowing she and Alice had much to talk about.

  She turned to her Bosque Redondo team next. “We went on an amazing adventure we will never forget, and now we are creating an amazing clinic that will touch so many lives. Without all of your willingness to go on the Santa Fe Trail, I wouldn’t have met my requirement for my medical degree. I wouldn’t be standing here now.”

  “Going through a blizzard was worth it,” Nathan called cheerfully. “Because of you, I get to work with my family and friends down in Moyamensing every single day.”

  Carrie smiled, nodded, and then turned to Faith. “My dear Faith,” she said quietly. “You and Biddy changed my life forever. You both taught me so much—you taught me about my heritage, you spawned the factory in Moyamensing, and now you have created a clinic in the heart of the place you call home.”

  “You created it,” Faith protested.

  “No,” Carrie corrected firmly. “You and Biddy created it when you first had the vision to give your people what they needed. You created it when you convinced me to return and start it.”

  Faith was watching her closely. “And now you’re leaving.” It wasn’t a question.

  Carrie took a deep breath as she nodded and let her gaze sweep the room. “My work is done here. Carolyn is more than capable of running the clinic now. I have received my medical degree. The future is mine to create. I’m not yet sure what I will do next in the field of medicine, but I do know I’m going home to the plantation to watch the rest of the Cromwell Stable mares give birth.” She knew her smile was glowing. “I’m ready to be home again without grief, and without the knowledge I have to leave in a few months. I want to go home. The future will unfold in time.”