A Daughter's Return

by Janet Lee Barton

  “I know. But that doesn’t mean you couldn’t fall in love again. You should give it some thought.”

  Her mother chuckled and shook her head. “I don’t think so. I like my life just as it is and I have so much to be thankful for. I have my family reunited and two precious grandchildren, I have Heaton House and the boarders—my life is full and I don’t have time for courting or romance. But you’re still young, dear. I hope one day you’ll start thinking of finding Jenny a papa.”

  That was not something Rebecca wanted to talk about at all, and she was relieved that they’d arrived at the butcher shop so she didn’t have to comment. But she had a feeling her mother would be bringing the subject up at another time.

  They entered the shop and Rebecca was introduced to Mr. Kelly. He was behind the meat counter and she wondered how he kept his white apron so pristine.

  “Nice to meet the daughter of one of my best customers,” Mr. Kelly said. “She is also one of my most demanding. Nothing but the best for her boarders, she always says.”

  Rebecca smiled, then stood back and made notes as her mother tried to get the very best deal she could on the meat she ordered to be delivered on different days that week.

  “And you know I want the freshest you have on the day it gets to Heaton House.” Her mother smiled at the butcher.

  He smiled back with a twinkle in his eye. “I do know that, Mrs. Heaton. And I know that if I don’t deliver what I promise, you’ll be back in here with it, demanding your money back.”

  “You’re certainly right about that, Mr. Kelly,” her mother agreed.

  “Your word of mouth has gotten me many a new customer over the years, Mrs. Heaton. I’ll not be disappointing you.”

  “Thank you. I think you are the best butcher in the neighborhood and you haven’t let me down yet.”

  “Nor do I intend to. You ladies have a nice day.”

  “The same to you,” Rebecca’s mother said.

  They walked out and Rebecca linked arms with her mother. “You certainly know how to do business with these people, Mama. I have much to learn.”

  “You’ll do fine. You catch on quickly. Ben told me you’ll be ready for advanced bookkeeping in no time at all.”

  “He did?”

  “Yes, he did.”

  The fact that Ben truly did think she was intelligent made Rebecca feel she could learn whatever she needed to so that she could find a good position when the time was right. For right now, she was enjoying learning again and spending time with her mother. And she found herself looking forward to attending class at the Y the next evening.

  “I’ve been wanting to ask you more about the class last night. Were the other women there nice?”

  “They seem to be. I’ll get to know them better over time, I’m sure. Ben seems to think I can be an encouragement to them—the fact that I lived in the tenements and all, but I’m not sure—”

  “I agree with Ben. I believe you will be an asset to the class just as he suggested, dear. Many times people just need to realize there are others who’ve walked down a similar path, to give them hope and belief that they can get through their trials, too.”

  “I did tell him I’d do what I can to help.”

  “I’m so glad you did, Becca, dear.”

  Rebecca still wasn’t certain she’d be able to help anyone, but she suddenly realized she wanted to very much. Without Kathleen’s assistance, she’d never have been united with her family. She had to do what she could.

  Chapter Five

  Rebecca and her mother arrived back at Violet’s to find that she had lunch waiting for them.

  “Mama, Granma! Guess what? We’re eating with Aunt Vi!”

  “We are?” Rebecca loved seeing her daughter so excited and happy.

  “Uh-huh. She said it was the least she could do with all the help I gave her with baby Marcus!”

  “I telephoned Heaton House and told Gretchen not to expect you all home for lunch,” Violet said. “I hope it’s all right, Mother Heaton.”

  “Of course it is, dear,” Rebecca’s mother said. “That was very nice of you and it will be good to spend more time with you.”

  Hilda—Violet and Michael’s housekeeper and Gretchen and Maida’s younger sister—had made them creamed chicken with crusty rolls.

  “This is wonderful, Hilda,” said Mrs. Heaton when the young woman cleared their places and brought in warm gingerbread for dessert.

  “Thank you, ma’am. I’m glad you like it. I used Gretchen’s recipe.” Hilda flashed a dimple when she smiled and headed toward the kitchen.

  “We are so fortunate to have those sisters in our employment,” Rebecca’s mother said.

  “Oh, I agree,” Violet said. “I don’t know what I’d do without her, especially now that we have Marcus. Michael gave her a raise and said she was worth every penny.”

  Rebecca’s mother lowered her voice, “That’s why I want to give Gretchen and Maida a sitting room of their own. They work long hours for me and it just doesn’t seem right for them not to have any place to relax in their free time.”

  “I know they’re going to love it, Mama.”

  “I’m so excited that work on it will be starting soon. They’re sharing a room for now, thinking I just want to spruce up all the others, and they don’t know what I’m doing for them.”

  “They’ll be thrilled,” Violet said. “All this remodeling, and Kathleen and Elizabeth moving into their own homes and decorating them is very exciting. I can’t wait to see what they’ve done to their homes.”

  “I’m going over this afternoon to see if I can help Kathleen get ready for her party,” Rebecca said. “I can’t wait to see her.”

  “She and Luke stopped over to see how much Marcus had grown last night. They both seem very happy,” Violet said. “I believe you ought to go into the matchmaking business, Mother Heaton,” Violet added.

  “I think she should, too,” Rebecca said.

  “What’s matchmaking, Mama?” Jenny asked. “I’m not supposed to play with matches.”

  “No, you aren’t. But matchmaking the way we’re talking about is getting a man and a woman together so that they can fall in love and get married.”

  “Oh! That sounds like fun,” Jenny said.

  “Well, I haven’t done anything except take in boarders so far and it has been fun watching them fall in love, Jenny. Sometimes it takes a while before they realize what’s happening and it seems everyone else knows before they do. Only bad thing about it is I keep losing boarders and have to get new ones.”

  “Wonder what new boarders you’ll have next? Maybe you can matchmake them,” Jenny said.

  Her grandmother chuckled. “Maybe. Or just let the Lord do the matchmaking. So far He’s done a wonderful job of it. I just furnish the place for them to get to know each other and watch what happens.”

  “It is fun,” Violet said. “Michael and I knew Luke and Kathleen were falling in love long before they did. And everyone knew that John and Elizabeth’s sparring was in denial of the attraction they felt for each other.”

  “But they’re all married now,” Rebecca’s mother said. “I have begun to wonder about Millicent and Mathew, but I’m not sure about them. He loves working on those tall buildings and she’s afraid of heights.”

  “And of him getting hurt, I think,” Rebecca said. “But there does seem to be something between them—although I haven’t lived there long enough to know if it is attraction for one another or just that they are so opposite that makes the sparks fly.”

  “You know, I’ve never sensed that Ben and Julia were attracted to one another,” Violet said.

  Rebecca felt a funny little stab near her heart at the mention of Ben being attracted to Julia. Yet, she’d never seen anything to indicate he was, e
ither.

  “Nor have I sensed he was romantically attracted to Millicent,” her mother responded.

  “He’s always been a good friend to us all. But if he ever wanted to court anyone at Heaton House, I never saw any evidence of it,” Violet commented.

  “No, neither have I,” Rebecca’s mother said.

  That revelation left Rebecca feeling...relieved. And yet, he’d been through so much growing up in an orphanage, surely he must long to have someone to love...and especially to be loved by someone.

  “I like Mr. Ben,” Jenny piped up.

  “We all like Mr. Ben, Jenny,” Violet said. “Maybe one day he’ll fall in love and there’ll be another match made at Heaton House.”

  “Maybe...” Jenny looked at her mother. “Maybe you and Mr. Ben could make a match, Mama.”

  Rebecca felt the heat rush to her face. “Oh, I don’t think so, Jenny. Mama isn’t looking to fall in love with anyone. And besides, Mr. Ben is my teacher now, and...” She didn’t know what to say next.

  “But I sure like him, Mama.”

  “He is hard not to like, Rebecca,” Violet teased with a smile and a gleam in her eye.

  “Now, you all stop. Just because Heaton House is a bit empty at present doesn’t mean you need to start pairing people up.”

  “At least not yet,” her mother said. “I hope I don’t lose as many boarders at one time as I did this past year. I’m all for seeing people fall in love, but I do need to bring a few more renters in first. I think Julia may be seriously thinking of going out west before too long and, I really hope I have a full house by then.”

  “You really think she’ll leave, Mama?” Rebecca asked.

  “I do. Every time I get a letter from your aunt Pauline, describing Oklahoma to us, she seems to get more excited about it. But it will be hard to see her leave. She was one of my first boarders.”

  Rebecca could feel her sadness and realized it must be very hard for her mother to see her boarders go. She knew that they were like family to her and she was happy her mother had people to care for and who had loved her during the time they’d been apart. And once again, she hated that she’d put her mother through so much.

  But she thanked the Lord for His forgiveness and that her mother had welcomed her home like the prodigal son’s father had welcomed him. How blessed she was.

  “Well, I hope there are going to be lots more matches made at Heaton House, Granma!” Jenny exclaimed, lightening the mood once more. By the time they finished lunch, they’d decided that Heaton House definitely needed new boarders—and as quickly as possible if there was going to be much matchmaking in the future.

  * * *

  Later that afternoon, Rebecca and Jenny caught a trolley to take them to Kathleen and Luke’s home. It wasn’t far from Heaton House, only in a different direction. The neighborhood was one of smaller homes than those surrounding Gramercy Park, but they were very well kept and Rebecca thought it a perfect area for the newlyweds.

  Kathleen opened the door wide and enveloped them both in a hug. “It’s so wonderful to see you two! Come in and I’ll take your wraps, then I’ll show you our home before we have a cup of tea.”

  Kathleen took Rebecca’s jacket while she helped Jenny off with hers, and then hung them on a standing coatrack. Rebecca looked around at the foyer where a small table was set next to the staircase. It held a lamp and a dish for calling cards. She handed Jenny one of her cards that her mother had given her for Christmas to put in it.

  On the right, the hallway opened up to the parlor, and behind the staircase a hall led down to what Rebecca presumed was the kitchen. “This is so nice, Kathleen.”

  “Thank you. We love it,” Kathleen answered. “Come follow me. I’ll show you the downstairs and then we’ll go up.”

  The parlor was a nice size with windows on two sides, one a bay that looked out onto the street. The room was light and bright and done in burgundy and cream, and opened up into a nice-sized dining room, large enough to accommodate at least twelve guests.

  “I love your table and sideboard, Kathleen. They’re beautiful.”

  “We found them for sale in the paper and hurried over to see them before they were snapped up. We had to do a little refurbishing, but I think they turned out very nice.”

  “They’re very pretty,” Jenny added in her most grown-up voice.

  “Thank you, Jenny,” Kathleen answered, treating her like a lady.

  The kitchen was nice and bright, and big enough to hold a breakfast table near a window looking out to their small backyard. “We have some of our meals in here because it’s cozy, but we’re so looking forward to having guests over so we can put our dining room to good use. It feels a little empty in there with just the two of us.”

  “Heaton House feels quite empty with you and Luke, and Elizabeth and John, all gone. Mama’s going to put a sign out soon. Everyone is teasing her about having more of a matchmaking business than a boardinghouse one.”

  Kathleen chuckled as she put the kettle on. “That is certainly understandable. Plenty of matches have been made there. I’m very grateful for mine.”

  She led them up the back staircase to the second floor where there were two bedrooms and a smaller room, which they’d made into an office. Kathleen was allowed to work from home for the Ladies’ Aid Society and Luke was a writer known for his dime novels, but with Kathleen and her family as inspiration, he’d written one on the living conditions in the tenements and how it was possible to get out of them and have a better life.

  “Where is Luke, by the way?”

  “He still works in here sometimes,” Kathleen said as she motioned to them to go back downstairs. Jenny hurried down and as she did, Kathleen whispered, “He says working in the same room with me is a bit distracting, so he rented a small office in Michael’s building and has begun writing there. I must admit it makes the housekeeping easier, too, for I find him just as distracting as he does me.” She smiled and her face flushed as they entered the kitchen.

  Happy as she was that her best friend was so blissful, Rebecca couldn’t help but feel a stab of regret for her past actions that she was certain would prevent her from ever having the kind of joy Kathleen was experiencing now.

  But as Kathleen poured their tea and brought out some cookies for Jenny, she concentrated on her blessings—including being friends with this woman. Kathleen had become a true friend over the past several months and was the first person Rebecca told about how she ran away from her home in Virginia and came to live in New York City, and why she’d never gone back. She felt she could tell her anything.

  “How are you doing? You’ve started classes at the Y, right?”

  “I have. Ben is a very good teacher. He seems to come alive in that environment.”

  “Really? It’s always been hard for me to picture him as a teacher. He’s always seemed so mild mannered. Come to think of it, I don’t really know all that much about Ben, but I always enjoyed his company along with the others. I suppose there is much more to him than I realized.”

  Very much more. But Rebecca couldn’t share what he’d confided to her. His being abandoned was his story to tell and not hers. “I suppose there’s more to us all. You know all there is to tell about me, and you’ve shared things with me—”

  “That not everyone knows. I’m glad to have you as one of my best friends, Rebecca.”

  “As I am you. Mine and Jenny’s lives have been changed so much by you finding us and convincing me that my family loved me and—”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Kathleen!” Jenny jumped up from her chair and hugged her.

  “You’re very welcome, Jenny.” Kathleen hugged her back.

  “Jenny loves her grandma, Uncle Michael, Aunt Violet and of course, baby Marcus. And she loves playing with your nephews at Colleen’s, too.”
/>   “Uh-huh.” Jenny nodded. “I love all the people at Heaton House and you and Mr. Luke, too.”

  “We love you, also, Jenny.” Rebecca’s and Kathleen’s gazes met over the child’s head. Sometimes it was too easy to forget how much young children were capable of comprehending. And just how much did Jenny understand? She was going to have to watch what she said in front of her daughter from now on.

  Kathleen really hadn’t needed her help in getting ready for the party, but Rebecca insisted on doing something, so they spent an hour polishing the silverware she and Luke had received as a wedding present. But that was all Kathleen would let them do.

  Rebecca and Jenny hugged her goodbye and when they arrived back at Heaton House, Jenny opted for resting in her room while Rebecca did her typing exercises before dinner.

  She headed down to the back parlor where she’d moved the typewriter so as not to bother her mother if she needed to work in her office. Jenny probably wouldn’t sleep for long—if at all. She seemed to be growing out of her naps, but she loved her new room and liked playing with her dolls there.

  Rebecca looked at the chime clock in the foyer. She had just about enough time to get a good practice in before the boarders started getting home. But first she went to the kitchen and found her mother having a cup of tea with Gretchen and Maida as she did many afternoons.

  “Do you have enough left for me to have a cup? I’d like to take it to the parlor if you do.”

  “Of course,” Maida said. “We always have the kettle on.”

  “You’ve had a busy day between shopping with me and visiting with Violet and Kathleen.”

  It had been a busy day, but Rebecca loved it. No longer were she and Jenny stuck in the tiny apartment in the tenements—they had family and friends and were free to visit them. She was busy with her lessons and learning how to shop. It had been a very long time since she’d felt as happy as she did right now.

  “Where’s that grandchild of mine?”

  “She’s resting...or playing in her room. I think all the clacking of the typewriter keys annoy her a bit.”