From This Day Forward

by Lauraine Snelling

  And so Deborah had made a list of five things that had happened that might be interesting. She had no idea if she would make a fool of herself, but there was a high likelihood.

  And now Mrs. Korsheski was introducing her. Deborah tried to swallow the butterflies rampaging around in her stomach. When she got on the stage, she was grateful to have the lectern to hang on to. She consulted her list.

  She told them about the elevator exploding and setting half of Blessing ablaze. The whole audience was paying attention! This was not quite the disaster she’d been afraid it might be.

  She told stories she’d heard of how Elizabeth, Astrid, and Ingeborg worked to save lives before the hospital was built, and how afterward they appreciated the help sent from Chicago to get their hospital on its feet. Some of those stories amazed even her.

  She told about the circus train, starting with the elephants, and described the diphtheria that raged through the circus people. She explained about the quarantine tent and how it was easier in some ways to isolate people in a rural place like Blessing.

  But how to end her talk? She had some notes for that too. “I’ve noticed some things that you have here that I am sure we will have one day. You are our future; you have it here first. You have electricity to run not only the lights but that amazing machine, the X-ray. I realize it is a mere oddity yet, a sideshow curiosity, but oh how we could have used it! We had a man who fell from scaffolding. The wound on his head swelled up so fast we couldn’t feel if any bones were broken. Curiosity or not, that X-ray could have told us if the skull was fractured. He spent a week in a coma and now is regaining use of his hands and legs. We have hardheaded people in Blessing.”

  The audience laughed and clapped.

  “But we couldn’t save them all. One life that was not saved was Dr. Elizabeth’s. She died of the diphtheria that was brought in on that circus train. But thanks to her and Dr. Astrid Bjorklund and all the advice and supplies you send to us, we are saving lives, having healthier babies, teaching hygiene, and helping Indians to the north of us and Dr. Red Hawk’s tribal clinic to the south. We now have our first male doctor on staff, which you can guess has made some of the male patients more willing to come to the hospital.”

  Another ripple of laughter. “When you send us nurses to train, we do our best to give them as many different experiences as possible. Life in Blessing is a different world than life in Chicago. I have learned far more than I dreamed I needed to learn in my month here. I am looking forward to the quiet of Blessing, and we have two young women who want to come back here to school. We’ll give them all the training we can first. Thank you for keeping the hospital in Blessing as part of your training program.”

  She turned to leave but people started clapping, then they stood up and kept on clapping. Deborah looked to Mrs. Korsheski, who joined her at the lectern.

  “We are indeed proud and honored to be able to use that small hospital as part of our training program. Thank you, Nurse MacCallister. If any of you have questions, we’ll adjourn to the dining room, where I’m sure you can ask them all as we enjoy celebrating our special guest.” She turned to catch Deborah’s nod. “You are all dismissed.”

  It was all over. Deborah did not have to speak to the crowd again. It was almost time to go home.

  “It’s all over. Just when I saw what I wanted in my life, it’s gone.” Toby slouched down in his chair, totally despondent. Across the table from him, Rebecca took another bite of her stew and simply watched him.

  Gerald returned from scooping himself a second helping of stew and plopped down in his chair. “So what burr is under your saddle now?”

  “Did you see Anton’s house plans?”

  Gerald nodded, his mouth full.

  “He’s not building a house, he’s building a colony. It’s going to be monstrous and out on the edge of town with a nice view of the river.”

  “So?”

  Rebecca snorted. “I get it. You were complaining about Anton writing such great letters and you didn’t, and Anton seeing Deborah off when you couldn’t, and now Anton is building the Taj Mahal and you live in an old house that needs painting this next summer. And you’ve convinced yourself that Deborah is going to add all that up on her scoreboard and marry Anton because he’s so much better.”

  Toby stared at her, openmouthed. “H-how do you women do that? Read minds?”

  She smirked. “It’s easy if the print’s large enough. Yours sure is.”

  Gerald swallowed. “We’re at a disadvantage, little brother. Women can read our minds, but when we try to read theirs, they’ve already changed it, so we can’t.”

  “Why, you . . .” Rebecca glared at him.

  Toby sighed. “She’s right.”

  Rebecca barked, “Wrong!” She leaned forward and wagged a fork at him. “I cannot think of a single woman in this town who would sum up a marriage prospect that way. I certainly did not marry Gerald because he’s a Valders and the Valders family was well off. I didn’t even think about not marrying him because his mother is Hildegunn Valders. None of that. We marry the men we love. And we do not keep score!” She sat back and tackled her stew again.

  Toby was still staring at her openmouthed, but now it was in amazement. He looked at Gerald. Gerald just smiled and shrugged and continued eating. “All right, so you’re saying that Deborah isn’t paying attention to all that? She’s a smart woman, the smartest I’ve ever known, so of course she’s going to weigh all that.”

  Gerald asked, “And you’re sure you want to court and marry her.”

  Toby drew in a bushel of air. “Now that it’s too late, yes. I’m sure.”

  Gerald reached over and clapped him on the shoulder. “Good man!” And Rebecca was grinning at him, a wide, happy, almost-in-tears grin.

  Toby was never going to understand women.

  Deborah watched the prairie glide by outside the window. The train was slowing, nearing the town she knew best. Home. Soon. The countryside through which the train roared looked increasingly familiar. The only thing not familiar was the confused state of her heart.

  Of course Toby wouldn’t be there. He’d never leave work in the middle of the day like this. Would Anton? How many tests were his students going to have to take so that he could free himself up to come?

  Did she want him to?

  Oh, there was the question! Anton . . . Toby . . .

  She was very tired. Those last few days at Morganstein Hospital were so hectic and busy even without the assembly and her speech. And she could not sleep the first night on the train. She never could. She sat back, closed her eyes, and let her mind float free. Not thinking, not calling up memories, not anything.

  Toby.

  What a strange thing. He didn’t come to mind. She didn’t think of him. He was suddenly just there, as if he were part of her. Her eyes popped open. Was this how God was telling her?

  But now the outskirts of Blessing were rolling by and the train was slowing almost to a halt; a cloud of white steam blasted up past the window.

  Her pa would be at the school, but she knew her ma, Ingeborg, and possibly Astrid would be there to meet her. The train screeched to a shivery stop at the Blessing station at 11:03 a.m. As the conductor assisted her down the steps, she saw Mary Martha and Ingeborg, as she’d expected. But Sophie, Astrid, Rebecca, Grace, and Kaaren were there too, laughing and waving.

  “What is this, a girl party?” Deborah hugged and laughed and hugged some more.

  “We’re all having dinner at the boardinghouse so we can catch up.” Sophie took her arm. “Do you have more luggage?”

  “In the baggage car.”

  Mary Martha leaned close and whispered in her ear. “Toby said to tell you to please not make any plans for tonight.”

  “And?”

  “That’s what he said. Come, let’s go eat.”

  They started toward the boardinghouse, but Deborah called a halt. “Stop. I have to breathe in some clean air first.” She sucked in and b
lew out a deep breath. Then another. “Real air. Listen. What do you hear?”

  “Faint hammering from the deaf school.”

  “A wagon creaking.”

  “Male voices over by the train siding.” They all had different things to say.

  “A crow scolding someone or something.”

  “Scooter is barking.”

  “Isn’t it wonderful?” Deborah answered.

  Astrid and Ingeborg both chuckled. “I felt the same way when I came back,” Astrid said. “I stood in the window at night and listened for the silence after all that ear-breaking noise in Chicago, and then the train clacking and screeching and whistling. When you come home, this is heaven on earth for the ears and the nose.”

  “And eyes. No more grit.”

  At the boardinghouse, Maisie Landsverk showed them into the separate room for special parties. “We’ll be bringing your dinner right out, so make yourselves comfortable. Lily Mae is bringing cold drinks first.”

  They sat at the round table and started to catch Deborah up on all that had happened in Blessing.

  “And you know the harvest celebration we had? I didn’t think Toby was going to come, but he did. He danced with all of us and the older women and none of the younger. I couldn’t believe it.”

  Deborah tried to shake her head, but Rebecca insisted. “You wait; I think Toby Valders has finally grown up. He and Gerald have been doing a lot of talking.”

  “He really missed you.” Ingeborg smiled at Deborah. “Don’t look so surprised. It was bound to happen one of these days. Well, at least, that’s what we all prayed for.”

  “He wrote to me.” Deborah held up one finger. “I was surprised. So did Anton. I answered each of them. By the way, thank you so much for your letters. I was so busy I didn’t have time to answer any others, but I sure thought about you all a lot.” She turned and thanked Lily Mae, who was setting the iced glasses around the table.

  “So did you like Chicago?” Sophie asked.

  “No, not much, but Lake Michigan—oh my word.” Where was the sand? In her valise. “I know, Sophie, you saw the Pacific Ocean, and Ingeborg, you crossed the Atlantic, but that lake . . . you couldn’t see the far shores at all. And the waves, I closed my eyes and listened to the waves. Like they had their own song.”

  Once the dinner was served, quiet settled over the group after Mary Martha said the grace.

  Deborah looked around at her friends and family. “Thank you all. This is just perfect.”

  They raised their glasses and said together, “Welcome home.”

  On the way home after dinner, Mary Martha said, “Toby said he would see you at four, and don’t ask me any questions, because I don’t know anything else.”

  “Isn’t this rather strange?”

  “Yes, but this whole relationship has been rather strange.”

  Isn’t that the truth! “I don’t know what to wear.”

  “I’d say your green skirt with the ivory-white waist. You look lovely in that. But then, you look lovely no matter what you wear. You could just wrap up in a horse blanket.”

  “Ma!”

  “Well, fall is here and it gets real nippy after the sun goes down.”

  At four o’clock, Deborah heard a buggy drive up. A buggy? She tossed her shawl around her shoulders, took one last look in the mirror, and stopped when she heard his voice at the door.

  “She’ll be right here,” Mary Martha assured him.

  It was only Toby. Why was Deborah’s heart pounding like this?

  She stepped into the foyer. Surely he was even more handsome than she’d remembered. Of course, she didn’t usually see him in a suit, not even at church.

  “Welcome home,” he said.

  “Thank you. I’m glad to be home.”

  “I thought we could drive west of town and watch the sun go down. Astrid tells me you didn’t see a sunset the whole time you were there.”

  “Did the sun set there? Too many buildings to see it either rise or set.” She slid her hand through the bend in his arm, since he offered.

  “You look lovely.” He helped her up into the buggy and swung up into the driver’s side. The smile he gave her set her heart to pounding again. This was crazy. They’d been friends for years. But he’s never taken you—just you—for a buggy ride before. She tried to ignore the voice in her head.

  “Mrs. Sam and Maisie said they would make us something special for supper, but I have something to ask you first.” He pulled the buggy over to the side of the road where they had a clear view to the west. The brilliant copper gold disc was on its final descent for the day. The stringy clouds above were already turning to various colors.

  “We have been friends or possibly friendly enemies for all these years. I had no idea that when you left, I would miss you. Not just a pang or question once in a while, but—and I know this makes no sense—but I realized I took it for granted that when I wanted to see you, all I had to do was show up at your house, or at church, or at the hospital. And even though I’ve not taken advantage of that fact very often, I also realized that being busy on the job was always going to be a part of life.” He turned to watch the sun.

  “But I want more,” he continued. “I want a family and someone to love like Gerald loves Rebecca, and your ma and pa, and Ingeborg with Haakan. I finally figured out that I was missing out and, Deborah, it was a shock. Gerald and I talked a lot, and he helped me see that I was afraid of getting married, that I might end up like my real pa.” He shook his head slowly. “I know this isn’t making much sense, but as I said, I’ve had to do a lot of thinking.”

  They both watched the last tiny rim of the sun slip below the horizon, setting the sky and clouds blazing with color.

  Deborah wanted to slide her hand into his, like an ache in her middle. Instead she clasped them together on her lap. “So wonderfully beautiful. Thank you for this.”

  “It’s getting chilly. Are you warm enough?”

  She nodded.

  He turned, his knees brushing hers. When he took her hands in his, she nearly jumped from the charge that went up her arms. “I thought perhaps a courtship would be a good thing so we could learn . . .” He drew a deep breath. “We could find out if we really do have that kind of love for each other. I don’t want second best.” He squeezed her hands gently. “So I am asking if you will allow me to court you until we both know for absolutely sure that this is God’s plan for us.”

  “Toby Valders, I have been in love with you since I don’t know when. So yes, if this is what God is saying for us to do—yes! I have no idea what this really means, but I guess we’ll both learn. And I have to learn to trust that you will not back off and ignore me until you get around to it again.”

  He nodded. “I understand that. I have a lot to make up for. So for our first step in courtship, shall we go have supper at the boardinghouse? I promise to talk with you, not tease you.”

  “Yes. But I have a favor to ask.”

  “What? Anything.”

  “Please don’t quit making me laugh. We have such fun when we laugh together.”

  He coughed on a chuckle. “Deborah, I don’t have any idea how I could stop making you laugh.”

  He picked up the reins. She tucked her arm in his and laid her other hand over the top. Was that a chuckle she heard on the evening breeze? He turned the buggy around and they headed back into town.

  Supper and a courtship. What a lot to come home to.

  Epilogue

  Being courted was rather a pleasant experience.

  “You’re wearing that dreamy Toby face.” Mary Martha smiled at her daughter.

  “I’m not surprised.” Deborah matched her ma smile for smile. “I never dreamed being courted could be so . . . so delightful.” She eyed the huge vase full of fall leaves that seemed to shimmer in the sun coming in the western window. “He said the leaves would have to do until the flowers bloomed again in the spring.” She turned to her ma. “Is this what love feels like?”
r />   “Other than dreamy, to what are you referring?”

  “My heart seems to leap right out of my chest every time I see him. The sound of his voice melts a puddle in my middle. I’d rather be with him than anyone else. Sometimes he makes me laugh until I get a stitch in my side.” Deborah felt the heat flame from her neck up. She and Toby had spent the evening with Rebecca and Gerald, first playing with the children, then drinking coffee and remembering their early years. When he walked her home, he held her hand, and at the door, kissed her on the forehead. When he said good-night, his voice caught. The lamp left burning in the window threw his face into shadows. Her forehead burned for hours. He kissed me. Toby Valders.

  Surely all these years of waiting were worth it.

  “Well, at least he no longer has to keep that backbreaking work schedule of dawn to dark. Not that he’s not still doing that, but dark lasts a lot longer.”

  “I know, and he chooses to spend more of that time with me.”

  “I think we should have had a celebration when the last window was set into the deaf school, declaring the building weatherproof.”

  “He said they’re installing the furnace this week so it is not too cold in there to work.”

  “Hmm, that means we could have the celebration there, once the furnace is working.” Mary Martha nodded. “I think this is a fine idea.” She moved to the calendar hanging on the kitchen wall. “It’s two and a half weeks until Thanksgiving. Surely we can get a celebration organized in that amount of time.” She picked up the telephone earpiece and spun the crank, asking Gerald to connect her to Sophie. They needed a meeting immediately.

  Within two days the celebration was planned. Thorliff moved articles around on the front page to insert a town-wide invitation. The bottom line read, Raffle tickets available to support the new school building. Sophie had struck again. The women set to finishing a quilt to raffle off, and Lars’ woodworking class began making a trunk, also for the raffle.