His father steepled his fingers and nodded. “It’s a fine line to walk. Pastors and doctors can easily become like mythological heroes of old, and that too is dangerous. If we allow praise and gratitude to turn our heads, we also become useless.”
Micah leaned forward. “I’ve always admired the way you handle yourself with the congregation.”
“It’s sometimes hard, especially with certain people. . . .” He grinned. “Those who are irritatingly sure they know more than anyone else and those who simply want to argue no matter the topic.”
Many was the time Micah had seen his father deal with those people as well. “God’s definitely given you more self-control than He has me. I would no doubt tell them exactly what I thought.”
“Which is why it’s best you aren’t a preacher,” his father said, laughing. “So why do you want to talk to me?”
A sigh escaped Micah. “I’m in love.”
“I know.” His father sobered. “Kenzie Gifford.”
“She’s been hurt so badly, and she’s terrified to let herself fall in love again.” Micah eased back in his chair. “The thing is, I know she loves me.”
“I was surprised when she agreed to work with you.”
“As was I,” Micah admitted. “However, I think she did it more for herself than for me. I think she wanted to prove that working with me would have little or no effect on her. Maybe there was also the desire to learn. She’s found working with the sick and injured appeals to her, and she’s good at it.”
“But telling me this isn’t why you’re here today.” His father gave him a sympathetic smile.
“No. I suppose I’m hoping for wisdom. I want to ask her to marry me. I’ve told her I want to marry her, but I haven’t made a formal proposal.”
“And you think now is the time?”
Micah considered the question. “I don’t know. I would have married her six months ago. I fell for her almost the first time I laid eyes on her.” He shook his head. “Of course, she’d have nothing to do with me then, but now, well . . . I’m certain of her feelings as well as mine.”
“Still, time is important for healing. As a doctor, you know that full well. If you try to rush using a broken bone, the results are disastrous.”
“True, but if a patient refuses to even try to use the injured limb after a proper time of healing, they create an entirely different problem. They can render themselves crippled for life.”
His father smiled in a knowing way. “Of course, each patient heals differently.”
Micah sighed. “Yes.”
After a long pause, his father spoke again. “Have you prayed about this?”
It was a question Micah had anticipated. “I pray about it all the time. I pray for her healing and for her to see the truth of her heart and mine. I pray for wisdom to do the right thing and for patience.”
“The book of James says that if we lack wisdom, we may ask and God will give liberally. He won’t scorn or find fault for the request. But it also says that we must ask without doubt of His giving it.”
“I remember you making me memorize those verses when I was young.” Micah had memorized a good portion of Scripture, but those verses in James held a special place in his heart. “They’ve guided me in all of my decisions.”
“Then trust that God will give you wisdom in this one. He never fails, as you well know. He won’t suddenly start now because it’s a matter of the heart and not the head.” His father put his hand on Micah’s shoulder. “Why don’t we pray about it together?”
“I think we should all move back to the house,” Camri said, looking at Judith. “Now that we’re down to just ten residents, I think we can put someone in charge for the evening and nighttime hours.” They had just finished cleaning the entire warehouse top to bottom, and it was only eight o’clock in the morning.
“I wouldn’t mind living here permanently if we could add some rooms for privacy,” Judith said. “There’s still so much to be done in the city, however, and I don’t know what we might do to help or if we can do it here.”
“I know,” Camri agreed. “But frankly, I’m desperate to sleep in a real bed and have the comforts of home. I want to move forward with our original plan of this being a shelter for the women and children who have need, but right now the relief camps are seeing to that. The time will come, once things return to normal and the relief camps are gone, that something like this will be needed.”
“The relief camps are doing such a good job,” Caleb said, joining them, “that they’re having trouble getting people to return to their homes.”
Kenzie shrugged. “Perhaps they have it better there. Food, clothes, even medical needs are all met in one form or another. They’re required to help with debris removal and such, but given that many of them didn’t have work before, perhaps this is a better way.”
“It’s possible.” Caleb looked at his sister. “I’m in complete agreement about getting you ladies back to the house. We’ll have to keep taking care of ourselves until new help can be hired though. Mr. and Mrs. Wong have informed me that they’re going to stay on, helping their friends and family. It seems the city is trying to force the Chinese to relocate, but the Chinese are adamant about remaining where they were.”
“What will happen to them?” Camri asked.
“I can’t say for certain, but I’ve heard they appealed to the empress of China to speak to President Roosevelt. They believe it is entirely racially motivated, and I’m inclined to agree. The defense by the Board of Supervisors is that the Chinese were the ones who had the highest number of plague cases and thus they are dangerous to the rest of society. Chinatown is in the heart of the city, and if its residents become ill, they could potentially spread diseases to the rest of San Francisco.”
“Never mind that cases of the plague have appeared elsewhere.”
Everyone turned at the new voice to find Micah walking in through the open warehouse door.
“Sorry to jump into the conversation uninvited, but I couldn’t help it. I was just listening to a tirade of this very thing yesterday,” he said.
“I suppose the medical officials believe the Chinese are responsible for the plague,” Camri said more than asked.
“Not the wise ones. They understand that it’s filth and rodents that cause the spread of that disease. Unfortunately, you find filth and rodents in poorer neighborhoods, and the Chinese are among the poorest. But the Irish and Mexican communities suffer poverty as well and have also known plague.”
Caleb nodded. “Well, as I see it, the Board of Supervisors and Mayor Schmitz think they can use the earthquake as an excuse to snap up the most valuable pieces of property for themselves. I can’t say I mind that they’re refusing to rebuild the Barbary Coast, but I hardly think it right to push out thousands of people who own businesses and homes and have done nothing but contribute to society.”
“Be careful, Caleb. Some people would challenge you and say that the owners of those houses of vice and libations were also contributing to society,” Micah said with a grin.
“They contributed, all right,” Camri countered, “but it wasn’t to the good of society.”
“Granted.”
“What brings you here today?” Caleb asked Micah. “I suppose you’ve come for your nurse.”
Micah nodded. “I have. I’m making my way to one of the relief camps and need her assistance.”
Kenzie nodded. “Let me get my apron.” She had taken to using a pinafore apron to keep her clothes clean. Camri had suggested the use of a red cross, as well, so Kenzie had sewn one onto the bodice. She rather liked the distinction.
She went to the peg and took down her apron while Micah continued talking to the others. Donning it, she straightened the bodice, then tied the sashes in a bow at the back. She made her way back to the others, pushing down her anxiety. Lately she’d been thinking about her future, and thoughts of Micah and medicine were ever present.
“What about your hat?” C
amri asked.
“I’m not going to bother. It only gets in the way.”
“I feel the same,” Micah agreed. “That’s why I seldom wear one.” He smiled at the others. “We shouldn’t be long. Come, Nurse Gifford.”
Kenzie rolled her eyes and followed. The day was threatening rain but warm. She thought about making small talk, but that seemed silly. Micah would want to talk about their relationship and the future, no matter what topic she chose. However, to her surprise, he said nothing. Nothing at all.
At the relief camp, Kenzie made the rounds with Micah, doing as he instructed. From time to time, she took the initiative before he could instruct. It seemed to please him that she knew what to do. Then again, she knew Micah was pleased with her no matter her actions.
She’d been thinking a lot about his comment regarding trust and letting go of the past. It was the right thing to do. Arthur was no longer part of her life, and she couldn’t impose his poor judgment and hurtful actions on Micah. At least she shouldn’t. She should accept that Arthur had done what he felt best and move on with her life.
But I’m afraid.
Fear was the major reason she couldn’t allow herself to love Micah. She was certain of that now but had no idea how to stop being afraid. When she thought of admitting her feelings for him—of letting him love her—she felt almost sick with fear. What if he turned out to be just like Arthur? So many of the things Micah said were the same words Arthur had spoken to her.
“Doctor, come quick! My mama’s havin’ a baby!”
The boy’s frantic declaration brought Kenzie out of her thoughts. Micah squatted down to the young boy’s level. He whispered something to the boy, who nodded enthusiastically. Micah handed him some coins.
“Show us the way.” He gathered his bag and looked at Kenzie. “You’re in for an amazing part of medicine.”
Kenzie couldn’t even imagine. She followed him as he hurried after the boy down rows and rows of tents. All at once, the boy came to an abrupt halt.
“She’s in there.” He pointed.
“All right. Now you go do as I told you and be quick,” Micah instructed.
The boy raced off.
“What did you tell him to do?” Kenzie asked.
Micah smiled over his shoulder. “I told him to gather his friends, go to the man selling shaved ice, and buy them all a treat. That’ll keep him busy and happy.” He didn’t wait for Kenzie’s response, just pushed back the tent flap. “I’m the doctor.”
Inside the tent, a young woman moaned in pain. An older woman sat by her cot, wiping her forehead. “I’m Miss Snyder. This is my niece Mary,” the older woman said. “The baby is coming fast. I don’t know anything about delivering it, so when I heard you were in the camp, I sent the boy to find you. We don’t have any money to pay you.”
Shaking his head, Micah unbuttoned his coat. “I didn’t become a doctor in order to get rich. I’m happy to help you for the mere satisfaction of bringing a new life safely into the world.” He handed Kenzie his coat. She set it aside, awaiting his instructions. He rolled up his sleeves. “Miss Snyder, would you be good enough to get some hot water so that I can wash up?”
The older woman turned to the expectant mother. “Mary, I won’t be far. You just listen to the doctor.”
The girl nodded and tried her best not to cry out.
“We’ll need some towels, as well,” Micah said as Miss Snyder headed out of the tent.
Kenzie felt sorry for the frightened girl and knelt by her cot. “Dr. Fisher is the best doctor around, so you don’t need to worry.”
“Besides,” Micah said, “you’ve done this before.”
“No,” Mary moaned. “This is my first.”
Kenzie was just as confused as Micah. “What about the little boy who came to get us?”
“That’s my husband’s son. He was just a babe when I married his pa.” Mary buried her face in the pillow and cried out.
“Well, there are surprises around every corner,” Micah said, not sounding the least bit concerned.
Miss Snyder returned with a basin of water. “I brought some soap too.”
“Thank you.” Micah took the offered bar of soap and washed his hands thoroughly. He nodded to Kenzie. “You too.”
She got up and did as he said. When that was finished, Miss Snyder gave them a clean towel to dry off on.
Micah quickly got down to business and checked the baby’s progress. He looked up in surprise. “This won’t take long. Come see, Kenzie. The head has crowned.”
Kenzie moved to stand beside him. She looked at the exposed woman, not feeling the slightest bit of embarrassment or shock as she had thought she might.
The woman cried and writhed in pain. “Ohhhhh, please. Please make it stop.”
Micah turned to Miss Snyder. “I’ll need those towels now and some clean water.”
Kenzie watched in awe as the baby came into the world only moments later. Micah’s procedures were unknown to her, but she found it all fascinating as he tied off and cut the cord. The infant gave a weak mewing cry that grew in volume as Micah quickly examined him before wrapping him in a towel.
“You have a healthy boy, Mary.”
The young woman began to cry. “A boy? Dan will be so happy. He wanted another boy so Timmy would have a brother.”
Micah handed the baby to Kenzie. “Clean him up.”
She froze. She’d never held a baby, much less a newborn. How in the world was she supposed to manage this?
If Micah noticed her apprehension, he said nothing. He was already busy tending to the mother. Miss Snyder stood bawling in the corner and offered no help. Kenzie whispered a prayer and looked down at the baby. The boy had calmed and now looked up at her with dark blue eyes. There was something in his expression that reached deep into Kenzie’s heart.
She went to the small table where Miss Snyder had put the towels and basin. With great care, Kenzie placed the baby beside the towels and unwrapped him. He was so incredibly tiny. She felt completely inadequate to manage what needed to be done, but she was equally determined that she wouldn’t let Micah down.
The basin of water seemed the perfect size to bathe the baby, but Kenzie wasn’t sure if the water would be too warm. She felt it. It seemed cool enough.
But what if I drop him? He’s already so slippery, and the water will only make him more so. She looked at the baby and then back to the water. She bit her lower lip and put her hand around the back of the infant’s neck and head. With her free hand, she gripped the child’s legs and lifted. It seemed manageable. She dipped the baby into the water and did her best to wash him thoroughly. He seemed at ease with her actions, giving Kenzie more confidence.
Feeling she’d done all she could, Kenzie carefully lifted the baby back out and dried him with a clean towel. She smiled in amazement. A new life had come into the world, and she’d been a part of it.
“I have diapers and pins in the trunk, Auntie. A gown too,” Mary said from her bed.
Kenzie frowned as Miss Snyder brought her the items. She’d never diapered a baby. She wasn’t even sure how to go about it. She looked at Miss Snyder, who shook her head. Kenzie turned to Micah. To her surprise, he was watching her.
“I . . . I don’t know what to do. I’ve never been around babies.”
Micah chuckled. “Well, there’s a first time for everything.” He pulled the sheet over Mary, then joined Kenzie and Miss Snyder. “Let me demonstrate.”
Kenzie moved aside as he picked up a square of white flannel and folded it over several times, making a small triangle.
“With boys you put extra padding up front. With girls you put it in the back. Works best that way,” he said. He positioned the flannel triangle under the infant, picked up one of the pins, and drew the edges of the diaper together. “See, you just pin it snug, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation. Oh, and you always put your hand inside the fabric where the pin comes through. Better to stick yourself than the baby.”
/>
Kenzie was amazed at how easily he handled the situation. Once the baby was diapered, Micah dressed him. “If you have a blanket, I’ll show you how to swaddle him. Babies prefer to be wrapped snug.”
Miss Snyder pulled a baby blanket out of the trunk and handed it to Micah. Kenzie watched carefully as he tucked the blanket across the baby, drew up the bottom, then pulled the other side across. The baby was soon wrapped up like a mummy with only his head visible. Micah smiled down at the infant, then took him to his mother.
“Here you are, Mary. He’ll want to eat, and the sooner you put him to suckle, the better.”
The young woman nodded, not at all embarrassed by Micah’s intimate references. Kenzie watched in surprise as the woman opened her bodice and put the baby to her breast. The newborn rooted a moment, seeming uncertain what to do, but Mary gently guided his mouth, and soon he had the right idea.
The tender scene brought tears to Kenzie’s eyes. It was too much. Micah was talking to Mary and Miss Snyder, so Kenzie took the opportunity to step outside.
Once there, she didn’t stop walking—or crying. She felt so confused. She was delighted at what she’d just participated in. Happy that she could be of use in something so wonderful. But also overwhelmed by a surge of emotions she couldn’t even name.
She hurried back to the warehouse but didn’t bother going inside. Instead she walked behind it so she could look out at the bay and regain control of her feelings. She wiped her eyes with the edge of her apron, then hugged her arms to her body.
“God, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know why I feel so . . . so . . .” She had no words and stood there in silence for some time.
“Kenzie?” She turned at the sound of Micah’s voice. His expression was full of concern. “Are you all right?”
“I hardly know. That was such an amazing thing to witness, but . . . I feel . . . I don’t know what I feel.” Her tears flowed anew.
Micah’s expression softened. He came to her, and for just a moment, Kenzie thought he might embrace her. And in truth, she wanted nothing more.
In Times Gone by Page 9