“That’s what I been telling them both, but they don’t pay no attention to me.” Virgie, who’d been silent most of the morning, broke in now with her droll sense of humor.
Abigail couldn’t help the giggle that emitted from her. “Nonsense. You’re both imagining things.”
“Uh-huh!” Helen grinned. “Well, if you let that man get away, it won’t be our fault.”
“All right. That’s enough from all of you. We’d better pay attention to these costumes if we want our concert to be a success.”
They worked until the gong called them to the dining room. Abigail’s appetite had surprisingly returned, and she enjoyed the stuffed pork roast and baked sweet potatoes.
Her friends’ words rang warm inside her when she went for a walk with Trent after dinner. The sun had come out, and the wind had calmed to a pleasant cool breeze.
They strolled down the lane to the bench beneath the magnolia tree.
“P.H. told me we’ll have a concert to enjoy this Christmas.” Trent leaned slightly forward and looked into her eyes.
“Oh yes. We’ll start practices the week after Thanksgiving. All the children will sing. And Lily Ann will have a solo.” Her eyes lit up as she spoke about the event. “She’ll also have a special surprise for everyone if we can accomplish it in time.”
“Oh? And what is that?” Trent smiled and took her hand.
She started to pull away then changed her mind and let her hand rest in his. “If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise, silly. You’ll have to wait like everyone else.”
He laughed. “I’m sure it will be worth waiting for.”
“Yes, it will. But what is our director’s staff meeting about? She seems quite excited.”
“Oh, she is. And since this isn’t a surprise, I don’t mind telling you.”
Abigail listened intently as Trent told her about their plans to expand the school, opening it up for more students.
“Why, that’s wonderful, Trent. Last week she mentioned her desire to do that, and I’m so happy you agree with her.”
“It may be quite a lot of work for everyone. Especially you. If we do admit more blind children, we’ll need teachers trained to teach Braille.”
“I don’t mind helping. Charles and Helen are already learning with me. And I can hardly believe the progress we’ve made this past month.” She looked closely at him. “P.H is very encouraging.”
“Yes, she’s a fine director, although quite opinionated in some areas. But, in spite of that, I rather like her.” He laughed. “She reminds me of Carrie in a lot of ways.”
Relief washed over Abigail. Carrie was his childhood friend. So what he felt for P.H. must be friendship, too. Abigail gave a little laugh.
“What? Did I say something funny?”
“No, I just had a happy thought.” A very welcome happy thought. “I’m glad you hired her.” And she knew she meant it.
“So am I.” He gazed deeply into her eyes. “Abigail, there’s something I have to say.”
Her heart throbbed, and she lowered her lashes.
“Look at me, please, Abigail.”
She looked full into his deep blue eyes, her lips trembling, and waited.
“I know we’ve only known each other a few months. But I’ve grown to admire the wonderful, kind, and thoughtful person you are.”
Her eyes flooded with sudden tears, and she blinked rapidly.
“I love you.” He spoke the words almost in a whisper, and yet strong and firm. There was no doubt he meant them.
Joy rushed over her like ocean waves.
“Oh Trent. I didn’t dare to think— Oh! I love you, too. With all my heart.”
A smile spread across his face, and he lifted her hand to his lips. Then he looked once more into her eyes.
“And you’ll do me the honor of marrying me?”
She nodded. “I will be so happy and proud to be your wife.”
His arms enveloped her, and she lifted her lips to meet his in their first wonderful kiss.
When the tender moment was over, she nestled at his side, lifting a silent prayer of thanks up to God.
“How soon?” he asked. “Can we marry soon?”
She laughed. “It depends on what you mean by soon. My parents will need to be here. I don’t think my mother and father would be very pleased if they weren’t invited to their only daughter’s wedding.”
“I’d hoped we could spend Christmas together as man and wife.”
She sat up and faced him, her eyes wide. “This Christmas?”
“Can we? Is that too soon?” His eyes had taken on a boyish pleading.
“Oh dear.” She put both hands to her cheeks. “But next week is Thanksgiving. Christmas is only a little over a month away.”
“We can send a telegram to your parents to see if they can come that soon.” He hesitated. “Or do you hate the idea of such a short engagement?”
“No. Not at all.” She gave a little laugh. “Very well. If my parents can come. But not on Christmas Day.”
Trent’s eyes lit up. “How about the day of the Christmas program? We could get married directly afterward.”
She puckered her brow in thought. “That might work. Let me talk to Virgie and Helen and P.H. They can help decorate.”
“There used to be a grand hall. But it’s divided up now. We could decorate the foyer and dining room.”
“And the staircase. I can come down the stairs on my father’s arm.” She wondered if the starry feeling in her heart was reproduced as stars in her eyes.
“I’ll take you to town to send that telegram first thing Monday morning.”
Hand in hand they walked back to the house to share their good news.
nineteen
Trent stepped into the dining room, already festive for the Christmas celebrations in less than two weeks. He knew the women were scrambling madly to have everything ready to decorate for the wedding next week.
He’d been busy treating sick people all week, but having found himself free for the moment, had decided to sneak into the rehearsal.
A temporary stage had been built at the back of the dining room. If Trent didn’t know better, he’d think it was a permanent structure.
A dark blue curtain covered with silver stars hung on the back wall of the platform, and a makeshift stable stood in front of it.
Molly as Mary and Sonny as Joseph crossed the stage.
“They’ll have a real live donkey for the play.” Trent turned at the whisper and smiled at Abigail. She tiptoed around and sat beside him.
After a wonderful portrayal of the nativity, they cleared the stage; then all nine children filed back out. The five tallest, ranging in age from ten to fourteen, made a straight line in back with the four youngest in front.
The piano had been moved from the parlor and stood at the far side of the stage. Helen stepped through a side door and sat on the stool.
Trent stood amazed as the children, deaf except for Lily Ann, sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Joy to the World,” and “Silent Night.” Helen played each note firmly. The children’s melody was off some, but the beauty of their voices and the worshipful look in their eyes was the most moving thing Trent had ever seen or heard. His eyes filled with moisture. This had to be a miracle.
“How do they do that when they can’t hear.”
Abigail slipped her hand in his. “Partly vibrations. And some of them can hear a little, you know.” They sat and listened in silence until the children filed out.
“During the actual program, they’ll remain where they are and Lily Ann will step forward. This is the moment when she’ll have her special part.”
“Hmmm. And you still aren’t going to tell me what it is.”
“No, sir.” Her eyes sparkled. “But as I said before, it will be worth waiting for.”
“I can’t wait. But to be honest, I’m more interested in the event that comes afterward.” He ran his thumb across her hand and put his forehead again
st hers.
“Behave yourself, Trent.” She smacked him lightly on his arm. “The children will see.”
He grinned. “They won’t mind.”
She burst out laughing and stood. “I have work to do. Will you be here for supper?”
“I plan to if I’m not called away.” He stood and gave her a peck on the cheek. “There. That was harmless.”
She shook her head. “I’m leaving. I have to be in my class-room in ten minutes.”
“I’ll walk with you. I’m supposed to be helping Albert and Solomon work on the third-floor rooms.”
“Howard is going to help today, too.”
“Good. We can use the extra hands.” The project was proving to be more difficult than originally thought. The floors all had to be revarnished. And some of the windows needed replacing. But the furniture was the biggest problem. A lot of the pieces they’d originally thought could be used were in need of repair. They also needed more desks.
P.H. and Trent had both made inquiries, and they’d already received plenty of indication that there were indeed children in a number of states waiting for a place to open up in a school. The parents of one deaf-blind child had heard of Quincy and had written to Trent.
Could they help the child? Trent wasn’t sure, but thoughts of Piper wouldn’t allow him to say no, although P.H. thought it was unwise to take the little boy, whose name was Davy.
Trent saw Abigail to her classroom and went up to the third floor, where the three men were already working with P.H. directing.
She came over to him. “It’s going to be a glorious venture, Trent. With this floor for the school, we’ll have more than enough room on the second floor to convert it into bedrooms.”
He nodded. “I believe you’re right.”
“Have you seen your bride-to-be today? She’s glowing like a lantern.”
“Yes, I watched the rehearsal with her. I don’t suppose you know what Lily Ann’s special part of the program is, do you?”
“Of course I do.” She swatted his arm with a rolled up paper she carried in her hands. “But I happen to know Lily Ann and Abigail want to surprise you, so don’t try to play your tricks on me.”
He laughed and went over to help Albert move a wardrobe out of one of the bedrooms. “Where is this going?”
“In storage for now. But P.H. say it’s gonna end up in a bedroom on the second floor. Looks kinda big to go in a young’uns room. Don’t you think?” He scratched his head and furrows appeared between his eyes. “Maybe she better think that over.”
“I heard that.” P.H. appeared as if out of nowhere. “Don’t be silly. This wardrobe is going into one of the maid’s rooms. But for now, into the back room on the east wing.”
They hauled the heavy piece down the hall and around the corner. By the time they reached the back room, they were both huffing and puffing.
They both leaned against the door to catch their breath.
“So, you gonna be an old married man in a few days.” He clapped Trent on the back. “I was startin’ to think you ain’t never gonna have a wife and children.”
“I was beginning to think the same thing, Albert. But I was waiting for the right girl to come along.” He yanked out a handkerchief and swiped it across his forehead.
“Well, you couldn’t have done better than Miss Abigail. I had her pegged to marry you the first time I saw her.”
“You did, huh?” Trent chuckled.
“Yes, sir. I shore did.” Albert smiled. “Miss Abigail ain’t just pretty as a picture. She kind and good hearted. She make a good wife for a fine doctor like you.”
“Thanks, Albert. I appreciate that. I respect you, too, you know.”
“Shore, I know that. Ain’t I been lookin’ out for you since you been knee high to a grasshopper?”
“You have, Albert.”
“And Virgie, too.” He sighed. “I should of married that gal when we was younger.”
Trent nodded. “I always wondered why you didn’t.”
“She married Thomas when she was just fifteen. After he died, she grieved so. Wouldn’t look at no man.” Sadness crossed the old man’s face for a minute. “Besides, I figured she was too good for the likes of me. Her being the refined lady she always been. Your grandma took her under her wing when she was a little girl and trained her up herself.”
Coldness washed over Trent like someone had poured ice-cold water over him, and he drew in a sharp breath. “Are you saying Virgie was a slave?”
“She was until your grandmother freed her. Just like me and my mama and daddy.” He glanced at Trent in astonishment. “What did you think?”
Nausea hit him. “I thought my father hired her when he married Mother.”
“Well, he did. After she was freed, she worked for your grandmother for wages. And then went to work for your mama and daddy. But she born a slave into your grandfather’s family. That’s just a fact, Dr. Trent.”
“Carrie?”
Albert’s eyes gentled, and he placed his hand on Trent’s shoulder. “Carrie born free. So was Solomon. Don’t be grieving, Trent. We’s all free now.”
❧
Trent swallowed. “Thank you for telling me, Albert. I must have had my eyes closed not to know.”
He worked quietly the rest of the morning. When he went downstairs, he found Virgie in the infirmary scolding Sally May for not cleaning the floor well enough. He stepped inside and placed his arms around her and hugged her tightly.
❧
Abigail sat between her mother and Trent as the curtain came up and revealed a bearded Sonny leading the donkey that carried Molly through the streets of the little town of Bethlehem. They stopped at an inn then turned away, dejected, and went to the next. Finally an embarrassed innkeeper played by Donald Atwood, motioned toward the back of the inn. The curtain came down for a short intermission.
When it was pulled back up by Solomon and Charles, the stable stood. Inside were Mary, Joseph, and a doll baby Jesus. Lily Ann and the other angels did their parts, and two little shepherds stood aside as the wise men offered gifts.
The curtain fell again, and when it rose, the actors and actresses had been transformed into a Christmas choir. They stood in front of the stable and sang their heavenly songs. And while they sang, they signed each word, a few of them fumbling, others confidently. All with proud expressions on their faces.
Abigail heard Trent’s intake of breath. The signing of the songs had been another surprise for him. When the last note was sung, Lily Ann stepped in front, carrying a small handmade book.
As she ran her hands over the page, she read aloud. “ ‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.’ Isaiah nine, verse six.”
She stepped back and the entire choir finished the verse.
Then they all bowed their heads and the curtain came down.
Applause broke out in the dining room as parents, grand-parents, and family friends showed their delight and their support.
Abigail heard Trent take another deep breath. When he looked down at her, she gave him a radiant smile, not even trying to hold back the tears. “Worth the wait?”
“It was more than worth the wait.” He narrowed his eyes and grinned. “That was very fast learning for a child her age. Did she really read it, or was it memorized?”
She held back the giggle that threatened to come up. “Maybe a little bit of both. But just wait until next year.”
“Next year.” He smiled and squeezed her hand.
She stood, slipping her hand from his. “I’ll see you in a little while.” She turned to her mother, and they walked out together into the foyer.
A large pine tree stood in the corner, decorated with strands of popped corn and dried berries. Ornaments sparkled from every branch, including many the children had made through the years. Brightly wrapped packages waited underneath. Some were the presents the children had made and would give to their parents after the wedding and Christmas feast.
“Abby
darling. That was amazing.” Susan James, coiffed and dressed to the hilt as befitted the mother of the bride, smiled sweetly.
“They worked so hard, Mother. They’re wonderful.” They started up the broad staircase. Butterflies had begun to dance in her stomach now that the play was over. In just a little while she’d be coming back down these stairs to meet the man she’d spend the rest of her life with.
“Yes, they are indeed wonderful. And I think your young man is fairly wonderful, too.”
“Oh Mother, he is. I know you’re going to love him.”
Helen waited upstairs. They stepped into Abigail’s bedroom. Her mother’s wedding gown, which was now Abigail’s, was spread out in all its glory on the bed. Pearls glistened on the bodice and lace fell from the sleeves and neck.
Her mother and Helen helped Abigail into the billowing dress and buttoned her up the back. When the gown was perfectly in order, her mother picked up the veil that would now adorn the head of the third generation. The fine old lace rested perfectly on Abigail’s auburn curls.
“It seems like only yesterday I was wearing this dress, and your granny was arranging the veil for me.” She sighed. “Someday it will be your daughter’s turn.”
Abigail’s stomach jumped at the thought. “And you’ll be here with us, Mother.”
She glanced around the room. So much had happened in the six months since she’d first entered this room. She’d been so nervous and yet so overconfident at the same time. But with God’s help, some of the things she’d aspired to accomplish had come to pass. Important things such as the sign language classes and Braille for Lily Ann. And now that it was established, they’d be able to help more children in the future.
Her mother and Helen went downstairs. Abigail started down the stairway, between polished rails decorated with evergreens and red berries. Her father was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. She placed her hand on his arm, and as the music began, they walked through the lovely arched double doors into the dining room that had been so transformed. Petals carpeted the aisle where Lily Ann had scattered them for her. She walked slowly, her eyes on the face of her bridegroom.
The minister from their church stood in front of the stage, which was now hung with a beautiful red velvet curtain.
Whispers of the Wind Page 15