“My dad’s taught me math since I was young.”
“Another man with a fine mind.”
David said, “William, the Lord’s given you an incredible set of gifts. You have a responsibility to use them.”
He gave angry looks to David and Dr. Beckham and stormed off the porch.
“Oh my Lord,” said Monica. “Did you see his expression? He’s decided on medical school.”
“What?” David said. “All I saw was anger.”
Monica grinned and chased after him. Over her shoulder she called to them. “Excuse me. I need to accompany William.”
* * *
Monica walked at William’s side.
“Don’t say anything.”
“I’m just walking with you.”
They walked in silence until William stopped walking and blurted out, “Enough. Say what you’re thinking.”
They faced each other.
Monica said, “I’d give up every bit of my drawing ability, if I could fix one child’s leg.”
“I’m going to be an engineer.”
“Yes. You’ll engineer fixes to children’s’ bodies.”
“I’ve made up my mind.”
“I know. I’ll miss you when you’re at medical school in Salem.”
“How do you know what I’ve decided?”
“The William Kaplan I know is the type of person who runs toward a burning building; not away from it.”
“You ran toward it as well.”
“Only because you led.”
They walked in silence for a while.
William shook his head. “I’d be crushed if a little one died because I made a mistake.”
They walked back to his house. William asked to be alone and went to his room. After a few minutes, Monica entered.
“You’re not supposed to come in here.”
She turned and locked the door. He sat on his bed with his back against the wall.
“Monica, if I do something and a child dies…”
Monica lifted her skirt, climbed on his lap, facing him, with her knees on either side of his legs.
“Then you’ll have to be comforted by the knowledge you did your best.”
“And if I make a mistake?”
“It will prove you’re human.”
She put her hands on William’s face. “You won’t be able to fix all of them but others,” Monica grinned, “will run real faster than everybody and jump real higher than everybody.”
* * *
Dr. Fine, chairman of the department of medicine in Salem was visiting Dr. Beckham’s office and talking to William. “Dr. Beckham said you’re an excellent student. I think you’ll enjoy the classes we offer.”
“I’m looking forward to it, sir.”
“I’d like you to consider something else. Dr. Beckham and I are recruiting a team to teach and do research on improving medicine for children.”
“I’m just a beginner.”
“But I’m told you can set emotion aside when needed.”
“I can during an emergency.”
“Should be useful when treating children. We’re in Salem now, but over the next few years we’ll have space at the University in Seattle.”
“I’ll be moving there sometime this year,” Dr. Beckham said.
Dr. Fine continued, “We could use someone about the time your classes end. With talented hands like yours, I’d suggest research to improve surgical techniques.”
“I enjoy teaching,” William said, “and research sounds interesting.”
“One day, when we know enough, there will be doctors who work with children exclusively. For now, it’s a science still in the womb…our level of knowledge about the differences between adults and children is rudimentary at best. Dr. Beckham and I will teach you all we know.”
Dr. Beckham said, “I’m hoping you’ll join our team, provide help with sick children, teach, and perform research to broaden our knowledge of medical science as it pertains to children.”
William addressed Mr. Fine. “You know I’d plan to become an engineer most of my life.”
“So I’ve been told. Once you’ve completed your medical studies, there’s not a reason in the world which would prevent you from taking engineering courses. Your mathematical background will be as good as gold for those classes. Maybe you’ll find engineering principles to aid in our medical research.” Dr. Fine looked over the tops of his glasses. “If you joined our team at the University, the engineering courses would be free.”
William slowly nodded. “I like the sound of that.”
* * *
William, holding Noah, glanced skyward. “Sun’s breaking through the clouds.”
“At last,” Monica said.
The threesome swayed on a glider on the back porch of her home.
“Dad’s selling his business and bought another one in Seattle,” William said. “My family is moving in a month or so.”
“Your mother is moving the dress shop to Seattle as well. Mom, Grandma and I will move with her.”
Staring at the sky, William said, “I understand I can bring my wife with me to college.”
“Wife? If you’re taking about me, you haven’t even asked my mother for permission to court me.”
“The college hopes I’ll remain there after medical school to teach, treat patients, and do research. That means I won’t have as much salary as a doctor with his own practice…won’t make near as much as my father’s business. I adore teaching and the thought of doing research is most appealing.”
“Is this your way of asking me to marry you?”
“I apologize that I don’t have an ounce of romance in my body but I have this feeling.”
“What are you talking about?”
William momentarily stared at the neat rows in Kim’s garden then off to the side. “This is difficult for me but…remember the nights I slept in front of the fireplace during the flu epidemic?”
“Sure.”
“I smiled each morning because the first person I saw was you.”
“You never told me.”
He shrugged and stared at the tops of his shoes. “I didn’t know how. And I was afraid you’d laugh.”
“I wouldn’t have.” She smiled. “Remember when we danced at the summer fair?”
“One of my favorite memories.”
“Mine too.”
He took a deep breath. “I want to wake up with you next to me for the rest of my life.”
“Are you certain?”
“If I had to give up medical school to accomplish that, I would.”
Monica rapidly shook her head. “You can’t and you won’t. Too many children who will be born in the next fifty years will be depending on you.”
“I’ll continue to see patients while I teach, so I may be called away at a moment’s notice.”
“I’ll explain to Noah and whoever, someone who is injured needs you.”
“Noah?”
“Mother’s given me total responsibility for him.”
“I didn’t know. He’ll come with us?”
“Is that a problem?”
They sat in silence for some minutes.
“William?”
“I was just thinking of the smile Noah gives me when I pick him up and how his little fists grip my shirt.”
“He cries when you leave.”
“Since when?”
“You’ll take both of us?”
“Of course.”
Without looking at him, she said, “William, I’m not Jewish.”
“Neither was my mother when I was born. Not until five-years-later. I’m not supposed to know but I saw the date on her conversion certificate and Katuba.”
“Their what?”
“Jewish wedding contract.”
“Your brother Nathan; can he make me Jewish?”
“Yes, but so can Dov Rifkin.”
“How long will it take?”
“Some months of study.”
&n
bsp; “So I won’t be waking up next to you before some months from now.”
“Well…”
“I will not live with you until we have a proper wedding.”
“By then I’ll have a good start on my schooling.”
“How will we pay for our wedding? My mother doesn’t have much.”
“I’ll talk to my parents.”
“You need to talk to my mother first.”
* * *
A few months later, William, Monica, and Noah were taking a buck board ride on a Sunday evening. “Are you glad your conversion is over?” he asked.
“We can begin planning a wedding now.”
The skies darkened and a large rain drops struck them. “This feels like a serious rain,” Monica said.
William urged the buckboard’s horse into a trot as it pulled their conveyance down a muddy trail.
Monica said, “Noah might get sick from becoming wet and chilled.” She wrapped him as best she could inside her coat.
“We’ll be home soon. I didn’t think it would rain when I suggested a ride.”
After shivering when the rain penetrated her dress, Monica said. “You’re going too fast.”
“He’s a young horse. He’ll manage plus I’m a great buckboard driver.” William used the whip to urge the horse to greater velocity.
The right front wheel of their conveyance struck a basketball sized rock. The axle, worn from years of use, couldn’t endure the sudden increase in load. It split with a resounding crack. The frightened horse tried to get away from the sound by suddenly veering left. Monica screamed. The buckboard pitched on its side, delivering it’s human cargo into the trees which lined the road.
Noah was launched from Monica’s arms. She collided face first into a large oak, her body spun, her left leg breaking on a fence post. Monica, fell to the ground in a groaning heap. Landing on her left shoulder, she broke her collar bone. Noah cried. Barely conscious from the excruciating pain, she reached out with her uninjured arm and clawed at the wet soil to pull herself across the muddy terrain toward his voice.
William, in substantial pain from blows to his head and chest used an oil lamp to examine Monica and Noah. “Noah just seems scared, but Monica’s barely coherent,” he thought. He turned to a teen who’d arrived with his mother. “We need transportation to get us to town.”
“I’ll get blankets from my home,” the woman said.
The rain gradually diminished as William attended Monica whose eyes and occasional moan pleaded for relief from her pain. “We’ll head to my parents’ home shortly,” he told her.
William felt relief as he saw his Aunt Daire, a rugged cowgirl like her sister, driving a wagon’s team with David riding shotgun and eleven-year-old Jack standing behind them. She hauled back on the rein’s while simultaneously applying force to the wagon’s break lever. The combination brought the large wagon to a halt.
David dropped the freight wagon’s tailgate while William gently lifted Monica into the wagon.
William said, “Dad, I’ll stay in back and keep an eye on her.”
David said, “I’ll take Noah. Dr. Beckham is meeting us at our house.”
The freight wagon rumbled into town, the bumps often eliciting groans from Monica.
Monica woke up in the girls’ room at the Kaplan’s home.
“What happened?” she asked.
Dr. Beckham responded, “You were in an accident.”
She sat up. “My left eye…”
“Swollen shut.”
“Noah and William?”
“Noah’s fine,” David said.
“William’s chest and head are covered in bruises,” Dr. Beckham said. “He needs to rest.”
* * *
Dr. Beckham shook him. “Wake up, William. Monica asked for Celeste but she wants to talk to you next. She’s in the girls’ room and may not have much time left.”
William looked around his bedroom and saw Dr. Beckham, David and Myra staring at him; all with grim expressions. He put a hand on his head which throbbed with pain like it was being crushed in a vice. William tried to stand on wobbly legs. David held his arm and guided him toward the other bedroom.
Celeste was leaving the room, her face ashen.
Her head covered in bandages, Monica gave him a weak smile. “Promise you’ll take care of Noah.” He sat on the edge of her bed and grasped her hand.
“We’ll both take care of him.”
“Please promise.”
“I promise.”
Monica tightened her grip on his hand and closed her eyes. She took a few labored breaths and stopped breathing.
“Monica. Please. Stay with me. Noah and I need you.”
Dr. Beckham entered the room, examined her and shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
William staggered out of the room.
“William?” Myra said, looking at his tear streaked face.
“Gone…She’s gone,” he said.
She embraced her son as he dissolved into loud sobs.
Myra said to her husband. “Someone has to tell Kim.”
David said, “Celeste went to find her.”
Kim and Grandma Susan hurried into the house. Monica’s mom took one look at William and embraced him. They sobbed in each other’s arms.
* * *
“Where is he?” David said, an hour later after walking Kim and her mother home.
“Sitting on the back porch holding Noah,” Myra replied. “I don’t know if I should leave him alone or talk to him.”
“Neither,” David said shaking his head. “I’ll get Celeste.”
Five-minutes-later, Celeste returned to the house. Myra pointed to the back porch.
“Hi,” William said, standing up.
She gave him a brief embrace.
William said, “This is really shit.”
She nodded. “I know.”
“I’m glad you’re here.” His eyes filled with tears. “She… hold Noah.” He handed the little one to Celeste and covered his face with his hands. His entire body shook as he wept.
“The undertaker is here,” David shouted from the kitchen.
“Let him take her. I can’t watch.”
Celeste moved Noah from her shoulder to her lap. He looked up at her and smiled. “Pretty smile, Noah.” She bumped a finger into his nose and he laughed. “Accidents happen.”
“I know.” He stared at the floor.
“It’s not your fault.”
“I know.”
“William, it’s not your fault.”
“I understand.”
“You did nothing wrong.”
He yelled. “She’s dead because I wanted to prove I could handle the buckboard at high speed.”
“Dad said the axle hit an obstruction. It split because it was worn.”
“Monica told me I was going too fast but I was only concerned with demonstrating my ability instead of being safe.”
Celeste put a hand on his shoulder. “It could have happened to anyone.”
“But it happened when it was my responsibility and resulted in her death.”
* * *
After each of the mourners put a three shovels of dirt on Monica’s casket, Kim tried to talk to William but anguish stifled her words. Grandma Susan put an arm around her daughter and spoke to him. “Monica’s purpose was to be a joy to her mother and ensure William would become Noah’s father.”
William tried to speak through his grief but just nodded.
* * *
Celeste found William on the porch again.
“When will you leave for college?”
“I’m not.”
“What?”
“I have to take care of Noah.”
“You could apprentice with Dr. Beckham. He’s moving to Seattle with us.”
“Who’s going to take care of Noah while I work? I can’t stay with Mom and Dad. They look and talk to me with such pity. I can’t stand it.”
“I’ll take care of Noah.”
“You have Shifra. I feel I’ve disappointed so many people. They look at me and see Monica’s executioner.”
“You’re the only person who feels that way.”
William sat up straight and folded his arms across his chest.
Celeste continued. “We can get a place near Dr. Beckham’s office. You and Noah could live with Shifra and me.”
He rubbed his face with his hands then turned toward her. “I won’t earn much money as an apprentice.”
“Dad was going to spend a large sum on your college. Maybe he’ll let us have part of it for living expenses. I’ll bring home work from the dress shop so I’ll have some income.”
“Let’s see what Dr. Beckham says,” William said. He watched Celeste playing with Noah. The tiny one giggled and laughed. He sighed and said, “My future looks grim.”
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Goulds
Families gathered in the courtyard of the synagogue after Saturday morning services in Philadelphia, Pa. It was late May, 1864. Light rain fell from the steel grey sky. A man with a sad expression slowly walked into the courtyard. He turned up his collar and yelled, “I’m looking for Joyce Gould.”
“I’m Joyce Gould,” a thin woman of less than average height said.
“Wife of Ruben Gould?”
“Yes.”
He walked to where she stood under the eve of the synagogue and removed his hat. “My son is serving in the war with your husband. We just received this.” He reached into his coat and handed her a letter. “I’m sorry.”
The woman slowly unfolded it. As her eyes moved across the lines, she began trembling then wiped away tears.
“Is it about Dad?” a little girl, standing at her side, asked.
Joyce nodded and tried to speak.
The girl asked, “When is he coming home?”
“He’s not,” the woman said. The color drained from her cheeks and her eyes rolled upwards.
Nathan Kaplan threw an arm around her upper body as she collapsed. He put his other arm under her knees and carried her into the synagogue.
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