LIZZY

by Jim Wetton

  “You look awfully tense, dear.”

  “No, no, please carry on.” Lizzy waved her hand in the air. “Dear God, that boy will be the end of me, that’s for sure. Please Martin, carry on, don’t mind me . . . but a glass of wine would be nice.”

  Martin held in a laugh and returned to his chair. He looked over the top of the letter at Lizzy. Her eyes were fixated on the wooden floor beneath her. She’d taken the glass of wine from Martin and now held it firmly in her hand. Martin stifled a chuckle as he began to read again.

  They discouraged me about Alaska, though I really had no intention of going there to begin with. They also discouraged me from what they called the desert and heat of the southern part of the state. The father described it as a land full of sand, dust and weeds. He said that northern California is where the heart is. He told me that he’d been there and that the prospect for riches is near the bay of a town called San Francisco.

  “San Francisco? Is that what he wrote, San Francisco?” Lizzy rose from her chair. She walked into the kitchen and looked around the room.

  “What are you looking for?” Martin asked.

  “The longer we travel with our son, the more I’m in need of wine.”

  So, dear parents, that is precisely where I am as I’m writing this letter.

  Martin had to stop. He looked at Lizzy, her third glass of wine in her hand. She was staring out the window to the Hudson below, a worried expression masking her face. Wonder if she’ll hear another word of William’s letter?

  “Lizzy, what’s the matter?” Martin lowered the letter and asked.

  “Nothing; I’m fine. Wine and me get along splendidly. Please keep reading.”

  Martin scowled with worry but continued with one eye on the letter and the other on his soon-to-be intoxicated wife.

  I was able to capitalize on a splendid land proposition in Oklahoma and in so doing, I was able to sell it for a substantial profit. Father, you’d be most proud of the way I’ve been able to invest and recoup my cost plus earn a return on my investment. I hear that would make those Wall Street folks envious.

  Martin paused and he too looked out to the Hudson.

  “Now it’s my turn to ask you if you are well.”

  Martin waved off Lizzy’s comment and sniffed before he continued reading.

  I can tell you that, despite the God-forsaken fog, it is really God’s Country out here. From what I hear, the East is growing so fast that I’d implore you to think about coming west. It is unimaginably peaceful with the soft breeze from the ocean and the warmth coming from the eastern winds. The land is ripe for agriculture and the city is eager for financial growth. Papa, you could set up your own financial institution just down the street from where I’ve set up a nice home.

  “Home?” Lizzy blurted out. “He’s got himself a home already? Don’t go and read to me that he’s already got himself a wife and a family of five now too, dear God.”

  Lizzy’s hands were becoming more animated the more she drank. “I do remember you telling me that he had something to tell us, something about a girl, you know?”

  “Need some more wine, dear?”

  “I’m way ahead of you, love. Brought in a whole new bottle with me the last time I was up.”

  Martin’s laugh was guarded as he turned the page.

  I know that I wrote last time about a girl. . . .

  “See, we just needed to turn the page.”

  Lizzy chuckled awkwardly, seeing little humor in Martin’s comment.

  She’s the daughter of the family that took me in while I was in Oklahoma. Her name is Caroline. She is the youngest of their four children. They have three boys and Caroline, but I can tell you that though she is the youngest, she most definitely is the one that the older brothers kneel to, that’s for sure.

  Momma, you’d love her. She is the spitting image of what you inspire a woman to be. She has the gentleness of a bunny yet the bite of a snake. When it comes to women, you don’t want to mess with her, though in time I do intend to mark my ground as the man of the house.

  “Well, at least I know that Hannah would love her, not too sure about that last part though,” Lizzy spoke from inside her wine glass.

  Papa, I’m telling you that she is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on. I can understand now about the way you always said how much you loved Momma and how you knew that she was the woman you’d spend your entire life with. Well, Papa, that’s exactly how I feel about Caroline.

  “Oh, dear God, don’t tell me they’re already married.”

  “Shhhhhh,” Martin forced out.

  In closing, I want to tell you both how much I love you and to not worry about me. I pray that you and James, Mary Elizabeth and Nellie are doing well. Give them all my love and hug them tonight for me, will you?

  Until my next correspondence, know that I’m doing well; I’ve provided nicely for myself and for my future and will write soon.

  Love, William

  Martin folded the pages of the letter and placed them back into the envelope. He and Lizzy sat in silence, both having no interest in lighting any of the candles or lamps other than the one Martin had used to read under.

  “I, I guess he’s doing OK?” Lizzy stuttered.

  “Yes, it does sound like it, doesn’t it?” Martin agreed half-heartedly.

  “Momma!” The sound jerked them from the trance they’d fallen into.

  “Papa!” The latest callout caused Martin to rise quickly from his chair.

  “We’re, uh, we’re in here,” Martin said again as he recognized James’ voice. “James, we’re in the parlor.”

  Martin began to adjust for more light into the room; as he did, he looked warmly at Lizzy.

  “It’s going to be just fine. He’s doing just fine, love.”

  Lizzy pressed her lips together and nodded. Martin noted the worry in her eyes.

  Lizzy took in a deep sigh when she heard James enter. She turned and much to her surprise, not only was she looking up at her second son, but next to him was a lovely looking young woman.

  “Momma, Papa, I’d like to introduce you to my beloved.”

  Lizzy sprang up on her feet, immediately sober. Martin stood as well at the surprise announcement.

  “I’d like to introduce you to Miss Katherine Hogan. Katherine, these are my parents, Martin and Lizzy McKeever.”

  Martin extended his hand. Lizzy, always the hostess, opened her arms to the young woman.

  “Momma, Papa, Katherine’s from the east side of Manhattan, closer to the bridge.”

  Martin racked his brain. He remembered that the newly opened Brooklyn Bridge attached itself near Fulton, but then again, he thought it was farther north.

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Katherine.” Lizzy, still in a tipsy fog, sidestepped Martin. “I—we are so pleased to meet you.”

  “Please do sit with us. We’ve just finished reading the latest letter from your brother.”

  “Oh, you received one too, did you?” James replied.

  Lizzy bit her bottom lip wondering what was in James’ letter that might not have been included in the one she and Martin received.

  Soon all four were seated, James and Katherine on the couch and Lizzy in the oversized chair previously occupied by Martin. Martin sat on a wooden chair that he’d pulled in from the adjacent room. He’d adjusted the flame on the gas lamp prior to sitting, although the room still seemed rather dim.

  “Katherine, please tell us about your family. Are you new to Manhattan? I don’t know if James has told you, but we’re from West Virginia. Actually, we come from Missouri and then eastern Virginia and then a small town in Wheeling, Virginia that ended up being in West Virginia in ’63, but then we moved from Charlotte and back and the back again and now, as you can see, we are here.”

  Silence followed Lizzy’s introduction. Martin, trying his best to control himself, belted out a roar of laughter. He paused and took a glance at James’ expression of pure embarrassm
ent before bending over with another outburst of laughter.

  “Oh, please forgive us, Katherine.” Martin couldn’t hold back another laugh.

  “You too, son. No disrespect, it’s just, your parents need to get used to both of our sons growing up, that’s all.”

  Lizzy could see the scarlet color in James’ face and tried to elaborate.

  “Please James, Katherine, if you will. We just finished reading a letter from William and he referred an introduction to a young lady that he’d just met. So, when you two arrived, it was as if Father Time was actually knocking at our door. I do apologize, James and especially to you, Katherine. It was most unkind and selfish on our part. When you two have children of your own, you’ll look back at this and hopefully laugh as well.”

  “Children of our own?” James’ head cocked. “Momma, Katherine and I, well, we are just courting, I mean, well.”

  “Mrs. McKeever, you’ve nothing to worry about,” Katherine began as she patted James’ hands. “My parents had the same reaction when I introduced them to James. Actually, I thought I’d have to escort James out the back door when I saw the look on my father’s face. Thankfully, it all ended wonderfully and the more my parents get to know James, I just know that they’ll fall for him just as I have.”

  Lizzy smiled politely and looked over to Martin with one raised eyebrow. She leaned over to him and quietly whispered, “I think I need something stronger than wine.”

  Martin returned with two snifters of brandy, one for him and the other for Lizzy. He handed over Lizzy’s with a wry smile.

  “What she’s trying to say is that . . . ,” James retreated.

  “I couldn’t be happier for you two!” Martin interrupted loudly. He looked over at Lizzy’s expression and chose to continue in his own words. “As we said, we were just reading a letter from William and once we recovered from hearing that he’d moved to San Francisco, we also needed to recover from the fact that he’d met a young woman. So, you can appreciate what an evening it has been for us to hear such great news about our two sons. And, all within a few minutes of each other.”

  James held firm to Katherine’s hand and nodded his head in acknowledgment. He turned to Katherine and smiled lovingly.

  “Trust me, Katherine,” James began. “These two are going to fall in love with you, just like I have.”

  Lizzy nearly spilled her drink as she adjusted herself in her seat.

  “Plus, now that I’m gainfully employed at the stock exchange and working for the best boss in the world,” James hinted with a smirk towards his father. “And with all the wisdom and intuition that my boss will teach me about the stock market, how can I fail at providing for a wife and family . . . to come.”

  Lizzy coughed uncontrollably. Martin lurched forward to catch her fallen snifter of brandy.

  “Oh, dear God, I’m so sorry,” Lizzy begged as she looked right at Katherine. “Oh, child . . . Katherine . . . you . . . you probably think the worst of us and I am so very sorry. It’s just, well to be quite honest, I may have had a bit too much to drink.”

  Oh my, that was your outside voice, Lizzy. What is this young woman going to think of you now?

  “Of course, Momma. It’s quite understandable. Katherine and I hold no ill feelings and I know she’ll get to love you just as much as I do.”

  “It’s getting a bit late, so perhaps we should continue this conversation at another time,” Martin suggested.

  Lizzy looked appreciatively at her husband for rescuing her from the awkward moment.

  James stood to escort Katherine out and turned back with a final comment. “It sure is odd though. I mean, I’m the younger brother and my gal is turning twenty. Can’t say the same about my older brother. Guess he’s just smitten for the younger type, but to each its own, eh?”

  Lizzy tilted her head to James, not quite understanding her son’s meaning.

  “You know she’s only fourteen, right?”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Father and Son

  1892

  He placed the cup of coffee down next to his day’s agenda. The steam swirled up and the aroma found its way to his nose, instantly awakening him to the announcement of a new client.

  “Mr. McKeever, sir, your nine o’clock appointment is here.”

  “Is it the Ellis Island case? If so, send it down to James; he can use the experience.”

  Martin chuckled, not by the look on his secretary’s face, but by the look he anticipated coming from his newest intern.

  After months of pleading, James had joined up with Martin at the New York Stock Exchange. The business was new to the young man, but he’d sworn to both his parents that he’d make them proud. Learning the art of buying and selling came quickly to James. It was the roller coaster of emotions coming from his clients that still required some getting used to.

  Since the opening of Ellis Island as the main hub for immigration, most new clients to the recently opened McKeever and Son Investment Firm were from somewhere far away from Lower Manhattan. While Martin entertained the well-established clients from Upper Manhattan, James was given the experience of developing his talent by luring in their new clients, most with very little skill in the English language.

  Their newly refurbished six-room office was down the street from the main doors of the Stock Exchange on Wall Street. Martin had tried to get as close to the Exchange as possible and he did so by promising to give the landlord commission-free transactions on all of his trades.

  His daily routine followed to the mark and only deviated if a lucrative client happened to pop in. He and James arrived at eight a.m. sharp. Mabel Ludlow was expected to be there by seven-thirty and the coffee was expected to be hot by eight.

  Mabel was a middle-aged widow. She and her husband had moved to Manhattan in ’85 along with her young grandchild. Her daughter and her son-in-law had been killed in a carriage accident in ’84 which left the guardianship of their grandchild, Fritz, to Mabel and her husband, Frank. At the beginning, the two managed well with Fritz. Mabel stayed at home with young Fritz while Frank worked for the New York Transit District managing the boating and shipping traffic between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island.

  Unfortunately, in ’86 Frank was killed by a falling crane on a small island just off Battery Point. What should have been a grand event of welcoming home the Statue of Liberty now symbolized the death of Mabel’s husband and the burden of being the sole caregiver of her growing grandson. Despite her own troubles, Mabel was forever committed to Martin and James. She could have found employment elsewhere with the experience she had, but the fact that Martin had allowed Mabel to bring Fritz into the office convinced her that she’d made the right decision.

  At the end of a normal business day, it was customary for Martin and James to convene in the lobby, usually maintained by Mabel. On this particular night, though, it was late and Mabel had gone home, which left the closing duties to Martin and James.

  “Get the door, son. I’ve got my hands full so lock her up, too, if you will.”

  James looked at his father’s tight lips and heard the curtness in his voice. He raced for the door and at the same time, grabbed the papers that had fallen from Martin’s grasp.

  “I’m telling you son, we need to get organized, or well, or. . . . Did you get the door?”

  “Yes, Papa, I got the door,” James replied with a slow shake of his head. “Ever think of getting yourself a briefcase?”

  Martin chuckled reluctantly. “Think I need one?”

  They both laughed as James turned the key with a click and raced to catch up with his father. Once outside, Martin took in his surroundings, enjoying the cool night air. He looked up and could see the shadows fading between the buildings.

  “They keep building these buildings taller every year. Before long, there’ll be no more sun or moon.”

  He looked down towards Fraunces Tavern and then back up towards Federal Hall. He shifted his papers and folders from one arm to the o
ther. He knew from experience that he needed to focus on the rocky cobblestones at his feet or he’d suffer no end to the teasing from James if he fell.

  “Very tempted to grab an evening toddy, son.” Martin nodded towards the small and dark tavern a few doors down. “Your mother would be mighty testy if we did, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, Papa, she surely would.”

  “Yep, you’re right, son. One thing I’d like to teach you is that in order to have a successful marriage, you always need to make sure you feed the girl, even though she’s the one doing the cooking.”

  James smiled and followed his father towards the carriage. Martin had been pleased to find out that the lease of their office also included the storage and care of his horse and carriage. He didn’t mind that he had to give them a half-hour’s notice to have the carriage hooked up. In his mind, it beat the cost of hailing down a driver to get them home and it came with feed and brushing for a nominal fee.

  Before they climbed up, Martin, always the New York gentleman, gave the livery attendant two bits and a handshake. “See you tomorrow, Gavin.”

  “Will do, Mister McKeever,” the attendant replied with a nod.

  Martin grabbed the reins and turned slowly onto Wall Street. He directed the horse up towards Fulton and then west towards the Hudson.

  James looked over at his father and frowned. He’d noticed how slow his father had been tendering the horse. “You OK, Papa?”

  James waited for a response, but not hearing one, he repeated: “Papa, you doing OK over there?”

  “I’m doing just fine, James,” Martin exhaled loudly. “Just thinking.”

  James tightened his lips and looked away from his father. He noticed a couple walking along Broadway. The man’s derby hat was as black as coal and tugged firmly on his head. He fashioned a waxed mustache that accentuated his black three-piece suit. James had to take a second look at the long gold chain the man had in his hand. Must be looking at his watch. Wonder if I’ll ever look that debonair? His thoughts only amplified his curiosity when he looked at the young woman standing next to the man. She was a bit shorter than he was, but one couldn’t tell because of her tall, feathered hat. Her white, long-sleeved blouse with a tight collar followed the puffy frill of her sleeves.