by Jim Wetton
“B-B-Boy, Gra-gramma, you know a a lot, specially being a, a g-girl and all.”
Lizzy laughed and ruffled the boy’s hair while turning an accusatory look towards William, who returned his own sheepish expression with an added shrug.
“Some things . . . are just going to take a little time, Mother,” William teased his mother. “But, since we are on the subject.”
Lizzy turned her head slightly, her eyes narrowing with unfriendly skepticism.
“Caroline was telling me that a conference for women’s rights is here in town. Something called the National American Woman’s Suffrage Association. She said it’s opening tomorrow at the Fairmont.”
Lizzy eyed William suspiciously while holding her breath.
“At least you women didn’t start it on Easter Sunday; gotta give you that much.”
Lizzy shook her head slowly and waited for William’s next inflammatory remark.
“She’s asked for my permission to attend, you know.”
Lizzy scowled at his use of the word permission. “And I’m assuming that in all your glory and manly honor, you denied the fair princess a night out without her prince.”
William laughed. “Hey, that’s pretty good, Mother; but no, I didn’t deny her. Believe it or not, I’m not as bad a person as you may think. Granted, I don’t agree with what you’re all doing, but she’s wanted to be more involved, so believe it or not, I granted her my permission.”
Lizzy cringed again. “You’re going to allow your wife to attend the entire conference? That’s mighty . . . ah—what’s the best word I can use?—mighty noble of you.”
William choked on his sandwich. “Oh, dear God no, not the whole conference. I may be lenient but I’m not about to go without supper for an entire week, please!”
“Oh, heaven forbid you have to make your own meals for a few days.” Lizzy frowned as she watched William hold up his sandwich to her with a sarcastic grin.
“No, Mother, Caroline let me in on your little secret.”
Lizzy looked at him questioningly.
“Oh, come on, don’t look at me like that. I’m not your little boy anymore. I don’t get fooled like you used to fool James and me when we were little tots. I know all about your speaking invitation on Tuesday night and just when I had thought your visit was a gesture of family love.
William guffawed and covered his mouth with his napkin. “I should have known that you lacked an altruistic intention but were only interested in the good of—what would you say?—the cause.” He wiped his lips one last time and leaned back in his chair. “Do you disagree, Mother?”
“Dear boy, and I can still call you that until the day I’m dead!” Lizzy’s face reddened as she repositioned herself to face William. “I don’t know what’s happened to you, what’s made you so angry and set against the world, but I am still your mother and you are still my son, the same son that I stayed up all night with and sang to sleep when you were too scared to be alone! Remember that?!” Lizzy rose swiftly, unruffled her dress and walked away.
“Mother, come on. I was just. . . .”
She tuned his voice out of her mind. Her stride slowed as she tried to fight off the anger that had just filled her with rage.
“Gr-gramma, y-you O-OK”?
Lizzy stopped and turned around. She looked down at Andrew, his eyes filled with tears. “I I’m s sorry that P-Papa made y-you a-angry. C-can I w-walk w-with you?”
Lizzy bent down on one knee. She didn’t care how stained her dress might get, she needed a hug.
Andrew wrapped his arms around her and hugged tight. Lizzy tried her best but couldn’t hold it in anymore. She felt her own tears begin to fall and soon she was crying. She turned her head at a touch on her shoulder to see John standing next to her. He too was crying.
“Come here, big guy; your Grandma needs another hug from the big brother of the family, OK?” Lizzy opened her arms wide and took both boys in and held them tight.
“We don’t like to see you sad, Grandma, especially on Easter Sunday.” John backed up a bit, wiped his nose with his sleeve and then brushed a tear off of Lizzy’s cheek.
“Mother, are you all right?” The soft voice from Caroline was soothing to Lizzy’s ears. “I know he can be . . . ,” Caroline stopped mid-sentence, not wanting to upset the boys. “We know why you came and the boys and I couldn’t be more thankful that you did.”
Lizzy rose with the helpful hands of her two grandsons. She walked two steps towards Caroline and stopped. She placed a hand on her cheek and held it there. They never spoke a word, just looked at each other, the two boys close by. With one last pat on her cheek, Lizzy smiled slightly, her eyes filled up with tears again as she very slowly shook her head.
“He still loves you; he just has a hard time showing it these days.”
“Yea, I’d say that’s an understatement.”
Caroline’s soft smile eased Lizzy’s broken heart. “Let’s plan a girl’s night out at the Fairmont!” Caroline announced loudly to Lizzy. “Yes, just you and me. I hear someone is speaking that night, someone we all may know.”
“Oh you’ve just heard, huh?” Lizzy’s teasing smile was radiant.
“Yes, we can enjoy a nice dinner and then I can listen to the keynote of the night before we tuck ourselves in for a peaceful slumber.”
“That does sound splendid, but . . . ,” Lizzy interrupted.
“And I’m sure we’ll be back in time to get food on the table for King Arthur over there. Sound like a plan?”
Lizzy’s smile widened as she wiped her own cheek.
“Sounds like a wonderful plan, dear.”
“Wh-who’s K-King Ar-thur?”
Lizzy laughed and ruffled Andrew’s hair before kneeling down in front of him.
“Oh, I do love you so! You know that, little man?”
* * * *
NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION
NOB HILL FAIRMONT HOTEL
CONFERENCE DATES
MONDAY 4/16/06-FRIDAY 4/20/06
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
MONDAY: CLARA BARTON
TUESDAY: MILLIE ELIZABETH MCKEEVER
WEDNESDAY: HARRIET TUBMAN
THURSDAY: ALVA VANDERBILT BELMONT
FRIDAY: SARA J. SMITH THOMPSON GARNET
Caroline waited in the lobby; her small suitcase had been placed in her room along with Lizzy’s. She studied the program and marveled at the names on the list of speakers. She’d heard about most of them, but only actually knew one. She still giggled to herself for not recognizing the proper name. Her mother-in-law was never referred to by her formal name. Those close to her only knew her as Lizzy, Momma, Mother, Nana or Grandma. On this particular night, the woman Caroline knew as “Mother” was none other than the Keynote Speaker of the evening, Ms. Millie Elizabeth McKeever.
“I’m so sorry the meeting went on so long.”
Caroline waved off Lizzy’s attempt at an apology. “You could have stayed in there as long as you wanted. I’m having a ball people watching,” Caroline laughed. “I’ve never seen such a variety of women: some petite, some quite plump, some frail and some quite stout. But, the thing that amazes me is each and every woman coming and going has the very same agenda. I’ve never felt so—what should I call it?—so united.”
“It is amazing what a bunch of wives, seamstresses and cooks can do when we all pull together, isn’t it?” Lizzy said as she took a seat across from Caroline.
The lobby furniture was set in groups. All were fine pieces of olive or rosewood with coverings of velvet for each chair in an array of colors.
The few men that they saw were either assisting their wives with check in or staying at the Fairmont for another occasion which seemed odd to Lizzy. “I heard the hotel was sold out. I guess if you have money you can stay anywhere, no matter who’s booked the place.
They rose and walked towards the elevator. Caroline looked at it and frowned. “Ever been in one?”
T
heir rooms were located on the third floor, five rooms down from where the elevator had just let them off. Inside and unpacked, Lizzy and Caroline decided to walk around the hotel and get a bite to eat before getting ready for the evening’s festivities.
The waiter had just arrived with their entrees and they both marveled at the fine presentation of each of their meals. Lizzy had ordered the Timbale of Lobster Bagration, Oyster Bay Asparagus and a lettuce salad with oil and vinegar dressing. Caroline couldn’t decide but finally went with the Baked Yorkshire Ham a la Dixie, Cauliflower Polonaise, and a bowl of Consommé Henry IV.
Caroline had asked Lizzy if she’d like a glass of wine with dinner but she declined. She worried it would make her too tipsy to speak and she’d dared not for that to happen.
“Are you nervous?” Caroline asked, wiping her mouth with her napkin.
“Nervous?” Lizzy finally answered. “No, not really. I used to get nervous. Especially when I tried to memorize my speech or write it all down and try to follow it. No, now I just get up there and talk. Actually, I tell a lot of stories and then relate them into what we are trying to achieve.”
Lizzy added, “I could even tell the story of our Easter picnic, but I don’t want to belittle William. Believe it or not, I’m very proud of him and of you, of course. You two started out so very young. You crossed the country and made a beautiful home on the West Coast with two very beautiful children; then again, I’m being a bit biased.”
Caroline took her last bite, wiped her mouth and placed the napkin on the plate. “You barely touched yours, Mother. Everything all right?”
“Oh, yes, just not in the mood to eat. I’ll eat more at breakfast once this night is over.”
“Not nervous, huh?” Caroline smiled.
“OK, maybe just a little.”
* * * *
Once their heads hit the pillow, Lizzy felt like a brick had just landed. Caroline rolled over and turned off the lights and the two women laid in total darkness, yet their eyes stared up to the ceiling above.
“You were just amazing, Mother, just amazing,” Caroline whispered.
“Nah, just talking, that’s all; just talking.”
“No, ma’am! You don’t get a standing ovation by just talking,” Caroline said a bit louder. “You sent a message to all the women in the audience and the history behind your story was the key. I knew a little of your Great-grandmother Hannah, but how you made her your catapult and inspiration was so moving. I truly believe that she was in the room with us, I truly do.”
“She does keep me going, that’s for sure. Neat part about it is I’ve never met the woman. It was all by chance that I found her diary.”
“No, not by chance; it was meant to be.” Caroline adjusted herself and cleared her throat. “Mother, I think something else is meant to be.”
“You’re pregnant.”
“Oh, God no. For heaven’s sake, please!” They both laughed. “No, seriously; I want us to move back East with you.”
Lizzy shot up and turned towards Caroline. “Have you spoken with William?”
“Oh yes, and that’s the best part. He’s all in favor. He’s, well, we both have seen you with John and Andrew. We miss that part of what family is all about. I hope you understand that, Mother. It would be great for the boys to grow up with you by their side. Plus, William has really had it with this City Council. He comes home every night angry at this or mad at that. He’s been telling them that the city has a major infrastructure problem, but they just ignore him. It’s just so disheartening to watch him when he comes home, ranting about the city with no water, the city with bad planning, the city with no escape or emergency plans.”
“Emergency plans?”
“Yes, you know, just like every other city. Not like something’s going to happen, but just in case something did, they have no plans. William’s biggest concern is they have no major plan of operating any equipment to extract water from the bay, just in case, you know?”
“You, William and the boys coming to D.C. . . .” Lizzy’s thought brought a smile to her face. “You all would finally meet Nellie, Henry and their children.”
Lizzy felt a tear run down her cheek. She wiped it away and continued to smile. “We’d be a whole family again. All together . . . finally.” She thought of Martin, James and Mary Elizabeth. “Kind of all together.”
They both pondered the idea. They heard a clock in the corner ticking and a distant rumble outside, faint but slightly noticeable.
“Yes, we would, Mother; yes, we would,” Caroline finally responded. “So, are you OK with the idea?”
The only response Caroline heard was Lizzy softly breathing, having fallen soundly asleep, still with a smile on her face.
“Good night, Mother. Sweet dreams.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Hell’s Inferno
1906
Her smile was gentle and a soft moan came from within. Her family was together again. As Lizzy walked towards the train’s door which led to the train’s platform, she could see her two grandsons laughing. She looked over at William and Caroline, their hands clasped together; they too were smiling up at her. The train had just stopped and she was getting off to begin a new life, one which was going to include her entire family. She shook her head slightly and another smile crossed her lips. She looked over at Caroline who was trying to say something, but from inside the train, she couldn’t hear. Lizzy squinted and tried to focus but still the roar of the train was too loud. As she made it down the train steps, it jolted forward which caused her to lose her grip. She could now hear Caroline screaming at her, but she couldn’t hear what she was saying. To her it sounded like she was screaming, MOTHER! Why was she screaming? Better yet, why was the train moving?
“Mother!” Lizzy could hear Caroline plainly now. She shook her head as she tried to grab onto something, something that would help her steady herself. The roar of the train was so fierce. She tried to cover her ears but was afraid to let go. The train jolted again, causing her to fall. She reached out but couldn’t grab on. She fell.
“Mother!” Caroline screamed.
Lizzy shook her head violently, trying to clear it.
“Lizzy!” Caroline began to shake her. “Mother, an earthquake!”
Lizzy’s eyes opened wide as the rumble beneath her woke her from the depths of her dream.
* * * *
It was still dark; the sun had yet to announce the beginning of a new day. Neither one could comprehend the severity of the situation. Caroline had felt them before, but never as intense. Suddenly their beds rocked beneath them. They jumped out of bed and onto the floor. The floor was cold yet it had the oddest feeling of movement. Another jolt and then a continuous rumble. The dresser along the wall began to move to the other side of the room. Another loud rumble, a rolling growl that didn’t seem to want to end. They heard the boom from an explosion that seemed far away but loud.
Too frightened to scream. Too shocked to call out to each other. Somehow, they found each other’s flaying arms and pulled each other in. They held tight, their eyes wide with fright, yet neither one said a sound. Finally, there was a calmness that permeated the room.
“Y-you OK?” Lizzy stuttered.
“Is-is it over?” Caroline asked.
Lizzy tried to navigate in the dark to find the light switch. Nothing. She attempted to walk over to the nightstand where she remembered seeing a candle in the drawer. “Dammit!” she yelled out as her foot hit the side of the bed. “How’d this thing get in the middle of the room?”
Trying to gain her composure, Lizzy found the nightstand, opened up the drawer and pulled out the candle. She shuffled her hand to the back of the drawer and found a clump of matches. Striking the match, she lit the candle. Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking as she did her best to hold the candle firm. She walked around the nightstand and to the opposite side of the room where the dresser now stood. She opened up the top drawer and pulled out
her pocket watch. 5:28 a.m.
“It must have happened at least five or ten minutes ago,” Lizzy announced. “Holy Moly, look at this place.”
“Thank God it’s . . . ,” Caroline began to give her own thanks just before another thunderous vibration began.
They leaped into each other’s arms, Lizzy holding firm to the candle. With their eyes trying to see in the dimly lit room, they watched the furniture begin to slide across the room once again. The door frame seemed to tilt to one side then back again. They heard what sounded like screaming from down the hall. Another explosion, this one came from across the street.
“Tell it to stop!” Caroline screamed frantically.
Lizzy pulled her in closer and held tight. A blast like a cannon resounded outside the hotel, its percussion vibrating their window. Suddenly the room rocked again, the groaning sounds of wood bending around them with each rumble. Another explosion outside their window caused them to look just before the glass of the window shattered, covering them with fragments of crystal. Lizzy felt a piece hit her cheek, felt the oozing of blood, wiped it away. Then she smelled smoke.
“We’ve got to get out of here!” Lizzy yelled out. The sounds from outside the now-shattered window were howling with a mixture of explosions and screams. Lizzy tried to get close to the window to get a better look, but Caroline yanked her back.
“It’s too dangerous; don’t get by the window,” she pleaded.
Another scream, this one just below their window. A woman frantically calling out that her baby was dead.
“Oh, dear God!” Caroline covered her mouth, her eyes wide with fright through the flickering of the candle light. “We’ve got to. . . .
A blast shook their room. Lizzy lost her balance and fell with a loud thud, the candle coming loose from her grip. The room went dark.
Caroline got on all fours and crawled to where she thought the nightstand was. She found it and reached for it. Another explosion. She grabbed onto the top of the nightstand. Another rumble. The nightstand toppled over, the corner of it hitting her forehead. She felt the wetness of the blood, tried to wipe it away from her eyes. She flung her arms and found the nightstand again. With her hands searching, she found another candle.