LIZZY

by Jim Wetton

  “Nah, she could use the company. Just ask her.”

  Adeline smile and turned to Lizzy. They both looked down the hall at the sound of heavy footsteps coming towards them.

  “Anyone ever sleep in this house or is it just me?”

  Caroline’s announcement brought a burst of laughter from Lizzy and Adeline. Caroline’s look caused them to laugh even harder.

  “What have we here? You two up to no good, I can see. Thinking of booting me out or may I request a say in whom I’ll be rooming with?” Caroline asked, having listened in on their conversation.

  “You’ll need to tidy up the place if you’ll be welcomed in this establishment; trust me, it’s mighty strict around here,” Caroline teased. “What you got there?”

  “Just the morning’s junk mail,” Lizzy guffawed. “Some may call it the morning newspaper but from what I continue to read, it’s much more like food for the daily garbage can, if you ask me.”

  “No good news?” Caroline asked, smiling jokingly at Adeline. “No gossip about the president dating a beautiful young woman we all know and love?”

  “I wish it was; it’d been so much more enjoyable than the slanderous and condescending remarks from the male species.” Lizzy slammed her hand onto her lap with a slap.

  “Now, don’t hurt yourself over words, Mother. They’re just words. Edith’s news is so much more entertaining, so let’s talk about that, shall we?”

  President Wilson, who had recently lost his wife, had been introduced to Edith by one of Wilson’s cousins. Edith’s description of the event, plainly narrated to both Caroline and Nellie over the phone, was nothing which would ignite a romantic novel by any standards. Wilson’s advisors warned him not to pursue any female companionship for at least a few years but he never followed their advice. Though he loved his deceased wife, the matter surrounding the president was clear to all. After almost a year, the man was lonely and wanted some companionship. His cousin, Helen Bones, who also served as the White House hostess had known Edith for some time and had introduced them to one another for a simple cup of tea.

  Caroline laughed at the thought of that first phone call from Edith.

  *  *  *  *

  “Woody now?”

  “He insisted on it,” Edith laughed into the other end of the phone line.

  “You sound like a young schoolgirl the way you’re carrying on,” Caroline laughed back. “You’re going to call our president of these United States, Woody?”

  “I’m telling you, Caroline, there was some kind of magic in that room. I could just feel it.”

  “Did he ask your opinion on domestic policies, or the war in Europe or . . . ?”

  “No, no, none of that, and to be quite honest, that’s the last thing I’d be interested in, you know that. Politics and worldly affairs is not something I’d ever care to get into, let alone give advice.”

  “What about our cause?” Caroline asked and noticed a silence on the other end of the line. “Edith, did you hear me?”

  “Yes, dear, I heard you,” Edith hesitated. “It’s just, well, it just wasn’t the time or place; I’m sorry, but it just wasn’t.”

  “No, I understand; please forgive my intrusion. It’s just, well, you know. He’s the president and all and what better audience to gain some ground with, right?”

  “I, I think I’ve fallen for him, Caroline.”

  “Already?”

  “It’s strange, right?” Edith laughed again. “It’s like Cupid himself flung his arrow right into us and I think he feels the same.”

  “No!”

  “Yes! In fact, he’s asked me over for dinner tomorrow night at the White House and then this weekend he wants to go for a ride in the country in his car and then he wants to give me a personal tour of the entire house, just him and me.”

  “Well, my dear,” Caroline said firmly. “Next Sunday is Easter Sunday. If you arrive and he has gotten all the bells and whistles out for you to join him to celebrate Easter, you’d better start planning on how you’re going to redecorate the White House, because you’ll be moving in soon. Just don’t get married before I get back, promise?”

  “We’re not getting married, you ninny. Back? Back from where?”

  “I thought you knew! Oh, that’s right; you’ve been busy getting courted by the leader of the free world! How would you have heard?” Caroline laughed at her own teasing.

  “Stop it now,” Edith laughed back. “We’re just dating.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Seriously, where are you going?”

  “You know that a lot of us had been talking about recruiting for the big march on New York City at the end of the year, right?”

  “Right, I remember; so what does that have to do with your travels?”

  “Well, from her experience in London, Molly suggested that we could recruit hundreds of women to come across the Atlantic and help us out. She saw how involved the women were when she was there in 1912 and just knows I could get a bunch of Europeans or some of the British to come join us. There are a few leaders over there as well that have already asked to be invited. So, you see? I’ll be the Women’s Suffrage Movement Liaison on a mission.”

  “When are you going?”

  “Don’t know just yet, still working out the details, but I’d like to sail within the next few weeks. I’ve got three vessels to choose from, just not sure which I’m taking at this point.”

  “OK, well, I promise not to get married until you come back,” Edith teased. “How can I since you’ll be one of my ladies in my wedding party, if you’ll agree, that is.”

  “Agree?” Caroline yelled out. “Count me in, sister, but I’ll never get myself to calling our president Woody, okay?”

  “Deal,” Edith said before hanging up.

  *  *  *  *

  April 16 seemed like just another spring day. The air was crisp, the breeze coming off the Potomac with a slight chill. The multitude of spring wildflowers were in perfect bloom and the sky was deep blue, with not a cloud in sight. Outside the church hall, which just a few hours before held the second of two Sunday services by the renowned pastor Frank Emerald, the scent of wild jasmine permeated the air. The serenity outside the hall was nothing compared to the passion enveloping the inner chambers. Once the thickness of the verbiage had rescinded and the final gavel fell, those in attendance began to walk out.

  Emerald had been invited not only to give his sermon but also to speak at the afternoon meeting, a meeting for women’s suffrage.

  The meeting had just adjourned. The agenda had been filled with speakers, some of whom had traveled for miles. Two of the main topics discussed were the planning for the New York City March and the Recruitment Trip to England.

  The first to exit the large room were Edith, Nellie and Caroline, followed by Molly, Lizzy and Adeline.

  “You’d better get going, girl, if you’re going to make it,” Caroline called over to Edith. “Don’t want to have good ol’ Woody waiting, you know.”

  The three women elbowed each other and laughed.

  “Now you write me or even call me, you hear?” Edith yelled out as she began her walk to her car. “I’m sure you can get a line through somehow.”

  “I bet you if I say it’s a call to the White House, it’d go through,” Caroline yelled out with a laugh. “Shall I try?”

  Molly added, “Don’t be smart, young lady; just get over there and come back to us, you hear?”

  “Don’t worry, sister; we’ll be far away from any ol’ icebergs, at least that’s what they told me.”

  While Molly laughed at the reference to the Titanic, Caroline’s comment made Edith stop in her tracks and turn. Caroline sensed that the joke wasn’t taken well. After a tense moment of silence, Edith spoke out.

  “Just come back to us, OK? I need you standing at that altar with me, if you’d be so kind.” Not a week before, Wilson had proposed to Edith and a wedding date had been set for December.

>   “Wouldn’t miss it and sorry about the iceberg joke; nothing’s going to happen to me, I promise.”

  “She’s counting on that, girl, and so are we.” Lizzy’s voice was lovingly firm as she came to Caroline’s side. “I know that I’m counting on it. Still hate that you’re going alone, but that’s been talked about enough so now I’ll just pray that you’ll come back home to me, I mean to all of us.” Lizzy stared into Caroline’s eyes before adding, “New York to England, right?”

  Caroline nodded in reply.

  “No stopping off at your dream destination of Ireland?”

  Caroline burst into laughter at such a thought. She remembered the countless hours the two would talk about their dream destinations. Caroline’s had always been Ireland, while Lizzy always said Independence, Missouri.

  Caroline could see the moisture in Lizzy’s eyes and her heart melted. She reached over with both arms and hugged her tight.

  “We’ve been through a lot, Mother, you and me,” Caroline whispered. “You’ll be with me through this as well, just in spirit, OK?”

  The two women broke their embrace yet held firm to each other’s hands. “You know you’re needed here much more than taking the risk of a long voyage, right?” Caroline said while wiping a tear from Lizzy’s cheek. “Plus, Molly told me that I’m actually going to board the ‘real’ unsinkable vessel and if that’s coming from the renowned Ms. Unsinkable Molly Brown than I can definitely bank on it, right? So, no worries from anyone.” Caroline’s voice rose at the end as she looked around at the group of women in her circle before turning back to Lizzy. “That goes especially for you, Mother. My love for you will guide me back to you, OK?”

  This time it was Lizzy who came up and wiped a tear from Caroline’s cheek as the two embraced once more.

  “While Edith is dating the president, how about us ladies meeting up with the men folk for a nice early supper?” Lizzy forced out from her choked throat.

  “Will Teddy be there?” Adeline asked shyly, not realizing how loud she sounded.

  “Well, my dear,” Lizzy laughed at Adeline’s innocence. “I do remember him telling me once that he’d never miss one of my Sunday suppers, so let’s just get going and see if his word is true, all right?”

  *  *  *  *

  Darkness fell over the Potomac as the lights were all turned on in Lizzy’s home. Her supper of roast and potatoes with rhubarb pie was nearly gone; only the empty dishes remained as evidence of a splendid family gathering. Hannah and Bonnie had left shortly after finishing, both declining their helping of dessert. Henry and Nellie bid their farewells as Nancy Lee called out from the back to catch a ride. Molly had declined the invitation to join but said she’d meet Caroline on the pier in the morning.

  Sitting comfortably on the living room couch were Adeline and Teddy, their hips close to each other, which made Adeline nervous. Lizzy sat opposite them and to her left sat Caroline enjoying a second helping of Lizzy’s homemade pie.

  “I’m going to miss your cooking, Mother.” Caroline mumbled, her mouth half full of pie. “Molly already warned me about the food in England, so I’ll be anxiously awaiting a full supper when I return, deal?”

  “You just come home to me; that’s all I’m asking.”

  “Mother, it’s just a simple boat ride across the pond,” Caroline laughed. Her smile quickly faded as she saw the look in Lizzy’s eyes.

  “What’s bothering you, Mother?” Caroline asked in a concerned tone. “We’ve been planning this for some time. I’m going to be fine.”

  “Just got a feeling, dear, that’s all, just a feeling.” Lizzy choked. “Had the same feeling when Micah stormed out the door in ’61, but hey, he did come back, right?”

  “Right?”

  “I know; I’m just being a silly worrier.”

  “That’s just one of the things I love so much about you, just one of the many things.”

  Caroline turned to Teddy and Adeline and thought she eyed their fingers touching. “You two take it slow, you hear me. I don’t want to come back in a month and hear that you two eloped or something. Hear me?”

  “Oh, come on, Aunt Caroline; you know you’ll always be the only girl for me. Been that way since as far back as I can remember. Me and you, you and me. That’s how it’ll always be.” Teddy grinned over at Caroline.

  Caroline squinted her eyes mischievously. “Yes, I do remember. We made a vow and I am truly sorry, Adeline, but this young man is promised to his much older aunt, so you’d better start looking elsewhere.”

  “Oh, that’s all right,” Adeline blushed. “I’m sure there are much more handsome and stronger fish out there somewhere in the sea of men.”

  Teddy’s face reddened as a sly smile spread across Adeline’s.

  “All right, you two, you just mind your manners, play it cool and take care of this dear woman here until I get back. You hear me?” Caroline forced herself to be serious.

  “Yes ma’am, we hear you,” Teddy said firmly yet with a smile.

  “OK, that’s settled; now I’ve got to go to bed before that boat leaves without me,” Caroline announced with a yawn. “But before I do, I want one last hug.”

  Teddy was first to jump up and reach out to Caroline. He hugged her tight and as he began to let go, she put both of her hands on his cheeks, looked him squarely in the eyes and said, “You take care of your grandma. Do it for me, OK?”

  “I will.”

  Next up was Adeline. She reached out and hugged Caroline warmly and whispered into her ear before letting go, “Thank you for taking me in.”

  Caroline’s eyes watered at the kindness of Adeline’s gesture. She smiled before turning to Lizzy.

  “Now you don’t get up; we’ve said our goodbyes,” Caroline said it more for her sake then for Lizzy’s. She knew she was on the verge of breaking down and didn’t know if she could handle another loving embrace.

  “I’ll take you up on it, Caroline,” Lizzy replied. “These bones are a might tired after such a day, but I’ll still see you off in the morning when I go with you and Molly to the pier.”

  “You going all the way down there?” Caroline asked. “Are you sure? It’s quite a ways and bumpy too.”

  Caroline remembered how Lizzy had always prided herself in her ability to do much more than anyone expected. “Then again, you can always join me on the shuttle boat to New York Harbor; it’s only a two-day trip. Once we get there, we can shop for a week or so while the ship gets ready to sail and then we can say our final farewells. Sounds like something we two would do, right?”

  “No, I’ll call it quits at the Potomac Pier; that’s where I’ll want to say goodbye to my very precious daughter,” Lizzy replied.

  Caroline was halfway to her room when Teddy called out to her. “Hey, Aunt Caroline, I forgot to ask you!”

  Caroline stopped and leaned back to look at him. “Ask me what?”

  “What ship are you sailing on, anyway?”

  “Oh, uh, it’s called the Lusitania. Good night all!”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Is the Yoke too Heavy?

  1916

  WILSON WINS

  THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAVE ELECTED WOODROW WILSON FOR A SECOND TERM. HIS OPPONENT, REPUBLICAN CHARLES EVAN HUGHES, CONCEDED IN THE EARLY MORNING OF NOVEMBER 8TH. THOUGH FAR TOO CLOSE TO CALL UNTIL THE BREAK OF MORNING, THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTED 277-254 IN FAVOR OF THE SITTING PRESIDENT.

  Lizzy felt like crawling back into bed after reading the headlines from the morning newspaper. She looked blankly out her kitchen window and half smiled at the morning chicks tramping back and forth on her outdoor ledge. “Hungry, I bet. Sorry, kids; this old lady hasn’t the energy to feed you this morning.”

  As the coffee brewed, she walked down the hall and began to knock on Mary Elizabeth’s door before stopping herself. She sighed in deep and slowly shook her head. Not in there, Lizzy girl; she’s not in there.

  As she walked away, she stopped herself
. Silly me. Come on, Lizzy; you’re not that old. Lizzy had to constantly remind herself that Caroline and most recently, Adeline, had moved into Mary Elizabeth’s room. Awkward as it was at first, Lizzy now felt like it was always meant to be this way. Her daughter would always occupy her room, but now she shared it with her two new daughters, and Lizzy felt at ease with it all and even felt as if her own daughter was cheering her on for her boldness.

  Turning back down the hall, she made a feeble call out to Adeline, but soon remembered that she was heading out before daylight to watch Teddy fish. Lizzy snickered at the thought. She’ll be watching Teddy much more than watching him fish, that’s for sure. Gonna be another wedding, just know it.

  The sound of water hissing brought her out of her somber mood. She hurried towards the kitchen and took the pot of coffee off the stove. She reached up and opened the cupboards and instinctively pulled down two cups and laid them on the counter. Grabbing for the coffee pot, she yelled over her shoulder, “Coffee’s on. Come and get it!”

  As she turned to pour her coffee, she noticed again that she’d brought two cups down. She placed the pot on the stove with a thud, brought her hands to her face and sobbed.

  *  *  *  *

  It had been well over a year since the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. In fact, before Lizzy placed the paper on the side table, she noticed the date of the election. November 7th. She sank on May 7th, exactly a year and a half ago. Damn, it feels like yesterday.

  Lizzy sat in her living room chair, her cup of coffee in one hand and the newspaper in the other. She looked down the hall. She could still remember how Caroline had turned back to address a question asked by Teddy. Her answer meant nothing to Lizzy at the time, but the name Lusitania would forever be engraved in her memory from that day forward.

  The one and only German torpedo had penetrated the starboard side of the ship, just below sea level. In a matter of seconds, another explosion occurred. Within eighteen minutes, the ship was sunk. Close to 1900 were on board and only 800 survived. It was the identities of that 800 that Lizzy and her family had clung to until they officially closed the investigation a year later.