All the Blue of Heaven
Read All the Blue of Heaven Online
Authors: Virginia Carmichael
ALL THE BLUE OF
HEAVEN
By
Virginia Carmichael
For my
grandmother, Alberta Hathaway (1914- 2006), who was braver than our heroine,
even though she was “only” a chemist.
For my children:
Jacob, Samuel, Edward and Elias. For all the times I asked for one more minute
and you ignored me.
For my
oldest : Isabel and Ana Lucia, Beta readers extraordinaire. I apologize for the
smooching.
Copyright © 2013 Virginia Carmichael
All rights reserved. No part of
this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any
electronic or mechanical means,
including
photocopying, and recording in any information storage and retrieval system,
without the written permission of the publisher and author, except where permitted
by law.
Edited
September 2013 by Kathryn Frazier
Cover and
book design by
THE KILLION
GROUP
Children
of wealth or want, to each is given
one
spot of green, and all the blue of heaven!
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Prologue
San
Francisco, California
April
18, 1906, 5:12 AM
Her lungs were bursting.
Black smoke buffeted Alberta Hathaway in hot waves. Her eyes burned so
viciously that tears streamed down her cheeks.
I am going to die.
Only seconds remained before she would have to
inhale- a certain death sentence. The rolled canvases slipped from her arms as
she stumbled against a row of shelves. She swept her hands in wide swaths in
front of her, blindly seeking the door.
Please, God, please take care of
Janey.
Her heart pounded wildly. There was no more time to think, to pray.
She sucked in the acrid smoke and wished she could scream as it tore down her
throat, scorching a path of destruction. Her knee connected sharply
against the corner of a chair― the chair that stood next to the hallway
leading out. With one last whisper of hope, Alberta threw herself toward the
space where the hallway should be. The smoke billowed so violently that her
long skirts whipped around her legs. The wooden planks radiated searing heat up
through her black, ankle high boots.
I’m sorry, Janey. Everyone has left you and now I’m leaving, too.
She
wanted to shriek out her anger at God. Why had He taken everything from such a
little girl? What kind of plan could this be? As she fell, her elbow collided
with the hard floor. The crack of her head against the wood sent shock waves
through her body. The heat was unbearable. But the pain of failing Janey was
worse.
Strong hands gripped her under the arms and dragged her limp body toward the
fresh air.Blackness blanketed her mind. The cool grass undern her hands soothed
the blistered skin and she realized her gloves had burned away.
“Wrap her in your coat. You’ve got to smother the flames,” a rough voice called
out.
No, don’t cover me! I’m so hot, the grass feels so good.
A memory
flitted through her ravaged mind: sitting under the shade of an oak, the
fingers of one hand threading through cool grass. But the next moment she was
enfolded in a tweed jacket, the fibers scratching her fragile, ruined skin.
Stop,
you’re hurting me!
Alberta opened her mouth to scream, but could only cough
in short, jerking spasms.
“She’s still alive!” The wonder in their voices spoke more than any mirror could.
She had been to the depths of hell... and survived.
Chapter One
Four Months Later
Near
Chicago, Illinois
“Aunt Allie, when are you going to take off your scarf?” Janey Roswell, five
years old and possessing the tenacity of a bulldog, asked the question for the
seventeenth time.
“When I’m ready, honey,” Alberta answered with a sigh. “I couldn’t find any
fine summer dresses with a high collar so I’m just tucking this scarf in...
like so. ” With another nervous tug Allie adjusted the lace across the baby
pink skin around her neck. She would have to get a dress made as soon as they
arrived. Fickle fashion. She used to love getting new gowns every year. That
was when she had perfect skin and only worried about becoming too tan. Her
parasol and large brim hat were a fair-haired girl’s best friend. Her lips
twitched in bitter irony at the thought of how much trouble she used to take
against a little extra sun.
“Are we almost at Grandmother Leeds’ house?” Janey peered through the train
window at the farmland flashing by.
Three days’ worth of questions. Allie silently ticked another tally mark next
to ‘are we there yet’, and stroked Janey’s soft blond hair. It was so very
nearly the color of what her own had been.
“Almost. Another day and we’ll be at the station. Then Mr. Bradford will come
to take us to your grandmother’s. Remember what I taught you? How to offer your
hand and curtsy?”
“Yes, Aunt Allie. But why do I have to do that in Chicago when I didn’t do that
in San Francisco?” Janey had a tiny crease between her sky blue eyes.
“Well, remember how Mr. Wong would bow so stiffly when we entered his shop? You
thought that was strange, but he was showing us respect in his own custom.
Grandmother Leeds has customs and we want to show her respect, too.”
“And that we’re happy to be living with her?”
“Yes, that, too.” Allie chewed her lip and hoped it wasn’t really a sin to lie
to a five year old if it could head off a whole heap of trouble. Happy to be
living with her mother again after making her own way as a well-paid portrait
painter- not hardly.
“Is she your mama?” Janey asked a lot about mamas. Probably because she
couldn’t remember her own.
“Yes, and she was your daddy’s mama, too. Because he was my half-brother,
remember?” Allie almost laughed at her niece’s expression, one finger on her
tiny chin. “I know it’s confusing. My father died, and she married Mr. Leeds
and they had your daddy.”
“And then Mr. Leeds died?”
“That’s right.” Allie wished there weren’t so many deaths in every story she
told. “But Grandmother Leeds always wanted us to come home. She’s very excited
to have you stay.”
“Linnette Brentwood had a grandmother. She was very old and hit Linette on the
knee with her cane if she didn’t get her tea fast enough,” said Janey.
Laughter burst from Allie’s throat. Unused to the force, her damaged windpipe spasmed.
She coughed, unable to stop. Janey searched frantically in their little trunk
for the small silver flask. She quickly unscrewed the top and brought it to her
aunt’s lips.
“Shhh, Auntie. Sip this. There now.” She murmured and patted Allie’s back until
the spasms stopped.
Allie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and tried to reassure her niece
with a smile. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I didn’t mean to scare you.” She paused for
breath. “Dr. Benjamin sure knows how to make a good tonic. He’ll be shipping
some to us next week so I won’t be without.”
She watched the little girl’s shoulders relax. Janey couldn’t possibly remember
those terrible days when influenza had taken so many folks in their city. Allie
had rocked her through the night and prayed for a miracle, and Janey knew her
parents had gone to heaven together. Seeing Janey standing at the graves of her
parents had been almost too much for Allie to bear. Only her faith in seeing
them again had carried her through. She couldn’t have known that tragedy would strike
them again so soon.
“Are there earthquakes and fires in Chicago?”
A shiver traveled down Allie’s spine. “No,” she whispered. “Not like that.” She
turned her head and looked toward the window facing the train passageway. She
shoved thoughts of that terrible night into the farthest corner of her memory.
“Do you want to go to town this week? Or should we wait until the end of the
month?” Allie knew the answer before her niece bounced up and down on the seat.
“Ooh, this week! I want to visit all their shops and meet all the new people.”
Janey clapped her hands and beamed.
“You can help me pick out some cloth for a dress. Do you think a bright lemon
yellow this time?”
“Lemon yellow?” Janey shrieked in laughter. “You would never!”
“You are correct, my dear. I would never.” Allie grinned at the little girl.
“But maybe a pale green check, if I’m feeling extra adventurous.”
The farmland outside was gradually lost in the fading light. Allie was
surprised to see a laughing young woman pictured reflected in the window. Only
when her gaze fell to the billowy lace scarf at her neck did she recognize
herself. She touched the tender skin at her throat and thought of her studio,
buried under rubble, and all her paintings all reduced to gray heaps of ash.
The gifted young painter who lived in that studio was gone and the person who
remained worried over this season’s dress fabrics.
At least Mama will be
happy. Now she can marry me off to some rich businessman who won’t ever hear a
word I say.
Janey rested her small head on Allie’s shoulder. She
turned from the window and forced a smile.
“Let’s get out your needlepoint. We want Grandmother Leeds to see what fine
work you do.” For the next hour she helped Janey stitch rosettes and daisy
petals on a creamy piece of linen but her mind was focused on the station
ahead, and the man who would be waiting.
***
“Miss Hathaway?” The deep voice behind her made Allie jump.
“Oh, Mr. Bradford! I thought you would be coming from the north side of the
station.” Allie put a hand to her chest and struggled to regain her bearings.
The man before her looked nothing like the Tommy Bradford she remembered. He
was a good foot taller and with wide shoulders that gave him an air of power. Even
so, expression was soft, almost tender and his smile was utterly familiar.
“I’m sorry to have startled you.” His gaze dropped to Janey and he knelt down
to her level. “My name is Mr. Bradford. I would tell you to call me Thomas but
I’m afraid Grandmother Leeds would not approve.” He winked at her and was
rewarded with a wide smile.
“I am Jane Leeds. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She primly held the
edges of her pinafore and curtsied. “Are you the nosy boy who lived in the
carriage house?”
“Janey!” Allie wished she could fall through the train platform.
Thomas laughed, a deep full-throated sound. “Well, yes, I suppose that would be
me. I can tell that my excellent reputation for detective work precedes me. I
will have to teach you everything I know about ferreting out secrets.”
Allie pretended to scan the crowded platform for their luggage. She didn’t want
to remember their youthful game of vowing to be famous sleuths. They grew up
and put those games and memories behind them, especially memories of a certain
late summer afternoon near the garden pond.
“I think those are our trunks over there.” Allie pointed toward a stocky young
porter hauling luggage from the undercarriage. The sound of a train departing
the station nearly drowned out her words.
“Back in a flash,” he said, already striding away. Allie watched him cross the
platform, her cheeks still burning.
“Aunt Allie, why is your face so red? Do you need your tonic?” Janey clutched
Allie’s sleeve and peered up at her.
“No, honey, don’t worry.” She snatched a train schedule from the long mahogany
counter and fanned herself.
You’re not seventeen any more.
But she felt
seventeen, with all the dizzying emotions flooding back from that summer.
“I like Mr. Bradford. Does he still live in the carriage house? Will he play
detective with us?” Janey watched him directing the porter and waved when he
glanced their way.
“I don’t think he has time for that now. He’s just being polite. There’s a new
carriage man, Mr. Cole, to care for the horses. But Mr. Bradford still comes to
visit Grandma Leeds almost every day. She loves him like a son.”
And
probably would have preferred him to the one she actually had.
A bitter
smile touched her lips at the thought.
“So what does he do if he can’t care for the horses? Grandma Leeds shouldn’t
have sent him away.” Janey planted her fists on her hips and frowned.
Allie giggled at the thought of her mother sending Thomas to live somewhere
else. “No, no, Janey. When he was ready to go to school, he learned how to be a
veterinarian. He makes sure all the sick horses get better.”
“But then why is he driving a motorcar?” Janey tilted her head in
consternation. Allie watched Thomas direct the porter to a shiny black
automobile parked some ways away.
“I can’t answer that,” she said. He dodged travelers and luggage on the way
back across the wide wooden platform. She squinted, trying to see the boy she
knew in the body of this man. He was there in the dark wavy hair, the strong
features, the long loping stride. His confidence was palpable, but he wore it
easily and without arrogance. The rest of him was completely unfamiliar. His appearance
was immaculate and his white waistcoat contrasted perfectly with the deep
charcoal flannel suit. A Hamburg hat sat at a jaunty angle, giving him a casual
air. As he drew nearer she could see the caution in his eyes, the bit of shadow
along his jaw. There were lines around his mouth, like deep commas, as if he
laughed often. Jealousy lanced through her with a sharp twisting pain.
Stop!
You have no right to begrudge him any happiness
.
You’ve had your chance.
“Miss Hathaway, you are glaring at me,” Thomas said quietly as he crossed the
last few feet between them.
“Oh, no, not at you. I’m just wondering about the motorcar. Are you sure it’s
safe?” Allie scrambled to cover her confusion.
“Are you asking if I can drive?” He crouched down to Janey’s level. “Don’t be
worried. I drive like an old woman.” His lips quirked up in a half smile and
Allie’s breath caught. She had always loved that crooked smile, the one that
turned his choir boy face into something rakish.
“I’m not worried. Just wait until I tell Linette.” Janey beamed. Then her face
fell and she twisted a curl around her finger. “I mean to say, just wait until
I have Auntie help me write her a postcard.”
Allie wrapped her arms around her niece, breathing in her sweet little girl
smell and closing her eyes for a moment. “How about we write tomorrow? You’ll
have so much to tell her.” Allie wanted with all her heart to turn back time
four months. They would still be in their comfortable boarding house. Janey
would play in her studio and take piano and singing lessons from Mrs. James,
play stick ball in the street with Linette, and Allie would paint, all night if
she wished.
“Miss Leeds, let’s go home,” Thomas said, reaching out for Janey’s hand. She
confidently reached up and grasped his hand, waiting to be led away to the
motorcar.
He offered Allie his arm, and as they walked toward the end of the platform,
she glanced at Thomas’s face. He looked ahead, face resolute, expression
distant. A sigh threatened to escape Allie’s lips . This was her home town,
these were her people, but she felt as lost and as strange as a fish in the
desert.
****
Thomas pretended to concentrate all his attention on maneuvering around the
horse drawn-carriages and other automobiles as they pulled away from the
station. Not having to meet her eyes gave him a bit of time to clear his
rioting thoughts. His knees felt shaky and his palms were damp. He wished he
had dressed more conservatively. He wanted to make a good impression but the
tailored three-piece suit now seemed constricting and alien.
The rumble of the engine faded away as he sneaked a peek at Allie’s face. Just
the sight of those soft lips made him want to take her in his arms. He wrenched
his gaze back to the road. He never should have offered to retrieve them from
the station. Eight long years had passed and even the brightest memories had
faded, but the sound of her voice and the curve of her smile brought it all
back. Pictures flooded his mind as clear as the moment they had happened:
laughing until they were breathless, running his finger along her cheek, that
blurted proposal under the old oak tree at midnight. He winced, remembering
himself as a gawky teen attending the veterinary college in Iowa, with a
half-baked plan to start a business. At that time he had no way to support her,
but he still asked her to marry him and build a life together. It was no
surprise, looking back at that moment from this one, that she had rejected him.
He could almost feel once more her attempt to soften the blow by clutching his
hands and speaking earnestly about her dream of painting in San Francisco.