Come Rain or Shine (10 page)

“Did your family only support it financially or did they come down here to help like we are today?” Emmie wondered why Silas had never mentioned it.

“Some of both I guess. There used to be a ton of Irish people in and out of here when we were kids, but lately it’s become a melting pot of cultures. I think it’s the most interesting place in all of Chicago,” Jemma said as they reached the top floor.

They walked into a large room full of children playing and running around. There were a couple mothers in the room but primarily it was kids. Emmie guessed their ages ranged from four to six. It was just the children who hadn’t yet started school. The rowdy group of kids attacked Jemma with hugs and shouts for attention. She swatted playfully at a couple boys who attempted to dig in her basket of goodies.

Emmie and Jemma separated the children into two groups. Emmie took the older kids and Jemma the younger. For the next hour the girls read books, colored, told stories, practiced saying words, letters, and numbers in English. Some of the kids spoke the language very well. Emmie thought they might have even been born in Chicago. Others were quieter and only spoke when they had to, in broken sentences and words. The one thing they all had in common was they loved their little class at Bell House. Emmie loved it too. Near the end of her time there she pulled out the candy and let the kids choose their flavor. Most took more than one, saying they needed some pieces for their siblings that were in school for the day. She assumed they were telling the truth but didn’t much care either way. She was glad to see them have it.

“Miss Emmie, can I add the book to the shelf?” a little girl with freckles splattered across her nose asked. Emmie could only detect the faintest hint of an accent.

“The shelf?” she asked, looking around the room.

The small child grabbed her hand and led her out to a tiny bookshelf at the end of the hall. Emmie saw one of the shelves was half filled with fairly new books.

“When Miss Jemma brings a new book, she lets us add it to our shelf. That way on the days we don’t have anyone here we can still play school.”

“I’m hoping to slowly build a library of children’s books,” Jemma said, walking up behind them.

“Jemma, that’s a wonderful idea,” Emmie said, handing the book to the little girl.

The goodbye was a mix of hugs and laughter again, but this time Emmie was included. As they made their way down to the car Emmie was full of questions. How often do you go? Do you ever work with older kids? How did you get the program started? Jemma thoughtfully answered each question. As it turned out, Mrs. Matthews had started the program but didn’t have the time to work with the children as much since she started filling in for her mother with the adult needs of the organization. Jemma had taken her place two days a week beginning this past summer. As they walked toward the waiting black car, Emmie took a deep breath of cool fresh air. Outside of working with Max, that was one of the best things she had ever done. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so alive.

Chapter Fifteen

“H
ow much time do we have until we meet Ava?” Emmie asked as she watched the houses turn back into tall brick city buildings. She was surprised when the driver answered her question.

“A little under an hour, Miss Emmie.”

“Is there anything you’d like to do before we meet Ava and Aunt Molly?” Jemma asked.

Emmie thought for a moment before she answered. She had a whole city’s worth of possibilities in front of her, but there was only one thing she wanted to do. She nodded her head in silent resolve before speaking.

“Can you take us to Silas’s office?” Emmie asked quickly before she lost her nerve.

“We aren’t supposed to meet him until after the dress shop. That was the plan,” Jemma said, biting her lower lip.

Emmie wondered how many times Silas had gone over this plan with his sister. Clearly she had been given strict instructions judging the amount of thought Jemma was giving this suggestion.

“Please,” Emmie smiled as she pleaded, grabbing the girl’s hand. “Let me surprise him. He won’t be disappointed. I promise.”

Emmie was surprised that she already felt so at ease with his sister. Something about the shared experience at Bell House made her feel like the girl was a kindred spirit. She couldn’t help but think this may have answered some questions she had about Silas being attracted to someone like her. She and Jemma were a lot alike. If he had spent a good bit of his life caring for his sister, it only made sense he had projected those same protective instincts onto her.

A wide smile spread across Jemma’s face as she squeezed Emmie’s hand. “Oh, why not?”

“Thank you, Jemma,” Emmie said as she noticed they were nearing the little shop they’d gone into earlier to get supplies for the Bell House children. All at once she remembered something she’d seen and shouted, “Stop the car.”

The driver halted the car with his hands gripped tightly to the steering wheel. He looked quickly in each direction for danger. When he was convinced he hadn’t hit anything and there was no immediate danger he turned around and frowned at Emmie. Clearly the driver was less than amused.

Emmie chewed her bottom lip to hide the grin playing at the corner of her mouth. “Sorry, nothing’s wrong. I just need to go back in that shop. I’ll be right back.” She grabbed her purse and reached for the door handle.

“If you’ll just wait a second.” The man sighed and pulled the car off near the curb of the street.

The driver attempted to get out and open the door but Emmie was out of the car and running down the sidewalk before he had the chance. She was back in the car within five minutes with a package wrapped in thick brown paper and red gingham ribbon.

Jemma looked at her confused and laughed. “You are an impulsive one, aren’t you?”

Emmie grimaced playfully. “More than you would care to know.”

Jemma thought for a moment. Emmie regretted her words as soon a she said them. She could tell that Jemma was thinking of the information she’d heard her share with Ava yesterday. Emmie’s stomach sank as she realized that she was going to have to explain all of that in detail to her best friend. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. She would not think of that now. Each day is what you make of it. She was determined to make today a good one.

She leaned forward and whispered to the driver, “Take us to Silas.”

As they drove deeper into the vein of the city the number of automobiles thickened to the point where the car was constantly starting and stopping. The sidewalks were crowded with people walking from building to building. Emmie had never in her life seen anything like it.

Jemma leaned over to her and pointed up at the windshield making Emmie look at a row of tall buildings they were nearing. “See the one that’s white on the bottom and brick on top with big gold doors?” she asked.

“Yes. Is that his office?” Emmie asked.

Jemma nodded as they pulled up to it.

Butterflies settled in the pit of her stomach. She wasn’t exactly sure why she felt nervous. Maybe because she had never been to a city this large. Maybe because it was sinking in that Silas worked in some fancy law office in downtown Chicago. Maybe it was because he bought her nice things when she needed them without her asking. Maybe it was because she was getting to know his family. But she doubted it was any of those things. It was because he knew her well enough to plan for her to volunteer at Bell House and keep it a surprise. Even though he knew she would be angry until she put it all together.

The building was as grand on the inside as it appeared on the outside. Marble, dark woodwork, and gold accents gave the place a feeling of luxury. The girls had taken an honest-to-goodness elevator up to the fifth floor. It had a man inside whose sole responsibility was to operate the little square contraption. Emmie couldn’t imagine that being what someone did all day long, but the man seemed perfectly happy. He was full of smiles as he helped them exit into the hall.

Jemma stopped at a desk and spoke to the lady seated on the other side. She was beautiful with short blonde hair and fancy shoes. She also had on way too much makeup.

“Is he expecting you?” she asked with seeming annoyance.

“No,” it was Emmie who answered her, “but trust me, he won’t mind.”

“Mr. McDowell doesn’t like to be surprised with visitors when he’s working. Especially since he has been out of town lately. He has a lot to catch up on. Jemma, I’m surprised you wouldn’t know better,” the lady said with a frown at the younger girl.

“I know he doesn’t but honestly, he won’t mind. I swear it,” Jemma said, stepping around the girl who was now standing up from her desk.

“What are you, the gatekeeper?” Emmie laughed and spoke to Jemma. “Do you know the way?”

Jemma smiled and grabbed Emmie’s elbow. “Yes, I do.”

“You cannot just walk in there unannounced,” the woman huffed as she followed them.

Jemma pointed to a door at the end of the hall, ignoring the woman. “That’s his office. I’ll go see if I can find Trick or Pop just to give you some time.”

Emmie knocked once and slowly opened the door. For a moment she did worry about what the gatekeeper had said. What if he was in some important meeting? As soon as it opened enough so she could see him, her face spread into a wide grin. He sat in a big brown leather chair talking on the phone, clearly engrossed in some conversation until he saw Emmie standing in his doorway smiling with a brown package in her hand. She had never seen him look so surprised. He stuttered into the phone then told the person on the other end he would call them back. He hung up the phone and pushed his chair back. Emmie was at his side before he could stand.

“Is everything okay?” he asked, his voice full of concern as he looked up at her.

Emmie didn’t know when she’d ever seen him look more handsome. He looked like such a gentleman, sitting there behind that big mahogany desk. He had stacks of paperwork spread before him organized in neat piles. She wasn’t surprised. Everything he did was well-organized. Including his little adventure for her today. She nodded to answer his earlier question and took a step to close the last inch of space between them. Before she lost her nerve, she bent down and planted a kiss right on his mouth, right about the time the blonde made it to the door.

“Mr. McDowell, I am sorry. I told her she couldn’t come back here but . . .” the lady began but couldn’t finish as she took in the sight before her.

“Edna,” he spoke with his lips still pressed to Emmie’s.

“Yes sir?” she asked, looking down at her feet.

“Emmie is always welcome in my office. Now, close the door,” he said gruffly.

As soon as the door was closed he grabbed Emmie and pulled her down into his lap. She had missed his touch. When his arms were wrapped around her, there was nothing she felt she couldn’t do. Silas kissed her until she felt her insides turn to mush. She felt him smile with his lips still pressed close to hers.

“I’m liking this new assertiveness you’ve found in Chicago. It suits you.” He laughed, barely pulling away from her as he spoke.

Emmie laughed to herself, amused at his words. She knew he would be happy about this little surprise visit.

Chapter Sixteen

W
hen his phone rang Emmie unfolded herself from his lap and rested against the edge of his desk. Silas leaned around her and grabbed the phone, pulling it closer to him. It rested just at her side. She had never seen such a fancy phone in all her life. Black. Shiny. Expensive. His voice was all business as he talked quietly to the person on the other end of the line, asking questions and giving instructions. He reached around and grabbed one of the stacks. She felt it pull under her. She shifted her weight and he pulled it out from under her. He playfully smacked her leg with them before he read a series of numbers into the phone.

He hung up, put the phone back in its proper place, and leaned back in the chair. Silas sat there for a moment taking in the sight of her propped on his desk. He liked this little surprise. He liked the sight of her sitting there ruining his neatly organized stacks. She looked so smug. Silas noticed the brown package she had carried in tossed on the corner of his desk. Clearly she had forgotten all about it.