While Love Stirs (28 page)

“I wish I were a debutante.” Tessa’s tone turned pouty.

“You’re lucky you get to attend, young lady.” Hannah buttered a slice of bread. “You haven’t yet come out, but I’m sure Charlotte will find somewhere you can be of use.”

Tessa turned to Charlotte. “Can we go look at gowns tomorrow?”

“I can’t.” Charlotte’s cheeks warmed. “I have plans.”

“I’m afraid I’m stealing her away for the day, Tessa.” Joel flashed Charlotte a smile. “Before she leaves for Red Wing on Monday.”

“You’re going to Red Wing?” Lincoln’s brows drew close. “I read there was some trouble there concerning the gas company.”

Joel set down his fork. “Trouble?”

“Nothing serious. Some of the townsfolk were upset the gas company shut off the streetlamps because the city hadn’t paid its bills.” Using his knife and fork with expert manners, he sliced a piece of lamb and dipped it in the mint sauce. “The article said a protest was planned, so it might affect your turnout.”

“Mr. Johnson already spoke to me about the unrest, but he expects my lectures to be the key to solving the problem. He said the gas company is counting on my lecture series to help smooth the situation over and mend the rift.” Charlotte smiled. “So I have to go.”

Joel drew in a deep breath. “But we don’t have to like it.”

Nurse Pierce appeared at the door. “Excuse me, Mrs. Phillips, but it’s time for your evening exercises.”

“Tonight?” The word burst from Charlotte’s mouth before she could stop herself. “But we’ve not yet had dessert.”

Nurse Pierce crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s important we stick to a schedule. Right, Doctor?”

Charlotte laid her hand on Joel’s arm. “Surely it won’t make a difference if she does her exercises fifteen minutes from now.”

“No, I don’t think fifteen minutes will make a significant difference in her recovery. Do you, Nurse Pierce?” He turned toward the woman. “But I do appreciate your attention to detail. We’ll help Mrs. Phillips upstairs when dinner is over. She can do her exercises then.”

“Yes, Doctor.” She glared at Charlotte, spun around, and marched from the room.

Charlotte took a bite of her plum pudding, but the smooth texture did little to calm her. She hadn’t meant to upset the nurse, but she feared she’d once again ruffled her feathers. “I don’t think I made any friends there.”

“I’m not sure Nurse Pierce has made many friends anywhere.” Aunt Sam took a bite of her pudding. “But you, my dear, make them wherever you go. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

“If she’s becoming more difficult, I could replace her,” Joel said.

“No, we’ll manage.” Charlotte shook her head. It wouldn’t be fair to send her away now. She’d done her job well, and as long as she provided excellent care to Aunt Sam, Charlotte would tolerate the nurse’s attitude toward her. After all, what could she do to hurt her?

32

“Good morning, Nurse Pierce, Aunt Sam.” Charlotte set a bouquet of powder room–pink peonies on the mantel in the drawing room and sniffed their sweet fragrance. Given Nurse Pierce’s look of disdain last night, Charlotte had awakened determined to improve her relationship with the nurse.

Aunt Sam grunted as Charlotte turned. “How are the exercises going?”

Seated in an armchair, Aunt Sam struggled to lift her left leg at the knee. “Nurse Pierce is a slave driver.”

Charlotte smiled at the nurse and kissed her aunt’s cheek. “She’s only doing what’s best for you, and I, for one, appreciate it.”

Nurse Pierce’s eyes widened before her lips curled in a smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re especially chipper today, Charlotte, and I must say you look rather lovely.” Aunt Sam smiled. “I think the good doctor will approve.”

The nurse quickly averted her gaze. At least she was keeping her opinions in check. Charlotte glanced at the chevron-shaped wall mirror. Small flowers painted in muted shades crowned its frame. She studied her own appearance. She’d hoped the periwinkle-blue dress, with its embroidered flowers and crocheted cap sleeves, would make her appear soft and gentle rather than argumentative, but perhaps it wasn’t the best choice for a park outing.

“Charlotte, did you hear me?” Aunt Sam asked.

She turned. “I’m sorry. No, I didn’t.”

“I asked when you’re expecting Dr. Brooks.”

“Within the hour. I have to go pack the picnic basket before he arrives.” She pinned her matching hat in place and adjusted the white rose on its side.

Aunt Sam stood, and Nurse Pierce turned her chair around so the older woman could grasp the back. She proceeded to begin her leg lifts. “Did you awake early enough to make food for a lunch?”

“She certainly did.” Nurse Pierce crossed her arms. “Didn’t you hear her banging pots around in the kitchen?”

“I did have a rather unfortunate spill involving a couple of pans. I’m sorry if I woke you.” The telephone rang in the foyer and Charlotte glanced at Aunt Sam. “Would you like me to get that?”

“No, Geoffrey can. Will you pass me my cane? It’s time for a break before my morning walk.”

“You’ve worked hard today. You’ve certainly earned a break.” Nurse Pierce passed Aunt Sam her cane. “You won’t require this at all if you continue your hard work, ma’am. I predict you’ll be cane-free by Christmas.”

“Christmas? Young lady, I intend to rid myself of that walking stick by the end of the month and return to my cycling before fall.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Nurse Pierce glanced at Charlotte, her eyes pleading for help in the matter.

Charlotte chuckled. “I have every confidence that under Nurse Pierce’s care you’ll make great strides.”

“Miss Charlotte.” Geoffrey stood in the doorway of the drawing room. “There’s a call for you from a Mr. Lewis Mathis.”

“Thank you, Geoffrey. I’ll be right there.” She squeezed Aunt Sam’s hand. “Don’t give Nurse Pierce too much grief while I’m gone.”

After she expressed her surprise at Lewis’s call, he explained he’d have to meet them in Red Wing. He wouldn’t be able to travel with her and Molly there. Already aware of this, Charlotte asked a few
questions about his well-being but tried to keep the conversation short. It wouldn’t do for Joel to arrive and find her on the phone with another man.

“Charlotte.” Lewis paused and cleared his throat. “The real reason I called is because I miss you.”

Her breath stilled. The candlestick phone base felt heavy in her hands. What was she supposed to say? She needed to set Lewis straight, but she didn’t want to hurt him over the telephone. It seemed so cold. Besides, courting was new with her and Joel. What if they didn’t work out?

“That’s sweet of you to say, Lewis.” She kept her voice light and friendly. “I’ll see you and Molly on Monday. Goodbye.”

As she hung up the earpiece on the receiver, her stomach churned and a sense of dread filled her. Now she’d have to sit down with Lewis and make sure he understood they were simply friends. It would not be a pleasant way to start the week.

Once they’d crossed the Marshall Street Bridge, Joel took Hiawatha Avenue toward Minnehaha Park. Charlotte’s picnic basket sat behind her seat. What goodies had she packed?

As far as he was concerned, she could have packed a can of beans and he’d have been happy simply because he was with her. She looked like an angel in her delicate pale-blue dress. He smiled to himself. An avenging angel at times, but still an angel.

Charlotte was a passionate woman. Whatever she believed in, she believed in with her whole heart. However, he still saw a hesitance—almost a fear—when she was with him. It was as if she was afraid she’d say or do the wrong thing, and everything happening with the two of them would vanish like the steam from one of her pots. He wasn’t sure who or what had instilled that fear in her, but today he had one goal. He wanted to erase it. She needed to know that even when their tempers exploded, he was not going anywhere.

“And Hannah and Tessa will work on making the butterflies while I’m gone.”

He sucked in his cheeks to keep from grinning. Whatever she’d said in the last few minutes had been lost on his musings, but he didn’t want her to know that. “I’m sure they’ll turn out great.”

Once they reached their destination, Joel parked the motorcar and helped Charlotte out. “We’ll come back and drive to the upper part for our picnic.” Side by side, they began the descent into the gorge. They followed the path, and he carefully helped her down the damp steps that led to the base of Minnehaha Falls. To his delight, Charlotte said she’d not seen it before. They headed down the path into the lower glen, a densely wooded area. For a Saturday, the crowd was considerably light.

Charlotte looked up at the canopy of tree branches. “Being here brings Longfellow’s poem alive, doesn’t it?” She took a deep breath. “‘All day long roved Hiawatha in that melancholy forest, through the shadow of whose thickets, in the pleasant day of Summer.’”

“Do you know the whole poem?”

“Heavens, no. Just bits and pieces.” She smiled. “But I remember
Minnehaha
means ‘falling water,’ not ‘laughing water.’ Still, the poem seems to fit this area perfectly.” She paused and swept her gaze over the area. “‘And the streamlets laughed and glistened, and the air was full of fragrance, and the lovely Laughing Water said with voice that did not tremble, “I will follow you, my husband!”’” She stopped and her cheeks turned a lovely shade of crimson. “Do you remember any parts of the poem?”

“A lot less than you.” He laughed. “Let me see. Isn’t there a line that says something about famine and fever?”

“Naturally you remember the part of the fever. His beloved was dying.”

“What I remember most is she heard the Falls of Minnehaha calling her to the Islands of the Blessed, and when Hiawatha returned, he found his love had died. I believe he didn’t move for
seven days.” He drew in a deep breath. “When I read that in high school, I don’t think I fathomed the pain of that kind of loss.”

“And now?”

“I’ve seen it. I’ve seen it on the faces of men who lost their wives in childbirth.” There were parts of his medical work he’d love to shield her from, but if she was to be part of his life, she’d have to understand. “But I’ve never loved anyone like Hiawatha loved her.” He pointed to a walking bridge that crossed the Minnehaha creek. “Enough melancholy. Don’t you want to talk about Hiawatha’s bravery or his wisdom or how much he was like me?”

She smiled at him, a twinkle in her eyes, and he had to fight the urge to kiss her then and there. He directed her toward a rustic foot bridge that spanned the stream. “I should make you close your eyes.”

“If you do, you might have to pull me out of the water.”

As they moved forward, Minnehaha Falls came into full view. Water tumbled over a fifty-foot-high cliff and plunged into a pool below with a mighty roar.

Charlotte gasped. “Oh, Joel, it’s breathtaking.”

But the falls weren’t the only thing that took his breath away. It was the way her face lit up. She placed her hand on the rustic bridge’s tree limb railing, and he covered it with his own. Leaning into his arm, she sighed. Together they stood at the base of the falls, spray hitting their faces, in awe of God’s wonder.

There was no need for words.

Some moments were beyond them.

Shetland ponies bearing boys and girls trotted in a circle around the ring. Charlotte laughed when one boy pointed his “finger gun” in the air and fired a make-believe shot.

It had been hard to tear herself away from the falls, but Joel had wanted to show her the rest of the park, so she’d relented.

“Did you come here as a boy?” Charlotte looked up at him.

“Once or twice, but we didn’t get to ride the ponies. It cost too much. We did go to the Longfellow Gardens Zoo, though.” He stepped away from the fence that surrounded the pony rides and started walking down the path. “Did you want to go to the zoo? Fish has quite a menagerie.”

She fell in step beside him. “Fish?”

“Fish Jones. He has lions, jaguars, leopards, bears, camels, and a whole herd of sacred cattle from the Holy Land. My dad said he used to keep them on the third floor of his building on Hennepin.”

“Inside?”

“Well, he staked the bear outside to draw customers.”

She frowned. “That sounds cruel.”

“I agree, but I bet it worked.” He pressed his hand to her back as they turned a corner.

“Joel, tell me about your parents.”

He stiffened beside her.

What was wrong? Things had been going so well. Had she made a mistake in bringing up the subject?