Love Calling

by Janet Lee Barton

  “Yes, me, too. But even before I saw you holding the baby, you’ve seemed more mature than the other girls your age. Maybe it’s because you had Grace to look after, too?”

  Emma shrugged and raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you saying I’m old, Sam?”

  “At eighteen? I don’t think so. But you just seem—” He grinned and shrugged. “I’m certainly not calling you old.”

  Emma giggled. “It’s all right. I’m not trying to put you on the spot. I’ve always felt a little older than some of the other girls, and maybe it does have something to do with feeling responsible for Grace. Esther and I were so worried when the time was nearing for me to leave and Grace would have to stay behind. We will always be so thankful that Mrs. Holloway took that worry away.”

  “I’m thankful, too. I’d hate to think of Grace feeling all alone, although I don’t think she would ever have let you know if she was miserable. She’s tough.”

  “She is. And you’re right, she would have kept her fears to herself.”

  “Being raised in an orphanage can make one tough. And I know that even without our help, these young people would probably make it, but I want to help the transition be easier than it might be otherwise.”

  The trolley came to their stop, and they hurried off and up the street to the orphanage. As before, Mrs. Robertson had dinner ready and waiting when they arrived. The baby seemed to recognize Emma and reached out to her. Emma grinned at Sam as she took Mandy in her arms and sat down at the table with her. The baby’s smile captured her heart, and Emma suddenly wished she were in a position to adopt her. If only single women could adopt a child.

  As she jiggled the baby in her lap, taking turns feeding her and taking a bite of her own food, she realized there was something about sitting at the same table with others she’d been raised with that made conversation flow easily.

  As they ate the hearty stew that had always been a favorite of Emma’s, everyone caught them up with their week.

  “Have any of you found work yet?” Sam asked.

  “I applied at the drugstore Esther told me about, and I’ll start training there this coming week after school.” Carl grinned. “Mr. Collins has said he’ll use me part-time until school is out, then I’ll work full-time as a stockman and delivery man.”

  “That’s wonderful news, Carl,” Sam said. “Any others with good news for us?”

  “I did apply at Macy’s yesterday afternoon,” Sally said. “They called Mrs. Robertson today to find out about me.”

  “And I told them she would make a wonderful employee,” Mrs. Robertson said.

  “Hopefully I’ll hear from them next week,” Sally said.

  “Oh, I hope so, too. I’ll be praying you get the position. Do you know what department you’ll be working in?” Emma asked.

  “No. But it doesn’t matter. I just want to work there and will be happy anywhere they put me.”

  “With that attitude, I’m sure you’ll move up in no time. You could be a department manager one day, Sally,” Emma encouraged the young woman.

  “Oh, I don’t know about that, but I do think I’ll like working there.”

  By the time they’d finished their meal and had separate meetings—Emma with the young women and Mandy, and Sam with the young men—she and Sam were pleased to see everyone seemed a bit less nervous about their futures than before.

  Mrs. Robertson put the baby to bed before both groups joined each other in the parlor, and after playing a few games of charades, she and Sam took their leave.

  “Now don’t forget that Andrew and Esther will be here next Saturday,” Sam said.

  “You all have Mrs. Holloway’s phone number in case any of you need to talk to one of us, don’t you?” Emma asked.

  “We do,” Betsy said.

  “Good. We’ll see you soon.”

  After everyone said good night, Mrs. Robertson walked them to the door. “I can’t tell you both how very proud I am of you. That you care enough to help others have an easier time moving on is something I’m very grateful for. They’ve seemed more relaxed this week. I was beginning to see the strain of worrying about what they were going to do on their faces, but knowing they have others to turn to has already made a difference. Thank you.”

  She pulled them each into a hug, and Emma had to blink back tears as she said, “No, it’s you we have to thank—for being there for us and for being here for others now.”

  “Emma is right. You helped instill that kind of caring in us by making sure we know the Lord and teaching us about Him.” Sam cleared his throat, and Emma could tell Mrs. Robertson’s words had touched him, too.

  “Go on, you two, or you’ll have me bawling my eyes out soon.” Mrs. Robertson motioned them to leave, and after one last hug, Emma and Sam hurried down the steps and toward the trolley stop.

  “I don’t think we appreciated her like we should have when we lived there,” Emma said.

  “I know I didn’t,” Sam said. “But I will be praying for her and the work she does from now on.”

  “Yes, so will I.”

  The night air had turned cooler, and Emma began to shiver as they waited for their trolley. She pulled her cloak a little tighter.

  “Are you cold?”

  “A little,” Emma said just before the trolley stopped and they hurried on.

  Even Sam gave a shiver as they took their seats. “It’s getting colder out. Won’t be long before the first snow.”

  “It’s the end of September now. Wonder how long it will be before we can all go ice-skating?”

  “Several more months probably,” Sam said. “Depends on the weather.”

  “Maybe we can go as a group with our friends from the orphanage,” Emma suggested.

  “That’s a good idea. We’ll have to mention it.”

  Everyone was in the parlor when they arrived back at Mrs. Holloway’s, including Mr. Collins who’d come for dinner.

  A fire had been lit in the fireplace, and both Emma and Sam headed straight for it.

  “Turning colder out, is it?” Andrew asked.

  “It is.” Emma rubbed her hands together.

  “I’ll have Jones bring us some cocoa.”

  “Oh, that would be wonderful,” Emma said. She looked up at Sam. “It will warm you up before you have to stand at the trolley stop again.”

  “How did things go at the orphanage?” Esther asked.

  They filled them in on their meetings and caught them up with what was going on at the orphanage.

  “Sally thinks she has a position at Macy’s,” Emma said.

  “And Carl told us that he’s going to start at the pharmacy.” Sam looked at Mr. Collins. “He seems very excited about it.”

  “Good. That’s the kind of employee I need. He seems to be a fine young man.”

  “Yes, he does,” Sam said. “I hope he works out well for you.”

  “I believe he will.”

  “I’m sure the others will find work soon, too,” Sam said.

  Emma told them all what Mrs. Robertson had said about the young men and women seeming more at ease about their futures.

  “How wonderful. See, you are all making a difference already,” Mrs. Holloway said.

  “It’s going to take all of us, but I think we are,” Sam said, glancing down at Emma.

  “So do I.” Emma smiled at him. “And it was all your idea, Sam.”

  “But I can’t do it alone, and I thank you all for agreeing to help.”

  “I’m just glad you asked us to. Next Saturday is Esther’s and my turn, right?” Andrew asked.

  “Right. And then we’ll get together the next week as a group. Maybe a picnic at Central Park if the weather allows for it,” Sam said. “Emma suggested we all go ice-skating once the lake freezes over.”

  “I like both those ideas,” Esther said.

  “I want to go ice-skating, too,” Grace said. “I’ll just go when you all do the group thing.”

  “You don’t want to go with
us next weekend?”

  “No. I’m helping Mrs. Coble. She’s teaching me to sew a bit. I think I know what I want to be.”

  “Oh? What?”

  “I want to design and make clothes like she does, only I want to set up my own shop one day.”

  “You don’t want to be an author?”

  “Somehow I think I’d make more money designing clothes.”

  “Life isn’t all about making money, Grace,” Esther said.

  “Oh, I know. But I think it might be hard to make enough writing. I’ll save that for when I get old.”

  “If anyone can do it, you can, Grace,” Sam said.

  “That’s true. And who better to learn from than Mrs. Coble?” Emma asked.

  “Exactly,” Grace said.

  Mrs. Coble shook her head and smiled. “She learns fast and is a joy to have around.”

  “I suppose we’ll have to settle with you going on our group visits, Grace,” Sam said. “I’m sure everyone will be glad to see you then.”

  Jones brought the hot cocoa in just then, and Emma and Sam got the first cups. “Oh, this is delicious. Thank you for thinking of it, Mrs. Holloway,” Emma said.

  “Yes, thank you. It will warm me up for my walk to the trolley.”

  “No need for you to take the trolley, Sam. I’ll drop you off on my way home,” Mr. Collins offered.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Then I’ll take you up on the offer, sir.”

  “Good.”

  Emma was a little disappointed she wouldn’t get a few minutes alone with Sam when she walked him out. But it was cold out there, and she didn’t want him to have to stand in it waiting for the trolley. It’d been a good day. She’d be thankful for it.

  ❧

  Sam was glad it’d warmed up a bit the next day. He’d attended church with his in-laws and then gone home to have Sunday dinner with them.

  He filled them in on what was happening with his plan to help at the orphanage, and they seemed very glad that he was keeping busy.

  “You said you had some of your friends helping, too?” William asked.

  “Yes sir. There are three young women who are related—two sisters and their cousin who were orphans, too.” He explained about Esther, Emma, and Grace and how he connected with them once more. “Esther is engaged to a doctor now, and they are both helping also. We’ve kind of formed a group to take turns visiting and trying to be there each week.”

  “I am so pleased, Sam,” his mother-in-law said. “I know Ann would be, too.”

  For a moment he wondered if Margaret somehow knew he was beginning to feel more for Emma than just friendship. But of course there was no way she could. And they’d already told him that they would accept whomever he might fall in love with.

  At the time he’d been certain he’d never fall in love with anyone again and he didn’t want to. But lately he knew something was changing, and whether he wanted to or not, he was very close to falling in love with Emma Chapman. Seeing her with that baby had made his heart turn to pure mush. She’d make a wonderful mother.

  He’d wished for a few minutes alone with her the night before, but Mr. Collins’s offer of a ride home had been so generous, he couldn’t refuse it. Besides, the man had gone out of his way to be kind and he’d hired Carl, too.

  And Sam realized he’d be seeing Emma later for supper. He couldn’t deny looking forward to seeing her again tonight.

  “Thank you. It is good to be connected with them again, and those at the orphanage. It’s good to feel we’re helping others. And I know it will be good for them, too.”

  “I’m sure it will be. It’s not good to lose touch with those whom we’ve shared our lives with. Remember, even if you should remarry one day, Sam, we consider you a son. And we’d very much like to have another daughter in our lives, too.”

  Sam closed his eyes against the pinprick of emotion in them. These were such wonderful Christian people. He was blessed to have them in his life. “I promise you both, that should I ever remarry again, you will still be family to me and to her, too. Always.”

  “Thank you, son. That’s all we ask.”

  ❧

  Emma enjoyed church that Sunday morning. The sermon was one on trust, and it captured her attention from the beginning. She realized that it was when she left things in the Lord’s hands, trusting Him to guide her, that things seemed to work out best in her life.

  And yet, she’d decided on her own not to trust Sam from the moment she found out he’d become a policeman. Just because he’d become a cop. How dare she judge him like that?

  Oh, her opinion had begun to change over the time she’d gotten to know him better as an adult, but she knew now that it was God working in her to enable her to begin to trust Sam. And it was God she needed to put her trust in for her future—whether it had anything to do with Sam or not.

  She did feel the Lord wanted them to be friends, if nothing more. They’d formed a bond because they were both orphans and they were trying to help others who’d lost their families. If there were to be more between them, then she needed to trust that the Lord would let her know and quit worrying about it all.

  She went home with a renewed feeling of trust in the Lord to guide her and looked forward to seeing Sam that evening. They were friends, after all.

  She found herself watching the clock all afternoon. She’d had the fitting of her maid-of-honor dress and then watched as Esther had her fitting. She was going to make a beautiful bride.

  They’d spent the rest of the afternoon helping address invitations to the wedding.

  “You did put Sam on the guest list, didn’t you?” she asked.

  “No.”

  “No? Why not?” Emma said.

  “Because Andrew is going to ask him to stand up for him. To be his best man.”

  “He is?”

  “I am,” Andrew answered. “I’ve thought a lot about it. Most of my friends are in Boston, and I’ve come to like Sam a lot. I decided I’d like him to be my best man if he has no objections.”

  Emma smiled. “That’s nice of you, Andrew.”

  “Do you think he’ll accept?”

  “I’m sure he will. And I’m so glad you like him. Sam could use a good friend.”

  “I think we all can, but they aren’t always easy to come by.”

  “No, they aren’t. When are you going to ask him?”

  “Tonight.”

  Emma smiled and looked at the clock once more. Four o’clock. Two more hours until Sam got there. She hoped he was as happy with Andrew’s decision as she was. With her as Esther’s maid of honor, it seemed fitting that Sam might be Andrew’s best man.

  thirteen

  After Sam’s visit with Ann’s parents, he felt at peace about the future. They trusted the Lord to guide them, and he needed to do the same. They would accept it if he fell in love and wanted to marry again, and he needed to quit feeling guilty that memories of Ann were being replaced by Emma.

  He would always love Ann, but she wasn’t here, and it was because he’d loved married life so much that he knew he wanted to be a husband again. Wanted a wife who would love him and be a good mother to their children, and he wanted Emma to be that person.

  But if she still didn’t trust him, how was he ever going to persuade her to give her heart to him? Dear Lord, please help me to know how she feels about me. To know if my dream about having a life with her is even possible. I know I’m falling in love with her, but I need to know if she could ever feel the same way about me. Please help me to know. And if not, please help me to accept it and still remain friends with her. For she’s made a difference in my life already, and I. . .don’t want to lose her. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

  Sam went back to his apartment to change for supper at Mrs. Holloway’s and found that he had a message from his partner to contact him as soon as possible. Sam did so immediately.

  “Richard? My landlady said yo
u needed to talk to me?”

  “Sam, yes. I wanted to tell you that I found out there was trouble Friday evening at one of those suffragette meetings.”

  “Was anyone hurt?”

  “Not badly this time. But it appears to be one of those groups who go around just trying to stir things up. Wish we could find out who it is sending them out.”

  “Yeah, so do I.” He couldn’t help but wonder if the call Emma had overheard had anything to do with this.

  “If your friend overhears anything else—”

  “I’m certain my friend will tell me or someone else who can help.” Sam hadn’t wanted to name Emma. He wanted her name to stay out of any conversations. He still wasn’t always sure who he could trust either, and he didn’t want anyone suspecting where he might be getting his information. Besides, he didn’t really know if Emma would come to him or go to her supervisor if she did hear anything else.

  “Good. Maybe one day we can put a stop to some of these troublemakers. I’ve told my wife she can’t go to any of those meetings. Not that I don’t believe she should have the right to vote, but because I don’t want anything to happen to her.”

  Sam didn’t want anything happening to Emma or the others at Mrs. Holloway’s either. But he knew he didn’t stand a chance of stopping Mrs. Holloway from holding a meeting—not one.

  “Thanks for letting me know what you found out, Richard. I’ll let my friend know. Maybe it will make it easier for. . .my friend to tell someone next time.”

  “I certainly hope so. Have a good evening, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “You, too.” Sam hung up on his end and took the stairs two at a time to change. He didn’t want Emma to feel guilty that she hadn’t told anyone, but he did want her to know that she needed to. And if she told him, that’d mean she’d come to trust him. And maybe, just maybe, he had a chance of getting her to trust her heart to him. Dear Lord, please let it be so.

  ❧

  By the time Sam got to Mrs. Holloway’s, Mr. Collins was arriving, too.

  “Sam, I should have called and brought you over with me. I’ll take you home this evening though. It’s getting colder by the hour. I think we may have an early winter.”