“It depends on you, really. You and Carl know Riverside Springs best. I just feel it would be a huge waste if she were to settle into a job, get married and have children. Not that it wouldn’t be a good life, it would be. But she could be so much more.”
“Are you sure Kathleen? I would have expected this from Lily, but you sound like a suffragette.”
Kathleen knew Bridget was teasing, but it still stung a little. “Things are changing. Women have more chances now. You don’t have to become a seamstress or a teacher.”
“You loved being a seamstress.”
“It isn’t about me,” Kathleen retorted sharply.
“Isn’t it? What’s wrong love?” Bridget came to sit beside her. “Tell me. Are you and Richard having problems?”
Kathleen shook her head, trying not to cry.
“Well, what is it then? Lily wrote to say you were working yourself into the ground. She tried to stop you going to the sanctuary so often, but you got involved at the hospital and the orphanage. You never take a break. Why?”
“I think Richard will divorce me,” Kathleen said.
“Richard Green? Kathleen, the man adores you. Anyone can see that.”
“You just asked me if we were having problems.”
“I thought you might want to leave him.” Bridget took a second before she spoke. “You seem to be throwing yourself into other projects. I thought you might be avoiding him.”
“No, it’s my head I’m trying to avoid. I want a baby. I want a baby so bad and it is taking over my life.”
Bridget put an arm around her as Kathleen sobbed. She heard the door opening but closing quickly again. It was just her and Bridget, her older sister.
“Sweetheart, I know exactly how you feel,” Bridget said. “Maybe it will happen in time. Look how long we had to wait for Mary-Jane.”
“Yes, but we’ve been married longer now, and nothing has happened. Richard should marry someone who can give him children.”
“Of all the rubbish I ever heard, I never thought you would think something so ridiculous. It could be Richard who can’t have children. It could be both of you. Or maybe God has decided not to give you a child of your own as there are so many that need your help. Lord above, Kathleen Collins how long have you been thinking this way?”
Kathleen ignored her sister using her maiden name. It was a sign Bridget was worried.
“A while.”
“Kathleen, I am so sorry. If you told me you were unhappy, I would have come to New York.”
“Bridget. You have a life of your own. A husband, Kenny, Mary-Jane and this place. As well as your heart problems.”
“Kathleen, you’re my sister. I understand more than most what you are going through. Lily would too. She was married five years or more before she had the twins. The worst thing you can do when you want a baby is to tire yourself out. You and Richard need to take a few days’ vacation time and try to relax.”
“He’s always so busy. I feel guilty asking him to go away with me,” Kathleen said.
“He would love to spend time alone with you. Have you considered he might be keeping busy because you are never home? Maybe he is having some doubts about you. Does he know how much you love him?”
Kathleen couldn’t believe her ears. “Of course he does.”
“Really? Have you told him?”
Chapter 44
Kathleen didn’t answer. She couldn’t remember the last time she had spent any time alone with Richard. Patrick usually had dinner with them but if he wasn’t around, then Lily and Charlie or Father Nelson or some of Richard's friends would dine with them.
“You think maybe I have a point?” Bridget asked.
“We haven’t been together much lately. We haven’t talked in a long time. Not about anything important, that is. I guess we have grown a little apart.” Kathleen didn’t want to think about how long it had been since they had spent any significant time alone.
“It’s nothing that can’t be fixed,” Bridget reassured her. “I think all married couples are guilty of this. We are so busy catching up with the stuff we have to get done, we forget to relax and enjoy all we have achieved.”
Kathleen poked Bridget. “Now you sound like Father Nelson.”
“I do, don’t I? Maybe I need to get out as well. Lily wrote about your trip to Coney Island. Was it horrible?”
“To see the tenement fires. Yes, awful, but we were the only ones who seemed to think so. Charlie says it’s because people need to see real life heroes in action. But when there are children like Mia around to show just how devastating a fire can be, why would you want to visit one in an amusement park?”
“According to the papers, it’s the most popular attraction. Maybe Charlie is right, they like to see a happy ending. Poor Mia, she seems like a sweet girl. She told me today that you were taking her back to New York to live in the hospital.”
Kathleen shook her head.
“No, I can’t. I explained that to her, but she isn’t listening. Poor child think’s it’s the only place she will be safe. The children are unkind, but they can be forgiven. It’s the adults who stare. I want to slap them and tell them to stop it.”
Bridget nodded in agreement. “Adults are always the worst. Mrs. Willis being a prime example.”
“Bella told me about her but meeting her was still a shock. She is about as nasty as they come. And that cat. Someone should take it away from her, she is obviously overfeeding it”
Bridget rolled her eyes. “Yes, she is a major thorn in my side. She hates orphans of any description, but has a particular lack of love for those from the streets of New York. I do not understand why. She seems to think we are all murderers or thieves or something.”
“Maybe because everyone she meets wants to kill her?” Kathleen tried to joke but Bridget didn’t smile. “She can’t hurt you, can she?”
“Not me, personally, but she can hurt the progress of our orphanage and schools. We want to have a happy home here in Riverside Springs. We love it here. Our neighbors are wonderful…most of them. But she is making so much noise, some people are blaming the orphanage for causing problems. Not her.”
Kathleen could see Bridget was extremely worried but she didn’t know how to allay her fears. She wasn’t going to tell her sister to ignore the woman. Bridget would have tried that already and it clearly hadn’t worked. Kathleen wondered how Lily would deal with Mrs. Willis and her cat?
She looked up just as Bridget yawned.
“You’re tired, sis. Things always look worse at night. We will find a way to deal with Mrs. Willis. We have dealt with worse things.”
Bridget nodded but the expression on her face suggested she didn’t hold out much hope.
It’s late, shall we go to bed?” Bridget asked.
Kathleen wasn’t tired but she knew Bridget was. “You go on up. I want to read for a while. And have a cup of tea since you never got around to making one.”
“Oh sorry. I am such a bad hostess.”
“But a wonderful sister. Thank you, Bridget. Goodnight.”
“Sweet dreams.”
Bridget left as Kathleen put the kettle back on to boil. She quickly made a pot of tea and sat down at the table. Rather than read, she sat thinking about what Bridget had said and also about Mia. What if Richard could help the young girl? Even if he couldn’t, they were wealthy enough to give her some protection. They could hire a governess for her, so she didn’t have to go to school. Would she be happy with them? But then would keeping her away from people really help Mia?
Chapter 45
The next morning, Bella and Angel arrived at Bridget’s home. They sat around the table with Bridget and Kathleen, all discussing the children.
“Pieter would benefit from a German family,” Kathleen said. “I didn’t know if you have any families here looking for a child? He is not good with animals as they make him cry and sneeze. His skin gets itchy. So, a family based in town would be best.”
Th
e other women looked at each other before Angel answered. “There is nobody here who comes to mind. But I can help him with his English. Yiddish is similar to German. He seems like a nice boy.”
“He is, and he’s smart. I think he will be a doctor or an attorney when he grows up.”
“Kathleen thinks everyone will be a doctor. Must be Richard’s influence on her.” Bella smiled to show she was joking. “Will he live here with you then, Bridget?”
“Yes. Him and the younger two boys. We can continue to look for suitable placements but, in the meantime, they can go to school. Cindy will also stay here. We had a good chat early this morning while Kathleen slept in.”
Everyone laughed as Kathleen gave her sister a look. “You told me to sleep.”
“I know I did honey, I was just teasing you. Cindy is a pure New York girl. She’s brash and thorny, but underneath she appears to have a heart of gold. She is great with Mia and a godsend with the boys. I think she will settle in well.”
Kathleen agreed and couldn’t help feeling relieved. She was sure Cindy would blossom under the care of these wonderful women. Bella knew the issues Cindy had dealt with and maybe in time they would grow close.
“Kathleen when do you go back to New York?”
“Angel, she just arrived,” Bridget responded. “Anyone would think you were trying to get rid of her.”
“No, I wasn’t. I was just wondering how long she would be here. Oh, I didn’t mean it like that.” Angel turned bright red as the others laughed.
“I have to see Meg and Eileen. Bridget said they had a surprise for me, but she won’t tell me what it was.”
“Oh yes, you must. The girls have been so excited about you coming here. And Geoff and Carolyn want you to go to dinner to see them. Annie can’t wait.”
Kathleen nodded, dying to see her younger sibling again. “I will go back to New York on Monday if someone can drive me to Green River. Or I could get the stage.”
“Nonsense.” Bella said. The expression on her face warned Kathleen not to argue. “Brian will drive you. He has to get some materials anyway for the new barn he wants to build. Though what is wrong with the old one, I don’t know. He says it’s too small. It wouldn’t be that small if he cleared out some junk he’s collected.”
Angel nodded in agreement. “Shane’s the same. He won’t throw anything out for fear we could use it next year. We haven’t used it in the last five years but next year it will suddenly be needed. What are men like? They say us women keep things cluttered but in reality, it is them.”
Kathleen listened to her friends chat. She loved them so much and missed them, but after her chat with Bridget, she wanted to get home to New York. She needed to speak to Richard.
“So, Kathleen, Lily mentioned you’ve been to see Granny Belbin. How is she?” Bella asked.
“How are the tea leaves you mean? My sister has lost her mind. Kathleen, I can’t believe you had your leaves read. Does Father Nelson know? Was he mad?” Bridget asked.
Kathleen’s cheeks heated even though they were teasing her. “I don’t really want to talk about it. She scared me. That was enough. I will never look at the bottom of a tea cup in the same way again.”
“I don’t know. I think it’s fun. According to this, Shane will do all the housework and give me a day to read.” Angel pretended to read from the cup. “Brian will take his two boys, little Rosie and my children off on a picnic and let myself and Bella sit around all day doing nothing. Carl will bake some cakes and feed us.”
“Angel stop. You will make me cry,” Bridget begged as they all laughed as Angel’s predictions became more outrageous.
“It says here Mrs. Willis will fly off on her broomstick, never to be seen again.”
“Now we know reading tea leaves is pointless,” Bella announced. They all turned to look at her. With a straight face she continued, “There is no way Mrs. Willis and that cat would fit on a broomstick.”
Kathleen thought she would be sick from laughing. How good it was to get together with these special women. If only Lily were there. She would enjoy it too.
Bella stood up, brushing down her dress to get rid of imaginary crumbs. “I best get back to the store. I left a sign saying I would be back in fifteen minutes. They will think I’m Irish if anyone sees how long the fifteen minutes was.”
Kathleen smiled. Bella was always teasing her and Bridget over their Irish timekeeping or the fact they said something was just down the street when they meant it was about ten blocks away.
“Take care, Bella. I will be down to see your store later. Bridget says you are worked off your feet.”
“Well, if you ever want to come and live here, I could always do with some help. Angel, are you coming?”
“Yes, I best get back to school and make sure the place hasn’t burnt down,” Angel said. “I have lessons to mark too.”
“I forgot today is a school day. But you’re not teaching?” Kathleen asked.
“No. I asked the new master to take my class too. I told him I had an urgent meeting about the orphanage. He is a very nice man, but I don’t want to try his patience with my class.”
Chapter 46
Kathleen followed Bridget into the kitchen after Bella and Angel had left. She looked around her taking everything in. Her sister made a good housewife, every counter was clean with all the utensils put away neatly. She watched as Bridget filled up the kettle and put it on the stove.
“Thank you for talking sense into me last night,” Kathleen told her sister. “I see I have made things worse by not talking to Richard about my worries.”
“We all make silly decisions sometimes. It’s natural. Now, do you want to help me make dinner?” Bridget asked. She looked directly at Kathleen, a concerned look in her eyes. “Or would you like to go spend some time with the children?”
“I would like to talk to Mia. Do you mind?” Kathleen didn’t want to offend Bridget.
“Not at all. Are you going to tell her you’ve decided to take her back to New York with you?”
Shocked, Kathleen stared at Bridget for a few seconds.
“How did you know that?” she asked. She thought she had been careful to hide her feelings.
“I watched you with her, Kathleen. You need that little girl as much as she needs you. Just like me with Kenny. I never regretted my decision, and even though I have Mary-Jane, I consider both of them equally to be my children.”
Kathleen smiled. She knew her sister meant every word. “Where is Kenny? I didn’t see him last night either.”
“He works out with Geoff Rees. He wants to earn some money to go traveling.”
At her sister’s thinned mouth, Kathleen sat down.
“Tell me.”
“Oh, Kathleen I don’t know what has got into him. He says he wants to travel the world. He is going to join a ship and sail to England and from there he wants to go to Ireland and then on to Europe. He says he has dreamed about doing this and now is the time. I think he’s too young.”
“What does Carl say?”
“He agrees with me, but Kenny is fighting back so much, we are both terrified if we don’t say yes, he will go anyway.”
“Does Kenny know you are worried about that happening?” Kathleen asked.
“No, I don’t think so. We haven’t put it into words. I know he is a young man, but he is just sixteen. That seems rather young to be traveling alone.”
“You weren’t that much older when you became responsible for all of us, Bridget.”
“True, but Kenny has been so sheltered here in Riverside Springs. It’s not like living somewhere like New York.”
“What about a compromise?” Kathleen suggested. “Send him to live with us for a year and then if he still wants to travel, he can.”
“With you and Richard?”
“Yes, why not? He can be company for Patrick, they get on very well and Lily’s twins would love having an older boy around. Think about it. Discuss it with Carl, and Kenny I guess
.”
“I will,” Bridget said, looking hopeful. “Right, now go and find Mia and let me get on with dinner.”
Chapter 47
Kathleen took Mia to the store. She sent a telegram to Richard telling him she would be home next week. She asked if he could meet her from the train. She told Mia she would introduce her to a special doctor who may help her. She didn’t mention her thoughts about adoption. She should speak to her husband first before making a decision that big.
That done, they found the twins back at Bridget’s house. They’d grown too impatient waiting for Kathleen to call on them.
“Ma and Pa are taking us back to New York for a visit. We will see Coney Island and the new subway and all the other places you mention in your letters. Isn’t that exciting?”
Kathleen agreed that it was. The big surprise the twins had planned was a welcome dinner and dance to be held in her honor on the Saturday night. Meg showed Kathleen the dresses Bella had designed for them and confided that Eileen was courting.
“That’s wonderful, Meg. What about you? Anyone catch your eye?”
“No, there’s no-one around here I like. I think I shall find my prince in New York. It sounds so amazing.”
Bridget grinned at Kathleen. “I think you should bring her back to Mrs. Fleming’s where we met so she can see for herself exactly how unglamorous it is.”
Meg rolled her eyes. “I remember. I wasn’t that young when we left Mrs. Fleming. I mean when she died, and we had to go away. I want to do what you do, Kathleen. I want to work on the orphan trains. Do you think Lily would give me a job in the sanctuary until I learn the ropes?”
“She would Meg, but only with your parents’ permission. Aren’t you a little young?”
Meg gave her a look. “I’m almost sixteen. Girls my age are fixing on getting married.”
Kathleen could tell the girl was struggling with being almost but not quite grown up. “Well, they might think about it, but I dare say most parents want them to be a little older when taking their vows.”
Orphan Train Tragedy Page 12
