Love Inspired Historical November 2015

by Linda Ford

  “I do. And I’ve found that if I go home thinking about it, and how it applies to me, I might have gotten that nugget of truth that the Lord wanted me to.”

  “Yes. That’s how I feel, too.”

  They made their way outside, and as the Heaton House group spread out to walk back to the boardinghouse, Millicent inhaled deeply of the crisp cool day. “It’s beautiful out, isn’t it?”

  “It is. Did you have a chance to see if there were any new advertisements in today’s paper? Maybe we could take a stroll and see if there are any signs out.”

  Millicent was taken aback by his suggestion. What was going on with Matt? He seemed quite eager to help her find a place and that didn’t fit with how he’d acted ever since she’d known him.

  “Why…ah…no, I haven’t read the ads yet. But I will after Sunday dinner, and if you’re sure—I would like to see what else might be out there we could look at.”

  “I’m sure.” He took her arm as they crossed a street and smiled down at her, causing her pulse to gallop straight to her heart. She’d thought she had Matt figured out a long time ago. But now she wasn’t so sure.

  *

  Matt wasn’t sure what had come over him the past few weeks—he seemed to be offering to help Millicent with something on a daily basis. He didn’t know what surprised him most, his offering or her accepting. Especially about taking him up on his offer to help her find a place.

  Matt thanked the Lord that he’d been with her at Abernathy’s place and shuddered inwardly at the thought of her running into that kind of situation again. She wouldn’t, not if he could prevent it.

  Now that he thought about it, he realized that much as he’d tried to ignore his growing feelings for Millicent, he couldn’t deny them. He tried to tell himself that it was because they’d lived at Heaton House and he cared about her the way he cared about the other boarders, but it didn’t ring true to him.

  “What did you think of John’s article and Millicent’s photographs, Matt?” Michael Heaton asked as they entered the parlor to wait until dinner.

  Relieved to have his mangled thoughts interrupted, Matt answered truthfully. “The article was great and so were the photographs—although, I could have done without my mug in the paper. But Millicent can get some great shots, there’s no doubt about it.”

  “Your boss will be thrilled with it. She caught you doing your job. What more could he ask for?”

  “I certainly hope that’s it.” Matt thought getting his work done while trying to make sure Millicent, Elizabeth and John stayed safe on the building was enough for a workday, but one never knew.

  Mrs. Heaton called them all into the dining room and they filed in, taking their normal seating. Extra leaves had been put in and everyone just moved down a bit, leaving Mrs. Heaton’s family to sit nearer her.

  Matt always enjoyed Sunday dinner at Heaton House and today was no exception, as everyone talked first about how good the sermon had been, then the article in the newspaper and how nice the weather had been.

  After Sunday dinner, everyone usually went their separate ways and today was no exception. Michael and Violet took baby Marcus home for a nap, and Rebecca and Ben had promised to take Jenny to Central Park for a bit. The other boarders headed back to their rooms or out for the afternoon.

  “Did you still want to take a stroll and look for possible shops with me?” Millicent asked Matt.

  “Yes, if you want to. Did you have a chance to go over the classifieds?”

  “I found one or two that we can look at from the outside to find out if it’s worthwhile to make an appointment to see the inside. They’re not too far away. I’m sure we can walk to them. I do need to run upstairs first.”

  “All right. I’ll meet you in the parlor in about fifteen minutes, if that works for you?”

  “That’ll be fine.”

  Matt watched Millicent hurry upstairs and then took the downstairs two at a time to freshen up a bit himself. He looked forward to spending the afternoon with her far more than he should and he’d have to keep reminding himself that he was going along to help her, not to enjoy her company. She was determined to open her own shop, determined to be independent—her interest in the suffrage movement told him that.

  And those thoughts reminded him that what she wanted seemed to leave no room for any man in her life—most especially not him. He didn’t mind a woman having a mind of her own or even dreams of her own, but he wanted to think she would put him and any children they might have first. He wasn’t sure Millicent would ever be willing to do that.

  Matt headed back upstairs, his earlier good mood dampened a bit at the realization that he must continue to remind himself that he could only be a friend to the one woman who made his pulse race and his heart thud in spite of their differences. What to do, Lord? Please help me to know.

  Chapter Ten

  Matt seemed subdued when he met Millicent in the parlor and she couldn’t help but wonder why. Maybe he’d decided he didn’t want to go with her after all. But he was the one who’d brought it up.

  “You ready?” he asked.

  “I am.”

  “Let’s go.” He did smile as he opened the front door and motioned to her to go first, but still she wasn’t sure he was as enthusiastic about their stroll as he’d seemed to be earlier. She told herself there was no need to borrow worry. Her moods had been up and down the past few days, too.

  It was lovely out and seeing God’s hand at work in the changing colors of the leaves, and the sound of birds as they found the nearest tree, it was near impossible not to be in a good mood.

  She handed Matt her folded up paper so he could see where the two other places she’d circled were.

  “These would be in good spots, but you know, if you could get something near to or in the Ladies’ Mile, that would be better. There’s so much traffic there.”

  “True, but because there is, I’m afraid it’s going to be more difficult to find something I can afford.”

  “That could be. Something will come up that will be right for you, but there’s no need to make a rash decision, is there? You do have a darkroom at Heaton House and so far that’s working, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, for now. And no, there isn’t a rush and I’m glad. Now that I’ve started looking, I realize I might not find the right place for a while. But then again, it might be just around the corner.” She grinned as they turned a corner and headed toward the city center.

  “It could be.”

  As they strolled down street after street, Millicent pointed out first this building and that and Matt offered his opinion on the architecture of each one. It was an enlightening few hours at the least. And decisive in ruling out each of the two places Millicent had circled in the newspaper.

  One was much too large for what she wanted and the other was hidden on a side street. “I’m sorry I wasted your afternoon, Matt.”

  “You didn’t waste it. I’d probably have taken a stroll anyway. I do like to study the city’s differing structures when I’m off.”

  “Have you thought of starting your own business, Matt? Building your own designs?”

  He looked a bit surprised by her question but she truly wanted to know. She’d wondered about it ever since she’d seen him at work.

  “Actually, I do think about it. I have an architectural degree and plan to put it to use one day. But right now, I want the experience of working on the Park Row—you already know how much I enjoy it.”

  “I understand why, now that I’ve been up there.” And she did, although she still feared getting near the edge. But as a photographer, and in spite of that fear, Millicent found she wanted to get close enough to get some magnificent shots from the top floors. But she couldn’t help but wish Matt didn’t work up so high. It was a dangerous job, and while she could choose whether or not to get near the edge—with Matt beside her—he had no choice. And she worried about something happening to him.

  She was sure he’d laugh if she tol
d him, but the simple fact was, there’d recently been an article in the paper about a man falling to his death while working on another building—one not near as tall as the Park Row.

  And she did realize that accidents happened every day, even on the streets of the city. People got run over by runaway vehicles or by running out in front of a trolley. But that didn’t stop her from worrying about Matt and his men and—

  She pushed away her morbid thoughts and gave her head a little shake before changing the subject. “Are you looking forward to the holidays? I am. I can’t wait to see Mrs. Heaton when she opens our present. Julia and Emily and I have been working on the albums, but we need to get together with the others soon so everyone can add their comments.”

  “That should be lots of fun. I can’t wait to see Mrs. Heaton’s reaction when she opens her present. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas at Heaton House. My family would like me to come home to Ashland for at least one of holidays, but they have a houseful every year and I’d really like to stay here.”

  Millicent hoped that he would. Her parents were going to visit her two married sisters for the holidays this year—one for Christmas and the other for Thanksgiving—and that’d made Millicent’s decision easier. Neither sister had a lot of room, and besides, she wanted to have Christmas at Heaton House this year, especially because of the gift they were making for Mrs. Heaton. She’d been quite relieved that her family didn’t seem too disappointed.

  She and Matt chatted about this and that until they neared the soda shop where they’d met John and Elizabeth to discuss the articles.

  “Want to stop and get an ice cream before we go back home?” Matt asked.

  It was still a few hours until suppertime. “I’d love it. It’ll be getting too cold for it soon.”

  Matt held the door open for her and then asked, “What do you want? Chocolate like the last time?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Matt gave their order and they watched while the proprietor made their cones. Matt paid for them both and handed hers to her. “Do you want to sit here or eat them on the way?”

  “Let’s eat them on the way.”

  They headed out the door and down the street. “Too bad we don’t have a key to Gramercy Park with us. We could sit there in the shade and enjoy our cones,” Millicent said.

  “Oh, we’ll have them eaten before we get there,” Matt said. And as fast as they seemed to be melting, he was right. Good thing he’d grabbed extra paper napkins!

  The ice cream was melting even faster than she thought it would and they were both having a hard time keeping it from dripping on their clothes.

  “Matt, do you have one more napkin? I’m making a mess.”

  Ice cream was dribbling down her chin when he reached out just in time to keep it from dropping onto her blouse.

  “Thank you! That was close.”

  She giggled as he wiped her chin once more. But his eyes darkened as she took the napkin from him and their fingers tangled. Millicent caught her breath at the spark of electricity that shot up her arm and into her chest.

  She jerked back as their gazes met. Had he felt the same thing? They were only yards away from Heaton House and she hastened her steps, running up to the front door ahead of Matt.

  He quickly joined her and opened the door for her. She hurried in and headed for the stairs, but she turned at the first step. “Thank you for going with me again today and for the ice cream.”

  “You’re quite welcome. See you at supper.”

  Millicent nodded and hurried on up the stairs. She let out a deep breath as she entered her room and flung herself down in the chair by her bed. Had Matt felt that jolt of…of whatever it was that shot straight to her heart? Or had it only been her who felt it?

  The expression in his eyes…had she read it wrong? It was as if— Millicent shook her head and jumped up from the chair. No! She wasn’t going to let herself think about it. And indisputable or not, it didn’t matter how drawn she was to Matt. She could not, would not, let herself care more for him than as a friend, a fellow boarder. She couldn’t let whatever feelings she had for him grow. For if she did, Millicent was certain heartbreak would follow.

  *

  Millicent stayed busy over the next few days, trying to keep her mind off Matt. She used the excuse of going through photos and trying to organize them somewhat in her room of an evening so that she didn’t have to spend time in the parlor. It didn’t get her out of sitting beside him at the table and wondering if he’d felt the same jolt that she’d sensed on Sunday, but it did give her something more to occupy her mind.

  The paper had used three more of Millicent’s photographs in John’s article and she’d received several telephone calls asking her to take family photographs. Her calendar was filling up nicely.

  Elizabeth telephoned her to let her know the album party had been set for the coming Saturday evening. They’d have a buffet dinner and then get to work afterward.

  “That sounds wonderful, Elizabeth,” she’d said. “Thank you for planning it.”

  “I’m glad to. It’ll be fun for all of us.”

  “I wonder what we should tell Mrs. Heaton if we’re all going to be gone.” She didn’t want her landlady to be upset that she wasn’t included.

  “Just that I’m having a get-together,” Elizabeth said. “Rebecca and Violet are going to ask Mrs. Heaton to take care of the children and you know she’d much rather do that than have dinner with all of us. Time with her grandchildren will win out every time.”

  Millicent chuckled. It was common knowledge that Mrs. Heaton took every opportunity she could to spend time with Jenny and baby Marcus. “I’m sure you’re right.”

  She’d relayed the information to the other boarders and was quite relieved when Mrs. Heaton joined them in the parlor to let them know she wouldn’t be going to Kathleen’s outing—she was going to enjoy her grandchildren that night. The glow on her face assured Millicent her landlady was totally happy with the arrangement. Her heart felt lighter and she looked forward to Saturday.

  On Friday she found she wasn’t quite as nervous as she’d been the first two times when Elizabeth and John picked her up. Instead, she was looking forward to taking more photographs from other directions up on Park Row. However, she was a bit fluttery about having Matt nearby. They really hadn’t talked much since last Sunday, and she wondered if he’d been trying as hard to avoid her as she’d been doing to avoid him.

  And then her thoughts returned to that shot of electricity that flowed between them and— She forced herself to think of other things. How her business was growing and her excitement about making the albums for Mrs. Heaton for Christmas and the life she’d made for herself since coming to New York City. She had many blessings to count and she needed to concentrate on them and not the things she wished for. Dear Lord, please forgive me wanting more, when you’ve already given me so very much—a wonderful place to live, good friends and work to keep my dream alive. Thank you for my blessings. In Jesus’s name, amen.

  As in the past, Matt met them at the base of the building and helped get her camera and tripod into the elevator. His smile tripped her heart into beating rapidly.

  Millicent smiled as the elevator came to a grinding stop and she realized her stomach hadn’t lurched this time. In fact she felt fine when she stepped out. She wasn’t sure if Elizabeth did, though. She looked a bit pale, but she smiled as she held John’s arm fast.

  “John, feel free to interview whomever you want,” Matt said. “I’m going to get Millicent set up.”

  Millicent glanced around and then surprised herself by asking, “Do you— Would you help me get a little closer? I think I’m ready to try to take a shot with my camera aimed more down to what’s below.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “No. But I’d like to try.”

  Their gazes met and held for several moments. “All right. But let me get your tripod and camera over there. Remember there is a rail
to hold on to and I’ll be right next to you.”

  Millicent nodded. “I’m counting on it.”

  Matt picked up the tripod. “Let me know when I’m close enough.”

  Millicent swallowed hard as Matt stopped about two feet from the edge and glanced back at her.

  “This good?”

  She moved to where he was standing and glanced down and across to Ellis Island. Then she looked at the guardrail. It did appear sturdy and she trusted Matt would keep her safe. “I think I’d like to see the view from the rail now.”

  Matt looked at her closely and then grasped her arm and led her over to the railing.

  Millicent gazed out and then down at the city. It was…exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. “Oh, I must get photographs. Can you bring my camera closer?”

  She turned too quickly and stumbled backward. Suddenly the world whirled around her. Dizzier than the first day, she lifted a hand to her head. “Oh, I—”

  Matt’s hold on her arm tightened and his other arm went around her, pulling her close to steady her. “Are you all right? Are you feeling faint again?”

  She gave a short nod, but it wasn’t the dizziness that took her breath away; it was being held in Matt’s arms, her pulse racing, her heart pounding and—was it his heart or hers she felt?

  *

  Matt’s heart seemed to be hammering from one side of his chest to the other. Could it be both his and Millicent’s he felt? Would she run from him again as she had on Sunday after that electric current arced between them? She had to have felt it as strong as he had and she’d seemed to have been trying to avoid him ever since. He lifted her face to his and gazed into eyes the same color as the sky. “Are you feeling any better?”

  “I—” she glanced around, appearing a little dazed before her gaze met his eyes again. “I think so. I just moved too fast and lost my balance for a moment. I do want to take photographs from here, if I can.”

  “All right. Tell me when you’re ready.” He didn’t want to let go of her. Wanted to hold her until she stopped shaking. She might say she was all right, but he felt her trembles. “There’s no hurry.”