Love Inspired Historical November 2015

by Linda Ford

  She looked at the clock at the same time the front door opened and she hurried into the foyer to find him taking off his coat. Relief washed over her in waves as he hung it up.

  He turned and smiled at her just then. “I made it. Now you can quit worrying.”

  “How did you know?” There she went, giving away her feelings.

  “From the look on your face—and I just had a feeling you would be.”

  When had he become able to read her mind? But she wasn’t going to deny it. “I think it’s a natural reaction after everything that happened to your coworker, don’t you?”

  “I do.” Matt walked over to her and looked deep into her eyes. “I appreciate you being concerned. To tell the truth, we all dreaded going back up there, but we did it and hard as it was, hopefully it’ll get easier from here on out.”

  “I wish you didn’t…” Millicent clamped her mouth shut to keep from saying more.

  “I know. You wish I didn’t work up so high. But it’s my job, Millie. I can’t just quit when it gets difficult. You don’t quit going to places you don’t want to go in order to get the photos you know you need to take, do you?”

  “Why, no, but my job isn’t as dangerous as yours.”

  “No? You take pictures from the top of the building. You even took some from near the edge last time you were up there.”

  “Well, those may be the last I take from that position.”

  “Are you going back up when the boss gives the go-ahead?”

  “I don’t know. I was glad that he told John we shouldn’t go up this week.”

  “So was I. The thought of something happening to—”

  The door burst open once more, bringing in Joe and Julia, Stephen and Emily. Their chatter effectively put an end to whatever it was Matt had been about to say. And perhaps it was for the best. Millicent’s feelings for him in the past few weeks had undergone a change she wasn’t sure she understood and she wasn’t ready to delve too deeply into them. Not now and maybe not ever.

  She greeted the others just as Matt did. He’d made it to the top of the Park Row and back down and home again. The Lord had answered her prayers and she’d be thankful for that.

  *

  Matt didn’t know whether to be relieved or frustrated that the boarders had interrupted his and Millie’s conversation. And as he glanced over at her, he couldn’t tell how she felt about it, either. His insides had been topsy-turvy ever since he’d kissed her. But at the same time, thinking about that kiss had gotten him through the rest of the week, kept him from thinking too much about seeing his friend fall. And he welcomed the distraction from the sorrow that washed over him every time he remembered about that day.

  Yet, contemplating about that kiss brought with it a whole other set of problems. Millicent had suggested they forget it but he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. Was she having any better success of putting it out of her mind than he was?

  Something told him she wasn’t, but was that only because it was what he wanted to think? After all, he didn’t believe that most men would want a woman to forget their kiss—no matter how short and sweet it was.

  He hurried down to freshen up for dinner. All thinking about that kiss seemed to do was make him want to repeat it!

  *

  As the next few weeks passed with Matt coming home safely each day, Millicent kept telling herself that what happened to Mr. O’Riley had been a horrible accident, and those didn’t happen that often, did they? Surely not, or no one, not even Matt, would want to do that kind of work.

  Still, she found herself praying for his safety off and on every day. She had to quit dwelling on what might happen and remember he was a professional who’d been working at what he did for a long time without ever being hurt. When she wasn’t worrying about Matt, she was thinking about how her feelings had changed toward him.

  While their relationship seemed much the same as usual, Millicent knew it wasn’t. She could no longer deny that the attraction she felt for him was real. Thinking of Matt as merely a friend was impossible now. And that was not good.

  Especially as she had no idea how he really felt and as they’d never talked about that kiss—if she brought it up after insisting they forget it, he would know that…well, he might be able to tell that she didn’t want to forget it!

  Oh, dear Lord, please help me with this. I feel so mixed-up and I don’t know what to do. Please keep my feelings from growing for Matt. I—

  The front door opened and she jumped before hurrying into the foyer to find Matt. He turned to smile at her, but her heart twisted at seeing the sorrow still in his eyes. She knew he was having a hard time with all that had happened, but he tried not to let it show. She wondered if he ever did that with his feelings about other…things.

  “How was your day?” she asked as he took off his jacket and hung it up.

  “Not bad. Has Elizabeth or John telephoned you?”

  Millicent shook her head. “No. Should they have?”

  “Well, my supervisor told me the big boss said you could all come back up this Friday, if you still want to.”

  Go back up? Someone fell off that building and died. And every day she waited for Matt to come home because she worried about the same thing happening to him. She’d been fighting her fear of heights from the beginning but now how could she go back? This Friday? Millicent felt almost sick just thinking about it. Could she actually do it? What was she thinking? She had to. She wasn’t turning away from her commitment.

  “I suppose they’ll be telephoning anytime now.”

  “And? What are you going to do?” Matt’s brow furrowed.

  Was he challenging her? Or was he concerned? It didn’t matter. Her answer would be the same either way. “Go up and do the best I can, just like you do.”

  “But going up is my job, Millicent. You’ve taken a lot of photographs. Surely John and Elizabeth have enough.”

  “But these articles are about the changes each week brings, Matt. They’re about the building of Park Row,” she reminded him. “It can’t be adequately told without the photos to accompany the article.”

  He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I know. But, Millie, I don’t want you up there.”

  “I’m going. Your boss gave the go-ahead.”

  Matt gave a short nod, but she could tell he wasn’t happy. “But remember this. I’ll be in charge up there. If you get anywhere near the edge—no, if you think you’re going anywhere at all without me by your side, or watching your every move, you’re wrong. I’ll escort you back down immediately and you’ll never go back up.”

  His voice had never had that kind of edge to it before and the knowledge that he truly feared for her safety sent a flood of warmth racing through her, while his authoritative tone irritated her at the same time. How did he do that? “Do you really think I’d do that? I’m not even sure I’ll get near the edge again, with you near me. You don’t need to worry. I’ll take the shots I can from a distance I feel comfortable with and that will have to do, or they’ll have to get someone else to take the photographs. But I don’t think there will be any pressure to put anyone in danger.”

  “Surely not,” Matt said, his voice sarcastic.

  The telephone rang and Maida came out of the kitchen to answer it.

  She peeked around the corner. “It’s Mrs. Talbot for you, Miss Millicent.”

  Millicent hurried to the alcove and picked up the receiver Maida had left on the table. “Hello, Elizabeth. Matt told me you or John might be calling.”

  “Yes, we’ve been given permission to go back up this Friday. I just wanted to check and see if lunchtime would work for you. I’m not at my best first thing of a morning, right now.”

  “Of course noon will work for me as long as Matt thinks it will.” She turned to see him right behind her and at his nod, she said, “I don’t think he’s happy about us going up, but he says it will work.”

  “Oh, good. Tell him thank you for us and we’ll
pick you up around eleven-thirty.”

  “I will. See you Friday.” Millicent hung up the receiver and turned to Matt. “She said to tell you thank you.”

  “I heard.” He grinned. “Actually, that might work best now. It’s pretty cool up there of a morning and it’ll be easier for John to interview while my men are on lunch break.”

  “Good. And hopefully, I can get some more candid shots—for them to have, you know?” While she prayed none of them would ever have an accident, she’d not forgotten how thankful Mrs. O’Riley had been for the photographs she’d given her. Now she would develop extra copies of her candid shots of Matt’s men so their loved ones would have them. Especially when they were smiling or laughing like the ones she’d taken of Tom O’Riley that’d given his wife such comfort.

  *

  By the time Friday arrived, Millicent was surprised that her nerves about going up Park Row weren’t for herself. She mostly wanted to see how Matt and his men were handling working there after what happened to their coworker.

  As usual, Matt met them outside the building and went up to the top with them, picking up Millicent’s tripod and camera. It was only when the elevator shuddered to a stop and they stepped out that Millicent realized they’d moved to a new floor, bringing them near the halfway mark of the height the Park Row Building would be when finished.

  “When did this happen and why didn’t you tell us?” John asked.

  “Just last week, and I thought I’d surprise you all. To tell the truth, we’re a little relieved to be up another floor and off the one below.”

  Millicent could certainly understand that. She looked out in the direction of the harbor and beyond, realizing she could see just a bit farther than on the floor below. The thought of how far one would be able to see from the top once the building was finished took her breath away.

  “So, what do you want to do? The men are just breaking for lunch and they’re all willing to talk to you two. I know you want to interview them about Tom’s accident, but just don’t press if they don’t want to continue.”

  “I won’t,” John said. “And if they aren’t ready to talk about it, that’s fine, too. I don’t have a problem relating that they aren’t ready to think about it right now. I think my readers will understand.”

  “I know mine will,” Elizabeth added.

  “I can’t expect more than that, so feel free to ask whatever you want. I’ve told them they don’t have to answer everything.” He grinned at John and Elizabeth before turning to Millicent.

  “Do you know what you want to photograph and from where?”

  “You know, I think I’d like to just get what I can from a safe distance with my big camera, and I want to get some shots of your men when they aren’t expecting it with my small one, kind of like the ones I gave Mrs. O’Riley.”

  “That’d be great, Millicent. I was hoping you’d do that. Not that I expect anything to happen to any of them, but—”

  “I know. And I don’t, either. I’m going to make extra copies for them to have now for their families to enjoy. Who knows? Maybe some of them will want me to take a family photo shoot for them. My prices are very reasonable, you know.”

  “I’ll pass that information on.”

  “Good. I did receive several telephone calls this week from friends and family of the O’Rileys’. They saw the photos I gave Mrs. O’Riley and asked if I’d take some of those ‘happy’ photographs of their families.”

  “That’s wonderful, Millicent.”

  She nodded and smiled. His approval seemed to mean more to her each day. “I think that’s what I want to be known for most—my ability to take photographs of people being themselves and not just some unsmiling, unfeeling vision.”

  “If that’s what you want, I have no doubt that’s what you’ll be known for. Along with talent for capturing many things no one else sees. I’ll set up your tripod wherever you want it and let you get to work.”

  “Thank you. I think right here is good. After I get what I can, I’ll just walk around and try to capture some good shots of John interviewing and your men at lunch. I promise I won’t go anywhere near the edge.”

  That seemed to satisfy him, in spite of his rant a few days ago. He set her camera up and left her to do her job, and Millicent took what she thought were some good shots of the beginnings of a new floor and some out to sea. She hoped the ships she saw would be clear when she developed them. Once she had what she thought she needed, Millicent took up her small camera and began to walk around, gradually getting nearer to Matt’s men, and Matt himself, joshing with one of them. They all seemed to relax while they took turns speaking to John and Elizabeth and then going back to finish their lunch.

  She couldn’t wait to develop the photographs and prayed they were as good as she thought they were. She took a few more then zeroed in on Matt. Just watching him talk to his men did funny things to her heart, making her feel all fluttery inside. She focused in on him one more time as he stood there, hands on his hips, thinking he didn’t see her.

  But just as she began to snap the shot, he turned and winked. Millicent almost dropped her camera, and when Matt chuckled and grinned, her pulse took off like lightening. Oh, this was one photo she was keeping just for herself.

  Chapter Sixteen

  As Millicent and the Talbots returned to their Park Row assignment, things seemed to go back to normal for Matt. He was still heartbroken over Tom’s death. The accident had given him much to think about, and he prayed for Tom’s family every day. But finally, he began to feel more in control of his feelings and his life.

  Except when it came to Millicent. He seemed to have no say over his thoughts where she was concerned. The memory of the kiss they’d shared was never very far away and seemed to pop into his mind whenever his glance fell on her. And lately, that was more often than not. Especially when she smiled at him like she was doing when he pulled out her chair at dinner that evening.

  “Matt, I had a telephone call from Mrs. White this afternoon.”

  “Mrs. White? The lady who hosted the suffrage meeting we all went to?”

  “Yes. She’s hosting another one this evening and even though I hadn’t planned on going to this one, she wants me to come as a photographer to take photos that can be used in their flyers. I thought I might need my professional camera. Who knows? It might bring me more clients and I wondered if you’d mind escorting me and helping me with my equipment.”

  “I’ll be glad to help in any way I can.” Not that his choice of being with her was at one of those meetings, but the one he’d attended hadn’t been all that bad, and he and the other men had offered to escort them there and back anytime. And he certainly didn’t want anyone else escorting Millie.

  “Oh, thank you. The meeting is at eight and I’d like to be there by seven forty-five in order to set up, if possible. We might need to leave before dessert.”

  “That’s fine. I’m sure Mrs. Heaton will excuse us if we leave early.”

  “Of course I will. I’m glad you’ll be there to help Millicent. This should be the last meeting before the first of the year, shouldn’t it?”

  “I hope so,” Millicent said. “With Thanksgiving nearly here and Christmas coming, it’s hard to make time for them during the holidays.”

  “True. We have even more things to fill our time,” Julia said.

  “Yes, like the party Luke and Kathleen are hosting tomorrow evening,” Mrs. Heaton said.

  Her words reminded Matt of the album meeting planned for the next evening at Luke and Kathleen’s. With all that had happened, he’d nearly forgotten. But they’d all had a good time at the last one and he was looking forward to this one.

  As the meal progressed, pleasant conversation took them through to time for dessert. “I suppose we should be going now,” Millicent said as she placed her napkin beside her plate. Matt stood and helped her scoot her chair out.

  Millicent ran upstairs to freshen up, but she’d brought her camera and
tripod down before dinner and Matt telephoned the livery for a hack, then put on his coat and took hers off the hook so that he could help her into it.

  She was back down in a flash and smiled as he held out her jacket. That smile of hers warmed his heart.

  “Thank you for doing this. I know it’s cold out and I’d rather have stayed in myself tonight.”

  “I understand. This could be a great opportunity for you. But why weren’t any of you planning on going to this one?”

  “We don’t go to all of them. And this is a new speaker. We’ve not heard of her before. If there’s any fresh information, I’ll tell the others.”

  The hack pulled up just as they reached the street and Matt put in Millicent’s tripod and camera and then helped her inside before giving the driver their destination and taking a seat beside her.

  “Matt, did you call for the hack?”

  “I did. It’s cold out and the streetcar is bound to be full. No sense worrying about something happening to your equipment with all the jostling.”

  “Thank you. I’ll pay you—”

  “Millie, you’ve got to stop saying that. It was my idea and well worth the money. I didn’t want you shivering before you even got there and we’d still be standing at the trolley stop like those people are.” He pointed to the group waiting for the next trolley to come by.

  “They do look quite cold.”

  “They do. So let’s just enjoy the fact that it’s a bit warmer in here.”

  He wished he had the right to move nearer to her, to put his arm around her, to— Whoa. He had to quit thinking that way. After all, there was no way to know what she was thinking and the last time they were in a hack together, he’d kissed her. No wonder she was cuddled up in the opposite corner.

  They arrived at the meeting just in time for Millicent to set up her tripod and camera. Mrs. White greeted them both and instructed her to set up at the side of the room, near the middle.

  “I appreciate you doing this at such short notice, Millicent. We’ve been enjoying your photographs of the Park Row and my husband suggested that you be the one we ask to take photos for our new flyers.”