The Whittaker Family Reunion

by Shirley A. Roe

“Anna, that is a very big favor indeed. My parents will be devastated, not to mention your father and brothers will want to kill me. And what of the child?” She explained that the child was no longer a problem. She promised she would be forever in his debt if he would just do this one thing for her. She begged him to help her.

  David left telling her he would have to think about it but that he would give her his answer shortly. She smiled smugly as the door closed. There that takes care of that. Mother will never hold it against her precious friend Loretta or her son. Now to work on Hans and get this marriage date moved up. Once we are married and I am out of this house, I will be free. I can handle Hans.

  Wednesday morning, Austin was finishing his coffee when Abby flew down the stairs waving a piece of paper. She was agitated and very upset. “Abby, what is it?” She handed him the letter and stood sobbing. He recognized the handwriting and began to read just as Loretta and Minnie entered the kitchen:

  Dearest Father, Mother, Grandma Minnie and Abby:

  It is with much regret that I must write this letter. I have done a great disservice to our family and must take action to redeem myself. I owe all of you an explanation. Please give this letter to Aunt Martha and Uncle Jeremy after you read it, with my deepest most sincere apologies.

  You see Anna and I were intimate in a way friends should never be. As a result she came to be with child and although by the Grace of God, she has lost it, it existed nonetheless. I love her with all of my heart but she is betrothed to another who must never know of our indiscretion.

  I am quitting school and have gone to join the Navy. The Naval recruit ship is leaving early this morning and I will be on it by the time you read this. I am sorry for any embarrassment I may have caused you. I love all of you with all of my heart. Give my love to Anna. I shall return in three years if you will still have me.

  Love, your faithful loving son

  DAVID

  The Wells family mortified and broken-hearted hugged each other and wept.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Wedding Bells

  “Martha, I am sorry, but I do not believe a word of this. You and I have been friends forever, but Anna has gone too far this time. Now I have lost my son and she sits there grinning from ear to ear. I want to slap that smug face of hers.” Loretta paced the conservatory. Martha held the letter tensely in her hand.

  “Loretta, David is a good boy, a brave and courageous boy that unfortunately loves my daughter. I do not believe this either. I know it was that trip to New York, but that won't bring David back. I am so sorry Loretta, please forgive me.” She reached for Loretta and the two women embraced. This would not break their friendship, but it would make Martha feel very alienated from her daughter. Anna is pure evil just like her Uncle Jebediah. A user of fine upstanding people, people of principles like David, yes, Anna you are just a taker and a liar. Martha berated herself for these feelings toward her own flesh and blood, but she had to face the truth. For years she wondered if one of the boys would turn out like their father, little did she know it would be Jeremy's daughter that carried the evil seed.

  Jeremy encouraged Martha to start planning the reunion party at the country club. He was still wrestling with his decision to tell Hans about Anna's indiscretion. The man had a right to know, but other than the Whittaker and Wells families no one else knew about Anna's miscarriage. The doctor had assured them that he would remain silent. It was a difficult decision; one Jeremy would have to give more thought to. What really disturbed him was the nonchalant attitude of his daughter. Her best friend, David Wells, had left town in shame and Anna could not care less. Was there nothing that this child cared about?

  Isaac was in town for supplies. He picked up Abraham; the two were spending the day together. They discussed the possibility of Abraham and Vivienne getting married at the reunion. He loved her and she loved him. Both men agreed that the family was together and none of them knew how long it would be before they were together again. Besides the family needed some happiness. He decided to ask her the next day, with Isaac's blessing.

  The following day Vivienne and Abraham strolled through the streets of St. Louis, visiting the Museum of Fine Arts. She wore a long jacket with matching skirt and a small hat perched high on her ringlets. They concluded their walk at Carondelet Park. The roses were in full bloom and Abe chose a bench surrounded with the sweet fragrant blooms. First, he sadly told her of the letter from Willie telling him that Bo, the dog had passed away. She looked at him with profound sympathy. She sat on the bench and took his hand. He surprised her when he fell to one knee and proposed. She stared at his face, the face she loved. “Yes, oh yes. Are you sure Abraham? I love you with all my heart.” He was kissing her in public before he knew it. Quickly and sedately, he pulled back and gave her his biggest grin.

  “You have made me the happiest man alive. I will love you until the day I die Vivienne, and I will make you very happy.” She smiled up at him. “Where do you want to live? Here, or back in Mississippi?” Vivienne was dumbfounded. He was asking her where she wanted to live; she had just assumed he would be anxious to go back to the south. This man who had proposed to her, was asking her opinion. She loved him more than ever. Of course she wanted to stay in St. Louis but she also knew that his love of the south and his need to help people were strong.

  “What about your patients in the South? I know you will miss Bo very much but there is still much to do.”

  “I love Mississippi, Vivienne, but I love you more and I know you have reservations about going back. I checked in with both the Good Samaritan and the St. Louis Children's Hospital and there is a position here for me if I want it. It will be a very different career than I have had, but I will be more than happy to do it for us. I thought we would get a small house in the country near Isaac. I know you are happier out of the city and Isaac insists that you are the best farmhand he has ever had. What do you think, my Love?” She smiled at him, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes filled with tears of happiness.

  “I think I am the luckiest woman on earth.” She kissed his lips and held him tight. Passersby stared, appalled at the open display of affection. So improper in high society, but the young couple did not care. They were in love.

  The announcement of their wedding sent Martha's heart fluttering with happiness. “A wedding! What a wonderful 40th birthday present.” Jeremy was much relieved that she would have something else to occupy her thoughts. The tension between her and Anna was unbearable. He was happy for Abe, as was the rest of the family, who quickly began the preparations for the wedding/birthday reunion party.

  Ezekiel was courting Abby and the two were very happy to hear that Abraham and Vivienne would be wed. Vivienne asked Abby if she would be her maid of honor and the honor was all Abby's. Since Zeke was Abraham's best man, she was even more thrilled to be included and she loved Vivienne. It was obvious why the snippy Anna was not asked. Abby would never forgive her for what she had done to David. She knew her brother and would never believe that he was responsible for Anna's child. David's leaving had devastated her entire family. Now they were anxiously awaiting news from him. No, she would never forgive that selfish witch.

  Isaac had agreed to give Vivienne away in lieu of her father and she was thrilled when he said yes. The wedding nuptials were taking shape. Sissy was to be the flower girl. Agreeing to wear a dress for one day. There was much excitement and many plans to make. The days turned into weeks and the family was once again happy and content.

  Everyone in St. Louis society was talking about the wedding and the reunion party at the country club. It would be the event of the season with more than one hundred people in attendance, by invitation only. It didn't take long for Red Fox to learn of the exact date and time. Now he needed an invitation.

  Anna was frustrated with Hans; he was proving to be more of a challenge than she had anticipated. She could not get him to do more than peck her cheek, no matter how bold she was with him. He took her to see a sma
ll cottage in the middle-class section of St. Louis. It was quaint and small, but clean and certainly large enough for a small family. She hated it. He showed her dozens of small cottages, some without plumbing; she hated them all. “Why don't we move to Chicago? It is an exciting city Hans and I am sure you could make much more money there than working in the shop.” Hans just smiled and told her they would look at more cottages next week.

  Bored, angry and frustrated she took a walk in the park alone. She passed the lake where young boys floated tiny sailboats. She was startled by a familiar voice as she stared blankly at the children.

  “Well, Miss Whittaker, I see you are growing more lovely everyday.”

  “Mr. Red, how kind of you to notice.” Anna gave him her most seductive look and placed her hand on his offered arm. “Are you free to walk with me along the waterfront?” The two walked for a short distance in silence.

  “I hear your family is having a wedding at the country club soon. It is the talk of the town.” Red was smooth when he wanted to be. He knew that with this woman, he would have to be careful. Sometimes she looked at him as if she remembered something but he knew if she did, it was not clear to her.

  “Yes, how utterly boring. I have had it with my family, the entire lot of them. I don't want to talk about them, tell me about yourself.” What is it that I find so attractive about you? She could not quite figure it out. He was not a handsome man, but he was rather dark and exotic looking and there was something familiar about him. She couldn't imagine why she felt such strange tingles up her spine when he touched her or why she was happy to see him. Perhaps it is because I find him exciting and I need some excitement in this boring life.

  She spent an hour or two with him. Red did not talk about his life. It was easy to keep the conversation on her; she loved to talk about herself. Red played the perfect gentleman, leaving her where he found her. She watched his back until he was out of sight. Yes, you are definitely more exciting than Hans. Maybe I will run off with you, my mysterious stranger. Red Fox walked back to the hotel, he was positively making progress. Now he would make his own plans for the reunion.

  Martha and Annabelle were making the final design changes on Vivienne's wedding dress. “I am so happy for Abraham and now they are staying in St. Louis, I could not be more pleased.” Martha checked on the sleeping Amy snuggled in her basket by the window.

  “Yes, Isaac was taking them to look at one of the small farms near our place today. There is not much land, but the house is large and has a lovely vegetable garden out back. There is even an addition that would make an excellent doctor's office. I hope they like it.” Annabelle handed Martha the drawings of the beautiful wedding gown and went to find just the right beads and pearls for the trim. “These will work very well, I can hand stitch the pearls across the bodice and down the back and it will be lovely.”

  “I do wish Loretta and Austin would hear from David. She has not been the same since he left.” Martha still felt pangs of guilt over David's leaving. She knew the Wells family did not hold her responsible, but Anna was her daughter and Anna was undeniably responsible. Martha was avoiding her as much as possible.

  “Martha, do you think Ezekiel and Abby will get married? They seem very happy together. Would he stay in St. Louis if they were to marry? Wouldn't it be terrific to have everyone together again?”

  “Ezekiel and Abby's relationship is the one utter pleasure that Loretta and I are sharing right now. I hope they do have a future together. As for them staying in St. Louis, I would doubt that very much. Ezekiel loves England. He has a beautiful home and a very good teaching position there. I am sure Abby would be more than willing to move to England. The tragedy would be that poor Loretta and Austin will lose both of their children and one way or the other I would be to blame.”

  “Martha, Loretta loves you like a sister. I am sure she and Austin are not blaming you for David's leaving.” Annabelle tried to reassure her, she could not imagine losing any of her children. She glanced toward baby Amy. Anna had caused so much heartache to this family. The sad thing was that she did not seem remorseful in the least. What was wrong with that girl? Annabelle changed the subject and the two women worked well together for the rest of the afternoon. Meanwhile, Loretta sat in her kitchen and sobbed over the long awaited letter from her son.

  Dearest Mother, Father, Abby and Grandma Minnie:

  I am sure you are over the initial shock of my departure. Again I apologize for any and all embarrassments I may have caused. Anna is and will always be the love of my life; I know I shall never love another as I love her. I also know that she and I will never be together and for this reason I am dedicating my life to the Navy. I trust that Aunt Martha and Uncle Jeremy have taken excellent care of Anna and that she is fully recovered. I also pray that they will forgive me. I have written to Anna but as yet have received no reply. Please do not cry for me, I am happy here. Although I miss all of you terribly, I have adjusted to naval life very well. Father you would be very impressed by this ship, old it may be, but it is proud and beautiful in my eyes.

  As a trainee, I have been stationed on the USS Constitution. We sail the West Indies and plan to head for Nova Scotia soon. The ship has seen many miles having circumnavigated the world in 1844-1846 under Captain “Mad Jack” Percival. The trip took 495 days and traveled 52,370 miles. Imagine how exciting it must have been to see all of the places we have only read about Abby. She was the flagship of the African Squadron in the 1850's and is now a training vessel.

  Although seasickness was a problem for this ‘landlubber’ I have now gained my sea legs and find sailing most enjoyable. The chaps on the ship are friendly, young and all of us have formed a sort of family unit. I have gained muscle as the work is hard but the food is good and the Navy takes care of all of our needs. Of course, the food does not compare with your cooking, Grandma and I do miss your fresh baked bread.

  We sail for Nova Scotia next month and I shall write again before we leave. Take care of each other, I love you and I miss you. Again, don't cry for me, Mother. I think this is what I was meant to do and I must say thank you to Anna for setting me on this course. Don't be angry with her, I made this decision on my own.

  As always your most loving son,

  David

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The Invitation

  “Remember, no one is to know where you got this invitation. I can't wait to see their faces when each one tries to figure out just who invited you.” Anna laughed, the tinkling sound was delightful to Red's ear. She really was an enchanting creature.

  “Why, Miss Whittaker, I thank you with all my heart. I am truly honored that you think me worthy of an invitation to the wedding of the year.” Red bowed over Anna's hand and kissed her palm. Her face flushed pink. He had what he wanted.

  The wedding was scheduled for Saturday morning in St. Patrick's Church. The Whittaker mansion was bustling with excitement. Jeremy discussed the coaches with the horsemen. He was proud of Abraham, as he was of all three of his stepsons. Vivienne reminded him of Martha when she first came to St. Louis from Wyoming. Although Martha was raised in England in a stately manor house, she had been a pioneer wife before coming to St. Louis. She showed a strength and independence that was beyond her years. He saw the same independence in Vivienne.

  Martha fussed over Vivienne's gown, wanting it to be perfect. The gown was shimmering white taffeta with tiny pearls and crystal beads stitched over the bodice. The train was long and flowing. The dress fit like a glove. Adjusting the veil on Vivienne's beautiful dark hair, she stood back admiring her own handiwork. Sissy agreed that Vivienne was a most beautiful bride.

  Martha left the bride and the maid of honor to go and tell Loretta that Agatha would ride with them. Sissy fidgeted in her Flower Girl dress and finally left to find her mother. She found Thomas watching the activity on the main floor. The servants stacked piles and piles of beautifully wrapped gifts in the parlor. All of the servants were invited to the weddi
ng and the house was filled with excited chatter. The reception was being held at the country club and many of the servants had never seen the inside of the elite building so dressed in their Sunday best, they were anxious to go.

  “Wow, look at all the presents. I can't wait until I get married so I can get all of those presents.” Sissy was awestruck. Thomas just shook his head. She heard him say “Dumb girls,” under his breath, as he walked away.

  Vivienne could not believe she was about to become Mrs. Abraham Whittaker. Abby, who had become close to Vivienne over the past few weeks, was trying her best to keep her calm. “Just take a deep breath and relax. This is your wedding day and you will be the most beautiful bride this city has ever seen. Abraham is so lucky to have found you Vivienne. You will make him very happy.”

  “But what if I do something to embarrass everyone? I am not cultured like the rest of you. Abraham took me to the Museum of Fine Art and I didn't understand one piece. I hardly know how to stand on these high-heeled boots.” Vivienne was growing more and more nervous. This was the most important day of her life and she didn't want to make any mistakes.

  “Oh my goodness, you are such a worrier. If you are worried about art, I will take you to the museum myself and teach you a few things. You can always study books on any subject you want to learn. You know Abraham loves you just the way you are and Isaac thinks you are the best farm hand and sister-in-law possible. Ezekiel thinks you are beautiful and even told me that if Abraham weren't marrying you, he would have gone after you himself. I have to say I was more than a little jealous when he said that.” Abby smiled at Vivienne and then as if to reassure herself, she added, “But I know Ezekiel loves me and I am very secure in our relationship. Now, stop fretting and let me fix your hair.”

  “You would do that for me? Actually teach me about art? Abby you truly are the first real girlfriend I have ever had. Thank you.” She hugged her friend. One more thing to be thankful for.