Looking To The Future (#11 in the Bregdan Chronicles Historical Fiction Romance Series)

by Ginny Dye

“You’ll marry again,” Marietta argued.

  “Perhaps,” Carrie answered, unable to keep her thoughts from going to Anthony.

  Marietta took a deep breath. “Anthony loves you, you know.”

  Carrie merely looked at her friend.

  Marietta nodded her head. “It’s obvious that he does,” she said.

  “Yes,” Carrie agreed. “He told me.”

  Marietta stared at her. “He told you? When?”

  “Before I left to come here.” She paused, knowing the questions racing through Marietta’s mind. “I told him I wasn’t ready.” She then repeated what she had told Anthony, more certain than ever that she had made the right decision.

  Marietta considered her words, and smiled. “You’ll know what to do,” she said.

  “Yes,” Carrie agreed, nuzzling Sarah Rose’s soft, downy hair. “I’ll know.”

  *****

  Carrie raced to the door when the first knock sounded. She threw it open, waved a hand to Sarge who was just rolling away in the carriage, and then pulled Carolyn Blakely inside to give her a hug. “Carolyn! It is so wonderful to see you.”

  Carolyn laughed and returned the hug. “And it is marvelous to see you, Carrie. Having to push through snow to get here was reminiscent of where we were this time last year. The streets are mostly clear, but the snowbanks are massive.”

  Carrie laughed with her, even more assured Carolyn was the perfect person to run the clinic. As she gazed into her dancing eyes, she knew Carolyn would connect with the Moyamensing residents. She was eager to talk to her, but another knock at the door told her she would have to wait.

  “Nathan Gaffney!” Carrie cried as she gripped his hands, and then hugged him, gazing up into blue eyes crowned by thick red hair. He was as tall and wiry as ever. “Did you have trouble getting here?” She knew he had little money, so she suspected he would have walked, though she had sent him a telegram informing him she would send a carriage.

  Nathan shook his head, answering in the thick Irish brogue she never tired of listening to. “Not a bit of trouble,” he assured her. “There wasn’t a blizzard blowing, and the snow is not nearly as deep as what we dealt with last year. A year ago, I would have complained of this being a mighty storm. Now it seems like nothing more than a wee bit of snow,” he said cheerfully.

  “I know what you mean,” Carolyn replied, stepping forward to give him a hug.

  Within a few minutes, Randall Bremerton and Melissa Whiteside had joined them, rubbing their hands over the furnace after they shrugged out of their heavy coats.

  “Thank you for sending the carriage,” Melissa said gratefully. “I know I could have walked through the snow, but after nine months on the Santa Fe Trail, I have discovered an even greater affinity for the small luxuries in life.”

  “You and me, both,” Randall agreed. “Three years in the army during the war, and the months on the Trail, have convinced me I have done all the ‘roughing it’ that I have any desire for.” He stood close to the furnace. “I won’t mind if I’m never cold another day in my life.”

  “You are living in the wrong city,” Carrie said with a chuckle.

  “Perhaps,” Randall agreed. “There was a time I thought I would live in the South, but the idea of slavery kept me in the North.” He shook his head. “Now that the war is over, I find it is still not a place I want to live.”

  “I understand,” Carrie said sadly. “I hope the chaos will settle down, but I believe it will take some time.”

  Marietta walked out of the kitchen holding a large tray. “Can I interest anyone in Irish oatmeal cookies?” she asked.

  Carrie made the introductions, including Jeremy as he walked down from checking on the babies. Time flew as the group talked and laughed, reliving the experiences they had shared, and talking about what was going on with them now.

  Nathan was the one to ask Carrie the direct question she had been waiting for. “So, what are you doing here in the dead of winter, Carrie? Why aren’t you down on your plantation with your horses?”

  Carrie smiled. “I have a job to do up here first.”

  “Graduation, perhaps?” Carolyn asked. “Dr. Strikener told me they had approved you to receive your doctor’s degree.”

  Carrie nodded. “I will be graduating,” she agreed, still not used to the fact she was actually done with school. “But that is not the reason I’m here…” She let her voice trail off mysteriously.

  Randall cocked his head. “Are you going to tell us, or just leave us guessing?”

  Carrie grinned. “I’m going to tell you, because I hope all of you will be involved.” She was thrilled when they all looked interested. “I’ve been given a mission to accomplish by a very special lady.” She told them about Biddy, choking up at times with the memories that surfaced. “I loved her like she was my grandmother,” she said softly. “Besides the fact that she was a good friend, and a remarkable woman, she filled a very special place in my life.”

  Nathan was listening closely. “She was the one who gave the building for the factory down in Moyamensing, wasn’t she?”

  “She was,” Carrie agreed. “She was so excited to be doing something for her people there.”

  Nathan nodded his head. “That was only one thing she did,” he replied. “My mama has talked about Biddy Flannagan for years. It seems she was the reason I got to go to school when I was a boy. I wouldn’t be in medical school now if she hadn’t given me my first opportunities.”

  Carrie’s eyes misted. “She would be so happy to know that.”

  “What does she want you to do?” Carolyn asked bluntly.

  Carrie smiled. “One of her final requests in her will was that I start a homeopathic clinic in Moyamensing,” she revealed. “A building has already been secured, and the funding is in the bank.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Carolyn cried. “But, you here in Philadelphia? I didn’t think you wanted to live here.”

  “I don’t,” Carrie replied. “I have agreed to start the clinic, and then I’m going to pass it off to someone else to run it.”

  Silence met her announcement before understanding began to dawn in their eyes. The group remained silent, however. Carrie knew they were going to wait to hear what else she had to say. “I’ve thought about this a great deal,” Carrie continued. “I only want people I know and trust to work in the clinic. After nine months on the Trail, and then in Bosque Redondo, I know I can completely trust all of you.” She paused. “I would like to hire each of you to work in the clinic on a part-time basis.”

  Heads nodded eagerly, but still no one had spoken. Carrie smiled to herself. Her team had learned to let her communicate fully before they had a reaction. She turned to look into Carolyn’s eyes. “Carolyn, you are finishing school in a few months. I would be honored if you would consider working closely with me, and then taking over the clinic when it is time.”

  Carolyn gasped and laid a trembling hand over her mouth. “Really?” she whispered.

  “Really,” Carrie assured her. “I believe you would be a perfect fit for Moyamensing.”

  “Why?” Carolyn asked with her usual blunt honesty.

  “May I answer that?” Nathan asked eagerly.

  Carrie smiled with delight. “Please do.” Nathan knew Moyamensing better than anyone since he had grown up there.

  “Moyamensing can be a challenging place,” Nathan began. “The Irish have learned not to trust many people because it’s the only way they’ve been able to survive. They’ve gotten used to being treated badly.” He glanced at Carolyn and Carrie. “Then you two came down and started treating folks for cholera. You know, my parents were saved during the epidemic. One of you is responsible for saving their lives.” His eyes warmed as he looked at Carolyn. “You’ve not been back much since then, but I can assure you not a folk has forgotten you. They wouldn’t have to learn to trust you because they already do trust you.” He nodded his head. “I can tell you for certain sure that as soon as the Irish of Moyam
ensing realize who is running that new clinic, they will be coming in droves.”

  Carrie watched as confidence built in Carolyn’s eyes. Then uncertainty flickered.

  “Droves?” she asked. She looked at Carrie with disappointed eyes. “I still have this term at school. I’m not sure I can give what you need to the clinic.”

  “That’s where everyone else comes in,” Carrie said, turning toward the rest. “Nathan, Randall, Melissa…would you be interested in working at the clinic part-time while you are in school? You will be paid, of course.”

  “I would work there for free,” Melissa said eagerly. “I learned more during the nine months of our trip than I ever have, even though my father is a homeopathic physician. The answer is yes for me!”

  “Me, too,” Nathan replied. “I can’t think of anything more satisfying than being able to help my friends in Moyamensing. I’ll give all the time I can.” He paused. “Besides the fact that I can help my friends, it will be a tribute to Biddy Flannagan for changing my life.”

  Randall nodded too, his blond hair glowing in the lantern light. “I’m definitely willing to help. I agree with Melissa that I have never learned so much about homeopathic medicine as when we were on our trip last year. I’m intrigued by what I learn from the books in class, but when you see it working, it makes all the difference in the world.”

  Carrie clapped her hands with delight. “Thank you all.”

  Marietta stood. “Now that Carrie has gotten what she wanted, which I actually had no doubt she would, I’m going upstairs to check on my babies.” She winked at Carrie and glanced around the room. “It was wonderful to meet all of you.”

  Nathan held up a hand to stop her. “May I ask you a question before you leave?”

  “Certainly,” Marietta said graciously.

  Nathan fixed his blue eyes on her. “Your Irish oatmeal cookies taste just like the ones Miss Faith used to cook.” He glanced at Carrie. “I never got to see Mrs. Flannagan very often, but all the boys used to go to their back porch for some of Miss Faith’s cookies.” He narrowed his eyes. “I heard she never shared her recipe. My mama tried many times to talk it out of her.”

  Carrie squirmed. “I believe that may be my fault,” she admitted. “I talked Faith into giving me the recipe for Annie.” She briefly explained about Annie being Moses’ mother, as well as the cook for the plantation. “I assured her that since we were in Virginia, the recipe would never be divulged.”

  Marietta’s eyes widened. “You never told me!”

  Carrie shrugged. “Annie had already taught you how to make the cookies. She couldn’t unteach you.”

  “And you wanted to make sure you kept getting those cookies,” Marietta said shrewdly.

  “That might be possible,” Carrie admitted sheepishly.

  Nathan shook his head. “Can I give you a little advice, Marietta?” He waited for her nod before he continued. “Don’t serve those cookies if Miss Faith comes to visit.”

  Marietta chuckled. “I will most certainly heed your advice,” she assured him.

  *****

  Carolyn was still sitting by the furnace when Carrie waved good-bye to Melissa, Nathan, and Randall. Carrie returned to the parlor and settled down in the chair next to her, certain there was more her friend wanted to say. “What is it?” she asked quietly.

  Carolyn stared into her eyes for a long moment. “Thank you,” she finally said.

  “For recognizing the perfect person to fulfill one of the last requests for a woman I adored?” Carrie asked. “You’re welcome.”

  “Can you tell me more about it? There are so many questions rampaging through my mind,” Carolyn admitted.

  “Of course there are. I was counting on us having more time to talk when the others left. The building where the clinic will be is in the heart of Moyamensing. It is large and will be perfect for a clinic. It will need a little work, but the renovations have already begun. It was owned by Biddy, so there is no concern about it ever not being available.”

  “Does it include housing? I like where I live, but I wouldn’t want to make such a long trip every day to go to work, and I imagine there will be some long days.”

  Carrie took a deep breath as she prepared to lay out what she hoped would be the remedy for Faith’s loneliness. “There isn’t housing at the clinic, but I have what I believe is the perfect solution.” Carolyn remained silent, watching her closely. “You heard me talk about Faith, who was Biddy’s best friend and her housemate for thirty years.”

  “Yes,” Carolyn murmured.

  “Well, Faith has taken Biddy’s death very hard.” Carrie had not been able to push the image of Faith’s empty eyes out of her mind. “Biddy’s house is quite large–much too large for just one person to live there. Faith is very lonely. I suggested to her that you might live there with her for as long as you run the clinic. There would be no cost to you, and you would have a ready supply of Irish oatmeal cookies,” she said playfully. “She would like very much to meet you.”

  “She already knows you want me to run the clinic?”

  “She does,” Carrie confirmed. “I’ve told her there is no one else I want to do it.”

  Carolyn absorbed that statement, but her eyes were still troubled. “And you think we would get along well?”

  “I do,” Carrie replied, “but you always have the freedom to make another choice if you are uncomfortable in any way.”

  Carolyn nodded thoughtfully.

  “And,” Carrie reminded her, trying to lighten the moment, “you would have that endless supply of Irish oatmeal cookies. Assuming,” she added sternly, “that you never reveal Marietta’s secret.”

  Carolyn chuckled. “It seems like you’re thought of everything.” The tension was gone from her face, replaced by a glimmer of excitement.

  “At least enough to move forward,” Carrie answered. “I’m quite sure we will discover challenges, but I also believe we’ll work through them.”

  Carolyn nodded again. “I believe you’re right. I have to process all this, but I’m smart enough to know I have been given a remarkable opportunity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!” She hesitated briefly. “May I ask you another question, about something totally different?”

  “Of course.”

  “I seem to remember that when you first started at the Homeopathic College, you mentioned living in this house with several other roommates. Do you mind me asking what happened?”

  Carrie’s eyes darkened.

  “I’m sorry if that is too personal and nosy of a question,” Carolyn said quickly. “Don’t feel you need to answer.”

  Carrie shook her head. “No, it’s quite all right.” Her mind traveled back in time. “I actually met Biddy through one of those women. It’s quite a long story, but Elizabeth Gilbert’s mother was a friend of Biddy’s. There was a night when we found ourselves in danger in Moyamensing. Biddy’s grandson, Arden, rescued us and took us to his grandmother’s house. It wasn’t too long before Biddy made the connection of who Elizabeth was. That night changed my life in so many ways,” she murmured, shaking her head. “Anyway, there were three other women who lived here with Janie and me. Elizabeth Gilbert, Alice Humphries, and Florence Robinson. Alice was not from a medical family, but both Elizabeth’s and Florence’s fathers are physicians.” Memories swarmed through her mind as she talked.

  She sighed, trying to focus on what needed to be said, not on all the memories of the good times. “All was well until Janie and I decided homeopathic medicine more closely fit our beliefs and ideals. When we dropped out of the Women’s Medical College to enroll at the Homeopathic College, the three of them declared they could no longer be our friends, and most certainly could not live with us. They moved out the next day.”

  “Really?” Carolyn asked with a gasp. “I never knew about that.”

  Carrie shrugged. “There was no reason to talk about it. We followed our convictions. They did the same. They just didn’t happen to mesh.”


  “It must have hurt terribly,” Carolyn murmured.

  Carrie closed her eyes for a moment. “It did,” she said softly. “I think Elizabeth’s friendship may have been the hardest to lose.” Now that she was talking about it, she was eager to get it out. “She is passionate about making a difference as a doctor. Italian passionate,” she added with a laugh as she envisioned Elizabeth’s round face, black hair, and dark Italian features that always flashed with life.

  Carolyn smiled. “I imagine the two of you were quite close friends if you shared the same passion.”

  “We were,” Carrie admitted. “It’s over, though. There has been no contact since they left the house. Janie and I used to dream they would see the error of their ways and want to renew the friendship, but we were wrong.” She sighed. “All I can do is follow my own path and wish them the best.”

  Carolyn reached over to squeeze her hand. “I’m sorry, Carrie.”

  Carrie took a deep breath and stood. “You need to get home before it gets any later.” She looked up to see Jeremy coming down the stairs. “Jeremy is going to walk you home,” she said firmly. “No arguments.”

  “No arguments given,” Carolyn replied. “One of the benefits of old age is wisdom. I’m wise enough to not want to roam the streets of Philadelphia at night alone.”

  Carrie walked to the foyer and grabbed Carolyn’s coat. Just as Carolyn finished donning her winter clothing, there was a knock at the door. Startled, Carrie looked at Jeremy. He shook his head to indicate he wasn’t expecting anyone.

  When Carrie opened the door, all she could do was stand there and gape.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Hello, Carrie.”

  Carrie finally found her voice. “Hello, Elizabeth.” She remembered her manners and stepped back. “Won’t you please come in?”

  Elizabeth Gilbert, her cheeks flushed from the cold and her eyes darting with nervousness, entered into the foyer.

  Carrie tried to fix a smile on her face, completely shocked to see her old friend. She wondered if Carolyn’s and her conversation had somehow conjured her. “I’d like to introduce you to Carolyn Blakely and Jeremy Anthony.” She was sure she should say more, but she was coming up empty. She was aware of Jeremy’s curious gaze, but she was too stunned to think clearly.