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

by Ginny Dye

  “Then I will do everything I can to help you become a doctor,” Carrie said gently, understanding exactly how the little girl felt. “You have my word.”

  Frances’ grin grew wider. Then she noticed Abby for the first time. “Hello, ma’am,” she said politely, and then turned back to Carrie. “Who is she? Is she with you?”

  Carrie smiled. “This is Abby Cromwell. She is my mother.” There was no need to explain the nuances of a stepmother right at that moment. “Once you’re adopted, she will be your grandmother. She also happens to be the most amazing woman in the world.”

  Frances clapped her hand to her mouth again. “My grandmother? I ain’t never had one of those before! At least not one I ever met,” she added. She looked at Abby eagerly, and then her eyes dropped. “Do you want a granddaughter?” she asked tentatively.

  Abby smiled and stepped forward to lay a hand on Frances’ shoulder. “I do,” she assured her. “Carrie has told me so many wonderful things about you. I already love you very much.”

  Frances grinned again before she looked to Colleen. “Carrie can adopt me, can’t she?”

  Colleen nodded firmly. “Yes. I can only wish every one of the children here would go to such a wonderful home.” Her eyes were shining.

  “When can I leave?” Frances demanded.

  Colleen turned to Carrie. “There are some forms that need to be filled out. I’m afraid you’ll have to go to the courthouse.”

  Carrie reached into her pocket and pulled out a sheaf of papers. “That’s already been taken care of. All I need is Mrs. Morrow’s signature.” She laughed when Frances started jumping up and down.

  Colleen laughed along with her, and then pointed toward the main orphanage building. “She’s in her office. Let’s go talk to her.”

  *****

  Carrie stood on the small balcony of their simple hotel, hardly able to believe they were leaving the next day. She took in deep breaths of the spring air, luxuriating in the smell of blooming lilacs. The trees outside her window were filling out with fresh green foliage. Everything felt fresh and new, just like her life did.

  “Carrie?”

  Carrie looked down and wrapped an arm around Frances securely. The child smelled like fresh lavender from the bath they had prepared for her in the corner tub. “Hello, Frances.”

  “Is this really happening?” Frances asked anxiously. “Are you sure you want me?” Her eyes flickered with uncertainty.

  “Oh, sweetheart,” Carrie said tenderly, as she tucked her closer to her side. “I’m so very sure. You know, I was frightened you might not want me to adopt you,” she confided.

  “Really?” Frances breathed. “How could you possibly think that? I’ve thought about you every single day since I said good-bye to you after the blizzard,” she said shyly.

  “And I’ve thought about you,” Carrie assured her. They had not had much time to talk since departing the orphanage. “Sit down here with me, Frances.” She pointed toward one of the two small wrought iron chairs on the balcony.

  “I’ve never stayed in a hotel before,” Frances murmured, staring down from the balcony with wide eyes. “I’ve never had a lavender bath, either,” she confided.

  Carrie smiled. “Hotels can be wonderful, but you may have had your fill of them by the time we get back to Virginia.” Then she grew serious. “I’m sorry about your parents and your sisters, honey.”

  Frances’ eyes clouded over with sadness. “They were real sick, Carrie. I kept wishing you were there, ‘cause I figured you could make them well. I just knew you would have some kind of remedy to fix them.” She shook her head. “We didn’t have money, so no one would come. Mama died first, but it only took Daddy a few hours to follow her. I don’t reckon he wanted to live once she was gone.” She swallowed hard. “I did all I could think of for my sisters, but they went the next day.”

  Carrie gripped Frances’ hands tightly, knowing there weren’t words to ease the kind of pain the little girl had experienced. She could only imagine the terror she felt while she was trying desperately to save her little sisters – her parents both dead in the next room.

  “Why do you think I lived?” Frances asked. “I’m the only one left from my whole family.”

  Carrie was ready for the question; sure Frances would ask it. “Because you have a very special purpose here,” she said.

  “Do you think they all would have lived if I had taken better care of them?” Frances asked in a quivering voice.

  “I do not,” Carrie assured her. “So many people died from this flu.”

  “Did you help people live?” Frances asked. “Back in Philadelphia at the clinic?”

  Carrie nodded a bit reluctantly as she thought of all the people in Moyamensing they had been able to save by administering Influenzinum. “We did,” she murmured, but then cupped Frances’ chin in her hands. “I have knowledge and remedies that a young girl would not have.” She thought for a moment. “Were you with your mama and daddy when they died?”

  “Yes,” Frances answered sadly. “I was holding their hands when they closed their eyes for the last time. Both of them breathed funny for a little while, and then they quit breathing at all.” She caught her own breath as she remembered.

  “And your sisters?” Carrie asked gently.

  “Yes,” Frances whispered, tears swimming in her eyes. “I wish I could have kept them alive.”

  “You gave them a wonderful gift,” Carrie assured her. “You couldn’t have saved their lives, but you were with them when they died. No one wants to die alone, Frances.”

  Frances thought about what she said. “Did Robert and Bridget die alone?”

  “No,” Carrie replied firmly, so glad she knew that was true. “I was holding Robert when he took his last breath.” She was even more certain she had made the right decision to ride home to be with him. “Bridget…” Carrie took a deep breath to steady her nerves. “Bridget was dead when she was born. I like to think I was holding her close inside me when she died. I don’t believe she ever felt alone.”

  “Did you hold her when she came out of you dead?”

  Carrie bit back her wince. “No,” she admitted. “I was unconscious, but Abby held her for a long time. She wanted Bridget to know how much her grandmother loved her.”

  Frances looked out into the deepening dusk. “I like Mrs. Cromwell,” she stated. “She’s like you.”

  Carrie smiled. “We are both very lucky to have her in our lives.”

  A long silence settled on the balcony. Stars appeared in the sky as tree frogs started singing their spring chorus.

  “Carrie?”

  “Yes, Frances?

  “Can we do something for Mrs. Sider before we leave?” Frances asked. “She was real good to me when my folks died. I would have been in that orphanage a lot longer if it hadn’t been for her. And, if she hadn’t written that letter for me, you wouldn’t be here right now. I reckon I owe her a lot.”

  “Of course,” Carrie agreed. “We don’t catch our train until tomorrow afternoon. What would you like to do?”

  Frances shrugged. “I don’t know…” Her voice trailed off as her face tightened with intensity. “Maybe we could buy her a new dress? She hasn’t had one of those in a real long time, I don’t think. She would like that.”

  Carrie smiled. “A dress it is,” she agreed. “We’ll go shopping in the morning before we catch the train.”

  “How long will it take to get to Virginia?”

  “Well, a little longer than normal,” Carrie teased. She had been waiting to give Frances the news, because she suspected she would be very excited. “We have a stop to make before we go to the plantation.”

  “Really?” Frances asked in an excited voice. “Where are we going?”

  “My best friend, Rose, is graduating from Oberlin College in two days. We’re going to her graduation ceremony. It’s a surprise.”

  Frances’ eyes suddenly grew wide. “Are you talking about Rose and Moses?” />
  “I am,” Carrie agreed, certain now that she had made the connection.

  “Aren’t they Felicia’s parents?” Frances demanded. “The ones who adopted her after her parents were murdered.”

  Carrie grinned. “They are.”

  Frances’ smile exploded onto her face as she jumped up and twirled around the balcony. “I’m going to meet Felicia?”

  Carrie nodded. She knew how much it meant to Frances to meet the girl who had so inspired her. “Felicia will be happy to meet you, too.”

  Abby stuck her head out of the French doors leading to the balcony. “Are we having a celebration out here?”

  “Mrs. Cromwell,” Frances cried, “I’m going to Oberlin College to meet Felicia… and Moses and Rose!”

  “And Hope and John,” Abby added playfully. “We’re going to have a wonderful time!”

  Frances suddenly stopped spinning, and then looked down at the floor.

  “What’s wrong?” Carrie asked softly. When Frances lifted her head, she was staring at her with sad eyes.

  “I don’t have a dress to wear to a graduation ceremony,” Frances said, and then her eyes grew even sadder. “I’m afraid I don’t really know what one is, but I’m quite sure you must be dressed nice. I didn’t have much to start with, but Mrs. Sider wouldn’t let me bring my clothes when I moved in with her. She was afraid I would bring the flu with me.” She shook her head. “I only have my one dress. It’s not very nice. I’ll be glad to stay in the hotel while you go to the ceremony,” she whispered.

  “You’ll do nothing of the sort,” Carrie chided, disappointed in herself that she hadn’t recognized the problem sooner. She’d been so excited to find Frances that she hadn’t even noticed what she was wearing. “Do you think we’re only shopping for Mrs. Sider tomorrow?”

  Frances looked up, her eyes flaring with hope. “What do you mean?”

  Carrie laughed. “The three of us are going on a shopping spree in the morning!”

  *****

  Carrie couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun. Shopping for a little girl was a new experience for her. Shopping for a little girl who had never owned a new dress was totally exhilarating. She and Abby had probably gone overboard, but the shop they had visited was full of dresses that were so perfect for Frances.

  “Look at me!” Frances squealed as she spun around in the middle of the road. Her new pink dress with a white bow twirled around her. Then her face grew serious. “Do you think my mama knows I have new clothes? She always wished she could buy me some, but we never had the money.”

  Abby leaned down and wrapped an arm around her. “I believe she knows, honey. And, I believe she is completely happy for you. I know she wishes she could have stayed here with you, but since she couldn’t do that, I know she wants the best for you.”

  “Do you really think so, Mrs. Cromwell?”

  “I do,” Abby said, “but now we have another problem we need to solve.”

  “We do?” Frances asked. “What’s wrong?”

  “You can’t keep calling me Mrs. Cromwell,” Abby replied. “I hope the day will come when you will call me Grandma, or some version of it, but until then we have to come up with something better.” She pursed her lips. “I suppose you wouldn’t feel comfortable calling me Abby.”

  Carrie chuckled when Frances shook her head quickly. She knew the little girl was falling under Abby’s spell, but she needed time to deal with all the changes in her life. Aunt Abby wouldn’t do, because she truly was Frances’ grandmother now that the little girl had been adopted. She fingered the papers in her pocket just to assure herself they were real.

  Frances peered up into Abby’s face. “My mama was German,” she said. “If her mama hadn’t died before I was born, I would have called her Oma.” She looked down shyly. “If you don’t think it’s too soon…”

  Abby took Frances’ hand. “I would love it if you would call me Oma.”

  Frances looked hesitantly at Carrie.

  Carrie knew immediately what she was thinking. “I think Oma is perfect,” she said enthusiastically. “And I think you should keep calling me Carrie for now. You had a mama that you loved very much, but you never had an Oma. If the time ever seems right, you can call me something else, but I don’t believe that time has to be now.”

  “You don’t?” Frances asked, her lip trembling. “You’re not mad at me?”

  “Not even a tiny bit,” Carrie assured her, giving her a hug. “Now, we have one more store to stop at.”

  “More shopping?” Frances cried. She looked at all the parcels stacked up behind them on the sidewalk. “I can’t possibly need more clothes. I never imagined I would have so many clothes in my whole lifetime.”

  “No,” Carrie agreed with a laugh, “I believe you have plenty of clothes for now. But, we still have to get Mrs. Sider a dress. We have just enough time to buy her something and take it to her house so you can tell her good-bye.”

  Frances clapped her hands. “That will be wonderful,” she said happily. “I’m glad I’m not the only one who is going to have a new dress!”

  *****

  Mrs. Sider clasped Frances close to her bosom and kissed her cheek. “I’m so happy for you, Frances. You be a good girl. I know your folks are probably dancing a jig up in heaven right now.”

  “Do you really think so?” Frances asked, leaning back to stare into the old woman’s face.

  “I know so,” Mrs. Sider assured her. “Your daddy faced a hard time of it after the war. We may have won that war, but the men who fought it are still fighting a battle here at home. They’ve come back wounded inside and out. There aren’t jobs for them, and not enough help to carry them through.” She tilted Frances’ chin. “Your daddy was a real good man. He told me one day that he wanted better things for you.”

  “He did?” Frances asked somewhat doubtfully.

  “That he did,” Mrs. Sider said firmly. “He hoped to find it in Santa Fe, but losing your brother on the trip during that blizzard took the heart right out of him and your mama. They figured they had failed all of you.” Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “I reckon when the flu got them, they didn’t have enough heart left to fight it off.” She paused. “Your mama wanted you to go to school, you know.”

  “What?” Frances shook her head. “That can’t be true,” she protested. “She told me many times that girls didn’t have any need of schooling.”

  Mrs. Sider nodded. “I know she did, but she didn’t mean a word of it. She wanted you to go to school so you would have a better life than she did, but there wasn’t any money to send you. Rather than have you think badly of your daddy because he couldn’t pay for it, she let you think she believed it wasn’t important.”

  Frances absorbed the words. “Thank you, Mrs. Sider. I’m real glad to know that. I’m going to go to school now, you know. As soon as I get to Virginia. I bet mama is gonna be real happy.”

  “That she will be,” Mrs. Sider stated. “That she will be.” She turned to Carrie and Abby next. “Thank you for bringing the girl here to say good-bye. That means a lot to me.”

  “She wanted to say thank you for taking such good care of her,” Carrie replied. “I want to thank you, too.” She paused and nodded at Frances, who turned and ran out to the carriage. “Frances has a gift for you.”

  Frances dashed back into the house, holding three large parcels. “These are for you, Mrs. Sider.”

  “What is this?” Mrs. Sider demanded, her cheeks flushed with pleasure.

  “Open them!” Frances cried, jumping up and down. “I hope you like them. I picked them out myself!”

  Mrs. Sider grew red as she opened the boxes. Her eyes grew wide with disbelief as she pulled out two beautiful dresses, both lovely, but serviceable enough to wear on a daily basis. “Oh my!” she gasped.

  “Do you like them?” Frances asked anxiously.

  Mrs. Sider held the dresses up to her, her eyes glowing with pleasure. “They’re beautiful, Fra
nces,” she said huskily.

  Frances clapped her hands. “Now open the last box. You won’t need this one right away, but it will be waiting for you.”

  Mrs. Sider looked at her curiously before she opened the final parcel. She held her hand to her mouth when she saw a thick, warm winter coat with a pair of gloves and a felt hat nestled on top. “Why, I never…”

  “Do you like it?” Frances cried again.

  Mrs. Sider dashed away the tears trickling down her cheeks. “I’ve never had anything so fine in my life,” she murmured. Her eyes darkened as she shook her head. “I can’t accept things such as these.”

  “Nonsense,” Carrie said firmly. “Most people would have turned their back on an orphan child and believed it was not their problem. Because of you, and especially your kindness in writing the letter for Frances, and then paying to have it mailed, you have made it possible for me to adopt her. I will always be grateful, Mrs. Sider. So will Frances. She wanted to give you something that would make you remember her.”

  Mrs. Sider turned and pulled Frances close. “I would never forget you, child. I don’t need a coat to remind me, but every time I put on one of these pieces of clothing, I will say a prayer for you.”

  “And will you write me?” Frances pleaded. “I promise to write you back.”

  “I’ll write,” Mrs. Sider promised.

  *****

  Carrie exchanged a satisfied smile with Abby when they pulled away from the tiny cottage with just enough time to catch the train.

  Mrs. Sider would find the cash they had stashed in the pocket of one of the dresses soon.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Carrie was trembling with excitement when she stepped off the train at the Oberlin Station with Abby and Frances. The quaint, gabled little station, painted blue and surrounded by a grove of trees, was a charming introduction to the town. She knew her companions were just as excited as she was. It was hard to be so close to Rose and not see her, but Carrie was determined to keep it a surprise. She only had to wait until tomorrow.