Mercer Street (American Journey Book 2)
Page 26
"I guess I am," Susan said.
"Can I help?"
No. You're doing enough already.
"No. I'll be fine. I'm just a little distracted."
Snooty Lady looked over her shoulder and issued another ten-dagger glare. She did not appear to care about Susan's preoccupations or distractions.
Susan smiled warmly and put a finger to her lips. She tried to tell the woman that she, Susan Peterson, would stop talking if she, Snooty Lady, got a life. She laughed to herself as she pondered the odds of either happening before Roosevelt finished his speech, which commemorated the 150th anniversary of George Washington's first presidential inauguration.
She didn't laugh about Bruce Peterson, Admiral John J. Hicks, or the current state of her personal life. Each subject left her wistful, depressed, and frustrated but not hopeless. She didn't need to decide anything today. She needed only to keep all of her options open and be prepared to make a decision – The Decision – when the time came.
Susan tightened her hold on Jack's hand, gave him her best smile, and returned her eyes to the thirty-second president. It was time, she thought, to enjoy a handsome man, a sunny afternoon, and a memorable moment in history.
CHAPTER 54: AMANDA
Monday, May 1, 1939
By the end of the second day of her first world's fair, Amanda Peterson, time traveler and thrill-seeker extraordinaire, decided that she liked three things. She liked Dot Gale's reaction to television, her reaction to camel rides, and at least her initial reaction to a towering amusement called the Parachute Jump.
"I don't know about this," Dot said.
"You'll be fine," Amanda replied.
"No. I mean it. I'm terrified of heights."
Amanda laughed.
"So am I."
Dot clutched her friend's hand.
"What if the chute doesn't work?"
"It will," Amanda said. She smiled. "It's already open."
"You owe me."
"You're right. I owe you forty cents for the ride."
"You're awful!" Dot said.
Amanda laughed.
"Relax. We'll be fine."
In fact, Amanda knew no such thing. From the moment a ride attendant buckled the two women in a canvas seat that hung from their chute, she knew only that her faith in 1930s engineering was about to be tested.
Amanda threw her arm around Dot's shoulders and held her closely as a cable pulled the chute, the seat, and the passengers skyward. She felt a little guilty about teasing her friend but not enough to stop. She was enjoying the moment immensely.
As the chute rose higher, Amanda looked down at the fairgrounds and saw many of the attractions she had enjoyed for two days. She saw amusements that entertained, public art that inspired, and pavilions that showcased the best of several very different countries.
Amanda the Kid had gravitated toward the train rides and spectacles like an exotic animal park and a music-dance-and-swimming show in an aquatic amphitheater. She had also marveled at "new" inventions like air conditioning, television, fluorescent lamps, color photography, the View-Master, and a movie special effect called Smell-O-Vision.
Amanda the Adult had sought more cerebral attractions. She had flocked to the transportation exhibits, Vermeer's painting The Milkmaid, and a copy of the Magna Carta that she knew would remain in America, for safekeeping, during the coming war. She pondered that war until Dot brought her out of a daze with five attention-grabbing words.
"Oh, Lord. Here it comes!"
Dot covered her eyes when the chute reached the top of the 250-foot tower and screamed when she heard a click. Then she pulled her hands, opened her eyes, and shouted in glee as the women floated slowly and safely toward the base of the tower and not the top of a tree, a bevy of power lines, or a watery grave in Long Island Sound.
Amanda laughed when they hit spring-loaded shock absorbers ten seconds later.
"See? We made it," Amanda said.
"We did!"
"I'm so proud of you, Dot. Your therapy is complete."
Dot glared at Amanda.
"Give me my money."
"Why?" Amanda asked.
Dot smiled.
"I want to ride this again!"
Amanda laughed.
"Maybe later. I want to talk first."
"You're no fun," Dot said.
"A minute ago I was awful. Now I'm no fun?"
Dot laughed.
"Perhaps you're both. Let's go."
"All right."
Amanda and Dot unbuckled their seat belts, got out of their seat, and stepped away from the tower. They walked slowly past the Hawaiian Village and Old New York but picked up the pace near the amphitheater. Five minutes later, they crossed World's Fair Boulevard, left the family attractions behind, and resumed their conversation.
"So what do you want to talk about?" Dot asked.
Amanda tilted her head.
"Oh, I don't know. How about your wedding?"
Dot beamed.
"I thought you'd never ask. I have so much to tell you."
Amanda laughed.
"Let me guess. You rented the Empire State Building."
"Try the Morris House in Trenton," Dot said.
"I thought you were getting married in a church."
"I am. The reception is at the Morris House."
"Oh."
"We've invited two hundred guests. I wanted three, but my dad drew the line at two," Dot said. She grinned. "He wouldn't sell any acreage to pay for the extras."
Amanda laughed.
"Good for him. I wouldn't either."
"You wouldn't sacrifice a few apple trees for your daughter's happiness?" Dot asked.
"Nope."
Dot frowned.
"You're a regular Scrooge."
"I suppose I am," Amanda said. "Are you still getting married next month?"
Dot nodded.
"The rehearsal is June 23. The wedding is the next day at five."
"You still want me in it?"
"Of course I want you in it," Dot said. "Don't be silly."
"Should I start shopping for a dress?"
"No. My mom's got that covered. She's making all the dresses."
Amanda smiled. This really was a different time.
"What do I need to do then?" Amanda asked.
"You don't need to do anything," Dot said. "No. That's wrong. You need to do three things. You need to give me your measurements, tell me that you really like pink taffeta, and promise me that you won't run off with a dashing German in the next eight weeks."
"I think I can manage that."
Dot stopped walking. She grabbed Amanda's hand, turned to face her friend, and looked her in the eyes.
"I'm serious about the last thing," Dot said. "I want you to promise that you'll stick around."
"I can do that."
Dot sighed.
"OK. I just have the feeling that your attachment to New Jersey is a bit tenuous now. I don't want you to do anything reckless, like leave, before I get married."
"I won't," Amanda said. "I promise."
Dot smiled.
"Then it's set. You're a bridesmaid!"
"I thought that was already settled," Amanda said.
"Nothing is ever settled in a wedding."
Amanda laughed.
"I guess not."
The two women resumed walking.
"Does this mean you don't plan to run off with Kurt?" Dot asked.
"We're not eloping, if that's what you mean."
"You're thinking about it though. I can tell."
"I'm thinking about a lot of things," Amanda said.
That much was true, Amanda admitted. She had thought about many things in the past several weeks, including her growing affection for Kurt Schmidt, his complicated family ties, and what, if anything, she would do when the time came for her to leave the thirties.
"How are things going between you two?" Dot asked.
"They're going OK."
"It was," Amanda said. "I didn't care for Kurt's brother. I didn't care for his Nazi friend either. I found them obnoxious and arrogant and their views toxic."
"Do you like his folks?"
Amanda sighed. That was a tougher question but one she could answer honestly.
"I do. I still don't know them very well, but I like them. They treated me well. They seem decent, too, even though they represent a regime I despise."
"I told Roy about Kurt's family connections when I was in California," Dot said.
"What did he say?" Amanda asked.
"He said you should be careful. He said a lot of Germans in America right now are spies trolling for information. He hasn't heard anything bad about Kurt or his family, but he still thinks you should be careful. He said you should watch what you say."
"Thanks for the timely advice."
"What do you mean by 'timely'?" Dot asked.
"I mean that I'm meeting the Schmidt family for dinner tomorrow night."
"You're what?"
"I'm meeting Kurt, his parents, and his brother at a restaurant in Manhattan," Amanda said. "We have a reservation at six."
CHAPTER 55: AMANDA
New York, New York – Tuesday, May 2, 1939
Amanda read the front of her menu, looked around the room, and smiled. She had been in a lot of fancy restaurants in her life but never one that had once housed sheep. She tipped her hat to the city's parks department for turning an agricultural building on the south side of Central Park into one of the most celebrated eateries in the world.
"You seem amused," Heinrich Schmidt said.
Amanda looked across her round, linen-covered table.
"I guess I am," Amanda said. "I was just reading about this place. It has an interesting history. I like places with interesting histories."
Heinrich nodded.
"I'm glad you approve. I selected this restaurant because it is close to the park and to a natural setting. I wanted you to be relaxed and comfortable."
"Is there any reason why?" Amanda asked.
"Yes," Heinrich said. "I wanted to get to know you better as a person and hopefully avoid some of the difficulties of our first dinner together."
Amanda smiled.
"In other words, you want to avoid politics tonight."
Heinrich smiled warmly.
"You are as keen as you are lovely."
Amanda laughed.
"Thank you, Colonel," Amanda said. "I'll try to behave myself."
Amanda studied Heinrich and wondered which man she would get tonight: the war hero, the aloof diplomat, the friendly host, or perhaps something else. She decided to set aside his resume for one evening and give him a chance as a human being.
Amanda didn't doubt she could do the same for Johanna Schmidt, who sat to her left. She genuinely liked the woman and wanted to find out if there was more to her than a warm smile and a caring nature that had impressed even Elizabeth.
She did doubt she could do the same for the young man who sat between Kurt and his father. She didn't like Karl Schmidt. She didn't like his attitude or demeanor and certainly didn't like the fact he was a card-carrying member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party.
Amanda vowed to be pleasant anyway. She knew she would never succeed in diplomacy, journalism, or any other field unless she learned to get along with people she despised and figured that dinner with a Hitler acolyte was a good place to start.
"Where is your family this evening?" Johanna asked.
"Grandma is at our hotel. Mom is with Dot," Amanda said. "She took her shopping as sort of an early wedding present. Dot is getting married next month."
"Kurt told me that. He said you are one of the bridesmaids."
"I am."
Johanna smiled sadly.
"I envy your friend's mother. I would love to fuss over a daughter on her wedding day."
"You might change your mind if you knew all the work she is doing," Amanda said. "She's planning the entire reception and making dresses for five bridesmaids."
"I suppose you're right," Johanna said.
"I think the best way to get married is to elope. That's what my grandma did. She ran off with a boy from Chicago."
Johanna laughed.
"I can picture that. Elizabeth strikes me as a spontaneous type of woman."
"She is," Amanda said. "Believe me. She is."
"I enjoyed visiting with her on Sunday," Johanna said. "We have much in common."
"Such as?"
"We were both born in Austria, for one thing. Elizabeth told me that she was born in Vienna. I was born in Innsbruck. She also told me that she likes pinochle and schnapps. I like pinochle and schnapps."
Amanda smiled. She could see that Johanna Schmidt hadn't lost an ounce of her warmth or her wit in the past four weeks.
Then she looked at her again and noticed something she hadn't seen all week. Johanna seemed paler and weaker than she had in D.C. Was she ill? Amanda made a mental note to ask Kurt about her health at the earliest opportunity.
"You're right," Amanda said. "You do have a lot in common. Perhaps you two should get together tomorrow. I think she'd like that."
"I would too," Johanna said. "Do you plan to stay in New York for a while?"
Amanda nodded.
"We do. We'll be here until Friday morning. I want to see more of the fair and figure that this is the time to do it. I have a feeling the crowds this summer will be too much."
"Have you enjoyed the fair?" Johanna asked.
"I have, Mrs. Schmidt. I really have," Amanda said. "I must admit I've spent more time in the amusement section than in the pavilions, but I've enjoyed everything."
Amanda glanced at Kurt and exchanged a knowing smile. She could see that he was probably not going to say a lot. Nor did she want him to. She was more than capable of holding her own.
"Which pavilions have you seen?" Heinrich asked.
"I've seen the ones relevant to our times."
"I assume you mean the exhibits sponsored by Czechoslovakia and Poland."
"Yes," Amanda said. "I started with those."
Amanda glanced at Karl and looked for a reaction. She didn't see anything that suggested more than mild fascination. Perhaps he, too, was trying hard to get through the evening.
"What others have you seen?" Heinrich asked.
"I visited the British and Russian pavilions, of course, and also the ones from Japan, Italy, France, and Palestine. I made a special trip to see the Jewish Palestine exhibit."
"That's quite a lineup," Karl said. "A typical girl would have gone to the cosmetics, fashions, and home furnishings pavilions."
Amanda smiled. She had to give Karl credit. He had crammed at least three insults into one sexist sentence without appearing to be unpleasant.
"I'm not a 'typical' girl, Karl. I care more about how the world looks than my face or my body. I visited the pavilions in question because I have a hunch their sponsoring countries will play vital roles in the 'World of Tomorrow,' which, as you know, is the theme of the fair."
"Is this hunch similar to the one you had on March 31 when you announced Franco's victory in Spain thirty-six hours before the American media?" Karl asked.
Amanda felt her blood boil. She wanted to put the Hitler Youth in his place but reminded herself that she was Colonel Schmidt's dinner guest and had told him she would behave.
"I guess it is," Amanda said. "You might say I have a feel for these things."
"Really?" Karl asked. "Are you saying that you're some sort of seer?"
Be careful, Amanda.
"I'm saying that I have hunches and that sometimes these hunches turn out to be accurate," Amanda said. "That's all."
Heinrich smiled politely.
"I'm sure Karl meant no offense. I was very impressed by your declaration at dinner
that day. Your sources were far more reliable than mine. I didn't get word at the embassy about Franco until early Sunday morning."
"Like I said, I had a hunch," Amanda said.
"Do you have any more 'hunches' you would like to share with us?" Heinrich asked.
Amanda looked around the table and saw four people return her gaze. She felt like a person in the know in a television ad for a brokerage firm. It was time to bring this discussion to a close.
"I don't, Colonel. But I'll tell you what," Amanda said. "If I have a hunch about a horse race or a baseball game in the next few weeks, I'll be sure to let you know."
"Fair enough," Heinrich said. He laughed. "Now let's turn to a more important matter."
Heinrich picked up his menu.
"Let's order."
CHAPTER 56: ELIZABETH
Princeton, New Jersey – Sunday, May 14, 1939
Lizzie walked to the no man's land between the sofa and the chair and then paused to weigh her options – or perhaps fill another diaper. Erich and Ella encouraged her to join them on the sofa. Elizabeth begged her to walk to the chair.
The toddler, who had stood without help for weeks, hesitated for a few seconds and then wandered the greater distance to the chair. In the process, she provided her parents with a laugh and an elderly woman with a memory to treasure.
"It appears she has made a choice," Ella said.
Elizabeth lifted Lizzie from the floor, held her up, and then plopped her on her lap. She looked at Erich and Ella with sheepish eyes.
"I think she just wanted to show off," Elizabeth said. "I was farther away."
Elizabeth laughed to herself. She didn't have the slightest idea why the baby chose to reward the neighbor lady, rather than her parents, with her first lengthy walk, but she didn't care. She was delighted to be a part of another magic moment.
"Or maybe she just loves her grandmamma," Ella said.
Elizabeth hoisted Lizzie again.
"Is that so, Little One? Is that so?"
Lizzie smiled and babbled in agreement.
"I am so glad she has taken to you," Ella said. "I think it is important for children to form attachments to older adults. I was very close to my grandmother."
"Is she still alive?" Elizabeth asked.