In Times Gone by

by Tracie Peterson

  “Can I help you with anything else?”

  Caleb shook his head. “No, thank you.” He pulled Judith’s hand through the crook of his arm. “What say we go to lunch and discuss your accounts, Miss Whitley? Our business here is apparently finished.”

  Judith nodded. “I suppose there’s no way of finding out exactly where she’s gone.”

  “Oh, there are ways,” Caleb said, leading her to his car. “The real question is whether or not we care enough to utilize them.”

  “I worry she might be in danger. I didn’t like her very much—in truth, not at all—but I still don’t wish her harm.”

  “Which is far from her regard for you and the others.” Caleb helped her into his car. “There are always going to be coldhearted people like Victoria. She’s a victim of her calloused upbringing and the loss of her mother at such a tender age. All we can do is pray for her and hope for the best.”

  He got the car started and maneuvered down the street. Every day the cleanup was returning the city to better order. It would be a long time before San Francisco regained her former beauty, but the people were hardy and willing to work.

  “Where are we going for our luncheon?” Judith asked as they headed north.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Wong invited us to share Chinese food with them. Have you ever eaten it?”

  Judith was wide-eyed at this question. “No. But I’m intrigued.”

  He smiled. “Good. I think it’s just the diversion we need. Besides, I thought you might like to see what’s happening in Chinatown. You might just be of a mind to arrange some aid for them as well as what you’re doing for Solid Rock.”

  She seemed momentarily surprised, then gave him an assuring nod. “I would very much like to help the Wongs and their friends. They were wonderful to us when we first arrived in the city last year.”

  When they arrived, Mrs. Wong pushed open the tent flap and welcomed Caleb and Judith to their temporary home. She was dressed in a floor-length plum-colored skirt with a short robe-style top that crossed her body and was tied with a sash. The sleeves were long and slightly belled at the bottom. Her black hair, liberally salted with gray, was combed back and styled in a perfect bun.

  “You come and sit as honored guests,” Mrs. Wong told them with a wide smile and a bow. “We are very happy to share our home with you.”

  Caleb returned the bow. “We are honored to be invited.”

  “We’ve missed you very much,” Judith added.

  “Mr. Wong and Liling will be with us in a moment. You come and sit.” Mrs. Wong motioned to a simple plank table set with plates and teacups.

  Her husband entered from the back of the tent.

  “Mr. Wong.” Caleb bowed and then extended his hand. “I am glad to see you are doing so well.” Their daughter, Liling, entered behind her father with a simple teapot.

  “It is good to see you, Mr. Caleb,” Mr. Wong said. “I hope the wild radishes are not choking out the flowers.”

  “I’ve scarcely had time to check on that, but I promise I will.” Caleb smiled at Liling and gave a slight nod. She smiled and returned the bob before stepping to the opposite side of the table with the tea.

  “You sit here, Mr. Caleb,” Mr. Wong told them. “Miss Judith, sit here.”

  They took their seats, and Mr. Wong did likewise. Liling began to pour the tea as Mrs. Wong filled the table with several dishes of food.

  Once everything was served and Judith was instructed on the use of chopsticks, the meal began. Mr. Wong explained all that was happening to retain their rights to Chinatown, at least all that he knew. Caleb figured he knew more than the older man, but it would have been dishonoring to suggest as much. Instead, Caleb promised any help that he could give and praised Mrs. Wong and Liling on the meal.

  “We have plans to expand the warehouse grounds and put in a hospital and school for the poor,” Caleb told them as the meal neared conclusion. “I will have jobs for anyone who cares to come and apply. I want to create a beautiful park area, so I will need gardeners too, and of course there will be other jobs as well.”

  “You will hire Chinese?” Mr. Wong asked.

  Caleb smiled. “I’ll hire anyone who is willing to give me an honest day’s work.”

  The older man smiled. “I have many friends.”

  This brought a chuckle from Caleb. “And I will have many jobs.” They all laughed at this.

  “And you will all marry?” Mrs. Wong asked.

  “Yes. Judith and I, Camri and Patrick, and now Dr. Fisher and Kenzie. We will have a triple wedding.”

  Mrs. Wong smiled and nodded. “And when you do this?”

  Caleb looked at Judith and realized he had no idea. “Have we set an exact date?”

  Judith shook her head. “No. But now that we’ve managed to put most of our troubles in order, I think we should do exactly that.”

  “Perhaps this evening we can rally the others and figure it out.” He looked at Mrs. Wong and then at her husband and daughter. “And of course, you are all invited.”

  “It’s a very nice house,” Camri said, following Patrick from room to room. It wasn’t all that big, but the craftsmanship was excellent due to Patrick’s father’s skills.

  “It pleased my mother,” Patrick admitted. “Ophelia too. They were so happy to live here.” He ran his hand along the fireplace mantel, but he stared off toward the wall, not seeming to even see it. By the set of his jaw, Camri could tell he was deep in contemplation. He had grown melancholy since their arrival, and she wondered if the memories, both good and bad, were a little overwhelming.

  She went to him and put her arms around him. “It feels like a very happy home.”

  He held her in return but said nothing for a long time. “’Twas once, but I don’t know that it could be again. There are things here I’d just as soon not remember. For sure, I didn’t expect to be thinkin’ this way.”

  Camri glanced up and saw his eyes dampen with tears. “Patrick, we don’t have to live here. Just because you’ve been given the house doesn’t mean you have to keep it or live in it. You could lease it out and see how you feel about it later.”

  He looked down at her. “But then where would we be livin’?”

  “Why, at Solid Rock. The others plan to live there. Why don’t we join them? We could build a little space for ourselves, and you could headquarter your construction company out of the same location. We’re already surrounded by commercial businesses and structures. Your company would fit in quite nicely.”

  “Ye’re an odd one, Miss Coulter. Most women would be naggin’ for their own cottage.”

  “I would think by now you’d have realized that I’m not like most women.”

  He nodded and pulled her close. “Aye. Ye’re not at all like most. Although, I will say ye remind me a good deal of my mother. She never let me da take her for granted.”

  “You may always count on me, Patrick, but I would never allow you to take me for granted. Nor would I do that to you. God has given us a precious gift in each other, and I will always remember that.”

  He touched her cheek and smiled. “Ye’re a fine lass. My sister knew ye’d be the right one for me, even when I couldn’t see it for meself.”

  “I miss Ophelia,” Camri said toward the ceiling. “I knew her such a short time, but it was enough to fill me to overflowing. I’d like to think she’s able to look down from heaven and see how well things have turned out. I know she’d be pleased.”

  “Aye. She’d probably be a sight more pleased if we’d get on with sayin’ our vows.”

  “Oh really?” Camri pulled back with a grin. “Now who’s anxious to be settin’ the date?” She attempted an Irish brogue. “And after ye kept me waitin’ for so long?”

  He laughed and lifted her in his arms. He whirled her in a circle, then plopped her back down. “Come along then, Miss Coulter. Let us go speak to the others and get this marriage arranged. I’m not of a mind to keep ye waitin’ any longer.”

  CHA
PTER

  25

  The wedding was set for Friday, the thirty-first of August. None of the couples felt it necessary to have a grand affair, considering the city was still working to overcome the devastation from the earthquake and fires. San Francisco would no doubt bear her scars for years to come, and recovery often seemed painfully slow, given the political nonsense that continued to plague them.

  Kenzie questioned the sanity of planning a second wedding in twelve months. When she thought of all she’d gone through in less than a year’s time, she marveled that she could even consider giving her heart to another, much less that she’d done so with great abandon. However, it was easy to see that her love for Micah was nothing like the love she’d thought she’d held for Arthur. With Arthur, there had always been the feeling that she didn’t deserve him—that she was so far beneath him. Whenever she thought of their time together, the word sacrifice came to mind. She had always thought Arthur was sacrificing his future because of her. Now Kenzie could see that the real sacrifice would have been hers. She would have given up true love in the hope of having something remotely similar.

  “I can hardly believe the wedding is just days away,” Judith said. “Aren’t you excited, Kenzie? You’ve hardly said two words this morning.”

  Camri and Judith were like giddy schoolgirls, sharing thoughts and ideas about the upcoming day. Since breakfast, they’d been talking nonstop about the wedding.

  “I’m very excited,” Kenzie assured her.

  “Well, you looked rather sad for a moment,” Judith noted.

  “Just reflective. This last year has been quite busy for me.”

  Judith nodded. “It has been for all of us. When I think we haven’t even known each other a full year yet, it amazes me. I’ve never been closer to anyone than I am you two.”

  “I feel the same way,” Camri said. “You two have taught me so much. I’m so blessed that God saw fit to put us together.” She arranged several pairs of gloves on the dining room table. “I’m also very glad we decided against having fancy wedding gowns made. If we’d done that, we’d be half mad with fittings and worries. It was hard enough just to pick a hat, and now I’m overwhelmed just trying to figure out which pair of gloves to choose.”

  Judith giggled. “I’m glad too, although my dress will be new. Nothing I had seemed appropriate for a wedding, and since Grandmother’s dressmaker was able to get back to business so quickly, I figured it didn’t hurt to order a new gown.”

  “I think it’s a lovely dress,” Kenzie offered. “With your blond hair, you always look so sweet in pale blue. Just like a porcelain doll.”

  “And it isn’t all that fancy. I’ll be able to wear it for church and other dressy occasions,” Judith replied, shaking her head. “I still remember all the money Grandmother spent on that massive wardrobe for me, and now it’s nothing more than ash. What a waste.”

  Kenzie knew there were hundreds, even thousands of similar stories out there. Vast amounts of art had been lost, hundreds of thousands of books. Many priceless first editions had been burned. It hurt to think about the irreplaceable things, but even more painful was the growing total of deaths. Bodies were still being found on occasion, especially in the poorer neighborhoods.

  “And have you settled on your gown, Kenzie?” Camri asked.

  “I have.” Kenzie smiled, trying not to let herself become morose. “Remember the white sprigged muslin?” Camri and Judith both nodded. “The embroidered flowers are lavender, and I made a waistband of the same color. It’s quite fetching, if I do say so. I had planned to do it before the earthquake and just forgot about it. I believe it will be perfect for the wedding, and it’s one of the few gowns I own that Micah has never seen.”

  “You’ll be in lavender, Judith in blue, and I’ll be in yellow. We’ll be a veritable rainbow of colors.” Camri chose a pair of gloves. “I think these will go well with my dress. I might even sew on a yellow bow at the wrist. What do you think?” She had chosen a pair of cream crocheted gloves.

  “I think that would be lovely,” Judith replied before Kenzie could comment.

  Camri turned the gloves first one way and then the other. She nodded, satisfied with her choice. “You don’t suppose we’ll regret not having a big church wedding with all sorts of flowers and sweeping gowns, do you?”

  “I think we’ll be much too happily married to care, and also too busy. Micah wants to get right to work putting together his hospital for the poor.” Kenzie had to admit she was equally excited. “I think it’s going to be an amazing place. Not only that, but I’m looking forward to learning more about healing. I’ve enjoyed helping the sick.”

  “Micah says you’re a natural at it,” Judith declared.

  Camri set the chosen pair of gloves to one side and stacked the others. “I think we’re going to have the most amazing ministry.” She glanced up. “I want to have the school up and running as soon as possible. So many women have come to me at church and told me about women they know who want to learn to read. It’s so exciting.”

  Kenzie glanced at the pocket watch she’d taken to wearing. “It is, but we should probably gather our things and get to the millinery shop. We’ll be late for our appointment if we don’t leave right away.”

  “I’m so glad we decided to purchase special hats for our wedding. I think it’s the perfect way to celebrate,” Judith said as Camri gathered her gloves.

  Kenzie smiled and put her watch away. “I do too. Not too much or too little. We’ll all look perfect. By the way, is Caleb going to drive us to the shop?”

  “No. He’s not even here. He had to attend a meeting at the mayor’s office,” Camri replied. “I thought we might walk, and if Providence smiles upon us, we can hail a taxi.”

  Providence did smile, and a taxi was easily procured. Kenzie gazed out of the carriage at the progress that had been made in the city. There were still large piles of debris and empty lots where buildings had been demolished and cleared away for the new to come. But the hard work of thousands of laborers was paying off, and she’d heard it wouldn’t be long until electricity and water were restored. She’d be especially glad for that.

  She thought too of the progress they’d made with the hospital plans and the expansion of the warehouse. It was going to be quite the place, and already Caleb and Micah had managed to interest a group of wealthy donors in helping to fund the project. A few had even been asked to serve on the board. The project had been given approval as a priority, due to the nature of its service to the city.

  There was a great deal of work ahead of them, but Kenzie didn’t mind. For the first time in her life, she had a true sense of purpose. She was going to work at her husband’s side and care for the sick. The contentment the idea provoked filled her with wonder.

  “Kenzie, when will your parents arrive?” Camri asked.

  “They’re supposed to come in tomorrow evening. Micah and I plan to go to the station after dinner. I’m so excited to see them again. I’ve missed my mother terribly.”

  “What of your father?” Judith asked, then frowned as if she realized she’d overstepped her bounds.

  Kenzie smiled. “I’ll be glad to see him as well. I just know that whereas my mother will be beside herself in delight at our reunion, Father will be less concerned. I’m not sure he’d even have come, had it not been at Mother’s insistence.”

  “But why? Surely he knows you would want him to give you away,” Camri replied.

  Kenzie sighed. “Father wanted a son. A young man to carry on the family name and lineage. I have always been the greatest of disappointments to him, I’m afraid.”

  “But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you,” Judith interjected.

  Camri nodded. “Of course he loves her. Kenzie is easy to love.”

  Kenzie smiled at their fierce defense. She put up a hand to calm them. “There’s no need to worry over me. I am used to my father’s regrets. Besides, I’ve found a man who loves me for exactly who I am—fl
aws and all.”

  “Micah really is perfect for you.” Camri sighed. “Just as Patrick is perfect for me and Caleb for Judith. We are blessed, and all because of what some might consider a chance encounter on a train.”

  “Nothing happens by chance,” Judith assured them. “I’m convinced of that. I can see now that God had a plan all along.”

  Kenzie nodded. “I agree. It wasn’t the path I would have chosen had I known all the obstacles, but the place it has taken me is exactly what I longed for.”

  “I think you’ll be happy to know that despite the sunny disposition of the mayor and Ruef,” Judge Winters told Caleb in a whisper as they left a meeting, “the evidence against them both is sufficient enough to move ahead.”

  “Truly?”

  The older man nodded. “I think we’ll see action within the next couple of months. How’s that for a wedding gift?”

  “I think it’s wonderful.” Caleb could hardly believe the old man was right. Everything where Ruef was concerned seemed to be the same as always.

  “I suppose you’re pleased that the city has approved all of your plans for the changes you’ll be making at the warehouse.”

  “I think they were afraid to do otherwise. Once the newspapers carried the story about our plans, they knew that doing anything but supporting it would have spelled disaster. People are feeling generous right now, but it’s fading fast. Earthquakes and fires cause the masses to rally for a time, but they soon forget the need and start to think only of their own little part of the world.”

  “Well, the donations have been significant. As a member of your board, I can honestly say that I’m impressed by the generosity.”

  “I am too. I only hope we can make a difference. I know the city board makes noise about keeping the Barbary Coast businesses from ever coming to power again, but already there are dens of iniquity rising up all over the place.”

  “Vice will always be with us, son. There’s no getting around that. Evil begets evil, and people will seek their entertainment in the darkest places.”