“They need God’s light.” Caleb glanced down the street as they stepped outside into the sunlight. “We all need God’s light.”
“And Solid Rock is a wonderful way to reflect that light,” the judge replied. “Perhaps you should even consider installing a beacon light. Imagine that.”
Caleb couldn’t contain a smile. “A beacon light? I like that idea very much. It will be a signal of both hope and warning.”
“A very appropriate symbol.”
When Caleb arrived back at the house, the chaos was more than enough to send him to his office. Before he could close the door, however, his sister appeared.
“Did things go well?”
He looked up as he removed his coat. “They did. We have the last of our permits in place and the city’s full approval and cooperation.”
Camri smiled. “That’s wonderful news. And what of Victoria? Have you managed to get any information on her?”
“I was just coming to ask that very question,” Judith said, sweeping into the room. She crossed to where Caleb stood, her eyes shining in adoration for him.
He kissed her hand before answering. “She’s in New York City. Apparently family friends have taken her in. She’s quite the toast of the town and has no less than twenty suitors vying for her attention.”
“That sounds like Victoria.” Camri rolled her eyes. “I hope some of those family friends have better sense than to let her ruin her reputation and spend all of her money. Even better if they educate her in fiduciary responsibility.”
“I don’t think she’s quite as naïve as you might imagine,” Caleb replied. “After all, she is living off the money of others. The investigator I hired said she’s not drawn on her own money at all. She’ll probably just wander from friend to friend until she decides to purchase a place of her own or marry. Somehow, I don’t see her giving up her freedom too quickly.”
Judith agreed. “She told me she was determined to do things her own way, and I have no reason to think she won’t see that through. Still, it makes me sad. I have a cousin out there who wants nothing to do with me. We’re the only family left to each other, but she doesn’t care.”
“Family has little to do with bloodlines, my dear.” Caleb slipped his arm around Judith’s shoulders. “We have created a strong family here with our friends. We’ll soon be married and working together to benefit the city’s poor, and together we will strive to grow in the Lord.”
Camri offered her thoughts as well. “Before you know it, we’ll have children of our own, and they in turn will grow up together. Who knows, our children might marry Kenzie and Micah’s children, and then we’ll be bound by blood as well as the heart.”
“No matter what happens,” Judith said, looking up at Caleb, “I know we will be a family, and that was the only reason I came to San Francisco in the first place. To find my family.”
Kenzie watched as her mother and father stepped from the train. They looked remarkably healthy—even happy. She’d never seen her father this way. He seemed years younger. When he came to her, he put his arm around her shoulders and placed a kiss on her cheek.
“My dear, you are a sight for my old eyes. Just look at how pretty you are.”
Kenzie wasn’t sure how to take the compliment. She could count on one hand the number of times her father had praised her for anything, much less her appearance.
“Father, it’s good to see you again.” She stretched up to kiss his cheek in return, then turned to find her mother waiting to greet her. “Mother.” Kenzie threw herself into the older woman’s arms and felt a rush of tears. “I’ve missed you so.” She whispered the words against her mother’s ear, lest her father feel offended.
The women held fast to each other for several long moments.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” Micah asked.
Kenzie reluctantly let go of her mother and stepped back, wiping tears from her eyes. “Mother, Father, this is Dr. Micah Fisher, soon to be your son-in-law.”
Micah shook hands with her father, then kissed Kenzie’s mother on the cheek. “I’m so happy to know you both. You have an amazing daughter, and I love her dearly.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Kenzie’s father replied. “I don’t want her to settle for less.” He glanced around. “What say you help me arrange for the bags?”
Micah smiled. “I’d be delighted.”
The men went off to collect the luggage. Kenzie had thought she’d have so much to say to her mother, but the words seemed unimportant. “I’m so glad you could come.”
Mother clasped Kenzie’s hand. “Your young man is quite handsome, and it sounds as if he’s very much in love.”
Kenzie nodded and felt her cheeks flush. “We are. I can’t imagine ever loving anyone as much as I love him. He’s a good man, Mother. He cares so deeply for people, and I’ve learned so much at his side.”
“I can see how happy you are, and that blesses me more than I can say. You were never this happy with Arthur.”
“No. I don’t suppose I ever was.” Kenzie thought back for a moment. “I never felt I was equal to Arthur.”
“You weren’t. You were far superior,” her mother snapped back.
Kenzie couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve never known you to be so opinionated.”
“I wish I’d been more so when the Morgan men were up to their wily tricks. But hindsight is always so clear, is it not?”
“Yes, I suppose it is.”
The men returned, laughing and talking as if they’d always known each other. Kenzie marveled at the ease with which Micah conversed with her father. She wished she might one day know that feeling.
“Are you ladies ready?” Micah asked. “I think, given you’ve spent the last few days traveling, it would be prudent to whisk you away to your hotel so that you might recover.”
“I’m absolutely ready for a proper bed and bath,” Mother said with a sigh.
Micah offered her his arm. “Then allow me to show you the way.” They began to walk toward the depot’s entrance. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you.”
That left Kenzie with her father. She looked at him and without prompting took his arm. “I’m sorry it was such a long trip here, but I’m so glad you could both come. I wanted you to be with me on my wedding day.”
“I wanted that as well. I have only one daughter, and it’s important to me that I approve of her husband and see her properly wed.”
“And do you?” she asked as they followed Micah and her mother.
“Do I what?”
“Approve of Micah.” She glanced up to see her father’s expression sober. Did he not like Micah? Was he only pretending to have enjoyed their conversation? “Father?”
He stopped her once they were inside the depot. “I have something I must say, Kenzie. Something that cannot wait, although a busy train station is hardly the venue.”
Nerves raced through her stomach. “By all means, tell me.”
He pulled her off to the side, out of the flow of traffic. He looked perplexed for a moment, almost confused, and then a peace seemed to settle over him.
“This past year has been difficult. No. Let me start again. I have never been an easy father for you.” He released her and looked at his hands. “I know I didn’t offer you the comfort and reassurance you needed after Morgan left you at the altar. I’ve never offered you the comfort of a father to his daughter. I have wronged you, and for that I beg your forgiveness.”
Kenzie wasn’t sure what to say, so she remained silent. To see her father in such a state was difficult, but at the same time, her heart yearned for any explanation and apology he might offer.
All around them, people went about their business, mindless of the importance of this moment in Kenzie’s life. She had longed to hear her father speak to her about his aloof and often cold behavior toward her, his only child.
Joseph Gifford straightened and stared out across the large open room. “I set in my mind aspirati
ons for a life that I could never make happen. I saw a future with sons and the empire we would forge. My father had sons, his father had sons, and as far back as anyone can recall, there were sons.”
“But not for you. Not that lived.” Kenzie’s voice was barely a whisper. The old empty feeling of inadequacy began to smother her.
“No. Not for me.” He was silent for a moment and then turned to face her. “And for the life of me, I could never see it for a blessing rather than a curse.”
Her heart sank a little further as she forced herself to meet his gaze. “I’m sorry, Father.”
He shook his head. “No. I’m the one who’s sorry, Kenzie. I couldn’t see how my behavior destroyed the happiness of my child. I couldn’t see beyond my own plans and aspirations long enough to take note of the little girl who tried so hard to win my affection and approval. I was a blind fool. The lacking was never yours, Kenzie. It was mine.”
She startled at his declaration. “Father . . . I don’t . . . I . . .” She fell silent. What could she possibly say?
He patted her arm. “This apology comes too late perhaps, but I want you to know that I am ashamed of how I treated you. When I looked back over the years and realized the truth of my failings . . . it was condemning.”
“I forgive you.” The words were simple, but they poured out from Kenzie’s heart without regret.
Their eyes met, and she saw for the first time that her father’s were full of tears. “I intend to take that forgiveness like the cherished gift it is,” he said in a whisper. “I will endeavor to be a better man.” He pulled her close and held her tight. “You’ll see, Kenzie. I’ll endeavor to win you back.”
She pulled away and shook her head. “You needn’t do that. You never lost me. All my life I’ve longed for this day—just to have a chance to win your approval, your love. I’ve just been waiting.”
He shook his head. “Then wait no longer. I love you very much, Kenzie. More than I ever even knew was possible. Seeing you endangered by the Morgans made me realize that. Knowing how easily you could have been truly damaged by them makes me all the more determined to see you safely married to a man who will love you as you deserve to be loved. I believe Dr. Fisher is that man.”
She squeezed his arm and nodded. “He is that man, and I think you are going to love him as the son you always wanted. Who knows, perhaps the two of you will build your empire.”
Her father’s words of apology and love were still ringing in Kenzie’s ears two days later when she and Micah joined her parents, along with the others, for dinner. The wedding would be held the next day, and it was a time of celebration that included Caleb and Camri’s mother and father as well as Micah’s.
Kenzie liked the elderly Coulter couple. They were both college-educated, socially active, and yet amazingly enough, simple Christian people. They looked down on no one, even extending great affection to Camri’s Irishman.
“It seems so right to have everyone here together.” Camri’s enthusiasm was contagious. “I’m just so happy.” She clapped her hands together twice. “What a perfect gift: all of you here under one roof.”
Kenzie felt the same way. The last few days had been a mad rush to make certain preparations for the wedding come together. For all their effort to keep their nuptials simple, the plans had gotten rather out of control. The ladies who had lived at Solid Rock after the earthquake had insisted on being allowed to decorate and set up the rooms for the reception. In turn, the women of the church insisted not only on creating a cake for each bride, but also on overseeing the preparation of a large wedding brunch that would hopefully be held outdoors, since the weather had been so agreeable.
Caleb offered grace, and soon the dining room was filled with a cacophony of voices and clattering plates and silver. The girls had put their best efforts together for the gathering and done what any sensible brides would do—they’d ordered the meal brought in from a local restaurant. It had cost them plenty, but in Judith’s words, “What is money for, if not spending?” They had even hired two of the staff to serve and clean up afterward. Kenzie felt more than a little decadent, but she was having the time of her life.
“We’re having an architect put the finishing details on the plans for the new additions,” Caleb explained to the fathers. “We’ll have quite the complex of buildings and grounds once we manage to complete it.”
Pastor Fisher paused with a forkful of lasagna halfway to his lips. “Many people are going to benefit from this act of love. You’re going to be amazed at how God returns your giving.”
Micah’s mother nodded and squeezed Kenzie’s hand. “Already the poor who come for aid at the church are talking about the future. They’re anxious to find a way to better themselves.”
“Schooling will help,” Camri said, passing a plate of bread to her brother. “So many of these women could acquire better jobs with even a minimal amount of training. Kenzie and Judith helped me see that we could teach skills along with book learning. We plan to employ a very talented woman from England whom I met at a lecture some months ago. She has trained up women to work in some of the finest homes in America. I think she’ll be quite an asset.”
“I would imagine so,” her mother agreed.
And so the conversation went until the final cups of coffee were served with thick slices of cassata cake—a sweet, cheesy confection for which the restaurant was famous. Soaked in a maraschino liqueur and filled with a sweet cream and ricotta concoction, the cake was topped with candied fruits and marzipan shapes. The delightful flavor was unlike anything Kenzie had ever eaten, but she quickly decided she would have it again—hopefully often.
“It’s such a joy to see you children so perfectly matched with God-fearing mates,” Mrs. Coulter said, looking around the table. “I had begun to fear I might not live to see it.”
Both Mr. and Mrs. Coulter had grown gravely ill when their son had disappeared the year before. Kenzie knew it was nothing short of a miracle that both had recovered their health so completely.
“It did seem to take an inordinate amount of time,” Camri’s father replied.
“And we both want more grandchildren to spoil,” Camri’s mother added.
Kenzie could see by the surprised expression on Camri’s face that she hadn’t anticipated this comment. A quick glance at her own mother, however, confirmed she felt the same.
“We’ve longed for grandchildren.” Kenzie’s mother smiled and looked at her husband. “Haven’t we?”
“We had to wait until our Kenzie had the right fellow,” Kenzie’s father offered. “And I am very thankful for the man He sent to her.”
Micah smiled. “She didn’t make it easy on me.” He winked, causing Kenzie to flush all the more.
“That just makes the victory even sweeter,” Caleb threw out, and everyone laughed.
“My only regret is that Arthur Morgan is a free man,” Micah said, shaking his head. “I suppose he’ll go on being a thorn in our side until he and his father get what they want.”
“They already have it,” Kenzie’s father declared. Everyone stopped eating and looked at him. He shrugged. “I sold them every piece of land I owned.”
“What?” Kenzie couldn’t hide her surprise. “Why would you ever do that? Arthur couldn’t really hurt us anymore—could he?”
Her father shook his head. “I didn’t do it out of fear. Your mother helped me realize that my previous decisions were based on pride. I had wrapped my decision in a justification of wanting to preserve the family heritage, but it was never really about that. The past is gone. The focus of our lives should be the future. You have no desire to live in Missouri, do you?” he asked Kenzie.
She shook her head. “None.”
“And it turns out that neither do we. Mother and I talked it over and realized that we want to be close to you . . . and our new son.”
“So you sold your land to the Morgans?” Kenzie could hardly believe it.
“Yes. You see, that was thei
r sole ambition. They would do whatever they had to in order to have it. I decided to work it to my advantage. I sent Hiram Morgan a letter via my lawyer. I named a price ten times what he had proposed and told him the offer was good only for twenty-four hours. The lawyer returned that afternoon with the signed documents accepting my terms and a bank draft.”
“That must have set back the Morgan ledgers quite a bit,” Caleb said with a grin. “That’s the best place to hurt a man like Hiram Morgan.”
“He’ll easily make it back once the incorporation is complete and his new locomotive shops are in place. Never worry for the likes of Hiram Morgan or his sons.”
“What do you plan to do, Mr. Gifford? Will you purchase a house here in San Francisco or perhaps rebuild on one of the abandoned sites?” Judith asked.
“We do plan to purchase a house here, though it might suit us better to build one or remake one that is already in existence. We shall rely on all of you to help us with that choice,” Mr. Gifford said. “However, most of the money from Morgan will be given to Micah and Kenzie as a wedding gift.” He looked at Kenzie’s mother, who nodded. He turned back to Kenzie and Micah. “We are more than a little proud of all that you want to accomplish, and we want to be a part of that as well. I intend to invest in this charity hospital of yours.”
“That’s wonderful!” Micah said, shaking his head. “We have been blessed by so many, and to have your help as well . . . it makes everything complete. I hope you’ll consider being on the hospital board. We’ll need sound thinking men like you and my father to help guide the future.”
“I’d be honored.” Her father’s expression made it clear that he was deeply touched.
Unable to stop smiling, Kenzie eased back in her chair. A year ago, she had been prepared to embark on an entirely different journey—a journey that she thought would make her happy. But it would have been a life without attention to God and His direction. It would have been a marriage based on a lie—nothing more than a scheme for land and power.
How odd that out of such rejection and pain, all her dreams were coming true.
In Times Gone by Page 25
