Eleven

Art paced the train depot’s platform, his nervous energy wearing on Josie.

“Can you believe we’re picking Cassie up today?”

“Um-hm.” She’d spent the last two weeks getting the apartment ready. Once Art and Annabelle had talked, things had moved so quickly she was still spinning.

She pulled at her glove to see her watch, then scanned the horizon. Any time now the train should chug into the station, and she’d be a parent. The thought still seemed surreal. Earlier this year, she’d been unsure about having a baby; now she welcomed an eight-year-old.

But when a distant relative asked one to take in a child who was threatened by war, yes was the only correct answer. Who could have foreseen the turn the war would take? That evacuations abandoned last year would restart with the intensified air raids in London? That a relative would search hard enough to find Art?

Josie pulled off a glove and nibbled on a fingernail. Her nerves jumped with each sound.

Annabelle and Art had finally connected over lunch. Josie hadn’t participated so hadn’t told the social worker she’d taken a temporary job. All that mattered was that after a long lunch, Annabelle had given her approval to the match.

Just like that, they were on their way to pseudo-parenting.

Her stomach gurgled, and she pressed her hand firmly into it. Eight. Old enough to have fun and not require the close care of a smaller child. But also old enough to understand why she’d been sent from home. Josie remembered the abandonment she’d felt when left with her grandparents for a week. This was so much more than that. Could an eight-year-old truly grasp why parents sent them away? Not as punishment, but for protection? The choice must agonize.

Josie prayed they’d get along well. They had to since there was no end to this placement. She pulled in a shuddering breath. She must get her emotions under control before she let fear run away with her. Kat wasn’t much older, and she’d see something like this as a grand adventure. Surely Cassandra would, too.

“Are you ready, honey?” Art stopped in front of her and grabbed her hands, running his fingers along her jagged nails.

She tried to smile but felt it quiver on the edges.

“Chin up. This will be great.”

“I know.”

“This is what you’ve worked so hard for. Helping this little girl.”

“I don’t know how little she’ll be.”

Art scooped her up and spun her around until she giggled.

“Put me down before I can’t stand.” Josie relaxed, grateful for Art’s distraction. There was no reason to get so tense. This was what she wanted, after all.

Art resumed his pacing. “Why isn’t the train here?”

“Soon enough.”

A shrill whistle pierced the air. Art stopped his pacing and turned toward her, a grin splitting his face. The man certainly saw this as an escapade or some grand adventure.

“That’s got to be her train.”

Josie smiled as the beginning pushes of excitement vied with her questions What would this child add to their lives? “I’m sure it is.”

“I wonder how we’ll know her.” From his jacket breast pocket he pulled a faded photo that Annabelle had provided. “Surely this isn’t how she still looks.”

 Josie studied the pose again to amuse him. The girl with golden hair hanging in Shirley Temple curls looked about five, freckles dotting her nose above a charming grin. “No. But I don’t think it will be hard to find her. How many little girls travel such distances? Her escort will surely look for us as we search for them.”

The iron behemoth groaned and squealed as it slowed to a stop. Josie stepped forward and hooked her arm through Art’s. “I’m excited to meet your cousin and welcome her.”

Art’s eyes shone with light. “That makes two of us. Here’s hoping we don’t overwhelm her.”

People hopped off the train, some rushing into the arms of waiting loved ones, others striding into the terminal and out of sight at the clip of people with a mission. Josie scanned the dwindling crowd for two figures wandering, hunting for a contact.

“That must be her.” The excitement in Art’s voice mirrored his bouncing action. Josie grabbed her hat to keep it from sliding off and turned her gaze to where he pointed. Across the platform, a young girl walked in their direction, carrying a duffel and a lost look. Annabelle walked next to the child, a harried expression on her face and her clothes disheveled and wrinkled. What had happened on the train to leave Annabelle in such a state?

Josie took a step toward the child, unsure how best to approach her. Would the child welcome a hug, or would she find it invasive? Josie should have asked Annabelle such key questions before this moment. Now all she could do was look at Annabelle with a question in her eyes. Annabelle shrugged, exhaustion pushing her shoulders forward.

A whistle sounded, and the child jumped. She dropped the bag, and her sweet face pinched. Josie’s heart tightened. This child had lived through things Josie hoped never to see or experience. She let go of Art and hurried to the child’s side.

“Cassandra?”

The girl stood still, but a tear slipped down her cheek. Josie knelt in front of her, not caring if her own hose ripped with the movement.

“My name is Josie Wilson. You’re going to live with us awhile.” She touched the side of the girl’s head and then lightly stroked her cheek. Only then did Cassandra stir. “Can we help you with your bag?”

Cassandra looked at her, face tinged red and eyes wide. “Sorry, ma’am.” Her voice threaded the space between them in a whisper. “Will I live with you then?”

“Yes. We’re delighted to have you live with us for a bit.”

A wary knowing crept across Cassandra’s face. “It’s likely to be longer than that.”

“Then you’ll stay the duration. I promise.”

Cassandra considered her a moment. Annabelle nudged her forward. “I hate to do this, but now that you’re connected, I must get back on the train. There’s one more soul to deposit with his new home. More miles to travel.”

Art shook her hand. “Thanks for getting her safely here.”

Annabelle nodded, then turned and hurried back to the train. Cassandra watched, a forlorn look shadowing her face. Time to distract her from another lost connection.

“Here. Let me introduce you to my husband, your cousin Art. Then we’ll take you home, show you your room, have dinner, get you a bath.” Josie bit her lip to stop the flow of words. “Sorry about that. I tend to talk when I’m excited.”

“Any other time, too.” Art laughed. “You’ll be hard pressed to get a word in edgewise. Cassandra, I’m Art.”

Cassandra looked at his hand and then shook it. She was small, wiry. Freckles on her small nose dotted strawberries-and-cream skin.

“A pleasure, sir.” She laughed, but it sounded strangled and way too mature for a child. “Thanks for taking me.”

“Did you enjoy your trip?” Art walked her toward the exit, her bag thrown over his shoulder.

“Once we were off the boat. We had to wear our life vests all the time, and I didn’t like it.”

“I see. Did you travel with many children?”

Cassandra shrugged, her thin shoulders poking through her dress. “Most of them went to a place called Canton. Do you know where that is? Miss Rogers said she needs to go there after she delivers Bobby. A company is taking those kids in.”

“Will you miss the kids?”

Cassandra shrugged. “I didn’t really know any of them before the trip.”

“Would you like to see them again?”

“Maybe.”A door seemed to shut in her expression.

“The first order of business is to get you an ice cream. All brave children need a treat.” He led the child to the car, and Josie followed a small distance behind. The image of Art helping a little girl that looked like the best of both of them flashed through her mind. Someday. She smiled at the thought and the fact that the pain didn’t accompany it. Maybe Cassandra was exactly what Josie needed to finish healing and stop dwelling on her own pain.

Cassandra nodded off in the car before they reached the drug store, so Art turned the car home instead. The moment they parked, Doris came running out the back doorway.

“You’ve arrived.” She watched Art struggle to pull a sleeping Cassandra from the backseat. “Poor child must be all done in.”

Josie nodded. “You would be, too, if forced to travel for weeks into the unknown.”

“Well, you have the girl now and can befriend her.”

The thought stilled Josie. She’d focused so much on getting Cassandra here that she hadn’t considered the fact they were total strangers to the girl. While she’d worked hard to make the way for Cassandra, the child didn’t know this.

Art groaned. “Could you close the car door, Josie? I’ll get her upstairs.”

“Here, let me get the back door for you.” Doris chased Art across the backyard.

Josie closed the door, then leaned against the car. Father, prepare my heart to be sensitive to the needs of this child You’ve sent our way. Give me insights into her, and help me be her friend. Help me remember she already has a mother. Such sacrificial love left her blinking in the sunlight.

A window on the third floor opened. Art hung out and waved to her. “Coming, Josie?”

❧

It took several days to get Cassandra acclimated enough to willingly venture out. It seemed the child had brought the war with her. At loud, sudden sounds, she might dive for cover. Under a bed, under a table, the location didn’t matter as long as she felt protected. The behavior charmed Josie at first but grew odd as Cassandra repeated it. Then Cassandra explained the air raid drills. The drills had been consistent but random. Josie prayed that Cassandra would reach a point where she didn’t live life poised to hide at a moment’s notice.

Josie also struggled to find foods that Cassandra liked. So many things Cassandra asked for sounded nasty, like haggis. Josie hadn’t considered the conflict of the different cultures. The British spoke English, after all, but the differences highlighted the early days with their visitor.

A week after Cassandra arrived, they walked to the library branch. Josie needed to get Cassandra out of the house and prayed the sunshine would bring some life to the child. As Cassandra raced ahead, Josie decided this was what the child had needed.

“Cassandra, wait.” Josie paused until the bounding child obeyed. While the neighborhood traffic stayed light during the day, cars zipped down the streets. She could just imagine the wire they’d have to send if something happened to Cassandra. Sorry Stop Child Flattened by Vehicle. She shuddered at the thought.

Cassandra skidded to a halt and smiled.

“I think you like the outdoors, Cassandra.”

“It’s much nicer here than in the city.”

Josie laughed. “Your city is larger than this one. We’ll have to explore some of the parks around here. Get you out more often.”

Cassandra grinned at her and grabbed Josie’s hand. She swung it back and forth in large arcs until they reached the library. Once there, Cassandra raced up the steps and flung open the door. In a minute, she’d selected three books at random and stood at the checkout table, ready to leave. So much for a quiet time scanning the stacks for a few good reads.

“Can we leave now?” Cassandra’s voice ricocheted off the ceiling and walls.

Miss Adelaide leaned forward, lips twisted in a mock frown. “Keep your voice down, young lady. You are in a library and should speak in subdued tones.”

“Like this?” Cassandra whispered the words.

“Yes.”

“All right,” Cassandra shouted, then skipped to the doorway.

“You really must do something about the child before you begin working here.” Miss Adelaide shook her head and laughed. “She seems full of vinegar.”

“Today, at least. I’m enjoying the child I discovered on the walk very much.”

“Good. Just remember to keep a firm hand with her from these early moments. You set the tone of your relationship.”

There might be truth to the words, but they seemed harsh. “The child’s just arrived from a war zone. I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

Miss Adelaide shook her head and looked toward the ceiling. “I’ll pray you are.”

Cassandra stuck her head back in the door. “Can we go find a park now?”

Josie nodded. “Just a moment. I’ll see if Miss Adelaide has some ideas for us.”

Miss Adelaide quickly checked out Cassandra’s books and one for Josie. “There’s the beautiful Eden Park on the other side of your home. I’d start there. See you next week.”

Josie gathered the child and headed toward home. “We’ll try the park on a day that we have a picnic packed. How’s that?”

“All right.” Disappointment colored Cassandra’s words, and Josie determined to get her to a park as soon as possible.

She held tightly to Cassandra’s hand as the child skipped next to her. The skipping seemed to loosen her tongue, and the child talked the whole way home. That ease disappeared as soon as Josie started lunch preparations. She stared in the icebox looking for inspiration.

“Do you have anything good today?”

“How about a sandwich? Maybe some chips and fruit?”

“Any fish to go with the chips, ma’am?”

Josie chewed on her lower lip. She didn’t care for fish, so never bought it. If it would make Cassandra content, she would run downstairs to see if the grocer had any. No, that was crazy. Better keep things simple. “Not today. Ham sandwiches are the menu. We’ll get fish the next time we shop. You’ll have to let me know other foods you enjoy, so I can keep them in stock.”

Cassandra’s nose scrunched. “Can we go today?”

Josie laughed. “No, sweetie. We have to eat what we have first. Waste not, want not.”

“Then I suppose ham will do.”

“Why don’t you go read a book while I get the plates ready?”

The afternoon passed quietly as Cassandra read her books and Josie cleaned. A burble of delight filled Josie. Maybe this experience wouldn’t be as easy as she imagined. But Cassandra was filling a space in their small family.