May, 1862

Pounding hammers disturbed the cool of the morning, and the scent of freshly hewn lumber hung in the air. Evelyn watched as the beams for the new hospital were set into place.

“Are they almost finished, Mama?” Emily looked up at her with wide eyes. “It sure is big.”

Evelyn gave her little girl’s hand a squeeze. “It is. They are going to call it the Judiciary Square Hospital now.”

Benjamin wrinkled his nose. “What do they want to do that for?”

Evelyn had no answer, so she merely shrugged. It seemed fitting that it would have a new name. Because the place where the children had first met their father, and the place where she had first learned she could love a Yankee, was gone. And in its stead, something new would come.

Just like the little family they’d built in the midst of war. A new beauty from the ashes of what once was.

Her father had not even attended her wedding, but it had hurt less than she’d expected. They’d had a small, simple ceremony with Samuel’s parents, the children, and Mrs. Tooley in attendance. All the people God had given her to love that loved her in return had been glowing with happiness during her nuptials. And for that, Evelyn was exceedingly grateful. Who needed to wait for months to prepare pomp and frivolity? She greatly preferred being a wife and new mother in their cozy townhome to spending that time planning.

She turned the children back to the carriage and found Samuel waiting for them there.

“They say I’m to be the head physician.” His words were somber, but the exuberance in his eyes gave him away.

“And to think that horrible Dr. Porter tried to keep your license from you. Good thing your father had the college set it to rights. I do hope he contemplates his actions during his retirement.” She tsked. “Your mother says he was out of his mind. She never wanted to marry him.”

Samuel chuckled and placed a sweet kiss on her cheek. “A man will do all sorts of madness for the love of a woman.”

Evelyn ducked her head, but Emily still giggled and Benjamin shushed her.

“Papa, will you be taking care of all the soldiers in there?” Benjamin asked, gesturing toward the giant structure.

Samuel put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Yes.” His eyes found Evelyn’s. “Your Mama and I have promised we will care for as many as need us.” He knelt in the dust near their carriage. “But we’ll always be sure to take care of you and Emily.”

Benjamin grinned. “I know that.”

Samuel ruffled his hair. “Good then.” He looked back at Evelyn. “How did it go?”

“They wouldn’t let me deliver any food or blankets.”

“Well, you can understand why.”

She could. She’d promised never to step foot in that prison again, but as the wife of a prominent Washington physician and with her signature on a Federal loyalty paper, they could hardly throw her inside.

From what she understood, Mrs. Greenman and Alice now shared the same narrow chamber, and conditions had not improved since Evelyn had first seen it. While they deserved imprisonment for the fire that had destroyed the hospital and could have taken lives, she still felt that all within the prison should at least be warm and well fed.

Samuel kissed her forehead. “I’ll see if we can convince some of the women’s charitable organizations to help us gather relief for all of the prisoners.”

Evelyn’s heart constricted. Blind to blue and gray, Samuel heaped his kindness upon them all. She looped her arm through his. “I love you, Dr. Flynn.”

Samuel chuckled. “And I you, Mrs. Flynn, but you’ve told me that twice today.”

“Have I?”

“Aye, but I never grow tired of hearing it.”

The End

If you enjoyed Evelyn and Samuel’s tale, please take a moment to leave a quick review on your favorite online retailer or book group. Thank you!

For more from Stephenia H. McGee, be sure to check out the excerpt for In His Eyes at the back of the book.