| |
FOR TWO DAYS SHE KEPT her maps and schedules hidden in a drawer. The immensity of what she was considering . . . what would she tell her mother? What would Tom say?
Sunday she again stood in line to shake Pastor Greenstreet’s hand. He looked a trifle embarrassed when she asked him aloud, “Pastor, does God talk to people today? If he does, how do you hear his voice?”
Several heads swiveled their direction immediately, and he coughed and smiled. “Well, God may not speak in an audible voice today, say, as he did with Moses, but certainly we may feel he is always telling us to do good and help others?” This last was a little weak and evasive, but Rose did not notice, and went on innocently,
“Yes, but when he talks to you, Pastor, how do you know it is really him?”
Now the attentions of more than a few were firmly fixed on their conversation, and poor Reverend Greenstreet hemmed and hawed before responding, “Mrs. Brownlee, one can always trust the Bible, I say. One will never get into trouble following the Bible example.”
Rose beamed her thanks, the poor man breathed a sigh of relief, Rose was shuffled off with no further ado, and the next hand was shaken with real fervor.
Rose wandered slowly to the carriage, pondering this happy information. Later she read the whole passage in Hebrews 11 from verse one to forty over again and again. Parts were understandable, others referred to characters and events she was unfamiliar with. But the message was clear. God expected you to have “faith” in him. Exactly what faith is was the mystery. Yet all those people had done something that God approved of, and he called it “faith.” The maps and schedules came out of the drawer and Rose utilized her notebook again. She had to decide what to carry on the train in her bag, what to pack in her trunk. But what to say to her family?
Ignoring that troubling thought, she renewed her planning. She penned a note to Tom.
Dear Tom,
I have decided to take your advice and go on a trip. Be a dear, please, and take a few hours off this afternoon to discuss details with me?
Your loving sister,
Rose.
—
TOM’S RING AT THE DOOR came at four. “Sorry it’s so late, Sis,” he called merrily. “Couldn’t get away, and then got caught at the door and pulled back. I hope I did not offend that last client when I rushed him out. Now, where are we going?”
Rose had two chairs pulled in front of the fireplace, and they sat together in cozy companionship. “I have been thinking about a trip—like you suggested—but I do not wish to trouble you and Abby to accompany me right now. You’re busy at the office, and Abby is expecting and, well, you do not need to come. I will just go by myself.”
“By yourself? Where do you have in mind? The seashore? That might be all right, but why don’t we come along? You know, just for company, hey? I can get away—hang the office anyway.”
“Oh, Tom. You do not fool me, you know. You have worked too hard building your clientele to take a leave of absence at present. Besides, dear brother, I want to go alone. No, listen, please. I have quite made up my mind. I have my reasons, too.”
Tom looked at her a trifle puzzled and a little hurt. Rose took his hand and squeezed it in reassurance.
“Tom, all I can say is it is . . . a kind of pilgrimage. Can you understand?”
“Pilgrimage? Like a religious trip?”
“Well, yes, something like that.”
“Cannot you tell me where you’re going?” He pulled at his collar a bit. “I am sorry, Rose; I don’t wish to see you do anything hurtful or foolish.”
“Thank you, dearest of brothers. I won’t be foolish, I promise. My trip is on a train . . . west.”
“And where west? Just “west” isn’t enough, you know.” His face folded into a concerned frown.
“Well, call it a sight-seeing tour. When I buy my ticket here, you will know where I am headed, and if I change direction, I can wire you. Really, Tom, if I stay with the trains, what harm could I come to? I will be perfectly fine.” She said this with a little more conviction than she felt and smiled to compensate.
“I never noticed before how you can look like Father when you have your mind made up. Something in the chin perhaps.” Tom stared at her earnestly. “And I cannot talk you out of this?”
Rose’s smile grew. “I think you know you cannot, dear heart.”
Tom stood up and ran his hand through his hair distractedly. “I hope you know how Mother will receive this. Lord! Why couldn’t you have gone to the seashore?” His humor was reasserting itself. “So, when do you cry ‘wagons ho’?”
“That’s more like you, Tom. I knew I could count on you. My birthday is next week. I think Mother would be hurt if I left before that. So, tentatively, in ten days’ time.”
“So soon?”
“Yes; I have my reasons.”
“As you said, little pilgrim.”
“Thank you, Tom. Will you help with Mother?”
“Sure thing. As Abigail said, someone has to civilize the frontier.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek before letting himself out.
Rose’s birthday was the happiest day she’d had since January 6. Her mother, Tom, and Abby worked hard to make the celebration a memorable one, and Rose couldn’t help but feel the love that motivated them. Mrs. Blake’s gift to Rose was a crocheted shawl of deep spring green edged in beige. “For your brown traveling suit, Rose dear.” It was Mother’s way of conceding her reluctant acceptance of Rose’s journey after vigorous disapproval. Tom and Abigail presented her with a roomy, dark red carpetbag. Inside were new slippers, wrapper, and nightie.
“How perfect, how very perfect!” Rose was delighted. “Now, I have gifts for you.” She had managed to surprise them all and dismissed it lightly as a whim.
“Mother, here is yours, and Tom and Abby, here are yours.” They opened identical envelopes and found tickets and prepaid reservations at the beach for late June. Even Mrs. Blake chuckled delightedly.
“How thoughtful of you, dear. Mrs. North will be perfectly envious. And Tom and Abby for company? Why, Abby, what a blessing getting out of the city will be at that stage of your development. Two cool weeks at the ocean.”
“But you will be back by then, won’t you, Rose?” Tom asked intently. “You will go with us?”
Rose brushed his questions aside. “In any event, I will probably have other obligations in June, but do not worry about it. It could work out.”
Cook brought the lovely, pink-frosted cake into the dining room followed by the staff, who joined in singing “Happy birthday to you.” She thanked them all with tears in her eyes. When would this family circle be together again?
The echoes of their singing came back to her that night as she lay in bed, and in her mind, Rose heard a small girl’s voice echoing, “to yew!”
~~**~~
