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The house was quiet, nearly empty of children except for Joseph, who was walking along the sofa cushions, his small hands gripping the edges of the large squares as he worked his legs along the floor, his young face deep in concentration. His expression looked so old for his age, so wise, so focused.
Josie didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing, for he should be allowed to be a child; then again, his awareness, somehow, that he needed to work at improving his physical strength and coordination, even if he had no words for it, would make his progress quicker and in turn, give him pride and satisfaction with himself and his abilities.
Lucy sat in a chair in the corner of the room, watching Joseph carefully without intervening. She raised a finger to her lips to warn Josie and Arthur not to speak just yet, as the child was concentrating and she didn’t want him disturbed. Josie looked up at Arthur, who was smiling approvingly at the boy, and she imagined him with children of his own, attentive and loving, appreciating the gift of life and the opportunity to be a father.
This was a dangerous and potentially disappointing line of thinking, she warned herself, but it was a chance she had to take if they had any possibility of being together in spite of his family’s objections.
They stood by her mother, waiting for Joseph to finish his walk around the furniture, and when he looked over at Lucy for approval, he was rewarded with three sets of clapping hands and laughter. His face was illuminated with happiness as Lucy stepped over to pick him up and swing him in the air.
“Such a fine boy, you are, and such good work you have done today! Won’t your mother be proud.”
Josie wondered aloud about the other children, forgetting momentarily about the girl this morning and her mother’s concern about the circumstances that had led the girl’s mother to take her from her care.
“Where are the other children? Isn’t it a bit early for Joseph to be your only charge?”
She watched her mother’s back stiffen and immediately regretted her words, for her mother had been so happy only moments before, and this response reminded her of the morning’s worries. Lucy responded before she could apologize.
“A few more parents decided it was time to send their children to other sitters, although not a one could give me a good explanation. I suppose it is none of my business, they can situate their children anywhere they please, but it is so sudden, and so many at once.”
Josie wanted to sit, as her knees felt weak with the realization that this might be her fault, her fault for walking out with a man so far above her own station, in a public place where others would see and judge them. It made no difference if their judgments were right or fair or necessary, but judge they would.
She didn’t know if it hurt more to know that her own neighbors would be so ruthless, or that she had expected such treatment from Arthur’s family and social group, not her own; that made her as bad as any of them, to make such a judgment without knowing any of them individually. There was no other explanation possible . . . her mother had lost the children because their mothers believed she herself was unfit for the youngsters to be with, even though Josie was only with them a small amount of time.
They most likely expected that if Josie were a bad example, then her mother must have raised her poorly, and wouldn’t do well by their own children either.
It was absurd. Maybe she was overreacting.
“Are you well? Josie?”
Arthur had taken her by the elbow and was leading her to the sofa, where she sat heavily and put her face in her hands. Her mother watched her carefully, and when Josie looked up at her, she noticed that her mother seemed well aware of what she was thinking. She also did not look as if she was going to refute it.
“I am so sorry. I can’t believe this, I really can’t.”
Arthur looked back and forth from daughter to mother, confused by the sudden change in mood and behavior and completely in the dark as to what had caused this upset.
“What’s wrong? Did I miss something in the last few minutes?”
Both women looked at him, and Lucy nodded at Josie.
“She can explain. It’s a hard lesson to learn, but there’s nothing for it. The two of you have much more to worry about than this.”
She turned, Joseph in her arms, drowsy and tired from his efforts, his head resting on her shoulder, and walked into the kitchen. Josie watched her, her earlier reassurance that her mother would help her work through her fears about her relationship with Arthur and the potential they had for a future together in ruins.
She had to make this right for her mother. While her pay from working for Dr. Colt was sufficient to cover their general expenses, her mother had been caring for children for years, and it was not only a way to keep the two of them fed, clothed, and housed, it was her livelihood. She loved her work and the good standing she had amongst her neighbors for her reliability and concern for their children.
The damage to her reputation, hard-earned and long-standing, was a high price for her to pay for ice cream shared between Josie and Arthur. It was so wrong, and yet, it was what it was.
“Last night. The Creamery. Someone, well, more than one, saw us together and didn’t approve.”
His confusion was still apparent. She hated to continue, especially since her own thoughts during the past weeks had only been about the prejudices of his friends and family. She had been so wrong and it made the situation all the worse for it.
“They, whoever it was, is,” she stumbled over the words. “They don’t think my mother is the best person to keep children, since her daughter steps out with men who wouldn’t be seen with anyone of her station unless . . . “
“Unless?”
She couldn’t say anything more, so she looked down at her hands, clasped in her lap. It only took him a few seconds to figure it out, and she knew he had when he audibly gasped.
“What? How could they? But they know you; they know your mother, the very idea!”
She smiled sadly at him, pleased with his indignation on her behalf.
“What can we do to fix it?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“I don’t know. An open accusation is one thing, but no one will come out and say anything specific. We can’t deny something that is unsaid, since they can claim they have no idea what we are talking about, and it might make it worse if we bring it up. I don’t know, really, if we can fix it. Some people will think what they will, in spite of what they know as the truth. I don’t know what they’re afraid of.”
“I’m a bad influence, is that it?”
She took his hands in hers and stood up in front of him, keeping her eyes on his.
“No. Absolutely not. If anyone thinks that they’re wrong. It’s rather that they think, or at least I think they do, that you wouldn’t be bothered with one of us, with me, if I wasn’t . . . offering you something.”
She tried to maintain eye contact but at this last, her eyes fell and she stared down at his shoes. He squeezed her hands tightly and she looked back up quickly to see the fury on his face.
“Oh, this has to stop. This is absurd.”
She shook her head. It seemed as if all she had been doing these past few minutes was shake her head.
“No, no, we just have to ignore it. In time they’ll see they’ve been wrong. It’s just, we’ve known these people for so long, since before I was born, they knew my father, they know better, that’s all. I didn’t realize how different this is for them, to see someone like you here, with me. It must look very strange and really, as if something unusual is going on.”
He let go of her hands and turned around, walking away a few steps and running his hands through his hair. As much as she didn’t like to see him upset, she was pleased that he felt so strongly in her defense as well as her mother’s. It meant so much . . . it meant that she was important to him, that her reputation and her happiness were things he was willing to protect.
She almost smiled at the thought, but the reality of their situation weighed too heavily on her.
“I’ll think of something. It’s just wrong.”
“No, don’t worry about it; we need to focus on opening the shelter. We can’t let anything or anyone get in the way of that.”
He turned and looked at her when she spoke and nodded, acknowledging that she was correct in her assessment, and with his hands on his hips, he looked down for a moment before facing her again.
“I haven’t been completely honest with you, Josie. My family . . . my parents don’t actually support me in this.”
Arthur had tried to explain the importance of the shelter to the community, and to himself, to his parents and neither was willing to try to understand. His father was disappointed, it was clear, and didn’t want to discuss it anymore, and his mother was white-hot furious, insisting that he had been bewitched by a servant.
He, of course, had been insulted that she thought him so gullible, but then again, his past behavior might have led her to believe this. Regardless, he thought they should make an effort to hear his plans, his dreams, and even if they didn’t agree, at least not make it more difficult by giving him the silent treatment when he was home.
His sisters had been oblivious, in and out and all around town for social events and activities, and as they weren’t used to having Arthur around in general, they didn’t miss him. It hurt, he had to admit, but he had never been close to any of them, which was a sad state of affairs, and he didn’t know how to affect a change if they weren’t willing to get to know him and what he was working towards.
It was distracting, and he was glad for Josie and her support, as well as for the project itself for not only keeping him busy but also for bringing his sorry family relationships to light, making it possible for him to seek a remedy.
“I’m sorry,” she looked worried as she replied and he wished he could wipe the frown line from appearing between her brows.
“Thank you, thank you for being a part of this. I don’t know what I would do if I was working alone, especially with my family’s disapproval to deal with every time I walk in my front door. It’s no more of a burden than your problem with your neighbors, though, and I mean to find a way to show them that what’s between us . . . our friendship . . . is only a good thing. They have no business judging you or your mother.”
She had to smile now, a small smile but one nonetheless. He had taken her hands and she felt the urge to pray, with him, together asking for God’s strength and guidance. She bowed her head and without preamble, spoke softly as his hands tightened around hers.
“Heavenly Father, keep us strong and true to you, help us to weather these storms, for all our work is in your name. We give you thanks for what we have and what is to come, for the opportunity to help others, and for your act of salvation. Amen.”
It was short and to the point, but it was a bond shared between them, an offering to the Father they both aimed to serve, and they both felt the physical renewal that they needed to work more that evening on shelter plans with minds heavy with concern for the other issues at hand.
Lucy didn’t know what to expect the next morning except to lose more children to rumor and misplaced judgment. She was relieved when no other children than the ones removed the day before were kept back, but she considered that it was probably only a matter of time before word got around and she would find herself losing more of them.
She made a point of thanking each parent as they dropped off the children, and was especially enthusiastic in her welcoming of each little one into her home. Some of them had taken a special interest in Joseph’s new device and either watched his progress or offered to help in their own sweet way.
“I hold hand,” one little girl told Joseph. He stared at her, then put his hand in hers and she patiently guided him across the room. She was only a bit bigger than he was, and the effort was not small on her part. Lucy was pleased to see how easily the girl offered assistance, and that Joseph was willing to accept it.
If only there was someone who would offer her assistance in this matter, but even if there was, it was as Josie had explained to Arthur the evening before. It was difficult to counter something that was not openly said, and it was easy for those involved to deny anything when they were questioned about it. It wasn’t a matter of confronting anyone specific.
Well, she had to be grateful for this day, and a house not quite full of children to care for, and try to give her worries over to God for at least the time she had with them. Josie was at work, and Arthur at the storefront he hoped to use for the shelter, and the best the three of them could do was support each other and continue to do what they normally would without this problem.
She felt herself smile and wondered at how easily she included Arthur in her thoughts of her daughter. He really was becoming like one of their family, someone to trust and respect and appreciate, and she hoped, and prayed, that she was right on all of these counts, for it was obvious that Josie was in love with the boy.
She wasn’t too worried after seeing them together so much over the past week; for as much as Josie was in love with Arthur; he was absolutely infatuated with her as well.
⁕
The day seemed long for Josie, although she was busy at the doctor’s office. She felt responsible for her mother’s loss and didn’t know how to make any sort of positive change on the problem or to view it from a different angle. She didn’t want to stop being seen with Arthur; that would only feed the gossips more, as if she were validating their suspicions by keeping their meetings private.
They had nothing to hide and had done nothing inappropriate, except for that kiss. Oh, what if someone had seen that kiss?
“What on earth is the matter, Miss Warren?”
She shook herself out of her stupor of worry, as Dr. Colt stood in front of her desk and stared at her with concern.
“I’ll get you a glass of water.”
He stepped away from the desk before she could stop him, and honestly, water sounded just fine at the moment. She accepted it with thanks when he returned and took a sip, ending with a small sigh.
“You can tell me, if you feel comfortable, maybe I can help.”
She shook her head at his last words, knowing there was nothing he could do, but shared the dilemma with him, beginning with her acquaintance with Arthur on the Cliff Walk and her eventual dismissal from the Davenport household, ending with the loss of the children in her mother’s care.
He watched her intently as she spoke, allowing her to finish before he exhaled a breath.
“Well,” he started. “That is quite a rollercoaster of changes over the past few weeks . . . and this latest development, this treatment of your mother, that is very upsetting.”
He was angry, she could tell, although he was trying to stay calm and focused on the conversation. He folded his arms across his chest and looked down, and she watched him struggle to maintain a professional air, wondering if he might have formed some sort of attachment to her mother.
After all, she was still young, and beautiful, and shared his interest in helping others. It would not be surprising, and her mother could use a true friend to support her right now along with herself and Arthur.
“Arthur thinks there is something we can do to stop whatever tales are going on about us and damaging my mother’s reputation, but I’m fairly certain there isn’t. Giving such talk any attention only keeps it going. Do you agree, or do you, like him, think we can do anything to alleviate my mother’s stress?”
Edward walked to the front windows, looking out into the small street that went through town. He watched several passersby, ladies with their parasols tilted above their heads to protect their complexions from the harshness of the sun, young men chattering together gaily without a care in the world.
A few children carried fruits and vegetables in baskets to sell, and on occasion, the adults stopped to purchase one or two, either out of necessity or pity. It pleased him to see that the children were not ignored.
“It strikes me that your concern is for your mother first, is that not so?”
Josie’s brows knitted together as she looked at him, confused by his question.
“Yes, of course, why wouldn’t it be?”
“Well, your reputation is ruined, you see, and that doesn’t seem to bother you.”
She nodded and looked down at her hands, which she had placed in her lap.
“No, it doesn’t, not really. Only that it might damage Arthur’s, our, chances of success at the shelter.”
“I don’t see that happening. If he has arranged for a place and also backing from friends, there is no reason for this to touch on your plans. What of your future, though? Why are you not concerned for how this might look to potential suitors?”
Josie had to consciously settle her thoughts and consider this question. She knew she would be ruined, but had been worried, honestly, only for the shelter and for her mother. Most girls her age were thinking of marriage and making a suitable match with a man who would be a good provider and a companion.
No one of that description would bother with her if he believed she had been ‘entertaining’ one of the upper class gentlemen. Just the hint that she might be doing such a thing would make any young man take pause, and if not him, then his parents. It wasn’t fair, but it was true.
This, however, was not the issue.
“I suppose I never really thought too much about it before, it, I mean, marriage, was so far in the future, and it was something that would happen when it was meant to. Maybe that’s why it doesn’t worry me now.”
Dr. Colt smiled at her, a smile worthy of one of her mother’s more ornery charges.
“Somehow I don’t think so.”
Did she really expect Arthur to marry her? Was that what Dr. Colt was asking? Of course she would never kiss any man she didn’t intend to marry but when it came down to hard and fast facts, and serious considerations, should she well and truly expect them to marry? He never mentioned it, but she didn’t think he would behave the way he had if he didn’t mean to court her seriously.
“Is it too much to ask?”
She didn’t have to explain what she meant, and his smile vanished in response.
“No. Not at all.”
He pulled up a chair and sat on the other side of her desk.
“Miss Warren . . ."
“Josie, please.”
“I have known the Davenport family for many years now. I’ve watched Arthur grow up, and to be honest, he has spent most of his life in a very selfish manner. So much time wasted, and it has truly been by the grace of God that he has seen a path before him that would please the Lord. I believe he has changed, and I believe that the two of you were brought together for a reason.”
As he spoke, she very nearly held her breath, as her burden felt lighter. She watched him intently as he went on.
“This won’t be easy, and the opinions of the people in this town won’t help, but if the two of you are willing to look forward and trust in God, trust in me, and your mother, the shelter will be a success, and the future the two of you will share will be one as well. So far you haven’t been distracted by these opinions, except in the case of the effect on your mother’s work. Let’s keep it that way,”
“But my mother . . . "
He shook his head at her, not dismissing her concern but asking only for her to trust him with it.
“I’ll walk home with you today when Arthur arrives for you, and I’ll speak to your mother and see what, if anything can be done. Maybe nothing more will come of it, but if I know people, and my profession has led me to know them well, this won’t be the last of it. We’ll see if anything can be done to minimize any damage and if not, we’ll stick together and find a way to keep your mother in business.”
She bit her lip in thought for a moment, and nodded.
“Back to work, now, I’m not paying you to keep me from my duties.”
They shared a smile as he stepped into the examining room to work on a file, and she set about the endless task of document updating and sorting. It was an honest to goodness mess, and she was grateful to have it to occupy her mind for the rest of the work day.
Her mother and she had an ally in the doctor, as she should have expected, and four heads were better than three. Maybe he could bring a different perspective on their problems, and if nothing else, just be there for them, her mother especially. Josie suspected the doctor wouldn’t mind spending more time with her mother, and her mother would have no objections to getting to know the doctor a bit better.
⁕
Arthur felt as if he were living in a tomb, if living were the word for it. His parents ignored him except when absolutely necessary, and the most conversation he shared was with the servants. They, in turn, were very curious as to the circumstances of the rift between him and his parents, and in the dismissal of Josie, who had been a most promising maid.
He imagined the gossip among the little group was full of illicit details that were as far from the truth as possible. The thought that Josie was being spoken of in the lowest terms raised his ire, and when the housekeeper appeared at his door to ask if he needed attended to before leaving that morning, so she might summon a valet for assistance, he called her into his room.
She was stunned; the maid’s presence in a man’s bedroom was unheard of. He saw her hesitate.
“Please, leave the door open, and you may stand on the threshold if it makes you more comfortable.”
He was short with her, and he knew that he was being unfair, as he couldn’t say for sure that any rumors had been shared or if this particular girl had anything to do with them if they had. He knew, though, of no other way to handle it than to address it directly and firmly.
She did as he said, and hovered in the doorway, watching him warily with a tinge of curiosity in her gaze.
“I won’t have anything negative said about Miss Warren, do you understand? Her dismissal is none of anyone’s business, and she is gainfully employed in a respectable establishment now, so it is no one’s affair. She is not to be discussed.”
The housekeeper was aghast. Such things were not spoken of in this manner, and she was not used to being reprimanded for her personal discussions, which had nothing to do with her work. She was indignant, but also aware that her employment was at stake; even if Mrs. Davenport was upset with her son, if he asked for her dismissal, or proclaimed it himself, it would be a truth.
She bit her tongue, quite literally, and forced herself to nod almost imperceptibly.
“Is there any reason why anyone here should speak ill of her? Did she do anything harmful to any of you? Did she follow your direction as required?”
She dropped her gaze and considered his words. He was right, Josie had done nothing to earn any of the gossip that had circulated about her, at least to her knowledge, except that the missus had bandied it about that she was an easy girl who had bewitched her son.
As far as she herself knew Josie, she honestly didn’t expect the girl to fall from grace in such a way. She was very proper and maintained high standards of work and behavior. While she herself had said no word against her, she had also not stopped the other girls from talking, or from saying anything in Josie’s defense to Mrs. Davenport, which would be a dangerous track but nonetheless, the right thing to do.
She had the feeling that Josie would never speak about her or the other staff in such a manner, even if the words were true. Josie would not perpetuate such nastiness about others.
She said none of this aloud, but merely agreed with the younger Mr. Davenport, who excused her with a hidden anger that was in itself worth sharing. She wouldn’t dare, though, and kept the exchange to herself, determined not to participate in the negativity herself or allow it to continue in the house.
If and when she encountered such gossip, she would put a stop to it. Whether it was true, which she doubted, or not, which was the most likely case, it was unnecessary to continue the talk.
After he was left alone, Arthur considered what else he could do to alleviate the gossip not only in his house and among the servants, who he knew spoke with the other household employees in the neighborhood and in town, but in Josie’s corner of the woods, so to speak.
No gentleman who was taking advantage of a young lady’s favors would publicly proclaim her innocence, would he? Suddenly he knew exactly what to do. Divine intervention, no doubt, he smiled to himself. It was time for him to do some intervening of his own.
⁕
When Arthur, Josie, and Edward made their way from the doctor’s office to Josie’s house, the three were all thoughtful and generally quiet. Arthur longed to hold her hand as they walked but thought better of it. There would be plenty of time for that later; and he would be wise to keep their physical attention to each other at a minimum in public, so as not to cause more speculation than already had begun.
It wasn’t right for him to take liberties with her, whether he meant well by her or not, and he had been in grave error for doing so until this point. His own good intentions and thoughts did not, clearly, carry over into the general populace, which looked for the bad rather than the good, as it was more interesting to share with others.
Why did some people feel better about themselves by setting someone else aside for derision? Did it make their own failures pale before another’s assumed actions?
“We’re certainly a rowdy lot this afternoon.”
Dr. Colt interrupted the silence with a laugh, and Josie and Arthur couldn’t help but join him. Arthur had known the man since his own childhood, and while he was wise and honest, he also had a fine sense of humor and the ability to dispel a miasma of depression. He was definitely a fine fit for his profession.
“What progress have you made on the shelter today, Arthur?”
“Well,” the younger man began. “I’ve signed the lease and paid the first six months' rent.”
It was such a profound and serious and wonderful statement, Josie thought, and he delivered it as if he was saying that he was going to purchase a quart of milk.
She wanted to jump and hug him, but of course, she couldn’t, so she smiled up at him, unable to control her pleasure.
“Six months? That must be a considerable outlay. You feel sure we will be a success, don’t you?”
He smiled back at her use of the word ‘we.’
“How could we fail?”
She felt herself flush as he stared right at her, and looked down for a moment before continuing to question him.
“Does the building need cleaning before we start to move furniture and supplies in? I can come by in the evenings and sweep or mop, if need be.”
Edward watched the unspoken exchange between the two young people, smiling to himself. They were trying to be discreet without actually communicating those efforts to each other, clearly in the interest of preserving each other’s reputations and that of Josie’s mother.
Their commitment to their cause, and to each other, was obvious, and he hoped that none of it would be crushed by the nastiness of gossip. He didn’t believe their relationship was that tenuous, so he wasn’t too worried about it. He was concerned, however, for Lucy and her livelihood, and in turn, her happiness, and was eager to reach her house and speak with her to see how she was faring.
“No need for that. I’ve hired a few girls and a boy to help with the cleaning duties, as they were looking for work and we needed the help. It seemed a good solution all around.”
The two of them seemed in a world of their own, and Edward did not want to interrupt them. He was all but forgotten, he was sure, until Arthur addressed him.
“Will we be able to purchase some basic medical supplies at cost, as you had suggested?”
“Oh, yes, of course. We can discuss the particulars of amounts of each item and delivery dates as soon as you would like. And I can be on hand a few evenings a week, and on the weekends, for more involved cases you might encounter. I think general first aid might be in the realm of your abilities, though, and there really is no need to have me on the premises at regular hours.”
Josie shook her head vigorously.
“Oh, no, of course not, you work so much already, and the shelter is only a few streets away, so in an emergency we can get to you quickly, and even move the patient to your office if need be.”
The girl was forgetting that she herself worked nearly as much as the doctor did, and her free time would now be spent at the shelter when it opened, as well as attending to some of the necessities of maintaining it when it wasn’t. She wasn’t a girl used to wasting time, though, so it wouldn’t be a stretch for her to commit her time to this project.
In time, though, he knew that she and Arthur would work at the shelter as a primary job, and he would most likely lose his newest and most capable receptionist. Nothing would make him happier, though, than to see the shelter move on successfully and for her and Arthur to be able to commit to each other publicly and be together well and truly without interference from anyone.
“We are agreed, then?”
Josie and Arthur nodded in unison, and as they approached Lucy’s house, Edward saw Arthur’s hand poised to take Josie’s as soon as they were in the door, and the girl’s equally eager to take his. He laughed out loud, almost a short bark, but neither one paid any attention, the entirety of their focus on each other.
His focus, however, was on the woman who sat alone on the sofa, her head in one hand as she leaned on one of the sofa’s arms. She wasn’t happy, and he was determined to do whatever was in his power to change that.
⁕
Lucy had not lost any more of her charges that day, but nearly all had been picked up earlier than usual. No parent acted strangely towards her, however, and she wondered if she was being nervous or if she was, on the other hand, hopeful and not picking up on odd behavior that might clue her in that more children would be removed from her care.
It was a Saturday, and often of a Saturday the parents did come early; some worked half days, some not at all, so it was difficult to guess how the following week would go based on this day. She was tired, though, in spite of having less time working with the children, and more than a little pleased to see her daughter and Arthur, along with the nice surprise of a visit from Edward as well.
She wasn’t sure her pleasure showed in her expression, however, and made a concerted effort to smile and look as she felt at their arrival.
“Well, I didn’t expect the pleasure of your company this evening, Dr. Colt,” she extended her hand as she stood and he took it, holding it in his as if he did not want to let it go. Arthur and Josie shared a glance and walked into the kitchen, Josie noting to her mother that she would put the kettle on.
Josie was pretty sure that her mother heard nothing, although she made a small noise that was meant to acknowledge Josie’s statement.
“I’m sorry I have nothing to offer you in the way of refreshment other than tea,” she began. “I’ve been remiss in baking. I have had a lot on my mind, but if I had known you would be visiting, I would have made something for your trouble.”
Edward shook his head, smiling, and nodded towards the sofa.
“Not at all, no trouble at all. Shall we sit? You do look a bit tired. Long day?”
They sat beside each other, their knees turned in just a bit so they all but faced each other, inches away from touching.
“I suppose. And you? Your work is so much more demanding than mine, I’m sure.”
He laughed.
“Oh, no, I’m sure it is no such thing. I do know that worrying is very taxing, however, and it has come to my attention that there might be something on your mind.”
Lucy covered her face with her hands briefly, as if to wipe away the strain before answering. He was quiet, allowing her to compose herself and her answer, worried that he might be invading her privacy, but as Josie had told him, he thought that the daughter might be well aware of how a mother might consider the information shared with a new friend who might be able to offer a helpful perspective.
“Yes, this is true. I expect Josie has told you of our predicament, if indeed there is one. It’s hard to say why anyone would think ill of her, and of me, in turn, when so many of the families out here have known us for years and we have never given anyone cause to question our propriety.”
“I am sure of it, and perhaps, as you say, there may not even be a problem. I only want you to know that I am available if you need to talk, and if I should hear anything in the course of my work day, I will certainly refute it.”
She smiled at him; it was easy to do, and she found herself very comfortable with him and his offer to help. She didn’t know what, if anything, he could actually do, but the thought was important and his intentions good.
“The road to hell . . .” she muttered to herself, chuckling quietly.
“Excuse me?”
The doctor was giving her a confused look, and she realized she had spoken aloud.
“My grandmother used to say that the road to hell was paved with good intentions. Do you believe that, sir?”
He took a deep breath and while she had been joking, in part, she saw that he was taking her question seriously.
“I think that if one stops at intentions, yes . . . one must act on one’s values and beliefs, and if he errs in the execution, well, that is only human error. I think many people have good thoughts but are afraid to behave in the manner they claim to believe, as it might not be popular. It is not an easy path we walk, Lucy, is it?”
She nodded, her eyes on his.
“We don’t walk it alone. Whatever I can do to help, please allow me the honor.”
She smiled at that, agreeing that indeed it was a path made easier by sharing.
“Let us check on the young people – they are very quiet in there. I’d like to know how the shelter plans are coming along.”
It was his turn to agree with her, and he offered his hand to help her to her feet and they went into the kitchen to ask Arthur and Josie for details on the project that Lucy had yet to hear, taking her own mind off her worries about the children.