Somewhere to Call Home (Love Inspired Historical) (6 page)

“I’m glad as well, sir.”

“Come this way, Miss Burton,” Miss Carter said.

Violet stood and followed her. But just before they left by a side door leading to another office, she turned back. “Thank you again!”

“You are quite welcome, young lady,” Mr. Butterick said.

Violet fought the urge to run back into the room and hug the man. She couldn’t believe it. She had a job at Butterick. She would be able to pay off the mortgage on her home. Violet couldn’t wait to share the news with Michael.

Chapter Six

M
ichael jumped out of the hack as soon as Violet came out of Butterick. She didn’t try to hide her smile and he grinned at her. “You got the job, didn’t you?”

“They hired me. I start tomorrow, Michael.” She placed a hand over her hammering heart.

“Oh, Violet, that’s great news. I’ve been out here praying that you would be hired, but never did I dream that you would find out today, especially not after—” Michael stopped speaking and looked at Violet apologetically.

“My earlier interviews today.” Violet smiled and said the words for him. “It’s all right, Michael. I was thinking the very same thing. I’m finding it hard to take in, but it’s true. I really have work. I still can’t believe it! But they were so very nice, and Mr. Butterick himself told me I was hired!”

“From what Lila has told us, I thought he was retired now.”

“I think he is. But evidently he comes in from time to time to see how things are going and today was one of those days. I didn’t even realize he was in the room until he spoke up from behind me.”

Michael chuckled. “I’m sure that surprised you.”

“Oh, it did!”

“You must have impressed him as one who will work hard and do your best for the company.”

“I’m not sure about that. I think he might have had some sympathy for me with my mother’s passing and all.”

“Well, for whatever reason you were hired, I am sure they’ll never regret it.”

“I certainly hope not.”

Michael helped her back into the hack and took his seat beside her. “You know, Mother probably isn’t even home yet, and I’m taking at least half a day off. Why don’t you let me take you to lunch to celebrate?”

Violet loved his suggestion, but she didn’t want to impose on his time any more than she already had. “Oh, Michael, you don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t, but I’d like to. Unless you don’t want to—”

“Oh, I’d love to have lunch with you, Michael. And I must admit I’m in the mood to celebrate.”

“Well, then. That’s what we’ll do. And you’ll be doing a lot of it this week. Mother loves to have something to celebrate.”

Michael leaned forward and said something to the driver, but Violet couldn’t understand what he said. And it really didn’t matter where they went, she was just glad to get to spend more time with him.

The hack moved out into traffic, and the route he took was one Violet hadn’t seen before. Of course, as large as New York City was, she doubted that she’d ever see it all. Still, she loved looking at the buildings, seeing all the hustle and bustle on the streets.

Michael turned to her. “You know, Violet, now that you have a job, I must admit to not knowing a lot about why you came here to find employment instead of staying in Virginia—not that we’re not glad you did, but—”

“Your mother didn’t tell you?”

“Not really, only that you needed to come here and find work to pay off the mortgage on your family home because you couldn’t find employment there. When I asked why, she said it was your story to tell. And if you’d rather not tell me, that’s all right.”

Violet shook her head. She was impressed that Mrs. Heaton hadn’t told even Michael all about Harlan. Since she was staying at his mother’s and he’d been such a help to her, she felt she owed it to Michael to tell him what had happened.

“No, I don’t mind. I just thought you knew. I couldn’t find a position in Ashland because, well, the banker who holds the mortgage to my home made it impossible for me to find work.”

“Why would he do that? Seems to me he’d be helping you and not trying to hinder you.”

“One would think so. But he had other plans. He thought that if I couldn’t find a position at home, I’d give in and marry him. Said he’d forgive the loan if I did.”

“He tried to blackmail you into marrying him?”

“Why, yes, I suppose that is what he did. But I couldn’t bear for him to...” Violet shuddered, remembering that last time she’d talked to him.

“Violet, he didn’t try to— He didn’t hurt you did he?”

“No. Other than grab my arm and try to convince me. But I must admit I wonder what might happen if he ever finds out where I am.”

“He doesn’t know?”

“Not that I know of. And I hope not. I went to some lengths to keep him from knowing.”

“I see. And who is this banker? What’s his name?”

“Harlan Black. Do you remember him?”

“I do. I’m glad you turned his offer down, Violet.”

“Yes, so am I. Now I just want to get that mortgage paid off so that I can have my family home back free and clear.”

Suddenly, a crash was heard up ahead, and their driver brought the hack to an abrupt stop, jostling her and throwing her against Michael.

“Are you all right?” Michael asked as he gently helped her sit back up.

Violet nodded and Michael turned to the driver. “What is it? What’s happened?”

“I’m sorry, sir, but it seems there has been an accident up the street.” He stood to get a better look before turning to Michael. “Could be a while. Looks like there’s been a pileup of vehicles in the intersection.”

“Oh, dear. Is anyone hurt?” Violet asked.

“Don’t look like it, ma’am. But traffic is piled up ever which away. Don’t you worry none. I’ll get us around it all.” He sat back down and quickly turned the horse to go back the way they’d come. Then he took a detour along one of the side streets, turning the hack this way and that into areas Violet knew she hadn’t seen.

She noticed that the area seemed to be more residential than commercial, yet there were buildings, not homes, up and down the blocks. When their driver stopped at the next intersection she asked, “What are these buildings, Michael? It looks as if people live here.”

“You’re right. They do. These are apartment buildings and multiple-family residents. Some are two- and three-family dwellings along here and some much larger. On farther down there are what we refer to as the tenements, where many immigrant families live. There is much crowding together there and the living conditions for so many have been atrocious.”

Violet craned her neck to look down the street as their driver took the hack into the intersection and turned once more. Soon they were in what must be the middle of what Michael had called the tenements. Violet could see all manner of trash piled up in front of many of the homes. And the smell was... Violet prayed she didn’t gag before they got out of the area.

She saw young children playing in the streets, even in the trash, and some just standing on the street corner. Two little boys in particular caught her eye as they stood, holding hands and looking sadder than any children should.

“Oh, Michael, look at those two little boys.”

“Stop, driver,” Michael said. He motioned to the two little boys to come closer, and at first they started to move forward and then they stopped. Their eyes were big and blue and looked as if they’d been crying.

“They’re afraid to come near,” Violet said. She pulled some coins from her reticule and held them out so that the boys could see, but they shook their heads. Then she dropped them on the street and Michael told the driver to be on his way.

Violet turned in her seat to watch the two little boys as they hurried into the street and gathered the coins. She waved and, after a moment, they waved back with the most wistful expression she’d ever seen in their eyes. Surely there was more to do there. She watched until the driver turned down another street and she didn’t think she’d ever forget the look in their eyes.

“Driver, get us out of here—now,” Michael said when he turned down one more wrong street. “Surely you could have found another way to go!”

“Sorry, sir! I took a wrong turn up there for sure. We’ll be out of here soon.” The driver flicked the reins and the hack picked up speed as he did as told.

“I’m sorry, Violet. You need to know this way of life exists here, but I never wanted you to see it like this. I know it’s nothing like you’ve seen back in Ashland.” Michael sighed and shook his head. “Sadly, this is as much a part of the city as the mansions we passed the other day are.”

Violet could see the sorrow in Michael’s eyes as he went on, “It is absolutely horrible what some in this city endure. But with the publication of Jacob Riis’s manuscript called
How the Other Half Lives,
many have been fighting to change things for the poor.”

“I’m relieved to hear that. I can’t imagine living in those conditions.” She’d really had only a glimpse of it, but it’d been enough to throw her imagination into high gear and now she felt she must know more.

“The reality of it is heartbreaking. And sometimes, I wonder if Becca could have been caught up in... If she might be—” Michael broke off and shook his head.

“Michael? Surely you don’t think Rebecca could be living in that kind of...” Violet didn’t even know how to continue the thought. Didn’t want to.

“I simply don’t know, Violet.”

His voice was hoarse and his eyes so sorrowful, Violet wished she’d kept her mouth shut. “I’m sorry, Michael.”

As if it were too painful to talk about, he shook his head. He continued as if his sister hadn’t been mentioned. “With the right people finally in office, things are changing, thank the Lord. Since Mayor Strong was voted into office last November, real effort is being put into cleaning up the streets and helping to make living conditions somewhat easier for those who must live in such crowded spaces. But living in the tenements is nothing like what you and I are used to, Violet. The streets have been much worse than you see now—filled with rubbish, trash...so much so that vehicles could barely get down them. It’s a shame what the city allowed.”

“It’s that bad?” Violet asked. Her heart broke for those children and the people living in such dire conditions as Michael described. The overcrowding, the filth and disease they were forced to live with. What she’d seen was bad enough; she hated to think of it being worse.

“Yes. Of course, it is a big city and I suppose it is to be expected. And I’m hopeful that with Theodore Roosevelt, the new police commissioner in charge of fighting the crime in the city, the crime rate will come down. Much has been done since the elections, but more must be accomplished.” Michael sighed. “So much more.”

Hearing that things had been even worse than what she’d seen, Violet could only nod in agreement.

“Do you have that book you mentioned, Michael? May I borrow it?”

“I do. It’s in Mother’s study, and of course you may borrow it.”

Curious as she was about the tenements and those that lived in them, Violet felt even more blessed that she had the Heatons to turn to in this city and she was eager to get out of this area of it.

As they made it back to Fifth Avenue, Violet breathed a deep sigh of relief. But the comparison between the tenements they’d passed through earlier and the wealth in this part of the city—not to mention the conversation about Rebecca—was almost more than she could take in. Violet tried to put the sights she’d seen in the tenements out of her mind and concentrate on celebrating her new job. Besides, she didn’t want to spoil Michael’s plans.

* * *

Michael took Violet to one of his favorite restaurants not far from his office. It catered to both men and women, so he felt sure Violet would feel comfortable. He tried to keep the conversation on lighter things.

He owed it to her. He hadn’t meant to put a damper on her day by bringing up the reason for her move to the city, but he had. He had managed to bring up hurtful memories for her—to think any man had treated her that way had him clenching his teeth.

And then—how they’d ended up in the part of town they had was beyond him—but it had only served to diminish her joy in finding a job even further...and brought up memories of the sister he couldn’t find. He couldn’t believe he’d opened up and confided his fears to Violet. He rarely talked about Rebecca to anyone anymore. Maybe it was because she’d been open with him—or maybe it was simply because she knew Rebecca and no one in this city did. But the fact remained that he’d managed to make her smile disappear and he wanted it back.

“Would you like to help me surprise Mother, Violet?”

“Surprise her?” Violet leaned her head to the side and smiled at him. “What do you have in mind?”

“Well, I feel sure she would have wanted to take you to the Ladies’ Mile to celebrate your good news—did she mention it?”

“She might have. But it’s all right, Michael. I’ll get to go another day.”

“Why don’t you let me take you?”

“Oh, Michael, I’ve imposed enough on your time. I’d never ask you to take me to the Ladies’ Mile.” She giggled. “But thank you for the offer.”

“You haven’t imposed on me. I believe it was my suggestion to take you and Mother around the other day, and I know it was my suggestion to go with you today. And you’re right to assume I might be a bit uncomfortable visiting most of the shops in the Ladies’ Mile. But we could go to Macy’s. It has most everything anyone—man, woman or child— might need or want. Would you like to go there?”

“Michael, really you don’t have to—”

“Actually, I could use a new cravat, and you could help me choose one.” He’d gotten her to smile again, but now, his goal seemed to be to get her to let him take her to Macy’s. “Please.”

Violet’s laugh was light and melodious. “Well, if you put it that way, I’d be glad to go to Macy’s with you, Michael.”

“Let’s go, then.”

He pulled out her chair. As they headed out of the restaurant, he couldn’t ignore the admiring glances Violet received from the men at other tables. But she seemed oblivious to them and he smiled. She truly was like a breath of fresh air in this city.

He hired a hack to take them to Macy’s and once inside, watching Violet’s expression as she saw all that was offered in the store, Michael couldn’t remember when he’d enjoyed shopping so much.

And Violet did help him choose a new cravat—a red one no less. He wasn’t sure where he’d wear it, but she seemed to like it. “It will look wonderful with the black suit you wore on Sunday or the gray one you have on now,” she said.

He was flattered that she remembered what he wore and once he’d made his purchase, he turned to her. “Now, what would
you
like to look for?”