Somewhere to Call Home

As they left the park and started back down Fifth Avenue, Michael said, “It’s about dinnertime. How does Delmonico’s sound? Should we see and be seen?”

“Oh, Michael, I was just teasing about that,” Mrs. Heaton said. “Besides, I should get back and see about the boarders’ meal.”

“Mother, you know the boarders realize that our Sunday night suppers are whatever you, Gretchen or Maida decide to put out for them. Maida will take care of it and they will be fine.”

“But it’s expensive, Michael—”

“No buts. I may not be able to afford a mansion on Fifth Avenue, but I think I can manage to take us to Delmonico’s. We’re going.”

Violet wasn’t quite sure how she felt about it, but Mrs. Heaton seemed quite pleased, and she didn’t have the heart to object and take the smile from her face.

Once at the elegant restaurant, they were shown to a table and given menus. Thankfully, the interior was dimly lit, because while a few other female diners were dressed in the manner that she and Mrs. Heaton were, most were dressed in gowns the likes of which Violet had never even dreamed of owning.

She felt a bit out of place, but if Mrs. Heaton did, it never showed, and Violet tried to relax and enjoy herself. There were so many offerings on the menu, both in English and French, Violet wasn’t sure what to order and asked Michael to choose. He chose lobster bisque to begin the meal of the Delmonico steak with asparagus and creamed potatoes.

Violet had never seen the evidence of so much wealth in her life from both the sights she’d seen on Fifth Avenue to the clientele of Delmonico’s. Once the waiter left them alone, she said so.

“There is a lot of wealth in New York City, to be sure. But there is also great poverty. You just can’t see it from here,” Michael said. “You will, though. You can’t live in the city for long and not become aware of it.”

“That’s true,” Mrs. Heaton agreed. “It is a shame, but a fact that cannot be disputed.”

“I think I’m glad I belong to neither group...although if I don’t find work soon, I could certainly become one of the impoverished,” Violet said.

“That isn’t going to happen, dear. Neither Michael nor I would see you turned out on the streets.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean... I know I have a place to stay and I’ll find work. What I meant was that I’m a lot closer to being poor than I am to being rich, and I don’t think I’d like to be either.”

Michael said, “I understand, and I must admit it is a great comfort to know that I have enough to enjoy my life, but not so much that someone would want to take it from me—or so little I’d want to take it from someone else.”

“Michael! You’d never do that.”

“I would not, Mother. But in this city, many do just that. I own a detective agency, Violet, and I’ve seen it all. Many who are poor will do most anything to survive, and some of the rich will do most anything to keep what they have.”

* * *

On the ride home Violet couldn’t remember ever having enjoyed a day more. The meal had been excellent, although she didn’t want to even think of how much it must have cost Michael to indulge in that way.

“Thank you for such a wonderful day. I only wish my mother could have been here to take it all in.”

“Oh, so do I, my dear,” Mrs. Heaton said. “She would have loved being here with us all.”

“Yes, she would have.”

Violet’s mother had told her that Mr. Heaton had left his wife and son fairly well off when he passed away. They weren’t wealthy like the Astors and the Vanderbilts she was learning so much about, but she had a feeling they could have been living in a style above that of running a boardinghouse. Mrs. Heaton still didn’t know what had happened to her daughter or even if she was still alive. And yet, she’d chosen to come to this city and reach out to others. That Mrs. Heaton chose to do that, to be there for young women who needed a place to feel safe, and that her son chose to support her in that endeavor, was proof enough for Violet that her sweet landlady sought to do the Lord’s will in her life. And Michael seemed to do the same.

All she knew about Rebecca’s disappearance was what her mother had told her. According to her, Rebecca had been talking about going to New York City for months before she actually did. Mrs. Heaton hadn’t been happy about it, but Becca was determined and of age and there wasn’t anything she could really do stop her from going. She’d evidently written to tell her mother that she was settled in a boardinghouse and would keep in touch. But that was the last they had heard from her. Finally after a couple of months with no answers from Rebecca, Mrs. Heaton received a packet with all her letters returned to her unopened with a note from the landlady saying that Rebecca hadn’t lived there in over a month. Violet couldn’t even imagine coming to this city without knowing anyone as Rebecca Heaton had done, and she was very thankful that the Heatons were here for her now.

Michael took his mother and Violet back to the boardinghouse before taking the surrey back to the livery and then walking back home. He helped his mother out first and then gave a hand to Violet to help her.

“I hope you enjoyed your day, Violet.”

“Oh, I enjoyed every minute. Thank you for dinner, Michael. It was wonderful.”

“I enjoyed it, too.” He stood there looking down at her for a moment before clearing his throat and taking a step back. “I’ll be back home soon.”

But he watched her and his mother get to the front door before taking up the reins and heading out.

When she and Mrs. Heaton entered the house, Violet realized that if it didn’t feel like home yet, it was beginning to feel very close to it. And once she thought about being alone back in Ashland, it felt even better to be here.

Several of the boarders were in the front parlor, including Lila. She didn’t look the least bit happy, and Violet wondered if it was only her Lila wasn’t happy to see.

“We were getting a bit worried about the three of you, Mrs. Heaton,” Lila said. “It isn’t like you to miss Sunday night supper.”

“I know, Lila. I’m sorry to have caused you concern, but Michael convinced me that Maida was perfectly capable of taking care of you all.”

“Oh? And where is Michael?”

“He’s gone back to the livery. He’ll be along shortly,” Mrs. Heaton answered. “We had a treat this evening. Michael took us to Delmonico’s for dinner.”

“Oh, my, Delmonico’s?” Julia said. “What’s it like? Who all did you see there?”

Violet found an empty chair and let Mrs. Heaton describe their outing. “Well, it is very dim in there so I can’t be sure, but I think I saw Mr. and Mrs. William Waldorf Astor along with the Carnegies.” She named several other people that Violet had never heard of, but the others in the room seemed to know exactly whom she was talking about.

More and more questions were asked, and Mrs. Heaton glowed recounting the people she thought she’d seen and the meals they’d ordered. Michael slipped into the room and listened to his mother’s account of dining and grinned. Catching Violet’s eye, he gave her smile. It was obvious that he was pleased his mother enjoyed herself so much. He was a good son.

Mrs. Heaton held everyone’s attention from the beginning to the end of her report. “I hope you all get a chance to go there at least once. The interior was so elegant, and the food was truly delicious. I’m sure I’ll not forget this day anytime soon.”

“From your wonderful description, Mrs. Heaton, I feel I’ve just been there. I’m so glad you enjoyed yourself,” Elizabeth said.

“Thank you, dear. I wish you all could have been there. It certainly wasn’t something we planned.”

“No, it was not,” Michael said. “But if I’d known you would like it this much, I’d have taken you long before now.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Mrs. Heaton,” Lila said. But the look she shot Violet seemed to say that she wasn’t happy that Violet had been there with her.

Julia came to sit beside Violet. “I’m so glad you had a great day. How did you like Central Park?”

“It was wonderful. It’s so beautiful and peaceful. I look forward to spending more time there soon. I hope you had a good time with your family.”

“Oh, I did, thank you. I told Mama about you and she said you must come with me next time.” She glanced over at Lila, who had made her way over to Michael and was talking to him. “I think Lila would rather have been with the Heatons and had you go with me.”

Violet looked at the couple. Lila was leaning toward Michael and talking to him in earnest. Maybe there was more between them than she’d first thought. “Oh? Are they courting? I mean—”

“Not that I know of.” Julia chuckled. “Lila might wish for that, but as far as I know Michael has never given her any reason to think that he might want to court her. He is very conscious of the fact that his mother runs this boardinghouse, and he behaves with the utmost propriety toward all of us.”