A Daughter’s Return

Once dinner was finished, Rebecca turned to Jenny. “Run up and wash your hands, so we can go visit Aunt Violet and Uncle Michael, and baby Marcus, of course. We need to get going.”

“I’ll hurry, Mama,” Jenny said, slipping out of her chair and running out of the room.

Rebecca turned to her mother. “Ben has offered to escort us there and back, Mama.”

“How nice of you, Ben,” her mother said, giving him a smile before turning back to her daughter. “The outing will be good for you, dear. Cuddle baby Marcus for me.”

“I will. I’d better go freshen up a bit myself. We’ll be back down in a few minutes, Ben.”

“I’ll be here.”

Once they left the room, Mrs. Heaton turned to Ben. “Thank you for offering to escort them, Ben. Rebecca has been on her own for a long time, having to do things by herself. But I do so appreciate her trying to live by the rules I’ve set for the other women at Heaton House.”

“You’re welcome. And I’m sure Rebecca wouldn’t want to undermine your rules for the others.”

“No. She wouldn’t.” Mrs. Heaton nodded. “I do hope she’ll start joining you all on your outings and leave Jenny with me before too long. Rebecca needs to have a little fun in her life.”

“I’m sure we’ll be able to talk her into some outings, Mrs. Heaton. We’ll do our best.” He certainly would.

“Thank you, Ben. I think being around you all is exactly what my daughter needs right now.”

She didn’t elaborate and Ben didn’t press.

“We’re here!” Jenny bounded back into the dining room. “Are you ready, Mr. Ben?”

Ben jumped up and grinned at the child. “I am, Miss Jenny. But where’s your mama? Isn’t she going with us?”

Jenny giggled. “Of course she is, but she’s not as fast as I am.”

“She’s right, I’m not.” Rebecca said, entering the room. “I must be getting old.”

“You’re not old, Mama,” Jenny said. “Even Granma isn’t old yet.”

Mrs. Heaton laughed. “Oh, Jenny, darling, you are so good for your grandma! Come give me a kiss before you go.”

Jenny ran into her grandmother’s arms as her mother smiled and watched. The love in her eyes for her child and her mother touched Ben’s heart. Rebecca was happy to be with her family again. One could see it—feel it even.

Rebecca’s smile lit her face and Ben hoped she’d be smiling more in the days to come. It wasn’t that she frowned. And it wasn’t that she appeared to be in a bad mood. There seemed to be something keeping her from enjoying being back with her family to its fullest—as if she were afraid her joy would be taken away from her. As if she didn’t deserve it.

Ben related—somewhat. At least he knew what it was to deny himself something he feared wouldn’t last. His own mother had cast him aside, and then the woman he’d hoped to make a life with had rejected him. How could he ever trust that any other woman he might fall in love with wouldn’t do the same?

* * *

“Ben? Are you ready?” He seemed lost in thought when Rebecca spoke to him, but he quickly turned to her and smiled.

“I’m sorry. I must have been woolgathering. Let’s go.”

“Better grab your wraps. It’s getting cold out,” Mrs. Heaton said.

“We will, Mama,” Rebecca said. She couldn’t help but smile as they went to the foyer to get their jackets. She supposed she’d be telling Jenny the same thing when Jenny was her age. Since she’d become a mother, Rebecca had appreciated her own more than ever. Now she welcomed the chance to show her how much.

She helped Jenny on with her new jacket, thankful she had one warm enough for the cooler weather. Not long after she’d been found, Michael and her mother had called her into her office and told her that her father had left a small inheritance to her for when she turned twenty-one. But she’d gone missing by then. Still, they’d invested the money, trusting she’d be found one day and they turned it over to her.

What they called small had seemed like a fortune to Rebecca, although she realized she’d need to handle her inheritance well and she was determined to make sure she saved for Jenny’s future. However, it had enabled her to purchase new wardrobes and to buy Jenny the doll she’d wanted so long for Christmas with plenty left over in savings—even after letting Michael invest some of it. Rebecca felt truly blessed as Ben helped her on with her coat and they hurried out into the brisk evening air.

Lights were on in most of the homes surrounding Gramercy Park, helping to guide the way to the trolley stop. The leafless trees stood stark against the night sky, but Rebecca knew that in a few months they’d be budding out to give much needed shade.

Rebecca loved the small park and was glad she had access to it because of living at Heaton House. She could take Jenny outside to play anytime—without worrying about the filth in the street or in the hallway of the building they’d lived in. She was so very thankful they were out of those tenements.

Now she smiled as she watched Jenny hop, skip and jump to the trolley stop, but she never got too far ahead. Once they got on, she climbed up onto Rebecca’s lap and looked out of the window. They’d walked most places when they lived in the tenements and getting to ride anywhere was quite a treat for them both.

The ride wasn’t a long one, which was a good thing because Jenny was very excited about seeing her baby cousin. As they stepped off the trolley and walked the block to Michael’s home, she ran ahead just far enough to ring the doorbell as Rebecca and Ben reached the steps. The door flung wide to let them in.

“Hello, Uncle Michael! Is baby Marcus still awake?”

Michael swept Jenny up into his arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek, while Rebecca and Ben came in and took off their coats. “Yes. He’s been waiting for you. We’ve missed you, Jenny!”

“I’ve missed you, too, but I do love being at Granma’s.”

“We’re glad you do, but our house sure has been quieter since you’ve been gone.”

“Doesn’t Marcus make any noise?”

“Well, yes, but he can’t talk, you know.” Michael set her down and helped her off with her coat before handing it to Rebecca. “He’s in the parlor with Aunt Violet.”

Jenny took off in a run and Rebecca followed her into the parlor to ooh and aah over the baby. He was adorable, with Michael’s hair and Violet’s eyes, and holding him made Rebecca wish life might be different and she’d have a loving husband and more children. But that wasn’t in her future and she pushed the thought to the back of her mind.

Michael and Ben joined them and they began talking sports while Rebecca and Violet talked about the upcoming housewarmings they’d all been invited to. Kathleen and Luke’s party was first up for the next weekend and then Elizabeth and John Talbot’s would be a few weeks later.

“I can’t wait to see their homes,” Violet said.

“Neither can I. I’m sure Elizabeth’s aunt is helping her, but I should find out if Kathleen needs any help,” Rebecca said.

It seemed odd to Rebecca that although her mother owned Heaton House and her background wasn’t very different from those living at the boardinghouse, Rebecca sometimes felt more at ease around Kathleen than anyone. Perhaps it was because she’d been the one to persuade her to come back to her family.

Kathleen had lived in the tenements, too, although they hadn’t known each other then. Still, there seemed to be a kinship in having lived in similar places. There was no need to discuss the conditions there, for they were much the same for all of them. It was comforting to be around others who’d wondered if they would ever be able to get out.

They were all proof one could, and as Kathleen and her sister, Colleen, had been able to help others in those situations, now Rebecca found she wanted to lend a helping hand in a similar way. She just wasn’t sure how.

“I imagine Kathleen would appreciate some help,” Violet said. “I am so happy for them all, but things must be a lot quieter at Heaton House.”

“Things aren’t quite as lively as they used to be with everyone there. Mama plans to put an advertisement in the paper as soon as the remodeling she wants to do is finished.”

“I’m glad you’re there to help her with all that, sis. How’s everything else going for you?” Michael asked. “Ben told me you’re taking classes from him.”

Rebecca nodded. “Everything is going well, and yes, I start classes this coming Tuesday. Ben has been helping me catch up with his students.”

“She’s excellent at math and she’s going to do really well in the business classes,” Ben said