A Lady's Choice (15 page)

Alex raised his head after the benediction and glanced around the church. He hadn't wasted any time in finding a church to attend when he'd returned to Memphis after the holidays, and he had to admit he liked his choice. After two months of attending services, he'd gotten to know quite a few of the members, and he already felt at home.

As he walked up the aisle toward the vestibule, he stopped at the sound of his name being called out. He turned and smiled at the sight of Will Page, a friend from law school, waving to him from the front of the church. He slid into an empty pew and waited for Will to make his way up the aisle to him.

With a big grin on his face, Will pushed into the pew and grabbed Alex's hand. “Alex Taylor, imagine seeing you here.”

Alex shook his hand and laughed. “I've been attending here for about two months now.”

“I've been out of town since before Christmas. I just got back yesterday. It's great to see you.”

They dropped down on the bench and turned to face each other. Alex smiled at the man who, along with Ben Cooper, had been his study partner through law school. “I haven't seen you since graduation. Have you heard from Ben?”

Will laughed and turned to rest his arm on the back of the pew. “Ben headed to Washington after we graduated, you know. He landed a job with Dudley Malone and Matthew O'Brien, those lawyers in Washington who have been so vocal in supporting suffrage.”

Alex gaped at Will and frowned. “Ben's working in the suffrage movement?”

“Yeah, you know he always supported gender equality. I guess he's found some lawyers who think like he does. From all accounts, he's happy as can be.”

Alex thought of his friend from law school and remembered how passionate he had been when he talked about the injustices women had endured. His stomach roiled, and Alex knew it was from his guilt over dismissing Ben's opinions. If he had listened then, things might have turned out so differently for Sarah and him. Alex sat up straighter and turned his attention back to Will. “But what are you doing in Memphis? I thought you were going to stay in Nashville and practice.”

Will laughed. “You know me, always looking for something better. I got an offer from a firm here and decided to take it instead. I meant to look you up, but I've been busy.”

“You don't sound too busy, not if your boss let you off for two months. Maybe I need to check him out.”

The tips of Will's big ears turned red. Alex had seen that reaction many times in class when he had been embarrassed by one of their professors. “No need to do that. You wouldn't like it there. That firm doesn't practice our kind of law.”

“And what kind is that?”

Will frowned. “You know what I mean. Do you remember all those conversations you and Ben and I had about serving the people and helping those who had no one else to stand up for them?”

Alex nodded. “Yes, I remember. We talked about being gallant and our belief that everyone is entitled to a defense.” The words reminded Alex of how far he'd strayed from that ideal.

“I found out that the firm I'd joined didn't care about what I believed. I was told who I could represent and who I couldn't. I finally got tired of it, and I quit right before Christmas.”

Alex stared at Will in surprise. “You quit? What are you going to do now?”

A big smile creased Will's face. “I'm starting a new job next week. The city of Memphis has decided to fund a new office called the Public Defender's Office. This is the first such office in the state. It will be staffed with lawyers who offer legal services to those who can't afford to hire a lawyer, and I'm going to be one of them. Just think, Alex, I'll be one of the first in the state to provide legal help to those in need. It's just what we always talked about.”

“But what about the salary? Surely it doesn't compare with what you were making.”

Will chuckled. “The salary's not that great, but it's enough to live on. I found out in a hurry that money can't make up for what you sacrifice in selling out your beliefs. I feel like this is what God is telling me to do, Alex. For the first time since leaving law school I'm happy.”

Alex stared at him for a moment before he nodded. “I'm happy for you, Will. It sounds just like what we always talked about. I'm glad Memphis is going to provide an example to the rest of the state.”

“They've still got some openings. Want to come join us?”

Alex shook his head. “It's tempting, but I'm making it all right at the moment. But since we're now attending the same church, I expect I'll be hearing all about this new job.”

A wistful expression covered Will's face. “Just think, Alex, after all those midnight talks about the future, I'm going to get the chance to make a difference.” Will pushed to his feet. “It's been great seeing you today. I hate to run off, but I'm expected at my future in-laws' house for Sunday dinner.”

Alex rose. “So you're getting married? Do I know her?”

“No, I met her when I started attending church here. How about you? Any woman in your life?”

Alex shook his head. “I'm afraid not, but I'm happy for you.”

Will stepped into the aisle. “I'll see you later.”

Alex nodded and watched his friend rush up the aisle and out of the church before he sank back down in the pew. He'd tried to get up his nerve ever since returning to Memphis to go see Sarah, but he hadn't been able to yet. There were things he needed to say to her, to apologize for, but he still hadn't come to grips with her need to pursue her cause. Maybe in time he would.

He bowed his head and prayed for God to give him guidance in how to approach Sarah.

Sarah knew she would always remember this moment—7:00 p.m. on the first day of spring in 1917. She wanted to stand up and shout, but she doubted if her legs would support her. Her hands clenched the edge of the sofa cushion, and she stared up at Mrs. Simpson and Roger, who faced her with their backs to the fireplace.

A smile pulled at Roger's lips. “You look stunned, my dear.”

“Are you serious?”

Roger laughed out loud, and Mrs. Simpson dropped down on the sofa next to her. “We are.”

Sarah slowly looked from one to the other. “We're going to Washington next week?”

Roger nodded. “If that's okay with you.”

“B–but how… I mean, school won't be out for two more months. How can we just leave?”

Roger sat down on the other side of Sarah and turned to face her. “I know this is sooner than we'd planned, but there's a reason. As you know, Alice Paul and some of her workers had been meeting with President Wilson every week to press our case for enfranchisement. Those talks came to an end in January, and Miss Paul is now planning her next course of action. The executive board of our group met this afternoon, and we decided we couldn't wait any longer to send her aid. Everybody on the committee had other commitments until the summer, so I told them we would work out something so we could go.”

Sarah thought of the girls in her class and the boarders she supervised. How could she walk away and leave them? “But you haven't said what we'll do about school. What about my classes?”

Mrs. Simpson reached over and clasped Sarah's hand. “You know how much this school means to me. I've worked hard to build it into one of the best schools in the city. But I look at the young girls here, and I have another obligation to them. I don't want them to leave here with a good education and still be second-class citizens because they can't vote. I can get a teacher to cover your classes for the rest of the year. I don't think I can find anyone else better than you to work for their right to enter the voting booth.”

Mrs. Simpson's words humbled Sarah, and she reached over and hugged the woman who had played such an important role in her life. “Thank you, Mrs. Simpson. My parents wanted me to attend school here because they knew you shared their dream. They would be so happy to know you're giving me this opportunity.”

Roger leaned closer and smiled. “But there's more, my dear. As you know, we're having a big rally at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday night. The committee wants you to be one of the speakers.”

“Me?” Sarah's voice rose to a high pitch. “Why?”

“They want to introduce the young girl who is taking our fight to Washington. You do know you'll probably be one of the youngest women working with Alice Paul, don't you?”

The breath almost left Sarah's body as she thought of Alice Paul, the Hicksite Quaker who had been raised to believe in gender equality. To catch a glimpse of her would have been more than Sarah could have hoped for, but to work alongside her was like a dream come true. “I'll do whatever I can to support Miss Paul in her quest for recognition of women across this country.”

Mrs. Simpson smiled and patted Sarah's arm. “We know you will. Now, since your dear mother is no longer with us, I feel it is my duty to go as your chaperone to Washington.” She arched an eyebrow in Roger's direction. “And Roger feels that he must go and watch over the two women in his life. I've already spoken to Miss Abercrombie, the assistant headmistress, about taking over my duties until the end of the year. So we can leave next week.”

Sarah turned to Roger. “Can you leave work?”

He laughed. “My cotton brokerage and the school almost run without me anyway. Besides, I want to spend some time with members of Congress and see if can't influence some of them to our way of thinking.”

“Do we know where we'll be staying?”

Roger stood up and walked back to the fireplace. “I called a friend of mine in Washington, and he gave me the number of a Realtor. I'll get in touch with him tomorrow. I want you two to have a house, but I'll probably stay at a nearby hotel and take my meals with you. I thought we could take Dora to cook and clean for you.”

Mrs. Simpson stood up, walked to her nephew, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You think of everything, darling.”

“I try, Aunt Edna. I only want to make life easier for you and Sarah.”

Aunt Edna smiled up at him. “You do every day.” She glanced back at Sarah. “Now I think I'll go up to my room. You two can continue to plan our great adventure, but I think I'll get ready for bed.”

“Good night, Mrs. Simpson.” Sarah stood and watched her leave the room before she turned back to Roger. “I can't thank you enough for this opportunity, Roger. How will I ever repay all your kindness?”

He took a step toward her. “I don't want any repayment, Sarah. Surely you know I'd do anything for you. I love you, and I want to marry you.”

She recoiled from the words she'd hoped he would never say to her. She swallowed hard and tried to regain her composure. “Roger, please don't say that. You are my dear friend, and we share friendship and a commitment to a common goal. But I don't think of you like a woman should think about the man she'll marry. In fact, I doubt if I'll ever marry.”

His eyes darkened, and he doubled his fists at his sides. “Is it that farmer you met last summer? Is he the reason you don't want to marry me?”

She lifted her chin and stared into his eyes. “First of all, Alex is a lawyer, and I don't like the tone of your voice when you speak of farmers. I met some wonderful people last summer who were farmers, and they were very good to my mother and me.”

“You haven't answered my question. Why won't you marry me?”

“Marriage should be based on love, and I don't love you.”

He studied her for a moment. Then he walked toward her, put his finger under her chin, and tilted her face up to look at him. “I love you enough to make up for how you feel. I know I can change your mind, and I will. I'm used to getting what I want, and you're going to marry me.”

“Roger, please…”

“Hush.” He put his index finger on her lips. “You will change your mind, and you will be my wife.”

He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. Then he turned and walked out the door. Sarah stood frozen in place until the front door closed. She dropped down on the couch and clasped her hands around her waist.

What was she going to do? Roger seemed certain he could persuade her, and she was just as determined he wouldn't. Maybe this trip to Washington was coming at a good time. Her volunteer work at Alice Paul's headquarters would give her the perfect excuse for staying away from him. In time he would come to see there was no hope for changing her mind.

At least that's what she hoped would happen.