Glimmers of Change (17 page)

Silence filled the kitchen.

“Our president went on to say these decisions shouldn’t be made while eleven states remain unrepresented.”

“For the very reasons we need the Freedmen’s Bureau renewed,” Abby sputtered. “The eleven states are the problem!”

Matthew took a deep breath and continued. “President Johnson told Congress he had been chosen by the people of
all
the states, and that he had a broader view of the national interest than members of the Congress who were merely elected from a single district.”

Robert whistled. “I can imagine how that went over. Not to mention that
all
the states didn’t include the South.”

Matthew nodded. “I overheard one Republican say that Johnson was rather modest for a man who was made president by an assassin,” he said wryly, his eyes flashing with anger.

“So everything will be a fight from now on,” Thomas said slowly.

“Everything to do with Reconstruction,” Matthew agreed. “The battle lines have been drawn. Johnson has made it clear he will veto every bill having to do with it. He will block any federal attempts to help the freedmen.” He shook his head. “As far as he was concerned, he believed he didn’t have a good choice. However much I disagree with him, I think he honestly believes he made the better of two bad choices.”

“Now that he has vetoed, he is going to have to fight the radicals,” Thomas observed. “If he had signed the bill, the Democratic support he has garnered in the South would have gone away.”

Carrie shook her head in disgust. “Continuing evidence that politics is more important than simple human rights. To say we’ve not offered aid to other people is preposterous. Other people were not stolen from their own country and enslaved for more than one hundred years! Does he seriously think the black population can emerge from that without any help at all?”

Matthew’s expression made it clear he agreed with her.

“Will Congress override the veto?” Abby asked.

Matthew scowled. “They tried…the very next day. The attempt fell short by two votes of the necessary two-thirds.”

Thomas whistled. “That should have made him nervous. How many Republicans voted to override it?” He smiled when Matthew looked at him with surprise. “Abby and I have been catching up with politics since your announcement at Christmas.”

“We’re not going to be so ignorant again,” Abby added. “How many Republicans voted to override it, Matthew?”

“Thirty of thirty-eight.”

Abby nodded. “That’s good. Johnson has been thinking it was just the Radical Republicans he would have a problem with.”

Thomas nodded. “He thought the moderate Republicans would go his way.”

“He has misconstrued the lines of division within the Republican Party,” Matthew agreed. “I talked to a friend before I left. President Johnson’s plan was to provoke the Radicals into opposing him so they could be isolated and destroyed. He hoped the Republican mainstream would form a new party with him.”

Abby gasped. “A new party? He couldn’t possibly have been serious! It’s been less than a year since the war ended. Did he really think all the Republicans would forget the price that was paid and simply go along with him?”

“Evidently,” Matthew replied. “He had his wakeup call when the override vote almost passed. Only eight Republicans voted for him.” He frowned. “It gets worse.”

“Worse?” Carrie asked. “How is that possible? Our country is being run by a man who is clearly out of touch with reality.”

“The day before I left, Johnson gave a speech to honor Washington’s birthday. He equated Senators Stevens, Sumner, and Wendell Phillips with Confederate leaders. He said they all were opposed to the fundamental principles of this government. He even implied they were plotting his assassination.”

“Oh, for pity’s sake,” Abby muttered. “President Lincoln would be horrified if he could see what is happening in the country,” she said sadly.

“I agree with Carrie that President Johnson is out of touch with reality,” Matthew stated somberly, “but unfortunately he has support. I listened to his speech. It certainly displayed him at his worst. He referred to himself over two hundred times in just one hour, and the speech revealed just how intolerant he is of criticism.”

“But…?” Thomas asked grimly.

“The Democrats loved it,” he replied. “They admitted much of the speech was done in questionable taste, but they agreed with everything he said — and applauded him for having the courage to say it. He also has tremendous support among Northern bankers and merchants who believe the Bureau is interfering with the plantation discipline necessary to get cotton production back on track.” Matthew made no attempt to hide his disgust.

May snorted. “That’s what all them Black Codes be about. We sure enough getting tired of hearing about how we don’t want to work. I don’t know
anybody
that don’t want to work. We just want the freedom to decide what we gonna do!”

Abby reached over and took May’s hand before she looked back at Matthew. “What is going to happen?”

“Many Republicans consider the veto a declaration of war against the Republican Party and the freedmen. I believe the elections in the fall are going to be a battleground.”

“But what about
now
? The veto is certainly going to inflame the Black Code sentiments even more,” Carrie said angrily. “They’re going to believe they can get away with anything because of President Johnson’s attitude.”

Matthew nodded heavily. “I’m afraid you’re right.”

“So what will happen?” Abby repeated.

“The Radical Republicans will continue to fight.”

“But…?” Abby pressed. “No more hiding things you don’t think we’ll want to hear. Try that again and you may never eat another one of May’s cookies,” she said sternly.

Matthew managed a smile before he grew even more serious. “I’m afraid it’s going to take something major to force everyone’s hand.”

“Like?” Carrie asked anxiously, her mind conjuring up horrible images of vigilante justice.

Matthew exchanged a long look with her. “I don’t know, but I don’t think any of us are going to like the answer to that question.”

Carrie was dressing when she heard a light tap on the door. “As long as you’re not Robert you can come in,” she called. She had made him go into the other room to dress so that she could surprise him.

Abby opened the door and slipped in, her eyes glowing with pride when she saw Carrie. “You’re beautiful,” she said softly.

“Only because you picked the most beautiful gown in the world,” Carrie cried, rushing forward to wrap Abby in a hug. “Thank you.”

Abby held her close for a long moment and stepped back, her eyes misty with emotion. “I’ve always dreamed of having a daughter to buy clothes for,” she murmured. “That it is you is a joy I can never be grateful enough for. I love you, Carrie.”

“And I love you, Abby,” Carrie whispered. “During the long years of the war I was so afraid I would never see you again. To have you become my mother is more than I could have ever hoped for.”

Abby held her close again, and then released her and waved her hand. “Spin,” she commanded.

Carrie obeyed, knowing the emerald gown with soft yellow piping fit her perfectly. She laughed as she twirled, watching the wide folds of the dress catch the gleaming light of the lanterns.

“You’ll be the most beautiful woman there,” Abby announced, her eyes once again glittering.

Carrie swallowed back her emotion. “Only if you don’t make me cry so that my eyes are red and swollen,” she scolded. “Where is
your
dress? Did you buy a new one?”

“When I have a closet full of gowns?” Abby asked. She smiled brilliantly. “Of course I did!”

Carrie laughed with delight. She loved her mother, but she had never imagined it could be so wonderful to have a woman who understood her so completely, and who was so much fun to be with. “Father won’t be able to take his eyes off you,” she predicted.

“That’s the plan,” Abby murmured. Her eyes grew serious. “I have something else to talk about. I wasn’t going to tell you until tomorrow morning, but I decided having secrets does nothing but show disrespect.”

Carrie frowned and moved over to settle down on her dressing bench. “What is it?” she asked, slightly alarmed by the sudden shadows in Abby’s eyes. “Is something wrong with Father?” He had seemed perfectly healthy when she arrived, but…

“No,” Abby said quickly. “Your father is fine.”

“Then what?” Carrie asked.

Abby took a deep breath. “It’s about Eddie and Opal,” she began. “There was a fire…”

Carrie caught her breath but waited quietly.

“The restaurant caught fire on a terribly cold day last month.” Abby hesitated. “There was an explosion,” she finally revealed, her eyes deep with pain.

“Eddie and Opal?” Carrie gasped.

Abby shook her head. “They’re fine, but not everyone made it out.”

Carrie went rigid. “Who?” she managed.

“Sadie and Sadie Lou.” Abby took another deep breath. “And Susie and Zeke,” she managed. “They are dead.”

Carrie stared at her, unable to comprehend what she was saying. “Dead?” she finally repeated, the words swirling through the room. “
All
of them?”

Abby nodded, reaching out to take her hands and hold them.

“Carl and Amber?” Carrie asked, trying to absorb the news, aware her hands were trembling.

“They’re fine,” Abby said. “Janie got them out in time.”

“Janie?” Carrie cried. “
Janie
was there?”

“She had gone there for a meal after class. Zeke got her out, but then he and Susie ran back in for everyone else.”

Carrie shuddered as images of searing flames leaped into her mind.

“Janie took Carl and Amber out, along with Eddie and Opal, while Zeke and Susie went in for the Sadies.” Abby’s voice shook. “The flames must have reached the oil vats,” she said.

Carrie closed her eyes tightly, tears making the image of flames waver behind her eyelids. “The explosion,” she whispered, vivid memories of the explosion at the Tredegar factory surging to the front of her mind. She could still hear the screams and cries of the children she had worked to save. “How they must have suffered,” she said through gritted teeth.

“I don’t think so,” Abby said quickly. “I’m sure the explosion killed them instantly.”

“That is better,” Carrie said quietly. “The burns would have been horrible.” The reality of Abby’s news swept through her. “But all four of them!” she cried.

Memories of Eddie and Opal’s children roared into her mind, and then suddenly another reality hit home. “Moses! And Annie…and June…” Her voice trailed off. “They don’t know.” She couldn’t stop the tears from coming when she thought of Moses’s little sister, Sadie, dead in the fire. “Why?” she whispered. She opened agonized eyes and stared at Abby. “Why?”

Abby shook her head and pulled her close. “It was a horrible accident,” she murmured.

Carrie allowed the tears to flow for several minutes before she pulled back. “Opal and Eddie? They must be devastated.”

“They are back in Richmond,” Abby said. “They couldn’t bear the thought of not being with family and friends after what happened. Eddie’s brother has moved to Richmond. The whole family moved in with them last week. Eddie is working at the factory. Opal starts as a seamstress there in a few weeks.”

Carrie shook her head. “So much loss,” she whispered. “Fannie…and now the kids. And Zeke.” She stared into the lantern on her table as wind whipped the branches of the magnolia tree against her window. She welcomed the tendrils of cold air that seeped in around the window frame. Finally she looked at Abby. “It never ends, does it?”

Abby didn’t pretend not to know what she meant. “Pain? Loss? Death?” She shook her head. “No. It never ends.” She gripped Carrie’s hands. “But neither does life,” she said firmly. “Neither does joy. Or hope. They all exist together.”

“Choose joy,” Carrie murmured. She brushed at her tears and managed a small smile. “Robert and I talked about that today.” She shared the earlier conversation she had with him.