Somewhere to Call Home (Love Inspired Historical) (11 page)

“I’m going to show Violet around some, Lila,” Michael said. “Then if she wants to go canoeing or bicycling, we’ll do that.”

“Thank you for inviting me, Lila,” Violet said.

Lila only shrugged and walked away.

Julia smiled. “We’ll have plenty of time to bicycle together. There is a lot to choose from. You have a nice walk.”

Violet sighed. She knew Julia wasn’t upset with her, but Lila obviously was. “Perhaps I should have gone with Lila. That’s the first time she’s asked me to do anything with her.”

She didn’t think for one moment it was because the other girl wanted her company. Lila’s motive was much more personal than that. Violet had come to realize Lila didn’t like it at all when Michael was giving his attention to anyone besides her.

“Sorry if I misspoke, Violet. If you wish to go—”

“Oh, no, Michael, I didn’t mean I’d rather go with her. It’s just—” she shrugged her shoulders “—I don’t think she likes me very much.”

“And you have very good manners and wouldn’t want to disappoint me.” Michael grinned down at her.

“Well, there is that.” Violet smiled back at him and took the arm he offered. She didn’t want to disappoint him in any way. And she would much rather see Central Park with Michael than spend the afternoon with Lila anytime. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Eleven

M
ichael had never enjoyed Central Park more than he was right then, with Violet. She loved watching people out on the lake. There were all sizes of rowboats, from those for two people to the kind that held Julia, Lila, John and Ben. They waved when they passed by and he was glad when Violet didn’t seem disappointed not to be with them.

“I believe I’d like to be rowing my own boat, although I’ve never done it before,” Violet said.

“It’s quite fun. Of course, it does take some strength.”

“Are you saying I’m weak, Michael Heaton?” Her eyebrow shot up, daring him to do so. Oh, how he’d missed that look. She’d always been a bit feisty as a child and he was glad to see she still had some feistiness left in her.

He laughed. “Oh, no. I wouldn’t dare do that. But I’d love to take you rowing. You can even have your own oar.”

“All right then, let’s do that.”

“Let’s do.” It would be nice to have her out on the water, just the two of them. He loved his mother’s home, but sometimes it was very hard to find a quiet place for two people to talk without someone barging in on the conversation.

In only a few minutes, he’d helped Violet into her seat and taken his own. He explained how to hold the oar and what to do, going from one side to the other, although he’d be the one doing most of the rowing.

As he lowered his oar, she did the same. Mimicking his movements, she held her own as they floated over the water and into the middle of the lake. They passed the larger canoe that held their friends and waved once more as they headed across to the other side of the lake. People were standing or sitting all around the edge watching the boats glide over the water.

“Oh, this is fun. And it’s so much cooler on the water, too.”

“The light breeze is helping today. You’re doing very good.”

“Thank you. I must admit, however, that my arms are getting a bit tired. Guess I’m not quite as strong as you.” She grinned and dipped her oar in the water again.

“I think that’s how the Lord wanted it to be, don’t you?”

“I suppose it is. I really don’t want to be as strong as a man—not physically, anyway.”

“You are a strong woman in every other way, Violet. You’ve been through a lot.”

“So have you and your mother.”

“Want to stop for a while? I can row us or we can sit still for a bit and float.”

“That would be nice.”

They pulled their oars in. “I should warn you that you may be very sore tomorrow. The first time works muscles you might not have used in a while.”

“Or ever?”

“Now, that only you would know.” Michael chuckled and looked a little closer at her. He grinned and reached out to touch the tip of her nose. “Your freckles are back.”

Violet giggled and rubbed her nose. “Must be this time out in the sun. I don’t think I’ll ever be rid of them.”

“I hope not. I’ve missed them—I’m glad to see them again.” Her smile warmed his heart.

“Thank you. I’m not sure I feel the same way, but I’m so glad we came today. I love this park, the lake, all of it.” She looked around and sighed.

“I think all New Yorkers feel the same way.”

“It is so quiet and peaceful, as if the city has disappeared and yet it’s right there.” She raised her arm and pointed all around them. She didn’t mention that her arm was already beginning to hurt, but he saw the slight wince as she put it back down.

Michael hoped she wasn’t too sore tomorrow. “And that’s what draws everyone. It is a wonderful place to relax and think, knowing that there is more to life than the hustle and bustle of the city.”

“Do you think you’ll ever move back to Virginia?” Violet asked.

“No. Our lives are here now. What about you?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I want to keep my family home because it is my inheritance, I suppose. But I must admit that I like it here. And I know I haven’t had my fill of this city.”

Michael breathed an inward sigh of relief. “I’m glad you like it here. And I’m glad you don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. Mother and I would both miss you. We’re just getting to know you again.”

“Thank you, Michael. I can’t begin to tell you what it’s meant to me to have your mother’s and your support at this time. I do have some friends in Ashland, but no family now, and it will never be quite the same to me there. When Harlan made it impossible for me to stay there unless I married him, I felt I had no choice but to leave.”

“Black is a cad of the first degree. I’m glad you didn’t accept his terms, Violet.” For more reasons than he wanted to go into at present. Michael wondered if it was time to tell her he was looking into Black’s business dealings with her mother. He just wasn’t sure what to do. He’d not heard back from his agent yet and there really wasn’t anything to report.

He picked up his oar and Violet started to do the same. “You don’t need to help, you know. These canoes are fine for only one to row.”

“Then I’m going to plead female weakness and let you do it.”

“Thank you for making me feel stronger.”

“You’re welcome.”

He rowed them around the lake. As they got closer to the bank they’d left from, he saw Elizabeth waving them in. When they got close enough to hear her, she said, “Hurry! There is a family fight going on right next to where we had our picnic. Luke is there, but—”

The boatman held the canoe steady while Michael helped Violet out. They all took off in a run toward the picnic spot. By the time they got there, a brawl was in progress. Violet and Elizabeth hurried to Mrs. Heaton’s side. Michael stepped into the fight just as two policemen showed up and pulled the man who’d evidently been causing all the problems off Luke.

“What’s going on here? Heaton, what started this?”

Michael knew both officers from working with them on cases in the past. They were good men and would get to the bottom of things.

“I don’t know. I just arrived.”

“I can tell you, Officers. This man tried to harm that young lady and his wife tried to pull him away.” Michael’s mother pointed from one to another of the women as she spoke. “He tossed his wife aside and the other gentleman was coming to the women’s defense.”

“It this true, miss?” O’Malley, the officer Michael knew best, asked.

“This is a family affair, Officer,” the man that Luke had been fighting with said as he was being handcuffed. It was obvious they were Irish from his accent. “It’s not your business.”

“’Tis our business when it’s out here in public,” O’Malley said. He turned to the two women and Michael’s mother. “We need to ask you a few questions, ladies. We can do it here or at the station.”

“Oh, please, here, Officer,” the woman with the man said. From the looks of her she was expecting a child.

“I can tell you what it’s about,” the man yelled. “My wife’s sister owes me rent money, is what this is all about.”

“Ma’am—” Officer O’Malley broke into the conversation. “Do ya owe rent to this man?”

“No, she doesn’t,” the man’s wife said.

“Ma’am, do you be wishin’ to press charges against this man?” Officer O’Malley asked the sister.

The man’s wife shook her head and said, “Please, no, Kathleen.”

The woman she’d called Kathleen looked at the two little boys who’d come running up and hidden behind their mother’s skirts.

“Aunt Kathleen, please don’t let them take Papa to jail.” The boy peeked out from behind his mother and added his plea to hers.

Michael knew what she was going to say. He’d seen it happen too often not to.

“Ma’am?” Officer O’Malley prodded.

“No, Officer. I won’t press charges—at least not this time.” She looked at her brother-in-law, who’d turned a hateful glance her way.

“You give either of these woman cause to call us and they won’t have to press charges. We’ll have you in the clinker before they have a chance to decide,” the officer said as he took the cuffs off the man. His wife hurried over to him, pulling him off in the opposite direction as the officers, her young boys following.

“Thank you, Officers,” Michael said.

“Yes,” Luke said, rubbing his jaw with one hand and shaking each officer’s hand with the other. “I’m certainly glad you all showed up when you did.”

The younger woman, who’d begun to follow her sister’s family, turned and ran back to where they were. “I thank you for comin’ to our aid.”

“You get in touch if he roughs you or your sister up again,” Officer O’Malley said.

“I will.” The young woman turned to Mrs. Heaton. “I’m sorry we ruined your day.”

His mother handed the woman one of the cards she’d had printed up for anyone she felt might need a safe place. “You keep this. If you ever need to, you come to us again.”

The young woman looked down at the card and nodded. She slipped it in her pocket. “Thank you. I will.”

Michael looked at Violet, who had tears in her eyes as she watched the young woman leave.

“Those little boys...they’re the ones we saw in the street that day. Aren’t they, Michael?” she asked, a tear escaping and running down her cheek.

Michael wanted to pull her into his arms to comfort her, but pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her instead. “I’m sorry to say, I believe they are, Violet, and their aunt is our last temporary boarder. The one who stayed only one night.”

* * *

The ride back to Heaton House was a somber one. Violet couldn’t get the image of those little boys out of her mind. That they’d had to witness their father acting in such a way as Mrs. Heaton had described and beg their aunt not to send him to jail. And what about once they got out of sight? How did he treat those women—or his children, for that matter?

The question was still in her mind late that afternoon as she sat in Mrs. Heaton’s garden and enjoyed the air sweetened by her roses. Her mother had loved roses, anything flowering. She missed her so much. But she thought it might be even harder if she’d stayed in Virginia around so many memories of the last few months when her mother was in so much pain. Violet’s sigh was ragged as she wondered if the ache ever went away.

She heard the back door shut and wiped at her eyes. Tears weren’t going to bring her mother back, and she reminded herself of her admonition to live her life and not to grieve. But she was finding that it was much harder to do than to say.

“Violet? Are you out here?” Michael’s voice found her at the back of the garden.

“I’m here.” She headed toward the house.

They met in the middle and she found that he’d brought her a glass of iced lemonade. “Gretchen said she thought you were out here. We thought you might like this about now.”

“How thoughtful of you, Michael. Thank you.” Violet hoped he couldn’t tell she’d been crying as she reached out for the glass he held out to her.

Michael led her back to the bench, and they both sat down to enjoy their lemonade.

“Is your mother resting?”

“She’s napping. Something she doesn’t do very often. I think this afternoon bothered her more than she let on.”

“I’m sure it did. It was very hard to see those little boys so upset. I pray things get better for that family soon.”

“So do I. There is so much hurt out there....” He looked up at the sky and sighed.

“Michael, do all of the boarders know about Becca and why your mother decided to open her boardinghouse?”

“Some do, but not everyone.”

“Do you still have hope that you’ll find her?”

“Some days I wake up hopeful and others...” He shrugged and sighed. “But I try to let Mother only see the hope.”

“Do you get many leads anymore?”

“Not near as many as I’d like, and none in a while. I don’t know. It would help if I knew what she’d been doing before, who she was with, what made her leave in the first place.”

His voice sounded raw with sorrow and Violet felt to blame. “I’m sorry, Michael. I shouldn’t have brought it up. I didn’t mean to bring you painful memories.”

“No, Violet. Don’t be sorry. Actually, it feels good to talk about Becca. Mother and I don’t talk about her disappearance much anymore. I think we’re both afraid to bring each other sorrow. But the need to talk about it is sometimes still there, even after all this time.”

“I must admit that I don’t know why Becca decided to leave and come here in the first place. I’ve always wondered about that.”

“That’s our problem. We don’t really know why either. Oh, she’d always been independent and more than a little feisty and it was no surprise that she wanted to be in charge of her life. But her decision to move seemed to come out of the blue. Mother and I both tried to talk her out of it, but she seemed almost desperate to get away.”

“And once she was here? Did she keep in contact?”

“She wrote, giving us an address where she was going to be living, and said she would write more soon. But days went by, then weeks. Finally, Mother insisted that we come here and make sure she was all right.”

Michael rubbed his temples as if he had a headache, and Violet waited for him to continue. “But as you know, she’d left the boardinghouse.”

Tears sprang to Violet’s eyes. How devastating that must have been for both him and his mother. Wanting to comfort him, Violet reached out and touched his hand. “I’m so sorry, Michael. I wish I knew something that could help you.”

He turned his hand and squeezed hers. “Thank you, Violet. I wish you did, too. But knowing I can talk to you about this helps more than you know.”

“I’m glad.” His words touched her heart and his touch sent her pulse racing.

“I suppose we should go inside. It’s about dinnertime and Mother likes us to be on time,” Michael said.

Violet moved to stand and Michael stood, too, pulling her up with him. She slipped her hand from his. “Please feel you can talk to me anytime.”

“Thank you. I can’t tell you how much good this has done me. Just going over it all from the beginning again has helped.”

As they headed toward the house, Violet thought she’d seen a side of Michael very few others did, and she felt they’d created a bond she would cherish always.

They entered the foyer just as Lila and Elizabeth came down from upstairs. Not wanting to hear what Lila might have to say about them being in the garden together, Violet quickly took Michael’s glass from him. “I’ll just take these to the kitchen.”