The Homecoming (11 page)
“Actually, Dad, it’s already happening. This colonel already sent the story to all the radio stations and newspapers all over town. We’ve probably only got a few days left of peace and quiet before things get a little crazy around here.”
Ian sat down again, on the edge of his seat. “My boy’s going to be famous,” he said, looking up at the ceiling. “A war hero, Ida, right here in our house.” He looked back at Shawn, tears now rolling down his cheeks. “We’ve had Collinses in the military since the Civil War, no one has ever done what you’ve done, Shawn.” He stood up, walked over to Shawn, and held out his hand. When Shawn took it, he pulled him to his feet. “I’m so proud of you, boy,” he said and pulled him close.
Shawn had not expected anything like this. It was the first moment he considered that anything he’d heard today could actually be a good thing. After they hugged, his father walked out into the dining room. “This calls for a celebration. I’ve got a nice bottle of whiskey here. Just one shot for the both of us, warm up your insides to boot.”
Shawn sat back on the sofa. “There’s actually more to this story. A pretty big thing actually.”
“I don’t think I can take any more,” Ian said, walking back with the bottle and two glasses in his hands. “You’ve got me feeling dizzy and I ain’t even took a drink yet.”
“You know those big War Bond rallies they have, the ones with all the Hollywood actors and singers?”
“I think I heard a few on the radio last year,” his father said.
“Well, they’re having another one start up in two weeks, going to twenty different cities by train, up and down the East Coast. Starting in Boston. They want me on it.”
“You’re going to be on a train with all those famous people?”
“Yep. I guess the plan is to have a big rally in each town. They’ll put on some kind of a show, and at some point they’re going to stick me out in the middle of the stage and have me tell a little bit about that last mission. Guess the idea is to get people to give money and buy bonds.”
“My gosh, Shawn! But you know . . . I can see that. I went out and bought ten dollars worth at Hodgins’s the morning after you told us your story. Shawn, you’re going to be famous.”
“Maybe for a little while, anyway.”
“This is . . . it’s just so much to take in. Patrick’s going to be so proud when you tell him.”
Shawn let out a long sigh when he heard Patrick’s name. “What’s the matter?”
“It’s Patrick. I’m going to be gone for at least four months on this thing.”
Ian sat down in his chair. He let out a similar sigh. “I didn’t think about that.”
Shawn could tell the implications were beginning to click.
After a few moments, his father said, “Well, son. We’ll make it work somehow. We’re family. We’ll get by. You’ve got your duty. And I’ll do my best to do mine.”
“Dad, I’m glad you feel that way, but to tell you the truth, I think it might just be a little much. I know you could do it, and I know you’re willing. But I’ve been thinking about a plan on the train, a way this all could work, so it won’t be so hard on you, or on Patrick. I want your time with him to be full of grandpa stuff, not cooking and cleaning and laundry. ”
Ian lifted his head up and looked at him. “What do you have in mind?”
Here goes, thought Shawn. I hope he’s ready for this.
When Shawn awoke the next morning, he didn’t feel like a major. He didn’t feel like a man who’d just been handed a dream assignment. And he didn’t feel like a Medal of Honor winner. One part of him knew these were big things, huge things. The kind of things that should provoke awe and wonder and gratitude. But without Elizabeth there to share them, it all felt so empty.
He was glad the plan was coming together so well. Mrs. Fortini was on board and his father was surprisingly open to the idea of hiring Miss Townsend to be Patrick’s nanny, after they talked it through. But even that . . . they talked it through. No yelling, no bickering. In the end, his dad even offered to pay her salary and the board money to Mrs. Fortini.
Only two obstacles left. Miss Townsend and Patrick.
Patrick was still upstairs getting ready for his first day at his new school. He was so excited. Yesterday before Shawn got home, Mrs. Fortini had walked Patrick to the school, about six blocks away. She’d timed it so he could watch all the kids as the school bell rang, ending the day. He hadn’t been around any kids his age since he’d left their old neighborhood on Clark Street. That’s what he needs, thought Shawn, kids his own age. He’ll be fine after he gets over the disappointment. At least that was the plan.
Shawn looked down at the notepad by the telephone, smiled as he read Miss Townsend’s name and number, in huge letters and numbers, obviously written by Patrick. He dialed her number and waited nervously as it rang.
“Good morning, Child Services, Katherine Townsend speaking. How can I help you?”
“Hi, Miss Townsend. This is Shawn Collins, Patrick’s father.” “Captain Collins, what a surprise.”
“Actually, it’s Major Collins now.”
“Congratulations . . . Major. When did that happen?”
“Just yesterday. They asked me to take a train down to DC to find out about my next assignment.”
“I remember your father saying something the other night about a colonel calling.”
“Well, that’s part of what he wanted to talk about.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Well, the rest of it is why I’m calling. It’s a bit complicated. I was wondering if we could meet sometime this morning to talk.”
“You want to meet? With me?”
“If that’s possible. I know it’s short notice. But I’m going to take Patrick to school in about a half hour. I don’t suppose you have any free time this morning.”
There was a pause. “I . . . guess I could get away for a bit. Mind if I ask what this is about?”
“Not at all, but I think I’d rather go over it in person. Didn’t I hear you say you gave your two-week notice?”
“Yes. The clock’s already ticking,” she said. Sounded like she was almost whispering.
“So you haven’t found another job?”
“Not yet.”
“Well, that’s what this is about. I may have one for you.”
“Then I can definitely get away. Just say where and when.”
“How about you meet me at the Eagle in Wanamaker’s, say at 10:30? We can go upstairs for a cup of coffee, and I’ll go over my proposal with you, give you a few days to think it over.” Shawn instantly regretted calling this a proposal.
“I will definitely be there.”
“Do you need more time?” Shawn asked.
“No, really. It’s not a problem. Meet you at the Eagle, 10:30.”
Katherine walked down the 13th Street sidewalk, carried along by the flow of the crowd, her hands stuffed deep in her coat pockets and her collar pulled up as high as it would go. The wind whipped through the canyon of tall buildings, stinging her cheeks. But she hardly noticed; she was almost beside herself with excitement. She couldn’t believe Shawn had called her, that he’d wanted to talk to her about a job, that she even had a chance of getting involved with the Collins family again.
It wasn’t hard to get away from work; she had simply whispered to Shirley what happened and said, “Cover me?” Shirley was on the phone, but she’d nodded and said with her eyes and eyebrows that she’d take care of Bernie Krebb.
Katherine looked up ahead at the Wanamaker’s Building on the corner of Market Street, twelve stories tall. She loved going there for any reason and was so glad Shawn had picked the Eagle as their meeting place. She’d left fifteen minutes early, giving herself time to walk slowly past the storefront windows, taking in all the things she could never afford. But that’s what store windows are for, she thought. For dreaming.
As she neared the corner, she noticed that every trace of Wanamaker’s Christmastime transformation had already disappeared. Everything was back to normal. But for Katherine, normal at Wanamaker’s still held out an almost magical appeal.
She crossed the street and stood before the first window. A woman about her age wrapped a mink stole around the shoulders of a mannequin. What a job that must be, she thought. Imagine dressing up all these storefront windows every day and getting paid for it. As her body drifted past the other windows, her mind drifted to Shawn’s job idea. What could it be? She couldn’t begin to guess. Anything would be better than her dim prospects. But it had to be something significant for him to call her, then want to meet with her right away.
She looked up at a clock on a building across the street. There was just enough time to browse past the perfume and jewelry counters. She preferred coming in the Juniper Street entrance, because it was closest to the Grand Court. A smiling middle-aged man with a moustache held open the front doors.
She never tired of the sight. Her eyes were instantly drawn toward the magnificent pipe organ. It looked like a mini-cathedral made of gold. Its presence seemed to fill the Grand Court. She looked up at the beautiful arches in the ceiling, rising 150 feet from the marble floor.
She walked several steps inside and turned slowly in a circle. The first floor was rimmed by more marble arches, the remaining floors supported by thick Roman pillars trimmed in bronze and gold. Shoppers peeked down at the elegant scene below over white ornamental railings. It was as if the entire place glistened and gleamed with treasure. Katherine knew that almost everything in the store was beyond her reach, but the merchandise was said to be reasonably priced and the store was always crowded, not with the rich but with mostly ordinary shoppers.
It saddened her to think she didn’t even dwell in that bracket of society. So . . . don’t think about it, she told herself. Who knows? Someday she might even buy that beautiful black purse with silver trim, sitting over there in that glass box. She walked over to see it more closely. It could happen.
She turned toward the massive bronze Eagle statue, the centerpiece of the Grand Court. It had become the perfect downtown rendezvous place ever since John Wanamaker brought it by train from the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1911. About a dozen people were standing around the Eagle, looking past Katherine toward the front doors. Undoubtedly, looking for whomever they were supposed to meet. She looked up at another wall clock. Shawn would be here in less than ten minutes. She couldn’t wait to see him again. Instantly she scolded herself. It was not as if they were meeting at the Eagle for a date.
She walked to the perfume counter through an invisible dome of lavish smells hovering over the entire area. A small crowd of ladies gathered around a saleswoman. Occasionally they offered a free spray or two of something on sale. She walked around the corner to join in but glanced back at the Eagle.
There was Shawn.
He must have just come in the front door and walked straight to it. She saw him studying the faces of the people standing around, then at his watch, then toward the front doors. She had to admit, he looked so handsome in his uniform and cap and matching overcoat. No, stop it, she told herself. What are you doing? She took a deep breath and walked over to join him.
Shawn checked his watch once more; she wasn’t late, he was five minutes early. He needed to calm down. He was just edgy from the tension of this whole thing. Earlier, when he’d dropped Patrick off at his new school, Patrick had been so happy and excited, talking about all the things they could start doing together now that Shawn was home. Had he already forgotten their conversation the day before? Shawn told him he wasn’t out of the army yet. Maybe in his little mind, if he didn’t say it out loud, it wouldn’t happen. But it worried Shawn. How would Patrick handle things two weeks from now when he had to leave for four months?
“Major Collins?”
Shawn heard Katherine’s voice. He looked around.
“Over here,” she said.
He turned and saw her weaving through a group of elderly women. He smiled and waved, then removed his cap. “Have any trouble getting off?”
“Not really,” she said, now standing in front of him. “I’m dying to find out what this is about.”
She smelled very nice. “Let’s get a cup of coffee, and I’ll tell you.”
“We could go to Linden’s around the corner. I go there a lot.”
“We could,” Shawn said, “but it’s so cold out. Ever been to the Tea Room upstairs?”
“The Crystal Tea Room? No, but I’ve heard it’s very nice.”
“It is,” said Shawn. “It’s got crystal chandeliers and linen tablecloths. It’s as fancy as anything down here in the Grand Court. Best part is . . . cup of coffee up there just costs a dime.”
“You mean I could have afforded the Crystal Tea Room all this time?”
Shawn laughed. “Follow me.”
He led Katherine toward the elevators that took them to the ninth floor, ever-so-slowly and after so many stops. They walked across the marble floor to the Tea Room entrance. Shawn paused to gaze up at the tall mahogany doors, the smooth mahogany pillars standing like sentries on either side, and the half-moon wooden arch across the top. This had to be the most upscale diner in the world. As they stepped through the doors, Shawn watched Katherine’s eyes get very big, like those of a little girl opening a present.
“Table for two?” the hostess asked, picking up some menus.
“That’s right, but we’re just here for coffee.”
She put the menus back. “I’ll tell your waitress. Right this way.”
As they walked toward their table, Katherine stared at the beautiful chandelier hanging in the center of the room. The rest of the ceiling was quartered off by large squares of white ornamental trim. The whole ambiance was that of a restaurant catering to the wealthiest clientele. The waitress stood off to the side of a small round table, right next to one of the many mahogany-trimmed pillars throughout the place.
Shawn held her chair out, and Katherine sat down. Suddenly, she seemed nervous. She took the white linen napkin and spread it across her lap. “I’ve never been in a place like this.” She said it as if she didn’t belong.
“It’s okay, Miss Townsend. Look around, it’s the same people who shop downstairs. I’ve eaten here a lot over the years.”
“I guess. It’s just so . . . fancy.”