19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
When Jacquelyn had suggested that the girls loan her the money, she hadn’t taken into consideration how little they had. Mary had assembled the entire group in the dining area and made an announcement. “Miss Shaw needs to leave now due to a family emergency. I’m asking that anyone who has money contribute it to help her go home. She will make sure you get your money back upon her return.”
“A family emergency?” asked a little girl, her brow furrowed in concern. “And at Christmastime too!”
“Oh dear!” another one said. “I do hope no one is sick.”
“Someone’s probably dead,” grumbled an older girl.
“Ruth! That’s a terrible thing to say.”
“Well, it’s true. People get dead all the time. ”
Mary stepped in to correct the notion. “No one has died, but she does need to leave, and soon. If anyone has money to contribute, go and get it now.”
They all took off like a pack of wild animals, leaving their seats and pushing each other aside in an effort to get out the door first. Once they exited, she could hear their footsteps clattering down the hallway.
“Ladies, please!” Mary called after them. “Use your manners.” She smiled apologetically at Jacquelyn. “They are excited to be able to contribute. They don’t often get a chance to make a difference.”
Jacquelyn was strangely touched by their efforts to help her. True, they thought she was Jane, but even so, the emotion was aimed at her. Earlier she’d felt like no one cared, and now she found that wasn’t the case.
Twenty minutes later, she had thirty-seven cents in her pocket. Mary had offered up a quarter, while the rest of it was in smaller coins. The littlest girls had offered pennies as if they were gold, opening their clutched fists like they were giving her a present. Even if they’d known she was Miss Sheridan, she wouldn’t have the heart to tell them she had more than this in between the cushions of the chair in her bedroom. Seeing her disappointment, Mary whispered, “The girls don’t have much, and my salary and Jane’s is held for safekeeping by Mrs. Irving.”
“For safekeeping?” Jacquelyn frowned. That wasn’t right. If it had been her money, she’d insist on having access to it.
“Yes. She says we’ll get it when we leave our employment here. ”
Mary didn’t seem a bit bothered by this, but Jacquelyn didn’t like the idea. When she got home, she would ask David to look into this Mrs. Irving’s accounting practices.
Well, thirty-seven cents was better than nothing. As Mildred was fond of saying, you couldn’t get blood from a turnip. After putting on Jane’s coat and knit hat and pulling on her winter boots, Jacquelyn went to see how she looked in the mirror in the lavatory. Appalling was the word that came to mind. All drab colors and boxy fit. The coat was heavy, like wearing a wool blanket, and it was missing a button halfway down. She imagined getting home and throwing all of it—hat, mittens, coat, boots—straight into the fireplace. She’d let David replace it after it turned to soot. Being able to buy something new for a needy person would bring him such happiness.
Taking the map Mary had drawn for her, she headed out the door and down the long driveway. The winter wind was fierce, making her a tiny bit grateful for the ugly warm coat. Halfway to the road, she stopped to get the mittens from the coat pockets and pulled them on. As she glanced back, she saw a multitude of little faces pressed against the glass, watching her through the windows on the first floor. She raised a hand, and they all waved back. A warm flush came over her at the sight. As a group, they weren’t as deplorable as she’d imagined. In fact, that one little girl, Frances, was downright adorable. Jacquelyn felt a bit of admiration for the one they called Ruth as well. That girl actually spoke her mind.
The road had not been well cleared and there weren’t any sidewalks, so she had to tread cautiously. No traffic, which shattered the idea that someone might offer to drive her home, or at least into town.
When she rounded a curve and came to a farmhouse, she made an impulsive decision and went up the driveway to the house, knocking on the door.
An older woman with wispy hair and spectacles perched on the end of her nose opened the door. Her brown eyes were so kind that Jacquelyn immediately felt reassured. The old lady said, “Yes? Can I help you, dear?”
“Nellie, who is it?” a man’s voice bellowed from the background.
She turned her head and shouted back, “One of the girls from the home!”
Jacquelyn said, “Good afternoon. I’m looking for someone to drive me to Whitefish Bay. I can pay quite well.”
Nellie shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t hear you. You’d best come in.” She ushered Jacquelyn inside to the braided rug near the door. Now Jacquelyn could see that this woman had an apron wrapped around her solid middle. The house smelled of baking bread.
“What’s all this?” The old man, presumably her husband, came to see what was going on. His overalls and work shirt made Jacquelyn think he was a farmer, not that she knew all that much about country life.
Jacquelyn said, “I need to get home to Whitefish Bay, and I’m looking to hire someone to drive me.”
“Whitefish Bay, eh?” he said. “Not sure I know where that is. ”
“It’s near Milwaukee,” she said. “About an hour’s drive from here?”
“Can you do it?” his wife asked him.
He shook his head. “I don’t have the gasoline. How much are you offering?”
“I can pay in full once we arrive. Right now I have thirty-seven cents.”
“Thirty-seven cents?” He frowned and gestured to his wife to step to one side. When they were out of earshot, they spoke in whispers, leaving Jacquelyn dripping on the rug.
Getting back to her, the wife said, “I’m sorry, dear, but we won’t be able to give you a lift home.”
“If it’s the money, you don’t need to worry about that. I have plenty. Just name your price.”
“Oh honey, I’m sure you do have plenty.” Was it Jacquelyn’s imagination, or did Nellie seem not to believe her? “It’s just that we can’t take a chance on getting the truck stranded so far from home. I’m sure you understand. But I can give you something to eat for your trip, if you like.”
Jacquelyn said, “I do have the money. I’m Jacquelyn Sheridan. My family is one of the wealthiest in the state! I can pay you whatever you want.”
The man said, “I’m so sorry. I wish we could help.”
“I live in a mansion. I travel to Europe every year. They know me at fashion shows in New York and Paris.” So frustrating not to have proof .
“I’m sure they do.”
Jacquelyn tried again. “Could I at least use your phone? Just to make a short call?”
“We don’t have a phone,” he said. “Never saw the need.”
They never saw the need? How did they confirm appointments or make travel plans with friends who lived far away? Unbelievable. Well, there was no help to be found here. At least she’d been able to warm up for a few minutes. “Thank you anyway,” she said, her hand on the doorknob. “Goodbye, then.” Once she was outside, her eyes welled up with tears. Why was life suddenly so hard?
She was nearly to the road when she heard Nellie’s voice ring out. “Miss, miss, hold on for a minute.”
“Yes?” Jacquelyn turned to see Nellie walking toward her, carrying a cloth bag.
“A sandwich for the road,” she said, the bag in her outstretched hand. “God bless you and keep you safe.”
“Thank you.” The bag was made of a rough fabric with flowers printed on it. A long loop of twine had been sewn onto each side so it could be carried over one shoulder.
“If you want, Arthur can drive you into the village. Someone there might be able to help.”
A ride to the village would be most welcome at this point. Jacquelyn gave Nellie a wan smile. “I would like that. Thank you.”