Chapter 2
Late Sunday afternoon, Evie found herself dressed in her finest summer gown of rose-pink silk, attending her best friend’s engagement party with her brother and parents.
They had come together in the family carriage, discussing the church services earlier that day and siblings Andrew, Jacob, and Meredith heading off or back to college in the fall.
Meredith was the greatest concern due to her just turning eighteen.
Now, however, focus was on the party and visiting with old friends.
The Bronsons were a well-to-do family whose holdings in real estate had made them quite wealthy.
Amelia and Evie met on their first day of school and had remained fast friends throughout the years, while their parents had done a great deal of business together.
Evie had always hoped Amelia might marry Evan and be bonded to their family for life, but neither ever found the other of any interest.
“I’m so glad you could be here to celebrate with us,” Amelia said as Evie approached the happy couple. “Look, Carl, Evie and her family have come.”
The young man smiled. “I know my sister will be delighted to see Evan is here.”
“Perhaps theirs will be the next engagement party,” Amelia offered.
“Wouldn’t that be wonderful.” Evie gave a light laugh, but her heart wasn’t in it. Still, she was a convincing actress. “Maybe you could have a double wedding.”
“No, I have planned far too long for my wedding day,” Amelia countered. “Oh, Evie, it’s going to be glorious. And you, of course, will be my maid of honor.”
“I would be honored. You’re my dearest friend.” Evie gave Amelia a hug as Evan and her parents joined them.
“Congratulations, Amelia and Carl,” Mother declared. “We are so happy for you both. Have you set the date for the wedding?”
“Yes,” Carl replied. “The day before Christmas. We wanted a winter wedding, and that seemed like the perfect time. Everyone will already be in a spirit of celebration for the holidays and hopefully will extend that to our wedding as well. Evan, I hope you’ll be my best man.”
“Absolutely.” Evan and Carl had been friends even longer than Amelia and Evie.
Father shook hands with Carl. “I wish you the very best.”
“Thank you.” Carl smiled at Amelia. “With Amelia at my side, I know the future will be perfect.”
“Well, I wouldn’t count on perfection,” Mother said, glancing up at Father.
“But so long as you love one another and forgive any imperfections, you should be happy.” Mother looked over her shoulder.
“We should keep this line moving so that you can receive all of your guests, but just know we will be praying for you both.”
“That means the world to us,” Carl said, taking Amelia’s hand. “We want always to look to God.”
“Putting God first will resolve a great many problems.”
Evie had heard her father say as much on at least a dozen occasions. She was glad he offered the comment once again.
They moved on to greet Amelia’s family and then Carl’s.
The afternoon had turned out perfectly lovely.
Puffy white clouds overhead offered some shade from the sun, and a light breeze made the temperature quite comfortable.
It didn’t stop Evie from worrying about her mother.
Over the years there had been quite a few times when she was unable to endure the heat.
Father had jokingly said perhaps they should move to the icy north.
Evie couldn’t help but be concerned. She’d even attended some special lectures while in her nurse’s training, hoping to hear something that might offer help or insight into her mother’s inability to deal with the heat.
Father had always maintained that at the heart of the problem was her mother’s inability to sweat.
Having no natural defense against the body’s temperature rising, it was no wonder that Mother was given to suffering on the hottest days.
“Are you cool enough, Mother?” Evie asked in a hushed whisper.
“I’m fine, darling. Go and visit with your friends. I’ll have your father to watch over me.”
“I know he’ll be here, but he is sixty years old.”
“And still quite spry and capable. Honestly, Evie, you act as though he’s got one foot in the grave.”
“God forbid!” Evie shook her head. “I am certainly not implying that. I just want you to be safe and have the utmost of care, should you need it.”
Mother patted her hand. “I’m fine, Nurse Turner. Now go and enjoy yourself.”
Evie wasn’t sure if that was possible. Having Mother remind her of the title pushed her concerns about the future to the forefront once again. How could she possibly explain her situation with any degree of satisfaction?
“It’s so good to see you again, Evie,” Christina Knutsson greeted. Her comments might have been addressed to Evie, but it was Evan she watched like a hawk.
“It’s good to see you, Christina, and what a lovely gown.” Evie nodded toward her fashionable attire. The tiny blonde looked perfect in the pale lavender gown with embroidered chiffon at the neck and short pleated sleeves that banded at the elbow.
“Thank you. You look quite beautiful as well. I always wished I had dark hair like yours.”
Evie chuckled. “It seems we always long for what we do not have.”
“What is it that you don’t have now?” Evan asked as he joined them.
“Why you, of course.” Evie winked. “I will leave you two to talk while I go in search of something cold to drink.”
She slipped away as quickly as possible, trying hard not to let her true feelings show.
Amelia was the last of her single friends to become engaged.
Most had married the year before, a couple of them had wed this summer, and come winter Amelia would join their numbers.
Then they would all begin having children. Some were already expecting.
Evie sighed. What would she do then? She was sure to be the odd one out at parties. And if not that, then she would become the focus of her friends as they played matchmaker and tried to find her a husband.
Taking a glass of lemonade, Evie hoped to move to a more remote part of the garden, but it was not to be. Mrs. Van Cleve, a wonderful woman who worked tirelessly for the poor and unfortunate, had caught sight of her.
“Evelyn Turner, it’s so nice to have you back in town. I know your mother and father have missed you dearly. I have as well.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Van Cleve. You are kind to say so. I very much missed my Minneapolis friends and of course my family.”
“So you have all of your nurse’s training completed now?”
“I do. I was gone longer than expected because I took extra classes to study laboratory work and specialized surgeries.” Evie forced herself not to shudder at the memories of those procedures.
“I know you’ll be a great asset to your father and the hospital. Why, all of Minneapolis has carefully followed your training. Your parents have been good to keep us all apprised. I know your father’s new hospital is nearly ready for business. I’m on the board, so I hear the very latest.”
“I’m sure you do. Father told me how happy he was to have you on the board.”
Mrs. Van Cleve chuckled. “He appreciates a female opinion. I’ve always admired that about him. But now he’ll have you to give him your thoughts as you run his hospital.”
“Well, not at first. I’ve much to learn as far as the administrative duties. Father will be the one in charge overall. I shall be his faithful assistant.”
“Which is an admirable position, all the same. Oh, and now that you’re home, you must attend our women’s suffrage meetings. We women need to come together in great numbers to convince our congressmen to move forward on this issue.”
“Yes, ma’am, I agree. Women should have the vote, and I believe it will come around. After all, we have been given the right to vote in school elections in Minnesota.”
“That’s true, but it is not enough. We must push through until we are allowed to vote for every office. Women are a valuable part of society, and they should have a voice.”
“Charlotte, it’s so good to see you.” Evie smiled as her mother joined them. “I see you found Evie. We’re so glad to have her home.”
“I wouldn’t miss such a grand celebration as an engagement party,” the older woman replied. “Especially for a young woman I’ve known since her youth. How wonderful to be young and carefree, just starting out in life. I suppose we must look to getting Evie settled with a husband soon.”
“Not too soon. Her father is looking forward to having her with him at the hospital and on his rounds. She’s an excellent nurse, we’ve been told. Of course, I always knew she would be. Evie is the type of person to excel at whatever she puts her mind to.”
“And right now that is fund-raising. We’re hosting our garden party on the fourth of August. The invitations are about to go out. They should have gone out well before now, but I’ve been much delayed.” Evie hoped her mother would take her cue and drop the topic of her nursing.
“It isn’t like everyone doesn’t already know about the party,” Mrs. Van Cleve replied.
“Your mother started that tradition long ago, and everyone in Minneapolis has come to expect the Turners’ annual garden party fund raiser the first week in August. You are perfectly fine to be a little late with your invitations. ”
“Well, this year we’re only hosting three fund raisers instead of the regular four.” Mother glanced around the garden. “Roman was just telling me that we can hardly expect folks to donate as much in difficult years such as this one has been.”
“Why, Evelyn Turner, how nice to see you again. Amelia has positively pined away for you,” Mrs. Bronson said, coming to join them.
Evie found herself silently longing to be back at the house, lounging in her own garden. She was thrilled for Amelia but knew that most likely the discussion would move to Evie’s own status as unmarried.