Chapter 2 #2
Mrs. Bronson turned to Evie’s mother. “Soon you’ll be the one planning weddings now that Evelyn is home again. I know the young men in Minneapolis will soon come courting. There are quite a few bachelors here at the party if you would care to have me introduce you.”
“No, that’s quite all right. Evie will soon be joining her father at the hospital. I’m sure she’ll find herself quite busy. When God is ready for her to meet someone with marriage in mind, I know He’ll provide the right man.”
Mrs. Bronson rolled her eyes. “My dear, proper courtship and marriage require far more than that. It’s not like she can simply run into someone.
These things require careful planning. Oh dear, if you’ll excuse me, I see a problem with the refreshment table.
” Mrs. Bronson didn’t wait for Mother to acknowledge her and hurried away, much to Evie’s relief.
“I wonder, Evie, if you would excuse us for a moment,” her mother said. “I have something important to discuss with Charolotte.”
“Of course, Mother.” She smiled and gave Mrs. Van Cleve a nod. “It was good to see you again.” Evie slipped away lest her mother change her mind. She sighed in relief and made her way to a less populated area of the lawn, pretending to be enthralled with one of the rose bushes.
The music was more muted here, but still easily heard. The Bronsons had hired a dozen musicians to play for the party. Even during a time of financial crisis, no expense was too great for their only daughter’s engagement celebration.
Evie found a wrought iron bench and took a seat.
She sipped her cup of lemonade and wondered about her own future.
She was at a complete loss as to what to do.
She didn’t want to lie to her family, but neither did she want to continue nursing.
It wasn’t that she didn’t wish to ease a patient’s suffering; she did.
She very much enjoyed that aspect of the job.
But that part of her duties was minimal most of the time.
It seemed far more likely she had to cause pain to help facilitate healing.
Lord, I don’t know what to do. As the days go by, my father will expect me to join him at the hospital and on his rounds. Then what? How do I manage this situation? I don’t want to hurt him, and I don’t want him to be disappointed in me.
“Here you are. I thought I saw you head this way.” Evie looked up and found her brother watching her most curiously. “This is definitely not like you.”
“I’ve changed. I told you that. I don’t like crowds as much anymore. After all these years of study and learning, I’ve become far more serious.”
Evan sat beside her. “Evie, it’s me. You know better than to try and hide something from me.”
She knew she was being unfair. “Evan, I’m sorry. I’ve a great deal on my mind, and I’m simply not ready to discuss it. Especially here.”
“Why especially?”
“It’s an engagement party. Amelia is the last of my friends to be coupled.”
“What about me? I’m not engaged or married. I thought we were the best of friends.”
“We’re more than friends, as you well know. Being twins, we have a bond that goes beyond any other of siblings or friends. We shared our mother’s womb.”
“Goodness, what kind of talk is that?”
“Certainly not high society dialogue.” Evie laughed. “Definitely not party conversation. I suppose it’s the talk of a nurse. For years now my discussions have been of body parts and functions. You would be quite scandalized.”
“Not at all.” He grinned. “I really don’t mind. We do share a special bond. We’ve been able to read each other like a book since we were little, so don’t hide from me now.”
Evie bit her lip. He was right. It wasn’t fair to him, but what could she say? It was an embarrassment to her as much as a disappointment.
“Evan, you know that I’m more than willing to share most everything with you.
I just . . . well, right now I’m trying to figure out my future, and there are a number of things weighing me down.
Decisions and choices to make. I want to talk to you about them, but I need to sort through them first. Please just be patient with me. ”
“I didn’t come to make you feel bad.” He took her hand. “Honestly, Evie, I just don’t want you to feel that you must bear whatever it is alone. I’m always here to talk.”
“I know you are. Right now, however, is the perfect time to be spending in Christina’s company. I’ve a feeling you two belong together. I’ve felt that way for some time.”
“Do you really like her?”
“Of course I do. She’s smart and beautiful, tenderhearted and considerate. Best of all, she’s very obviously sweet on you.”
He dropped his hold and leaned back, stretching his legs out in front of him. “I know she is. I like her very much. Well, that’s an understatement. I think I’m in love.”
“Good. I couldn’t want anything better for you. It’s time for you to take a wife and settle down. You have your share of the small inheritance Mother and Father gave us when we turned twenty-one. You could buy a house and set up for yourself. Just think how happy you’d be.”
“I can’t just run off and desert you. I know whatever is troubling you is big. I just want to help.”
“I know. But right now, there is nothing for you to help with, so please just give me some time to sort things out. Trust me.”
“I do.” He gave her a doubtful look but then smiled. “I’ll just keep praying for you.”
“Thank you. That’s the best way to help me.”
“May I speak to you a moment?” Evie’s sister Meredith asked from the open doorway.
“Certainly.” Evie went to her bedroom door and opened it even wider. “Come in.”
She closed the door behind Meredith as she entered the room. Her sister went immediately to the end of the bed and plopped down. She toyed with the ties on her robe as she looked up at Evie. “Was the engagement party grand?”
“Of course it was. You know the Bronsons. Amelia is their only daughter, and they made every effort to give her the best.”
“I wish I could have gone, but I was already committed to be at the Johnsons’ for Sarah’s birthday.”
“Well, I’m quite sure you didn’t come here to talk to me about parties. Tell me what has you traipsing in here at such a late hour.”
Meredith drew a deep breath. “I need advice.”
Evie sat down at her dressing table. “I’ll try to give you my best, but first I must know what’s going on.”
She nodded and looked away. “I don’t want to go.”
“Go where?” Evie frowned, having no idea what her sister was talking about.
“I don’t want to go to school . . . to college.” She glanced back at Evie as if expecting outcry.
“Who said you had to?” Evie knew their parents were of a mind that education was important, but they would never force any of their children to pursue advanced education unless they wanted to.
“I don’t want to disappoint Mother and Father. They expect me to go and learn something wonderful and do something marvelous with my life. Frankly, I just want to get married and have children. I suppose that sounds awfully dull to someone like you.”
“Not at all. I want those things for myself.”
“But you also wanted to be a nurse, and now you are. You’ve made Father so proud that he never stops telling us how great it is.
Since Andrew announced that he wants to be a surgeon, Father is over the moon.
He’s even suggested all of us become doctors and nurses so he can open a massive hospital to rival some of those back east.”
“He’s joking, of course. He knows we girls will marry, and no married woman works outside of her home.” Evie avoided saying much else about the matter. How could she confess her own feelings to Meredith when she couldn’t share them earlier that day with Evan?
“Do you think they’ll hate me if I tell them I don’t want to go to college?”
Evie went to her sister and hugged the eighteen-year-old close.
“They would never hate you, Meri. They just want good things for each of us. Mother has always said that knowledge is power. Learning things is helpful for navigating the world. But Mother would be just as happy to have you learn to sew or cook or whatever pleases your heart.”
Meredith sat up, rather surprised. “You really don’t think she’d mind if I learned to cook?”
“Not at all. Is that something that interests you?”
Her sister nodded. “I’ve always loved to sneak into the kitchen and watch Mrs. Niedermeier mixing things up and baking them. She was always so much more willing to show me than the old cook. I would like very much to learn how to do those things properly.”
“Then talk to Mother. I know she’d understand. Neither she nor Father would want you to go away to school if you have no interest in it. It’s very expensive, you know? I’m sure in this economy it would be a relief not to have to pay extra tuition.”
“I’m so glad I talked to you. I didn’t want to keep that inside of me. Not only did I not want to go, but I was . . . well . . . I was afraid. I love my family and Minneapolis. I never want to leave here.”
“Then don’t.” Evie reached out to Meredith.
She stood and embraced Evie. “It’s so good to have you home, Evie. I wish I could be more like you.”
Guilt washed over Evie. Meredith wanted to be more like her. But Evie was living a lie, while Meredith just found the courage to be honest about what she felt.
You don’t want to be like me, Meri. You really don’t.