Chapter 3 #2
Max might have laughed if her voice had been less irritating and her motives purer. But he knew his stepmother too well.
“I am not interested in attending in order to interview a wife.” He gathered the papers together and placed them in a leather satchel.
“I believe the party will be a good place to judge economic issues. It will be beneficial to talk to some of our friends and hear what they have to say about their own endeavors.”
“Max, you are thirty years old. Finding a wife is not a bad idea. If you found one with money, it could benefit you, as well as me,” his father declared.
“That’s hardly the reason I would marry.”
“That reason has been benefiting families for centuries.” His father frowned. “You seem most contrary this morning.”
Max’s stepmother looked rather shocked. “There is nothing wrong with a marriage arranged for financial advantages.”
“Duchess, I assure you I intend to marry for love and nothing less, even if that choice has never been one of your liking.” Max shook his head. “You must excuse me. I have a lunch appointment.”
He didn’t bother to tell them that he was looking at a house he might purchase so that he could leave home once and for all.
It had always been expected that he would remain at home helping his father, perhaps even marry and bring a bride into the house, but Max would never ask his bride to endure life with those two miserable people.
He called for his carriage and made his way across the river to a lovely, well-groomed neighborhood.
The area was once called St. Anthony but years ago had been annexed into the boundaries of Minneapolis.
The agent was waiting for him when he arrived, and Max smiled as his gaze went to the three-story brick house.
It was most impressive. Not too grand, nor too small. Max had read all of the details related to the place but intended to go over each one with the agent.
“Mr. Bristol, thank you for meeting me today,” Max said, extending his hand.
“What do you think so far?”
“I’m impressed. The neighborhood is quite charming. Refined and well-groomed.”
“This has long been one of the finer neighborhoods. You will note for yourself the care and attention to detail given the circular drive. They recently had a new load of fine gravel brought in. Of course you could have it remade with cobblestone.”
Max nodded and followed the agent into the house. He could tell right away that the owners had given it a great deal of care. The walls were newly papered in the front parlor, and the draperies matched perfectly.
“The owner and his family left three weeks ago for California. They are most anxious to sell. If you were to make any reasonable offer, I believe we could close the deal quickly.”
Max smiled. “I’ve only just seen the foyer and parlor. Why don’t you guide me through the rest, and then I’ll have a better idea of whether it suits me.”
After a restless night’s sleep, Evie decided she should probably just go downstairs and have a talk with her father. She had heard Beth say he was in his office catching up on something. There would probably never be a better time.
She slipped down the back stairs and into the kitchen, where Mrs. Niedermeier was up to her elbows in bread dough.
Evie gave her a smile but said nothing as she quickly headed through the larger of two dining rooms and across the billiards room to her father’s office door.
There was more than one way into the room, the other being the more often used as the formal entrance, but Evie preferred the back way.
As a child she would slip in through this door and sneak up on her father to surprise him.
He always welcomed her with open arms. She hoped he still felt that way once she told him why she’d come.
She drew a deep breath and prepared to march in and deliver the news that she had no desire to continue with nursing. Then she heard her brother’s voice.
“The newspaper says that the Board of Charities and Corrections has purchased the Russell Brackett home to convert into the new hospital.”
There was a rustling of papers as her father answered, “Yes, the current facilities were overwhelmed the moment those two buildings were purchased on Eleventh Avenue South. It’s taken them six years to do something about it, and this won’t be enough.
We need a building the size of the West Hotel with its four hundred some rooms and one hundred forty bathrooms. Imagine what we could do with a hospital that size. ”
Evan chuckled. “It would be a wonder, to be sure. Or better still, you could take over the L. S. Donaldson Company’s department store. With all those amazing windows, you would have all the light you’d ever need.”
“Well, no matter what, this town has grown exceedingly, and its medical needs are many. The flour and sawmills along with the railroad keep us busy with emergency patients day and night. Did you bring me papers to sign on our little hospital addition?”
“Yes. Although I find it amusing you’re already adding an addition.”
“One has to act when opportunity presents itself. When I learned the building next door was for sale, I knew I should buy it. It will take very little to join the two buildings. In the years to come, we’ll be glad to have that area to expand into.”
Evie heard movement in the office as Evan spoke.
“Everything is in order, and you will immediately take possession of the old bottling company building. There’s much to be done to turn it into a proper hospital addition, but I’ve already found a good construction crew that’s eager to work with you at your convenience.
I’ll go over all of that information as we address the paperwork. ”
“Before we get to that, I’d like to ask you something.”
“Of course. What is it?” Evan asked. Evie started to go. It was clear they were focused on business and her father wouldn’t have time for her.
“What do you know about Evie?” Her father’s words stopped Evie in her tracks. She turned back, feeling quite uneasy.
“Well, she definitely seems of a more serious nature,” Evan replied. “I asked her about it, and she told me she’d grown up. I suppose she’s seen a lot and experienced difficulties that I cannot imagine.”
“I was hesitant to let her go to nurse’s training so young, but she was insistent,” Father said, leaning back in his chair.
“Then when she wanted to remain for additional training, I could hardly say no. She was passionate about it, and I wanted to help in any way I could. Still, she’s come home very changed indeed.
There’s a seriousness about her that troubles me. ”
“Perhaps she’s also tired. She’s not taken any time away from her duties, working through the summers and holidays.
She’s lived in dormitories with other nurses for all this time; maybe being home is difficult.
It’s not the same environment at all. She wrote me early on about how strict the rules were.
They had specific times for washing their clothes and studying, and lights out and bedtime were strictly observed.
Now she’s in a house with little children again and servants as well. Maybe it’s hard for her to readjust.”
“You may be right, Evan. You know her so much better than anyone else.”
Evie frowned. She was living a lie, and even Evan didn’t know the truth of it. Guilt washed over her in waves. How could she go on this way? Didn’t the Bible say that God hated lying tongues? Weren’t liars associated with the worst of sinners?
“I know she’d tell me if something was wrong. At least, I like to think she would still confide in me.”
Father laughed, and Evie heard what sounded like him getting up from behind the desk.
She knew she should leave but was frozen in place as he spoke.
“I’ve no doubt about that. You have been like two sides of the same coin all your lives.
Usually, I could figure out what was troubling you .
. . both of you. I guess I’m getting too old to keep up now. ”
“Nonsense,” Evan replied, sounding much less worried. “Now, however, I would like to get back to the new property and schedule a meeting with the contractors for the expansion. When do you plan for Evie to join you?”
“I’m not quite sure, especially given our conversation. If she’s tired, I want her to have a good long rest before she takes on the duties of helping run a hospital.”
Evie hurried from the billiards room as quietly as possible, exiting into the family sitting room and out the open French doors. She forced her lungs to take in deep breaths of air. What was she going to do?