Chapter 21 #2
“Will you be taking dinner here this evening, sir?” Mrs. Bombeck asked from the doorway.
“No, in fact I’m heading over to dine with my father and stepmother. I sent word to let them know to expect me. Hopefully, they’ll feed me, even with late notice.” He smiled. “I’d best go get changed for dinner.”
At 6:30 that evening, Max sat down to dinner with his father.
To his surprise, the Duchess was suffering from one of her headaches and sent her apologies.
Max was sorry for her misery but glad to have his father to himself.
He hoped to hear if anything more had been said regarding the fires.
From what little information he’d read in the newspapers, it seemed the fire had all but been dismissed and focus was completely on the rebuilding of Nicollet Island’s southern tip.
He’d seen very little about the losses or reconstruction of Boom Island.
“How much longer will you be forced to wear a sling?” his father asked first thing.
“At least another three weeks, possibly longer. Dr. Turner believes the bone is healing nicely. The burns are also coming along and aren’t as bad as originally thought.
I will still bear the scars for the rest of my life, but only in a few areas rather than my entire left shoulder and part of my neck. ”
“I am glad to hear that.” His father signaled the butler and asked him to have dinner served. “I thought it rather foolish for you to be gone so long in the wilds while healing from such injuries.”
“I was able to keep my mind occupied and off the pain by teaching. I had some thirty students, and they all did very well.”
His father tsked and shook his head. “Teaching destitute children. I would never have wanted that for you.”
“I found it suited me very well. Someone once commented on my discontentment in life and suggested my problem was that I was doing nothing for others. I found that to be true. Helping with those left homeless by the fire gave me a great sense of purpose. I don’t suppose there’s been any further news on the Boom Island fire? ”
“What possible news would there be? As the newspapers and everyone who knows anything about the fire has declared, it was started by embers from Nicollet Island. There’s nothing else to be known.”
Max considered this for a moment and then nodded. He knew in his heart that he needed to let the matter drop. God knew the truth, and that had to be enough. It truly was possible there was no wrong to be made right.
The footmen came with soup. It looked to be some type of creamed dish, perhaps carrot or squash from the looks of it. Max looked at his father after the men had gone. “Might I offer grace?”
His father’s eyes narrowed. “Since when do you pray?”
“Since the fire, when I begged God to save my life.” Max bowed his head. “Father, we thank You for this bounty and ask Your blessing on this meal and the hands who have prepared it, as well as all in this household. Amen.”
He looked back up to find his father still watching him. Max picked up his spoon and sampled the soup. To his surprise, it was pumpkin. “This is quite delicious.”
Father squared his shoulders and picked up his spoon. “I’m glad you like it. I don’t suppose you’ve had a decent meal in weeks.”
“We ate quite well at the farm. Simply, but well. The women there took turns helping to cook and bake. They were quite a talented bunch.” Max took a piece of bread when offered by the servant.
He would have liked to have buttered it but still found two-handed duties most tasking.
Maybe it was pride, but he didn’t feel like asking for help.
“I received word from New York that the insurance checks will be sent out this week. I instructed them to send yours here as I didn’t know your new address.”
Max didn’t know how to respond. He felt a bit more confident that the fire hadn’t been set, but given the doubts in his mind, he hesitated to take any income generated off the devastation. He busied himself with eating the bread and considered what to say.
Father didn’t seem to notice and continued.
“Rates are sure to increase, I suppose. Perhaps now with hopes of the economy returning to normal, it won’t be too exaggerated an increase.
Those who lost their jobs are working with some businesses to clear away the debris.
Most of the ash and burned wood has been used as fill between Boom Island and the bank.
I believe the desire is to join it in with the east shoreline. ”
Max knew it was pointless to be drawn into an argument about the fire and all that had taken place.
In order to put this entire matter to rest, he wanted to speak with Dr. Turner, perhaps the next evening at their family night gathering.
Max believed that if he shared his concern with the good doctor and was advised to let matters go, then he would do just that and accept the fire was nothing more than an accident.
“I have hesitated to mention your continuing relationship with the Turners. I’ve heard rumors, however, that you and Miss Turner spent a great deal of time together at the farm for the homeless.”
Max wasn’t at all sure how his father had gotten this news, but he felt compelled to let him know his intentions. Perhaps that would satisfy both his father and the Duchess, and they’d stop pushing him to find a wealthy heiress to marry.
“We did,” Max said as the servants entered, bringing the next course of food.
He’d barely touched his soup but allowed them to take it away.
In its place, they left a small piece of grilled salmon on a bed of tomato and cucumber.
A dollop of what looked like dill sauce graced the filet.
Max sampled the dish before further responding. It was quite good.
He glanced over at his father and smiled. “You and the Duchess will be pleased to know that I intend on marrying Evelyn Turner. She is of the same mind, and Dr. Turner has given his blessing.”
His father’s jaw dropped and then closed as a smile spread across his face.
“Well done, my boy. Well done. That is quite an accomplishment. The Turners are well moneyed. Old money, in fact, on Mrs. Turner’s side of the family.
I believe I’ve mentioned that before. Of course, her grandfather was a ruthless man who held little concern for treating anyone fairly, but as I understand it, his father was an old Bostonian who made his money in whale oil. ”
“I care nothing for such things. I only know that we are in love and intend to wed. For the time being, I’d rather you keep it to yourself and the Duchess. I would like to be able to ask my bride for her hand before the entire town breaks out in congratulatory greetings.”
“Of course. It’s not the kind of thing one speaks about without a formal announcement. When do you suppose that will come?”
Max shrugged. “Soon, but in the meantime, I would like for you to transfer care of your holdings to my brothers. Your business dealings, minus the logging and sawmills, are doing well despite the economy’s troubles.
I see no reason my brothers can’t keep the records and management for you.
I would like to continue rebuilding the sawmills and starting up the lumber business again.
I want to buy you out of the logging business and pay you for your part of the Boom Island land so that I can move ahead right away. ”
“But I thought you would continue managing things for me.”
Max shook his head. “I am no longer going to be available for such things. I plan to seek employment as a teacher. I enjoyed instructing the children at the farm, but now that they have a full-time teacher, I’m no longer needed. I plan to find a job here in Minneapolis.”
His father stared at him as if not believing what he was hearing. “I suppose,” he finally said before turning his attention on the salmon, “good news always seems to come with bad.”
“I see both my marriage and teaching plans to be good news. The Turners see it that way as well. I will continue to run the logging and sawmills with a good foreman to oversee both, but teaching is my calling. Perhaps one day I will even do so at the university. With my extensive schooling, I am more than qualified.”