“I would agree with you.”
I place my hand on Paddy’s thigh under the table. He glances at me with a strained smile. “If you are looking for ‘miner-friendly’, I would consider Owen Coal Company near Athens, Ohio. I have heard while places like Magnus are looking for warm bodies, Owen would prefer competent bodies instead.”
“It will be alright, honey,” I offer quietly. Paddy’s expression is remorseful, knowing he likely just lost Magnus the lucrative contract with Emil’s company. “We will figure out what comes next together.”
“Aye,” he responds gruffly, pressing a chaste kiss to my lips before straightening in his seat and squaring his shoulders.
“Why have you not sought employment with them?” Emil’s question catches Paddy off guard.
“I could not leave Magnus when I first heard about Owen Coal. My life,” Paddy glances at me with a soft grin, “my love was here. My Trin earns money from the town for various jobs, and since our wedding I have worked odd jobs in town as well, but we have not saved enough to cover the fare for six people. Honestly, I would hope to leave the coal industry altogether than travel and restart somewhere else, especially with the babes being so little. And maybe more on the way.” Paddy places his hand over my stomach and kisses the side of my head.
I know coal mining is not Paddy’s passion in life, but perhaps I did not pay close enough attention to his wants and needs. I feel terribly selfish expecting him to stay in the same dangerous job, though I had never given it much thought. He is right, though, it would take us a long time to save enough money to start over somewhere else, whether he was a miner or not.
“I am so sorry, Paddy, I did not know—”
“Hush,cailin. You give me everything I will ever need and more. You and the children. I do not need anything but your health and happiness.”
“Yours is just as important.” I argue, earning a smirk and a kiss on the tip of my nose.
“It is safe to say, my Maeve will love you both.” Emil startles me. Truthfully, I had forgotten he was here. Ashamed, I cover my red cheeks with my hands and offer him an apologetic smile.
“Oh, do you live nearby? I apologize, I was under the impression, you lived further away.”
Emil shakes his head. “We live in Northeastern Pennsylvania, about a 10-hour train ride.”
“When I came here from Baltimore it was almost 14 hours. Though, I imagine your accommodation was more comfortable than mine. Is your wife in town? Or will she be joining you?”
“No, Trinli, you mistake me.” Emil looks between Paddy and I. Studiously examines us both before sucking in a deep breath that lifts his broad shoulders. “I am Jewish.” Paddy and I share a confused glance, then turn back to Emil as we wait for him to explain. He chuckles, though it is not as humorous as his normal laugh. “You do not care?”
“About what?” Paddy asks.
“That I am Jewish.”
“No? Is it relevant to something we are not aware of?”
“My family are Russian Jews. My wife’s family is Irish Catholic.”
Paddy snickers. “You do not hear that combination often, now do ye?”
“You do not, but that is a story for another time. I want to be up front and honest with you both as what I am about to propose would be considered wildly preposterous by many. I understand we only made acquaintances earlier today, however, I am a pretty good judge of character. It does not take me long to gauge a man, or woman’s, mettle.”
“Emil, speak plainly.” Paddy urges, his hand now clutching mine as we wait for Emil to reach his point. Paddy is as impatient as I am it seems, not because we have better things to do, but he can sense as I do that whatever Emil is about to say is going to irrevocably change our lives. And if the butterflies in my stomach are anything to go by, I would wager it will be for thebetter. I do not want to be too optimistic, good things do not happen often around here.
Rather than be offended, Emil laughs. “I want you and your family to accompany me back to my home and work with my family.”
“Sir, I am a miner, not a—”
“No, you are thoughtful, conscientious, and honorable. And exactly the type of person I want to work beside. However, I meant Trinli.”
“What?” Paddy and I ask in unison.
“You are not a miner, Paddy, not at heart. You are better suited to something more worthwhile. And Trinli, your husband said you would amaze me and he was right, though perhaps he underestimated you…or me. My wife is the type of woman who is not happy unless her hands are in the earth. I imagine, Trinli, you could teach her a thing or two, and I hope you do. After that, though, I want you to work with me at Laurent Textiles while Paddy oversees my property as the foreman. Maeve has created her own menagerie of animals, vegetables, and fruits. She is also pregnant with our second child with a precocious 2-year-old daughter running her ragged.”
“But if you run a successful business, why would your wife work the land?” The question is out before I can think it through. However, I do not apologize or wish to take it back. I need to test the mettle of the man offering us a new life and the wife he’s left at home.
“Trinli, my dear, I think you already know the answer to that.” I do. Raising my babes is the greatest gift I have ever been given, and I cherish my moments with them, so much so that I removed my diaphragm in the hopes of having another little one with Paddy’s eyes and the mischievous curve of his mouth. Andyet…a part of me remains restless, searching for something else. And he’s right, I find that in the soil of the earth, in the stitch of a dress, in the full bellies of my neighbors and friends nourished by my hand.
“And instead of working with Maeve, you want me in the factory?”
