“Right here,” I said, as I took his hand into mine. It was so large, so capable, I knew it was possible for him to do anything. “With me. We’ll find a way.”
He lifted my hand to his lips. “What if I fail you?”
“What if I fail you?”
“’Tis impossible.”
“Aye. ’Tis the same for you.”
He kissed me again.
We stayed as long as possible, and then he took my hand and walked me back to the inn.
When we stopped outside my room, he held me for a long time. “I don’t know what the future holds,” he whispered, “but I want it to be with you. We’ll find a way, Caroline. Do you trust me?”
I looked up and smiled, my heart singing a new song.
24
AUGUST 22, 1927
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
Anything and everything made me happy the next day. The memory of Marcus’s kisses and his love warmed me from head to toe and made me feel giddy. Irene was the first to notice, though I had no way of telling her what had made me so joyful. But my mood wore off on her, and by suppertime, she was just as cheerful as me.
As we ate and listened to Father tell us about tomorrow’s long-awaited arrival of Charles Lindbergh, I tried not to think about returning to Charleston. Because as much as I longed to be with Marcus again, I wasn’t sure what would happen. Captain Zale wasn’t likely to let Marcus go without a fight, and there was the matter of Nadine, who needed to be returned to theOcean Curse. Marcus and I couldn’t simply disappear together and start a life somewhere else. There would need to be plans and sacrifices and confrontations.
And even though Marcus had told me he loved me and promised to find a way forward, he hadn’t asked me to marry him. That had not escaped my attention, and it was the only thing that truly dampened my newfound happiness.
“Lindbergh will land at the Minneapolis airport at two o’clock,” Father said, “and the parade will start directly from there.”
The parade would begin in Minneapolis and end in Saint Paul, where Lindbergh would dedicate a new airport. Tomorrow evening, there would be a reception for him at the Saint Paul Hotel, with invited dignitaries in attendance. We would race from there to the tent meeting being held in Minneapolis, where Father would deliver the first of three evenings of sermons.
The phone rang as we were eating, and Father frowned his disapproval. “Who would be calling during the supper hour?”
“I’ll answer,” I said as I set my napkin aside.
“It must be an emergency.” Mother set down her fork. “Oh, I do hate emergencies.”
I lifted the receiver to my ear and spoke into the mouthpiece. “Hello?”
“Carrie, it’s Lewis,” he said quickly. “Annie will be at the Wabasha Street Caves tonight, and word is that she’s leaving town tomorrow. Can you be ready in fifteen minutes?”
My pulse escalated as I turned to look at my parents.
“Who is it?” Father demanded.
“Lewis.”
Irene turned in her seat, her eager gaze on my face.
“Tell the boy he shouldn’t call during supper,” Father said. “It’s bad manners.”
“Is it an emergency?” Mother asked.
“It’s not an emergency,” I assured her, wondering how I would get away. Father wanted all of us to get to bed early so we would be refreshed for tomorrow. “He’s wondering if he can stop by and take—”
“I’ll take you out for ice cream,” Lewis said in my ear. “Use that as an excuse. I’ll make sure we get some.”
