“If he’s half the man you believe him to be, he will manage to overcome his disappointment. He cares a great deal about the destitute and will no doubt put his focus there.”
“I’m just so afraid it will change everything between us.” That was the very heart of the matter. Evie feared not her father’s anger, but his disappointment. She feared he’d stoptalking to her about his desires and plans, that once he knew how nursing turned her stomach, he’d see her as less than desired. Seeing that look of disappointment in his eyes was more than she could bear. She’d witnessed it once or twice when he was dealing with her twin brother, Evan. He was far more of a wild card, sometimes really testing the limits set for him. He’d settled down after a time and now was a practicing lawyer, but there had been moments of concern and frustration, to say the least.
She didn’t want to cause that pain for her father and mother.
“Perhaps you can write them a letter. There’s still time for it to arrive before you do.”
“No. I’m going to give this my best try. I made a promise not just to my father but to the entire town. I’m going to do what I can to fulfill that promise.”
“Then I leave you with this.” Nurse Conway got up and retrieved a small wooden box. She handed it to Evie. “It will help for a time.”
Evie noted the stamp on top of the box. “Peppermint oil.” She smiled. “I pray it will.”
1
July 7, 1893
Minneapolis, Minnesota
How did a person keep lying to the people she loved and not be swallowed up by overwhelming guilt?
Evie Turner gazed at her reflection in the mirror, wondering where her plans went wrong as the maid finished dressing her dark brown hair.
At twenty-one, Evelyn had accomplished a great deal. She and her twin brother, Evan, had graduated high school and immediately sought additional education. Evan went to college and Evie to nursing school.
She had wonderful parents and nine amazing siblings too. After her twin brother, there were another eight children ranging down to nine years of age. Some were born of her parents and some adopted. Mother and Father had always done what they could for orphans. Mother worked tirelessly to find families who might consider adoption, and when those couldn’t be found, she supported the orphanage and ensuredthe children felt cared for and loved. When their pastor, the Reverend David Knickerbacker, put together plans for the Sheltering Arms Orphanage, Mother had been the first one to write a check, drawing on a vast fortune left to her by her grandfather James Ashton Sr.
Evie admired her parents more than she could say. Father was an exceptional doctor and surgeon, known throughout the city for working with the poor. He had been faithfully involved in Minneapolis’s first hospital, the Cottage Hospital and Home for the Sick and Friendless. The small, eight-bed facility had been the dream of their pastor. Reverend Knickerbacker had done so much to improve the plight of poorer men. The Cottage Hospital was the first facility in Minneapolis focused on serving lowly paid railroad men and mill workers. It also became available to citizens. Ten years ago, it moved to Elliot Park and was renamed St. Barnabus Hospital, where it continued to operate as a private hospital. Now in addition they had the small City Hospital on Eleventh Avenue South. It wasn’t very big, but Father made rounds between the two places, as well as visiting the poor and downtrodden in their homes. It should all work together so perfectly, yet it didn’t.
Evie had only been home for a week, but already she felt backed into a corner, trapped like a wild animal.
In a few minutes she would sit down with her parents and brother for a meeting regarding the various charities they headed up or supported. Evie would bring up the garden party fund raiser they planned to host in August. At least this part of her life wasn’t a lie—raising money for the poor was something she truly loved—but so much else was pure deception.
The plan for Evie to serve with Father in a brand-new charity hospital had always been the dream. As a little girl, Eviehad listened to his stories for hours on end, and when she mentioned plans to become a nurse and work at his side, her father had been delighted. She could still see the way his face lit up at the idea.
But as often happened in life, things hadn’t worked out quite the way she’d hoped.
“Did you hear me, Miss Evie?”
Evie straightened and looked at the maid. “I’m sorry, Beth. I was daydreaming.”
“I said that your mother sent word that they’re waiting for you in the private sitting room.”
Evie nodded. “You did a wonderful job with my hair. Again.” She gave Beth a big smile. “I missed you while I was away. I swear I can’t do anything but braid it and pin it in place. You always manage to arrange it in such clever ways.”
Beth was already cleaning the hairbrush. “It’s no trouble, Miss Evie. I love it. I used to love arranging your mother’s hair in all sorts of fashions. Now most days she keeps it simple. I usually have her hair pinned in place before I have to think.”
Evie’s mother had become far more no-nonsense as she aged. She had just turned fifty-three in June and still ran the house in precise order, as well as her charities and the family business dealings. Judith Turner was a force to be reckoned with and probably always would be.
It was senseless to brood. Evie stood and gave a quick glance around. “It’s so warm today. Please leave my windows open for as long as possible. I heard Cook say it was supposed to rain.”
Beth put away the brush and pins. “Yes, and the skies have clouded up considerably since this morning. I think we’re probably due for a thunderstorm.”
Heading for the door, Evie glanced over her shoulder. “Then do what you think sensible.”
With that, she headed downstairs to meet with her family.Evie wanted to let them know what she had arranged for the party so far. She also wanted to hear if there were any new changes to the economy. The country was not seeing a good time financially.
“There she is,” Mother announced as Evie walked into the sitting room. Her father and brother were seated casually by the open French doors, while Mother was perched on the edge of an antique French gothic throne chair done in highly varnished chestnut. “You look quite lovely today, Evie. That pale yellow compliments your creamy complexion.”
