Back to You, page 21
I looked back at the soldiers, torn between going to them and leaving. I just shook my head and turned away, not understanding what I intended to do if I stayed, anyway.
Chapter twenty-two
Emilia & Thomas
4 July 1861
“What will ye do now?” Michael hissed in my ear. He wrapped his arm around my neck, pinning me to his chest.
I pulled on his arm, knowing it wouldn’t budge, then took a quick step to the right and swung my left fist at his groin, causing him to double over. I didn’t hesitate to bring my elbow up to slam into his face.
To my surprise, my elbow actually collided with his nose this time.
“Feck!” he yelled, stepping back.
“I’m so sorry!” I spun towards him, covering my nose as if that’d somehow stop his pain.
He shook his head and smiled, pinching the bridge of his nose. “No, lass. We’re finally getting somewhere. Ye’re moving faster.”
I smiled, triumphant, and started to do a victory dance. I stopped mid-pose when I found Shay on the back step, laughing at me while holding onto Evaline’s shoulders. It was early for Evaline to be up, and the poor girl looked confused by the whole scene.
I instantly noticed Shay had on the new dress I had bought her, wanting her to have something better than her everyday brown one. I’d spent one morning searching the local thrift stores for a couple of dresses to add to our minimal wardrobe. Not having much money, I couldn’t buy new ones, but I was lucky enough to find some that had slight wear. Shay’s was a deep blue that complimented her dark skin nicely. The waist left some room for her growing belly—hiding the bump for now—as it flattered her figure and fell down in soft ruffles to her feet. She looked radiant.
“Why are you looking so giddy?” I asked her, suspicious.
“I’m proud of you,” Shay smiled, bouncing on the toes of her feet. She ran a hand over her hair nervously. Rose had taken Shay’s braids out a few weeks back, and she had started pulling it back into a bun, commonly worn by other women of that time. “And I have a surprise for you.”
“Is that why you’re dressed up?”
“Yes.” Her grin grew, and we turned towards a figure walking towards us.
It was Hiram. My heart stuttered while I scanned the area around him, wondering if he was alone. I deflated when I saw no one else.
Hiram began to visit Shay as much as he saw Evaline in the last few weeks. Even inviting her to go with him to different events and out with people her age and color. It had a tremendous effect on her, breaking her out of her shell faster than being shut up in old Rose’s place. A part of me was bitter that I couldn’t do that for her, as the other part rejoiced at her recovery.
Michael had rolled his sleeves back down, buttoning the cuffs, while blatantly keeping his eyes from Shay.
Hiram stopped quickly, taking Michael in. “What are you doing here?”
Michael raised a brow. “Can’t come for a wee visit with the lasses?”
Hiram stepped between Michael and the girls, his face darkening with hatred. The tension building made me sick to my stomach until Shay placed her hand on Hiram’s arm and leaned around him to give a solemn smile to Michael. I didn’t see why she was always so nice to him, but it seemed to break the tension.
Michael’s brows drew down, eyes still glaring at her hand on Hiram’s arm, then suddenly towards me. “I’ll see ye tonight.” Michael nodded at me, then turned to Shay. “Will ye be joining us in the morn?”
The shock on Shay’s face would have been comical if the situation wasn’t already so awkward.
“Yes,” Shay said breathlessly, almost as if she was flustered. Her dark eyes darted between the two men. “I would like that.”
Michael tipped his hat and purposefully ran into Hiram’s shoulder, sauntering away without a care.
Hiram fixed his scowl and looked up at Shay on the steps. “You shouldn’t be around him. Both of you.” He turned to Evaline, staring at him with big eyes.
“He saved my life,” Shay said, shoulders straightening in defiance.
“He despises colored folk,“ he said, picking up Evaline. She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder, her previous excitement evaporating quickly. “The only reason he saved you was to get Tommy in his clutches.”
Shay’s face fell, looking down the square where Michael had been.
“What are you guys up to?” I asked, wanting to distract them. “You look too good to be staying in.”
“Well, I’m sure you know it’s the Fourth of July,” Shay said, brightening. “The whole city is planning festivities. Hiram had gotten us tickets to go.”
“That’s great!” I tried to smile through my disappointment. Unfortunately, I had to work at the bakery and hadn’t had a chance to get out in weeks.
“Don’t look so sad.” Shay grinned. “Rose said you could go too.”
“Yes,” I yelled a little too loudly, surprising Hiram, and making Shay and Evaline laugh. “I’ll go change really fast.”
“Goodness!” Mira started on her way out the door as I pushed past her petite form.
I wore my new burgundy dress within minutes, securing my small hat to my head as I ran back down the stairs.
“Thanks, Rose!” I yelled as I darted out of the door. “You’re an angel!”
The streets had been filled since early morning, clogging up the sidewalks and spilling over to every crook and cranny of the city. The hubbub grated on Thomas’ nerves as it flared his nationalism. An odd contrast that he didn’t know how to untangle.
Thomas lifted an apple to his mouth as he waited for Hiram at Tremont Temple, listening to The Star-Spangled Banner being played by the City Military Bands. It was faint, but he still hummed while watching the weans run by in excitement. He agreed to take Evaline and Maggie to the kid’s celebration, knowing Shay would come while Emilia worked at the bakery. It was the only way he decided to come.
“When will they be here?” Maggie asked impatiently.
Thomas sighed, annoyed with his sister’s dramatics these days. “Any minute.”
Evaline darted in and out of the crowd down the street as Hiram followed a pursuit. It had only been seven months since the temple was ambushed by the mob, and Thomas worried that Evaline might react badly to it. However, he shouldn’t have worried. The lass was so excited she didn’t seem to notice it was the same building. Eva’s golden curls billowed behind her with each pump of her legs, revealing her cotton pantalets under her dress. She reminded him of a bird breaking free of its cage, freedom beneath her wings.
Mira and Shay kept pace with Hiram, taking in the banners, street vendors, and all the transformations of the occasion. Shay looked healthy, filling out and glowing, and possibly even happy. Thomas sighed a breath of relief he didn’t know he had been holding these last couple of months, grateful that she was improving. He began to straighten from the wall, ready to go to them, when he froze.
Emilia looked up at the building, head tipped back, exposing her thin neck while the sun kissed her tan face. He’d never seen her in the burgundy dress. It was plain and had obviously been well worn, but on her… He rubbed his chest, trying to relieve the building pressure. She was beautiful and completely oblivious to it. Thomas just stood there, transfixed by how she carried herself and her effect on those who passed her by. She had no idea how rare she really was.
Did she know he’d be there? Surely not. She had been furious with him, and he didn’t expect forgiveness.
Emilia must have felt his gaze on her because her dark eyes caught his the next moment and widened. She took a step forward as if about to come to him, but stopped. Her soft expression hardened.
“Uncle Tommy!” Evaline yelled her usual greeting, colliding into his legs. The rest of them were behind her, drawing his attention away from the woman constantly in his thoughts.
Hiram introduced Shay to Maggie as everyone said hello.
Maggie leaned in close to Thomas. “You didn’t tell me your mot was coming.”
“She’s not mine,” he grumbled and turned to the group, making Maggie smirk. “Are ye ready?”
As they headed inside, Evaline squealed with glee at all the different activities, going to each one and interacting with all kids. It seemed to be going well, everyone enjoying themselves, except for the silence between him and Emilia. That was until a white mother pulled her boy away from Evaline, scowling at Eva as if the little girl was a cockroach that scuttled over her shoe. After that, Hiram decided they needed to leave.
“We’ll make our way to the Common and listen to the bands,” he said to Evaline, clearly annoyed.
“Oh, that would be fun, won’t it, honey?” Emilia chirped.
“Am I bad?” Evaline asked, surprising everyone into a sudden silence while the room around them went on noisily.
“You are not bad,” Hiram growled and set her back on her feet. “Where is—”
Shay and Mira took a step forward, but it was Shay who placed her hand on Hiram’s arm, stilling him. Mira’s face fell, and she seemed to dissolve into the shadows.
“You, my sweet,” Shay said, squatting by Evaline, “are one of the best girls I know.” Evaline’s eyes flicked sadly between Shay’s as if she was looking for a lie. “Sometimes people can’t see that. Sometimes all people see is the color of our skin instead of our worth. Instead of the beauty living inside of us. And some are too afraid to go against what the rest of society believes.”
“Why?” Evaline focused on Shay’s dark hands holding her small, lighter ones. “Momma always said my daddy was a white man.” She looked up then. “If I told the lady that, would she let me play with the boy, then?”
Thomas ran his fingers through his hair, scanning the crowd bitterly. Frankly, he was surprised Evaline could remember anything her mother had said. She was so young when she passed and didn’t speak of her often.
Shay shook her head. “I’m sorry, sweetie. That doesn’t always work. Sometimes people don’t want a chance to know us.”
“But we do,” Emilia chimed in, kneeling down. “We think you’re smart, funny, and so adventurous. And I’m seriously jealous of your beautiful curls.” Emilia gently tugged Evaline’s hair, making the curls spring back in place. The little girl smiled.
“You like my bow?” Evaline asked, turning to show the white ribbon tying half of her hair back.
“I love it! Honestly, I wish I had one.”
“No,” Evaline drug the word out, laughing. “You’re too old.”
“What?” Emilia laughed. “I’m still young! I could pull it off.”
Evaline shook her head, smiling as if Emilia had lost her mind. “No, you’re old enough to be married, not wearing ribbons.” She looked up at Thomas then, making his chest seize up. “Didn’t Ms. Banks say Uncle Tommy was your soul mate?”
“What? No!” Emilia’s face turned ashen, and she nearly toppled sideways, catching herself at the last second. She stood up, doing everything she could to not look at him.
“Not your mot.” Maggie elbowed him and giggled.
He ran his hand through his hair as the building’s heat rose with his blood pressure. The idea undoubtedly flustered Emilia, while Thomas tried and failed to ignore the sudden odd rush of pleasure he felt when hearing it.
Shay hid her smile as she grabbed Evaline. “Why don’t we head on out now?”
They made their way to the street, falling in with the crowd heading toward the orchestra. Ireland’s national anthem rang in the distance, surprising Thomas. He vaguely remembered that it was listed on the program, yet hearing it was an entirely different experience. For so long, he’d been ridiculed, spat at, pushed to the side. He was a worthless Irish gutter rat expected to amount to nothing. And now, they were honoring the very country of the people they so intensely despised. He closed his eyes and let his pride swell at how far the Irish had come in America. Maybe the war would be good for them. The Lord knew they needed all the help they could get.
Thomas expelled his bitter thoughts from his mind and fell in step with Emilia, giving them a few paces before speaking. “Explain this soul mate business Ms. Banks speaks of.”
“You never heard of a soul mate before?” She eyed him out of the corner of her eye.
He shook his head.
“Well.” She sighed. “It’s like you’re complete with the other person. You walk through life thinking you’re fine, but it’s not until you meet the other person that you realize something has been missing. You just understand each other.”
“Like they’re the other half of your whole.”
“Exactly.”
Thomas grunted as if he didn’t quite believe it. “Ye really believe in that sort of thing?”
“Not really, no,” Emilia said, though he noted how she wrung her hands. “Shay does, though.”
Thomas nodded. Before, he wouldn’t have believed in it either, but these last couple of months had taught him one thing: there was far more to life than people expected. Just because a person refused to believe in something, did not mean that particular thing didn’t exist. It only revealed the person’s fear or, rather, inability to comprehend that there were things that might occur beyond one’s understanding. Such as one’s ability to travel across time, for example.
But that train of thought was pushed to the side when Thomas realized Emilia’s definition fit with what he had been feeling as of late. She might not have believed in it, but…
“Ye never felt that way before?” he asked, cursing himself for letting it slip.
“No,” she said. Thomas tried to ignore the sting until she pushed an imaginary hair behind her ear, fidgeting with her hat that already sat straight. Her cheeks were redder than they were moments before.
Thomas smiled. “Are ye warm?”
“What?” Her eyes looked up at his, startled. “No, not really. Why?”
He bent down to whisper in her ear. “Ye’re blushing.” He stroked one finger down her cheek, igniting her rosy cheeks into a bright flame down her chest. His pulse quickened at the sight.
Emilia focused ahead of them, fanning her cheeks with her gloved hand. “The afternoon’s getting hotter, I guess.”
“Aye, must be it.” His answer propelled her to walk faster, and his grin grew as they went down the street, perfectly satisfied with watching the sway of her dress.
After listening to the orchestra for some time, they had made their way to the balloon ascension, a crowd gathering around to see.
“Wow, those aren’t like ours,” Shay said, shading her eyes from the sun as she looked up at the balloons still nearby.
“Right?” Emilia agreed. “These ones are kind of scary. I thought we would be able to ride them.”
“Ride them?” Hiram’s eyebrows created a deep ‘V’ between his eyes. “They’re extremely dangerous.”
Emilia shrugged. “I would’ve liked it.”
There was something about the way they talked about the balloons, as if they saw a more efficient design. “What do ye mean like yours?” Thomas asked.
The women shared a worried glance.
“Oh, I just meant from where we come from,” Shay said hurriedly.
“And where do ye come from?”
“Charlestown.”
“That’s not very far.”
Emilia puckered her lips, watching the exchange. “Why don’t you explain it a little more, Shay. I’m sure Thomas would be fascinated about where we come from. Wouldn’t you, Thomas?“ She turned towards him, raising her brow as if daring him to contradict her.
“Maybe this isn’t the time,” Thomas grumbled, noticing Hiram’s questioning look. He turned back to the balloons.
“Of course, it isn’t,” Emilia muttered.
“I would so love to hear about the ones you saw,” Mira exclaimed. “I’ve heard about them as a little girl, but this is the first time I’ve seen them in person.”
Before anyone could respond, a breeze swept over the area, bringing in the smell of baked beans from one of the vendors nearby. Thomas’s stomach growled but it seemed to have the opposite effect on Miss Banks. She grabbed her stomach and Emilia’s arm simultaneously, paling remarkably.
Emilia whispered something to her, but Shay only shook her head, concentrating on the ground.
“What is it?” Hiram asked, setting Evaline down.
“She’s going to retch again!” Evaline bellowed as if it was a common occurrence.
“Are you unwell?” Hiram grabbed her arm, naïve to the signs Thomas was beginning to see.
“The baby doesn’t like her belly,” Evaline said. “Auntie Rose said it’s normal with pregnant ladies, though.”
“Hush,” Mira whispered, pulling Evaline to the side. “That is not a topic one should discuss in public.”
Hiram took a step back, letting go of Shay’s arm. “How long have you known?”
Thomas’s stomach plummeted as he silently willed his friend to shut his gab.
“A while,” Shay admitted.
“Here, sit down.” Emilia guided her to a bench with one spot left.
“It’s one of theirs?” There was such loathing in his voice that Shay sat back, momentarily stunned into silence.
Thomas touched Hiram’s arm and said, “Let’s go for a walk, comrádaí.”
“Of course, it is,” Shay responded icily.
Hiram punched the tree that offered the bench shade, making the women jump. His reaction drew the attention of the crowd around them. Thomas knew he had to diffuse the situation, or they’d have the coppers on their tail.
“They’re not suited for normal society,” a man muttered, guiding his white wife farther away from their group.
Hiram took a step toward the man, but Thomas stood in front of him, nose-to-nose, so that he was all Hiram could see. “It’s not worth it. Calm down.”
Thomas thought Hiram might hit him, his nostrils flaring like a bull ready to charge. It took several heartbeats before he turned on his heel and left.
