She had stopped crying about a week ago and was now just moving around, doing her work, eating, sleeping and the like.
Lilly wanted it to stop. She’d answered the ad the day after Mr. DiAntonio’s death. The letter of response had just arrived. She opened it immediately and was thrilled to read he was interested and had even sent a ticket for “Angela” to take, dated five days hence.
She stopped at the door of their boarding house and looked up at the windows that belonged to Angelica’s rooms. Her friend was not in the window and could not be seen from where Lilly was standing.
Lilly’s heart pounded. Regret washed over and then a sense of determination filled her. Her mixed up feelings continued to battle each other as she pushed open the door and went through. By the time she reached the second floor and was standing in front of Angelica’s door, she was out of breath. Her anxiety was making her feel faint. She knocked on the door and then opened it, putting her head through.
“Angel? Where are you?”
“In here. Come on in, Lilly.”
Lilly closed the door behind her and hurried into her friend’s bedroom, where it appeared Angelica was going through her clothes to see what she wanted and what she didn’t. She’d been given all of her sisters clothes that had not burned in the fire but where kept in a separate building. These were all clothes meant for the wintertime, and they were of very fine quality.
“These are beautiful!” Lilly said. “What do you plan to do with them?”
“I am giving them to some of the women in town who have very little.”
“But you should sell them. You don’t have to give them away. You need money.”
“I do not want to sell them, amica mia. I want the women to have them. I do not want the money they have.”
Lilly understood. These were women who made their money with the men in town, and they never seemed to have enough money. Angelica didn’t want to take what little they had, nor did she want the money they made that way.
“I want to talk to you, Angelica.” Lilly dropped herself on the bed and reached out for Angelica’s hand. Angelica took it, pulled herself from her sitting position on the floor and joined Lilly sitting on the bed.
“What is it?”
“I think…I know we need to make a change in our lives. Do you agree with that?”
“Si.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“I have done something, and I want to tell you what I’ve done, but I don’t want you to be angry with me for it.”
Angelica immediately felt a sense of anxiety flow through her. She swallowed and looked at her friend closely. “What have you done?”
“I answered an ad from a man in the West requesting a bride.”
Angelica’s eyes opened wide, and she found herself short of breath. “What? You are leaving me? What will I do? Where…”
“No, no.” Lilly cut her off, patting her hand. “I answered it…for you…as you. Do you understand?”
Angelica looked terribly confused. “No.”
Lilly pulled in a deep breath and wrestled with her anxiety. “I…answered it from you, like I was you. I signed it with your name, but I gave you a more American last name so…you’d have more chance of being chosen if others responded to it.”
“What….what did you say? I am confusa.”
“Confused. I am sorry, Angelica. I know you will understand if I just have the right words to help you. We need to make a change. I wanted to make sure that you would be able to travel with me if the ad was answered. I didn’t want to leave you behind. So I answered the ad to make sure you would be chosen, and I will pay for my own way to wherever you go. I will go with you, and when you get there, I’ll be nearby, and I will make my own way.”
Angelica understood what Lilly had done and felt amazed, excited and worried all at the same time. “You…will make your own way?”
“I’ll be nearby. I can get a job housekeeping like I always do. And I have some money saved, more than I’ll need for the ticket, so I should be able to get by for a little while.”
“I am worried for you.”
“Don’t be. We’ll make it, you and me.”
“May I read the letter?”
“Oh!” Lilly felt silly for forgetting the letter. She pulled it from her skirt pocket and gave it to Angelica. “Do you think you’ll understand it?”
Angelica smiled wide. “I have been working hard on my English. I am better able to read than speak.”
“You are doing really well, Angel. You really are.”
Lilly already felt a sense of relief. Perhaps it was truly what God wanted. She prayed that she had made the right choice for both of them.