Circle of Love(47)

“You said someone would come to check on me,” she whispered.

“Andrew MacNair will,” Frances said.

“Promise?”

“I promise,” Frances murmured against Aggie’s cheek. “But I’m sure you’ll want to stay with the Bradons. I have a feeling that you’ll be happy with them, Aggie.”

Aggie straightened and took a deep breath. “At least I was chosen by people who wanted me. Mrs. Marchlander was wrong.”

Frances’s heart swelled with pride as she watched Aggie and the Bradons head for the doors. She knew now that Aggie would have a chance to be truly happy.

As soon as Aggie and the Bradons had left, Frances hurried over to Eddie. He jumped off his stool and then off the stage, threw his arms around Frances, and burst into tears.

“I can’t go back to New York,” he sobbed. “Please, please don’t send me back!”

“No one’s going to send you back,” Frances said. “I promise.”

Eddie buried his head against Frances’s shoulder. “You promised that someone would want me. You promised I’d have parents and a home.”

With one arm Frances held Eddie tightly. With the other hand she reached up to wipe tears from her own eyes. Eddie, with his glib tongue and mischief written all over his face, might have put off people who wanted a dutiful, well-behaved boy; but Frances loved Eddie just the way he was. He reminded her so much of Mike.

Eddie pulled back and looked up into Frances’s eyes. “Why don’t you take me?” he asked. “It don’t matter to me that you’re not married and I won’t have a father. You’ll need me all the more because I’ll be a big help with the chores. I’m healthy. I’m strong. Sure, I may be small for my age, but who cares? I can do a man’s work easy.”

“Eddie, there are rules,” Frances tried to explain. “The Society believes that the children placed should have both mothers and fathers.”

“You work for them,” Eddie said, fear in his eyes. “Maybe you could talk to someone who owes you a favor.”

Frances sat on the edge of the stage and took his hands. “That’s not the way I do things, Eddie,” she said. “And I’m sure the people in the Children’s Aid Society don’t either. But there is something I can do.”

“What?” Eddie’s voice had dropped to a whisper.

“My mother lives in St. Joe,” Frances said. “Let’s pay her a visit. She’s full of good ideas.” Frances grinned. “And advice, too. And while we’re there, we can talk to Andrew MacNair. He’s the agent in charge. Between us we’ll find you a happy home.”

She stood and walked over to Mr. Knowles. “Do you know when the next train to St. Joe comes through?”

He looked at his watch. “Not until four o’clock, but as you know, it’s a short trip—less than an hour.” He looked at Eddie. “I didn’t know that St. Joe was a scheduled stop for the orphan train riders.”

“It isn’t,” Frances said. “My mother lives in St. Joe, and I’d like to spend a few days with her.”

Mr. Knowles nodded. “We’ll finish the paperwork, and I’ll see that the two of you get a good dinner. Then I’ll take you to the depot.” Under his breath he said to Frances, “Do you think you’ll find a home for the lad?”

“I know I will,” Frances said, but her heart gave a thump. Three groups of people had been unable to see Eddie’s special qualities—his good humor, high-spiritedness, and quickness of mind—the very qualities she treasured in her brother Mike. However, she would find a good home for Eddie. She had to. The promise she had made had not been just to Eddie. It had been to herself.





16





MA WAS OVERJOYED to see Frances and welcomed Eddie by leading him to the kitchen. “You’re a handsome lad,” Ma said, “but far too thin for your own good. Someone’s going to have to put some meat on those bones.” She smiled down at Eddie. “You remind me of my son Mike. Same red hair, same mischievous look, same big smile.”

Eddie beamed and lit into the beef stew that Ma had heated up and served to them.

“Can you keep Eddie a few days, until Andrew and I find him a home?” Frances asked.

“Of course I can,” Ma assured her. “And I can tell you right now, it’ll be fine with John as well.”

“I wish I could adopt him,” Frances said quietly to her mother. “Eddie and I have shared a lot, and I feel so close to him.” She sighed. “In a way I’m going to be jealous of whoever gets him.”