bloom and a slight breeze with just enough breath to cool them made Elizabeth wish she didn’t have to go to Chicago either. I don’t have to, she reminded herself, it’s just that I can’t not go. I’m needed there and here. . . .
She tuned back in to what her mother was saying, guilt nibbling at her heart because she wasn’t content with being the ‘‘at home’’ daughter Annabelle desired.
‘‘If we can work in a shopping trip like last year, we can have you ready to leave for medical school in September. That is when the new year starts for schools of this nature too, isn’t it?’’
‘‘It will for me, but as far as I understand, people can begin any time they start a new unit.’’ Elizabeth pushed her chair back and got to her feet. ‘‘I’ll be back after a while. I have some errands to run.’’
‘‘Tell your father I will be down later.’’ Annabelle smiled at her daughter, the kind of smile that said I’m really going to miss you.
Elizabeth inspected her upper eyelashes and her fringe, a new feature that she still wasn’t quite comfortable with, be it that short hair fluffed on the forehead was all the rage or not.
Why was it that now that she and her mother were getting along better than they ever had, she was about to leave home? Another of those things to ponder in the middle of the night when sleep was cavorting off somewhere else instead of bringing its healing blessings to her busy mind.
Her father’s agreement with her mother that they would support her whichever school she decided to attend should have helped, but it didn’t.
Once at the office, she stopped at her father’s desk and waited for him to look up from what he was writing.
‘‘Yes, my dear?’’ His smile made her wish she wasn’t considering leaving sooner—for a heartbeat anyway.
‘‘I had a telephone call from Dr. Morganstein and . . .’’
His nod encouraged her to continue. ‘‘And she wants me to come now. She needs another pair of hands desperately.’’
‘‘And?’’
‘‘And I’m asking for your permission to go. Mother said she understood, if we could have a shopping trip again.’’
His slight smile matched her own. ‘‘She does love to go shopping in Chicago.’’
‘‘So you don’t mind?’’
‘‘Of course I mind. I was looking forward to our croquet matches and evening concerts.’’ He leaned forward. ‘‘But, my dear daughter, you must do what you must do. I thank you for asking my permission, but you are a grown woman now and must make your own decisions. Do you want to go?’’
‘‘Of course.’’
‘‘Then you will go with my blessing.’’
When she came around the desk, he stood quickly enough to open his arms to gather her close. He kissed her forehead and sighed. ‘‘Have I told you lately how proud I am of you?’’
‘‘Not for a day or two.’’ She could hear his heart thudding, a sound she had laughed about as a little girl sitting in his lap. How often he’d said that she was in his heart, and she’d giggle and say, ‘‘No, Daddy, I’m right here. Your heart is in there.’’ And she’d push a fingertip into his shirt.
Now she looked up into eyes that matched her own. ‘‘I am the most blessed that you are my father. Thank you for everything.’’
‘‘You are welcome.’’
The tinkling doorbell took his attention, and she left his side to meander down the hall to the necessary where she used the hand towel to mop her eyes. She stared into the mirror. ‘‘Am I doing the best thing?’’
Elizabeth entered the pressroom and watched Thorliff add more ink and start the press running again. If anyone would give an honest and mostly unbiased opinion, it would be he. When he came to stand beside her, still keeping an eye on the press, she laid out her concerns for his evaluation.
‘‘Do you think I should give up on the school closer to home?’’
‘‘No, why? You are going to Chicago again to the hospital,
She tuned back in to what her mother was saying, guilt nibbling at her heart because she wasn’t content with being the ‘‘at home’’ daughter Annabelle desired.
‘‘If we can work in a shopping trip like last year, we can have you ready to leave for medical school in September. That is when the new year starts for schools of this nature too, isn’t it?’’
‘‘It will for me, but as far as I understand, people can begin any time they start a new unit.’’ Elizabeth pushed her chair back and got to her feet. ‘‘I’ll be back after a while. I have some errands to run.’’
‘‘Tell your father I will be down later.’’ Annabelle smiled at her daughter, the kind of smile that said I’m really going to miss you.
Elizabeth inspected her upper eyelashes and her fringe, a new feature that she still wasn’t quite comfortable with, be it that short hair fluffed on the forehead was all the rage or not.
Why was it that now that she and her mother were getting along better than they ever had, she was about to leave home? Another of those things to ponder in the middle of the night when sleep was cavorting off somewhere else instead of bringing its healing blessings to her busy mind.
Her father’s agreement with her mother that they would support her whichever school she decided to attend should have helped, but it didn’t.
Once at the office, she stopped at her father’s desk and waited for him to look up from what he was writing.
‘‘Yes, my dear?’’ His smile made her wish she wasn’t considering leaving sooner—for a heartbeat anyway.
‘‘I had a telephone call from Dr. Morganstein and . . .’’
His nod encouraged her to continue. ‘‘And she wants me to come now. She needs another pair of hands desperately.’’
‘‘And?’’
‘‘And I’m asking for your permission to go. Mother said she understood, if we could have a shopping trip again.’’
His slight smile matched her own. ‘‘She does love to go shopping in Chicago.’’
‘‘So you don’t mind?’’
‘‘Of course I mind. I was looking forward to our croquet matches and evening concerts.’’ He leaned forward. ‘‘But, my dear daughter, you must do what you must do. I thank you for asking my permission, but you are a grown woman now and must make your own decisions. Do you want to go?’’
‘‘Of course.’’
‘‘Then you will go with my blessing.’’
When she came around the desk, he stood quickly enough to open his arms to gather her close. He kissed her forehead and sighed. ‘‘Have I told you lately how proud I am of you?’’
‘‘Not for a day or two.’’ She could hear his heart thudding, a sound she had laughed about as a little girl sitting in his lap. How often he’d said that she was in his heart, and she’d giggle and say, ‘‘No, Daddy, I’m right here. Your heart is in there.’’ And she’d push a fingertip into his shirt.
Now she looked up into eyes that matched her own. ‘‘I am the most blessed that you are my father. Thank you for everything.’’
‘‘You are welcome.’’
The tinkling doorbell took his attention, and she left his side to meander down the hall to the necessary where she used the hand towel to mop her eyes. She stared into the mirror. ‘‘Am I doing the best thing?’’
Elizabeth entered the pressroom and watched Thorliff add more ink and start the press running again. If anyone would give an honest and mostly unbiased opinion, it would be he. When he came to stand beside her, still keeping an eye on the press, she laid out her concerns for his evaluation.
‘‘Do you think I should give up on the school closer to home?’’
‘‘No, why? You are going to Chicago again to the hospital,
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