How could her family dig out of their financial crisis while worried sick about her? Could Violet expect to find a favorable match when her reputation could be destroyed at any point by Rose’s reckless actions?
But she had made her choice. She would have a life with Ben here in Brooklyn. Even if guilt pulled at the back of her mind, Rose would choose her own future, and her family would have to accept her decision.
“Abby,” she asked brightly, “do you have more purple ribbon?”
Cass muttered something under her breath and Abby shot her a glare. “Of course, Rose.” Her voice was pointed but lacked heat. “You can haveas muchas you want.”
“Did Ben say when he’d be back from midtown?” Cass asked.
“He planned to wait outside Mr. Peale’s office until the meeting with Mr. Linden was over.” Rose felt a swell of pride at being part of the movement, knowing the plans and details, and contributing in her own way.
Her contribution on that morning had been making him run so late that Garrett pounded on the door for several minutes before Ben emerged, cheeks flushed and clothing disheveled.
“I’m in no rush to see you go, but I noticed the date you planned to return to England has come and gone.” Abby’s voice carried barely contained excitement, and Cass shot her a warning look.
Rose put down the ribbon she’d been pinning. “You shall have to become accustomed to my presence, because I’m not going back. I’m staying here with Ben.”
Abby screeched, bursting out of the pile of white cotton like a scared rabbit from the brush and tumbling over Rose in a full-bodied embrace. “This is wonderful! Iknewyou would stay!”
“Not true,” Cass called, and Rose met her dark eyes over Abby’s shoulder. “Abby worried every day that you would leave us.” A slow smile spread over her lips. “I’m glad to hear Ben convinced you.”
Warmth seeped through Rose’s veins like honey; as joyous as it was to know Ben loved her, having won the approval of this taciturn woman meant the world to her. “Thank you, Cass. So am I.”
Abby popped back to her feet and dashed into the kitchen. She called over her shoulder, “What do your mother and father think about your staying?”
Her blood chilled, reality pressing back into her fairytale ending. “I haven’t—they don’t know yet.”
“They don’t know?” Abby abandoned whatever task she had started in the kitchen and flopped down next to Rose again, but with a whisk and a large piece of chocolate in her hand.
Rose winced. “I haven’t cabled them yet.”
“Why not?” Cass asked as she sat beside Abby.
“What would it mean for you, Abby? If my father knew where I was, he would tell your uncle, and he may come looking for me.” Rose pressed her lips together. “I’m not ready to shut my mother and father out of my life just yet.”
Abby stiffened and Cass stroked her partner’s back. “Is that what you plan to do?” Abby asked. “Shut them out?”
She couldn’t face that possibility yet. She had a new family here in Brooklyn, but would she have to choose? Couldn’t she have both? Perhaps she was being greedy again, wanting more than she deserved.
“I don’t know. But I won’t do anything to put you in danger.” She took her cousin’s hand. “I promise.”
Abby threw her arms around her and squeezed until Rose’s eyes watered. When she released Rose, Abby leapt to her feet and darted back into the kitchen, having abandoned the chocolate somewhere on the sofa. “Are you hungry? I’m making sandwiches!”
Cass chuckled. “Abby manages her emotions by cooking.”
Rose gave her a conspiratorial grin. “So I’ve learned.”
“I am pleased you’re staying. Ben is a different person with you around.”
The glow returned to her chest. “Different in a good way?”
“In the best way.” Cass took Rose’s hand and tugged her to standing. “Now come along. We need to help Abby or there will be slices of bread on the ceiling.”
One month prior, Rose would never have imagined herself in a kitchen making mountains of sandwiches, laughing with women who lived so differently from all she’d ever known. But Rose could never go back now,wouldnever go back. She had found her happily ever after, here, with these women, with Ben. With Brooklyn.
Abby released a deep sigh of satisfaction as she surveyed the stacks of fresh bread piled with chicken and cheese, all the ingredients gifted from local merchants who owed Ben a favor. Most of their meals were sourced that way, and Rose wondered if Ben realized how much his community loved him.
“This is far too much to eat,” Rose remarked.
