“Boarding school. I’m much younger, a surprise addition to the family.” He shrugged. “They were off to boarding school when I was born. On visits home, a much younger brother was of very little interest to them. Eventually they returned to train with father, and by that time, I was sent away. Father very specifically kept us all separated. My brothers, only two years apart in age, didn’t even attend the same school. He believedit was good for developing our ability to reason for ourselves and not rely on others for our opinions.”
“How terrible. Oh, I don’t know what I would have done without Evan and the others,” Evie said, shaking her head.
“Tell me about your siblings.” He already knew there were quite a few.
Evie and Evan exchanged a look. “We are a family of ten children,” Evan announced. “Evie and I are the first and second. We grew up in this house, and it was always crowded and noisy.”
“And full of love,” Evie added. “Growing up as you did, Max, I’m not at all surprised by our discussion. Please know that Evan and I will be happy to embrace you as our friend.”
“Thank you.” Max didn’t know what else to say, but he felt suddenly out of place.
“Oh dear, I see mother is waving me over,” Evie said. “Please excuse me, Max. I’m sure you and Evan will have much to discuss.” She left them then and gracefully glided across the garden, nodding and smiling at each person she met.
“She’s something else, isn’t she?” Evan said, seeming to size Max up.
Max looked away from Evie to her brother. There was a knowing look in the younger man’s eye. He knew his sister was attractive and no doubt wondered what Max’s intentions were. Strangely enough, Max wondered that point himself.
6
“The party seems to be going well,” Mother said as Evie joined her. “Everyone appears to be having a good time.”
“I thought so too.” Evie glanced around at the people milling about their gardens. “Then again, how could they not? The food is perfect, the setting lovely, and the weather quite mild after a long hot day.”
“Makes it such that even though our guests are being asked to part with their money, they don’t mind.” Mother smiled and hugged Evie’s shoulders. “You did a very good job putting this together.”
“Thank you. I truly enjoy fund-raising. Before leaving for nursing school, it was the one thing I felt truly competent doing for the cause. I enjoy explaining the various charities and needs. I didn’t realize how much I missed it these past few years.”
“Mrs. Turner, thank you so much for hosting this marvelous event. And thank you, Miss Turner. I understand you had much to do with the arrangements,” Charlotte Van Cleve said as she joined them.
“We’re so glad you could come, Charlotte,” Mother said, taking the older woman’s gloved hands. “And you know part of what we’re raising here tonight will benefit Bethany Home.”
Bethany Home was Charlotte’s pet project. Along with Abigail Swift, she had put together a home for pregnant prostitutes and unwed mothers. These were the women no one cared about, who carried the blame for corrupting society because of their behavior. But Charlotte Van Cleve had refocused the responsibility to be shared with the men who had a part in their downfall.
“I’m so glad that you’ve included us,” Mrs. Van Cleve replied. “The money we get from the city hardly puts a dent in the expenses.”
“I must say, we were all impressed that you convinced the city council to give you two-thirds of what they collected in brothel fines.” Evie’s mother smiled. “Only you could have managed that, my friend.”
“They certainly weren’t happy about it,” the white-haired woman replied.
Just then Mrs. Garrison walked by and seemed eager to make her presence known. She extended her gloved hand at no one in particular. “I must say, this has been a lovely party, Mrs. Turner. Thank you for inviting us.”
“I’m glad you could share in the fund raiser, Mrs. Garrison. We have such a great need in the city.”
The woman frowned and drew back her hand. “I suppose we must expect it with the various troubles going on.”’
“Yes, a banking crisis and falling investments have put a heavy burden on our most needy,” Mrs. Van Cleve began. “As the more fortunate, it is our duty to oversee their situations and help where we can.”
Mrs. Garrison looked far from interested in what they were discussing. “Well, I didn’t wish to intrude but wanted to thankyou in person. The evening is so lovely, and your gardens are the finest in town.”
“We have been blessed,” Mother replied. “Dr. Turner found several men at the shelter for the friendless who were gifted gardeners and we hired them on. Just look at all they’ve accomplished.”
“You took in strangers without references?” Mrs. Garrison seemed mortified.
“Why not? They proved their abilities right away, and we were all the better for it. Now three men who might have gone without jobs or homes are happily sharing an apartment and working at what they love.”
“But what had brought them so low?” Mrs. Garrison asked. “What if they were criminals? How could you possibly know?”
Mother had always been capable of holding her own, and Evie couldn’t help but smile as she dealt with Josephine Garrison.
