“Thank you. You look quite beautiful as well. I always wished I had dark hair like yours.”
Evie chuckled. “It seems we always long for what we do not have.”
“What is it that you don’t have now?” Evan asked as he joined them.
“Why you, of course.” Evie winked. “I will leave you two to talk while I go in search of something cold to drink.”
She slipped away as quickly as possible, trying hard not to let her true feelings show. Amelia was the last of her single friends to become engaged. Most had married the year before, a couple of them had wed this summer, and come winter Amelia would join their numbers. Then they would all begin having children. Some were already expecting.
Evie sighed. What would she do then? She was sure to be the odd one out at parties. And if not that, then she would become the focus of her friends as they played matchmaker and tried to find her a husband.
Taking a glass of lemonade, Evie hoped to move to a more remote part of the garden, but it was not to be. Mrs. Van Cleve, a wonderful woman who worked tirelessly for the poor and unfortunate, had caught sight of her.
“Evelyn Turner, it’s so nice to have you back in town. I knowyour mother and father have missed you dearly. I have as well.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Van Cleve. You are kind to say so. I very much missed my Minneapolis friends and of course my family.”
“So you have all of your nurse’s training completed now?”
“I do. I was gone longer than expected because I took extra classes to study laboratory work and specialized surgeries.” Evie forced herself not to shudder at the memories of those procedures.
“I know you’ll be a great asset to your father and the hospital. Why, all of Minneapolis has carefully followed your training. Your parents have been good to keep us all apprised. I know your father’s new hospital is nearly ready for business. I’m on the board, so I hear the very latest.”
“I’m sure you do. Father told me how happy he was to have you on the board.”
Mrs. Van Cleve chuckled. “He appreciates a female opinion. I’ve always admired that about him. But now he’ll have you to give him your thoughts as you run his hospital.”
“Well, not at first. I’ve much to learn as far as the administrative duties. Father will be the one in charge overall. I shall be his faithful assistant.”
“Which is an admirable position, all the same. Oh, and now that you’re home, you must attend our women’s suffrage meetings. We women need to come together in great numbers to convince our congressmen to move forward on this issue.”
“Yes, ma’am, I agree. Women should have the vote, and I believe it will come around. After all, we have been given the right to vote in school elections in Minnesota.”
“That’s true, but it is not enough. We must push through until we are allowed to vote for every office. Women are a valuable part of society, and they should have a voice.”
“Charlotte, it’s so good to see you.” Evie smiled as her mother joined them. “I see you found Evie. We’re so glad to have her home.”
“I wouldn’t miss such a grand celebration as an engagement party,” the older woman replied. “Especially for a young woman I’ve known since her youth. How wonderful to be young and carefree, just starting out in life. I suppose we must look to getting Evie settled with a husband soon.”
“Not too soon. Her father is looking forward to having her with him at the hospital and on his rounds. She’s an excellent nurse, we’ve been told. Of course, I always knew she would be. Evie is the type of person to excel at whatever she puts her mind to.”
“And right now that is fund-raising. We’re hosting our garden party on the fourth of August. The invitations are about to go out. They should have gone out well before now, but I’ve been much delayed.” Evie hoped her mother would take her cue and drop the topic of her nursing.
“It isn’t like everyone doesn’t already know about the party,” Mrs. Van Cleve replied. “Your mother started that tradition long ago, and everyone in Minneapolis has come to expect the Turners’ annual garden party fund raiser the first week in August. You are perfectly fine to be a little late with your invitations.”
“Well, this year we’re only hosting three fund raisers instead of the regular four.” Mother glanced around the garden. “Roman was just telling me that we can hardly expect folks to donate as much in difficult years such as this one has been.”
“Why, Evelyn Turner, how nice to see you again. Amelia has positively pined away for you,” Mrs. Bronson said, coming to join them.
Evie found herself silently longing to be back at the house,lounging in her own garden. She was thrilled for Amelia but knew that most likely the discussion would move to Evie’s own status as unmarried.
Mrs. Bronson turned to Evie’s mother. “Soon you’ll be the one planning weddings now that Evelyn is home again. I know the young men in Minneapolis will soon come courting. There are quite a few bachelors here at the party if you would care to have me introduce you.”
“No, that’s quite all right. Evie will soon be joining her father at the hospital. I’m sure she’ll find herself quite busy. When God is ready for her to meet someone with marriage in mind, I know He’ll provide the right man.”
Mrs. Bronson rolled her eyes. “My dear, proper courtship and marriage require far more than that. It’s not like she can simply run into someone. These things require careful planning. Oh dear, if you’ll excuse me, I see a problem with the refreshment table.” Mrs. Bronson didn’t wait for Mother to acknowledge her and hurried away, much to Evie’s relief.
“I wonder, Evie, if you would excuse us for a moment,” her mother said. “I have something important to discuss with Charolotte.”
