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“That was my hope, too,” he said. “First though, I want to ride over to Mary’s and find out what happened with the twins. Would you like to come along?”
“I’d love to.”
On the way, she had him drive by the plot where the new diner would be built. They stopped and got out. There were no workers about, but piles of wood and stacks of bricks waited at the ready.
Rhine asked, “How long did Zeke say it would take?”
“About six weeks. When he came by the boardinghouse to show us the drawings he was very distant, but I’m hoping he’ll thaw when he hears about you.”
“Even if he doesn’t, as long as he does a good job that’s all that matters.”
“You sound like Sylvie.”
There was traffic on the street and people on the walks. As he helped her back into the Rockaway, someone driving by shouted, “Nigger!”
Eddy stiffened.
But Rhine didn’t give the person the satisfaction of even turning to see who the culprit might have been. “When you’ve been whipped on and off since the age of ten, a word stings less than a pinprick.”
That said, he picked up the reins and drove off, leaving her to wonder how deep his pain went and if she would ever know.
At the orphanage, he handed her down and they went inside. The twins mobbed him excitedly while telling him about their new ma and pa.
“Do you like them?” he asked.
“Yes!”
Mary came out and looked on with a smile before saying, “Boys, let me talk to Mr.Rhine and MissEddy in my office for a moment.”
Micah asked, “You won’t leave without saying good-bye?”
Rhine said, “I won’t. I promise.”
They seemed satisfied and scampered off.
Inside Mary’s office, Rhine and Eddy took seats and Mary said, “I saw this morning’s papers. You’re an incredibly brave man, Rhine.”
“I want to marry Eddy so I did what was necessary.” He glanced at Eddy.
Mary nodded. “Had I known the truth, we might have been able to come up with a different solution for the twins.”
“Is everything squared away?”
“Yes. The Dresdens will come by train on Monday to take them to Sacramento. I’m sorry, Rhine.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. They’ll be getting a home and that’s the most important thing.”
Mary nodded her agreement. “I’d planned to send you a message this afternoon to let you know they’d be leaving, with hopes you’d stop in and say good-bye. You’ve been a godsend to them and to the orphanage.”
“I plan to continue to help out.”
“And I’ll tell anyone who’ll listen that you’re one of the finest men I’ve ever been blessed to know.” She looked at Eddy. “You’re getting a good man.”
“I know.” Eddy couldn’t have asked for a better man to spend the rest of her life with.
Mary asked him, “Do you want to come by on Monday and meet the Dresdens?”
“No. I’ll make a clean break and say my good-byes while I’m here. I don’t want to interfere.”
