Carried Forward By Hope (69 page)

Carrie relaxed. He was right. She wasn’t saying goodbye. They would still have months together. She intended to make the most of them.

“What about Janie?”

Carrie grinned. “She was so happy when you wired the news that Clifford signed the divorce papers. It confirmed her decision.”

“What decision?”

“Janie and I are going to be in medical school together!” Carrie beamed as she told him the story, telling him how she had almost let her fears stop her from accepting a place in the next class.

Robert stroked her face. “You and Janie have always been able to be strong for the other when you need it. I’m glad you’ll be there together.”

“I’ll be able to come home on visits,” Carrie reminded him. “The course is only two years.” It sounded like forever when she said it, but she also knew how fast it would go by because she would be busy doing what she loved every single minute.

“And I know how to get on a train to come visit my wife in Philadelphia,” Robert said. “Don’t forget I went to college there. I have many places to show you when I come. And lots of stories to tell you that I should keep to myself…” he said with a laugh. “I’m quite sure Matthew was hoping you would never hear some of them!”

Carrie suddenly felt as light as a snowflake in a brisk breeze. She was acutely aware she wasn’t walking
away
from anything — she was walking right
into
a wonderful adventure. She pulled away and twirled in a circle, her arms spread wide. “I’m going to be a
doctor
!” she called, laughing as Granite hung his head over the stall door and snorted loudly.

******

Everyone was just finishing dinner when they heard a shrill voice outside. “Robert! Robert!”

Robert pushed away from the table. “I’m no prophet, but since Amber sounds extraordinarily excited, I have a feeling the snow Carrie predicted is falling.”

Carrie laughed. “Amber has been praying for snow,” she explained to everyone.

“Me too!” Rose exclaimed, leaping up to rush for the window. “It’s snowing!” she called.

Moments later all of them, wrapped tightly in their coats, were standing on the porch, admiring the flakes swirling through the air. Amber twirled in circles on the lawn, her head back and mouth open wide to catch as many flakes as she could. “It’s snowing! It’s snowing!” she sang. She looked up at Robert, a radiant smile on her face. “I told you God would send snow,” she yelled. Then she resumed her twirling as they all laughed.

Moments later she stopped twirling and called up to them. “I’m going down to the cabins so I’ll have someone to play with. I already know all the rest of you are just going to
look
at the snow.” She whirled and began to run, disappearing around the curve moments later.

Thomas smiled over at Carrie. “So, daughter, how much snow do you predict we’ll have?”

Carrie grinned back at him. “According to everything I learned from my esteemed planter father, I predict we’ll have at least a foot.”

“A foot? So early in the season?” Abby asked, startled. “I would expect this in Philadelphia, but I thought the heavier snows came later in the winter here.”

“Normally they do,” Carrie agreed, “but this is going to be a hard winter.”

“And you know that how?” Abby asked with amusement.

Carrie winked at her father. “It’s not hard. You just need to watch the signs nature gives you. I knew back in August because the cornhusks were thicker than normal. I was certain in September when the acorn crop was more abundant than usual.” She smiled. “Then there was the early departure of geese and ducks this year.”

“Not to mention that caterpillars are even more fuzzy than usual this year,” Thomas added, “and I’ve been watching the squirrels in Richmond. They started gathering nuts early this year — just like they did last year.”

A moment’s silence fell on the group as memories of the past winter filled their mind.

Robert shuddered as he remembered the long nights spent freezing in the trenches around Petersburg. He forced himself to smile. “The best thing about
this
Christmas is that we’re all together in a warm place.”

Rose stepped up beside Carrie and wrapped her arm around her waist. “Abby promised me last year that we would all be together for Christmas. I could hardly believe it, but she was right.”

Abby stepped up on the other side of Carrie. “One day you girls will realize I’m always right,” she said lightly. “Except for those rare times when I’m terribly wrong,” she added impishly.

Thomas frowned. “What? I believed you when you told me you’re always right. Do I need to reconsider my marriage vows?”

“Not if you expect to receive Christmas gifts,” Abby retorted. “They could be exchanged for a bag of coal at any time.”

Everyone laughed as they continued to watch the snow. Plans were made for the fun they would have in the morning when the sun came out on what they knew would be a winter wonderland.

******

Carrie was up early the next morning, already sitting by the fire when Rose walked down the stairs. She smiled and pulled the other chair close to hers. “This feels like the last Christmas we had together here,” she said when Rose settled next to her.

“Except we won’t have to worry about hiding all the missing slaves from your father, and Ike Adams won’t be showing up,” Rose reminded her. She thought back to how worried she had been when Moses and some of the other men rode off to stop Adams from meeting Carrie’s father and revealing their secret.

“We’ve been through so much,” Carrie said softly, reaching over to take Rose’s hand. She smiled when she looked down at her friend’s bulging stomach. “You shouldn’t have to wait much longer.”

Rose nodded. “I’m so glad you’re home. Polly assures me she is an excellent midwife, but I just couldn’t imagine having this baby without you.”

“And there was no way I was going to let you,” Carrie said firmly. “I missed little John being born. I wasn’t going to miss this one. My calculations say this one will arrive in the middle of January.”

Rose smiled, but there was a shadow in her eyes. “I see you looking around here like you’re compiling memories. You’re starting medical school soon, aren’t you?”

“In April,” Carrie told her, understanding when tears filled her best friend’s eyes. “I struggled with the decision for so long, Rose. I wanted to wait longer. I didn’t want to leave so soon. I will miss you so much.” She looked around the room glowing with warmth and holiday cheer. “I will miss everything so much,” she whispered. “But when I got there…”

“You knew it was where you belonged.”

“Yes,” Carrie admitted. She struggled to explain. “I met other women who are doctors. I met women who are changing history. I met strong women who have had the courage to do whatever it takes to make their dreams come true.” She paused. “I was afraid to say yes,” she confessed. “I almost didn’t, but then I saw your mama…” Her voice trailed off.

“And she told you there ain’t nothing wrong with your fear unless you let it stop you,” Rose said with a sigh. “She told you God has big things for you to do and that you gots to stare down them fears and go do what you gots to do.”

Carrie chuckled, tears filling her eyes as she nodded. “Yes.”

“I know you have to become a doctor, Carrie. I know it takes going to school to do that. But I’m not going to lie and say I won’t miss you every second,” she said fiercely. “I hate the war that kept us apart for so long, but I can’t hate your becoming a doctor.” She shook her head. “Maybe it’s just that you’re leaving first.”

Carrie looked deeply into her eyes, not needing Rose to tell her she wanted to go to college and become an educator. “It’s coming, Rose.”

“I believe you’re right,” Rose agreed as she stared into the flames. “I just wish I could see into the future and know when it will be.” Then she shook her head and laughed. “And if I had a crystal ball that lets me see into the future, I would probably be so terrified I would never get out of this chair.”

Abby walked in just as Rose was finishing her statement. “I think that is quite true. I’m grateful that life takes me one day at a time. Most of the time I think I can handle that much. Then there are the times I’m quite sure I can’t!” She looked between the two of them. “Carrie told you she’s starting medical school,” she guessed.

Rose nodded silently.

Abby settled into a chair. “You girls have something time and distance will never change,” she said gently. “Life pulling you apart now doesn’t change the fact that for most of your lives you grew side by side. Your roots will always be tangled. Your hearts will always be meshed. You will always know when the other is sad or happy. That bond carried you through four years of war when communication was impossible. Two years of medical school when you can visit and send letters will seem like nothing after what you’ve endured.”

Carrie smiled. “You’re so right, Abby.” She looked at Rose. “The last four years have made us afraid that every time we are apart it will be for a long, long time. But that’s not true. I’ll be back every chance I get. Robert is here. You are here. Moses is here. My
family
is here.”

“You’re right,” Rose finally said, tearing her eyes away from the flames. “But that doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it,” she said defiantly.

“No,” Abby chuckled, “You certainly don’t have to be happy about it, but I’m looking forward to taking you and your two children to Philadelphia as soon as the little one is ready to travel. I’m thinking summer would be about right.”

******

Everyone had been banned from the parlor while Amber marshaled her troops to decorate the Christmas tree.

Suddenly she appeared. “I need you, Robert,” she said imperiously. “It’s very important.”

Robert hid his smile and nodded seriously. “Is there a problem?”

“Nothing that your long arms can’t take care of,” Amber said confidently. “Please come with me.”

Robert winked as he followed her obediently out of the room. Carrie smiled as memories of other Christmases floated through her mind. “I had Moses carry down all the boxes of ornaments,” she said, “but I do believe Amber gathered just as many from the woods. I haven’t seen what she and the children have created, but I know they carried in bags of acorns, pinecones, and dried flowers. I’m glad Moses cut such a huge tree.”

“I’m quite content to just sit here,” Rose said lazily, staring out the window at the bank of snow nestled up against the tree line. The flash of red cardinals and vibrant blue jays was the only color in the black and white scene spread out before her. “It made me tired just watching all of you play out there today. John and Simon are sound asleep already, though they made me promise to wake them up when the tree is finished.” She laid her hand on her stomach. “I loved watching the snow, but my little one and I are content to wait until next year to play in it.”

Abby smiled. “It’s been a very long time since I built a snowman. The streets of Philadelphia aren’t exactly conducive to playing in the snow.” She sighed with contentment. “I even made a snow angel!”

Amber raced into the room, her black eyes snapping with excitement. “It’s time!” she cried. “It’s time!” She danced in place, her pigtails bouncing on her shoulders.

Rose smiled and walked into the next room to wake John and Simon. They were still yawning when they walked out holding her hands, but their eyes were wide with excitement.

Robert appeared behind Amber and scooped her up onto his shoulders. “Lead the way, oh Mistress of Tree Decorating,” he said solemnly.

Amber giggled, holding her head high as they all created a processional into the parlor.

“Oh!” Carrie gasped, staring in wonder.

“Pretty!” John cried.

Simon stared up at it, his eyes wide with awe. “Christmas tree!”

The ten-foot-tall Christmas cedar was beautiful. The children had started by using everything in the attic to decorate the tree. It was dressed with cotton balls, gilded nuts and berries, paper garlands, colored pieces of glass, and white lace. But then Amber had taken it from beautiful to spectacular by adding tiny sculptures the children had created from pine cones and nuts. Swatches of pink, white, and blue dried flowers nestled in the branches. To finish it off, she had directed the placement of hundreds of tiny white candles that were gleaming and twinkling in the otherwise dark room.

Everyone stood silently, stunned by the simple beauty, and then they broke into loud clapping for the twenty children who had decorated the tree. They were lined up against the far wall, their faces split with smiles as everyone applauded their work.

Thomas reached up, plucked Amber off Robert’s shoulders, and whirled her in a slow waltz around the room before he brought her to a stop in front of the fireplace. “You, Miss Amber, have created the most beautiful Christmas tree I have ever seen.” He bowed to her deeply. “Thank you.”

Amber giggled, her eyes wide. “You’re welcome, Mr. Cromwell. I reckon you’ve given me the best home I ever had. I be real grateful. I ain’t had to be afraid for even one second since I been here. And I got all the people I love best right here around me.”