A Shelter of Hope (20 page)

Simone thought little on the matter. Being an American had never been much of an issue in her home. Her father was American, but her mother had been Canadian by birth. Winifred had moved with her family to Denver, Colorado, shortly before her fifteenth birthday, but by that time her French heritage and cultural background had been clearly instilled. Simone had grown up with flavoring from both American and French ancestry and had never given the matter much consideration. Una made it clear, however, that while she was proud of her Swedish heritage, she was prouder still of her American birthright.

Night after night, once the rigors of the daily routine had passed, Una could be found sitting at the tiny desk in their shared room laboring over a letter of love. Simone wondered what it would be like to have a family who cared about her and missed her. She had never known that family could be so concerned and considerate of one another. She remembered her mother’s love but buried it down deep within so that it couldn’t hurt her with the painful reminder of how love had departed from her life. Kansas and Fred Harvey’s business were her future. It did little good to dwell on the past and what she had lost. The girls here were friendly and eager to strike up conversations and companionships, which should have made it easy to set aside her nightmarish childhood.

Simone, however, remained wary. Who could be trusted? What if someone hurt her again? Worse still, what if someone learned about her past and knew her secret? She couldn’t afford to get close to anyone, although it greatly appealed to her in a way that she couldn’t argue or fight. She watched with envy and frustration as she observed the closeness of some of her Harvey sisters. Perhaps it was just as well that Una preferred spending her time writing letters and focusing on family rather than on Simone.

“Are you going to walk uptown today?” Una asked one morning.

Simone yawned and stretched before answering. It was her day off and, with the last bit of money she had managed to hold back, Simone was determined to buy herself material for a day dress to wear when she wasn’t required to be in uniform.

“I’m going shopping,” she finally admitted.

“It’s going to be a hot one,” Una said, the cadence of her voice clearly betraying her Swedish background.

“I’ve never known heat like what Kansas has,” Simone said, forcing herself out of bed. Even with the window open, the room was stifling, and sweat left her nightgown sticking to her most uncomfortably.

“This is nothing,” Una said with a brief smile. “Some humid days make you feel like you just stepped into a laundry house. Only you can’t step out into someplace cooler and drier.”

Simone nodded and scowled at the thought of donning cotton stockings and petticoats. She thought of the dry mountain air she’d grown up with—thought, too, of her simpler life without concern for stockings and shoes.

“Makes a body want to find a shade tree and sit until it cools off,” Una added.

“Just remember, heat or no heat, you promised to show me how to run the sewing machine. I’m going to buy material for my dress today, and then I’ll have something to work on while you write your letters home.”

Una nodded. “
Ja
, I’ll show you.” Una glanced at the clock. “I’ll have to hurry. I’ve got the front station, and there’s a lot of work to be done. Rachel said we needed to go over all the china. She’s been finding chips in the plates and says that if Mr. Harvey shows up and sees them, he’ll throw the things across the room.”

Simone nodded. “I heard that, too. Still, you can’t fault the man for wanting things nice. I’ve never seen the likes of such elegance. I sure never knew you could have matched sets of dishes like the ones on our tables. We were lucky to have a cup and a plate to call our own.”

“Ja,” Una said with a laugh. “I have ten brothers and sisters, and most of the time we shared plates between us.”

“Ten brothers and sisters,” Simone said, trying to imagine what it might be like to have so many siblings. She remembered baby John and how much he had cried. Beyond that, she had the tiniest recollection that there had been twins born to her mother, but they had died very young, when Simone herself hadn’t been very old.

Una seemed not to realize the effect her discussion had on Simone. She hurried around the room, dressing as she went, then finally came to Simone in order to have her do up the buttons on the back of her dress.

“I’ll see you later. Don’t forget the thread,” Una admonished and then was gone.

Simone smiled. It was something she was now given to doing from time to time, and in spite of her fears, smiling felt good. The comfort of the Harvey House routine and the kindness of the people she worked with were beginning to soften the hard encasement she’d wrapped her heart in. For the first time in years, Simone was pushing aside her shield … and truly
feeling
.

Dressing quickly, Simone pulled on her blue serge skirt and a worn white shirtwaist that Una had given her. She had long since learned the secrets of tending her heavy black hair and quickly and efficiently wound it into a coil and pinned it high atop her head. The weeks at the Harvey House had been good for her. She had learned much and would continue to learn if given the chance. She felt an eagerness inside to absorb as much as possible—as quickly as possible, for fear that it might one day soon be taken away from her. She had listened to the girls share secrets about their lives, watched and accepted lessons on embroidery, cooking, and etiquette, and found it all so very fascinating.

Topeka was much smaller than Chicago but more stately and populated than Laramie. It boasted the honor of being the state capital, and even though the capitol building was still under construction, government made its mark on the growing town. Walking from the Topeka depot west to Kansas Avenue, Simone tried to take in everything at once. She wanted to experience this city and know the meaning of belonging to a community. She had spent so much of her life in a solitary existence that she felt like a new creature just come to life.

Rachel had told her about the opera house and the theater, as well as the various parks, where all manner of entertainment could be enjoyed. There were even plans in the works for several of the Harvey Girls to journey across the river and enjoy Fourth of July festivities at Garfield Park. Marshall’s Military Band would provide hours of music for their enjoyment, the natatorium would be open for swimming, and boats could be rented for rides up and down Soldier Creek. It all sounded so very charming to Simone, and she found herself looking forward to the day with great enthusiasm—at least on the inside. On the outside, she was still given to guarding her feelings and keeping her reactions in check. It would do little good to set herself up for further pain and disappointment. Especially now when the nightmares had stopped and the memories were fading into a numb blur.

Of course, Jeffery O’Donnell’s return to Topeka on the second of July brought a new realm of emotions to Simone. She tried not to think about his arrival as she walked with a determined purpose toward the busier parts of town. Jeffery might well be her undoing, and Simone knew she would have to be particularly careful when it came to him.

Thoughts of the mild-mannered man caused Simone to quiver. The image of Jeffery’s sincere face and dark brown eyes invaded her mind. He was one of the first men who had ever looked at her without leering, and even though she knew he found her attractive, Simone was aware of the respect he had for her and wasn’t offended by his attention. On the contrary, she felt overwhelmed by his interest and open desire to seek out her company. She had tried to convince herself that this interest was simply a part of Jeffery doing his job, but several of the girls had told her otherwise. They thought it wonderful that the clearly well-to-do Mr. O’Donnell should have an eye for a lowly Harvey Girl. Most of the girls married into the railroad family by acquiring husbands from the pool of hardworking rail shop and yard workers or various other employees who occupied positions on the Santa Fe payroll. But that Simone should have the attention of a man in Jeffery O’Donnell’s position seemed a fairy tale come true.

“Simone!” a voice called out from behind her just as Simone reached Kansas Avenue. Turning, she found Rachel Taylor hurrying to catch up with her. “Do you mind if I join you?”

Simone shook her head. “Not at all. If I’d known you were planning to come to town, I would have waited for you.” And she meant it. Simone liked Rachel and appreciated the kindness the older woman had shown her.

“I wasn’t sure I could find the time to slip away, so I didn’t say anything,” Rachel managed to say between huffing and puffing for breath. “This humidity surely does a body in.”

“Yes,” Simone agreed. She glanced upward to the billowing white clouds set against a rich sapphire blue. “But the day certainly looks pleasant enough.”

“It does indeed. Where are you headed?” Rachel questioned.

“I’m going to buy dress material. I’ve been wanting to make something else to wear,” Simone said, frowning as she looked down at her well-worn outfit. “Una said we could probably manage to put it together in time for the celebration.”

“Hmm, that gives you till Friday. Four days. That ought to be enough time. Say, I know just the place. Crosby Brothers is up the next block.”

“And you think they’ll have a good selection?” Simone questioned hopefully.

“Absolutely. And better yet, the prices will be reasonable.”

Simone smiled. Rachel Taylor was a fair-minded woman with a keen sense of organization, and she kept a watchful eye on her girls like any good mother would.

They walked up the avenue in companionable silence, and only after crossing Fifth Street did Rachel point to the building marked
Crosby Brothers
. “Here we are,” she said, taking Simone by the arm.

They passed the day in girlish laughter and amiable friendship. Simone had never known a time when she had enjoyed herself more. It still amazed her that people could be so openly friendly and pleasant. When lunchtime came Rachel insisted on buying Simone a treat, and together the women sat down and continued to share about their lives.

“I wish you wouldn’t have spent so much on lunch,” Simone said, thoroughly enjoying her fruit salad. It wasn’t as good as Henri’s, but it would do.

“You needn’t worry about that,” Rachel told her with a smile that reinforced her sincerity. “You won’t get paid for another week, and I know you’ve already spent most of your money.”

“It wouldn’t have been so bad if I hadn’t needed to buy black shoes when I first arrived here,” Simone commented, remembering her mad dash around town to find an inexpensive pair of shoes that would meet the Harvey House demands.

“But everything else has been pretty much taken care of,” Rachel countered. “You can’t say that Mr. Harvey doesn’t know how to take care of his people.”

“That’s true enough.”

Rachel polished off a piece of sponge cake and sat back to study Simone. “You are a good worker, Simone. I’ve been very pleased with your performance, and in a short time you’ll no doubt be leaving us.”

“Leaving?” Simone felt her chest tighten. She was just becoming comfortable with her surroundings, and now Rachel talked of her leaving.

“Most of the girls move on. After all, Topeka is a training house. Still, I do manage to keep a few regulars. Maybe you’ll want to be one of them.”

“I’d very much like to stay,” Simone replied. “I’ve heard some of the girls talking about other places, but honestly I’d rather not go.”

“Some want to be nearer to their family. Isn’t there someone you’d like to live closer to? Perhaps a grandmother or aunt?”

Simone panicked. She hadn’t expected the conversation to take this turn. “There’s no one. I have no family,” she answered quietly.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, I’ll understand,” Rachel began, “but I wondered if you might tell me how your parents died?”

Simone felt the joy of the day leave her in the wake of this prying question. “I’d rather not talk about it.”

“I know how it is to lose someone you love,” Rachel stated softly.

Simone choked on her iced lemonade. Loved? Well, in truth, she had loved her mother and brother. But her father was another matter entirely. She had never loved him and had never known love from him.

Rachel patted her back. “I’m sorry if I upset you. I just want you to know that I understand. I lost my father shortly before coming to Topeka. He was killed in a rail yard accident. I don’t think I’ll ever stop missing him. We were very close.”

“You were?” Simone asked as though it was an uncommon thing.

Rachel smiled and her eyes took on a faraway look. “Yes. I was an only daughter and he doted upon me as most fathers might. He spoiled me terribly—always buying me little gifts and letting me do things my mother would have never allowed.”

Simone felt sick inside. The lemonade seemed to sour in her stomach and spoil the contents of her lovely lunch. She put her hand to her abdomen and tried hard not to appear in the least bit upset.

137 “Are you all right, Simone?”

“It’s just this heat.”