Hannah's Journey (8 page)

“Good afternoon, Mr. Kelsey. I wasn’t expecting you until a little later.”

“The train pulled in early, Mrs. Logan, so we came right out.”

Still mystified Caroline asked, “What is it, Mama?”

“You’ll see.”

Mr. Kelsey and the boys proceeded to unload the large object, struggling with it as they made their way to the door. Following them inside, with Aunt Margaret in the lead and Caroline pushing Hannah’s wheelchair, they waited to see what the crate held.

With the object in place, Mr. Kelsey pulled away the covering and opened the crate. Standing aside, he pointed dramatically as the surprise stood revealed.

For a moment, no one spoke. Caroline’s hands flew to her mouth. Hannah longed to leap from her chair and touch the beautiful piano that stood before them. The afternoon sun shimmered on its silky surfaces and the ivory keys waited to pour forth lovely notes.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Aunt Margaret said as she ran her hand over the top. “It’s called a rosewood piano and we must take good care of it. We hope you’ll both learn to play, and have many years of enjoyment from it.”

Hannah’s fingers itched to stroke the keys.
I’ll work hard to learn, Mama. You’ll be so proud of me.

Delia’s voice broke in as she came into the parlor. “There’s peaches a’cooking and…” She stopped when she saw the piano, then everyone spoke at once. With all the excitement, no one heard Uncle David arrive.

“Is this the Logan household?” He called. “It sounds like the zoo.”

“Oh, Papa, look what Mr. Kelsey brought,” Caroline cried, running to her father. “Hannah and I are going to learn to play.”

“That’s wonderful to know,” Uncle David said as he walked around the piano admiring the lovely piece.

Aunt Margaret spoke up, “Let’s all sit on the front porch and have some lemonade. We’ve had enough excitement for the time. Delia, would you turn off the stove, please? Not even a new piano will make up for the fact of us letting those peaches burn.” When the girls settled down with the tall glasses Delia brought, Aunt Margaret told them that she and Uncle David had discussed getting the piano some time ago before Hannah came. It had been on order from New York for several months, and had finally been shipped by rail to Lafitte.

The girls decided the piano was the best surprise ever.

“Your father will be very proud if you learn to play, Hannah, and so will we.”

“Aunt Margaret, Miss Cooper could teach us,” Hannah said. “She’s here for my exercises, so maybe she could stay for piano lessons. Oh, could you please talk to her about it?” Both Hannah and Caroline held their breath as they waited for her answer.

“That’s a wonderful idea, Hannah. I’ll speak to her tomorrow when she comes for your exercises.”

Caroline and Hannah had trouble settling down for the night. Caroline sat beside Hannah’s bed fifteen minutes past their usual bedtime. But tonight, instead of reading a story, they whispered

and chatted about the gift that had arrived today. They told each other they couldn’t wait until Miss Cooper arrived tomorrow. Hannah giggled when Caroline said, “I plan to dream about the rosewood piano tonight.”

CHAPTER TWELVE – A NEW GOAL

With arrangements made, Sylvia Cooper came three days a week for Hannah’s therapy, then stayed to teach lessons. With her other students visiting their grandmother for the summer, that left her afternoons free to help Hannah.

The household fell into a happy routine. After tryouts, Miss Cooper decided that Caroline should wait until next year to begin lessons. Her tiny fingers had trouble with the keys. Disappointed at first, Caroline soon sat and cheered for Hannah whose wheelchair rested close to the piano as she eagerly set out to master the beautiful notes that her teacher coaxed from the piano.

During the sometime uncomfortable exercises required by Dr. Layton, Hannah kept her mind on the piano, practicing the correct finger positions by tapping the chair arms. Soon, Miss Cooper could report to the Logans that Hannah had a wonderful aptitude for learning the piano.

“She told me her mother played as a young girl, so perhaps some of Hannah’s talent is inherited, and along with her own zeal for learning, she’ll do well.”

With the private attention the teacher gave her, Hannah soon entertained the family with simple tunes. She and the teacher became fast friends as they worked on her therapy, then went on to the more enjoyable task of the piano lessons.

As busy as her summer had been, Hannah still made time for Caroline. She and the younger girl often sat in the shade of the long porch, reading and telling stories. They sometimes had

visitors. Hannah had made some special friends since her surgery. Jimmy Shay and Nettie Thompson from her class came frequently. Jimmy seemed a little less shy as Caroline drew him out. Her boundless enthusiasm touched all those around her. Delia kept the children supplied with cold, sweet lemonade and thin, crispy cookies. Hannah was assured when school started she would be able to join in all their games. Miss Trent was also an occasional visitor, bringing news of Rosie and how well she recuperated.

Caroline loved to draw and one day presented Hannah with a picture showing her playing the piano and surrounded by many stick figures.

“It’s beautiful, Caroline, but who are all these people? I’ve only played for the family and Delia.”

“That’s the au…au…”

“Do you mean audience?”

“Yes, that’s it.” Caroline breathed a sigh of relief that Hannah understood what she meant. “I know you’ll play for an au…a lot of people someday.”

“Well, that might happen in the future. Let’s keep our fingers crossed, shall we?” Just then the girls heard a strange sound. Looking toward the street, they saw Uncle David coming toward the house in an automobile. Caroline ran to meet him. Only a few of the new “Horseless Carriages” had been seen in Lafitte.

“Papa, is it ours? Where did you get it? Does Mama know?” The questions tumbled out as Caroline circled the automobile.

“Why, yes, I do believe it belongs to us, and no, your mother doesn’t know, but she will shortly with all the racket you’re making. It’s a surprise,” her father said as he smiled at his daughter.

“I’m sorry, Papa. May I go get Mama?”

“Please do. Why don’t you tell her to close her eyes and you lead her out. Ask Delia to come too.”

Caroline, excited to be in on the plot, grinned at Hannah who sat watching the fun from her chair on the porch.

“Mama, Mama, we have a surprise for you, but you must close your eyes and take my hand. Delia, you’re to come too,” Caroline called as she rushed into the house.

When the little procession got to the door, Caroline put her finger to her lips, signaling Delia not to reveal the secret.

David met them on the walk and led Margaret the rest of the way. Then he said, “Open your eyes, my dear.”

Margaret clasped her hands and smiled. “Oh, David, how beautiful it is! I know how much you wanted an automobile.”

“Well, we must thank our last clients,” he laughed, then told the family of the workings of the grand machine.

Delia’s eyes widened in amazement.

Uncle David carried Hannah to the car and the family piled in to go for a ride. With pride, he explained how the Buick Touring Auto could reach speeds of twenty miles an hour.

“Be careful then, David. We’ve got the girls and we wouldn’t want to have an accident.” Aunt Margaret said as she clutched the side door. Hannah and Caroline sat in the back and waved to anyone who walked by. People taking an afternoon stroll stared in wonder as the family motored down the street.

Mr. Needham, the barber, and his wife stopped to look. For once, Mrs. Needham was too surprised to speak. Her mouth flew open but no words came out. Hannah and Caroline ducked down so they couldn’t be seen laughing at the sight.

“Girls, that’s enough,” Aunt Margaret said, hardly able to contain her own smile.

Delia took a spin next but declared afterward, “Mr. David, I thank you, but if you don’t mind. I ain’t got nowhere to go that my two feet won’t carry me.”

The girls clamored for another spin, so around the neighborhood they went again.

Uncle David asked the family, “Do you remember when I said that we might go down to Galveston one of these days?”

When they had all answered his question, he continued. “Just as soon as Hannah’s leg mends we’ll make a trip there. But I think we’ll take the train. We’ll get there a lot quicker than traveling by auto no matter what a beauty this one is.”

Hannah’s smile faded for a moment, as she remembered her last train trip. Then she recalled that the train also brought her to Lafitte and the Logans.

“I’ve read about the new place on the beach built just a few years ago. It’s called The Galvez Hotel, and it sounds wonderful,” said Aunt Margaret. “Why don’t we stay there, David?”

“I’m sure we can arrange that, but let’s head back now. Delia gets upset if we’re late for dinner.” With that, Uncle David rounded the block and set the new automobile in the direction of home.

Texas is an exciting place, Hannah thought as she got ready for bed that night. Good or bad, things were always changing. But tonight it seemed that the good far overshadowed the bad. Aunt Margaret tucked her in with a kiss. “Sleep well, Hannah. It’s been quite a wonderful day, hasn’t it?”

Sometime deep in the night, Hannah felt a hand on her arm.

“Who is it?” she said trying to shake off the dream of Uncle David and the family driving into a tornado.

“It’s me, Hannah, and I don’t feel so good.”

Hannah pulled herself upright. By the pale moonlight that lay across the floor, she saw Caroline standing by her bed.

“What’s the matter, Caroline?” Hannah whispered. Touching the child’s face, she found it burning with fever. At that moment, Caroline whimpered and slid to the floor. Unable to go for help, Hannah cried out, “Aunt Margaret, Uncle David, please come quickly. Something is terribly wrong with Caroline.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN – THE LONG ROAD BACK

Dr. Layton had been called to Caroline’s bedside and stood talking with her parents.

Hannah and Delia sat quietly in the upstairs hallway waiting for news. “I’m glad you live here, too, Delia. I was so scared until you came upstairs to stay with me.”

“Don’t worry, Hannah. That child’s gonna get well.” Delia said, stroking the long blond hair. “I know how frightened you must have been, but you kept your wits about you and called for help. I know Caroline’s mama and daddy appreciated that.”

The bedroom door opened and the adults walked out. The men had serious looks on their faces, and Aunt Margaret’s face was stained with tears.

“Hannah, Delia, I’m afraid Caroline is a very sick little girl. She has scarlet fever. It’s serious, but she’s strong and will come through it all right,” said Dr. Layton. Turning to Margaret Logan, he said, “Is it possible for Hannah to go somewhere else? We can’t have her sick, too. She has her crutches now, so she won’t need help.”

Aunt Margaret looked at Hannah. “Why, I don’t know. I can’t think right now, but we certainly don’t want to put Hannah at risk.”

“Aunt Margaret, I don’t want to leave, but if I have to, I think Miss Cooper will let me stay with her.”

“That’s a wonderful idea, Hannah. I’ll call her first thing in the morning.”

Hannah went back to bed for the few remaining hours left in the night. Tossing and turning, she finally fell into an exhausted sleep.

As soon as she could the next morning, Margaret had the operator ring Miss Cooper. Margaret explained Caroline’s illness and how Hannah must leave the house as soon as possible.

An hour later, Hannah sat at Sylvia Cooper’s breakfast table relating the events of the night. Sylvia’s aunt, Miss Emily Cooper, made little tsk-tsk sounds and said, “Don’t worry, dear,” and urged Hannah to eat another muffin. Hannah immediately fell in love with the little white haired lady whose wrinkled face always wore a smile.

Swift arrangements had been made for Hannah to stay with the Coopers as long as necessary. Hannah spoke with either Aunt Margaret or Delia every day to check on Caroline. Delia told her that Caroline had called for her and wanted to see her as soon as she could. Meanwhile, she said, “the doctor stops by every day. She’s a mighty sick little girl, Hannah. When you say your prayers at night, you pray for Caroline, you hear?”

“I will, Delia. Give her my love.”

Three weeks passed before the doctor allowed Hannah to go home. During that time, she had made great strides in her piano work. The exercises went well and aside from her concern about Caroline, Hannah loved staying in the small, cozy house.

At last the day came when Dr. Layton announced that Caroline had begun to recover and that Hannah could return home.

When she reached home, Hannah threw her arms around Delia. “I’m so glad to see you,” Hannah exclaimed. “I’ve missed everyone. May I see Caroline?”

“You sure can, honey, and she’s mighty anxious to see you. We moved her to the extra bedroom downstairs so it would be easier to take care of her.” Delia grinned at Hannah. “I believe you’ve put on some weight since you went to stay with Miss Cooper.”

“My aunt loved cooking for Hannah,” Miss Cooper said. “She enjoyed having a child in the house again.”

“I loved her blueberry muffins,” Hannah replied. “The whole house smelled good when they were baking.”

A joyful reunion followed between the girls. Aunt Margaret, who had barely left Caroline’s bedroom during her illness, hugged Hannah.

“I’m so glad to see you, Hannah. It’s good to have both my girls back.”

Aunt Margaret and Miss Cooper looked at one another as the girls hugged and talked excitedly at the same time.

“I missed you, Hannah,” said Caroline, still pale from her illness. “Did you miss me?”

“Very much. If you’d like, instead of reading you a story, I’ll tell you all about what I did at Miss Cooper’s house.”

Caroline nodded and settled back among the pillows to listen while Aunt Margaret and Miss Cooper went downstairs for a cup of tea. In a matter of minutes, the girls fell to chatting away as if there had been no separation.