Love Calling Read online

  Copyright

  ISBN 978-1-62029-133-7

  Love Calling

  Copyright © 2012 by Janet Lee Barton. All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the permission of Heartsong Presents, an imprint of Barbour Publishing, Inc., PO Box 721, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.

  Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses.

  one

  New York City, Fall 1898

  Emma Chapman stepped off the trolley and began walking the few blocks home. Home. Not the orphanage, but a real home. She still couldn’t believe she lived in this neighborhood filled with beautiful brownstone town houses. Still couldn’t believe she had a paying position as a telephone operator at the New York Telephone Company.

  She’d applied in July and began training the very next day. It hadn’t been easy, not with a supervisor over her shoulder for weeks on end, but finally she’d been assigned her own switchboard with about two hundred lines to care for.

  She’d just begun to realize that most of the other girls would have given anything to have her bank of lines. Evidently the girl before her had left to be married, and the telephone company didn’t like to switch operators once their customers got used to them. It was too stressful for the customers to get to know someone else, so Emma had wound up serving many of the wealthy families in the city.

  It took awhile for her to fully comprehend it, but once she finally recognized that she was actually speaking to the Mrs. Margaret Vanderbilt nearly every day, she was momentarily tongue-tied, causing the woman to ask, “Operator? Operator! Are you there?”

  “Yes ma’am. I’m sorry. I’m a bit new, but I’m right here. Whom may I connect you to?”

  Mrs. Vanderbilt had been very gracious once she found out Emma was the new operator—evidently the girl Emma replaced had mentioned that she’d be leaving to get married—and she’d insisted on knowing Emma’s name. “I like to be on friendly terms with the operators. The two young men who work nights and weekends are quite amicable, but I don’t converse with them that much. I’m sure we’ll get along just fine, Emma. Now please ring me through to Lord & Taylor department store. They sent out the right order, but I asked for the wrong size, and I must get it all sorted out.”

  “Yes ma’am,” Emma had said, before quickly connecting the Vanderbilt line with Lord & Taylor.

  Emma knew the operators weren’t to listen in on conversations, but the customers could talk to them anytime they wanted. And many did, wanting to know all manner of things. It turned out that Mrs. Vanderbilt did like to converse from time to time. Emma wasn’t sure what would happen if her supervisor found her talking to the woman, but Emma decided she’d let her talk to Mrs. Vanderbilt and tell her not to talk to the operators.

  Now as she neared home, Emma counted her blessings, for she had many more now than she’d had a few months ago. She hurried up the steps to Mrs. Holloway’s house, and as usual, Jones, the butler, opened the door for her. She never had figured out how he knew the exact minute she reached the top step, but he did.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Emma. I hope you had a nice day.”

  “I did, Jones. Thank you. I hope you did, too?”

  “I did. You know with all the wedding preparations going on, there isn’t a dull day around here lately.”

  Emma chuckled. “I suppose not. Is Mrs. Holloway in the parlor?”

  “She is. I’ll bring tea in shortly.”

  Mrs. Holloway had a practice of serving tea each afternoon about the time Emma and her cousin, Esther, got home from work. Esther was a pharmacist apprentice who would be getting married to Mrs. Holloway’s nephew come Christmas.

  Emma was thrilled for them. They made a wonderful couple, even if their relationship had been a bit rocky in the beginning. A physician who thought a woman’s place was in the home and a woman who’d gone to college to become a pharmacist were bound to clash at first—especially after he found out she was also interested in the women’s suffrage movement.

  Emma chuckled remembering back to some of their skirmishes. But love prevailed and Andrew’s views changed over time. Now he was as big a supporter of the movement as any man she knew.

  She entered the parlor and was greeted by her younger sister, Grace, and Mrs. Holloway.

  “Good afternoon, Emma, how was your day?” Mrs. Holloway asked.

  “It was a good day. It passed very quickly, as usual.” That was one of the things she loved best about her job. She stayed so busy time seemed to fly by.

  “And did you speak to any of the Vanderbilts today?” soon-to-be fifteen-year-old Grace asked.

  “I did. But only for a moment or two.”

  “Oh, too bad.”

  Grace loved to hear about her customers.

  “What all did you do today? How was school?”

  “It was great. You know I love my new high school. Mrs. Holloway said I might ask one of my friends over after school one day soon, if you and Esther don’t mind.”

  “Mrs. Holloway has the final say in those kinds of things around here. You know that.”

  Her sister grinned. “I do know. But she insists on my asking you two.”

  “Girls, don’t talk about me as if I’m not here. I just believe it’s the right thing to do. Although I won’t promise not to try to persuade them on occasion if they say no,” Mrs. Holloway said in a teasing manner.

  The woman had become a mother figure to all of them, even though they’d not known her all that long. She’d been Esther’s benefactor, taking her in once she had to leave the orphanage and then sending her to the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. Then, once Esther came back to do her apprenticeship and it was time for Emma to leave the orphanage, she took both Emma and Grace in. The woman was a true blessing.

  “I believe we’ve all decided you have our best interests at heart, Mrs. Holloway. And truly, if you don’t mind if Grace has a friend over now and again, then Esther and I aren’t going to object.”

  “Then you might as well telephone your friend and ask her, Grace,” Mrs. Holloway said.

  “Thank you, I will.” Grace hurried out of the room.

  “You’re sure you don’t mind?” Emma turned to the older woman.

  “Oh Emma, I don’t mind at all. I love having this home filled with young people. I just wish I’d have had you all from earlier ages. I enjoy every minute I have with you now though, and I’m thankful that Grace is young enough that I’ll have her for several years before she thinks seriously of marrying. I don’t feel I’ve had Esther here near long enough, and now she’s going to be a married woman in only a matter of months!”

  “But, she is marrying your nephew,” Emma said. “And they’ll be living only a few blocks away.”

  “I know, but that will be two fewer people—”

  “Two fewer people for what?” Esther asked as she entered the parlor.

  “Mrs. Holloway is going to miss you and Andrew when you move out.”

  Emma smiled as her cousin hurried over to hug her soon-to-be aunt.

  “Oh, you know we’ll be over often,” Esther said. “You’ll probably get tired of us showing up on your doorstep for a meal. I really must learn how to cook, you know.”

  “You’ll be welcome here anytime; you know that.”

  “Of course we do,” Esther said. “We’re very thankful for it. And we’re here for a few more months, too.”

&n
bsp; “Only because you helped me talk Andrew into waiting until you both could find a home to suit your needs, and to give us time to plan the wedding you both deserve and that my sister will be happy with.”

  “Well, we did need to find a place. But I think Andrew’s idea for us to turn the upstairs of his office building into a home for us is the right answer for now. It’s not far from the pharmacy, and we’ll be right there where we both work. It will also give us more time to find a home when we begin to have a family.”

  They’d all been poring over the plans to turn the top floors of Andrew’s office into a home, and Emma thought it was going to be lovely. They actually could stay there for several years, even if they started a family early. With three bedrooms, she even hoped she and Grace would be able to stay over once in a while. It certainly was going to seem strange to visit her cousin as a married woman. Esther was blessed. Dr. Andrew Radcliff was very much in love with her, as Esther was with him. One could almost feel the love arcing between them when they were in the same room.

  Emma dreamed of getting married of course, but she never wanted to settle for anything other than the real kind of love her cousin had found. She was certain it would be worth waiting for. And that was good, because she hadn’t met anyone who captured her attention in that way at all.

  ❧

  Sam Tucker wasn’t sure why he felt the sudden urge to visit the orphanage where he’d been raised, but he did. Maybe it was because he knew the cop who’d been transferred to this beat and wanted to let Mrs. Robertson and the kids know that they finally had a decent policeman now watching over them.

  Or maybe it was because he was lonesome. Whatever the reason, he rang the doorbell of the Ladies Aide Society Orphanage and waited. Mrs. Robertson’s assistant answered the door. Her wide face broke into a huge smile when she recognized him. “Samuel Tucker! You’re a sight for sore eyes, you are! Come in, come in. Mrs. Robertson is in her office—I assume that’s who you’ve come to see?”

  “Yes ma’am, Mrs. Harrison. How have you been?”

  “I’ve been good. Keeping up with the children keeps me going. I heard about your wife. I’m so sorry.”

  “Thank you.” Sam didn’t ask how she knew about Ann. But her words comforted him. They’d only been married a few months when Ann had been run over trying to cross Broadway. It’d been just over a year since one of his fellow officers had come to the police station to tell him, but some days it felt like yesterday. This was one of those days.

  They reached Mrs. Robertson’s office, and Mrs. Harrison motioned for him to stay behind her as she peeked around the door. “Mrs. Robertson?”

  “Yes? What is it, Laura?”

  “Look who’s come to see us.” She motioned for Sam to stand beside her.

  “Hello, Mrs. Robertson. I hope it’s not a bad time. I just wanted to come and—”

  The woman who’d raised him from the age of about ten pushed away from her desk to step around to him. “Sam! I was just thinking about you and wondering how you’ve been. It’s a fine time to come visit!” She reached him and threw her arms around him. “It’s good to see you, son.”

  Then Sam knew why he’d come. Something about this woman’s presence had always given him comfort from the first day he’d come to live at the orphanage, and evidently he needed her comfort now.

  “It’s good to see you, too. I’ve been a bit lonely lately, and I had a sudden urge to come see how everyone is here.”

  “I’m glad you did. I was about to have Laura make us some tea. Will you have a cup with us? Or she can bring you coffee if you’d rather.”

  “Tea will be fine. But please, don’t go to any trouble for me.”

  “No trouble at all,” Mrs. Harrison said. “I’ll be back in a shake.”

  “Come. Have a seat, Sam.” Mrs. Robertson motioned to one of the chairs in front of her desk as she took her own seat.

  Sam did as she suggested. Last time he sat in one of these chairs was the day he left. But he’d been there many times through the years—usually when he was in trouble for one thing or another. But Mrs. Robertson had always been fair, and he’d learned to respect her early on.

  “We heard about your wife. I’m so very sorry, Sam. I didn’t know where to send a card—”

  “That isn’t your fault, and I’m sorry. I should have kept in better touch. I guess at first I thought I could leave here and just get on with my life, but I forgot that the people who’d become an important part of my life were right here, and that this place had become home to me over the years.”

  Mrs. Robertson nodded. “It’s that way for most. Only a few realize it from the first. Sadly though, you’ve been gone long enough that most of those you might remember have also left and begun lives of their own.”

  Sam nodded. “I know. But you’re still here and so is Mrs. Harrison.”

  “We are. I expect we will be for a while to come.”

  “I’m glad. For me and for all the children you’ll help to raise.”

  “Enough about me. Tell me how it’s going being on the police force.”

  “You know?”

  Mrs. Robertson laughed. “They did do a check on you of sorts, you know. And I can tell you that I gave you a glowing report.”

  “I suspected as much. And I thank you for it.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m glad Commissioner Roosevelt began cleaning the department up before you decided to become part of it. The corruption was rampant.”

  Sam nodded. “True. And that’s one reason I wanted to become a policeman—to help clean it up. To be at least one on the street that a kid could come up to and learn to trust not to blame them for everything just because they are an—”

  “Orphan?”

  Sam nodded. “Or living in the tenements, or even on the streets. We have many who do live in those conditions. I don’t think most of us raised in an orphanage realized that we had it good.”

  Mrs. Harrison arrived just then with the tea, and after they’d all been served, she took the other chair beside Sam.

  “I was just asking Sam how he liked being on the police force.”

  “And how glad we are that Mr. Roosevelt is in charge now. How is that going, really?” Mrs. Harrison asked.

  “Oh, he’s made sweeping changes. But, and I hate to say it, he’s made enemies, too. Still, I’m proud to be part of his police force, I can tell you that. And I also can tell you that this area will have a new cop watching over it soon.”

  “Oh? Are you telling us Officer Ryan will be leaving?”

  “I am. He’s being replaced by a friend of mine.”

  “Oh Sam, that is wonderful news! I can’t tell you what a relief it will be to be rid of him. He blames everything bad that happens around here on our children.”

  “I know. I’ve been the recipient of his pointing finger many times in the past. I’m happy someone more understanding is going to take his place. Over time, maybe some of the kids here will learn we’re not all corrupt.”

  “That’d be a blessing, for sure,” Mrs. Robertson said. “Now, let’s see. . .who can I catch you up on? John O’Malley comes by from time to time. He’s a teacher now.”

  “Oh, I’m glad to hear that. He always said that was what he wanted to do. What about George Smith?” He’d had a little bit of the rebel in him, and Sam hoped he’d done well, too.

  But Mrs. Robertson shook her head. “George got in with the wrong people after he left here. Last I heard he was in jail for trying to rob a jewelry store.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Yes, we were, too. But Esther Melrose did very well. She’s a pharmacist-in-training and lives with her benefactor, Mrs. Holloway. Esther’s engaged to be married to Mrs. Holloway’s nephew, who is a doctor.”

  Sam grinned. Esther had always been very kind, looking after her younger cousins and others at the orphanage. She’d been about two years younger than him, and her cousin Emma must have been about four years younger.


  “What about her cousins? Emma and. . .Grace?”

  “They’re fine. Actually, they are all living with Mrs. Holloway now. Once she found out it was time for Emma to leave the orphanage, and that Esther and Emma were heartsick about leaving Grace, she took them both in. They are all very happy, and they stop by pretty often to see us.”

  “I’m glad they do. I know they meant a lot to most of the younger girls. What is Emma doing now?”

  “She’s working for the New York Telephone Company as an operator. She seems to really like it a lot.”

  “I’d like to see those girls again.” Sam wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was just a connection to what had been family to him.

  “I’m sure they’d love to see you, too. I can give you Mrs. Holloway’s address. I know she won’t mind you stopping by. She even invited us to Emma’s eighteenth birthday party.”

  “If you’re sure they wouldn’t mind, I’d love to have the address.”

  Mrs. Robertson pulled out a sheet of paper and wrote down the address. “Here you go. I’m glad you want to stay in touch, Sam. We’ve missed you around here.”

  “I’ve missed you all, too.” More than he’d ever thought he would. And he was determined to stay in touch from now on. He took the paper from Mrs. Robertson and looked at it. His eyebrow raised a notch. It wasn’t all that far from here, but in terms of society, it was a world apart. The girls had done very well for themselves. And he’d be sure to see them sooner or later—their neighborhood was his new beat.

  “Don’t let the address stop you. Mrs. Holloway is a wonderful woman and will welcome you. In fact, I might just telephone her to let her know you might stop by.”

  Sam nodded. “That might be best. I’ll try to go by today.” While Mrs. Robertson’s assurance that he’d be welcome remained fresh in his mind and he had enough nerve.

  two

  Keeping his nerve up was something altogether different from having it for a few minutes in the first place, Sam realized as he grabbed a trolley and headed toward the Holloway home. He hadn’t mentioned it to Mrs. Robertson, but a few days ago, he’d been almost positive he’d seen Emma Chapman on this same trolley. Then, he’d decided it couldn’t have been, because that young woman, even if she’d left the orphanage, would live in a whole different world than the one he’d be patrolling. Still, she’d looked a lot like Emma, only even prettier than he remembered and quite the young lady now. He realized now that most likely, it had been her.