A Daughter’s Return - Janet Barton Lee

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      So was Ben. The last thing he’d want would be for Heaton House to close. This was home to him and the others.

      “I’m thinking of taking some business courses,” Rebecca said. “Jenny and I love being here, and I want to help Mama out some, to give her more time to spend with her grandchildren,” Rebecca said. “I’d like to be able to learn the skills I’ll need to do that, and to make a decent living should I ever need to, without counting on my family to provide for us.” She turned to Ben. “Mama says you teach business, Ben, but I’m not sure I want to go to school full-time and leave Jenny that long. When does the next session begin?”

      “I do teach business classes. The new term at college is under way, but I also teach two nights a week at the YWCA. I mostly teach young women who are struggling to get out of the tenements and need to make a living. Some want to add to the family income, and others have to provide for their children.”

      “Two nights a week? That wouldn’t be too bad. That way I wouldn’t have to be away from Jenny too much while we’re getting adjusted to the changes in our life.”

      “I think you’d be quite an asset to the class—and you’d be able to meet your goals, too. You’d only be gone a couple of hours this way.”

      “I’ll be glad to get Jenny ready for bed while you take some classes, Rebecca,” Mrs. Heaton said.

      “Thank you, Mama. I know you will. When could I start, Ben?”

      “Well, classes are under way at the Y, too, but I can get you caught up with the others pretty quickly, if you’re willing to study here for a week or so. Then you’d be able to start as soon as you feel ready to,” Ben offered.

      “You would do that after working all day?” Rebecca sounded as if she couldn’t believe his offer.

      “Of course I would.”

      “I’d really appreciate it, Ben.” Rebecca looked relieved. “I’d like to begin as soon as possible.”

      He smiled at her. “I’ve got some books you’ll need downstairs. I’ll get them after you put Jenny to bed and give you your first assignment. Let’s meet in the small parlor.”

      Rebecca rewarded him with the biggest smile he’d ever seen from her. “Thank you.”

      “Yes, Ben. Thank you very much.” Mrs. Heaton’s look of gratitude would have warmed Ben’s heart even if Rebecca hadn’t looked so happy, but the expression in the young woman’s eyes touched him to his core. And yet he was the one who should be grateful. They were giving him an opportunity to do what he felt called to do—help a young woman with no man to support her provide for herself and her child.

      Rebecca was with her family again and she wouldn’t have to worry about taking care of Jenny. But it was obvious she had an independent streak and wanted to be able to provide a good life for herself and her daughter, no matter what happened, which was understandable after struggling on her own for so long. And he wanted to do all he could to help her reach that goal.

       Chapter Two

      After the excitement of the afternoon, it only took a few minutes for Jenny to go to sleep. And, once asleep, her daughter usually didn’t stir until Rebecca woke her the next morning. Even so, she was sure her mother would slip upstairs and check on Jenny in her absence.

      She smiled as she freshened up before meeting Ben. Her mother seemed overjoyed to have them finally at Heaton House and Rebecca felt the same way. She wished she could make up for the lost years. But she couldn’t, and she’d do her best to never put her family through the kind of pain they’d endured during those years thinking they might never find her.

      She splashed water on eyes that suddenly filled with tears. Her family had forgiven her; even more important, the Lord had forgiven her. One day, she hoped and prayed she’d be able to forgive herself for what she’d put them through.

      Rebecca dried her face and let out a deep breath. Until then she would go forward, thanking the Lord for seeing to it that she and her family were reunited and for all the blessings in her life.

      She quickly neatened her hair, smoothing back an errant strand, then went to kiss Jenny’s sweet brow before heading downstairs to the back parlor— excitement warring with nervousness. She reached her mother’s study and peeked in.

      Her mother glanced up from her desk and smiled. “Jenny asleep?”

      “She is.”

      “I’ll check on her in a bit.”

      “I know you will.” Rebecca smiled at her mother and crossed the room to kiss her cheek. “I’ve caught you coming in to check on the two of us.”

      Her mother nodded. “I still can’t believe you’re both here. I love you, Becca.”

      “I love you, too, Mama. I’m sor—”

      Her mother lifted her hand and sliced the air in a way that told Rebecca no more needed to be said. “Becca, the past is just that and we’re going forward now, remember? I’m so glad you want to take business courses. I understand you want to know you can make your own way and if you ever feel you must, I want you to be able to find a position that will make doing so easier on you. And until then, I’ll enjoy your help with Heaton House. I’m sure Ben is a great teacher. I’ve heard wonderful things about him.”

      “I’m relieved he’s willing to help me until I can enroll for the next term. He’s going out of his way to make this easier for me.”

      “As long as I’ve known Ben, he has always reached out to help anyone in need. He’s a good man.”

      Rebecca nodded. Although she couldn’t imagine putting her complete trust in another man ever again, she did realize there were a few good ones out there. “Guess I’d better go see if he’s waiting for me. I don’t want to take up any more of his time than I need to.”

      She hurried out the door and down to the back parlor, but Ben wasn’t there yet. Rebecca let out an uneven breath, unsure of why she felt so jittery. She’d always done well at school and loved learning. She shouldn’t be nervous about this.

      She took a seat at the round table in the middle of the room and looked around. The parlor was decorated in blues and greens and Rebecca loved it. The colors always seemed to comfort her and she and Jenny had already spent a lot of time there. During the day, the boarders were at work and the small parlor wasn’t used much at all. Her mother had set up an area to keep some of Jenny’s toys where she could get to them and Jenny loved playing there.

      It would take a while to get used to living in such a large home after their apartment in the tenements, and in the meantime this parlor would work wonderfully for the two of them, as Rebecca would be able to study while Jenny played.

      “I’m sorry I’m late,” Ben said from the doorway. “I had to do some hunting to find what I wanted to bring. I hope you haven’t been waiting too long.”

      “No. Just a few minutes.” She smiled at him.

      Ben brought a stack of books and dropped them on the table before taking a seat adjacent to her. “I suppose we need to determine what classes you might be interested in.”

      “Anything that will let me take some of the work off my mother. Michael has been keeping the books for her, but now that he’s starting his own family, Mama doesn’t want to burden him with the day-to-day business.”

      “I understand,” Ben said. “So, let’s start with what you already know and are accomplished at. Did you take math in school?”

      “Actually, I did very well in it. I graduated at the top of my class.” For some reason, she didn’t want Ben to think she’d never finished her schooling. At least she had managed to graduate. But with a child to raise alone, her

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