The Copper Series by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Author:Suzanne Woods Fisher [Fisher, Suzanne Woods]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: inspirational fiction
Publisher: vinspirepublishing
Published: 2014-11-23T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Two

With only two days to prepare for a trip that would last at least four weeks, probably longer, I jumped into action. I spoke to each of my piano students to give them work to do while I was away. I prepared William’s lessons so that Robert would know what to keep working on, borrowed clothes for the trip from my friend and neighbor, Rosita, and bought boxes of saltine crackers to take along for the sea journey.

The night before I left, Robert and I lay in bed, facing the ceiling, neither of us saying a word. Actually, Robert hadn’t said much of anything in the last few days. Not since we had that conversation with the judge. I was so excited about the trip that I hadn’t even noticed. Until now. “Robert, is something wrong?” I asked.

“No,” he answered, typical of the Gordon Economy of Words.

“Are you worried about this trip costing so much money? Because I have some saved from my piano lessons. It’s not much but it can help.”

“No, Louisa. That’s your money to keep.”

“It’s our money.”

“It’s not enough, anyway, to get you there and back again.”

“Could we borrow money from Cousin Ada?”

“I do not borrow money. Not from anyone,” he said sharply.

Of course not. How could I forget about his Scottish descent?

“I’ll figure something out, Louisa. Let me worry about the money.”

I turned on to my side and looked at him. Kind, generous, intelligent man that he was, he lived deep inside of himself. He could deliver a twenty-minute expository sermon on ceremonial law in the book of Leviticus but struggled to express his feelings. “Robert, please tell me what’s troubling you.”

He turned over to face the wall. “Nothing. Get some sleep. You’ve got a long day ahead of you.”

I wasn’t easily deterred. “Are you having second thoughts about taking Elisabeth into our home?”

“No. Of course not. Don’t ever think that.”

“Are you still concerned about my safety? Remember that the judge said nothing could be safer than traveling with the President.”

“I remember.”

“Then what is it? What’s wrong?” I heard him take a deep breath, but he didn’t answer me.

I could feel the brick wall between us, that same wall I had bumped into so many times before we married when I pushed him too far or asked questions that were too personal. He closed me off. I turned on my back and sighed. I hated to leave like this.

Quietly, he said, “So it’s the first time you’ll be back in Germany.”

I turned on my side and propped my head on my elbow. Of course! How had I missed that?! “That’s it, isn’t it? You don’t think I’m coming back, do you?”

He remained on his side. “From the moment I first met you, when you stepped off of that train two years ago, you were planning to return. I wish I had a dime for each time you asked me if I thought the war was almost over. I would be a rich man.”

That was true. “But that was before we married.

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