A Fresh
Start
Just weeks before Hillary Bella Duesenberry came into
the world, Ella Pritchard walked into Will's office.
“As much as I'm enjoying being with Billy and all of
you, I think it may be time to return to my life in Pittsburgh. I'm
afraid if I stay too much longer I may never be able to leave.”
“Ella, why leave at all? Kate and I consider you a
part of the family. Billy will be crushed if he loses his big
sister. We have all grown to love you very much. I believe I have
detected a little sparkle in your eye when James Robinson is around.
I noticed he was looking in your direction during services this
morning. I know you have lived in Pittsburgh all your life but with
the exception of Charlotte Sanders, do you have any real ties there?
Why not think about moving to Camden Corners permanently?”
“Oh Vicar Will, I couldn't impose on your family. I
know you don't need another church typist and that is the only
position I would be qualified for.”
“That's not true Ella. Why, you and Josie Blackburn
were discussing the possibility of your writing a column for the
Chronicle just this morning. Isn't that something you have always
dreamed of doing?”
“I think Mrs. Blackburn was just being polite. Billy
pulled her aside and told her of my interest in writing.”
“Josie Blackburn is a polite young woman, that is
true. However, after her new baby and Reggie, the Chronicle is her
pride and joy. She started that newspaper on a shoestring with the
help of Randy Burke and together they have made it into a superior
publication with readers from all the surrounding areas. Josie would
never suggest you try your hand at writing for her paper if she
wasn't being sincere.”
Butch happened to walk by the office while his pa and
Ella were talking. “You can't leave Ella. Mr. Crowley said we can
use his cabin on Cedar Lake anytime we want to. Billy and I wanted
you to go fishing with us.”
“Whoa sport! Remember your mother is going to have a
baby any day now. We won't be going to Cedar Lake any time soon. I
must admit though, it is a temptation,” said Will.
“What's this talk about Cedar Lake and Ella leaving?
Do you have a reason to go back to Pittsburgh, Ella? I was hoping
you would stay on until after the baby is born and maybe
permanently.”
“You all make me feel so welcome. I just don't want
to impose on you. I would love to stay until the baby is born. My
only experience with newborn babies was helping mama with Billy so
many years ago.” A sadness came over her but she shook it off.
“You have more experience than I have Ella. We will
learn together. I'm sure Grandma Alma will be a big help too. Now,
no more talk about your leaving us.” Kate gave Ella a hug.
There was a knock on the door. Billy came running into
the office.
“Ella, you have a gentleman caller. It's James, he
has flowers for you and he looks very spiffy. His hair is all
slicked down and he smells of perfume.” Billy pretended to
squeeze his nose with his fingers and made a silly face.
Ella blushed but was happy to hear she had company.
“It's called cologne when a man uses it and I'm sure he smells very
nice.” said Ella as she tried not to skip out of the room.
“Hello James, what beautiful flowers.”
“My Aunt Millie insisted I bring them to you. She
also made me comb my hair in this ridiculous fashion and sprayed me
with this terrible smelling stuff. I didn't want to hurt her
feelings so I let her do it.” James laughed.
“I think you look very handsome. Maybe we should take
a walk outside until the perfume fades a little. You won't be
helping the vicar's allergies any. Did she spray you with the whole
bottle?”
It was a warm summer day but James and Ella didn't
notice. James told her all about growing up in Albany thinking he
was Chester Robinson's son. Chester was a fine man who married his
mother knowing she was going to have another man's child. James
wasn't the least bit ashamed of his parentage and wanted to set the
record straight with Ella.
Ella didn't think anything unusual about the
circumstances of James' birth. “I'm so happy Chester married your
mother and gave you a home. There are so many children who are
forced to live their entire young lives in an orphanage.” She had
a tear in her eye thinking of Billy being left at the orphanage
doorstep because Aunt Beatrice was afraid of her husband.
“Mr. Merryweather is very proud of you James. He is
the one who discovered where Billy had grown up. If it hadn't been
for him and Mr. Harcourt, I still wouldn't know the fate of my little
brother. I will always be grateful to them both.”
“He said it was an easy task to find you and I'm
awfully glad he did.” James smiled down at her. “I think my
father is enjoying his new role as private investigator. He was an
insurance salesman until recently. Quite the contrast in careers. I
think he is just trying to occupy himself until he can officially
court my mother.”
“I think it's wonderful when two people find each
other no matter what age they are.”
“Yes, I have to agree with you there Miss Ella
Pritchard.”
James took hold of her hand and they walked down by the
lake to watch the bathers splashing around in the water. Ella was
very happy her new family wanted her to stay in Camden Corners. She
had a feeling, that summer afternoon, she would never be going back
to Pittsburgh to live.
After a perfectly delightful day, Ella sat down at the
desk in her room and began writing the first of many columns that
would appear in the Camden Corners Chronicle. She wrote a total of
fifteen columns to present to Josie the next morning. She had many
more subjects in her mind, but she was feeling very sleepy and wanted
to be fresh when she met with Josie. She and James were having lunch
in the park after the meeting.
The next morning as James came to breakfast all eyes
were on him. “Good Morning everyone, I trust you slept well. Do I
have my clothes on backwards? You are all looking at me in a strange
way.”
Millie said “We are waiting for you to tell us how
your evening with Ella was and you know it James Robinson. Now go
ahead we want all the details.”
“Miss Pritchard seems to be a very nice young woman.
Please pass the marmalade.”
“James, stop your teasing. We know Ella is nice. We
want to know everything you talked about, when will you see her again
and should we start making wedding plans?”
James loved his aunt. She always said exactly what she
meant. “Alright Aunt Millie. I do have to go to work today so I
can't tell you everything we talked about in such a short time. I do
know she is thinking of making Camden Corners her home permanently
and I will encourage her to do just that. She wasn't appalled when I
told her my mother and father were never married. As far a wedding
plans, maybe Addie could save some rice from the pantry in case it's
needed for other purposes in the future.”
Helene smiled at her son. “James, I couldn't be
happier that you have met a wonderful young woman who you are
thinking of sharing your life with. Why don't you invite her for
supper tonight, I would like to get to know her better.”
“I'll do that soon Mother. I don't want to scare her
off by seeming too anxious.”
Ella was brushing her hair when there was a knock on the
door. Billy and Butch came running into her room.
“Ella, Pa is going to take us fishing this morning.
We have to hurry if we are going to catch any today. I'll let you
borrow a pair of my overalls and you can come with us. You can't go
fishin' in a dress.”
“Thanks fellas, but did you forget I am meeting with
Miss Josie at the paper this morning? I have my columns all ready.
Do you have time to read one or two?”
Billy and Butch both sat on the bed and started reading.
“Gosh Ella, you are real smart aren't you? If I
didn't know better I would think you grew up in an orphanage
yourself. I like how you said people should think about adopting
orphans. I don't feel like an orphan anymore. Do you Billy?”
“Nope 'cause orphans don't have mamas and papas but we
do so we aren't orphans anymore are we, Ella?”
“You certainly are not. Maybe you'd better get going
while the fish are still biting. Have fun you two.”
Ella was nervous about showing Josie her work. She sat
and watched while Josie read each carefully written article.
“Randy, if you aren't too busy would you come in here
for a minute,” Josie called out to her partner at the paper, “I'd
like you to read some of Ella's work.”
Ella thought that was a good sign but maybe Josie was
going to have Randy tell her they didn't need her services. This is
not going well she thought to herself. I should have gone fishing
with the boys.
“Ella, I'm sorry to be ignoring you. I am mesmerized
reading your words. I find it difficult to believe you haven't had
any formal training. These are wonderful. My only problem is I
don't know which one to publish first.”
Randy spoke up, “Josie these are great. If you're
asking my opinion, I think we should start with the one about
adopting orphans. You know how I feel about adopting,” he turned
to Ella. “Faith is Polly's daughter. I adopted her after we were
married.”
“I agree Randy. Let's get this one typeset and it
will be in the next publication. Welcome to the team Ella. We can't
pay you much money now but our advertising revenue is picking up.
We'd like to consider you a partner. How do you feel about that?”
“I'm flabbergasted. I was hoping you might decide to
publish one or two of my columns but I never expected to be a
partner. I was debating whether I should stay on in Camden Corners
and you have made that decision for me.”
Just then there was a soft cry from behind Josie.
Jonathan was making it known he was hungry. “Why don't you let
Randy show you how he does his magic with his typesetter while I feed
this young man. Might as well learn the newspaper business from the
ground up.”
Ella was fascinated with the process and thrilled when
she saw the first copy of the newspaper with her column and byline
printed inside. Randy gave her the first copy as a keepsake.
“I won't even charge you, partner. Although it is
eating into our profits,” Randy chuckled.
Ella couldn't wait to show the paper to James. He was
waiting for her on the park bench. He was so happy for her he picked
her up and swung her around to the delight of the children playing
nearby.
“This calls for a celebration. How about dinner at
the Trattoria this evening, just the two of us?”
“I'd like that James, I'd like that very much.”
Meanwhile the fisherman weren't having much luck
catching a fish big enough for dinner. They didn't mind because
Grandma said she would have roast chicken for them if the fish
weren't biting this afternoon.
“Butch” Will said while Billy was on the other side
of the dock, “would you like us to try to find where you came from?
We could ask Mr. Merryweather to do some checking? I just don't
want you to be disappointed if he isn't able to find any information
about your family.”
“I don't know Pa. Maybe sometime but not now. I have
you and Ma and two sisters now. I even have Grandma Alma and Grandpa
Melvin. My brother Cody too when he is home from college. I don't
think I have room in my heart for anybody else.”
Will gave the boy a hug. He suspected whatever memories
the boy did have of his past were not happy ones. “Alright son,
but if you are ever curious or decide you want to look for your kin,
I will help you.”
The three of them all heard a man's voice call out.
“I've lost it! What will I do?” They went running to the
stranger.
“How may we help you sir?” said Will.
“I can't find it. I don't know what to do,” said
the stranger. “I'll give the first person who finds it a crisp new
$100 bill.
Billy and Butch's eyes lit up until they looked in
Will's direction.
“We'll help you look for whatever you lost sir. You
don't have to give us any money.”
“What have you lost sir? My boys and I will be happy
to help you look for for it.”
“I have lost my soul. Yes I have. Young man, do you
see that big tent going up over there? I do believe that is where we
will find my soul. Come with me one and all. Brother Jeremiah
Hershey is waiting to save us all from our sins. Come young people,
come with me now or wait until 7:00 this glorious evening for our
revival meeting. You see that blind man over there? Brother
Jeremiah will help him see if only he believes.”
Will noticed the blind man, he was wearing dark glasses
and carrying a white cane He carefully walked around a toy boat that
was lying in the sand. “Come on boys. Time to get home to Grandma
Alma's chicken.”
“Ah, a non-believer in the crowd. Ladies and
gentlemen, that man is a sinner but it isn't too late for the rest
of you.”
“My Pa isn't a sinner. He's the vicar of St. Peter's
Church. He doesn't yell about it either and he doesn't call people
sinners.” Butch shouted back at the man.
“Let's go boys. Don't pay any attention to him. I
think Grandma was putting a blackberry pie in the oven as we were
leaving today.”
Will glanced over his shoulder as they left the lake.
He could see the crowd getting bigger and bigger around the stranger.
He had seen this type of revival before and knew the bank accounts
of some in the crowd would be lighter tomorrow. There wasn't
anything he could do but pray for the lost souls who would be giving
Brother Jeremiah their hard earned money to save them.
