Janet Barton - A Daughter’s Return

Rebecca’s breath had caught and her heart twisted in her chest at Jenny’s words. Suddenly, she’d realized her child’s daily moods in the past had been a reflection of her own. O Lord, please forgive me. Again.

Determination had risen up strong and swift and Rebecca had bent down, gathered her young daughter in her arms and hugged her tight. “Yes, Jenny. We are going to have much better days from now on.”

If she had a bad day, she’d make sure she didn’t drag her daughter down with her. “I love you so much!”

“I love you, too, Mama.” Jenny’s small hands patted her on the back.

Rebecca was always amazed at how comforting her daughter’s hugs and pats could be.

Now, she crossed her room and went through the bathroom to sit on the side of Jenny’s bed. She gave her a gentle shake and kissed her forehead. “Wake up, sleepyhead. We need to wash up and go see what Gretchen and Maida are cooking for dinner. Something smells really yummy downstairs.”

Jenny stretched, smiled and opened her eyes. “I hope she’s making chocolate cake!”

“Oh, I’m sure Gretchen will make something you’ll like.” Dessert was a real treat for Jenny. Living in the tenements, Rebecca could rarely afford any kind of indulgence for them. She’d done well most days to provide the basic meal, which had been awfully skimpy at times. She still found it difficult to believe she didn’t have to worry about where their next meal would come from. “Let’s go wash your face and hands.”

Once they’d both freshened up, Rebecca took her daughter’s hand and left her room. What a wonderful feeling not to have to lock her door or worry about someone breaking in. She and Jenny swung hands and then the child giggled, let go of Rebecca and ran to the staircase.

“Jenny, not so fast!” Rebecca watched in horror as her daughter grasped the newel post and swung a leg over the side, leaving her in a kind of lopsided position as she started to slide. “Jenny! No!”

Jenny’s descent built up speed while Rebecca ran down the stairs on legs that had suddenly gone weak, terrified she wouldn’t reach her in time. The front door of Heaton House opened and Benjamin Roth, one of the boarders, walked in. Rebecca yelled, “Ben, catch her, please!”

She saw him glance up and run to the bottom of the staircase just as Jenny flew off the end and plopped into his arms. Her child’s delighted giggle helped Rebecca breathe once more as she reached the foyer, took her child from him and hugged her close. She looked up at the man who’d kept her from getting hurt. “Oh, Ben, thank you!”

He let out a huge breath. “You’re welcome. That was a bit frightening.”

“I was terrified.” Rebecca turned her daughter’s face to hers. “Jennifer Dickerson! I told you not to ever slide down the banister. You nearly scared the life right out of me and Mr. Ben.”

She set her daughter down and grasped her hand. “You deserve a paddling for disobeying me, Jenny!”

“What’s all the commotion about?” her mother asked, hurrying down the hall from her study.

“Granma!” Jenny reached out to her grandmother, sounding as if she’d been saved from the sound spanking Rebecca knew she needed.

Rebecca relinquished her to her mother and let out a huge sigh before explaining. “Jenny decided to slide down the banister and Ben caught her right before she flew across the foyer, Mama.”

She still trembled at the thought of what might have happened had Ben not arrived when he did.

“Oh, my sweet Jenny, we don’t want you to get hurt. Granma has a rule in this house. Never, ever slide down the banister. You won’t try it again, will you?”

Rebecca watched her blond-haired, blue-eyed child shake her head.

“You promise?”

Jenny hesitated only a moment before nodding.

“Now what do you need to say to your mama?”

“I’m sorry, Mama.”

Rebecca felt torn between hugging her close again and punishing her for disobeying. “I forgive you. But you still deserve a spanking. You slide down again and you’ll get one, you hear?”

Jenny’s head bobbed up and down once more.

“You received a reprieve this time, sweetheart,” Mrs. Heaton said, patting her granddaughter’s back. “I’m not sure you will a second time. May I take her to the kitchen to check on dinner, dear?”

“I suppose, but no treats before dinner.”

“Of course not.” She turned and headed for the kitchen. “You heard your mama, Jenny. You have to wait until after dinner for dessert.”

“I know, Granma.”

Rebecca shook her head, let out a shaky breath and looked up at Ben. Her trembles had only now begun to subside. “Oh, Ben, I am so glad you came home when you did. My legs felt like water as I tried to hurry down the stairs and I was sure I wouldn’t make it down in time.”

“I wasn’t too sure I’d be in time, either.” He ran a hand through his blond hair, then chuckled and shook his head. “She thought it was great fun.”

“And it is. I tried the same thing when I was around her age.”

“Was anyone there to catch you?” His blue eyes twinkled as he waited for her answer.

“Thankfully my papa heard Mama yell, much the same as I just did, and he caught me.”

“Then what happened?”

Rebecca chuckled. “The outcome was about the same as now. Mama came running down the stairs and Papa said almost the exact same things Mama told Jenny.”

“Like mother, like daughter?” He grinned at her.

She thought for a moment and then sighed. “I’m afraid so. I pray she’s not as rebellious as I was when she gets older.”

“Well, it appears you turned out fine. I’m sure Jenny will, too.”

“I pray so. I hope our move hasn’t changed life at Heaton House too much for all of you.”

Ben grinned. “You and Jenny have livened things up a lot around here. It’s wonderful to see your mother so happy. So don’t worry about changing life around here. We’re all enjoying whatever changes you and Jenny have made.”

“Thank you, Ben. Still, I probably should be making her take her meals in the kitchen, but Mama will have none of it.”

“I’m glad! Jenny is not a problem, Rebecca. You’ve taught her good manners and she mostly listens to the conversations around her. Makes it feel more like we are part of a family. Having you both here made Christmas especially wonderful.”

Ben’s smile went a long way in convincing Rebecca that he meant what he said. Then he bent down, tipped Rebecca’s chin up and looked her in the eyes. “Please...let yourself enjoy being with your family again. And don’t for a minute worry about what the boarders think. We’re all very happy to have you and Jenny here. You’ve been through a lot, trying to raise your daughter by yourself. Some women would have given up their children for—”

“Oh! I could never have given Jenny up. Having her is what gave me reason to keep going.” She stopped herself from saying more.

How much did Ben know about her past? Her mother had told her that all most of them knew was that she’d been found after having been missing for over four years—except perhaps for Kathleen and Luke Patterson, who’d been responsible for finding her.

“It’s your story to tell, Rebecca dear,” her mother had said. “If you decide you need to, when and to whom is your choice. As for your brother and I, we’re overjoyed to have you back in our lives.”

The Lord had more than answered Rebecca’s deepest prayers in sending Kathleen to her apartment as a liaison for the Ladies’ Aid Society. Because of her, Rebecca had faced her past and been reunited with her loved ones—but she wasn’t sure she’d ever share that past with anyone else.