Unending Devotion (Michigan Brides #1)(85)

They’d been in Bay City only four days. She told herself that she couldn’t leave Daisy quite yet. Besides, Connell had promised to go after Frankie, and despite their differences, she believed he would keep his word.

A chill snuck under her jacket and up her back. She could only pray Connell was still alive and that he’d escaped harm. If anything had happened to him, surely someone would have sent news to his family by now.

“My dear,” Mrs. McCormick said softly, “I can’t even begin to imagine the vileness you’ve witnessed this winter. But as you saw this morning, the effects of the wickedness are not limited only to the camps. They’re all around us here in Bay City too.”

“That’s my point.” Lily’s voice rose with passion. “Your husband, and other lumber barons like him, have grown wealthy and successful, but at the cost of land, and life, and decency for the common laborer. Is it right for us to live this way, when it has come at such a high price?”

Mrs. McCormick sighed and glanced around the opulent hallway. “I have thought of this too. I’ve lived at one end of the spectrum—in a place very much like the one we visited today. And now with my husband’s hard work, I’m at the other end of the continuum.”

“Then you must see the injustice of it all.”

Mrs. McCormick’s eyes filled with warm understanding. “As long as man lives and breathes, there will always be sin in this world and consequently injustice.”

“But that doesn’t mean we should give up, sit back, and do nothing.”

“You’re right. Nor can we fight against everything. We must instead discover where God wants to use us.”

Lily’s heart pulsed faster at the woman’s words.

“I may not be able to rebuild the company boardinghouse to make it safer and more livable,” Mrs. McCormick continued. “That isn’t within the scope of my influence or control. But I can offer comfort to those who live there. That is something I can choose to do. And of course, I keep praying that someday I’ll be able to do more.”

Mrs. McCormick lifted her hand to Lily’s cheek. Her rose-powder fragrance swirled in the air. And Lily couldn’t keep from leaning into its warm caress, longing swelling deep inside.

What would her mother’s touch have felt like? What would it have been like to have a mother giving her advice?

In the presence of this lovely woman, experiencing her goodness, her wisdom, and her sweet touch, buried needs pushed through the tough winter ground of her heart. For so long, she’d had to be strong so she could be both mother and father to Daisy. She’d had no one to turn to, no one to take care of her, no one to lean on.

Just for once, she wanted to know what it would have been like to have a mother.

As if sensing Lily’s need, the woman reached for her and wrapped her arms around Lily, drawing her against her bosom.

Lily couldn’t resist. She slipped her arms around Mrs. McCormick, falling into the embrace, relishing the gentleness of the woman’s arms and the firmness of the squeeze.

“You are a brave and strong young woman,” Mrs. McCormick said. “And you amaze me.”

An ache pushed up Lily’s throat. Sadness pressed at her chest, making her want to weep at what she had missed all those years without a mother to turn to.

And now, in Mrs. McCormick’s tender but strong arms, she couldn’t keep from wishing for more—a real family, a real home.

Mrs. McCormick pressed a kiss into Lily’s hair and pulled back.

Reluctantly, Lily let go.

“You’re already choosing to fight the battles God is giving you.” Mrs. McCormick gave her cheek another gentle pat. “But be patient with those who are still discovering where God wants to use them.”

Mrs. McCormick’s eyes held Lily’s. Reflected in the kind depths she saw Connell. And she couldn’t help wondering if somehow Mrs. McCormick had learned of the quarrel she’d had with Connell and was asking her to be patient with him.

After Mrs. McCormick left, Lily started up the broad winding staircase. Her footsteps were slow and her mind swirled with bittersweet emotions. Was it too late to wish for a real home for her and Daisy?

With a sigh, she paused on the landing of the second floor. As much as she wanted a woman like Mrs. McCormick for a mother, she and Daisy couldn’t impose on the woman’s good graces indefinitely.

At some point she would need to find a job and a place for them to live. And when that time came, she could only pray their new home would be better than the boardinghouse she’d visited.

The tinkling of Daisy’s laughter came from the second-floor hallway.

Lily started forward in surprise.

Daisy had declined going with them earlier upon complaint of one of her headaches. In fact, she hadn’t left the house since their arrival. And even though Lily wanted to encourage Daisy to put her shame behind her and move on with her life, she hadn’t wanted to push her to go anywhere before she was ready—especially before she had the chance to get the alcohol out of her system.

The laughter came again—playful, almost teasing.

Lily smiled.

She hadn’t heard Daisy laugh much during the past few days they’d spent together. When Daisy wasn’t feeling sick, she had despaired over her future.

“Who will like me now?” she’d say between sobs. “I’m nobody and nothing.”