A Family Gathering

Chapter 1

He was an older gentleman, of about 30-ish making his way toward the New Bedford home where the little townhouses near the sea stood looking weathered, made of wood and brick they stood with a little bit of color against the gray windy sky. As he opened the door and went in, there was a scuffling sound coming from the parlor. Although he could not hear it, he felt the vibrations and sensed something was wrong. He quietly walked to the parlor, stood just out of sight, and looked in.

A woman was slowly getting up from the floor, the man that stood above her did not offer his hand to help her, in fact, he was holding a heavy brick above his head ready to hit her once more! The man hiding around the corner came in and knocked the other man down.

He shouted in a rough voice:
"Run, Molly, get Richard!" then the fight began, the man who had had the brick was about to hit the other man but was again knocked to the floor by the one who had just come in. Richard came in just then and helped to wrestle the one man to the floor.

"Molly, call the police!" He struggled to keep the man down. Richard motioned to Absalom to sit on the man until he could get him tied down.

The police came in and took the man out. Richard, Absalom, and Molly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Absalom," Richard spelled out in sign language thank you.

"That is okay, Richard, I am here for you and Molly! Was that one of the men from the trial?"

Richard nodded in assent and looked at Molly. She was a bit disheveled; her hair was a mess, and she had a bruise on one side of her face. He went to her and helped her to a chair. She wasn't crying but she was shaken.

"What happened, that man was not supposed to be in here? How did he get in?" Richard asked Molly.

"I stepped outside to take care of some flowers in the garden and the next thing I knew he was dragging me inside by my hair. Then when I asked what he wanted he just snarled at me and said: "I am going to kill you!' and then he hit me on my face, I came up and tried to fight him, but he knocked me down, I was just getting up when Absalom came in. While she was explaining to Richard, she was also using sign language for Absalom.

"That is okay, thank you Molly for letting me know. Do you need me anymore Richard? I am going to get cleaned up." Absalom said.

"No, not now, thank you again, my friend." Richard then turned back to Molly to help her. Absalom left the parlor and went to his own room in the house. He had good memories of her and her brother and of course her marriage to Richard.

As he cleaned up and dressed in something more presentable, he remembered when he had met her, her brother, and her sister. He also remembered Jeremy Bolt. It was Jeremy who had done the best for him. When he opened that cage, he couldn't believe that he was free. But it was not as easy as just coming out of the cage, Jeremy had to fight to get him to believe in himself and then others to believe in him. His uncle was going to put him away in an asylum, his father had died, and he was deaf and presumed that he could not talk or understand.

Jeremy had the responsibility according to his brother Jason that once he released Absalom, he had to help him to show others that he could learn and do things as most people.

It took quite a while, but Jeremy was able to help him, and he gained confidence in himself and his ability to speak and communicate with others. His Uncle saw this, took him home to raise him. Later Absalom expressed interest in being a lawyer. His uncle helped him achieve that dream. He then met Richard Cloom who also became a lawyer from the same class that Absalom was in.

Richard went to Seattle to visit his aunt Biddie who had also married a lawyer who now practiced law in Seattle. His name was Barnabus Webster, Biddie was now Biddie Webster, and they had two children, girls, with one more on the way. The girl's names were Maggie and Nellie. When Richard was there, he took one look at Molly and was smitten! He started to spend a lot of time with Molly and soon they were married.

They left a month after being married to go back east to New Bedford, where he would set up his practice there. When they arrived, he introduced her to Absalom. Molly was excited because she remembered Absalom and was happy to know that he would be living with them and practicing law as well. Richard was surprised to find out that she already knew Absalom and enjoyed it when they both told him how they had met and Absalom's journey to be a lawyer.

Later that night as they were getting ready for bed, Richard apologized for the intrusion.

Molly was brushing her hair, when she said:
"That is okay, Richard. I was wondering though, if we might not take a trip back to Seattle this summer and visit with Candy and everyone. It would be a great family reunion. You could see Biddie and the kids and Absalom, if he wants can come back and visit as well."

"I was thinking of the same thing. I don't want your life to be in danger anymore. I know having Absalom around is nice, but I would like to provide a safer place for you." Richard said as he went around the corner of the bed to the closet.

"I know you were planning to run for state senate next year but…wait a minute, you said you want to go back as well?"

Richard looked at her and smiled and then said: "yes, yes I do. I miss my aunt Biddie and the kids, and I think if we went back, I could still run for a political office as well as here. Besides, I would feel you would be safer among family and friends."

Molly looked at him and couldn't help but smile. She had friends here as well, but it just wasn't the same. She missed the family and friends in Seattle and was trying to find a way to go back.

"We can ask Absalom if he wants to come or if he wants to stay. If he stays, he has a place to live, and the house won't be empty." Richard said.

"I think he will want to go as well, Rich, because he has family there too!" Molly said, thinking of Jeremy and the other brothers.

The next morning, they were having breakfast and when Absalom heard that they were planning to go back to Seattle, he just about jumped out of his chair to get started packing. It was settled. They would find someone to rent the house and then make plans to go to Seattle.

Molly wrote a letter then decided to just wire Candy about coming to Seattle and staying.

She was at the post office that was also the telegraph office. There was mail for her and Richard, so while she waited for a message back from Candy, she read the mail. Interesting enough there was a letter. It had taken quite a long time to reach them.

Dear Molly and Richard:
I hope you have been well! Jeremy and I are doing fine. Chris is on San Juan Island, so is Jake. Melanie has been married almost a year now and is expecting her first child. Jake has gone to the island as well. I have not heard from him in over a year. Chris wrote once and said he and Mark were working at the Lime Kiln works in Roche Harbor.

Jason was involved in a fire at the Olympic hotel in Olympia. He rescued some children but was burned in the process. The nurse that is with him specializes in burns. She has an excellent record she worked under Clara Barton during the war. He is coming along better each day. He can go outside; Jonathan is helping to take care of him as well.

I certainly miss you and wish the best for you.

Your Sister

Candy.

Absalom:

Jeremy would write but he has been helping with Jason. Jason had an accident; he was helping some children to escape a fire and was burned. Jeremy said that he is glad that you are working. It is fortunate that you and Molly and Richard know each other.

We will write again soon.

Take care:

Jeremy and Candy Bolt

"There is a response to your wire Mrs. Cloom", the telegrapher said.

"Oh, thank you very much." She took the wire and was pleased to find out that Candy would be looking forward to them coming. They could of course stay with her and Jeremy since Melanie and Jake were gone. Molly took the wire and placed it in her purse and went out of the office to do a bit of shopping before she went home. Richard and Absalom's office were nearby, and she thought she would stop in first.

She was caught by surprise when she was grabbed and pulled into an alley between building.

"Don't scream miss, I have been paid to take you to see him!"