Chapter 7
2 Weeks Later
"Samuel, how could we have waited this long to do this?" Elizabeth asked her husband, yet again, the fact clear she was more than worried about their daughter more than driving her husband insane.
"Elizabeth, our daughter will be fine for a few more hours until we get there, besides you trusted her enough to come here in the first place while I was still in Ohio." Samuel countered, more than ready for his wife to end the tirade she'd been in for most of their trip.
"She wanted her father, Samuel, you're the reason Dr. Franklin took her side in this besides, when I agreed to it I had no idea she'd be in the heart of a war."
"I know I have no response to that... it's just once I came here I knew this is where I wanted our daughter to finish growing up, where her kids should grow up... I only wanted for her, what every father does for their children... the best." Samuel whispered.
"And I must admit I'd rather them grow up here than in England." Elizabeth agreed with a sigh "I know we can't get that time back but I just wish we hadn't been separated as long as we were."
At this, Samuel gently squeezes one of his wife's hands reassuringly "Now that we're united with our daughter I promise to do everything I can to keep us together from now on. I just hope Sarah loves what I've created for her."
"She will, Samuel, she will." Elizabeth whispered, still finding it difficult to believe the wonderful carvings her husband had created.
"James?" Sarah whispered. Shifting her husband's attention from the window he'd been staring out for some time.
Though obviously still in whatever trance he'd been in, James turned around, shaking his head as he knelt, gently taking Sarah's hands as he looked lovingly into her eyes "Ready?" he whispered, seeing just how heavy her eyes already were despite being early in the afternoon.
"Yes, I could hardly sleep last night with someone keeping me awake... not to mention everything else on my mind." she replied as James helped her out of her chair "But I'm also so excited..."
"So am I." James agreed with a smile as he held his wife close for a few moments "Your parents will be here any day." he gently reminded her before helping her over to their bed.
"What do you think they'll say?" Sarah wondered as James helped her up onto their bed.
"What do you mean?" James questioned, his face filled with confusion as he helped her lay down.
"About Ben." she whispered as James laid one hand on her cheek, the other on the little one they so desperately awaited.
"I don't know but I'm hoping them being here will ease your worrying some... I love you so much, Sarah... I can't imagine this new country... or raising this little eaglet without you." James whispered, kissing her forehead before looking to where his other hand still rested he whispered "Let mama get some sleep and Papa will be back, I love you so much... my little eaglet."
"James..." Sarah whispered, laying a hand on top of his as she smiled "I can't wait until that's you, holding this little one... I've thought for years how amazing a father you would be but now I'm certain... ever since you came home with Sally."
"I'm excited too, Sarah... now rest... Sally and Henry are working on her article on Washington. I'll be downstairs helping them and Ben's with us so don't worry." he said, then with one last kiss he turned, heading down the hallway, anxious for their readers to see what his daughter had created.
Later that afternoon, James smiled as he and Henry worked together on the press while Sally and Ben hung the papers to dry, they all worked together when they were surprised as a familiar couple walked in.
"Grandpa Sam!" Sally gasped, not thinking about the paper she still held in her hand as she rushed to the front door, wrapping both arms around him.
"Sally." Samuel whispered as he laid a hand on each of his granddaughter's shoulders "I see you're happy my dear." he commented, taking the paper from Sally "Anything special happening in Philadelphia?"
"Not until just now, though I have met some interesting new people." she replied with a shy smile as Elizabeth gently wrapped both arms around her.
"And just who would these people be, Sally?"
"Oh, just General Washington and his family, no one your daughter hasn't already been aquatinted with." Ben replied, giving Sally a wink as he hung up another printed sheet.
"Dr. Franklin!" Elizabeth gasped as she rushed over to her friend who, like James and Henry, steadily continued their work "You shouldn't be working so hard."
"I'm merely helping the boys hang up papers, Elizabeth." Ben replied with a sigh.
"We should be done soon if you don't mind checking on Sarah." James suggested, secretly hoping this would satisfy Lady Phillips and Dr. Franklin "I've been uh helping Sarah with supper lately... I want her to relax but I think I'm just annoying her."
"Sarah is more thankful for your help than you realize, James, the things she says in her letters speak volumes about her love for you and what she thinks about you as a husband, a father, even a journalist."
"Speaking of journalism Elizabeth, I think you should read this article by a certain Sally Hiller." Samuel commented with a smile towards his granddaughter.
Now blushing, Sally looked towards her father and Ben, needing confirmation from two of the men she loved so much.
"Not world class but I'd say it proves you have the skills if Henry wants an apprentice that is." Ben stated, having already talked this over with Henry.
Though she knew she'd still have to discuss it with her parents, truthfully not sure what she thought about writing for the Gazette despite the fact she wanted nothing more than for her parents to be proud she was learning and participating in their trade "Thank you so much!" she gasped, wrapping both arms around Ben.
"You deserve it my dear." he whispered "Now, I think Henry and I can handle this if you and your father want to go see Sarah."
"How about her parents go see her now while we print the last of the papers and then Henry and I will help Samuel unpack." James suggested, seeing Ben was already pushing his limits.
"Mother, I can't believe everything you and father brought for the baby." Sarah gasped, smiling as she looked through the things her mother had brought, her new shawl wrapped around her shoulders while she sat in the rocking chair her father had taken out of the wagon just before supper.
"And what of the things I've brought for you, Sarah?" she whispered, fingering the fringe on the shawl she hoped would be long enough to keep both her daughter and grandchild warm in the still cool nights ahead though she was glad the weather would be warming up shortly after.
"Thank you so much, Mother but I admit there's something I've been hiding from James, I... can't figure out if I'm missing something or what it is." she whispered as she gently handed something to her mother from her sewing basket "It's only a blanket for the baby but... see what you think."
"Sarah, it's beautiful..." Elizabeth cried as she unfolded the blanket, seeing the patches her daughter had created, each of which had clearly been made with James, Ben and Samuel in mind "I know embroidery has never been much of an enjoyment for you Sarah but these are beautiful."
"This might sound strange mother but I had so much fun making this. I suppose just knowing it's for James and I hope... our son... James nor I really care but..."
"You want Dr. Franklin to know you named him Benjamin Samuel?" Elizabeth whispered as she gently took her daughter's hands into her own.
Nodding her head, Sarah could only sigh "Both of would be lost without him, Mother... Our whole relationship... mine and James's he's been there for us both in a few different ways."
"I know." Elizabeth whispered, her eyes telling of all the things she wished she could've changed, secretly having wondered for years if she should've sailed to America when her daughter did.
"Mother, I didn't mean... Once I came here... Dr. Franklin was the only one I knew understood me. He knew I was more than an English girl who didn't know what she wanted. Once I came back from England after seeing Father in Ohio... I admit things were rather strained between James and I for a little while but that soon changed once we were reporting again, that time as two people who somewhat had the same beliefs about the Revolution. I knew James had, I suppose, seen my worst so things only got better once he was convinced I was truly for the Americans then... he admitted the reason he was so furious when I left for England... was because he'd seen what there was of my still budding patriot side and he, even then..."
"Sarah?" Elizabeth whispered, gently whipping away the tears that already trickled down her daughter's cheeks.
"He told me of his feelings Mother... a few nights after we returned from reporting on General Arnold's betrayal. He helped me through it more than anyone. When I went to bed that night... he'd left a daisy lying on top of a letter... he told me everything he'd been afraid to say in person. He confessed he loved me but didn't see why you, father or even I would want a lowly orphan like himself being a part of our family."
"He thought that?" Elizabeth gasped, horrified her beloved son in law could've ever believed she and Samuel would've rejected him "I'm ashamed to admit at one time I possibly would've but after you wrote me... telling how he helped you through Tom's death... I wanted no one but him to care for you. Now, I think, like you I've gained more love and respect for him as the years slowly went by."
"Yes..." Sarah agreed with a smile as she laid a hand on her stomach "I still haven't forgotten how terrified he was to meet you though by then I think it was more so the fact he was an orphan than anything."
"Yes, you're probably right, I just can't believe... As long as he loved you and cared for you... and your children." Elizabeth whispered as a warm hand settled on her shoulder.
"Elizabeth, it's hard for either of us to understand because they have something you and I didn't, a land where they and their children are free to be whoever they want. In England, Sarah never would've gotten the chance to be a journalist here they aren't bound by the customs we were." Samuel explained, a smile on his lips as he took his daughter's hand, gently helping her up from the rocking chair "Sarah,..." he whispered "the past month I've been hiding something from you, something I started back in New York. I know it's two weeks until Christmas but I couldn't wait."
"Father?" She questioned as she was led into the next room but before he could answer her question, she gasped, suddenly feeling slightly weak as her knees suddenly gave out, her father and James catching her, both men on either side of her as she stared at what her father had created, the foot of the crib carved with an eagle head, parchment unfurling from either side, the head a little more simple with a quill, an intricate design surrounding it.
"Sarah, are you alright?" Samuel asked with the slightest fear for his daughter's wellbeing.
"I love it, Father." she whispered as James helped her stand, his arm securely around her waist.
"I'm glad." Samuel whispered with a small smile of his own "I love you both so much, I wanted to make sure it represents you well."
"I say it does." James agreed.
"Sally," Samuel whispered as he sat on the side of his granddaughter's bed, holding a small box to her, caring love in his eyes "your mother said you might want this."
Though slightly confused, Sally grateful for anything she was given, she gasped once she realized what was inside "A locket?" she questioned.
"This isn't like your mother's, this has a bigger chamber to keep something important close to you."
"My parents' rings?" she whispered, having known for a couple months that she needed something new to keep them safe "Thank you so much."
"Anything for you my dear, dear girl." Samuel whispered as he wrapped both arms around Sally, holding her close, one arm around her shoulders while with the other hand he rubbed her back.
"Grandpa, What was it like for Papa when he first met you and Grandma?"
"Heard your mother talking with her mother?" he whispered, knowing he was right even if Sally hadn't nodded "It wasn't like it sounds like though I must admit your grandma and I were not in agreement over them marrying... guess it's better I tell you the story..."
Do ya'll think Elizebeth genuinely shares the love her husband and daughter have for James or ya'll think she'd have been critical to a degree? I think she'd love him as her son in law but I'm not sure she'd be completely understanding like I imagine Samuel would (I think he and Dr. Franklin would probably have a fair understanding and an amount of respect between them as he would with James. Really wish he had been with her in Ohio.) but let me know what y'all think