[A/N. Again this chapter is a little shorter than usual, but I had to leave
it there.]
New York, June 1933.
Eliza took a deep breath and stepped out of her office for the last time. The place had become like a home to her in the past two years or so, and she couldn't help but be reluctant about leaving it. In fact, in her sentimentality, she thought she would even miss Molly. At the end of 1932 Molly had turned sixteen and thus been required to leave the orphanage, but Eliza had managed to convince the state to allow Molly to stay on in the position of a maid, and sort of helper to Eliza. The state had not been too keen at first, especially considering the many complaints they had received over the years about Molly, but Eliza had worn them down. And when Molly had heard the news she'd thrown her arms about Eliza and vowed to behave herself. Eliza had laughed and disentangled herself from the girl's arms. "You better because there is only one chance her Molly!" So far Molly had been behaving.
In her hand Eliza clutched her handbag-the rest of her luggage had been sent ahead. She couldn't help but be scared by this new adventure in her life-marriage had been something she'd been dreaming about for so long that she thought it was meant to remain only that-a dream! At twenty-seven she had thought she was too old to be married and that she would have to live her life as an old maid, but her husband to be didn't care about that fact one bit! He lived his life according to his own standards, not those of other people. Suddenly Eliza realised that the entire orphanage were crowded onto the steps watching her.
"Children! Shouldn't you be in lessons? Miss Gray won't be very happy about this!" Eliza scolded gently.
Molly stepped forward in her usual brash style. "Miss Gray understood that we wanted to say goodbye!" She assured Eliza. "And she wanted a word with the man whose going to be the new milkman in private! She said it's about trying to convince him to get us some cream, but we know better. The second she saw him she all but swooned. Sounds familiar to me!"
"Molly!" Eliza said warningly, but she smiled. "Anyway, it's very nice of you all to want to say goodbye!"
"We know you're going to be very happy." Molly said. "He's loved you from the moment he first saw you. We saw the look in his eyes every day when he came here!"
"Yes, well he is a wonderful man, and I am so happy about this." Eliza replied. She knew that with the depression still going on fairly strong that marriage was going to be hard now, especially when it came to monetary matters, but she knew with the support of her husband she would be able to manage it. After all she'd been living on a very strict budget at the orphanage the last few years! And the depression surely couldn't last forever!
"The car is here Miss Eliza!" One of the orphans called, and Eliza took another deep breath. For a moment she thought about running back into the office and declaring she wasn't going anywhere, or marrying anyone. But then she laughed at herself. Wasn't her husband to be the most wonderful man she had ever met? Wasn't marrying him the best thing which would ever happen to her? So with another goodbye Eliza was soon seated in the car driving towards the station. Her husband to be had a few work matters to settle before they left and so she traveled alone to the station. There was no real doubt in her mind that she was doing the right thing, but she couldn't help but be a little nervous.
Finally the car arrived at the station, and the driver hurried around to help Eliza from the car, something she didn't think necessary, but which was still nice. And then she spotted her husband to be over near her luggage. He looked up and saw her, a smile lighting up his eyes, and he hurried over to her.
"You were a little later than I'd expected. I almost thought maybe you'd got cold feet." He told her.
Eliza laughed. "No. The orphans wanted to say goodbye to me again."
He laughed too. "I'll miss them playing tricks on me all the time. Like the afternoon they locked me in the scullery. I suppose they didn't want you to fall in love with me and leave them!" He said.
"Well can you blame them? It's hard having no family." Eliza said.
"Well it won't be hard for you. You know my family will soon be your family." He promised her.
Eliza frowned slightly. She wasn't entirely convinced on this fact. He noticed the frown and tilted her chin up so her eyes looked into hers. "Eliza. I promise you." He said, his lips curving in that familiar smile which made her feel warm inside.
"I know." She said. "I'm just worried about things-like managing a house in this depression and all."
"I've told you Eliza you won't have to worry too much about that-nor money." He said. "Stop worrying and be happy. Don't you love me as much as I love you?"
Eliza smiled. "Yes Edward, I love you as much as you love me."
"Good, then let's get on this train and get out of here!" He declared, taking her hand in his.
"Let's." Eliza agreed.
New York, June 1933.
Eliza took a deep breath and stepped out of her office for the last time. The place had become like a home to her in the past two years or so, and she couldn't help but be reluctant about leaving it. In fact, in her sentimentality, she thought she would even miss Molly. At the end of 1932 Molly had turned sixteen and thus been required to leave the orphanage, but Eliza had managed to convince the state to allow Molly to stay on in the position of a maid, and sort of helper to Eliza. The state had not been too keen at first, especially considering the many complaints they had received over the years about Molly, but Eliza had worn them down. And when Molly had heard the news she'd thrown her arms about Eliza and vowed to behave herself. Eliza had laughed and disentangled herself from the girl's arms. "You better because there is only one chance her Molly!" So far Molly had been behaving.
In her hand Eliza clutched her handbag-the rest of her luggage had been sent ahead. She couldn't help but be scared by this new adventure in her life-marriage had been something she'd been dreaming about for so long that she thought it was meant to remain only that-a dream! At twenty-seven she had thought she was too old to be married and that she would have to live her life as an old maid, but her husband to be didn't care about that fact one bit! He lived his life according to his own standards, not those of other people. Suddenly Eliza realised that the entire orphanage were crowded onto the steps watching her.
"Children! Shouldn't you be in lessons? Miss Gray won't be very happy about this!" Eliza scolded gently.
Molly stepped forward in her usual brash style. "Miss Gray understood that we wanted to say goodbye!" She assured Eliza. "And she wanted a word with the man whose going to be the new milkman in private! She said it's about trying to convince him to get us some cream, but we know better. The second she saw him she all but swooned. Sounds familiar to me!"
"Molly!" Eliza said warningly, but she smiled. "Anyway, it's very nice of you all to want to say goodbye!"
"We know you're going to be very happy." Molly said. "He's loved you from the moment he first saw you. We saw the look in his eyes every day when he came here!"
"Yes, well he is a wonderful man, and I am so happy about this." Eliza replied. She knew that with the depression still going on fairly strong that marriage was going to be hard now, especially when it came to monetary matters, but she knew with the support of her husband she would be able to manage it. After all she'd been living on a very strict budget at the orphanage the last few years! And the depression surely couldn't last forever!
"The car is here Miss Eliza!" One of the orphans called, and Eliza took another deep breath. For a moment she thought about running back into the office and declaring she wasn't going anywhere, or marrying anyone. But then she laughed at herself. Wasn't her husband to be the most wonderful man she had ever met? Wasn't marrying him the best thing which would ever happen to her? So with another goodbye Eliza was soon seated in the car driving towards the station. Her husband to be had a few work matters to settle before they left and so she traveled alone to the station. There was no real doubt in her mind that she was doing the right thing, but she couldn't help but be a little nervous.
Finally the car arrived at the station, and the driver hurried around to help Eliza from the car, something she didn't think necessary, but which was still nice. And then she spotted her husband to be over near her luggage. He looked up and saw her, a smile lighting up his eyes, and he hurried over to her.
"You were a little later than I'd expected. I almost thought maybe you'd got cold feet." He told her.
Eliza laughed. "No. The orphans wanted to say goodbye to me again."
He laughed too. "I'll miss them playing tricks on me all the time. Like the afternoon they locked me in the scullery. I suppose they didn't want you to fall in love with me and leave them!" He said.
"Well can you blame them? It's hard having no family." Eliza said.
"Well it won't be hard for you. You know my family will soon be your family." He promised her.
Eliza frowned slightly. She wasn't entirely convinced on this fact. He noticed the frown and tilted her chin up so her eyes looked into hers. "Eliza. I promise you." He said, his lips curving in that familiar smile which made her feel warm inside.
"I know." She said. "I'm just worried about things-like managing a house in this depression and all."
"I've told you Eliza you won't have to worry too much about that-nor money." He said. "Stop worrying and be happy. Don't you love me as much as I love you?"
Eliza smiled. "Yes Edward, I love you as much as you love me."
"Good, then let's get on this train and get out of here!" He declared, taking her hand in his.
"Let's." Eliza agreed.