Chapter Thirty-Nine

It was two days after the meeting with Heath, as Sharon walked over to Reverend Peterson's house. She had some soda bread to bring as a thank you to him and his wife. They had opened the church's social hall for the reception after Mother Flynn's funeral. Sharon had already written a thank you note to each member of the Altar Guild, for all the food they had provided.

"Hello Sharon, how nice to see you." Caroline Peterson opened the door and smiled brightly.

"I wanted to bring some soda bread, as a thank you for all the help you and the Reverend provided." She handed over the basket, which had the bread wrapped in a tea towel inside. "I was also hoping I could speak to the Reverend." It was Saturday afternoon, so Sharon hoped he would not be too busy with his sermon.

She was Catholic, but Sharon had never had good experiences with any priest, other than Padre Juan, out at the mission. She was a little nervous about talking to the Reverend, but she knew that if she took Heath's offer, it would be appreciated if she went to church services with the family.

"He will be glad to see you. I think his sermon is giving him fits." Caroline laughed, and then said, "Why don't you sit in the parlor and I will go see if he is available." She escorted Sharon into the formal parlor, and then went to the study.

Caroline came back several minutes later and said that the Reverend would be glad to see her. Sharon followed the woman to the study; the door was open, and the Reverend greeted her warmly. Caroline left, shutting the door behind her, and Sharon was led to a small sofa. They exchanged small talk, and then Sharon came to the matter that had brought her here.

"Reverend, if you had a parishioner who came to you, and said that her husband was out drinking and gambling every night – with money they didn't have – and when he came home he would beat her" Sharon forced her voice to stay steady, even as she tightly clasped her hands in her lap. "Would you tell her that it was her fault, and if she was a better wife, he would not be acting like that?"

"I myself would not say that" the Reverend paused, and Sharon could tell he was weighing his words. His response made her feel justified in talking to him; everything she had seen and heard about the man had been good.

"However, there are many clergy men – from the Protestant faith, as well as Catholic and Jewish who would have made that statement." He looked her directly in the eye as he spoke. "Both civil and religious laws give a husband dominion over his wife." Reverend Peterson said in a resigned tone, which Sharon picked up on.

"You don't agree with that? Men are the authority in the household." Sharon worked hard to keep the contempt out of her voice. In truth, the only reason she had had money to feed her children during her marriage was because of her efforts. Paul cared nothing other than about drinking and gambling.

"God himself said that man and woman are to come together to form a new unity. Each one brings special gifts to the union, and when those gifts are honored marriage is a blessing – and a sacrament." Reverend Peterson smiled, and Sharon was sure that his marriage to Caroline was just that. It made her feel sad that she would never have a man feel that way about her.

"So how would you have handled the parishioner with the situation I spoke about?" Sharon came back to her original statement, pushing aside her sadness.

"I would tread very carefully. These situations, when a third party is introduced into the relationship, it can cause more harm." The Reverend counselled "I would weigh if the husband were an active parishioner, and if there were children involved. That would complicate the issue because as the law stands now children are the property of the husband." He stopped and regarded her with interest.

"You seem to know a great deal about the legal side of things." She observed after he finished talking.

"Well after I graduated from college, I was going to be a lawyer, to help people that were defenseless. I spent a year in law school and realized that studying law was the most boring thing I had ever done." He chuckled, going on "I don't tell lawyers that comment, as you can imagine." His eyes were twinkling, and Sharon liked that he did not take himself too seriously. Even the Anglican priests she had known in Ireland were serious, dour, and usually pompous men.

"What happened?" She asked with interest.

"Just as I was recognizing my dislike for law school, the Civil War broke out; are you familiar with it?" Reverend Peterson asked, and Sharon nodded her head.

"Since I have been in America I have heard and read a great deal about the war. It sounded like it was awful, but slavery is even worse." She had read Uncle Tom's cabin and been horrified at what the book portrayed. Even the English landlords in Ireland had not been that bad.

"I enlisted right away, partially to get out of law school, and because I feel the same way you do about slavery. Over the next four years I saw so much misery, pain and death." He sighed and Sharon was sure he was reliving those days. "In the last year of the war we had a Chaplin with our regiment, who I became good friends with. The upshot was that I realized that I could help people just as much by being a clergyman, as a lawyer."

"Sharon, as far as the woman who is being abused, she is certainly welcome to talk to myself, or Caroline. We have seen these types of situations before, and sometimes talking to another woman is easier." The Reverend brought the subject back to where the conversation had started.

"Actually, it was something I'd seen, a while ago." She temporized, not wanting to tell him the truth. "Would my children and I be welcome at your church?" Sharon asked in a serious voice.

"We welcome everyone, no matter their background or creed. There are people who prefer our more moderate outlook to the faith they grew up in." He waved his hand in the air. "I was under the impression that you were Catholic?"

"I, and my children are however we don't go to mass here in town. When I – and the other Irish settlers first arrived in the valley we had an unpleasant experience with the Monseigneur." Sharon left it at that, but saw the Reverend get a knowing look in his eyes. It made her wonder who else, besides the Irish, the Monseigneur did not like.

"We are good friends with Padre Juan and would sometimes go to Mass at the mission. Mostly though we would say the rosary at home on Sunday mornings, since the mission was out of town. I think it will be good for my family to start attending Sunday services. Are children welcome?" She knew that Priscilla's children stayed home but did not have the details as to why.

"We have a Sunday school, for children five years and older; we do have a few four-year-old siblings just so you know." Reverend Peterson explained. "Before I start my sermon Deacon Paul – who is my assistant – takes the children to the social hall. He does an amazing job of taking the readings and translating them to the children's level – it involves a great deal of art."

"Art? Religion and Art?" Sharon was intrigued because she had been educated due to her lady. She and Lady Emily had spent lots of time in churches and museums when they would go to Dublin. Sharon had been awestruck at the stained glass, frescos, and paintings that she had seen. She had had access to the castle library and made it a point to read as much as she could.

"Paul graduated with divinity and art history degrees from Brown University, in Rhode Island. He spent two years in England, studying art, before he came back to America. His reasoning was that he wants to use his art background to spread the Lord's word." Reverend Peterson explained with a smile.

"He sounds talented. Is he in Stockton for long?" Sharon could see how her children, especially Tara, whose two main interests were horses and art, would enjoy the Sunday school. On the other hand, Deacon Paul sounded like he came from a grand background and Stockton was probably a steppingstone for him.

"At least for another year, while he learns about local parishes. He is in fact, outside of his learning, a very religious young man. It is one of the reasons why he is out here in California, and not on the east coast." The man stated firmly. "Paul is from a very old family, and I will leave it at that. He truly has a heart that knows the Lord and that is what is important to him."

"So, yet another person who is here for a new start? Or a different perspective?" Sharon laughed knowingly. Her time spent managing the café had exposed her to so many people from different walks of life. She did not judge, knowing what it was like to want something more in your life.

"Exactly Sharon! Paul wants to make his own way, in his own time. He has a vision for what his ministry will be when the time comes." The Reverend stated, and she nodded her head.

"I would like to change the subject, if that is all right?" The man asked, and Sharon nodded her head to continue. "Pastor Jackson – do you know him – from the church the Negroes attend?" Reverend Peterson shifted his legs; he was sitting in an armchair across from her.

"Yes, I have heard of him, but have not had the pleasure of meeting him. I have heard that he is very protective of his congregation." Sharon replied, thinking of Henry the main cook at the Café. His wife Bettina filled in when she was not busy with the grandchildren.

When Sharon had been in Ireland, she had come across a few Indian servants, but until she came to America, she had not met Negros. So far, the Negroes she had met were the hardest working and most up right people. She had always wanted to talk to Henry, and Bettina, about the book she had read Uncle Tom's Cabin, but she had never been able to figure out a way to bring it up.

"I hope you won't think I am speaking out of turn, but I have been given to understand that you might be looking for some household help" the Reverend paused. "Mother Flynn was a great support to you, and I know how wonderful it is for children to have grandparents involved in their upbringing."

At first Sharon was put off at his statement and wondered if someone had said something. However, his comment about Mother Flynn made her realize that he understood about her situation. She stated that the woman was like a mother to her, and she prayed for her every night.

"Pastor Jackson has a parishioner who is looking for a live-in situation. She and her husband came west, after the war. He found work as a Pullman porter, and she worked at Riverside Hotel." Reverend Peterson tilted his head and smiled kindly. "Her husband fell ill two years ago, and his wife has spent the time nursing him. At the end, when he died, she was left with nothing. She is living in a rooming house, and very bereft without her husband."

"I was going to talk to Elspeth about someone, since my house has a room in the back for a maid. However, while I can provide room and board, I cannot pay a high wage. I run a very frugal household." Sharon felt no embarrassment about telling Reverend Peterson that. She was sure that he would understand what she way saying.

"I think the woman in question would be a good fit, and I am sure that she ran a frugal household too, especially during her husband's illness." The Reverend nodded his head.

"How does she feel about children? Especially young ones?" Sharon knew that she did not need a nursemaid, but not all people were good with children.

"When Pastor Jackson mentioned her to me, I inquired about that, since I thought of you right away. He told me that Violet, that is her name, helps out with the children at their church." Reverend Peterson's smile was broad "I think we can assume she has some experience."

Sharon was touched that the man had thought about her needs, even as she was not a member of his congregation – yet. She was so used to taking care of everything herself, but since Mother Flynn's death she had realized she needed help. It was still hard for her to accept, but Sharon knew it was only being offered out of friendship, not pity.

"Why don't you have her come over tomorrow afternoon? After three o'clock?" Sharon stood up, not wanting to take more of his time. "My children and I will be home." They said their goodbyes, and Sharon walked home happily. Her situation was looking better, but there was still the question of Heath.