A/N: Thank you for your patience, everyone, and especially for those of you who've expressed your interest in the continuation of this story. Your reviews mean so much to me!
I've plotted out the rest of the story, and there's much to look forward to! For now, Ada was in need of an ally.
And here's a fun fact to accompany this chapter in case, like me, the term "Normal School" sounds funny to you: "A normal school or normal college is an institution created to train teachers by educating them in the norms of curriculum."
The more you know : )
"See the one that looks like spaetzle? That's called a sea anemone." Ada explained, her chin resting atop Evelyn's head as they crouched together by the edge of the tidepool. "Professor Aims?" she called. "Are the anemone's safe to touch?"
He turned, his hands clasped behind his back. "They won't sting. But be sure the child is gentle. She can pet them, but only the tops."
"Understood, thank you." Lowering her voice again Ada asked. "Do you want to try, Evie?"
Evelyn bit her lip but nodded, shuffling closer as she cautiously moved her hand toward the water. She stopped, however, seemed to reconsider and quickly pulled her hand away, burying her face in Ada's chest.
This had been Evelyn's pattern all afternoon: hesitation, curiosity, a touch of bravery and then nervous retreat. But the fear never lasted, and soon her innate sense of wonder would draw her back, beckoning her closer and closer to the creatures in their briny beds. Despite vocalizing her discomfort at times, Evelyn had yet to cry and for that, Ada was very impressed. If it had been up to her, she wouldn't have suggested a trip to the sea quite this soon, especially when the sight of a bath or a swimming pool still stopped the little survivor in her tracks and had her running in the opposite direction. Still, she'd insisted she wanted to join her cousins at the beach when they arrived, and though she'd burst into tears as soon as the ocean came into view, Evelyn had recovered surprisingly well. With the safety of the boardwalk a foot or two away, she managed to stick it out, quickly getting caught up in the fun of the day.
Today's activity was a crash course in bravery, and in Ada's eyes, Evelyn was passing with flying colors. The tide pool they sat by now wasn't at the water's edge, but it wasn't far from it either, close enough to feel the spray when particularly large waves collided nearby. Ada wondered if walking over with the crowd of naturalists had helped serve as a curious distraction. Compared to the orderly adults Evelyn was accustomed to, this group was eclectic and colorful and had a lot to say. Evelyn seemed to enjoy their eccentricities, and Ada did too. She missed being around intellectuals who voiced every question and debated every response.
Shifting her weight against the fussy four-year-old, Ada wrapped one arm around her and reached for the water with her other. "Here, I'll go first." Ada's voice was calm, settling into a natural, nurturing tone. Evelyn peeked as the governess' fingers dipped into the water, tentatively touching the anemone and stroking its sticky limbs. When Ada chuckled, she drew the child's full attention, turning forward to get a closer look.
"What is it? What's funny?" She chirped.
"It's sticky, like it's holding my finger." Ada explained, amused laughter in her voice. "It's very gentle, Evie, you should try it."
It took the girl a few more times of reaching and second guessing but, to Ada's delight, she eventually put her hand in the water and, very delicately, waved her fingers through the anemone's swaying comb. She shrieked at first when she felt the tiny cling, but it was a sound equally made of shock and wonder. Giggles bubbled up within her and tumbled merrily around them, mixing with the splashing of her hand that sent little ripples against the rocks.
"Well done, Evie!" Ada praised. "Careful not to splash too much, you might scare them."
Her first foray into tide pool exploration soon inspired another as Evelyn, fueled with affirmation, hopped up from her governess' protective embrace and scampered to the other side of the pool, crouching to point out a cluster of barnacles with a thousand questions about what they were and why they looked like that.
"It's good to see youngsters so curious." said a sturdy voice behind them. "Most parents don't think to bring their children along, that is if they even decide to attend themselves. I'm glad you joined us."
Ada rose, meeting the confident gaze of a middle-aged woman adorned in kaki, her wide brimmed hat cutting a strong line of shadow across her face. The woman carried a walking stick and wore a satchel that looked worldly and well-loved.
"I'm Maggy Lewis." She said with a wide grin. "Vice President of the Long Branch Naturalist Society."
"Hello Mrs. Lewis, I'm Ada Kruger and this is my ward Miss Evelyn Hockley." Ada was instantly drawn to the other woman's grit as she accepted her firm handshake.
"Pleasure to meet you, Ada. And Maggy will do just fine. I haven't seen you two before. What inspired you to come out this fine day?"
"I attended Professor Aims' lecture last night."
"Bless you, child, and the coma didn't dissuade you?" Maggy's face was etched in a good-humored amusement that Ada couldn't help but share.
Smiling, she looked around cautiously and lowered her voice. "His presentation skills left much to be desired, but the walk sounded like an ideal outing for Evelyn. So, here we are."
"Well done. Children should be immersed in nature. It's crucial to develop a connection with our wild world when they're young. That way they can grow to care for it when they're older."
Ada's gaze naturally went to Evelyn, watching as she disregarded the daintiness of her dress to lay on her stomach, perched on the edge of the tidepool and smiling at the creatures within. "Your children must have had a wonderful childhood, getting to live that philosophy." Ada mused.
"We did what we could, and time will tell if they come back to it. But for now, society has them. My Julia set out to marry a banker -of all things- and both of our sons are now tradesmen. It's honest work, mind you, but I'd always hoped at least one of them would follow me into the sciences."
Ada turned to face her, shielding her eyes from the sun. "You're a scientist?"
Maggy squared her shoulders proudly, "Have been since birth. In an official capacity, I also teach biology at the Newark Normal School."
"This must be fate, Maggy," Ada said with a sense of wonder. "I'm an academic myself. Until very recently, I worked as a professor's assistant to my father at the University in Pittsburg."
The older woman gave her an appraising glance. "There's no fate about it, my dear. Like-minded people are drawn together, it's a fact of life." She smiled confidently. "Come! Tell me about your area of study."
As the group progressed further down the shoreline, Ada and Maggy talked at length about Professor Kruger, their research in Pittsburg, Maggy's lifelong dedication to science and education and the work she and her husband had done to elevate the Newark school to a higher caliber institution. Thinking back on the concerns Ada expressed to her father -about the difficulty of securing a professor position- now seemed silly in the wake of Maggy's accomplishments. Here was a woman who created a space for herself by pursuing what she loved. The journey hadn't been easy, she said, but well worth the effort.
"Where there is an interest to learn or a desire to educate, opportunities present themselves." Maggy said confidently. "Do you think you'll go back to it someday? Higher education, I mean."
"Perhaps…I would love to lead a lecture series aimed specifically for women historians but…well, that isn't likely any time soon."
"When the time is right, you'll know. And when you're ready to pursue it, write to me. I have some connections in Pittsburg that might be able to help."
"Truly? Maggy, that would mean the world to me."
"When I say something, I mean it. Here." And she pulled a journal from her satchel, scrawling her address on a page. Tearing it out and handing it to Ada, she commanded her attention with firm stare. "I've worked hard to earn my position, so that the women who come after me have an easier go of it. It's your decision, of course, but I sincerely hope you'll try."
Ada squeezed her hand as she accepted the paper, "With that encouragement, how could I not?"
Maggy grinned, deepening the wrinkles on her face. "Good. Just think of Miss Evelyn in that hall, you'll find the inspiration you need."
Ada sought out the child in question, spotting her seated between an older couple who were patiently showing her a sand dollar. The gentleman shook it gently near her ear, making Evelyn smile to hear the rattle within. Affection bloomed inside Ada's chest with a fondness dearer than it should have been. One emotion nudged another, and like toppling dominoes Ada thought of her love for the girl and her affection for the father and this new turmoil of uncertainty surrounding them all. That need for guidance called to her again, inspiring Ada to take a chance with her new companion.
"Maggy, I wonder if I may be so bold as to write you about other matters as well. If you wouldn't mind the correspondence, I'd like very much to get to know you better."
"I would be delighted, child! By all means, you must."
"Thank you." Ada said with relief. "I'll start as soon as we're home."
With the walk concluded, the party returned to the dock house. Evelyn was covered in sand and her nose and cheeks bore the rosy hue of too much sun, but she seemed elated. Where the road met the boardwalk, a car was waiting. Leaning against the Packard, one foot braced against the pristine white tire, Mr. Hockley caught Ada's eye. He'd been chatting with the driver awaiting their return. As she did every time she saw him, Evelyn broke into a run, jumping into her papa's open arms. Watching the pair of them enveloped in their happiness, a tightness took hold in Ada's chest as she slowly approached.
I am just a spectator to their beauty, she reminded herself.
Mr. Hockley set Evelyn down, watched her jump into the front passenger seat and then turned to greet Ada. He politely tipped the brim of his hat and, opening the door for her, offered her his hand.
…Just a spectator….