Shopping
Meg had hoped Charlie might feel up to driving, but he had declined stating he still didn’t feel as coordinated as he would like in order to captain a motor coach. It ended up working in her favor anyway, however, since she was able to sit in the back with him, holding his hand, as the driver he introduced as Bix steered them along the streets of New York.
She had gone out once a few days earlier with Mrs. Ashton to a dress shop and lunch, though Grace had declined, so some of these buildings looked familiar. However, she truly had no idea if this was the same way they had come or not. She’d been so concerned with leaving a good impression on her soon-to-be mother-in-law, she’d not been paying as much attention as she’d have liked. Now, the top was down on the automobile, and she was able to peer up at buildings that seemed to touch the sky, wondering in awe, and thankful for a multitude of hatpins.
“The toy store is just up this way,” Charlie explained, leaning in to her ear so that she could hear him above the wind. “Shall we go in or send Bix?”
“I think we should go in,” Meg replied, shouting back. “Ruth will want to know you chose her present yourself.”
He nodded, but the coloring in his face gave away his concern. She knew he wasn’t feeling well today, and whether it was still recovery from the ordeal or a lack of sleep, clearly he was concerned at being seen in public less than himself. “I don’t think it will take long,” Meg assured him, tightening her grip on his hand. “I know our girl well enough to find a doll she’ll like quickly.”
Again, he only nodded, and she supposed he simply didn’t want to yell over the wind. She was thinking perhaps Bix should put the top up while they were in the shop.
There were crowds of people walking by on either side of the street, men and women of all ages. Meg had never seen anything like it, particularly in the middle of a week day. She wondered where they were all going. Newspaper boys stood on the corner, and when they slowed at an intersection, she glimpsed the headlines, still focused on Titanic. She looked away.
Eventually, they passed the little café where she and Mrs. Ashton had eaten. She recognized the sign in the window, which was written in French. They’d laughed about the translation. Mrs. Ashton had been quite pleasant, and Meg was relieved to know she’d finally have a proper mother figure in her life, as long as she didn’t find a way to alienate her between now and the wedding. Mrs. Ashton hinted time and again that, while she trusted Meg to stay in the apartment, proper ladies knew how to conduct themselves.
Meg’s eyes shifted to Charlie. To her surprise, his eyes were fixed on her face. She assumed he’d be gawking out the window like she was, but then this scene must be ordinary to him. She smiled, wondering why he was staring at her, but she didn’t attempt to ask over the wind. Thoughts of their discussion the night before made her cheeks rosy. He’d assured her he meant to try her theory this morning when he’d come to her door and kissed her in front of Jonathan and Carrie.
They came to a stop just in front of a shop with bright red, yellow, and blue signage, carved toys protruding from the large overhang. “Dudley’s Toy Chest,” Meg read aloud. “This looks like just the sort of place Ruth could literally get lost in.”
Charlie chuckled. “Ruth could get lost anywhere. We will bring her here one day, when things calm down.”
She knew he meant when he felt up to driving and chasing around a little girl with too much energy. She nodded and patted his leg as she heard Bix opening her door.
He was a short man of about fifty or so, she thought, with spectacles and kind eyes. He smiled as he held the door for her, giving a little bow. “Thank you, Bix,” Meg said as she stepped from the motor coach.
Charlie followed, and she waited to see if he preferred to take her arm, which he did. She’d noticed he seemed to have trouble with transitions from one type of surface to another, one height to the next, and he’d need to step out and onto the curb. To others, it would appear that she was simply waiting to take his arm so that he could lead her inside, but the smile of appreciation he flashed at her was not missed. “Bix, while we are inside, would you mind putting the top up?”
“Yes, sir,” he replied, closing the door as the couple stepped onto the sidewalk.
“I’d thought you’d like the view of the city, but it’s so damn loud I can’t even hear you,” he explained into Meg’s ear.
The feel of his breath on her neck sent tingles down her spine, and she only managed to smile a response, fighting the urge to embarrass both of them by lunging at him right there on the sidewalk.
Charlie held the door open for her, and Meg gasped as she entered. There were dolls and toys of every variety imaginable lining shelf after shelf, some even hanging from the high ceiling, like zeppelins and other aircraft. She’d known from the outside that this place would be heaven to her little niece, but she had no idea the wonders that lay inside.
“It’s a bit overwhelming, isn’t it?” Charlie asked, leading her toward the doll section. “I came here once to get a present for the daughter of one of our foremen. It took me hours to decide what to get her, there’s so much to choose from.”
Meg nodded. “Luckily, I already see exactly what you should get for Ruth.” She began to walk toward a doll with blonde ringlets and a lavender dress that nearly matched the shade Meg happened to be wearing. The doll had bright blue eyes and plenty of frilly lace and bows on her gown. “This doll looks very much like Dolly did before she lost her sight.”
“Really?” Charlie asked, taking the doll from the shelf. “And you think she’d want one just like the one she has—only with eyes.”
“And a full head of hair. And a beautiful dress. Yes, I suppose she will.”
“Should we get this new doll some gowns to change into?” Charlie asked, looking at the array of dresses hanging nearby.
“That is a splendid idea,” Meg agreed. She picked out a few gowns and accessories for the new doll, thinking Ruth would still want to play with her old doll as well. Both of them could wear the new clothes.
“What about Lizzie?” Charlie asked, looking around at some of the other toys available.
A stuffed bear caught Meg’s attention. “She would likely chew on it, but the eyes seem tight. What do you think?”
“I think I wish you’d been with me the last time I was in here,” Charlie replied. “Perhaps they wouldn’t have found me curled up in the corner crying.”
Meg laughed aloud at the thought, assuming he was just joking, especially when he raised his eyebrows at her playfully. They began to walk over to the cash register to pay for their gifts, and Meg remembered her other doll, Lilac, and thought of her father. “After Da passed away, I don’t think I ever received another toy of any sort.”
He looked at her with arched eyebrows. “Really? You were only six.”
“I know. My mother thought toys and playing were a waste of time.”
Charlie greeted the shopkeeper before he turned back to Meg. “I’m sorry, Meg. If it’s any consolation, I was thinking of you, even then.”
Meg couldn’t help but smile at the thought of a little Charlie all the way across the ocean wondering what she was like. If he’d known the truth, he might not have been so excited to meet her. Nevertheless, it was evidence of his kind heart. “Thank you,” she said quietly, placing her hand on his back as he paid for their purchases and the shopkeeper wrapped them up in bright colored paper so that Ruth could be surprised. They didn’t bother to have the bear wrapped since Lizzie wouldn’t be able to tear the paper anyway, and Meg scooped it up and held it in her arms as they waited. She would’ve loved to have had a bear like this one. Someday, she’d have her own baby and spoil him or her with all the bears and dolls or balls in the world.
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