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Coming Home to Mercy

By Michelle De Bruin

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Chicago
April, 1913
Margaret Millerson glanced away from the mountain of
buntings on the table and sought encouragement from
Julia. Bright, cheery Julia. She always had a positive word on her
tongue and a happy look about her eyes and mouth. If anyone
could assure Margaret she hadn’t taken on too much by
providing decorations for the Library’s Charity Ball, her younger
daughter could bolster her once again.
“You’ll finish in plenty of time, Mother. Look how far we’ve
gotten this morning.” Julia smiled, melting away a degree of
Margaret’s tension.
Margaret shifted her attention to the white rosettes piled on
the drawing room sofa taking shape under Bertha Reynold’s
skillful hands. The woman looked up and smiled at her friend.
“Yes.” Margaret couldn’t quite smother the note of hesitation
in her voice.
“And look at all those tablecloths Isabel hemmed.” Julia
gestured to another of Margaret’s close friends serving on the
committee.


Isabel paused her work with the needle and thread. “Only
five more left.”
“But the ball is tomorrow.” Margaret held her breath against
a sigh and looked at Julia.
“Which gives us the rest of today to finish, and tomorrow
morning to set up.” Julia picked up a candlestick and polished it.
“I haven’t heard from the florist. I need those flowers for
centerpieces.” The idea of hosting the grand event with no
flowers to provide the perfect touch of elegance stole her breath
away. “How will I know they will be ready in the morning if I
haven’t heard from them?”
“I’ll stop and check in there this afternoon. But, Mother,
don’t worry. Everything will be just beautiful.” Julia smiled again
and worked on another candlestick.
The sigh slipped out. Margaret smoothed her hair and
gathered a length of blue fabric into a swag. She must put her
energy into her work and not into fretting.
The grandfather clock ticked away the minutes. Sounds of
traffic in the street drifted through the open window on this
mild spring day. Clatters of pans and the general hum of a well
run household echoed from the back part of the house.
Margaret’s breathing returned to normal. Life would somehow
go on, even if her part of the charity event failed.
The telephone rang. Margaret glanced down the hall where
the wooden box hung near the kitchen door. To think of talking
into a wooden box. She was still trying to grow accustomed to
the new device her brother Henry had installed last winter. Most
calls were for him on the subject of some business matter or
another. Margaret returned her attention to the fabric in her
hand. This call was probably another one for Henry, and
someone would have to tell the caller that he wasn’t home.
Hurried footsteps grew closer. Ida, the housekeeper, stood in
the doorway. “It’s Logan.”
The announcement stilled Margaret’s movements. She
couldn’t think why her busy preacher son-in-law would call long

distance on a Monday morning and ask for her, unless he
delivered bad news. Surely nothing had happened to her
daughter or to that precious baby the whole family anticipated.
But Karen’s due date lay three weeks into the future. Logan
couldn’t possibly be calling about anything related to the baby.
Margaret roused from her concerns, laid the fabric down, and
hastened down the hall. “Hello?” she said into the receiver.
“Mother.” Logan’s warm voice held a hint of urgency.
“Yes, Logan. What’s the matter?” Margaret licked her lips
and glanced into the kitchen of the Millerson mansion.
Household staff ceased their work and watched her.
Logan chuckled. “Nothing is wrong. I have good news.”
Margaret’s eyes widened. “Really? What is it?”
“Karen has had her baby. It’s a boy!” Logan’s voice rang with
enthusiasm.
“What? Already?”
“He arrived on Thursday. Karen and I haven’t had a chance to
tell our families until today because the doctor has been keeping
a close eye on him. You remember Doctor Kaldenberg, don’t
you, Mother?”
Of course she remembered Matthew Kaldenberg, the
handsome and professional-looking man who shook her hand in
the receiving line at Logan’s and Karen’s wedding. Later that
evening, he’d engaged her in conversation at the reception. Few
days had gone by in the past year when she didn’t see him in her
thoughts.
Logan spoke again. “The doctor has been monitoring the
little guy because he hasn’t been eating enough. Dr. Kaldenberg
wants to make sure he’s gaining weight.”
“Is he? I can understand, with such a premature birth, why a
baby would be underweight.”
“The baby is making progress even though it’s slow. But
here’s the best part. He didn’t come alone. He brought a brother
with him.” More enthusiasm rang in Logan’s voice.
Margaret clutched her throat. “You mean”

“Twins!”
Margaret knew her soninlaw well enough to believe that if
he stood here with her delivering his news in person, a huge grin
would claim his face and he might even lift her up and spin her
around. She wanted to say something to let him know she shared
in his joy, but no words came. Attempting to absorb this
astounding news, she stood in silence staring at the wall.
“Mother? Are you still there? Hello?”
She must respond before Logan assumed a disconnection and
hung up. “Yyes, I’m still here. Your news surprised me. That’s
all.”
“Understandable. The arrival of two babies has surprised all
of us.” Logan chuckled again.
“But they are well? Both babies?”
“Healthy as can be.”
“And Karen?” Margaret’s voice trembled.
So did Logan’s. “Fine. Karen made it through the labor and
delivery just fine.”
“Oh, thank God.” The whispered words slipped from her
lips. She roused from her shock and turned practical. “What are
their names?”
“One baby is named John after my father. The other one is
named Simon after Karen’s.” Logan’s quiet voice brought tears to
her eyes.
Out there in the world lived a tiny infant with the name of
her late husband, a man whose right to respect was debatable.
Now he had a grandson bearing his name. And Karen had
chosen the name. Logan’s bit of news spoke volumes about the
healing that had taken place in her daughter’s heart.
“Listen, Mother.” Logan’s voice now held a serious tone.
“We’re having a special church service in two weeks to celebrate
the birth of John and Simon, and we’d really love for our families
to come to Oswell City for the occasion.” Logan paused. “In
fact, if you wanted to come a few days early, we’d appreciate it.
Karen has to spend time with the doctor when he comes for

examinations, and I need to be available at church during the
day, so another person around to help out will really come in
handy.”
“Oh! Why yes, of course.” Logan’s plea cleared her brain and
roused her to action. “You may plan on me Thursday afternoon.
I’ll leave Chicago as soon as I can that morning.”
“That’s great, Mother. Thanks so much. I’ll tell Karen. She’ll
be glad to know.” He told her “goodbye” and hung up.
Margaret stared at the silent box on the wall for a moment.
Theirs was a party line. Nothing that came through on that
telephone was private. The whole of Chicago would soon know
that she was a grandma twice over and that she’d be traveling the
end of this week. She’d better get busy spreading the word to her
family.
The kitchen staff no longer stood watching, but their
movements were quiet enough to allow them to easily overhear
the phone conversation. She smiled at them and raised her voice.
“Julia. Bring everyone to the kitchen please.”
Within minutes, the decoration committee crowded around
Margaret alongside the sta. A question hung in Julia’s eyes.
Margaret clasped her hands together and faced the group.

“Friends, I have an announcement. That phone call was my son-
inlaw, Logan. He called to say that Karen gave birth to twins last

Thursday. They are named John and Simon after their
grandfathers. I am leaving on Thursday to go be with them until
the following Sunday.”
The room erupted in cheers and congratulations, hugs and
well wishes. A quick and light lunch gave the group more time to
discuss the details Logan had shared over the phone. The
women settled in to more work on the decorations in the
afternoon while their conversation centered on Karen, Logan,
and their life in Oswell City.
At the evening meal, Margaret shared the table with her
brother and his wife. They’d been out of town on a trip for
Henry’s steel business and had arrived home late that

afternoon. She laid down her fork, took a deep breath, and
looked up.
“Henry. Fran. You’ll never believe the telephone call I
received today from Logan. He called to say that Karen gave
birth on Thursday to twin sons.”
Fran’s eyes widened and she paused in drinking tea, her cup
hovering in midair. “Twins. Oh my goodness. Is the poor girl all
right?”
“Logan said she pulled through just fine.” A smile spread
across Margaret’s face. The shock of the news had worn o and
now excitement took its place.
“Amazing news, Margaret. How are they? What are their
names?” Henry stopped cutting his meat and glanced at her.
“Logan says they are doing well, but one baby is underweight.
It sounds like the doctor is giving him extra attention. Their
names are John after Logan’s father and ... well, um, Simon after
Karen’s father.” Margaret gulped in some air. Henry had lost
respect for her husband after he’d committed the crime of
gambling with money that wasn’t his.
“Simon, eh?” Henry grimaced. Then he glanced at Fran and
shook his head. “Well, a little tyke could do a lot worse than that
for a name. He’ll be known to the world as Simon De Witt,
won’t he? I guess carrying on his grandfather’s heritage will make
up for the man’s mistakes.” Henry returned his attention to the
food on his plate.
Margaret’s next breath caught in her throat. Henry hadn’t
exactly pardoned her husband of his misdeeds, but her brother
had been willing to see the reconciliation taking place in their
family. Mention of baby Simon’s surname erased for Henry the
possibility that the new baby would be a replica of his corrupted
grandfather.
The smile claimed Margaret’s mouth once more. This
announcement of the births was such good news. Better than
she could have imagined.

“You’ll want to travel to see them. Did Logan invite you?”
Fran refilled her teacup.
“Yes, he did. I told him I would come on Thursday.”
“You’ll go as soon as the charity ball is over.” Fran sipped her
tea. “I’d love to see the babies too, and Karen as well. Her
wedding was so long ago. We should make another trip to Oswell
City.”
“Logan also invited you and Henry, as well as Julia and her
family, to come. They are having a special service to celebrate
the birth of the twins in two weeks. Logan and Karen want us all
there. His family from Silver Grove will probably come too.”
Margaret’s pulse sped up. How she’d love to see Logan’s mother,
Sandy, again.
“Oh, yes of course. We’ll go, won’t we, Henry?” Fran turned
to look at him.
“Karen has always been special to me. I wouldn’t miss it,”
Henry said, a moment before poking a bite of meat into his
mouth.
“I’m so glad. Thank you, Henry.” Margaret gave him a smile.
Henry nodded but kept his focus on his meal.
Margaret’s tense muscles relaxed. Henry’s opinions and
preferences ruled in this household. He valued many good
things, but if they should dier from Margaret’s priorities, he
knew she would not speak up or act out against him. Her
brother wasn’t a tyrant, but neither was he open to exploring
new ways of thinking.
The effort of convincing him to do so had never proven
worthwhile. He sulked or criticized until his world fell back into
its predictable and comfortable order. Margaret wished to avoid
unnecessary tension with her brother, but his quick acceptance
of Logan’s invitation smoothed her way and heightened her
excitement. She glanced at Fran and shared a smile with her.
Their plans were made. Henry and Fran would soon follow her
to the small town where Karen and those new grandsons lived.

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