Chapter 40 Helen

Chapter 40

Helen

The week had been full of firsts. Helen attended her first board meeting with her father and John. She joined her mother at her first ladies’ tea at Marshall Field & Company with other “out” young women and their mothers. She also went to a suffragist meeting with Olivia and Hetty. Helen was busier than ever, no longer sneaking into the garage in her brother’s hand-me-down overalls. Ruby had gifted her with a pair of her own for her birthday, with several pockets and snaps, designed by Ruby and crafted by her business partner, Mrs.Jennings. Her gown had been something, but this garment was truly a treasure.

The biggest first of all, though, was her official courtship with Jacob Lawrence. The pair rode through Jackson Park on horses from her father’s extensive stable. Ahead, Olivia and Mr.Stone served as chaperones, riding side by side and pretending not to see Helen’s and Jacob’s playful touches and bouts of extended eye contact.

“I bet,” said Jacob, leaning toward her, “I can make it to the next beach, where your brother and Amy-Rose have set up the picnic, before you can.”

She propped her elbow on the pommel. She had chosen the faster of the two horses. Not that she had planned to challenge Jacob to a race. She had only hoped. Her sister had stopped to water her own horse and would not notice their game until it was too late to stop them. Helen surveyed the clusters of people dotting the park. “On three?” she asked.

Jacob grinned. Tightened his hands on the reins and lowered himself. She laughed, yelled, “Three!” and took off at a gallop, leaving him gawking behind her. The air rushed past her ears. Her horse, a younger sibling to Olivia’s chestnut mare, carried her across the lawns of the park, past the meat vendors and couples strolling on the bright summer day. Her heart pounded, and another laugh escaped when she spotted Jacob Lawrence struggling to close the gap over her shoulder. At the first hint of sand on the next beach, she pulled sharply on the reins. She felt breathless and triumphant. She had everything she wanted, and then some.