Sharing Corrie

Chapter Ten

 Corrie suppressed a grin at Mr. Fletcher's obvious captivation and Hannah's frank surprise. "Hannah, this is Mr. Fletcher, a friend of the family's. Mr. Fletcher, this is Miss Hannah Benjamin. She's the doctor's sister and is taking charge of the Irvington Times during the War."

Hannah offered a clumsy curtsey as she tried to brush her long dark curls away from her face, no doubt surprised that they had been accompanied by a young man in the waning hours of evening.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Fletcher," she said without her typical bravado.

"You as well. I'm sorry to intrude on you at this hour; I was escorting the Miss Walkers home," Titus said, offering Hannah a smile.

His smile was handsome, Corrie observed. Though his features weren't particularly attractive, the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes displayed his good nature and his eyes had a kind light to them.

"It's so kind of you to escort them home," Hannah exclaimed, her timidity fading rapidly. "I hope the dinner went alright?"

Corrie laughed. "As well as can be expected with my parents involved. But I should head home. Mr. Fletcher, thank you for escorting us."

After depositing Christina safely in her room, Corrie was happy to hear continued conversation between Mr. Fletcher and Hannah as she walked away. When she got home, however, she came face to face with her father, face red and bald head sweating bullets.

"Cornelia, what in tarnation was the meaning of your behavior this evening?" Oliver raged. "You behaved like a common floozy, throwing yourself at Mr. Fletcher!"

"Me?" Corrie was astounded at his accusation. "I was merely trying to deflect conversation from Christina since she was so obviously tricked into sitting next to the young man."

"Yes, you! You have a suitor back in New York, in case you've forgotten," Oliver yelled, his voice echoing through the twilight like the ringing of a bell. "And your sister has nothing! No beau, no job, no future. She needs a man if she wants any comfort or stability in life."

Though not normally given to fits of rage, Corrie struggled to control her indignation and keep her voice level. "Christina does not need a man. She's recovering from a terrible illness, she has a beau who's defending our country, and she has a future. I can't believe you would do this to her. I can't believe you think so little of her."

Corrie squared her shoulders and brushed past him though the bravery inspired by her defense of her sister faded rapidly. Rather, Corrie was left with the sad knowledge that a woman without a man was seen as something lesser, something incomplete, yet she felt complete, she was complete. How would anyone know that, however, if she kept her words locked up inside?

~~~~~

When Corrie arrived at the doctor's office the next morning, it was bustling with frenetic energy as Hannah rushed back and forth through the hospital. Corrie was surprised to see Titus Fletcher there though it was still early in the morning. He followed Hannah's determined figure like an abandoned puppy and Corrie nearly laughed aloud at the sight.

"Oh, Corrie, I have great news!" Hannah declared as soon as Corrie walked in, greeting her with a glowing face. "I received a telegram from Alex this morning. He's due back today!"

"That's wonderful," Corrie responded, anxious to hear the doctor's prognosis on Christina's recovery. "When will he arrive?"

"He's due back on the afternoon train," Hannah explained, whirling in another direction to gather a few loose papers from the desk. "I'm afraid I have so much to prepare."