A Vindication Of Miss Everlee

Chapter 15

When Midge came down one morning, as the rain was fluttering down in a grey whirl, she heard the pianoforte. Assuming Daniel was practicing, she stepped towards the receiving room with the intention of congratulating him on his progression. However, as she stepped towards the room, she saw that Daniel was not alone. Sitting by him on the piano stool and turning the music sheet pages was Mr Walden, his large frame perched on the edge of the stool and towering a shadow over Daniel.

When Daniel made a mistake and stopped playing, he said, "Do go on- you're sounding splendid. We must show your playing off to your mother this evening. She will be so pleased at you learning this skill,"

And before they went to the lower rooms, she did clap him and say how good he was, though Midge suspected she was more pleased with his display of confidence rather than his musical accomplishment. Either way, Daniel was glowing in recognition. He flung his arms around Midge with a large smile. "Well done!" she whispered.

She wanted to thank Mr Walden as well. It was absurd; he was just behaving as any parent should. However, Midge had known him to be distant and weak over petty indulgences, obstructing his relationship with Daniel. Few rich people did have a relationship with their children, but that didn't mean it was right. It was one of the very few drawbacks of being raised in privilege (though Midge certainly knew anyone in their right mind would accept that disadvantage).

She wondered how her parents would have raised her, how different she would be, whether her flaws would be less impactful, completely different or a thousands times worse. She would most likely have a better relationship with Simon as they wouldn't have been pushed together so often. However, had they lived she would never have been brought to the Waldens, where she had been given more opportunities, where she had formed such an affection for sweet Daniel who needed attention so much.

Yet there he was! Receiving love from his father, and indeed, also from Gideon who was always so kind to him. They had become quite good friends, actually, and Daniel was all the better for creating another connection. If Ruth knew, she would be so smug for once again her philosophy on connecting would be proven right.

And so the summer went by, with Daniel flourishing in his relationships and Midge growing more at peace with every moment. She had never felt more at ease with her situation and with herself. Even with the growing anxiety over the summer ending she was relaxed in herself.

Her letters home were rushed as she wrote in such joyous excitement as she tried to blurt out everything she was feeling at once. Ruth could hardly understand them, despite the fact that Midge was normally so articulate.

"I do believe Midge is in love," said Ruth to Simon over breakfast one morning as she read the latest letter out loud.

"Good. Perhaps it shall calm her down," he responded without looking up from the book he had propped on his lap.

"Simon, don't speak of love in such unromantic terms. Love shouldn't change you," she told him. "Now, listen to this: 'and Reb Milevetz made Daniel laugh until he almost collapsed. I do declare he is the best of men; I have never met someone so agreeable, decent and witty without any sense of conceit within his character.' There. He must be the man she dreamt about,"

"At least he is a Jew. I was always convinced she would marry a gentile," Simon said.

"That wouldn't matter at all if she wouldn't be expected to convert, though I am pleased she is engaged to Reb Milevetz. He seemed like such a lovely man,"

"Engaged? She is engaged now?"

"Well, she must be if she is in love," said Ruth. After a moment of silence, she thought out loud, "I do hope it's a long engagement though. She's too immature to marry," which were Midge's sentiments as well, so she enjoyed the sunlit days while she could.