The Dressmaker's Son (15 page)

CHAPTER 29

Catherine watched
Misha as he undressed for bed.  He had hardly said anything since he had gotten
home, well after she and Mishka had dinner. She had already put the boy to
sleep.   Her husband had not been home at all the night before, although her
father had told Catherine that he was back in Petrograd. When she had asked Misha
what was wrong he said, “Let me be for a bit, Catherine.  We will talk later.”  Then
he started toward Mishka’s room.

“Mishka is
sleeping, Misha.”

“I know. I just
want to look at him. It’s been over nine months since I’ve seen him.”

Catherine had
never seen this side of him before.

Misha opened the
door to his son’s room slowly so as not to wake him, but Mishka was sitting up
in his bed quietly reading a book.

Mishka looked up and
the color drained from his face. “Don’t be mad, Father.  I couldn’t sleep so I
am reading my books.  I didn’t get out of bed. The books were on my nightstand.”

Misha never
realized before how intimidating he must be to this small child, especially in
his uniform.  He felt a pang of sadness that his son was afraid of him.  He sat
down on Mishka’s bed.

“I’m not mad,
little one.  Reading is good for you.  It makes you smarter.”

The color gradually
came back into Mishka’s face.  Misha leaned over and gave him a hug.  “Don’t be
afraid of your father, Mishka.  I love you.”

Mishka leaned back
and looked Misha in the eyes. “I’m glad, Father.  I am going to love you too,
soon.”

“How wise this
child is,” Misha thought.  “He already knows what love is, probably from his
mother.  In all his innocence, he knows he doesn’t yet feel it for me.”

“I hope so, Mishka.
 Now maybe you should try to sleep.”  He winked at him.  “This will be our
little secret.  Mother doesn’t need to know you were reading.”

“Thank you, father.
 I like secrets.”  He put the book on the nightstand and lay back on his pillow.

Instinctively
Misha pulled up the covers to Mishka’s chin and tucked them in around him.

“My other mama
used to tuck me in like this, Father.”

Misha bent down
and kissed the top of his head. “Good night, Mishka,” he said.

When he returned
to his bedroom, Catherine was still at her dressing table brushing her hair.  She
knew better than to try to push Misha.  He would talk when he was ready.  He
was only home for a brief stay before he would have to go back to the front.

After a while
Misha came over to Catherine and took her brush.  He started brushing her hair. 
“This war is such a mistake, Catherine,” he started.  “We have lost so many
men, hundreds of thousands already.  And for what?  Because Serbia wouldn’t
apologize for the assassination of Duke Ferdinand and his wife?  Not really.  It’s
all about keeping our allies and perhaps gaining more land for the empire.  It
is stupid, and it will ruin the empire.  In August the czar took command of the
Russian military himself, and Empress Alexandra is letting Rasputin fill her
head with nonsense.  And no one is paying attention to what is happening in
Petrograd.”

“I am tired of
going to war and watching our young boys slaughtered senselessly.  It is
already two years since we were crushed in Tannenberg.  We had a victory in
Lemberg and then it was recaptured from us.  Now here it is September, and
before I left Romania, we had made no progress on the front in ten weeks. If I
didn’t have to, I wouldn’t go back.”

Catherine shook
her head. “Don’t ever talk like that in front of my father, Misha.  He will
think you are a traitor.”

“I don’t think I
care, Catherine.  If it were up to me now, I would take you and Mishka and go
far into the country.  Or even to another country.”

“I can’t believe
you would say a thing like that, Misha. Your future is with the czar. How can
you talk like that?”

“Because the czar
believes that this war will unify our people, but it won’t.  The workers,
peasants, and even the soldiers are in support of ending the war. Thousands are
being arrested. There is more unrest in Petrograd than ever before. And food
shortages are causing violence in the streets.  Laborers are almost starving.”

“Will we be safe
here in Petrograd, Misha?’

“From the enemy?  I
believe so unless we fail miserably and they march here.  It will be hard for
me to get news to you, but watch the papers.  They will publish news of how the
war is going.  And, of course, your father in his position will have all the
latest news.”

Catherine stood up.
 “I’m scared, Misha,” she said.

“I know, Catherine.
In a way, so am I; but you must be brave for Mishka.   He will need you.  The
fighting season is at a lull now.  Maybe if we meet success in the next battle,
perhaps we can stay united.  Hopefully things will go well and we will have a
swift victory.”  But as he said it, he knew no war was swift.  He was smart
enough to know that what lay ahead was the devastation of war and a mystery
only time would divulge.

CHAPTER 30

Although Rebekah had
been following the war in America, she wasn’t prepared for how bad it was in
Petrograd.  Luckily, the clientele that dealt with Volonsky’s was still
purchasing clothing,  and she felt pretty sure that if they let anyone go, her
position was not in danger—not just because Sarah was her friend, but because
she knew she did the best work in the department.

She kept up with
the war, and Benjamin often discussed the political factions in Petrograd.  He
was such an intelligent and gentle man.  His political views were not
revolutionary.  “I just want some equality for everyone.  Not just the Jews,
but the peasants and factory workers, too,” he told Rebekah at dinner one night.
 He reminded her of Jacob.

 She often wondered
if Misha was at the front.  If so, it might make it easier for her to take
Samuel.

            As she sat finishing up
her work, Rebekah was anxious about going to Sarah’s for dinner.  Sarah’s
father had found out some information about Misha, and she was hopeful that
this would lead to her finding Samuel.

            When she left work,
Rebekah stopped along the way to get some flowers and a bottle of wine to bring
to the Jacobson’s.  They had been so good to her and there was so little she
could do in return.  The flower shop was deserted and there was very little
selection.

            “People aren’t buying
flowers now,” the proprietor told her.  “They are trying to find enough food to
feed their families.”

            The liquor store, on
the other hand, was filled with six boisterous men acting wild and trying to
grab bottles off the shelves.  Rebekah turned to leave when the proprietor,
Pavel, whom she had gotten to know, pushed through the crowd.

            “Larissa,” he exclaimed.
“It is dangerous for you to be here.  Please, let me see you to the door.  Who
knows what these ruffians might do.”

            “This is so shocking,”
Rebekah replied.  “I was stopping by as usual to buy a bottle of wine to bring
to dinner for my host and hostess.”

            The proprietor took a
bottle of red wine from the display he was leaning against. “Here, take this.  Don’t
worry about paying.”

Rebekah already
had the money in her hand.  “You take this, Pavel,” she insisted.  “You need to
feed your family.  Will you be okay? Should I find help?”

“I’ll be fine,
Larissa.  You go straight to your friend’s home now.”  Pavel walked her the
rest of the way to the door, thanked her, and went back inside, yelling at the
group to calm down.

            Mr. Jacobson was
already home when Rebekah arrived.  He gave Rebekah a hug hello.  It was hard
for her to believe that at one time she thought he was such an austere man.

“I think I have
some good news for you, Rebekah,” he started.

“What is it, Mr. Jacobson?”
she asked.

            “I have been told that
the gentleman I saw was indeed Misha.  His last name is Novikov.  He has been
seen breaking up several meetings.  Maybe you could find out if his wife, who
you told me was Catherine, might have shopped at Volonsky’s.  There might be an
address used for delivery.”

            Sarah spoke up immediately.
“Papa, I know that name. Catherine Novikov has bought several gowns from us,
one not too long ago for a ball that Count and Countess Federov were giving. I
know that because Countess Federov shops with us also.   I never connected the
name because Catherine is such a common name.  But I can easily look up her
address for Rebekah.”

            Rebekah was ecstatic.  “Again,
I don’t know how to thank you, Mr. Jacobson.  This could be my chance to get
Samuel.”   

“I think it is
time you called me Benjamin, Rebekah,” he told her smiling.

            At dinner they talked
about the war and what they thought what was happening in Petrograd.  Mr. Jacobson
expressed his views about war and what could be expected to happen in the city.
 He was not terribly worried about war coming to Petrograd unless Russia lost
totally to Germany and Austria.  “War is unpredictable,” he said.  “There is no
way to know what will happen.  I’d like to believe it will end well, but with
the Mensheviks looking for power to reform and the movement to depose the czar
growing, we won’t know what our fate will be until we see who ends up taking
control.   We could all be in danger.  One thing for sure, though, you need to
find Samuel as quickly as possible, Rebekah, so you are not stuck in Petrograd.”

            “I understand.  Maybe
you need to think about leaving Petrograd also.  You would love America,” She
smiled and added, “And you would already have friends there.”

Benjamin laughed,
“That might not be a bad idea.”

            When Rebekah returned
home to her apartment, she fixed a cup of tea and sat thinking about the
possibility of finally finding Samuel.  “It’s all about timing,” she thought to
herself.  If Mr. Jacobson hadn’t gone to that meeting, she would still have no
way of finding Samuel.  

            After a while, she
thought about home in America and her mother.  She hadn’t written in a while,
but now she had some good news.  She got out a pen and paper and started her
letter.

            “Dear Mama,” she started. “I finally have some
good news!”

CHAPTER 31

Martin sat
rereading the letter he had received from Rebekah.  He noticed that it had
taken over a month for the letter to get to him.  There had been no return
address on the letter and when he saw it was from her, he felt a happiness that
surprised him.  Actually there were two letters.  The first one was to him and
was brief.    

            Martin,

            I
hope this letter finds you well. I wish to impose on you to do me a favor and
call Jacob’s store so that Solomon can come and pick up the other letter I have
enclosed.  I am sure I left the number with your secretary.

I
have found out where Samuel is and with careful planning I should be able to
get him soon.

Hopefully,
Bloomingdales is still doing well. Save some room for my gowns and dresses!

Sincerely,

Rebekah

PS I would not
have survived without your coat and boots. Thank you again.

Martin smiled. He
was so glad she was all right and had found her son, but he was fearful of how
difficult it might be now for her to get home.

“I’ll deliver this
in person,” he said to himself.  After having his secretary find the address,
he headed for Jacob’s store on the Lower East Side.

            When Martin entered the
store, Jacob was waiting on a customer.  He couldn’t help but overhear their
conversation.

            “Are you sure, Mr.
Shearmon, this is the very best silk you have?’

            “Well, Mrs. Lieberman.
I have some in the safe, but it is very expensive.”

            “I’ll take a look, Mr.
Shearmon."
            Jacob headed to the back of the store acknowledging Martin and
telling him he would be with him as soon as he could.

            Martin nodded.

            Jacob brought back two
bolts of silk and spread them on the counter.  “Very special,” Jacob said
seriously.  “Imported from France.”

            Mrs. Lieberman felt the
fabric, picked up one bolt and asked Jacob. “Is this color good for me?”

            “Beautiful,” he
answered. “Brings out your eyes.”

            “Four yards, please,”
she answered him.  “Mr. Lieberman will just have to understand.  After all,
this is our oldest daughter’s wedding.”

            “Of course, Mrs.
Lieberman.  I’m sure he wants you to look beautiful.”  He went and got matching
thread.

            “I just wish Rebekah
was here to do our dresses,” Mrs. Lieberman said when Jacob returned.

            “I know, Mrs.
Lieberman.  We hope she will be home soon. Hopefully she will be able to do
your younger daughter’s wedding.”

            Mrs. Lieberman smiled
as she picked up her package. “Thank you, Jacob.  You always are such a
pleasure to work with.  Say hello to Rachael for me.”

            When he was finished
with Ms. Lieberman, he turned to Martin. “How may I help you sir?”

            “I’m Martin Weissman,”
he replied laughing. “I’m sorry to be laughing, but I hadn’t seen the old, ‘I
have some special silk in the safe,’ routine in a long time.”

            At first Jacob seemed
insulted by his words.

            “I don’t mean to be
insulting, Mr. Shearmon.  My father started in a store very similar to this. 
He used to tell us about the ‘special fabric he kept in the safe.’ It was
really not more expensive at all.  I guess he brought it with him from the old
country.”

            Jacob smiled. “Call me
Jacob, Martin.  You caught me.  I did it in the old country too.  What brings
you to my store?”

            “I’m from Bloomingdales. 
Rebekah used to design gowns and dresses for me.”

            “Of course! You were
very good to her.”

            “She is a remarkable
woman,” he responded honestly, “And she did a great deal for Bloomingdales’
business.”

            “What can I do for you,
Martin?”

            “I received a letter
from Rebekah today.  In it was a letter to her mother that she wanted me to get
to you.  She was afraid if she sent it here, it could be intercepted.”

            Jacob winced.

“Is everything
okay?”  Martin asked solicitously.

“Yes. I’m sorry.
Rebekah’s mother, Rose, passed away and Rebekah doesn’t know.  My wife,
Rachael, will be happy to receive this letter, but it will also bring her
sadness.  I’m sure you understand.”

“I do.  Hopefully
it will not be that long before Rebekah gets home.  In my letter she says she
has gotten Samuel.”

“Oh that is
wonderful.  Rachael will be thrilled.  Would you mind staying here for a few
minutes while I take this up to her?”

“I’d be
delighted.  Maybe I’ll make a sale while you’re gone.”

“Do your best,
Martin.  There’s more special fabric in the safe.”

Martin grinned. 
There was something about this man he really liked.

About five minutes
later Jacob returned with Rachael right behind him.  “My wife wanted to meet
you, Martin. “

“Yes,” Rachael
interrupted stepping up from behind Jacob. “Rebekah spoke so highly of you and
you gave her such a wonderful opportunity, not to mention the beautiful coat
and boots.  I wanted to thank you.”

“Actually Rebekah
deserves the thanks.  She added quite a bit of excitement to our designer department. 
She is very talented, as well as clever and beautiful.”  After he said it, he
felt perhaps he had gone too far.

Rachael looked at
him knowingly and smiled. “Yes.  She is a very special girl.  But tell me about
your letter from her.  Jacob says that she has found Samuel and will be coming
home.”

“Exactly, but she
realizes that during these times, it might be more difficult to get out of
Russia.  If I may be so presumptuous, does she say anything in your letter
about how she will get home?”

“I’ve not opened
it yet, but if you will give me a chance to read it, I will be glad to share
any other news.”

Rachael took the
letter from her apron pocket where she had put it when Jacob gave it to her. 
Martin noticed that her eyes became watery, but she did not cry.

Jacob came to
stand by Rachael and they read the letter together.  In the letter Rebekah told
them about the Jacobsons and how they helped her find where Samuel was. They
also said they would help arrange a trip to Finland where a family they knew would
help her go through Sweden to Norway to take a ship to America.

I don’t know how
long it will take, Mama
,
but I have a plan and just have to be
patient so that I don’t fail. My heart aches for him and I pray it won’t be
long before I get him.

A tear slipped
down Rachael’s cheek.  Jacob put his arm around her.  “She will be okay,
Rachael.  You know how strong she is.”

“I know,” she
answered wiping her eyes with the bottom of her apron.  “But this war is so
scary.  Do you have children, Martin?”

“Two girls.  They
are grown now.”

“That’s the
difference between boys and girls. They won’t go to war.  Our oldest son,
Solomon, is talking about joining the army.  He says it is only a matter of
time until we officially join the Allies.”

“I can see where
that would be a very scary prospect.  Maybe he will change his mind.”

Rachael looked at
Jacob, then Martin.  “I doubt that will happen.  He is a very determined young
man.  Takes a little after his papa, doesn’t always listen to reason.  Anyway,
Martin, Rebekah did say that she met a family who is helping her get to Finland
and then to Norway where she will be able to get a ship to America. “

“Thank you for
sharing that with me, Rachael.  I will keep her in my prayers.” And after a
pause he added, “And your son Solomon, too.”

When he got to the
door he turned to Jacob and Rachael. “Would it be all right if I checked once
in a while to see if you heard from Rebekah?”

“Of, course,”
Jacob answered.

After the door
shut, Rachael turned to Jacob. “He has more interest in our Rebekah than as a
designer,” she told him smiling.