Corrie clutched the letter to her chest, her heart pounding furiously. Not Christina. Christina, Corrie's younger sister by four years, was the one person Corrie missed when she was away from home. When Corrie had visited her family over Christmas, Christina was still struggling with a long-term bout of pneumonia, but she had seemed to be recovering. Corrie also knew that Christina had been seeing David Marshall, but she had no idea that her feelings for him had progressed so significantly.

I must go home at once. Guilt for her long absence from home washed through Corrie. In pursuit of her education, she had spent little time with her parents and sister during the past few years, and now it took her estranged Aunt Jack to tell her that she needed to return.

Corrie reached underneath her bed to pull out her luggage and started to shove her few belongings into it. She filled a trunk with her blouses, skirts, dresses, undergarments, and shoes, and carefully filed her papers and books into the carpetbag. She knew she would have to leave behind the typewriter as well as a beautiful bureau she had refurbished if she wanted to take the first train south in the morning.

She barely gave a thought to her nearly finished semester of school; Corrie had known that obtaining her degree might be difficult with the start of the war. Money was tight for most families, and she had debated whether or not to drop out when she heard that the United States had joined the Allies. Money would be even tighter with the cost of Christina's medical expenses, and without her family's pecuniary support, Corrie did not earn enough as a typist to pay both room and board and tuition. In light of all this, she would have to postpone her studies. She would return home, abandon school for at least a little while, and revert to the meek daughter and sister she'd been before leaving home.

"Now is not the time for selfishness," she berated herself aloud.

Glancing at the beautiful rose colored dress strewn across her bed, Corrie realized that she needed to tell Edwin and felt a little ashamed that he had not been her first thought. She couldn't just disappear and leave him without an explanation; she owed him at least that. Perhaps, she wondered, he'll come home with me. He wants to meet my parents. The idea of returning home with Edwin by her side made the notion a bit more bearable, and Corrie rushed out the door and hailed a streetcar. Nevermind that she was wearing her now wrinkled woolen suit; she needed to speak with Edwin immediately.

The Dickinsons' Manhattan mansion was lit by glowing electric lights, and Corrie tried to ignore the handsomely dressed ladies and gentlemen as she rushed to the door. She was greeted by an obsequious maid in pristine black and white.

"May I take your jacket, miss?" the girl inquired, glancing questioningly at Corrie's drab apparel.

"No, I need to speak with Mr. Edwin McAlister. Please tell him it's Miss Walker," Corrie murmured, stepping into the shadows of the foyer.

The maid nodded and bustled off, leaving Corrie completely overcome by the grandeur of the mansion; double staircases climbed in two directions meeting on the floor above. She could hear the sound of soft string instruments and quiet laughter and conversation. It was almost enough to make her want to stay in New York.

Moments later, Edwin appeared at the top of the staircase. He was wearing a handsome suit and waistcoat with a matching hat and cane. He smiled at her at first, but when he realized she was still wearing her lackluster suit, his expression dimmed.

"My dear Cornelia, where is the beautiful dress I ordered you? It was quite expensive, you know."

"I...I know. I'm sorry, I can't stay, I just need to speak with you," Corrie murmured, reaching out to grab his arm.

Edwin glanced around and pulled her further into the shadows. "What's wrong? What has you so distraught?"

"I've received a letter from home." Corrie released a long breath. "It seems my sister's pneumonia has worsened, she's broken her leg, and they fear for her life. I must return home immediately."

His face became grave, and he touched her shoulder comfortingly. "That's most distressing news. Is there anything I can do?"

"I...I don't know how long I'll need to stay, perhaps indefinitely," Corrie said.

"Indefinitely? But what of me?" Edwin inquired.

Corrie was reticent to tell him that her family's finances were part of the problem; she didn't want to accept any more of his generosity.

"I don't know, but I must be there for Christina. Her beau has gone off to war, and she's more alone now than ever and fighting this terrible malady."

"Yes, well, I'm sure you'll be able to return to me soon," Edwin said, rubbing his hand across his perfectly groomed mustache.

"I'm not sure, but I was wondering...if I may be so bold to ask, would you be willing to accompany me? Just for a few days? You could meet my parents and perhaps get their approval, and...to be honest," Corrie cast her eyes to the ground, "I could use a companion."

Edwin smiled and reached out to raise her chin so their eyes met. "My dear Cornelia, there is nothing I would love better." Corrie beamed at him beatifically, a weight falling from her shoulders. "But I fear I cannot accompany you. I have social engagements that simply cannot be ignored in the coming weeks and a law degree that I can't abandon. You understand."

Corrie's face fell; she knew that Edwin had commitments, but she was hoping that their courtship over the past months was strong enough to induce him to accompany her. She should have known better than to expect so much of such a short acquaintance.

"I...I understand. I must be going; I leave first thing in the morning for Virginia."

Edwin's face sobered. "You must know I will miss you greatly."

Corrie fastened her eyes on the ground. His words did little to curb her disappointment.

"When will I see you again?" Edwin murmured, taking her hands in his.

"I don't know," Corrie answered. "But I really must be going."

Corrie started to depart, but Edwin pulled her closer, his hands on her upper arms, and kissed her softly on the cheek.

"Travel well, darling. Write to me."

She nodded noncommittally and made her way towards the door. She bit back her disappointment and frustrations with Edwin, reminding herself that they weren't engaged and he owed her nothing. She should even be embarrassed for issuing him such a request.

Regardless of Edwin, Corrie would leave tomorrow. Tears came unbidden to her eyes at the thought of returning home utterly alone.

~~~~~

By the time Corrie neared Irvington on the train, afternoon was waning and red and magenta were seeping into the blues of the sky, casting warm shadows across the Chesapeake Bay. Her carefully pinned hair was unravelled and she was exhausted.

The train pulled to a stop, and she gathered her carpetbag and exited quickly as a young man deposited her trunk at the station to be retrieved later. Corrie rushed down the streets of Irvington; night was falling, and many of the houses glowed with warm light. Corrie knew vaguely where the new doctor's office was located; he had moved to Irvington a year or so ago from somewhere in the north and had included a few boarding rooms for his more seriously ill patients. She could imagine the doctor's foresight would prove useful in the days to come with injured soldiers returning home.

She saw the sign, a simple engraved name: The Medical Practice of Dr. Alexander Benjamin. Corrie pushed the door open, relieved to find it unlocked, and walked into the entryway. The room was painted a bright yellow with a few chairs and a desk. To the right, the murmur of conversation sounded from a hallway. Corrie followed the noise and walked down the hallway.

"Hello?" she called.

A girl's head popped from a doorway near the end of the hall, dark, curly hair lazily pinned up. She wore a cream blouse and raised skirt tied at the waist with a dark sash. The girl smiled cheerily at Corrie, freckles appearing on her cheeks.

"May I help you?"

"Yes, I'm looking for Christina Walker. I understand she'd staying here."

"Ah, you must be her famous sister! I've just been dying to meet you," the girl exclaimed, clasping her hands together. "Come in, come in, she's in here."

Corrie dropped her carpetbag in relief and rushed to the door of the small room. When she finally caught sight of her sweet sister, her breath stalled in her throat.  

~~~~~

Woohoo, chapter two! I will be updating Sharing Corrie MWF so please be sure to add it to your library! Please VOTE and COMMENT if you're enjoying the story. Thanks so much for reading :)

~ Hannah