Owen Sound, Ontario- May 1915
She stood by the window waiting for him. There stood a 24 year old Helen with light blonde hair and hazel eyes she was happy her fiancee was on his way to meet her. Helen lived in a small country farmhouse she had grown up the 7th of 10 children in the Ernest family. There was William, Philip, George, Neil, Albert, James, there herself, Frank, Joseph and Alma. It was only Helen, Frank, Alma and Joseph who was going to take over the Ernest farm one day. She was responsible she helped her mother Clara that was who called her from the window "Helen Margaret come here and get knitting I have to send them today they'll be shipped to the soldiers on the front. They were in the 2nd year of war when will it end she thought she returned reluctantly to her knitting "you know mother how I hate knitting". Her mother ignored her oh when will Anthony come? she thought.
All of sudden her favorite sibling Frank came in "Helen Anthony is here. He is quite distressed he is in the front yard" she got up and walked very fast she was nervous what happened. When she came outside she saw how distressed he looked. 26 year old Anthony Harrison was usually a neat man but his raven black curly was a mess he looked sleep deprived. He held out his hand to her.
"What is wrong Anthony?" she asked with a puzzled glance he walked closer to her "we can't marry" he told her. Helen stepped back she looked down "why ever not?" he began pacing "my parents said we cannot. They don't approve they told me if I married you I would be cut off. I would get nothing from them, they would disown me as well".
She stepped forward "It doesn't matter we don't need money or them. We can figure something out" he held her shoulders and stopped her "No Helen neither of us would be happy being poor with nothing. It would ruin us make us bitter. I cannot marry you I am going west to Vancouver to start over. I am sorry Helen".
She stared into his eyes 'How could you"she pushed his hands off her "Helen I-" she cut him off. "Anthony Patrick Harrison, I never want to see your face again" and she ran into her house. He then turned walked out the lane and didn't return.
..........
June 1921- Sumter, Ontario
She walked into the fields today he was on her mind. What had become of him after all these years? Helen pulled a blonde strain of hair back into place. How she loved him and she remembered the pain after the years in Owen Sound. After Anthony left for Vancouver she spent her days helping her mother no longer attending social events. She watched her siblings marry Joseph had married and was happy. She remembered the discussion at the table back at her parents house. Frank Ernest her little brother was involved in a serious scandal he began a relationship with Mrs. Lewis. She was married to one of members of the Owen Sound city council he was powerful in the town. The scandal didn't go well for Frank and he was told to leave town. She remembered how her parents told everyone at the table that Frank was moving to a town called Sumter and they had purchased him a farm. How her mother had told them "Alma, Helen one of you are going with him to keep house for him".
Alma was excited by it she talked of going there and possibly marrying someone there. Helen was hopeful that she would be picked to go how she wanted to get away from this town and start over. The night at the table when her mother told him "Frank chose which of your sisters to go with you" he looked at both he looked straight to his elder sister "I want Helen to come" Alma was not happy with him but like he cared he always preferred Helen. So she came to Sumter they rarely heard from she continued to walk the field when she saw Mrs.Barclay with her daughter Bee and baby girl Lizzie. She smiled over the last two years she became friends with Maud Barclay the women Frank had flirted with and received a punch by her husband. Although that happened she knew her brother deserved it.
"Hi Maud" she greeted the women Maud stepped forward "How are you Helen?" she asked "fine how are you Bee and Miss Lizzie" she held out her hand to the baby. The little baby cooed back at her she sighed "What ever is a matter?" her friend asked she gazed at her. "Oh I was thinking of him again" she held her head "oh Helen. There will be someone for you. One day just be patient". She sighed "I can't Maud not when I see you or others happy. I want that but I can only love one man and I can never have him" Maud stepped forward and put a hand on Helen's shoulder "I understand Helen I am sorry" the friends walked into the farmhouse and had tea together while sipping her tea she asked her friend "can I hold her?" Maud handed her infant daughter to Helen. As Helen held little Lizzie she sat back and thought "if only I could be a mother"
...........
Vancouver, British Columbia
Anthony Harrison was working at his job in the bank when he took out his mail from the day before since he was too busy to read. He took it out then read it it was from his cousin James Bagnall it read;
Dear Anthony,
As you may know I am no longer in Owen Sound I have moved to a little town a few hours away called Sumter. It is a nice farming area and I have purchased my store here. However I am having trouble with the financial part of the business. I know that Aunt Estelle has written you to come home or at least back to Ontario.
I am hoping I can convince you to come to Sumter to stay with me and help me as you have experience in that bank Please come we can even be business partners what do you say?
Regards,
Cousin James
Anthony sat back in his chair and thought he wanted to return to see family and be close. He didn't want to go back to Owen Sound he hated it there not to mention she was there his Helen. He no longer like it at the bank the long hours that spiteful people. He grabbed a pen and paper and wrote his cousin he was going to Sumter. He spent two weeks getting his belongings together and got on the train to Sumter.
It took days to get back to Ontario he had thought about going to Owen Sound first to see his mother and brother but decided not to. The train arrived at Sumter's train station Anthony walked off the train and searched the crowd. He spotted auburn haired and brown eyed cousin James he was coming over to him. "Anthony its been too long" he greeted him the cousins shook hands. "Yes it has" he smiled James grinned "so you are to be my business partner now. How was Vancouver?" Anthony frowned "it was alright but I am glad to be here Jamie really I am" he nodded "I am glad you are here Anthony. Come we can go to my home first and then we are to go to the Barclay's for dinner they are very good friends of mine". They got into the car and James drove to his house. The next hours were spent reminiscing and getting ready for the Barclay dinner.
....
Helen arrived at the Barclay's at the appointed time she was greeted by Ray. "Good evening Helen" he grinned she entered the house and asked "Where is Maud?".
"She is in the kitchen getting the dinner ready. The foods cooked just the things have to be brought to the table" he added. Helen looked questionably at the table looked to Ray "why is there two more place settings?" Maud came in "Hello Helen oh James Bagnall is coming for dinner with his cousin". She nodded "I will help you get the food to the table then" they proceeded to get the food to the table and everything was ready for dinner. There was a knock on the door Maud answered she opened the door Helen heard "Hello Mr. Bagnall and this must be your cousin" she turned towards the guest at the door and stood frozen she recognized him immediately James Bagnall continued "yes this is my cousin Mr. Anthony Harrison" her friend gaped at him then looked over to Helen she said nothing Anthony followed Maud's eyes and looked over when his eyes met hers "Helen?" Ray spoke "you have met Miss Ernest?". Anthony tried to compose himself "yes we knew each other in Owen Sound. But what are you doing here Helen I thought you still lived there" she quickly answered "I moved her 2 years ago with Frank. He has a farm here I keep house for him it is what unmarried sisters do for their brothers" she snapped at him coldly. The eyes in the room were on Anthony they all understood that there was an intimate relationship between the two of them because of her comment. He was embarrassed but also was a bit glad to see her again see those hazel eyes look back at him even if they were blazing at him angrily her eyes reminded him of a forest. The room was still silent when Maud saved the situation "well lets go to dinner" they all went to the dining room. Ray pulled a chair for his wife Anthony pulled one for Helen she glared at him but sat down "Thank you Mr. Harrison" she added coldly. They then sat at the table the conversation was focused on Helen and Anthony "so when the last time you saw Miss Ernest Mr. Harrison" asked Ray causally. Anthony sighed "well many years I can't remember maybe four or five years ago"-" he was cut of by Helen "six years ago in 1915" he looked over at her she didn't acknowledge him she picked at her broccoli eating causally and playing with her food. He looked to Ray "yes a long time ago" the man of the house continued the conversation "Do you find Miss Ernest much improved?" he asked his wife glared at him "dear leave it be" Anthony smiled to Mrs. Barclay "it nothing Mrs. Barclay, yes I find Miss Ernest much improved" he gave a polite smile to the couple Mrs. Barclay returned it and answered "please call me Maud Mrs. Barclay makes feel quite old" the dinner continued and soon James and himself were on the road back to his home. James looked over to him and asked "is that the women who your parents would not let you marry Miss Ernest?"Anthony squirmed a little "yes" he responded "well she seems like a nice women. Although too quiet for my liking" he looked out the window at the trees waiting to get home.