by Cj Howard
“What’s wrong? Where are you going?” he asked with a worried look.
She turned to him as tears began to fill her eyes. “It’s my grandfather. He’s very sick, he sounded really bad. I have to go to him!”
“I understand, of course.” Nelson nodded and picked up her bags. “Let’s go. I’ll help you out. Stay as long as you need to with him, and don’t worry about anything here.”
She looked around and then her eyes went back to Nelson again. “Where is Peter?” she asked.
Nelson shifted uncomfortably. “He’s ah… he is out of state for a few days. Personal trip.”
She realized what he meant and irritation moved through her. Of course he was gone, off to some other state, sleeping with any number of strange women, when she really could have used the support. Emmaline sighed and nodded, then walked out of the front door and closed it behind her, feeling like she was closing the door on all her emotions for Peter; both the good and the bad. They loaded her bags into the car and she drove to her grandfather’s house. She found him lying in his bed, sleeping. She sat in his room with him until he woke up and saw her there. He smiled widely at her with tears in his eyes. “Thank you so much for coming,” he said softly.
She rushed to him and hugged him tightly. “Of course, I love you so much. There is nowhere else I would rather be.” She kissed his cheek and touched his forehead. It was burning with fever.
“Don’t you think we ought to get you to the hospital? You need to see a doctor,” she said in a quiet tone.
He shook his head. “No, I can’t go to the doctor. I can’t afford it, baby. I can’t afford the doctor or the medicine. I’m old anyhow, and I have been missing your grandmother so much. If it’s my time to go, then so be it. I’ll go this way and then I’ll be back with her. I only wish I wasn’t leaving you behind. You really are the only thing keeping me here.” He touched her face and smiled at her weakly.
The panic in her came back and flooded her whole body. Sorrow clutched at her heart with its icy fingers. “Grandfather, no! You can’t do that. Please let me get a doctor for you. I’ll take care of the bills. You won’t have to worry about any of that. You won’t have to worry about anything!” she pleaded, holding his hands in hers.
He closed his eyes and shook his head. “No, I won’t have you spending money like that on me. You just stay here with me for the time we have and that will be enough for me.” The words came slowly from him as he struggled through speaking them to her.
Emmaline felt as though her heart might be ripped out of her chest as she watched him trying to rest and fight off his illness at the same time. She spent hours with him, holding his hand, talking to him when he was awake about memories that they shared, and alternately pacing and sitting when he wasn’t awake.
Friends of his that regularly came by to see him learned of his poor health and word spread quickly through the quarter and surrounding neighborhoods. People came by to see them both, to bring food and offer comfort and company. Emmaline hadn’t felt as much at home as she did in the days that followed her arrival at her grandfather’s house. It was so good for her to see people that she knew and loved; people who had seen her grow up and who genuinely cared for her, but somewhere in her heart there was a small hole. She ignored it, but that place that Peter should have filled was left hollow, and it tugged at the corners of her when she wasn’t distracted by the people who came by.
All of them asked about Peter, and wondered where he was. She said that he was out of town, couldn’t get home right away, and that was all she would say. Everyone focused their attentions on Henri, and hoped that he would improve, but as each day passed, he seemed to get gradually worse, and Emmaline was afraid that his comment about finally getting to see her grandmother may come to pass. It crushed her spirits to think of losing him, and all she did, day and night, was stay by his side.
Mr. Turner, who had leased a building in the Quarter to Peter’s business partner, Tristan, came by to see her grandfather.
“I’m so sorry to see him like this, Emmaline, I never thought anything could keep your grandfather down. He’s been a strong and resilient one since we were boys. I hope like crazy that he makes it through this alright.”
“So do I, Mr. Turner. I don’t want to know what I’d do without him.” He hugged her and sat with his friend for a while, telling fishing tales and trading smiles, but Henri was very weak, and their visit didn’t last very long.
He walked to the door when his visit was over, and looked at Emmaline. “You know, he’s always going to be with you, you just might not always be able to see him with your eyes.”
“I know. I just prefer to be able to be with him in person, that’s all. I don’t want to be selfish, but I don’t want to let him go.” She said as tears rolled down her cheeks. He hugged her gently and she wiped the tears away and smiled at him, “Thank you for coming down, Mr. Turner.”
“I’ll be back tomorrow to see him. I’ll likely wind up wearing out my welcome before this turns one way or the other, but he’s one of my oldest friends and he has been there for me through a lifetime of good and bad, so I want to be here for him as well,” he said quietly.
Then he tilted his head and looked out of the screen door. “Is that your new husband?” he asked in a hushed tone, pointing his old finger across the street to a long dark car that had pulled up. She looked and tried to hide the shock on her face when she saw Peter step out of the car.
“It is indeed, Mr. Turner,” she answered him.
“Well then, I’ll leave you two to Henri. Good-night, Miss Emmaline.” He hugged her again and walked out of the door. She followed him, but only went as far as the porch where she stayed while Peter crossed the road and nodded at Mr. Turner as he passed him. He came slowly up the steps and stood before her on the porch.
“Nelson told me that you left, he said Henri isn’t doing well. I came to see what I could do,” he said to her in a soft tone, his eyes meeting hers. When he had come home from his trip and discovered that his wife was gone, he got into the car immediately and went to Henri’s. He hadn’t felt so worried about another person in a long time, and the unfamiliar sensation compounded the worry that he had for Henri. He felt strange about letting Emmaline know just how worried he was. It was too much like letting down his defenses and letting her in enough that she had the option of hurting him.
She had watched him cross the road in utter surprise, but she didn’t show it. She hadn’t expected to even hear from him, let alone watch him walk up the steps to her grandfather’s house, and there he was, standing before her, offering her his help.
Emmaline shook her head. “He doesn’t want the help,” she told him.
Peter saw that she was holding back her emotions, and he wasn’t sure how to help her, but he knew all the way to the depths of him that it was all he wanted to do. “What’s wrong with him?”
“He won’t tell me and I’m not sure. He won’t go to the doctor. He’s worried about the bills that he’ll get from the hospital and the medicine he’ll need to get better. He won’t let me do anything except be here with him and take care of him as best I can at the house.” She closed her eyes and tried desperately to hold the tears in, but she couldn’t, and when Peter saw the first one fall, he reached his arms around her and pulled her into a strong embrace, holding her tightly against his chest. She had not felt so secure in ages, and in the comfort he gave her, she began to sob and all the emotion in her crashed outward in waves as she let it all go. She breathed him in as she cried, and the scent of him settled her a bit, calming her some, as she released her angst.
He rocked her gently and stroked her hair, and he let himself lower his head and kiss her cheek. “Go ahead and let it all out,” he whispered to her. “It’s going to be alright. We’ll get it taken care of. He hasn’t told me not to help, yet, so I’ll stay out here for a bit and see what I can do. I’m sure I can help you.”
Her tears finally slowed and she took a b
ig breath and let out a sigh that took much of her grief with it. He gently wiped her tears dry with his fingertips and lifted her face to look up into his. He hated seeing her so distraught, and he was going to go to every length to make sure that it would all work out. He also hated that he hadn’t been there from the beginning, as he knew this had been welling up for days.
“I’m going to do everything I can. It’ll be alright,” he told her and as she looked up into his beautiful face and saw that he was in earnest, and she let herself believe him. It was rare that she let anyone do anything for her, but this time, it seemed like he was doing it without asking, without permission, without worrying about whether she would let him or not, or whether he had the right to; he was just going to take care of things and that was all there was to it.
Emmaline looked up at him and felt a surge of gratitude in her heart. His kindness touched her and it was the first warm feeling she’d had toward him since their honeymoon.
He hugged her once more and then let her go and walked the length of the porch to rest on the railing. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Nelson, telling him to get a physician to the house immediately. Fifteen minutes later, there was a doctor at the door and he was taken in to see Henri.
Henri wasn’t happy about it, but when he saw Emmaline’s pleading eyes, he relented, and the physician gave him a thorough examination. When the doctor was finished, Peter walked outside with him and Emmaline stayed in the room with her grandfather.
“I told you not to call him,” he huffed quietly.
“I didn’t call him, Peter did. You didn’t tell Peter not to do anything.” She smiled at him.
Her grandfather harrumphed once and looked away and then after a long moment, he looked back at her and said, “Well, I guess it’s a good thing he did.”
The doctor walked back into the room and said, “Henri, I have to tell you, if Peter hadn’t called me when he did, you wouldn’t have been here with us by morning. I have a nurse bringing me the medication you need, but this was a close call. You can’t wait so long next time, no matter what, call me, please.”
Emmaline held her breath and didn’t let loose the gasp of horror that choked her. She listened to the doctor tell him what they needed to do to help improve his condition, and then the doctor said that Henri needed his rest. Emmaline kissed her grandfather and they walked out, leaving him to his sleep.
She and Peter thanked the doctor as he left, and then Peter walked out to the porch and sat in the chair beside Henri’s rocker. Emmaline walked out of the house and knelt before him on the porch.
“I don’t think I could ever thank you enough for what you’ve done,” she said, her heart in her throat, her eyes misting over again. He looked down at her and wanted more than anything to kiss her, but instead he took her face in his hands, leaned forward and brushed his lips on her forehead. He closed his eyes as their skin touched, and he held onto the moment as long as he could, but then he released her and sat up in the chair again.
“There is nothing to pay me back for, Emma. You and he needed help, and I helped. There’s nothing more to it than that. You’ve done so much for me, Emmaline, it’s the very least I could do for you.” His voice was quiet, but his words were full of meaning and emotion, and none of it was lost on her.
She looked down. “I’m sorry I had to leave the house, and I’ve missed a lot of my meetings and social obligations because of this. I had to come though.”
He shook his head. “Please don’t apologize. He’s your grandfather. Stay as long as you need to, take whatever time you need.” He leaned forward to her and could not hold himself back from taking her lovely face in his hands again and tilting it up so he could look into her eyes. “Just come back home to me as soon as you are able,” he said, and then he leaned in and kissed her cheek softly and gently. His breath on her skin and his kiss sent ripples of electricity through her and she held his hands to steady herself. Her eyes closed and her mouth opened slightly as she tried to catch her breath, but he let go of her, and the sensation was gone. She thought she must be very tired. She hadn’t slept much at all since she had been there.
He pulled her to her feet and hugged her close to him. She could smell his scent again; the same sweet smell that had calmed her when she was crying earlier. He rubbed her shoulders for a moment and then let her go. “Let me know how he’s doing and if he needs anything at all. I’ve taken care of the doctor and all the medicine. We just need to keep an eye on him for now, and he should be alright soon. It’s just good that we got to him when we did.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. He smiled down at her and made himself turn to leave. He knew if he didn’t turn away from her then, he would not be able to stop himself from kissing her, and that was the last thing either of them needed just then.
She watched him walk across the street and her heart swelled with appreciation for the friendship he had shown her. She felt a new warmth for him that hadn’t been there before, and it made her happy.
Through the days that followed, Henri grew healthier and stronger, and two weeks later, he was back out on his front porch again, rocking in the sunshine and trading fishing tales with Mr. Turner. He wasn’t quite well enough to go fishing, but he would be soon enough, and it was then that he told Emmaline that it was time to go back to Peter.
“I’m getting along just fine now, my girl, and you have your own life to go live. It’s time you went back, before people start talking and say that you left him for good,” he told her with a smile.
She had been thinking about it, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to leave her grandfather until she knew that he was alright. He seemed to be, so she packed her bags and loaded her car again, and Emmaline went back to Peter’s house.
When she came in the front door, Nelson poked his head out of the office door and when he saw her, he came toward her happily. “How is Henri? Is he better? The doctor has been giving us good reports.”
He hugged her lightly, and then Peter appeared in the doorway and he and Emmaline smiled widely at each other.
“Look who came home!” he said with a grin. He hadn’t realized that he would miss her, but miss her he did, and seeing her standing in the doorway was a welcome sight that warmed his heart and made him feel as though everything in him had suddenly come back to life.
“Hello!” she said happily, and then she turned her gaze to Nelson as Peter walked toward her. “He’s doing just fine now, thanks to this guy,” she said, as she looked up gratefully at Peter.
He shrugged and gave a humble smile. “I didn’t do anything at all. It was the doctor, really. Listen, Nelson and I are just about finished, why don’t you unpack and let me know when you’re done, and I'll take you to dinner to welcome you home.” He looked at her hopefully, and she nodded with a grin.
“Okay. I’ll see you in a bit.” Peter carried her bags to her room for her and Nelson headed back into the office. It was nice to be back in her room, and somehow it didn’t seem as lonely as it had before. She unpacked and dressed for dinner in a light yellow summer dress. It hugged all her curves and there was just enough material in the flared hem for it to dance a bit as she walked.
She twirled a few times in the mirror and watched the edge of the dress waving and fluttering. She smiled to herself and then jumped when she heard his voice behind her.
“I never could figure out the appeal of turning in front of the mirror until now. You make it seem delightful,” Peter said, standing in her doorway with an amused grin on his face. She gasped and covered her mouth in surprise and he walked in toward her.
“I’m sorry I caught you off guard. I didn’t mean to surprise you, but your door was open.” He smiled at her and nodded. “You look lovely.”
Emmaline felt a flush rising up in her face and she smiled back at him. He nodded to the door. “Are you ready?” She nodded and they walked out of the house for dinner.
He took her to a little restaurant on Royal Street for dinner.
“I love Royal,” she said.
“I know. You told me once. That’s why we’re here,” he said giving her a sidelong glance.
They sat down to dinner and she looked at him curiously. “I’ve been gone a while. What’s going on with the project down here?”
He rolled his eyes and took a deep breath. “Well, there’s a lot going on and there’s nothing going on, simultaneously. The things that are happening are slow but they are moving forward. The things that aren’t moving forward are because of the Governor blocking me through the city political chains at every opportunity he gets. It’s really difficult. One of the things I wanted to tell you is that Tristan will be coming to stay at the house while we work through this. He needs to be here in the city while we get it all together. I am guessing that he will be with us for a couple of months. It really all depends on what happens with the city.”
Emmaline listened thoughtfully as he explained more of what was to come.
“I know I got upset about him having lunch with you before, and I apologize for that; I had no business telling you what you ought to do and what you can’t do. That’s not my place. Also, the guest room he will be staying in is nearer to your side of the house. If that makes you uncomfortable at all, you are welcome to come sleep in my room and I will take the room you’re in.” He fumbled at the last bit. He was going to say that she could come and stay in his room with him, but then he thought better of it, knowing that it would be too difficult for him if she did, and that it would be inappropriate for their relationship to offer that to her. At the last minute, he slipped in the part about him staying in her room.
She tilted her head and thought about it. “No, I’m sure it will be fine if we are all in our own rooms. We’re adults, I’m positive that it won’t be an issue at all,” she stated very matter-of-factly.
He felt his heart sag a little bit, but kept discussing it with her. “Well, that’s good. That’s going to be a big help for us in getting this project completed. The Governor is really just giving me such a hard time that Tristan has decided he wants to try and do much of the work in his name so that we can get it all through. The problem with that is that this project has been my baby from the beginning, and he was only supposed to be involved in part of it, but his involvement has expanded to encompass a great deal more than he was ever supposed to be part of. If the Governor wasn’t blocking me at every turn, I could get almost the whole thing done myself. I could make the differences in this city that I want to make, and do them in my name, without feeling like my past is constantly being thrown in my face.”
