by Lori Wick
Life was always quieter when Percy was away, and, whenever both Mitch and Percy were home at the same time, well, it became nearly unbearable. Maureen was, at that moment, saying a prayer of thanks for the very fact that both her men were gone and she could devote all her time to her brother and his family.
"Sean, dear, you're looking so pale," she spoke to her nephew as he stepped carefully from the carriage. "We'll get you right into bed."
Sean wanted to argue. There was so much he wanted to see and explore. He'd never seen a house like this and here was an entire street lined with them. But they would all have to wait until he felt better. He prayed it would be soon.
Marcail had reached for her mother's hand after alighting from the carriage and held on tight. She wasn't sure she liked California. It was so big and noisy. The houses were huge and she hadn't seen very many children. Their trip was just starting and she already missed Loni so much she wanted to cry. Staring up at the house as they climbed the front steps, she wondered if it was going to eat them alive.
Kaitlin smiled warmly at the young groom who had come forward to hold the horses. He was nice looking with blond hair and blue eyes and his smile was respectful and sweet. Kate turned to pick up a small traveling case and before she could take a step he took it from her hand. She thanked him and felt herself blushing, an unusual occurrence. Kate smiled as she walked into the house behind her mother and sister. So far, she liked San Francisco very much.
The front entry to Maureen's home was enough to stop a person in his tracks and that's exactly what it did to Kaitlin. Across from the front door, a large archway covered the stairs going up. Kaitlin watched her mother and sister disappear up those stairs but couldn't bring herself to follow them.
The banister, stairs, and the walls of the foyer were a light, stained oak. A grandfather clock stood against one wall. The rug beneath her shoes was multicolored and plush. Kate finished her inspection with the high ceiling and its beautiful brass chandelier. She stared until her father bumped her with the bags he was carrying in.
"It's a little bigger than you're used to, isn't it, Kate?"
"Oh, Father, it's well, it's... big!"
Patrick laughed at his daughter, enjoying her look of wonder over the beautiful home. Maureen bustled back down the stairs in the next moment.
"I wanted to help Sean, but he seemed embarrassed by my being in his bedroom with him. Maybe you should go up, Patrick."
"Thanks for your help, Mo." He bent and kissed her cheek.
She positively glowed at the use of her family nickname. "Percy's room. You know the one."
Katie was still frozen in place near the front door when she turned to find her aunt watching her.
"Your home is lovely," Kaitlin spoke the words almost shyly.
Maureen smiled and her eyes misted. "I'm glad you like it." She stopped when her throat clogged with tears. Kaitlin looked at her in gentle inquiry. "I'm just so glad you're here, I-" the words were stopped again as a tear slid down the older woman's cheek.
Kate went to her aunt and put her arms around her. They were alike in height and she loved the feel of her aunt's sturdy arms tight around her.
"Would you look at me? Standing here getting us both wet with you probably hungry and dead on your feet. I'll show you your room and see about dinner."
Dinner was quiet with just Maureen, Patrick, Theresa and Kaitlin. Sean was having a tray in his room and Marcail had fallen into an exhausted slumber that would not be disturbed.
Patrick spent most of the meal answering his sister's questions. Maureen wanted full details on their trip over and it was quite late before she remembered how fatigued they must be.
Maureen would have understood if her brother and sister-in-law had headed right to bed, but, after they kissed their daughter goodnight, they moved with Maureen into the parlor.
A fire blazed in the hearth and Theresa warmed her hands before taking a nearby chair. Patrick watched his wife. When Maureen could stand the silence no longer, she spoke.
"You haven't come for a visit, have you? I mean, it's not a vacation trip for you and the kids is it?"
Theresa shifted in her chair to face her sister-in-law. She was thin and pale and appeared much older than her 39 years.
"The children don't know of this, Maureen, but we've come back to San Francisco because there's something wrong with me and we don't know what it is."
seven
"We've needed a break for a long time, Maureen, you're aware of that. But every time we planned to come back to the states the plans were interrupted. With Theresa feeling the way she does, we knew it was time to come back. We need to see a doctor while we're here."
"Theresa," Maureen said gently, even as hope burgeoned within her that this was not as serious as it seemed, "did you think of your age? I mean, the changes a woman goes through? I hear it's a little different for everyone."
"I've heard the same thing, Maureen, but I've never heard of anyone developing sharp chest pains and a dry cough."
"You have a cough?" The words were almost whispered as the older woman's hopes faded quickly.
"A dry cough and every afternoon and on into the night I run a fever. It keeps me awake. I don't think the children suspect anything, although I feel more burdened every day to tell Kate and Sean."
They talked for another hour and Maureen went off to bed with a heavy heart. Her hopes had been dashed so quickly in the face of Theresa's cough and fevers. For the first time in many years, Maureen Kent was terrified.
Kaitlin woke up the next morning when Marcail climbed into bed with her.
"I'm freezing, Katie," the little girl's teeth chattered and Kate pulled her close. They lay in the quiet house and listened to the rain hitting the windowsill.
The previous afternoon they had come into a cloudy San Francisco and thought it chilly. They realized now that yesterday had been warm compared to this cold-toyour-bones feeling brought on by the rain.
"Katie?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you miss Hawaii?"
"Not yet, but I'm sure I will."
"I miss Loni."
"She probably misses you, too. You can write her, you know."
They fell silent and dozed off. They woke again when Sean lightly tapped on their door and came in. Seeing that Marcail's bed was vacant, he slid slowly beneath the covers, shivering all the while.
"It's freezing here," he said in a tired voice. "I thought California was sunny."
"Not in February," Kaitlin said. "How do you feel?"
'A little better. I'm weak, but that's probably because I'm starving,"
"You're always starving." Marcail stated.
"That's true," Sean answered in his logical way. "This is a big room," he added.
"What's yours like?" his little sister wanted to know.
"It's big too, everything is black and gold." Sean looked around the green and white room that belonged to the girls with some envy. His own room was dark and gloomy. The room belonged to his cousin Percy, and he would never have complained. Actually, he was very thankful. The bed was the most comfortable one he'd ever slept in. A small shudder went through him as he remembered the nightmarish days aboard ship in that tiny bunk. The return voyage popped into his head and he stubbornly pushed it away.
Everyone took things slowly at first and by the third day all were well rested.
Maureen had come to some decisions on the first night and had already begun to act upon them. She was going to take care of this family. She was going to see Sean on his feet doing things with other boys his age, and she was going to get a playmate for Marcail. Kaitlin, with her looks, well, it would be no trouble finding a few young men to escort her around town. That would give her plenty of time to take care of Theresa.
Why, her brother and sister-in-law were a team, she couldn't let anything separate them! In fact with no cleaning and cooking to do, Maureen could already see that Theresa was feeling better. Maureen had sent for the docto
r and he arrived shortly after breakfast. As she paced in the upstairs hallway outside of her brother's room all these thoughts ran through her mind. Both he and Theresa were in there with the doctor. Maureen wondered how long she would be able to stand the suspense.
"Did you notice anything, Sean? I mean, did you think mother was sick? I know she's had a cough, but I just thought it was that cold hanging on." Kaitlin looked stricken and Sean felt helpless as he shook his head.
That morning while Marcail was playing in the kitchen, Patrick and Theresa had sat their oldest children down and told them that a doctor was coming to see Theresa because she hadn't been well.
Kate and Sean had said little as their father spoke and now questions came to mind almost faster than they could handle. How sick was she? When did it start? Who is this doctor? Is this why we came to California?
The questions filled their minds again and again, even as they knew they would have to wait for their answers. And as they both tried to pray, Doctor Weston was asking his own set of questions.
"How old are you, Mrs. Donovan?"
"Thirty-nine."
"Have you normally enjoyed good health?"
Theresa looked up at Patrick who stood by her chair. It wasn't that it was a difficult question to answer, it was just something they'd never thought much about.
"We're hesitating, Dr. Weston, I think, because we have enjoyed such good health. Theresa was sick with the pregnancies but, I think as a whole, the five of us have all been very healthy and obviously taking it for granted."
"How many times have you been pregnant?"
"Three."
"But you were always up and about soon after?"
"Sean's was the most difficult, but even then I bounced right back."
Doctor Weston was very thorough. He asked about Theresa's family history, her grandparent's deaths, her parents' deaths and the deaths of any siblings. At times he only nodded and made notes; other times he wanted specifics.
Theresa explained to him that she'd caught a slight cold last fall and had not been able to shake it off. She told him of her reccurring fever and how hot she was at night. When she told of her dry cough, his face went from concerned to grave. Patrick's heart began to pound in his chest as he prayed.
"Do you ever cough up anything?"
"Not until we were on the ship traveling here. I coughed up some blood." The words were whispered.
"Theresa!" Patrick's voice was pained.
"You were so sick, Patrick," tears came to Theresa's eyes as she spoke. "It was just a little blood and you had enough to worry about. I didn't want to do anything to spoil our trip."
Patrick's arms were around his wife and Dr. Weston walked over to the window to give them some privacy.
Paul Weston had known Maureen Kent for years. When she'd asked him to come and see her sister-in-law, he'd cut into his busy schedule and came without delay.
Fifteen years ago he'd have told Mrs. Donovan she had consumption. But they had a name for her ailment now, not that it did any good. Theresa Donovan had tuberculosis, and if she was coughing up blood there was probably little he could do for her. He turned away from the window to tell the Donovans his prognosis, wishing all the time that he'd been out of town when Maureen's note arrived.
eight
"You would think I was already dead by the way you're all acting." Theresa Donovan's family looked at her in utter shock when she spoke these words from the doorway of the library.
"I've had to wait for a time when we were all gathered without Marcail to speak with you. I know I've shocked you but I'm still here and I don't want to see my family in mourning."
Theresa stopped to give them all a few moments to digest what she had said. Doctor Weston's news was over a week old and after lunch everyone had moved to the library, a room as elegant as the rest of the house, to stare at the fire as they'd done every day since the man left.
"We just want you to be comfortable, Theresa, and not overdo." Father cleared his throat when Theresa gave him a stern look.
"I'm not yet an invalid, Patrick, and I think I can gauge when I need to rest. Now, I've faced facts and the first fact is that I won't be returning to Hawaii with you. Secondly, Marcail is going to be nine years old in two weeks and not one plan has been made for her birthday. And finally, all of San Francisco is waiting to be explored and if you won't go sight-seeing with me, well, I'll go by myself!"
"But mother! We thought you were feeling sick and we-" Sean's voice was so young and confused that the anger drained completely out of his mother.
"Please, all of you listen to me." Theresa's eyes moved to each one, Patrick, Sean, Kaitlin and Maureen, holding their gaze for just a moment before going on softly. "I have times when I feel quite good and all of you know that. Just sitting around and waiting for my fever to go up in the afternoon accomplishes nothing. Starting tomorrow I would like to begin going out. I want us to start with a tour of the city if it isn't raining. We shall take each day as it comes. Now, are you with me?"
"Of course we're with you, Love," Patrick spoke as his arms surrounded her slight frame. "Please forgive me for treating you too fragiley. Fragiley? Is that a word?"
Everyone laughed and they all talked about what they wanted to do in the days to come. As Theresa made her way out of the room to lay down for a rest, she gave them some words that would long live in their hearts.
"We need to thank God for this thing He has brought into our lives. It's a precious gift that He's given us by allowing us to know what's wrong with me. So many die without warning. This way we can have special times and you'll have memories to hold close in the days to come when things look black.
"My prayer is that you'll know how much I love you and that whatever tomorrow brings God will be your all when you need comfort."
Theresa left the room then with a pleading prayer in her heart for wisdom and words. It was time to talk to Marcail of the future.
"I started a letter to Loni."
"May I read it?"
Marcail handed the letter to her mother and awaited her approval. She was in her father's lap on the settee in the room she shared with Kaitlin, all snuggled into her nightie and robe. Theresa had told her husband of her plans to talk with Marcail at bedtime and he'd wanted to be with them. Now that the moment had come, Theresa was thankful for his presence.
"You did very well. Are you really cold all the time like you said in this letter?"
Marcail nodded almost apologetically and her mother leaned to kiss her cheek. "We'll have to get you some warmer clothing."
"But what will I do with the warm clothes when we go back to Hawaii?"
This question from an eight-year-old might have surprised some, but Patrick and Theresa both knew their daughter was very bright.
"Do you miss Hawaii so much?"
"Well, not really Hawaii, just Loni. There's no one here to play with."
"We'll find you some playmates as soon as we can, Marcail, but right now Mother and I have something to tell you." Patrick took a deep breath and asked God to give him the words.
"You know why we live in Hawaii, don't you Marcail?"
"Because you work there, preaching and baptizing and helping people in the village."
"Right. And I do that because I believe that God's Son died for everyone and I want the people there to know Jesus Christ." Marcail nodded in complete understanding.
"Marcail, do you remember last year when Loni's grandfather was very sick and I went and talked with him?"
"He died."
"Yes he did, but before he died he understood how much he needed a Savior."
"I remember. He asked Jesus into his heart." A smile lit the little girl's face.
"Yes he did, and we know where he is, don't we?"
"In heaven with Jesus."
"How do you know that, Honey?" her mother wanted to know.
"Because the Bible says if you believe on the Lord Jesus then when you die, you go to be with Him."
"And how do we know we can believe what the Bible says?" Theresa pressed her further.
"Because it's God's Word." This statement was made with such confidence that Patrick felt his throat clog. Clearing his throat, he asked his daughter another question.
"Can you tell me a verse that promises us a home in heaven?"
"'I go to prepare a place for you.' Do you mean that one?"
"That's a good one from John 14. Verses one through six go like this: 'Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."'
"Those words are very special to me right now, Marcail." Theresa spoke gently when Patrick stopped. "You see, a doctor was here last week and I told him about how I've been coughing and not feeling well and he told me I have tuberculosis. He also told me that people with tuberculosis don't live very long. So the verses are special to me because I know when I die I'll be with the Lord."
It didn't take very long for the full import of Theresa's words to hit Marcail. Her parents watched as a single tear slid down their daughter's cheek. Marcail was the most heartbreaking person to watch cry because she made no sound.
Theresa reached for her and Marcail buried her face in her mother's neck. Theresa could feel tears against her skin along with the occasional shudder running through her daughter's small frame. Theresa thought her heart would break.
