by Kitty Parker
"I don't know Park, why don't you look?" Julia replied smartly.
"I thought Momma sent you over to help me."
"Well, helping comes in a lot of different ways. I thought you could use some pleasant conversation, and the pleasure of being able to look at my face for more than two hours."
"Unfortunately, neither of them is helpful with Kelly gone for a couple weeks. Could you find it in your heart to please look in my appointment book?"
"Parker Sullivan, you are lucky that I love you."
"Mmhmm, you have a very funny way of showing it. I don't know if I could deal with all of your teasing if I hadn't grown up in an orphanage."
"Please Park, you need to stop using the orphanage line! Momma was with you the whole time you were there, and you know for a fact you were always her favorite! Not to mention, Daddy was there too!"
"That may be true, but you didn't have to sleep with Joey, who cried himself to sleep at night, or Billy who was a tattle tale! You've had your own room, like a princess all your life. Don't even make me bring up those horrible months with the Fulmers!"
"Well, I am a princess, so it makes sense," Julia laughed. "I'll go check those appointment books now that we have that figured out."
Parker sighed and went back to the folder in which he was scribbling notes. It seemed that he could never catch up with the paper work of being a doctor. Though he didn't have to turn anything in to a hospital supervisor like his father did, he liked to have his records up to date. It didn't do anyone any good to get an immunization more than once, or not catch an ailment because he hadn't noticed a similar pattern in their symptoms because they hadn't made it to paper. Usually he had a good memory, but he also knew he couldn't always trust that either.
The folders on his desk had gotten into such a tall mound, that Parker was afraid they would topple over , which is why he told his mother he couldn't come home for dinner that evening. It was that announcement that caused her to force Julia into helping him for the day. While she made a fuss about the inconvenience of being there, he knew she didn't mind. Despite all of the teasing and grumbling, Parker knew that Julia was quite attached to him; she couldn't go for more than a few days without seeing him. This was another reason his mother had sent Julia to help; Audra Sullivan knew all of her children very well.
Parker finished with the folder, and leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head. He looked again at the notes he made, and wondered where Julia could be. He had just started this particular folder when she left to look at the appointment book, and she should have returned by now. As if she knew he was thinking of her, Julia suddenly slipped into the office, a huge grin on her face. It looked as if she was about to burst from excitement.
"There's someone here to see you!" she squealed, half whispering.
Parker lifted one eyebrow, not sure what her excitement was. He had visitors quite often, and couldn't imagine who had pulled this kind of reaction from her. "Were you going to tell me who it was Julia?"
"It's the Evans'! Oh Park, Tessa is lovely, even with the black eye. Her hair, and those eyes, and she has such a shy smile, it makes me like her even more! Do you like her, Park?"
Parker hadn't heard anything past the mention of a black eye, and Julia probably would have continued to rattle compliments of the young lady off if Parker hadn't interrupted. "A black eye?"
Julia blinked, confused by his interruption, "Why, yes. I'm sorry, Park. I assumed you knew."
"What did it look like? What color was it? Was it puffy? Did it look yellow at all? Could you tell if her eye looked bloodshot?"
"I don't know, I don't have doctors' eyes like you and Daddy; go look for yourself."
"Oh, they're still here?" he asked in a surprised tone, coming from behind his desk.
"Of course silly! Why would I tell you someone was here to see you if they had gone already?"
"I don't know. Why would you rattle off characteristics of a woman who is standing a little less than ten feet away from the room we're in?"
Julia bit her bottom lip and scrunched her eyebrows together, "I guess I got excited."
Parker laughed and patted Julia's cheeks carefully before walking out of the room, ready to do a quick examination of Tessa's bruise as soon as he saw her. The entire family was huddled in the small entry way, and Lucas jumped toward him the moment his eyes saw Parker advancing.
"Dr. Parker!" Lucas squealed. Parker smiled at the use of his title and given name. He remembered calling his own father Dr. Eli when they had first met. It seemed more fitting than Dr. Sullivan. Tessa didn't seem to notice the informality, and he decided not to mention it, simply allowing the children to call him that from now on.
Tessa, Sadie and Emma all turned quickly as well, smiles shining at him. He noticed that it was Tessa's left eye that was bruised. It was still a bit purple, but had a yellow outline so it must have happened more than a week ago. Her eye looked the right color, and she could smile without wincing, which was a good sign. Perhaps later he would ask to touch it to make sure the bone underneath wasn't fractured at all. Convinced that she was alright for now, he focused his attention on her younger siblings.
"It's so good to see you all, what a pleasant surprise! You didn't have to stand out here to wait for me; you should have gone into the parlor. Julia was a little excited to see you all, she probably forgot to offer."
"Oh no, she offered," Tessa explained. "I told her that we weren't staying long, and that we could wait right here."
"Not staying long? You didn't come to visit?" he tried to keep the disappointment from his voice. He had been wanting to call on them every day this week, but patients kept interfering with his plans. One day, he had gotten as far as the corner, when someone screamed his name, claiming their daughter was having an allergic reaction that was so severe she was unable to breathe.
"Well, the children made you cards, and they wanted you to have them, but we didn't want to impose."
"It's no imposition at all, Julia was just checking my appointments before you arrived, and I'm free for the rest of the day. Won't you stay for dinner, and perhaps a game of cards?"
"Oh Parker, we really don't want to be any trouble," Tessa insisted.
"No trouble at all, in fact, I've been wanting to play cards, but haven't been able to find any opponents..."
"We'll play with you, Dr. Parker!" Lucas squealed, jumping up and down excitedly. "We made up a new game; we'll teach you!" Parker couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm, and noticed that even Tessa was laughing. He hadn't seen her laugh before, and the sight of it did something to his insides, something very unfamiliar.
"Excellent! Miss Evans, would you please stay for supper and allow me the pleasure of beating your younger siblings in a game of cards?"
Tessa's eyes shifted amongst her brother and two sisters, all of whom were looking at her eagerly, waiting for her approval. Finally, she brought her beautiful blue eyes back to his own and gave a slow nod, sending the children into delighted cheers.
"Alright, Lucas, Sadie, you know where the cards are, go set up while I have a word with your sister."
They didn't hesitate, the three younger Evans children rushed into the parlor as soon as he gave the instructions. Tessa's smile had gone from one of appreciation, to one of uncertainty. He hadn't wanted to scare her, but he did want to know what was going on with that eye.
"Tessa, I don't want you to think I'm intruding. I know we've only met two times, and I know we're not very familiar. However, I do hope you'll answer the next question honestly."
"Please, you've already done so much for us, the least I can do is be honest. Though, I have to admit, I don't know what you could want to know..."
He took a step nearer to her and asked quietly, "What happened to your eye, Tessa?"
Her hand shot to the bruised eye, covering it instantly, "It's nothing, really."
"Ah, there is the answer I was afraid of. I'm not planning on doing anything about i
t, Tessa, I'd just like to know how it happened to know if there is any danger of more severe injuries than a bruise."
Tessa looked up at him, pushing her lips to one side of her face, crossing her arms across her chest. Her head fell after a moment, and she answered, in a whisper. "Someone hit me."
"What? Who?" Parker asked, anger filling him. That was one answer he was not expecting for some reason. In the time he had to configure what could have happened, the thoughts that entered his mind were filled of her falling down a few steps, or running into something hard. Never did it enter his mind that she had been struck. Who could have possibly hit her? She lived with her siblings, all of whom adored her, and weren't large enough to inflict that severe of a bruise. At the same time, he had seen where they were living. There was no one to protect her.
"A man who lives in the shanty town with us."
Parker lifted her chin with his finger and looked directly into her eyes, "Are you safe there?"
Tessa swallowed roughly and nodded.
He continued his stare and added softly, "If that ever changes, you can come to me. Right away, Tessa. Do you understand?"
"Yes, thank you Parker, but I think we'll be alright. If it ever changes, you will be my first visit."
"Thank you," he sighed, feeling a bit better at her answer. "Now, I believe some children will be expecting me for a card game. Why don't you go talk with my sister Julia? She is probably in the kitchen working on dessert. Don't feel like you have to help, but she's very excited to get to know you."
"Oh, really?"
Parker laughed, "Yes, but don't worry, she's very personable, and will probably do most of the talking herself."
"Alright, I'll see you at dinner, and, thank you."
"Tess," he called after her. She turned quickly, her eyebrows raised as if to say, "Yes?" "That dress looks nice on you, a perfect fit."
She blushed at the compliment, but he knew it had been important to compliment her. If he was correct, she hadn't been complimented in years.
Parker smiled, and watched as she wandered toward the kitchen. It seemed as if she walked on air, her toes making contact with the floor beneath her, but the rest of her foot seemed to skim across it. Just watching her walk was like watching a slow and delicate waltz. Her dress brushed rhythmically behind her knees, and her short, curled brown hair swayed with each step. Julia was right; there was something very special about Tessa Evans.
* * *
"I adore her!" Julia squealed the moment after Parker closed the door behind Tessa and her family. "She's beautiful, sweet, caring and entirely wonderful."
"You know all this from one evening?"
"Of course! I dare you to say you didn't come to the same conclusion the first time you met her."
Parker turned quickly, unbelief on his face, but knowing he couldn't deny her claim. "You are quite a character Julia Sullivan."
"Well, I can't help it! You know I always have to tell you exactly how I'm feeling," she sighed. "I think you have to marry her."
"Jules, you are going a bit too far, don't you think? I've only seen her three times!"
"You care about her; I can tell by the way you look at her."
"I care about you too, but I'm not about to marry you! And I've known you for...how old are you again?"
"Seventeen, and of course you wouldn't marry me, I'm your sister! It still counts you know, even though you're adopted. I can tell you don't think of her the same way you think of me. If you married her, you could save her from that horrible shanty and from starving to death!"
"Neither of which are good reasons to marry a person," Parker laughed.
"Maybe not the best reasons, but they would be good ones, besides, I'm sure you're in love with her."
"Julia!"
"Really Parker, I know you better than anyone, except for maybe Momma. Even still, I'm quite certain that you're in love with her." Her tone was sassy; she even had her hands on her hips as if to strengthen her point.
"Julia, I am not going to walk myself down to the Evans' shanty and ask Tessa to marry me right now. In fact, I'm not sure I'll ever ask Tessa Evans to marry me. I'm glad you liked her, and I'm sure she would love a friend. It seems like she is very alone, and only has the children for company in the shanty. Life hasn't been easy for her, and if you like her so much, maybe you should go visit her."
Julia plunked down into the nearest chair, and cocked her head, staring at Parker with wide eyes. "That's a great idea, Park! I'll go visit her tomorrow."
Parker laughed, dropping a heavy hand onto his sister's head, "Maybe tomorrow would be a little overwhelming, perhaps sometime later this week."
"Of course, you're right Park, I'll go visit on Thursday, yes, Thursday."
Chapter 6
"Lucas, Sadie, get your things please, it's time to go to the library." Tessa called, scraping a stick over her teeth in lieu of a toothbrush. "Actually, Lucas, why don't you get everything together, and Sadie, would you pull a brush through Emma's hair?"
"Sure, Tess," Sadie answered, throwing her arms around the toddler. Emma squealed in excitement, then sat perfectly still while Sadie combed her hair.
Tessa pinned her own hair away from her face, and gathered the three pencil stubs that the librarian had been gracious enough to give them last week. Lucas held two worn notebooks in his hands ready to go. Sadie held Emma's hand, and the young family departed their dilapidated home. Lucas skipped out in front, while the girls walked slowly behind. Tessa watched with a smile as Emma bobbled down the dirt path. They had nearly reached the main road when Tessa heard her name. She turned to see Jerry hurrying toward them. She didn't know if she should run or smile. Part of her was still frightened by the way he had treated her a week ago.
"Tessa, wait!" he called again.
She called to the children and waited for him, feeling confident that they were in public and he wouldn't raise a hand to her today. "How are you, Jerry? We were just on our way to the library," she said, trying to sound normal.
"I'm alright I guess, I've been worried about you. I wanted to come to see you all, but I wasn't sure you'd welcome me after what I did. I just wanted to apologize, I was upset, and had too much to drink. I hope you'll forgive me. I wanted to buy you all dinner to make up for it."
"Oh, that would be very nice, we're just heading to the library now for lessons, but we'll be back in time for dinner."
"Excellent, well, don't make anything, I'll be by with something. Have a good day at the library, I'll see you later."
Tessa breathed a sigh of relief as he turned and retraced his steps. She had felt incredibly anxious the entire time they spoke. Despite wanting to turn him down for dinner, she couldn't refuse a meal. God was providing for her and her siblings through Jerry, and she couldn't let her fear cause them all to go hungry. Shaking off her discomfort, she moved her brother and sisters up the hill toward the public library. The door to the old building swung open easily. Tessa located an empty table, and set Lucas and Sadie up there, while she took Emma to the children's section.
"I want this one!" Emma screamed, jumping up and down at the sight of the very first book she came to.
Tessa laughed, "We read this one last week, maybe we'll pick a new one."
"This one!" Emma yelled, picking up another book on the shelf.
"Excuse me, but I'm going to have to ask you to be more quiet... Oh, Tessa!" the librarian smiled, having just turned down the aisle toward them.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Bruner, she just gets so excited."
"Oh please, don't worry about it. Of course Miss Emma may get excited about the books! Would you like me to read with her for a while so you can get the others started?"
"Would you please Mrs. Bruner, that would be such a great help. I'm afraid Lucas is starting to get frustrated with his reading."
"Please my dear, it's not as if I have much more to do. We're being so careful with lending books, that there isn't much to shelve. Besides, most of the people th
at come in now days do so just to get out of the weather. I find myself a librarian without a cause, that is, until little Emma comes in. You four are the highlight of my week."
"Thank you for saying that, Mrs. Bruner; coming to the library is our favorite activity as well. Now Emma, would you like Mrs. Bruner to read with you?"
The toddler smiled her curls bouncing as she nodded her head. "I like to read."
"Alright, if you need me, I'll be with Lucas and Sadie."
Emma nodded again, and let herself be led away by Mrs. Bruner. Tessa took a seat at the head of the table where Lucas and Sadie sat. "Sadie, go and get the history book again, you remember where it was right? I want you to read the next chapter and write a summary about it. Remember, you need to write very small, I only want half a page. And Lucas, we're going to go pick out a book, with pictures for the two of us to read."
"With pictures!" Lucas said excitedly.
Tessa laughed, "Yes, I thought we could use some pictures this week."
"Are you going to read to me? Because my tongue trips over the words."
"No, you are going to read to me, but I'll help you with the words you trip over." Tessa leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. She ran her finger over the scar that remained from his stitches, and remembered again, how kind Parker had been to them.
They sat in the library for two hours, Sadie moving through history, to arithmetic, to science, and Lucas spending his time on reading. Emma was a perfect angel and stayed by Mrs. Bruner's side the entire morning. She loved helping with the books, and while Tessa was sure that she created more work than she did help, Mrs. Bruner insisted that she was a delight. When they were finished with lessons for the day, Tessa thanked Mrs. Bruner, who had four wrapped brownies for the family.
"Oh, Mrs. Bruner, we couldn't."
"Please, Tessa, I made them special for you, I figured the kids could use a sweet treat. I will see you all next Thursday," she smiled at them brightly, waving as they walked out of the library.
Tessa ushered the children out of the library and walked them up the street to get into the bread line. The line was long, as usual, and Tessa began her favorite game to keep the children entertained while they waited. As they stood, she told the children to freeze and then judged the statues they created. Sadie generally opted for something simple, but she was able to stand alarmingly still. Lucas' statues were more creative, in the first round today, he posed like a camel, and his attempt at making a hump on his back was quite humorous. Emma didn't quite understand the game yet, she would freeze for about a minute, but then giggles would take her over. Usually, she helped Tessa judge. Today, they got through eight rounds of statues before reaching the front of the line.
