Love and Misfortune

by Kitty Parker

  "It was, wasn't it." Parker commented. "I think Dad is going to get a fire going. Momma bought some sausages for us to roast."

  "Maybe you could help me with something?" Uncle Quinn asked, a devious expression on his face.

  Parker laughed, his uncle was always coming up with some scheme. Usually his goal was to make Aunt Olivia blush or embarrass one of his children or young boarders. "What is it this time, Uncle Quinn?"

  "Do you think we could set up the gramophone near the window and play a tune or two? I think your aunt might enjoy a dance in the moonlight," he smiled.

  Parker couldn't agree more, except it wasn't his Aunt Olivia that he was thinking of, but Tessa Evans. Knowing that she was trying to get Julia and Keith closer, she would enjoy the idea of a dance. He could easily persuade her to dance with him in order to entice Julia and Keith to do the same thing. "I think it's an excellent idea, I'll go get it set up."

  Uncle Quinn nodded with a smile, "Oh, Park, make it a slow song," he winked.

  Parker laughed as he snuck into the house. He moved the gramophone from the parlor and situated it beside the window in the kitchen, which was the closest window to all of the festivities outside. He set it to play then raced back outside. Uncle Quinn had already swept Aunt Olivia up into his arms, and he watched as his father bowed before his mother, asking her to dance. The older couples were swaying happily to the music when Parker approached Tessa. She was bouncing Emma on her lap in tune to the music.

  "Care for a dance?"

  Tessa blushed, "Oh, I shouldn't."

  "Come on, I think if we dance, Keith might ask Julia," he whispered, leaning close to her ear.

  Tessa turned to look at Julia, who was still sitting with Keith. She looked up and offered her hand to Parker, who pulled her up and out of her chair. Respectfully, he placed his other hand around her waist and moved her closer to the small fire his father must have started before he got the music playing. He watched over Tessa's head as Keith extended his hand to Julia, who blushed from head to toe. Parker, anxious for Tessa to see what he saw, spun her gently in time to the music. When she returned to face him, she had a huge smile on her face.

  "I have a feeling you'll be up very late tonight," Parker commented.

  Tessa laughed, "I think you're right."

  "Even Sadie and Lizzy are dancing, you girls are going to have a giddy conversation once everyone goes home."

  "You have quite an opinion of girls and their feelings."

  "Not all girls, but I do know my sisters! You won't be able to get that smile off Julia's face and Lizzy will turn pink at the mention of her dancing partner. I'll admit I don't know Sadie as well as my own sisters, but I'm sure it will make for quite an entertaining conversation."

  "I'll be sure to fill you in tomorrow."

  Parker smiled, enjoying the feeling of Tessa in his arms. She looked up at him with admiration as they enjoyed two dances. Even with the cast on her leg she moved gracefully, following his lead with each turn. They continued their conversation as they danced and Parker couldn't remember a moment he had enjoyed more. He didn't wonder why his uncle had asked him to arrange the music. If he was ever lucky enough to marry Tessa, he would relish every moment she spent in his arms.

  Chapter 24

  After a long day of patients, Parker returned home for one more procedure. He was certain that Tessa's leg was ready to come out of the cast. Part of him wanted to leave it encased in the plaster a bit longer, but he knew very well that his reasoning was selfish. He knew that Tessa was thinking about leaving his family's home, something he didn't want to happen. It was his hope that she would want to remain even after the cast was removed, but it didn't seem likely. More and more she talked about what they would do when they left.

  Shaking off the feelings that accompanied the realization of her leaving, he searched the house for his patient. Finally, he found her in the library, browsing through the hundreds of books his family had collected through the years.

  "Looking for something?"

  "Yes, actually I am," Tessa said turning toward him. When she had first moved into their home, she always spun about in shock when he surprised her with a greeting, but now, she seemed almost used to it, comfortable with his presence.

  "Maybe I can help you?"

  She blushed, he didn't think he would ever grow tired of seeing that pink hue stain her cheeks. "This may sound childish, but I was looking forThe Wizard of Oz. Do you know if your family owns it?"

  "Hm, I've never read that one. I'm not sure if we have it or not. Momma always read a lot to the kids."

  "I've checked most of the lower shelves; maybe you could use your height and assist me with the higher ones?"

  He wanted to laugh at the bluntness of her question. When she had first arrived she was afraid to ask for favors, and he would often find her struggling with something that she should not be attempting. Now, she seemed at ease enough with him and his family to ask when she needed help. Her life had woven so perfectly with his own that he could not imagine what would become of it if and when she left. Noticing the expectant look on her face, he forgot his worries and began to search the top shelves for the book she was after.

  "I think I've got it," he announced after browsing the third shelf out of her reach. "Was it written by Frank Baum?"

  "Yes, that's it!" she said excitedly. He lowered his arm and placed the book into her waiting hands. She brushed a finger over the cover and looked lovingly at the picture that was drawn there.

  "My mother read this to me when I was young. She loved to imagine what Oz would be like. I remember, we would be walking through a garden and she would see a flower and say, "I think that flower came from Oz, don't you Tess?"' Tessa laughed at the memory.

  Parker could barely contain his stare. He had so many opportunities to look at this woman, and yet, just now, her face seemed more beautiful than ever as she remembered the mother she loved so dearly and lost. He didn't even have a chance to comment as Tessa continued.

  "Do you know, sometimes I feel like my life has become like this book."

  Parker looked at her in question, though he had never read the book, he knew the basis of the plot. He failed to see the similarity. "I am not an expert on the Wizard of Oz, but, isn't it a story about a girl who finds herself in a strange world, filled with strange things?"

  Tessa laughed, "I know it's not a perfect similarity but I feel like Dorothy did when she walked out of her house after the twister. She opened the door and looked out into a world that she didn't recognize. That's how it was when I walked into shanty town."

  "I thought Oz was supposed to be beautiful?" Parker questioned, partially out of curiosity, and partially to watch her laugh at his persistence to prove her wrong.

  "Well it is!" she said, flailing her arms in exasperation. Her face crunched in thought, it was obvious that she was trying to find the words to explain her thoughts. "I guess, I woke up in a world I didn't know and I feel like I'm trying to find my way back to the life I knew before, like Dorothy."

  "And how did Dorothy get back?"

  "She followed the yellow brick road," Tessa answered simply, opening the book in her hands while she spoke. She found a picture of the yellow brick road and showed Parker proudly, then fell into giggles. "Sounds ridiculous now."

  "No it doesn't. I just think you need to find your yellow brick road," he smiled, watching the joy that blossomed on her face at his comment. He might have told her that she needed to find her yellow brick road, but in his own heart, he was hoping that she had already found it. Parker was more than willing to be the road that led Tessa back to the happiness she had known as a child and young adult. In fact, he found himself praying for that to be true every day.

  Tessa sighed and closed the book, then looked up again at Parker, a question on the tip of her tongue. "Did you just come in to say hello?"

  "Oh!" Parker remembered his purpose in finding Tessa. "You pulled me into your search and I forgot. I think t
oday is a perfect day to take that cast of yours off. What do you think?"

  Tessa's eyes grew wide and her mouth opened in excitement, "Are you kidding? This thing is heavy, hot and itchy. I was ready for it to come off the day you put it on!"

  Parker laughed at her exuberance and escorted her downstairs, feeling confident that she needed no coaxing into the procedure. He helped her up onto his table and put a stool under her leg to keep it still during the process. She watched him with anxious eyes, following his every movement. She was a much quieter patient than her younger brother Lucas, but he didn't mind her eyes lingering on him. It was hard not to start some conversation with her, as his mind was always filled with different things he wanted to know about her, questions he was waiting patiently to ask, but he decided now was not the right time.

  Finally, the cast came completely off, revealing a pale leg with pruned skin. Tessa gasped at the sight of it, "Oh! It looks terrible!"

  Parker laughed, he had heard similar reactions from other patients who had a limb confined in a cast for a long period of time. "It won't look that way for very long, Tess, I promise. Your leg has been in that cast for quite a while, it hasn't seen the sun, or breathed air for a long time. Give it a couple days and you'll be back to normal. If you want, I could lend you a pair of pants to wear to keep it covered until you feel comfortable with it."

  Tessa smiled, reaching out to take hold of his arm, "You're so sweet, Park, thank you. I think I'll be alright in my dresses. I think I was just expecting it to look like it usually did. I'm a bit surprised is all," she looked down at her skirt, then looked back up. "You know, I don't know how I would have gotten through all this without you."

  He felt himself grow warm at her gratitude, "You would have managed just fine, like you always do. You're a strong woman, Tessa Evans. I don't think much would stand in your way of providing for your family."

  "I don't know about that," Tessa said seriously. "I just wanted you to know that your help and friendship has meant the world to me, and I wanted to say thank you."

  Parker didn't like how she was talking, as if she didn't need, or want his help anymore. Her tone was so solemn, as if their friendship wouldn't last past her injury. She had made it known that she didn't plan on living with his parents forever, and he now feared more than ever that she would leave. "You're welcome, Tess," he said as she pulled her hand away. He reached out with his own hand and prevented her from taking it back fully. "And I want you to know how much your help and friendship have meant to me."

  Tessa looked at him, bewilderment in her eyes, "You're welcome."

  Parker held her gaze for a moment, her hand still in his, then he adverted his eyes and once again became the doctor he was trained to be. "Now, you might find that you should still use the crutch for a couple days because it will help you get used to walking without the cast again. You might feel some cramps because of the added freedom, and be careful when bending your leg, it's going to take a while for you to get your flexibility back."

  "Alright," Tessa answered, back to her normal ease.

  "And, when you're ready to walk without your cane, I claim your first walk." As he made his proclamation, she looked at him, puzzled. "We'll go somewhere special, your choice, we can make a day out of it."

  She blushed, "I'd like that, Park."

  "So would I. How about next Wednesday?"

  "Sounds good," she smiled, testing her now free leg. "I need to go find Emma, she'll be excited to see me without the cast. I don't think she liked it very much. She told me I was harder to cuddle with it on."

  Parker laughed, that was exactly something Emma would say. "When I came in she was outside playing in the leaves my dad was raking."

  "Thanks, I'll see you for dinner."

  Parker nodded and watched as she left his fathers study. When she was out of sight, he fell into the large cushioned chair behind the desk and let his head fall into his hands. He was only left to think about his dilemma for a moment before Julia interrupted his quiet.

  "You took Tessa's cast off?"

  Parker looked up, "Yes, it was time."

  "So, she's healed?"

  "In a matter of speaking. She'll still have some stiffness in her leg, but for the most part, she'll be fine."

  "So she can leave?" Julia asked slowly.

  "She can, but I hope she won't."

  "Parker, you have to do something. I really think she's going to leave. We can't let her go back to the shanty! Do you know how easily Jerry could find them? If he attacked her once, he will certainly do it again. We have to protect them!" Julia cried.

  Parker stood and put an arm around his near hysterical sister, "I know exactly how you're feeling, and believe me, I want to do something about it too. The truth is, the Evans are not our family, and we have no say over what they do and do not do."

  "The Evans could be our family," Julia said quickly, locking eyes with her brother.

  "Jules..."

  "No, you listen to me Parker Sullivan, you love her and I know it. As a matter of fact, I'd bet money that she knows it too. If you marry her, she will be family and they won't be able to leave!"

  "Jules, you should know better than anyone else in this household that Tessa doesn't plan to fall in love, or get married."

  Julia's mouth dropped, "How do you know that?"

  "There's no door on the parlor," Parker answered honestly.

  Julia nodded in agreement, deciding that her brother hadn't been snooping. "But you do love her."

  "Yes."

  "I knew it!" she screamed in triumph. "I knew it since the first time I saw her that she was the right girl for you. Parker, we have to do something, you can't just let her get away."

  "I don't plan on it," Parker answered honestly, "but I can't just go running through the house screaming I love you. She has to believe it. She has to believe that I love her because she strong and smart and funny and graceful and sweet and honest. She has to believe that I think her the most beautiful woman in the world and that I don't know how I'll survive without her by my side. She can't think it's because I want to help her out of her troubles. And that is where my difficulty lies."

  Chapter 25

  Tessa placed the hat she had borrowed from Julia carefully over her dark curls. She examined herself once more in the mirror, then left her room. It felt wonderful to walk without the help of her crutch as she descended the grand staircase in the Sullivan's home. Parker was waiting in the foyer for her and smiled as she appeared.

  "I've been looking forward to this walk all day," he smiled, lifting the picnic basket that was waiting at his feet.

  She blushed, "I think I've been looking forward to it a bit longer than you. Perhaps not this walk in particular, but any walk at all."

  "I'm glad my company is so enticing to you."

  Tessa laughed, "You know I didn't mean that."

  "I know," Parker admitted, "you're just fun to tease."

  "I'll take your word for it. Where are we going?"

  Parker smiled, "I thought we'd head down to the waterfront; it's always beautiful, and it's a good walk."

  "Which is, of course, the reason for going."

  "It's certainly not the only reason."

  Tessa smiled and took the arm Parker offered her. Tessa called a goodbye through the house, hoping that Sadie, Lucas and Emma would hear it somewhere. Parker had already arranged for Mrs. Sullivan to keep an eye on Emma, and Lucas and Sadie were always occupied with one of the Sullivan children. It was nice to not have to worry about them for a day. In fact, recently, she hadn't needed to worry about them much at all.

  If she slept in, Mrs. Sullivan looked after Emma. If she needed a bath, Dillon and Ben kept Lucas occupied. And, when she was working on Parker's files, Lizzy kept Sadie engaged in some kind of entertainment. Living in the Sullivan home had been something like a dream.

  "How is your leg feeling?" Parker asked, as they crossed a busy street at a run.

  "I'm fine," she smil
ed, "look, it's even starting to get its color back." She pushed her leg out in front of her, twisting her toe playfully against the ground to show off her leg.

  "You're healing quite nicely," Parker laughed.

  Tessa and Parker continued on their way to the riverfront enjoying light conversation for the entirety of their walk. Tessa always liked talking to Parker; he could make her laugh, and somehow helped her to forget her worries. In all her life she had never had a friend like him. Somehow, not even her conversations with Julia were the same as those she shared with Parker.

  "You know, I really think Julia and Keith make a good match," Tessa smiled. "The way he looked at her at the picnic was so adorable; he must like her."

  "I'd say so; he's been to the house at least fifteen times since then! Usually, he comes and leaves right away, but lately he's been staying a lot longer."

  "I know, just yesterday I heard laughter coming from the parlor. I thought it was you and Julia, but it wasn't; Keith was in there with her. The surprising thing was, Julia was actually talking!"

  Parker laughed, "Which is a miracle in itself. I didn't know my sister was capable of being quiet and withdrawn, but when Keith was around, she proved me wrong."

  "I think she has managed to come out of her shell around him now. What do you think of the match?" Tessa asked. Since Julia's admission of her feelings for Keith, Tessa wondered how the family would feel about her hope for a relationship. While Keith seemed like a very nice young man, there was the fact that he was an orphan. Tessa also wasn't sure if Keith was employed or had any way to support himself. He certainly didn't have the luxury of leaning on his parents like Parker and Julia were able to do.

  "I think he's a good guy; we've always liked Keith. Aunt Olivia usually doesn't make exceptions for letting boys stay with her after they turn eighteen, because there is so much need for her house. But she couldn't bear to let Keith go. He's a smart guy, has a lot of potential, I think he'd be real good for Julia."

  Tessa smiled at Parker's assessment, "I'm glad you approve; Julia will be glad to hear it."