“Her bones are healing. You said so yourself. The pain must have mitigated. So why is she still unconscious?”
Patrick shrugged. “Maybe you should have been a mind doc.”
Frieda swatted him with her papers.
He stared at her with a gleam in his eyes.
“Frieda, we need to get married.” Patrick’s neck turned red before he leaned in a little closer. “Just in case she can hear me, I don’t want her to hear this.” He whispered something in Frieda's ear that made her cheeks heat fast.
“Patrick! You can’t go around saying things like that.”
“Why not? We’re both adults and both doctors. Anyway, what do you say? Do you insist on waiting, or will you put me out of my misery?”
“You better check with your mother. I think she wants a society wedding.”
“Then she can get married again. I’d like to elope.”
“You best get out of here quick, or those types of remarks may have you needing medical care.”
He blew her a kiss and left her with a silly grin on her face. Then she glanced at Leonie and the smile slid away. She couldn’t stay happy when the girl in front of her had so little.
When she got back to the Sanctuary later that evening, she called Sam and Alfred to come speak to her.
“I think you should come and see Leonie tomorrow.”
“Has she woken up?” Sam asked, his eyes hopeful.
“No, not yet, but I think it’s about time she did. She needs a reason to come back to us, and what better than her two little brothers? I think Morris and Carrie might be too young. So will you come?”
Chapter 53
The next morning, Frieda sneaked the twins into the ward with Kathleen’s help. Frieda knew Matron wouldn’t agree with them being here, but she figured it was a risk worth taking. The boys needed to speak to Leonie in private, not at visiting time when they were likely to be recognized. Far too many people knew Leonie’s story, and more than one newspaper reporter wanted to interview the siblings for the family history. Lily was concerned that this may attract Mr. Chivers, and the last thing anyone needed was that man back in the children’s lives.
Frieda sent the nurse on a break, and when the coast was clear, Kathleen brought the boys into the room.
“Leonie, how can you still be asleep? Ain’t you had enough yet? Mama used to say too much sleeping was bad for you. If Mama was here, she sure would be angry with you for lying around all day long doing nothing.”
Alfred glared at his twin. “She can’t do anything, stupid. Her legs don’t work and neither does her head. That’s why she just lies there. She ain’t ever going to wake up again.”
“Don’t you say that, Alfred. You got to wake up, Leonie. Do you hear me?” Sam shook his sister’s arm.
“See, stupid. She ain’t doing nothing. This was a waste of time coming here. Take us home, Frieda.”
Frieda wasn’t listening, her eyes glued to Leonie’s face. Had she imagined it, or had Leonie’s eyes tried to open?
“Boys, be quiet.” She whispered, still staring. “Alfred, take Leonie’s good hand. Sam you hold her arm above that bandage.”
Stunned, the boys did as they were told without arguing.
“Leonie, Sam and Alfred are here. Wake up, Leonie. They want to talk to you. Squeeze Alfred’s hand if you can.”
Frieda listened to Leonie’s breathing and took her heart rate. She hadn’t imagined it, Leonie’s pulse was higher. She was fighting.
“Kathleen, can you find Richard or Patrick please.” She didn’t need to say anything else as Kathleen nodded, her eyes lit up with hope.
“Alfred, squeeze your sister’s hand.”
Alfred gulped before he did so. A huge smile broke through his tears. “She moved her fingers, Frieda! Leonie moved her fingers.”
“Good boy. Can you move over to Sam’s side while I examine her?”
Frieda took Leonie’s hand. “Squeeze my hand, Leonie. Please.”
Leonie squeezed, it wasn’t very strong but it was definitely progress.
“She’s going to get better isn’t she, Frieda?”
“Yes, Alfred, I think so.”
“Leonie. You came back. See, I knew she would. Now who’s stupid?” Sam threw himself at the bed, making Leonie cry out in pain. Her eyes didn’t open. Frieda pulled Sam back, silently berating herself for not anticipating his reaction. She hoped he hadn’t hurt Leonie badly.
“Why isn’t she opening her eyes, Frieda?” Sam asked, his voice trembling. “Did I hurt her too much?”
“No, darling, you didn’t. Your sister’s tired. After sleeping for so long, it takes a lot of effort to move her fingers. We have to go now before the nurse gets back.”
As the twins lips curled, Frieda hastened to add. “I will sneak you back in tomorrow if you leave quietly now. We need to let Leonie rest, and the doctors will want to examine her.”
Alfred put his arm around Sam’s shoulders. “Come on, Sam. Leonie needs us to go home. We have to listen to Frieda.”
Frieda opened the door, checked there was nobody in the corridor, and whispered to the boys to wait for her at the door to the hospital as she couldn’t leave Leonie alone.
She watched them from the open doorway until they were out of sight. Just two seconds later, she saw Kathleen returning with Richard. Kathleen looked around for the boys, Frieda gestured to the door hoping Kathleen wouldn’t say anything to her husband. Frieda intended on keeping her promise to the boys that they could come back tomorrow.
“Kathleen told me she squeezed your hand. Did she open her eyes?”
“No. but they flickered. I’m sure they did. Her pulse was ninety so I believe she was fighting to show us she was awake, but then got too tired.”
Richard examined his patient while Kathleen and Frieda watched, Kathleen holding Frieda’s hand. It was hard to tell who was comforting who.
“She’s breathing a little better, but her pulse has fallen again. Frieda, I don’t need to tell you not to get your hopes up too much. It could have been a reflex.”
Frieda didn’t argue, but she instinctively knew it was Leonie battling to see her siblings.
“Kathleen, take Frieda home and keep her there. Tell Lily or Cook to lock her in her bedroom if necessary. I won’t have my doctors fall ill under my care. Frieda, you are not to come back to the hospital until the morning. Leonie won’t thank you for working yourself to death.”
Frieda nodded.
“I mean it, Frieda. If I see you back here, I will put you on report.”
Her head swung up at the threat. Did he mean it? She couldn’t read his face.
“Come along Frieda, those two boys will be getting up to mischief if we leave them alone for much longer.”
Frieda kissed Leonie on the forehead and whispered into her ear. “I know you are listening. I’ll be back tomorrow. With the boys.”
Chapter 54
The boys were subdued on the streetcar back home. Nothing Frieda or Kathleen tried could make them smile. Once home, they ran to their room and wouldn’t come back out, not even when Cook promised them chocolate cookies.
“Those poor children. I wish Leonie had spoken. What if Richard is right and it was just a reflex? I’ll have got their hopes up for nothing.”
“Stop second guessing yourself Frieda, Richard is a wonderful doctor but you know Leonie as a friend. My husband will be thrilled for you to prove him wrong. So what is your next plan? Are you taking the boys back tomorrow?”
Frieda grinned at the look of support on Kathleen’s face.
“What?” Kathleen asked.
“You like doing battle with Matron don’t you? Are you hoping she’ll catch us?” Frieda teased.
Kathleen’s neck flushed as she denied the accusation. Cook and Lily laughed while Kathleen squirmed.
“I think we should all go. We can take it in turns to sit with Leonie and the boys. They can hide under my skirts if it comes to it.” Cook offered.
Everyone looked at her wide frame and burst into fits of giggles. It was exactly what they needed given the horror of the situation. Cook spread her skirts wide. “Don’t you think there would be enough room?”
“Stop, you’re making my sides hurt.” Frieda begged as one joke after another flew around the room. Frieda thanked God for these women who helped her cope with whatever trauma came her way.
Cook dried her eyes on her apron. “Frieda, this is the best news we’ve had in a very long time. Now off you go to bed. I will bring you up a tray later on. “
Frieda went without argument. She was tired and emotional, and she craved the privacy of her own room. But when she got there, she found Carrie curled up in a ball on Frieda’s bed with her thumb in her mouth.
“Carrie, what’s wrong?”
“Is Leonie dead? Is that why the boys were crying?”
“No, darling. The boys were crying because we think Leonie might get better. They’re happy tears.”
“I cry when I’m sad. It’s stupid to cry when you’re happy.” Carrie protested. Then she wound her arms around Frieda’s neck, and pulled herself onto Frieda’s lap. “Will Leonie really get better? I miss her. She tells the best stories, and she chases away the monsters.”
“What monsters, sweetheart?”
“The ones that come in my dream. They scare me. Leonie used to hold me until they went away. Would you hold me?”
“You want to lie down for a nap?” Frieda clarified.
Carrie nodded, her thumb back in her mouth.
Frieda gathered the child to her, and together they fell asleep. Carrie didn’t cry out once. Cook had to wake them later. When she heard about Carries nightmares, she went away and came back with a ragged looking teddy bear. “This is Pugsly. He’s slept with me every night since I was little. Would you like to borrow him? He stops me getting bad dreams.”
Frieda couldn’t speak. She watched Carrie’s eyes open wider. “For me? Will he stop mine?”
“Yes, of course. He told me he thinks you are a special little girl.”
“Cook, toys don’t talk. I’m not a baby.”
Cook covered Pugsly’s ears. “Don’t let him hear you say that. You’ll hurt his feelings.”
Carrie’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “I’m sorry. Come here Pugsly, I won’t ever hurt you, I promise.”
Frieda mouthed a thank you to Cook. She could only imagine what it had cost her to give away something so precious.
Chapter 55
The next few days passed without any improvement in Leonie, despite the twins visiting every morning. Sam got fractious and insisted he wasn’t going to the hospital again, but Alfred said they were. Frieda watched Alfred as he checked Leonie’s pulse.
“Your mother said you were going to become a doctor or a scientist, Alfred. I think she was right.”
“I’m going to be a doctor and cure people like Leonie. There has to be a way to make her wake up.”
“You just think you’re so wonderful. Leonie isn’t going to get better. She just lies there and doesn’t move. This is a waste of time. She should have just died when the others did.” Sam burst into noisy tears.
“Sam…”
Frieda and the boys stared at Leonie who again whispered, “Sam.”
Sam looked to Frieda who nodded. He moved forward and put his hands in Leonie’s. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said you should have died. I just miss you so much. Please wake up.”
Leonie opened her eyes and looked at Sam before they closed again.
“Frieda, she’s squeezing my hand. She is. See?” Sam grabbed Frieda’s hand and put it on top of Leonie’s. Frieda felt the movement.
“Leonie, thank God. You’re coming back to us. Don’t do too much.”
Leonie whispered, “Sam, Alfred, love you. Love Carrie, Morris.”
“Why does her voice sound so weird?” Alfred asked as Sam just stared at his sister with a big grin on his face.
“She hasn’t used her voice in a long time. It will come back to normal in a little while. Sit down now, and do some of the work Emily gave you. Leonie won't want you falling behind at school.”
For once the boys didn’t argue. They took out their paper and pencils. “I’m going to write to Leonie to tell her all she missed. That way when she wakes up I won’t forget anything.” Sam said.
Frieda looked over their heads at Lily who was struggling not to cry. The nurse who was now in on their secret visits went in search of Richard and Patrick.
Leonie grew stronger over the next hours and days. One morning, Sam climbed up on the bed.
“Careful Sam, your big sister has a lot of bruises from the accident. You’ll hurt her legs.” Frieda glanced at Leonie’s face to check she wasn’t in pain. Leonie looked horrified.
“He’s on my legs? Why can’t I feel him? I can’t move my legs.” Leonie raised terror-filled eyes. “They won’t listen.”
Frieda hoped her voice would sound more confident than she felt. “In time they might, but for now let’s just concentrate on getting you stronger. You’ve been asleep for a long time.”
“You’ve slept for weeks and weeks. You missed the big funeral, and Easter, and Frieda is getting married.” Alfred stood straighter as he spoke. Frieda guessed he was trying to appear older than he was.
“I wanted to tell her that! It’s in my letter. Why do you have to spoil things?” Sam pushed Alfred who pushed him right back.
“Boys. Stop fighting. I already knew about Frieda.”
Frieda blushed at the words. “You did?”
“Yes. You can tell your doctor fiancé that people who lie in bed can still use their ears.”
Frieda turned scarlet, not being able to look Leonie in the eye. She hoped she hadn’t heard everything.
“Frieda, thank you for looking after my brothers. I hope they’ve been better behaved than they were this morning.”
“They were wonderful. They get on so well together, but we figured if they started fighting you might just feel you have to intervene.”
Leonie turned her head to look at her brothers, “You mean you were playacting?”
“Maybe not all of the time,” Sam replied with devastating honesty.
“Sometimes brother, shut your mouth,” Alfred said, grabbing Sam. His squeals brought Matron and some doctors running. Frieda wanted to disappear.
“Dr. Klunsberg, what is the meaning of this? I’ve told you before I won’t stand for disruption on my wards. “
“Sorry Matron, but the boys got so excited because Leonie woke up.”
She saw Richard push his way forward; he gave her a sly wink before turning to Matron. “Isn’t this wonderful news Matron? A miracle if ever there was one! Perhaps you could rustle up a nice cup of tea and some toast for our patient. Thank you.”
Matron didn’t have a choice but to obey. Frieda mouthed a quick thank you to Richard. He smiled back at her before addressing his patient.
“Leonie Chiver, you nearly gave me heart failure on more than one occasion. I hope from now on you will behave like a good patient.”
Patrick came behind Frieda, putting his arms around her waist and laying his head on her shoulder. “Now can we plan our wedding?”
“Put the poor man out of his misery, Frieda, and set a date. Otherwise, find another room to do your courting. This one is mine.”
Leonie waved them off with a big smile as Frieda flushed while Patrick laughed before pulling her out of the room.
Chapter 56
Patrick pushed Leonie’s wheelchair into the church with Frieda walking behind holding Carrie’s hand. “Can I be a bridesmaid at your wedding?” Carrie asked.
“Yes, darling. Alice’s father is getting married, that’s why Emily picked Alice. Now why don’t you sit here beside Leonie.”
“Will you ever get married, Leonie?” Carrie asked with the frankness of a child. Frieda held her breath wondering how Leonie would react. Sometimes, she would smile and answer her si
blings questions, other times she would tell them off.
“I have to learn to walk again first, Carrie. Now be quiet; the service will start soon.”
Carrie shifted in her seat until the music started and then she was all smiles. “She looks lovely doesn’t she? Her dress is so pretty.”
Frieda had to agree as Emily walked down the aisle on Charlie’s arm. Gustav had asked Conrad to be his best man. Maria sat on the other side of the church with Esther and her parents. They had made an effort to come and celebrate the marriage of the man who had saved their daughter. They weren’t the only ones either, as Frieda recognized many of the faces from back in the days of the strike.
She turned back to watch Father Nelson marry Gustav and Emily, her eyes filling with happy tears. Patrick squeezed her hand. “This will be us next. I can’t wait.”
She smiled and squeezed his hand in return. Her finals were coming up, and she didn’t want the thought of exams to spoil her wedding day. The Triangle Shirtwaist Trial was set to start early December. Nobody would be able to concentrate on a party until they got the guilty verdict.
The ceremony flew past. Gustav kissed his wife despite her shyness. Frieda couldn’t tell which of the couple was the happiest. Alice beamed as she followed her father down the aisle. She’d told everyone she couldn’t wait to call Emily mom, and was looking forward to having brothers and sisters. Poor Emily hadn’t known where to look when Alice announced this to the crowded room.
Frieda caught up with Leonie a little bit later. She saw her sitting at the edge of the dance floor.
“Would you like something to drink or eat, Leonie?”
“No, thank you.”
“Leonie, I know it’s hard.”
“You don’t know anything Frieda. You’ve never had to sit in a chair and have your friends and family dismiss your opinions. The fact my legs don’t work doesn’t stop my brain working, does it?”
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