by Lori Wick
“Patrick, oh Patrick,” was all she could say for at least five minutes as she embraced her younger brother. Likewise, Sean held his sister close in his arms for long minutes. At 46, she was five years Patrick’s senior. Her hair was a beautiful shade of gray, and her clothing was well-made and fit her plump figure perfectly. When her brother released her, Maureen wiped at her streaming face and moved to hug Theresa.
“Oh, Theresa. I’ve missed you so. How was the voyage? Oh this can’t be Katie! Oh, my! And Sean, so tall for fourteen!” Her words tumbled over each other as she embraced everyone again and again until she realized she had missed one child.
“Marcail? Where is Marcail?” Maureen caught Kaitlin’s smile over the question and smiled back in understanding.
“Marcail, come out now,” Mother spoke gently. “Aunt Maureen is waiting to meet you.”
The little girl obeyed with obvious reluctance, and Maureen watched as a miniature Theresa stepped from behind Kaitlin.
“Oh my,” Maureen breathed, “she’s a picture of Theresa.” The tears that had ceased began again, and it was some minutes before Maureen could contain herself and tell everyone that her carriage was waiting to take them home.
six
The sights of the docks were too much for the exhausted Donovan family to take in, so everyone’s eyes were trained upon Maureen Kent’s back as she broke a path through the fray.
They stepped around massive coils of rope and barrels stacked high. The air was cold and the sky threatened rain. Overhead, flocks of sea gulls made their presence known with the flap of wings and high-pitched cries.
They hadn’t walked far and before anyone expected it, Maureen stopped beside a large coach, pulled by two perfectly matched bays. Fascinated, the children stared at the horses and rig, then at the coachman who alighted from his high seat to assist them with their bags. They believed in those few moments that their aunt was quite wealthy. It would be some time before they understood that Maureen’s home, carriage and belongings, although ample, were not San Francisco’s finest.
“Is everyone settled?” Maureen smiled in genuine delight at her family as the coach lurched into motion.
“We’re fine,” her brother assured her and smiled. Maureen smiled back and turned to speak with Theresa.
“Were you terribly seasick, Dear?”
“No, the girls and I weren’t sick at all.”
Theresa was mentally prepared for the startled look that came over her sister-in-law’s face. She reached out and took Maureen’s hand. “We’ll talk tonight, when the children are in bed.”
Maureen had to be satisfied with that, but she was shaken. Kaitlin, who had just looked over at her mother and aunt, glanced curiously between them. Theresa, having known that Maureen would see the physical changes in her, was able to smile at her daughter. Maureen was so shaken over what Theresa might tell her later, she could do no more than stare at her oldest niece and then her brother.
“See down this street? Mother and I had an apartment there when we were first married,” Father said.
“Can we go see it?”
“Not today, Marcail. Let’s get to Aunt Maureen’s and settle in. We’re going to be here for a while. I promise you, we’ll see everything. Oh, Maureen, I forgot to ask you if Mitch is in town.” It took Maureen a moment to answer the question about her husband, but she was glad for the diversion.
“No, he’s been gone about three months. He did say that this would be a short trip and maybe he’d be back to meet you before you have to return.”
“Father, did you know we would be going three months ago?” Kaitlin asked in surprise.
“Yep. Kept a good secret, didn’t I?” He winked at his daughter. “Maureen, where is Percy? Still in Europe?”
“Yes. I doubt you’ll see him, unless of course, he runs out of money.” These words were said with a tired sigh.
“Is this where you live, Aunt Maureen?” Sean asked in awe as the carriage pulled up before a large, two-story home. Maureen did not miss the looks of wonder the house was receiving.
“This is the place. You children may not be aware that my first husband, your Uncle Stan, was in real estate. He left me very comfortable.” This was said so matter-of-fact, that Katie blinked. She didn’t know her Aunt Maureen beyond letters over the years and had no idea what a survivor she was.
Her full legal name was Maureen Olivia Donovan Lawton Kent. She was a land owner in her own right and very much in love with her second husband, Mitchell. Mitch’s job with a shipping line never had him in port for more than a few months at a time.
The two of them had no children together, but Maureen did have a son from her first marriage, Percy Lawton. He was much like his hard-working father when it came to spending money, but fell short in his lack of ambition for making the money he so wanted to squander.
Percy was Maureen’s one weakness. Oh, she was aware of his spendthrift ways and his devil-may-care attitude toward life, but the truth was, she loved him to distraction. She honestly believed he would outgrow his immature ways and settle down some day with a lovely woman who would give her a handful of grandchildren to spoil. That Percy was 28 years old and showed no sign of ever changing his ways was where Maureen was utterly blind.
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 wa
tching 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-to-your-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 doctor 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!”