Edwina

by Patricia Strefling

Chapter 51

  “Thank ye for dinner, lass. I shall not forget your assistance,” Mr. Dunnegin stated before she exited the car at the hospital.

  “Not likely. You’ll have to pay through the nose for it,” she teased and took Reardon’s offered hand. She leaned down and said, “I will pray for you.” Mr. Dunnegin’s eyes caught hers.

  “Thank ye, lass.” He handed her the box of precious pictures. Edwina took the box and with a look told him she would care for them with her life. Reardon waited by the door until she was inside the hospital.

  Lord, I walked out of here dejected, and you’ve brought me back with a job to do. Please, Lord, help Mr. Dunnegin to win. Help Paige to get better. And, Lord, please forgive me for the mess I’ve made.

  Edwina’s shoes clicked as she skimmed across the floor toward Paige’s room. She needed to put her arms around the little girl. Heart jumping wildly in her chest, Edwina put her hand over it.

  She knocked first and opened the door slowly. At first glance she saw the Gillespies each in a chair, each with a weary look. Their faces brightened, “Then ye’ve not gone, lass?” Mrs. Gillespie hugged her.

  “Nay, and I shall not until the... until Laird Dunnegin tells me to go,” she said forthrightly.

  “Now there’d be a bonny lass.” This from the older man.

  “I am to give you orders from your employer.” They gave her their attention. “He has given me the word that both of you are to go home and sleep. I am to stay with Paige.” Their bodies relaxed slightly. Edwina knew they had kept the secret of Paige’s grand-father well; she had never heard a disparaging word from either of them.

  “Ye’re sure, lass?”

  “Would Mr. Dunnegin tell you anything but the truth?” She teased lightly, hoping to encourage them.

  “Aye, he would not,” came the reply. “Come missus, we shall be aboot our duty.”

  Edwina walked them to the door, whispering, “I will stay until you have rested, and then of course, you should return.”

  Their smiles of gratefulness told her she’d spoken well.

  “Now Paige, it’s you and me,” Edwina whispered, smoothing the covers that lay over the small body. “I have a surprise for you when you wake up. We shall talk about your mother. I have pictures.”

  She couldn’t fill up her eyes enough with the patient whose soft brown eyes were hidden in sleep. Her heart leapt at the second chance she was being given.

  Edwina found a chair and dozed. Her nerves had settled down, and she wanted to be awake when Paige woke. There was so much to tell her.

  She had not thought to call Cecelia or Spencer about the accident. They were busy, and besides, she was a grown woman and should take charge of her own life. Perhaps Mr. Dunnegin had told Cecelia before he left. He did say Cecelia had helped him locate attorneys.

  An hour passed in sweet relief. She was where she should be. Awake now, she held Paige’s hand and waited. A tap sounded at the door.

  The lighting low, it was difficult to see who approached.

  “Ilana,” Edwina whispered.

  “I’ve come to assist.” She gave Edwina the evil eye. “Where is Alex?”

  “He left for America.”

  “When?”

  “Several hours ago.” Edwina saw her veiled reaction. The woman was a

  coiled snake waiting for the right moment to strike. Besides, how did she know about the accident? And why wasn’t she surprised to see her here?

  “I have only just heard about the child’s accident. You may go. I will stay with her.”

  She didn’t move. Edwina formed her words carefully. She didn’t want to cause any more trouble. “I cannot.”

  “You may leave.” Ilana’s dark eyes bore into hers.

  Edwina remembered what Mr. Dunnegin said. Ilana was not the woman he thought her to be. This was not a good thing. And she was not confrontational. If someone dismissed her, she usually went.

  “It would be good if you left, Ilana. I think perhaps you should call Mr. Dunnegin and speak with him.” Edwina would not allow her eyes to drop to her kneecaps. Not this time. She stood to her feet.

  “I’ll do just that, miss. And you will find yourself relieved of your position.” She turned and sashayed out the door, her gold dress shimmering as she passed through the low-lit room.

  “You are beautiful, Miss Ilana, but you are not kind,” she whispered.

  Her heart was not racing, and Edwina was surprised.

  Paige began to waken. She mumbled “mommy” several times. Edwina stepped to her bedside and murmured, “I’m here, Paige. I’m here.”

  The child tried to lift her arms, but plastic lines held them captive. “Don’t try to move, sweetheart. I will come to you.” Edwina climbed up next to her and lay carefully so as not to hurt her.

  “Can I have mummy’s hat?”

  “Sure. It’s here on the table across the room. I’ll get it and come back.” Edwina moved off the bed and retrieved the cap.

  Climbing back on the bed, she lay it in Paige’s hand. “There it is in your right hand.”

  Her eyes struggling to stay open gazed at her right hand. The smile on her face was Edwina’s reward.

  For the next five days Edwina and the Gillespies took turns feeding, playing, and sleeping in the same room with Paige. Each day she began to move about more. The first few hours sharing her mother’s pictures had been Edwina’s joy. She had introduced the child to the one who had borne her and loved her for the first four months of her life. At times Edwina wept for the mother who would not raise her own child. What a gift Elizabeth had given them all.

  And for the next five days they wrung their hands. They had not heard from the laird. How had Mr. Dunnegin fared in court? Would the grandfather come and take Paige away from them? Edwina could not fathom even the thought of that. What would Mr. Dunnegin do? And the Gillespies.

  And what had happened to Ilana? If that woman knew of Paige’s whereabouts, maybe others did, too She knew now why Alex Dunnegin had been so concerned about Paige’s existence.

  “Do you think Bertie would like to come?” Edwina asked Mrs. Gillespie on the fifth day.

  “Nay, she barely knows the child. She has to keep the castle running as though she serves only the Laird. She never visits the farm for fear of being followed.”

  “Is that why Mr. Dunnegin moved Paige to the manor? To hide her away?”

  “Oh yes. Even when the laird married the young Elizabeth, he kept her at the manor. Her father had spies looking for the lass. Not because he loved ’er, mind ye, but because he needed her to come back to run the company. She’d been the nicest lady amongst all those wolves, ye know. And when she left... well, don’t ye know the good folks didn’t like ’er auld man. He needed ’er back.”

  Edwina was beginning to understand everything now. And her conscience smarted. She’d judged so wrongly. Why had she assumed things were as they seemed? She made a choice that day never to disregard the fact that people need to do things sometimes that others may not understand—and that did not give her reason to judge them.

  Walk a mile in their shoes, came to mind.

  When it came time to release Paige, the Gillespies signed her out. Oh, how Edwina wished Mr. Dunnegin would call. What was keeping him so long?

  She’d already broken the promise she made not to inter- fere. God was in his heaven, and everything would be all right.

  Six days after the accident, Paige came home. Edwina and the Gillespies played nursemaid to their patient. Her every wish was granted. Until the fourth day.

  “I want to see Silsee,” she whined.

  “Aye, ye’ll not be getting off that bed yet, lass,” the older woman said. “I’ll bring ye fresh pillow covers now and brush out your hair.”

  Edwina smiled as Mrs. Gillespie walked out of Paige’s room. “Out in the barn and two broken legs... ach.”

  “You’ll take me won’t ye, teacher?” Edwina knew she was being discreetly lambasted.

&nbs
p; “I’ll not,” she countered. “But I’ll get the puzzle we were working on, the one with the daisies.”

  “I don’t want it. I want to pet Silsee. She needs me. I’m her mommy.”

  Edwina saw her need, but could not grant it. She had stopped calling her mommy so often, and she was glad. The child did not need to confuse her real mother with her teacher.

  “Be a good lass. You’ll be out there soon enough. I’ll go out and pet Silsee myself and tell her mommy’s coming out in a few more days, okay?” She mussed Paige’s hair.

  “Okay, but she won’t like it.”

  “Like what?”

  “You’re not her mommy.” Paige tilted her head just so.

  “You’re right. And I’m not your real mommy either, but know what? Your real mommy can’t be here, so I’ll be here for just a little while longer, just like Silsee. She’ll have her mommy back—you!”

  Edwina thought herself clever on how she had just explained the mommy situation when she heard, “Yes, but my mommy isn’t coming back.”

  Edwina’s hopes crashed at her feet. So much for trying to explain why death took her mommy away. Forever.

  There was no good explanation, Edwina decided. “You’re right, sweetie. It is true.”

  Paige pouted for a long time. Edwina let her. She needed to grasp the truth and to grieve. All would come in due time.

  “I’ll be gone for a while. Why don’t you take a nap? Then you’ll be rested because we’re going to stay up late tonight.”

  Paige’s face brightened, but Edwina could see she was tired.

  “Go to sleep now. I’m off to the barn to pet Silsee and tell her her real mommy’s coming in a few days.”

  Paige never answered, her eyelids already fluttering.

  Late into the night Edwina played games with her charge. During Monopoly she challenged Paige to make decisions, count money, and learn how to sound out names on the board.

  The Gillespies long off to bed, she pattered to the kitchen in bare feet and robe looking for a treat for the two of them and returned with two frosty bowls.

  “Ice cream!” Paige shouted from her bed. “Do you like ice cream?” Edwina played the fool.

  “You know I do... don’t you?”

  “Of course. Silly girl. I love it too, remember?” Edwina pulled her into conversations to keep her awake and active so as not to notice her bedridden state. This was not going to be easy.

  “When is father coming?” She slurped from her spoon.

  “I’m sure I don’t know, ye wee lass.”

  “You’re not Scottish!”

  “I know, I know.” Edwina slurped her ice cream and made the child giggle. “You mustn’t do this when people are about, Paige.”

  “I won’t. And you won’t either will you, Miss Blair?”

  “Oh no, it wouldn’t be nice at all.” Edwina slurped loudly.

  They fell over laughing.

  The phone rang, startling both of them. Edwina untangled herself from the bedding and ran to answer it.

  “Hello?”

  “Miss Blair?” It was Paige’s father.

  “Yes.”

  “I am coming home—”

  “Is Paige—?” She knew she interrupted.

  “Yes. She’s safe with me for now.” Edwina clapped her hand over her mouth. She wanted to cry.

  “Thank God.”

  “Thank God, indeed.” He sounded tired. “Is she doing well?”

  “Yes, very well. We’re playing games right now.”

  “This late into the eve?”

  “Yes, but I’m also holding classes at the same time. And helping her forget she cannot run yet.” She was whispering.

  “Ah, ever the lass who would be aboot running, eh?”

  “Yes.” Edwina smiled.

  “Reardon is bringing me now. I should be there in a few minutes.”

  “Now?” Edwina wanted to shout.

  “Aye. Is that a problem, lass?”

  “Ah, no, of course not. I have to go.” Alex Dunnegin was left on the line. Edwina had already run to Paige and said loudly,

  “Your father’s coming. I’ll be back. Don’t move, Paige, please don’t move.”

  The child looked at her as though she’d grown donkey ears.

  Down the hall she went. She looked like a hooligan with her hair tied up in knots, sticking out all over her head. She had shoved it into a rubber band and forgotten it, not to mention she was in her raggedy pajamas. Not suitable clothes for teacher, nor a woman about to see her employer. Tossing off her robe and ripping her pajamas off at the same time, she danced around, heels pounding on the floor as she tried to remember where she’d put her pants. Rifling through the closet, she finally found something to wear. Not exactly formal, but what did the man expect at this hour? It was well past midnight.

  Where was her brush? She always kept it in the same place, but of course it was not to be found. She heard the front door open.

  There it lay where she’d put it earlier. She pulled out the rubber band, jerking strands of hair with it. “Ouch.” She combed through it quickly, washed her face, and took a quick peek in the mirror.

  It would have to do.

  Hauling in a deep breath for good measure, she eased out the door and made her way slowly down the hall, listening. Mr. Dunnegin and his daughter should have some time together alone.

  “Father, you should see me ride my bike. Miss Blair bought it for me, and... and . . .” Her face fell as she remembered. “It got broken.”

  “Yes, it did. But ye’re all right, lass.”

  Edwina couldn’t help but draw closer to see them together. Was he hugging her? Telling her how much he loved her?

  She stepped closer and clamped a hand over her mouth. The big Scot was crying. Not so his daughter could see, but Edwina could see through the crack in the doorway. He held her in his embrace, arms around her narrow back. She turned away, angry that she had been so nosy.

  She realized then that she was still barefoot—thankfully. They would never know she’d seen. She tiptoed away to her room, put the things away she’d thrown in her hurry, then got down on hands and knees looking for those infernal shoes.

  That’s how Mr. Dunnegin found her. Payback. She had not shut her door.

  She looked up and saw he was standing there with a smirk.

  “Lost yer shoes?”

  She looked at him with side-glance. “How did you know?”

  “Cecelia says you never wear your shoes when you’re supposed to. But that I already knew.”

  “She did? You do?” Edwina liked hearing her sister’s name. She missed her dreadfully this minute, suddenly feeling like the third wheel.

  “Aye. She told me other things too.”

  “Oh boy.” Edwina sighed.

  “Tis a good sister ye ’ave.” And beautiful too was sure to follow, but it didn’t. She scolded herself for being so jealous of her sister and the Scot. They’d had plenty of time together, Spencer reporting that the two had gone together to South Carolina. She waited for the next sentence to be, “We’re getting married, Edwina.”

  “We’re getting married, Edwina,” she heard, and her head popped up. She tried to stand and caught her toe in the hem of her other pant leg.

  “I knew that.” She dusted off her hands, glad the truth was out.

  “How’d ye know, lass?”

  “Well... I just knew,” And heaven forbid, she didn’t know what came over her next, but she told him. “I even wrote a story about it.”

  “Aye, and will ye show it to me then?”

  “No... you don’t really want to... it’s a first draft. Nothing a guy would want to read anyway.” She pooh-poohed him, her heart breaking even though she should be happy for her sister.

  “I would read it.”

  Oh boy, the stubborn Scot came out. Why had she opened her big mouth? Then she thought of something. And it was true. “I threw it away.” She smiled.

&nbs
p; “Ah, then I shall have to hear you tell me the story.” He didn’t sound too angry.

  “Oh, it was nothing. Did you and Paige have a good reunion? Everything is okay, then?”

  She was talking too fast and too much. “Ye changed the topic... again.” She tossed him a gaze, but couldn’t think of a single retort. He was much too comfortable standing there, shoulder against her door jamb, strong arms crossed over his chest, seeming to enjoy her discomfort.

  “The lass sleeps. She is glad to see her father. I’ll be in my office.”

  Oh no... the trash. Her novel was in the trash. She had to think of a way to get it before he set eyes on it. Edwina’s mind raced. How embarrassing would that be? If he found it, it would be easy to see that he had been the hero and Cecelia his beloved. It shouldn’t matter now after his declaration of intent to marry Cecelia... but it did.

  “Sir... I... would like to go in and clean up before you try to work on the desk. The books are piled so high, and Paige’s chair needs to be disassembled.”

  “It’s late. Go to your bed,” he ordered.

  What now? Her mind screamed for a reasonable answer, but none came. She would have to cause a diversion. “I think my shoes are in there, under the desk. May I?”

  “Of course.” He set out on her tail. This was not going to be easy. Barefooted she walked in nonchalantly but set her eyes upon the yellow pads in the trash can. Her goal was to grab all five of them and get out quick. She busied herself putting away the books and eyed him to see which way he was going to take. If he went behind the desk, she could scoot the trash can her way while she pretended to look for her shoes on the floor. If he took the notion to go to the chairs near the windows, that would give her the chance to slip down to her knees, pull the trash can to her, and run with the goods.

  She put a few more books away, waiting for him to take his position in the room. She watched hawkeyed and saw her cue. He seemed knee-deep in thought, standing near the windows, reading the papers he’d gathered. She slipped to the floor, grabbed the trash can, and pulled it to her slowly. Not even a squeak. She was almost home. Carefully reaching for the pads, she started to pull them out and noticed some- thing move.

  Shoes. His shoes were off to the left. Surely he wasn’t... drat. Red-faced and feeling foolish, she slowly looked up. She felt hog-tied for sure.

  “Ah, the story.” He leaned over and took the pads from her hands. She held on for as long as she could, but he pried them from her.

  “Look, you’re not going to read that are you?” She stood up and dusted off her pants to keep from looking at him. He could surely read the humiliation in her eyes.

  When he didn’t answer, she snuck a peek at him. He was staring at her blouse. What was up? He continued to look, so what else was there to do but look down? Had she forgotten to button up her blouse?

  Her eyes followed to where his looked. Her blouse was buttoned all wrong—one tail was longer than the other one. She shook her head. This was so painful; it felt like she might die of something akin to mental appendicitis.

  “Ye dressed quickly?” He stated the obvious.

  She wanted to say, “Duhhhh.” What else could possibly go wrong? And this on top of everything that had happened to Paige. It was a wonder he had any patience at all with her.

  The hilarity of it all struck her like a Chinese gong. She started to giggle like the day Reardon brought the truck bumping and backfiring all the way home with those bikes in the back. She’d started, and now there would be no stop- ping . . .

  “Did you know,” she broke into hysteria again, “that your man Reardon drove me home in... your truck... the rusty red one out back... with the bikes in the back?” She fell over at the waist, tears coming from her eyes.

  The Scot had a huge smile on his face, almost in relief it seemed, but she could barely look into his face without cracking up again.

  “We... we... he... there was hay sticking out from all over... and his gloves . . .” She broke up again. “His gloves... he threw them in the trash can... they were that dirty.”

  Now the Scot had taken a step back and stood, feet apart, with his arms crossed over his chest. He smiled and was almost laughing with her.

  “I’ve never heard ye laugh like that,” he stated.

  “I only have once... when Reardon . . .” She couldn’t finish.

  “He drove the auld truck, eh? Into Edinburgh?”

  “Yes... and... back.” She tried to cool her raging red face by fanning it. She’d totally lost control.

  “You have been through too much, lass. You’re losing your mind.”

  “Wouldn’t you if you’d been through all this and then—” She stopped.

  What now? She was going to cry? She was out of control.

  “The lass was chasing her mother’s hat. It had blown off, and she was chasing it,” he said quietly.

  Edwina looked up into the tall Scot’s eyes.

  “That still doesn’t—”

  “Shush, Edwina,” he ordered. She clamped her mouth shut and clasped her fluttering hands together in front of her waist. When the Scot took a step closer, she just about died.

  This was too much. She turned and stalked away, her bare heels banging on the floor. She had to get away.