Sunday supper came soon enough. JM was ready to walk up with her and Maggie dragged Ivan along. He only went because he knew Boris would be there. No doubt they’d make excuses and leave right after the meal. Would JM excuse himself shortly after and follow them?
“Behave,” Maggie said to Ivan as they arrived.
Aunt Maude served dinner promptly at seven as usual. Uncle Henry said grace and Maude started on her comments. “It’s too bad Mr. Hollinger couldn’t join us,” she said, her gaze directed at Maggie.
Maggie smiled and passed the chicken platter to Eloise, seated across from her.
“You two were getting to be friends.” Her aunt gave it one more try.
Maggie inclined her head and turned to Uncle Henry. “Did you hit bad weather this trip?”
“We hit rain squalls, but not much wind,” he answered and accepted the chicken from Eloise.
“You really should have arranged for Mr. Kristoff to be here,” Aunt Maude said. “I’m sure he’s gotten to enjoy these dinners.”
“He likes the food,” Uncle Henry said. “That’s all I know. But the rotation is the rotation.”
He turned to Ivan. “How are you doing with the inshore fishing?” he asked. “Will you be ready to give it up and come on board the Lucky Lucy soon?”
Maggie tensed. She didn’t want Ivan on a rum runner’s boat. Although the money was excellent, the danger ran high. Only that spring the US Coast Guard had fired on a runner and ended up sinking it. One of the crew had died.
“I’ll see,” Ivan said. “I might take you up on that offer one of these days.”
“Ivan is studying the navigation material,” JM said. “Boris, why don’t you join him when you’re home? Two learn easier than one.”
Boris, his eyelids drooping and his cheeks flushed, nodded. “I might do that.” He planted his elbows on the table and propped his head in his hands. He hadn’t even put food on his plate yet.
“Now, Boris,” his mother said. “You know better than to put your elbows on the table.”
“Boris, Boris, strong and able,” Lucy chanted, “take your elbows off the table, this isn’t a horse’s stable.”
Boris didn’t remove his elbows. “Sorry, Mother. But I feel terrible. May I be excused?”
His mother threw down her napkin, hurried to his side and placed a hand on his forehead. “Goodness. You’re burning up. Go up to bed and I’ll get you a glass of water and a cool cloth.”
Boris stood, staggered and held on to his chair. Ivan jumped up and helped him. The two headed for the stairs. He was as wobbly as Ivan and Eugene had been after that night of drinking.
“Damn,” Uncle Henry said. “Harvey, our cabin boy, was ill the last few days we were out. He and Boris bunk together. And Harvey broke out in spots the day before we dropped anchor.”
Maggie spoke up. “Spots? What type and where?”
Uncle Henry shifted his gaze. “I’m not sure, but on his face and arms at least. Red ones.”
“He might have measles or chickenpox,” Maggie said. “Both are contagious. We had an outbreak of the chickenpox in the pediatric ward during the war.” She pushed away from the table. “I’m going to check on Boris. Aunt Maude, take his dishes away and wash everything he touched. Be careful and wash your hands with soap as well. Here, give me that glass of water.”
She headed for the stairs and made her way upstairs. “Ivan?”
He stuck his head out of one of the bedroom doors. “In here. I’ve got him in bed.”
“You go down and scrub your hands and arms,” she said, and wash your face. “Whatever he has, it might be contagious.” She checked Boris. He certainly looked ill. “How do you feel?”
“My head and my back are aching and my throat hurts.” He swallowed and grimaced.
“Here, have a sip of water.” She helped him get a few sips from the glass.
Boris closed his eyes, and she fussed with his bedding, pulling the bottom sheet snug and straightening the top one. She turned down all but the lightest blanket and the sheet. “We don’t want you to overheat.”
He groaned and rolled over. In minutes he dozed.
Maggie took one last look and headed back to the kitchen.
Aunt Maude met her in the lower hall. “How is he, should I go up?”
“He’s asleep. He might have chickenpox or measles. Watch for the appearance of red spots. And if they blister, don’t touch them. The fluid is contagious.”
“How do you know all this?” Eloise asked and stepped in beside her mother.
Maggie folded her arms over her middle so she wouldn’t touch anything. “As I said, we had an outbreak at the hospital during the war. The matron made sure we all knew how to recognize both measles and chickenpox and how to deal with them.”
“Does he need medicine?” Aunt Maude asked and twisted her napkin. “What should I do?”
“Keep him as cool as possible, but not chilled. Keep him drinking tepid water. If he gets itchy, you can use calamine lotion but be sure to wash your hands after applying it.”
“I have some,” Aunt Maude said. “I got it when Lucy decided bees would make good pets.”
“Bees are not pets,” Lucy declared from the kitchen. “They have sharp tails and they sting.”
Maggie smiled at Lucy and turned back to her aunt. “Also, you can apply damp cloths to his forehead and the back of his neck. Or pat his skin with them if he gets itchy. Make sure they are lukewarm, not hot and not cold. You don’t want to overheat him and you don’t want to shock him with cold water. If you want, add a bit of vinegar to the water. It helps the itch. Of course, he might not itch. Some do, some don’t. And if it is measles, no itch.”
“I can help,” Eloise said. “I can take him water and I can take care of Lucy.”
“Lucy can take care of Lucy,” the little girl said. “You can help Mama take care of Boris.”
“Thank you, Lucy. That will be a big help.” Maggie looked around the table. “First, who here has already had chickenpox?”
The results of her question were encouraging. All the adults had had it. “It is unusual for a person to get it twice,” she said and tugged Lucy’s ponytail. “But you, missy, had best stay away from your brother.” She looked over at her aunt. “If it is chickenpox, the infection can stay in sheets and clothing as long as the blisters are oozing, so wash Boris’s items separately, and after everything else. Once all the sores are dried up, he’ll be over the contagious stage.” She stopped and frowned. “I’ll have to look up the contagious time for measles.” Holding on to her nursing books had turned out to be useful.
The chicken sat untouched on the plates. “Eat up,” Maggie said.
Her mind whirling, she returned to her place and started eating. She could help if there was an outbreak. But with a bit of care, it might not spread further than Harvey and Boris. And what to do about Ivan? Ivan, having spent most of the day with Boris, was at the greatest risk of infection. “Ivan, since you haven’t had it, you need to be careful. Don’t touch anything that Boris did and wash your hands frequently.”
They ate silently, the usual chatter and fun gone out of the evening meal.
“Uncle Henry,” Maggie said. “Do you know if Harvey has younger siblings that attend the school?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Will you go and see Harvey?” he asked. “I’ll drive you in the morning.” He leaned on the table. “And I need to find out if others in the crew are affected.”
* * *
By Monday morning, Boris had red, blistered spots. Maggie confirmed chickenpox. As per Henry’s request, she went to visit the other seaman who’d fallen ill. His spots were starting to dry up but definitely had been chickenpox. She told his widowed mother what to do and checked on his younger siblings. “If they get a fever and sore throat,” she said, “keep them home and away from the others.” She went on, explaining how to care for them to prevent scarring for the patient and contamination for the others. “Are these two the only other childre
n?”
The poor woman, with two younger children clinging to her, listened to Maggie’s every word. “The two older ones are at school,” she said. “Bobby is in the middle grades and Gwen is in the beginners’ group.”
Maggie put a hand on her shoulder. “Keep them home tomorrow as well. Wait a few days and if they all get sick, you let me or Captain Conrad know and we’ll get you some help. Okay?”
The woman nodded and Maggie went out to the car and joined Uncle Henry.
“How is Harvey?” he asked. “When will he be able to sail again?”
“I think about two weeks. I’ll call the doctor and check on that. Can you take me to Mr. Zinck’s, please? As a school trustee, he should know there might be more cases.”
After the Zincks’, Uncle Henry took her to visit three more crew members who lived close. Fortunately, all of them were older and had had the chickenpox.
“I’ll track down the others,” Uncle Henry said. “Thanks for your help. I plan to make another run before winter, and I need my crew. And I can’t be having them fall sick on the voyage. If any of them have questions, I’ll let you know.” He smiled, his lips barely quirking. “But I’ve heard the instructions often enough to pass them on.” He pulled up in front of the school. “Good luck with the children.” For once, he left his man-in-charge attitude out of his conversation.
At the school, Maggie knocked on JM’s door. He stepped into the hall. “What did you find?”
“Harvey has chickenpox. No doubt. And two of his siblings are here. They’ve been exposed so I told their mother to keep them home after today.” She told him their names.
“I’m going to call the doctor,” Maggie said. “I’ll be back after to speak to the classes.”
Maggie headed for Ritcey and Creaser to use the phone. “Dr. Spenser,” she said, “we have two people here in Riverport with chickenpox. I know how to care for them, but my books aren’t clear on how long they should stay off work or school. Can you help me?”
“Goodness,” he said. “How do you know what to do? And where did the chickenpox come from, do you know?”
She explained how she knew. “The first case was the cabin boy on one of the ships. He was sick when it docked. The second case is another lad from the same ship.”
“It sounds like things are under control,” Dr. Spenser said. “Have you been to the school?”
“I’m going there next to talk to the teachers and students, and then I’ll put up notices at the general store and the post office. And I’ve notified the trustees.”
“Mrs. Benson, you’re quite efficient. Nothing more than you are doing can be done. But if you need me, call me. And in answer to your question, it’s recommended to keep the patient quiet for two weeks once the fever breaks.”
“Thank you, sir.” Maggie hung up and headed for the school. JM welcomed her back and brought her into his classroom.
“Class, some people in town have contracted chickenpox. Mrs. Benson will tell you what to do if you, or someone in your family, feel ill.” He went and stood at the back of the room.
Maggie first asked who had had the disease. Then she described the symptoms and asked if any of them felt like that. Several raised their hands as having had it, but no one appeared ill. “Good. The rest of you, be sure to ask your parents if you’ve had it.” She continued with the instructions. At the end, she gave them all a big smile and a raised finger. “And no faking aches to stay home,” she said. Everyone laughed.
“And if you’re at school and you start to feel any of the symptoms I mentioned, be sure to tell Mr. McInnis right away and stay away from anyone who’s not had it. You can really help us keep this under control. Are there any questions?” There were none.
JM walked her to the classroom door. “I’ve alerted the other teachers that you’re coming and why. They’ll be cooperative.”
She crossed the upper hall to the middle class first and repeated her presentation. Her last call was the beginners. The little ones had the least chance of having had chickenpox. Not surprisingly, most of the little ones didn’t know if they’d had it or not. One or two remembered being sick with red spots but didn’t know what it was. She told them to ask their mothers.
She finished as the noon bell rang. The children pulled out their lunches, and the teachers joined Maggie in the main hall. “The other group I’m worried about,” Maggie said, “are expectant mothers. It’s quite dangerous for them to get chickenpox. If any of the children have mentioned they’re getting a new baby, let me know and I’ll go visit their moms.”
“Why are you doing this?” asked Miss Jasper, the primary teacher. “You’re not a nurse or our community health nurse?”
Maggie stared at her, stumped. She hadn’t stopped to think why she’d do it. “Someone should,” she said. “We have no health nurse and the doctor is over to the far side. Since I know what to do, I just started doing it. It’s better than letting a lot of children get sick.”
“And we’re thankful you have,” JM said. “If chickenpox is going to attack Riverport, we’re ready.” The other two teachers agreed. Both had had chickenpox. “And now we are all ready to recognize it if one of the children gets sick.”
“Good,” Maggie said. “I’m tuckered out right now, but I need to put up notices and check on Boris.” She and JM walked side by side down the front steps.
He pulled out his car keys. “Here, take the car. You can drive well enough and I trust you with it. Go and keep an eye on the sick ones. And if you wait a minute, I’ll get Bobby and Gwen and you can take them home. Better safe than sorry.”
Drive the car alone? She met JM’s gaze and he winked. “You’ll be fine. I’ll walk home. It’s only a few blocks.”
She had an urge to hug him right then and there. He thought of everything and he cared. If only she didn’t suspect him of being involved with the Customs and Prohibition men.
Maggie dropped Bobby and Gwen at home and returned to put up a notice at the Ritcey and Creaser Store before heading to the post office.
“Good afternoon, Maggie.” The postmaster greeted her. “You have a letter.” He retrieved it from the back. “It’s from the Victoria General Hospital,” he said. “I hope you’re not ill.”
Her stomach lurched and her pulse rate accelerated. The letter she’d been waiting for. Over the past two days, she’d been so busy, she’d forgotten. “Thank you. And I’m fine. Just some information I requested.”
She tucked it into her satchel. “There are others in town,” she said, “who are not fine. I’d like to put up a notice warning people about chickenpox.”
She and the postmaster did so and she left. Back in the car, she checked her watch. Next stop, Aunt Maude’s to check on Boris.
Chapter Seventeen
She sat in the old home kitchen,
With her feet on the front of the stove.
A bright oil lamp was burning
And the steam from the tea-kettle rose.
Eloise met her at the door. “Lucy is sick. I’ve put her to bed and followed your instructions.” She chuckled. “But she wants you to come and see her. She’s decided that you’re the doctor in the family.” She led the way up the stairs. “I’m planning to make her a bed in the parlor. She’s quite demanding and running up and down the stairs is wearing on both Mother and me.”
They found Aunt Maude sitting beside Lucy’s bed, reading to her. Maggie went to the other side of the bed and put her hand on Lucy’s forehead. “You do have a fever, Miss Lucy,” she said and brushed the little girl’s hair away from her face. “You listen to your mother and Eloise and if you itch, don’t scratch please.”
“Yes, Maggie.” Lucy coughed and made a face. She put a hand to her throat. “It hurts.”
Her mother gave her water to sip and after drinking, she relaxed back on her pillows. “I think I need to sleep,” she said. “You can all go now.” She waved one small hand, dismissing them.
Hiding smiles, the three women wit
hdrew to the hall. Maggie looked in on Boris, but he too slept. All under control for the time being. She turned to the others. “How are you holding up?”
“We’ll be fine,” Eloise said and yawned. “I took the night shift though, and right now I’m going to take a nap.”
Her mother hugged her. “Thanks for your help, Eloise. Go in on my bed for a nap.”
“It is okay, Mother. I’m happy to do so.” She turned and entered the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
“Tea?” Aunt Maude asked Maggie. “With toast? And maybe an egg?”
Maggie followed her aunt downstairs. “That sounds like just the ticket.” She sensed a difference in her aunt. Her more conversational tone ran counter to her usually tight voice. In spite of her worry about her children, she appeared more relaxed. Perhaps not relaxed, just less uptight. A more casual hairstyle and a most ordinary house dress contributed to the change. Very different from the well-coiffed and elegantly dressed woman who appeared in public.
When the tea and toast were on the table, Aunt Maude sat and folded her hands in front of her. “Maggie, I’m sorry. I have been a bit hard on you about not being married.” She stopped and rubbed a thumb over the other hand. “Truth be told, I think I’ve been envious.”
Maggie stopped chewing and stared at her aunt. “Pardon?”
“Of you and Eloise both. You are making your own decisions. You’re working, being useful. And Eloise will, too, once I stop interfering. She trained as a teacher, she needs to use that training. And with this chickenpox business, you’ve been amazing. I had no idea you had such nursing skills.”
What response could she make? Only one word came to Maggie. “Why?”
“You mean, why am I envious?” Aunt Maude kept her gaze on the table top. “I married young, and all I’ve ever done is be a wife and mother.” She sighed. “I know those are necessary and admirable roles, but I feel I missed out. With Henry gone so much, I ended up having to stay home with the children. I wanted to go out more with others. The day came when Eloise was older and I thought I could be more involved in the Women’s Institute.” She sighed. “When I found out I was pregnant again, I cried. I love Lucy, but at the time I did not want another baby. It had been eight months since I stopped, and I thought I was safe.”
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