important to have your sister’s support. Please promise me that you’ll learn to forgive and let love back into your heart.”
Ma is simply an angel.
I turn toward Elisabeth and tearfully state my piece. “Dear sister, I am so sorry for what I did to you. It was awful, and I’ll always feel the guilt of it in my heart. But know this—I never stopped loving you. After Mother passed, I wanted to protect you and care for you like she had. Clearly, I fell short and lost my way. Please give me another chance. I’m not the same person I was during those times. When Mother died, a piece of my heart became jagged and ugly. Alexander has helped mend my heart. I want you to know that I am truly sorry and I want nothing more than your forgiveness, Lissa.”
Elisabeth sniffles and dabs her red nose with her handkerchief. “You broke my heart, Edith. I looked up to you.”
I nod. “I know and I’m so sorry.”
She purses her lips together but finally flashes me a small smile. “I have been bursting at the seams with wanting to tell you all about this pregnancy. It was my hope that we could shop together and find things for the baby. Each time I go to speak to you, I have to remind myself I’m angry with you, and then I’m only angry with myself. I’m tired of fighting. I want my sister back.”
The words are barely out of her mouth before I leap from my seat and launch myself at her. We hug like we used to and cry like a couple of babies. When our sniffling subsides, I slide my palm over her swollen belly and feel my niece or nephew like I’ve been dying to since the moment I discovered she was pregnant.
Her baby moves in her belly and we giggle. Then I finally break away to take my seat and see that Ma is no longer smiling. Her face is ashen, and her mouth is slightly hanging open.
“Ma!” I scream as I collect her in my arms when she begins to fall from her chair. “Lissa, get help!”
Elisabeth scurries off as I hold Ma up from falling into the floor. Tears stream down my cheeks as I mutter reassurances to her.
“Stay with me, Ma. Wake up!”
Several moments later, she flutters her eyelids and blinks them open. “Darling,” she purrs as she lifts a shaky hand to swipe a stray hair out of my face. “Why are you crying?”
I squeeze her to me and sob into her chest. “You fainted again. What is going on with you?”
She pats my back but doesn’t answer. We stay glued to one another until we hear a collection of stomping feet toward us. I’m suddenly pulled from her as Alfred takes her in his arms. Then I find myself tight in Alexander’s embrace. He’s recently bathed again, and he smells like the lavender soap that we found in the washroom. His scent comforts me and I snuggle my face into his chest to inhale him.
“Shhh. Don’t cry beautiful,” he coos as he strokes my hair.
His presence is soothing, but my worry for Ma doesn’t dissipate. “What’s wrong with her, Alexander? We can’t lose her too!”
“We’re not going to lose her. Alcott, alert me of the doctor’s findings. I’m going to take Edith to our room—she is a bit distraught,” he calls out over my shoulder. Then he slides an arm beneath me and scoops me into his arms.
I rest my cheek on his shoulder as he carries me to our room. I’m lost in thought as he walks and don’t completely rid myself of my daze until he sits me down on our bed.
“Did you eat anything?” he questions as he crosses his arms over his chest.
Warmth surges through me as understanding hits me. This man cares deeply for my wellbeing. His mother is ill, yet here he is fussing over if I’ve eaten or not.
“I managed a little,” I lie.
He cocks a dark eyebrow at me. “Edith, the corner of your mouth twitches when you fib. You’ll never be able to trick me. I’ll bring you something to eat. Until then, get comfortable and lie down.”
I scrunch up my nose at having been caught.
He chuckles. “Do as you’re told, woman.”
Before I
Ma is simply an angel.
I turn toward Elisabeth and tearfully state my piece. “Dear sister, I am so sorry for what I did to you. It was awful, and I’ll always feel the guilt of it in my heart. But know this—I never stopped loving you. After Mother passed, I wanted to protect you and care for you like she had. Clearly, I fell short and lost my way. Please give me another chance. I’m not the same person I was during those times. When Mother died, a piece of my heart became jagged and ugly. Alexander has helped mend my heart. I want you to know that I am truly sorry and I want nothing more than your forgiveness, Lissa.”
Elisabeth sniffles and dabs her red nose with her handkerchief. “You broke my heart, Edith. I looked up to you.”
I nod. “I know and I’m so sorry.”
She purses her lips together but finally flashes me a small smile. “I have been bursting at the seams with wanting to tell you all about this pregnancy. It was my hope that we could shop together and find things for the baby. Each time I go to speak to you, I have to remind myself I’m angry with you, and then I’m only angry with myself. I’m tired of fighting. I want my sister back.”
The words are barely out of her mouth before I leap from my seat and launch myself at her. We hug like we used to and cry like a couple of babies. When our sniffling subsides, I slide my palm over her swollen belly and feel my niece or nephew like I’ve been dying to since the moment I discovered she was pregnant.
Her baby moves in her belly and we giggle. Then I finally break away to take my seat and see that Ma is no longer smiling. Her face is ashen, and her mouth is slightly hanging open.
“Ma!” I scream as I collect her in my arms when she begins to fall from her chair. “Lissa, get help!”
Elisabeth scurries off as I hold Ma up from falling into the floor. Tears stream down my cheeks as I mutter reassurances to her.
“Stay with me, Ma. Wake up!”
Several moments later, she flutters her eyelids and blinks them open. “Darling,” she purrs as she lifts a shaky hand to swipe a stray hair out of my face. “Why are you crying?”
I squeeze her to me and sob into her chest. “You fainted again. What is going on with you?”
She pats my back but doesn’t answer. We stay glued to one another until we hear a collection of stomping feet toward us. I’m suddenly pulled from her as Alfred takes her in his arms. Then I find myself tight in Alexander’s embrace. He’s recently bathed again, and he smells like the lavender soap that we found in the washroom. His scent comforts me and I snuggle my face into his chest to inhale him.
“Shhh. Don’t cry beautiful,” he coos as he strokes my hair.
His presence is soothing, but my worry for Ma doesn’t dissipate. “What’s wrong with her, Alexander? We can’t lose her too!”
“We’re not going to lose her. Alcott, alert me of the doctor’s findings. I’m going to take Edith to our room—she is a bit distraught,” he calls out over my shoulder. Then he slides an arm beneath me and scoops me into his arms.
I rest my cheek on his shoulder as he carries me to our room. I’m lost in thought as he walks and don’t completely rid myself of my daze until he sits me down on our bed.
“Did you eat anything?” he questions as he crosses his arms over his chest.
Warmth surges through me as understanding hits me. This man cares deeply for my wellbeing. His mother is ill, yet here he is fussing over if I’ve eaten or not.
“I managed a little,” I lie.
He cocks a dark eyebrow at me. “Edith, the corner of your mouth twitches when you fib. You’ll never be able to trick me. I’ll bring you something to eat. Until then, get comfortable and lie down.”
I scrunch up my nose at having been caught.
He chuckles. “Do as you’re told, woman.”
Before I
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