Chapter 14 - Baby Steps
"Easy now, you've almost got it."
Elizabeth's hand trembled as she inched her thumb and forefinger towards a small piece of chalk. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple as she strained against the tightness in her fingers.
"I… I can't" She pulled her hand away and bowed her head.
Dr. Burns massaged the bridge of his nose. "Yes you can. I know it's difficult, but you are making progress. You couldn't even feel a pinprick in your fingertips two days ago."
"I know." She lowered her hands to rest on Abigail's kitchen table. "But my students, they need a teacher who can hold a book, and write on the chalkboard."
"They understand what you're going through, Miss Thatcher." He reached out and took her hands in his own. "Now, try to squeeze my hand."
Elizabeth exhaled, closed her eyes and tried to curl her fingers around his pale, smooth hand. It was such a stark contrast to Jack's work-roughened hands. Not that she minded - it meant he was working on their house. In fact, yesterday he announced that the windows were installed and the stove was being moved in today.
She opened one eye to peek at her progress and her shoulders fell at the sight of her fingers a full inch from the doctor's hand. At this rate, she'd never get back to her old self again.
"That's much better than last week." Dr. Burns pulled his hand away and jotted some notes on his clipboard. "If you keep up with your exercises, I believe you'll have full mobility in a month or two."
Of course he would say that. But in her mind… she wasn't so sure.
"That's great news!" Footfalls echoed from the staircase and Jack made his way towards her with a thick wool sweater and blanket. Ever since moving her into the cafe a few days ago, he had spent every spare moment at her side, making sure she was comfortable and warm. The growing pile of blankets and sweaters in the corner was proof of that.
"That's what I tried telling her." Dr Burns turned each hand over in his own, examining them before setting each one back on the table. "But she has been playing the part of the doubting Thomas lately."
"Well, I think I can help with that." Jack set the bundle on the table and took a seat next to her, bumping her shoulder with his own. "Any new exercises?"
"Just one." Dr. Burns pulled what appeared to be a lopsided ball out of his bag. "Miss Thatcher, This is a stocking filled with sand. I want you to squeeze it as hard as you can, then release and spread your fingers as wide as you can. Start with five times a day on each hand, and work your way up to ten. Do you think you can do that?"
"I'll try." Elizabeth held out her hand, adjusting to the weight as Dr. Burns dropped the ball onto her palm. It was about the size of a small baseball, but lighter and softer with a knot on one end.
Dr. Burns stood and fastened the clasp on his satchel. "If you have any questions, you know where my office is. I'll see you next week, same time."
"Thank you, Dr. Burns." She turned her hand over and dropped the ball onto the table. "I'm sorry for not being grateful for all of your help. This… setback… has been quite the humbling experience. It's true what they say. You never appreciate what you have until it's taken away from you."
"Truer words were never spoken." Her father pushed aside the curtain and stepped into the kitchen.
Elizabeth stood and embraced him as Dr. Burns stepped past them and into the busy cafe. "I thought you were leaving today to go back to Hamilton with Mother and Viola."
"We are." He stepped back and placed a hand on each shoulder. "But we wanted to come and say goodbye first."
"Oh, it's not goodbye." Mother stepped inside behind him, followed by Viola. "We'll be back in two months."
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth turned to face Mother and Father.
"Well." Viola stepped forward, a book tucked under her arm. "I know how anxious you are to start your new life with Jack, so I talked to Julie, and we are going to work together - me from Hamilton of course - to plan a Christmas eve wedding for the two of you."
"I don't know what to say…" Elizabeth bit her lower lip as her sister embraced her. It was going to take some time to get used to her sisters getting along with each other. Who would have thought they would ever work together on anything?
"It's the least I can do, to make up for the way I treated you," Viola stepped back from the embrace. "And you don't need to worry about me going overboard. I promise to keep it simple for you, even if I do want to make this the social event of the century."
Elizabeth laughed. Some things never changed. "So this book, is it what I think it is?"
"Yes." Viola pulled the thick book out from under her arm and opened it on the table. "Julie and I werein the mercantile the other day, about to wire a dress shop in Hamilton to send a book with all of their newest designs, and this lovely woman in a red coat offered to lend us hers. We had a wonderful chat on the way to her house. She is quite a delightful woman. I believe her name is Rosemary?"
Elizabeth nodded, not surprised at all that Viola had become friends with the new Mrs. Coulter. "Yep, that's her. But I really don't need a fancy dress. Mother already offered to let me wear hers, and Clara is going to do the alterations, with some help from Dottie."
"Oh." Viola's shoulders sagged.
"But if it makes you happy, Julie and I can look up a few ideas for bridesmaid dresses. As long as your choice can accommodate her figure."
"Of course." Viola flipped through the book and stopped at a page in the middle. "This one has a fuller skirt. A bit old fashioned, but very accommodating. For both of us." Her cheeks bloomed crimson.
"What do you mean, 'both of us?'" Mother's eyes widened.
"I've been feeling a little out of sorts lately, just in the past few weeks. I saw Nurse Carter yesterday and she confirmed my suspicions. By her calculations, I'll be a mother in June of next year."
"Oh, Viola, that's wonderful news!" Mother pulled Viola into an embrace. "My goodness, now I'm going to have two grandchildren."
"I'm going to have to start getting used to being called Grandpa." Father joined in. "Have you wired Lionel?"
"Not yet. I want to tell him in person, when we get home." Viola raised a finger to her lips. "So not a word from either of you."
"You can trust me." Mother took Viola's hand. "But I'm not sure about your father."
"Grace, you underestimate me."
"Well, thank you for sharing the news." Elizabeth took her turn in embracing her sister. "I wish you could stay longer, but I know you need to get back to the comforts of city life."
"And indoor plumbing!"
Elizabeth laughed. Using an outhouse was second nature to her now, but she knew her sister would never give up her creature comforts. Hamilton would always be home to Viola.
"Well, we should probably be going. The stage will be here soon." Mother took Elizabeth in her arms one last time. "I'll send my dress out as soon as we get home."
"Goodbye, Jack." Father held out his hand to shake that of his soon to be son-in-law. What a difference from the greeting they had received two weeks ago. Sometimes she felt like all of this was a dream, that she was still in a coma in that tiny cabin in the woods.
But it was all real.
"We'll see you in six weeks." Mother, Father and Viola all waved as Jack pulled open the curtain for them.
Elizabeth waved back, a tear forming in the corner of her eye. "I'm looking forward to it."
The curtain swooshed behind them and Elizabeth sank into a kitchen chair, Rosemary's book still spread out before her.
Jack placed a tender kiss on her forehead, then picked up the stocking ball on the table and sat beside her. "So, I believe you have some exercises to do."
Elizabeth exhaled. "Can't I rest for a little bit first? It's been a long day."
"Do you promise to rest, or are you going into the cafe to talk to Abigail about wedding plans?"
"No, I really do need to rest." She stood, then turned towards the stairs and frowned. "But it's such a long way upstairs, and I'm so tired. Do you think you can carry me?"
"I thought I wasn't supposed to do that until our wedding night." He rose from his seat and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I don't mind." Elizabeth tilted her head and touched one finger to a spot on his shoulder. Pine sap glistened as it stretched between her finger and his jacket. "This stuff sure is sticky. Too bad you can't bottle it. It would work great for the turkeys that the children are making next week, for Thanksgiving."
"Oh, I'm sorry." He crossed the kitchen and reached into the sink, then wrung out a washcloth and returned to her side. Gently he picked up her hand and wiped the sap from her fingertip. "That reminds me, I saw some wild turkeys out on the hillside on the edge of my land this morning. A few toms and about two dozen hens, making quite the ruckus. I'm sure they left behind enough feathers for the kids to use."
"Oh, that would be perfect." Elizabeth clapped her hands together. "I was going to order some goose feathers from a millinery in Union City, but being able to use real turkey feathers would be even better. Are you sure it's no trouble?"
"Of course not." Jack stepped forward and cupped his hand on her cheek. "Anything to make your life easier."
"So you'll carry me upstairs?"
"I suppose so." His blue eyes mirrored her love for him as his calloused thumb swept over her cheek. How could she be so lucky to have such a selfless man in her life? And in just six weeks, he would be her husband. The mere thought sent flutters through her chest.
"Just to the top of the stairs. I think I can walk from there." She inched her face closer to his. "Consider it practice."
Jack captured her lips with his own, his clean-shaven face a smooth contrast to the beard he had grown while they were in the cabin. She almost missed the way his whiskers had tickled her chin. But she didn't dwell on it long, as Jack pulled her body closer and intertwined the fingers of his right hand in her left. The scent of fresh pine surrounded her as she melted into his embrace.
As the kiss deepened, a new sensation overtook her. It started in her wrist, and soon a tingling spread through her fingers.
Muscles stretched, strained...
Suddenly, Jack pulled away, then smiled and gestured downward with a nod of his head.
There, perfectly wrapped around his fingers, were her own.
A gasp escaped Elizabeth's lips as she raised their hands and the small ruby ring on the third finger glistened in the lamplight. "Did I just…"
"Yes, you did." Jack grinned, his dimples deepening.
"I guess I just needed a little motivation." She placed her right hand behind his neck, and pulled him close once more.