Couple days pass. Elisabeth is feeling alright, but she is still in the hospital. Dr. Clarkson said she would be released when she could wash herself and eat something more than toast and tea, but that would take weeks. Charles has been very busy with the town and when the hotel burnt down there has been fuss over it. Elsie in the contrary, didn't have anything to do...But she haven't been up to anything and felt so emotional, and somehow responsible for what happened. The news of Elisabeth's succesfull operation couple days ago was a huge relief for them. She would be just fine, taking her time of course.
The moment where they are now...Is just trying to make her recovery faster and easier, cause the traumas she and her mother experienced are big.
...
She sits by her bed.
"Good morning dear."Beryl smiles, leaning to kiss Elisabeth's cheek.
"Hi."Elisabeth says.
"How are you feeling?"She asks.
"Better I suppose."The younger woman tolds.
"I'm glad to hear that. Have you already eaten your breakfast?"Beryl questiones, rising her eye brows.
"No. The nurses seem to have forgotten me."Elisabeth let's out a small chuckle.
"Well gladly you have me here. I brought you some bacon and eggs."The cook smiles."Do you think you can get some of it to stay inside, love?"
"Not really. Yesterday I even threw up after eating toast..."She answers."I'm not really hungry."
"You know that rest and eating properly is the key to recover?"Beryl tolds, hoping to see the girl feeling at least a bit like eating.
She just nods.
"I can ask Dr. Clarkson for some toast and water. Would that be better?"She asks.
"Yes. Thank you auntie."Elisabeth nods.
"I'll be right back."Beryl leaves the room.
She walks along the short corridor.
"Beryl."Someone calls for her name and she turn around to see the caller.
"Hello Elsie."Beryl smiles.
"Is something wrong?"She worries.
"Everything is fine. Don't you worry."The cook says."I was just getting Elisabeth some breakfast."
"So she feels like eating today? Yesterday wasn't quite like that."The mother hopes.
"Not really. No bacon and eggs still. She is not hungry at all."Beryl tolds.
"I'm so worried about her.."Elsie snifs.
"We all are Elsie. There is no reason why we shouldn't be. When we love her so very much."She smiles, taking her friend's hand.
"I can't take the images out of my mind...When I wasn't able to save her..."Her voice is quiet and full of sadness."Like I just left her alone."
"Now that's enough of that, love."Beryl pulls her into her embrace."Won't you go with your daughter and I'll get her some breakfast, eh?"
"Thank you Beryl. I really mean it."Elsie smiles."Let's do just like that."
"Alright then. Get on with you."The cook keeps walking.
Elsie sighs. The feelings inside her won't leave her alone. These days she hasn't smiled many times.
"Ma?"Elisabeth whispers to the door."Come in."
"Good morning sweetest."Elsie kisses her forehead."How are you?"
"Alright. I'm very tired and not hungry at all."Elisabeth says.
"Beryl is getting you some breakfast. You know you have to eat to regain your strength."The mother sits down by the bed.
"I am trying really, ma. But nothing just stays inside really."She explains.
"I know, love. I hope you tell if you need anything. We are all here for you, and that you can get all help you need."Elsie tolds.
"Mom, I sometimes think you are the one who needs help more than I do."Elisabeth bites her lip."I am grateful of everything you've done after the fire, but your wounds need healing too."
"I'll be fine. Now we just get you better, won't we?"The older woman smiles.
"And here comes the breakfast for our patient!"Beryl walks into the room with her breakfast tray.
"Thank you Beryl."Elsie says."Would you like me to stay, darling?"
"Please. And you don't have to leave either aunt Beryl. I'd like a small company."Elisabeth smiles."I miss having everyone around me."
"Soon you'll get back home."Beryl tolds, sitting down on the settee at the window.
Elise takes the tray and lifts it on the bed.
"Now you try and have some breakfast."The mother commands with her soft voice.
"Yes mother."Beryl teases from the window.
"Oh shut up with you!"She laughs.
Elisabeth starts to lift the food slowly inside her mouth. After couple bites she pushes the tray away.
"Elisabeth? What's wrong?"Elsie asks, taking her daughter's hand.
"I am going to throw up."She whispers.
Her mother immediately lifts the "basket" from the floor.
"Alright..."Elsie smooths her hair, as she throws up all the little food she just ate."Everything is going to be okay."
Elsie helps her lay back down, cleaning her face with an handkerchief.
"I feel horrible..."The young woman whispers.
"It's alright, love."Beryl pulls the covers on her."Drink some water to flush that taste away."
"Thank you."Elisabeth takes a sip of the water.
The look on the face of her mother is terrifyed, yet not much.
"Ma? Something wrong?"She asks.
Her answer is so quiet so they can't hear her.
"Elsie?"Beryl worries.
"There is blood..."Elsie whispers.
...
Charles has been working the whole morning, trying to solve how the hotel will be rebuildt. There is people who don't care of it, but he had promised his wfe and her workers that they would get their hotel back one day. Charles had a meeting with couple farmers and ate his lunch with Charlotte and Becky. When the news of Elisabeth's condition approached him, he hurried to the hospital with his young daughter and wife's sister.
One of the few nurses told them that they were running some tests and what happened in the morning.
"Thank you."Charles nods to the nurse and they walk towards her room.
"Will she be alright?"Charlotte asks.
"I'm sure Elisabeth will be fine. She is a strong girl, isn't she? Just like you."Becky smiles."You don't have to worry love."
"She used to play outside with me. Can she do that now?"The young girl bites her lip.
"Why don't you ask the doctor about it?"Becky tolds."He can tell you better than me."
The doctor is standing in the hallway, talking with Elsie and Beryl.
"Ah. Good to see you Mr. Carson, Ms. Hughes."Dr. Clarkson greets them.
"How is she?"Charles turns to his wife's direction, taking her hand.
"We are running some tests, but it's nothing is clear yet. There is a small cha-..."The doctor starts but stops there and looks at Elsie and she nods."There is a small chance it all to be cancer. There has been some cases in Mrs. Carson's family history and her cancer "scare", as we put it at the times."
"Cancer "scare"?! What do you mean? Elsie?"Charles panicks.
"Calm down. There is nothing to worry about. It's all in the past and it turned out to be nothing."Elsie tolds."I didn't tell anyone, except Dr. Clarkson. It was time when it would make things harder."
"When was it?"Becky asks.
"Just when I found out I was pregnant for Elisabeth. About sixteen years ago."She says.
"Oh dear...Why didn't you tell me?"Charles whispers.
"Now we won't talk about it. Elisabeth is the one we should be talking about."Elsie says, stroking his hand."I'll be fine."
"Dr. Clarkson, what is the possibility that it is...Cancer?"Beryl questiones, clearly emotional.
"Not very big, but I'd say this."The doctor says."You better prepare yourself to the worst."