Part 1: Chapter 15: 1887 Red Deer, Alberta
One Doesn't Say "No" to Edith Normandeau
The next morning in the Normandeau house, the staff were all working diligently on cleaning and sanitizing the other guest room (a room they rarely used as their parents had passed away years ago, but James had insisted on putting one in each house "just in case"). James' prepared nature had helped immensely in his job and it was helping the Grants now. Edith stood outside of the room watching their progress. James had been eating his breakfast with Nate in the dining room, but James got worried about his wife when she didn't come in and Nate was curious about the unusual work being done that day, both males kept looking out the door.
"Let's go check in on the work, shall we?" Normandeau asked as he saw Nate's distraction.
Nate took one last bite of his eggs and wiped his mouth, then got out of his chair. Normandeau picked Nate up and carried him to the hallway to where all the work was being done.
"Mrs. Norman, what's goin' on?" Nate asked.
"We are getting this room ready because we want your mama to stay here with us while the nurses are taking care of your daddy and sister," Edith smiled up at him.
Nate's blue eyes widened in surprise and excitement.
"Mama staying?" Nate asked.
"We hope so. We are trying to convince her to come. So we are getting the house ready just in case," Normandeau replied.
"Can I write letter to mama?" Nate asked.
"Always, dear boy," Edith replied.
Nate wiggled down until Normandeau bent down to let him go to the floor. Nate ran to the parlor and opened the drawer where their paper was held and grabbed a piece. Then he grabbed a green colored pencil and ran back to Edith.
"Help me, pwease?" Nate asked, pointing at the paper.
"Certainly, let's go to a table," Edith responded as she smiled at Nate's excitement.
Nate ran into the dinning room again and placed the paper and pencil in Edith's normal spot and waited impatiently for her to come in. Once Edith was comfortably situated in her chair, Nate climbed into her lap, naturally and without hesitation.
"What do you want to write?" Edith asked.
"I wanna write her to come and stay," Nate stated firmly.
"Alright then. Do you want me to do the words, or you?" Edith asked.
"You words, me pictures," Nate said.
"Very well. James can you be a teeny bit late today?" Edith asked, looking up at her husband. James smiled at her. Edith had gotten into the habit over the years of not meeting new people, of not putting on makeup or putting on her wigs and veils. She found that since she didn't have to impress anyone, she didn't need to go through the hours of placement and pinning for very little reward. He knew she thought she was ugly, and by society's standards she was. But over the last few weeks he had started to wish he was as talented at drawing as she was. The moments when she held Nate, and he trusted her to be a good person to him, he wished he could have drawings or pictures of the two of them. Edith most certainly wouldn't allow it without her being "fit to be out." But he found her most beautiful and in her element when she had Nate in her arms, and loved that little boy so much. He knew that about her when they were children, but to see it in action now, made his heart burst with happiness. He had two purposes in his life: to serve and protect his country and to make Edith happy. James Normandeau was irrevocably in love with her and he couldn't help doing whatever she asked of him. And really, it was not usually a lot. Edith had never been impressed with fine jewels or clothes. The things she asked for were completely reasonable requests. Having the staff clean and sanitize the guest room for Ophelia Grant was one of the most extravagant things she had asked for, and it was for another person's comfort!
So, he waited patiently while Nate and Edith finished their letter to Mrs. Grant asking her to stay with them at the Normandeau's home once they were certain she didn't have Typhoid. Which made him more than "a teeny bit late," but he was the boss, and was usually early to work, so he figured one time being late wouldn't hurt.
May 4th, 1887
Dear Ophelia,
I am so glad that Nurse Jones and Nurse Baker have arrived! It is such a relief to us all that you can finally step back and take care of yourself. Nurse Jones is a bit strict in her manner, but she summed you up quite quickly. She knows how much you love your family. This is why she wants you to recover away from the house. Because you won't fully recover if you are not.
I also know that you planned to stay at the inn for your recovery, but I don't think that is the proper place for you to go. I think once the doctor and nurses can confirm you don't have Typhoid, you should absolutely come to our house. That way we can finally meet each other in person, and we can talk about how accurate our assumptions of each other are.
Instead of attaching my own drawing, Nate has drawn his letter to you.
Give Colleen long hugs and kisses from Nate before you go, and then we will see you soon, I hope!
Your Friend,
Edith.
The other piece of paper attached was a toddler drawing done in green pencil of Nate, Ophelia, Edith, and Normandeau with General sitting on the Normandeau's porch. Nate and Ophelia were holding hands. All it said was, "Mama, stay? -Nate"
Ophelia smiled at the drawing and her heartstrings tugged at the possibility of seeing Nate sooner than later. But she also knew she couldn't risk his health or Edith's health. She would stay at the inn, like planned.
She looked up at Normandeau, and he had an eyebrow raised at her.
"I am not staying with you," Ophelia replied firmly as she looked him in the eye.
"I will warn you, Mrs. Grant, that Edith is not used to taking 'no' for an answer," Normandeau replied.
"Well, she will just have to be disappointed on this count then. I cannot risk either of them getting sick because of me," Ophelia restated.
Normandeau didn't answer, but she got the distinct impression that he was waiting to see who would win this battle of wills.
He had driven out a wagon from the fort in order to transport her to the inn more easily. He had given her the letter and then attended to the family animals before coming back inside. Nurse Jones was currently working with Archie and Colleen upstairs while Nurse Baker was sleeping downstairs. Normandeau, with Nurse Jones' permission, helped Ophelia up the stairs to visit Colleen and only Colleen.
"My darling little girl," Ophelia said as she caressed her eldest's feverish forehead.
Colleen blearily attempted to open her eyes, but couldn't keep them open. She attempted a "mama" but it came out in two puffs of air instead.
"My sweet girl. Nurse Jones and Nurse Baker are here to take excellent care of you. I will be going to the inn, to stay, until I can come back to you. Be good for them. Mr. Norman will take care to come by to check on you and your father like he has been." Ophelia looked up at him. He nodded in confirmation at her. "Nate also sends his love and wants us all to get better quickly. I love you, my child!"
Ophelia then kissed her head and left the room. Nurse Jones was waiting in the hallway and instructed Ophelia to go take a quick bath and to leave the clothes she was wearing behind and to change into clean ones. She quickly followed those directions and then was downstairs in a fresh dress. Normandeau had also washed and changed somewhere, his hair was wet. It was her turn to raise an eyebrow.
"I have learned to be fast when I need to be with my washing and having to come in and out with my house with Edith," he replied.
Ophelia nodded before asking, "Do we have time for me to reply?"
Normandeau nodded his head.
May 4th, 1887
Dear Edith,
I applaud your attempts to get me to stay with you. The move of having Nate write to me about his wishes is truly inspired. Using my own child against me! But I think you may have met your match in stubbornness. I will not stay! My reasons for choosing the inn are still valid. I will stay at the inn until I can return to my home.
Let Nate know that I gave Colleen his extra hugs and kisses like he asked. Tell him we love him and miss him dearly.
Best,
Ophelia.
Normandeau helped Ophelia into the back of the wagon so that she could lay down if she felt like it on the ride into town. The ride was mostly silent. Ophelia had never known how to make small talk well. Normandeau was content to let her be as comfortable as she wanted. In fact, Ophelia was still quite tired, and she fell asleep to the rhythm of the rocking wagon about halfway to town. On the outskirts of Red Deer, Constable Jilot was galloping his way. Normandeau stopped the wagon so that Jilot could give him his message.
"Sir," Jilot saluted his boss, sounding breathless.
"What is your news?" Normandeau asked.
"Sir, many of the proprietors of main street businesses have come down with Typhoid. The doctor is closing off Red Deer to any incoming or outgoing traffic. He is also suggesting that businesses need to close down until this passes," Jilot reported.
Normandeau looked behind him at his sleeping passenger.
"Also, a Nurse Rhoades came into town looking for you. When I told her your plans for Mrs. Grant, she said that 'putting an immune compromised person at an inn is the epitome of stupid decisions' and that 'James should know better!' She also mentioned to bring Mrs. Grant straight to the fort," Constable Jilot said warily, knowing that insulting one's boss, even as a messenger, was not a good thing.
"I imagine there was a lot more that Nurse Rhoades said in that conversation. But I am glad she got here before we have to shut down the town," James replied.
Jilot just nodded back because he had summarized Nurse Rhoades colorful descriptions of their decision to put Mrs. Grant at the inn.
"Continue on your patrol, Constable. I will take Mrs. Grant straight to the fort," James replied as he angled the horses of the wagon in the right direction. Ophelia Grant didn't wake up until they were parked outside of the infirmary in the fort.
Being in an unfamiliar place, she immediately shot up and looked around to determine where she was. Surrounded by men in red uniforms and on horses.
"There was a problem with the inn plan, Mrs. Grant. I will go over it with you once we are inside," Normandeau said as he noticed her awake.
But before either of them could move, someone was shouting at them from inside.
"James Normandeau, you idiot!" a woman's voice came shrilly from inside the infirmary.
A short, red haired woman came out of the building and went nose-to-navel at Normandeau, the severe height difference didn't seem to phase her in the slightest as she began a lecture that no one in the fort would have dared to give Normandeau.
"Have you lost your senses? An inn? I mean really, an inn? Do you know what kind of gross and a squalor go through those places? And they do NOT clean up properly, James! Considering your wife, you should know this! I cannot believe they named this fort after you, with that bullheaded decision! Fort Normandeau? No, more like Fort Stupid Head! Were any of your Mounties or yourself even going to clean the place yourselves, to make sure it was fit for someone with an immune compromised disposition?"
She waited for him to answer.
He blushed, because he had forgotten that piece.
"No, I forgot," he admitted.
Nurse Rhoades eyes flashed angrily as she took in a breath to continue.
"Please, I was the one who wanted to go to the inn. His first suggestion was to stay with him," Ophelia interrupted. Nurse Rhoades deflated at that and gave him a weird look.
"You and Edith are okay with that?" Nurse Rhoades asked in surprise.
"Yes. We have been taking care of her son while she has been acting as nurse to her husband and daughter. But other help arrived, and she was diagnosed with exhaustion when they showed up."
"What about other family?" Nurse Rhoades asked.
"They don't live around here," Mrs. Grant replied.
"Friends?"
"We're kind of isolated," Ophelia admitted.
"Why didn't you take them up on their offer, then?" Nurse Rhoades asked.
"Because I know how easily Edith can get sick. I don't want to contaminate her or my son!" Ophelia said firmly. Nurse Rhoades gave her a look.
"Mrs. Grant, I was asked to come look after you specifically. We can set you up for a few days in the fort infirmary. But, with the town closing down soon the Mounties and soldiers are going to be going in and out of infected areas during their patrols and making sure everyone is alright and staying fed. You would be safer in a different building. I don't know you well enough to suggest a place, though," Nurse Rhoades explained.
"What about the Clarkes?" Normandeau asked.
"They have such a small house for the family. At least two the girls would have to give up their room. I can't ask that of them," Ophelia answered.
Normandeau leveled her with another look.
"What?" Nurse Rhoades asked seeing the look between the two people.
"Edith has already begun preparing our guest room for her. She is quite set on having Mrs. Grant recover in our house," Normandeau replied.
Ophelia rolled her eyes.
"That could work," Nurse Rhoades replied, knowing exactly how efficiently the Normandeaus worked.
"NO. I don't want Nate or Edith to get sick," Ophelia protested.
"I understand your frustration. But here is how we make sure that doesn't happen. The room will be off limits to anyone, until I can confirm that Mrs. Grant doesn't have Typhoid in addition to exhaustion. We will schedule meals to be brought at certain times. I will set out things that need to be washed through the window. They will be washed separately from Edith's and Nate's things. Clean clothes and linens will be placed outside the door. Once I can confirm or deny Typhoid, we will determine our next move," Nurse Rhoades explained.
"It would be our pleasure to have you, Mrs. Grant. To help ease your burden a bit," Normandeau said.
Ophelia sighed in frustration, but also realizing her lack of choices.
"How long will you need to get everything ready?" Ophelia asked.
Normandeau smiled at her.
"The room has, more than likely, already been sterilized to surgical standards. But if you wish to be in the comfort of your own clothes when you get there, we will need to wash your clothes overnight," Normandeau replied.
"Well then, seems like you should grab what you need from your trunk, Mrs. Grant. We will spend one night in the infirmary and move you to the Normandeau house sometime tomorrow," Nurse Rhoades said kindly. Normandeau drove the wagon to his front yard with Mrs. Grant's trunk in the back. Rachel and Sally met him in the yard, as he told them about what had happened and Mrs. Grant's impending stay with them. He gave them Nurse Rhoades strict instructions. But he didn't try to go back inside, since he still had to return the wagon and the horses to the fort. Before he was about to leave, Sally rushed back out and handed him a thick envelope that was labeled "To Ophelia." Normandeau looked up into the parlor window. Edith was holding Nate (who looked happier than he had seen him in a long time). Edith was smirking at him. He saluted Edith before turning the wagon around and going back to the infirmary with the note and delivering it to the right person.
May 4th, 1887
Dear Ophelia,
Check mate!
-Edith
Inside the envelope was a black king chess player. Ophelia just shook her head in amusement.
Hello everyone, sorry about the lack of update and the shorter length of this chapter, but getting my classroom COVID ready exhausted me more than I thought it would, so I rarely typed anything on those days.
Let me know your thoughts on this chapter!