Part 1: Chapter 43: 1888: Winnipeg

Go Gently Into That Good Night

When Archie returned to Regina's room, Edith and Ophelia had planted themselves on either side of Regina's bed. James was sitting in a chair nearby with his head folded in his hands.

"I'm not going to die on Colleen's birthday. I am not ruining something she should be celebrating," Regina protested weakly.

"Regina, I don't think you get a choice in it," Ophelia said through her own tears.

"I absolutely won't," Regina said again, but coughed blood into her handkerchief.

They all watched her as she struggled to catch her breath.

"That being said, I don't want them to see me like this. Archie, will you keep them busy?" Regina asked when the coughing stopped.

"Of course," Archie agreed.

Regina gave a half smile in thanks.

"In case I don't have the energy later, can we do our goodbyes now?" Regina asked.

The others all nodded.

"Archie, thank you for teaching Harris how to fish and ride and to fiddle. He's enjoyed each more, I think, because it was you and James teaching him," Regina said as she looked him in the eyes.

"It was me pleasure," Archie said.

Regina nodded once before closing her eyes for a long moment.

"Ophelia, I don't even know how to adequately express how much you've come to mean to both of us. Your kindness and open arms have truly floored me the entire time I have known you. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised because Nathan was the same way. Persistently helpful and generous, despite not having much of his own he always shared what he did have. I see that same trait in you. And I see it in Nate and Colleen. You and Archie are truly doing right by them. I don't know exactly how you are doing it, but don't mess it up. They have such special little souls," Regina said through her tears.

Edith and James both nodded at that assessment.

"Regina, I never thought that one day I would be close to a society princess. Our life experiences are so different. But you are the exact type of woman Nathan would have fallen for. So, I was pleasantly surprised when you showed up. We were meant to be sisters, even only for a short while," Ophelia said as she held Regina's hand.

They both nodded at Ophelia's statement.

"Edith," Regina weakly turned her head to her sister-in-law.

"Yes?" Edith said as she took her hand.

"I don't know how to adequately say good-bye to you either. I've known you all of your life. How can I put into words about what we went through together? What we didn't go through together? I'm so sorry, I wasn't the person you needed me to be when you were attacked," Regina said guiltily through her increasing tears.

"You hadn't had to grow up yet. I'm just so glad that you finally came back," Edith said through her own tears.

Regina squeezed her hand.

"And that statement is why I am not surprised that you and Ophelia are best friends. You look at the piles of bad, shame, judgement and would rather see the sliver of good," Regina said as she looked between them both.

Ophelia and Edith both ducked their heads.

"Not always," they admitted at the same time.

Regina rolled her eyes at their response. Then she paused and took some deep fortifying breaths.

"James," she finally said the last name. James' head popped up and he met her eyes, tears already streaming down both of their faces.

"Yes?" he said softly.

"Our family has never been good with good-byes," Regina said.

James nodded in agreement.

"But I feel like after everything, I need to say a proper good-bye," Regina stated as firmly as she could.

James took her hand to help give her courage.

Regina started crying harder.

"This is exactly why," Regina said as she waved their clasped hands through choking sobs.

"We used to always be there for each other. We protected each other. I had forgotten how close we had been," Regina admitted once her tears came under control.

James nodded.

"I had forgotten, even when I went to find you. I didn't realize how much I had betrayed our relationship as siblings, as your big sister, until I saw Nate and Colleen together," Regina said. "They remind me of us. Same sibling dynamic and everything. Same age difference. Same personalities. A precocious little girl and a reserved little boy."

Regina choked on some more tears. James was crying silently.

"You would have noticed it immediately. You were protecting them when you offered to take Nate," Regina added.

"You're right. It was the first thing I noticed," James admitted.

"Which is why I feel extra grateful to you. You didn't let how I betrayed us, stop you from helping and protecting me when I needed it the most," Regina said.

James scoffed at her and rolled his own eyes.

"Like I could have done anything else. You're still my sister, Regina, that didn't stop during our estrangement," James added.

Regina gave his hand a squeeze.

"I know that you will do this anyway, but promise me that you won't let Nate and Colleen ever fight so badly that they become estranged?" Regina whispered.

James laughed.

"Yeah, I promise," he said.

Regina smiled in thanks.

"And thank you for letting my son into your lives, even if it is short for him as well," Regina said as she looked one last time into the other adults in the room.

"I love you all," Regina added with a choking whimper.

The adults all resumed their places of watching.

The next morning, Archie took care of distracting Nate and Colleen from going into Regina's room.

"But we always go in," Colleen protested.

"Your auntie is very sick today. Everyone else is taking care of her while I take care of yous," Archie said softly.

"Can we make her get well cards?" Colleen asked when they learned that.

"I think that would be nice," Archie agreed. They spent the morning in the parlor where Colleen's art easel was set up and made get well cards for Regina.

Harris had even attempted one, but the ashen look on his face showed Archie that he was in a lot of pain.

"Go to bed," Archie whispered as he eyed Harris up and down.

"I'm alright," Harris protested.

"Do ya think I don't recognize the symptoms of yer migraines? Ya forget that I've spent a lot of time around Wilma. Go to bed," Archie ordered more insistently.

"But what if…?" Harris said in fear of not being around to help his mother.

"I will wake you up," Archie promised.

"Thanks, Uncle Archie," Harris whispered as he slowly stood up.

Colleen and Nate looked at him in curiosity.

"His head is hurtin' him today," Archie said quietly.

They both nodded in understanding and both stood to hug him.

"Feel better, Harris," Colleen whispered.

Harris grimaced as he hugged his cousins back.

"Thank you. All I need is a good nap," Harris whispered confidently back.

They waved as Harris climbed the stairs. Then they went back to work on the cards.

But as the day continued, Harris didn't come back down. Archie began to worry about him more than Regina. Once he put Nate and Colleen to bed, he went to Harris' bedroom. Harris' room was pitch black, but he could hear the labored breathing of his nephew.

"Harris?" Archie whispered as he approached the bed.

"Uncle Archie…" Harris breathed out.

"How are ya doing?" Archie asked.

"Not well. Mother and I spoke of both our deaths often, but I don't think either of us had ever imagined her outliving me," Harris said with pain as a tear rolled down his cheek.

Archie wiped it away.

"Do ya want me to get her?" Archie asked.

"Nooooo…no," Harris replied vehemently. "It would break her heart. She can't know that I went first. She's looking forward to being reunited with my father. I can't make her last moments be filled with the pain of losing me."

"Is there anyone ya want me to get?" Archie asked.

Harris took a shaking breath, before shaking his head.

"If they all come for me, mother will know," Harris whispered.

Archie nodded at that deduction.

"Will you let them all know that I love them? Being part of this family was the best thing," Harris choked as he sobbed.

Archie nodded as he put his arms around his nephew.

"Uncle Archie, I'm so scared," Harris cried.

"Yer, the bravest person I know," Archie said as he hugged him harder, barely keeping his emotions in check.

"I have no right to ask you, but will you stay?" Harris asked.

"I wasn't going to leave ya to begin with," Archie said as bent down to kiss Harris' head.

"Try and get some rest."

Harris nodded before shutting his eyes.

Archie held Harris in his arms until he felt Harris take in a breath and felt warmth oozing from his ears.

Archie gently placed Harris down in his bed, before turning on a lamp. Archie quietly took one of the hand towels always on his bed side to wipe away the blood that had been oozing out of his ears.

"Nathan, I know we never met, but yer kid was a good one. We all loved him. It's finally yer turn to take care of him," Archie prayed, just before he started crying.

Harris Wainscott died at 12:01 am on May 5th.

Archie wasn't able to sleep, but he was pretty certain that he felt a large hand on his shoulder at 5:53 am that same morning, followed by a breeze through the room, when the windows and doors weren't open for a draft.

He then heard the movement from Regina's room. Archie wiped his eyes as he stepped into the hallway. Ophelia saw him first.

"Archie?" she asked in confusion as to why her husband was coming from Harris' room.

"Harris went first," Archie explained.

He then watched as Ophelia processed the statement and started crying again.

That brought the others out in confusion. Archie had to explain what had happened.

"Why didn't you get one of us?" Edith asked.

"He asked me not to," Archie then summarized what had happened with Harris the night before.

"Regina went a few moments ago," Ophelia explained.

"Well, at least she proved ya wrong about Colleen's birthday," Archie said as embraced his wife to try and comfort each other.

"She was always stubborn," Ophelia said.

Rachel and Sally approached somberly, one carrying Nate and one carrying Colleen. They both saw every adult they loved crying and looked at them with concern.

"Auntie Regina and Harris are both in heaven now," Ophelia said as she looked at each of her children.

"Like Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Nathan?" Colleen asked.

Ophelia nodded. Both children wiggled out of the arms that were holding them and ran into their mother's.

"Mama, how can we write to them if they're in heaven?" Colleen asked as she cried.

"You pray," Ophelia said as she wiped the tears from her daughter's face.

"But how can we send them their favorite things?" Colleen insisted.

"Uncle Nathan is taking care of them now," Nate said with sadness, but knowledgeably.

All of the adults looked at him in surprise.

"Well, here we are trying to protect them from hurting, and Nate goes and makes us feel better," Edith said as she gave Nate a tear-eyed smile.

The family had decided to take that day to process and grieve their loss of two beloved members of their family. Edith spent it making a painting in her parlor. Ophelia was baking in the kitchen. Archie was whittling with wood. Colleen and Nate were being watched after by Molly and Sally.

James had gone to the stable. General immediately noticed his mood and stuck his long nose into James' face.

"Regina and Harris have passed," James whispered out loud as he brushed General.

General stood perfectly still as James took comfort in caring for him. But he wouldn't let James put on his saddle. James gave him a glare. And the look General gave back said clearly that General thought James was being stupid trying to ride when his emotions were haywire, and General wouldn't take part of riding so dangerously.

So while James was cursing his stubborn horse, he finally burst into tears and sat down in General's stall. General wrapped his body around his tall person, and James cried into General's soft horsehair.

Once every adult had the time to process and grieve in private, they started looking for each other. This started with James and Archie. James knew that Archie had seen his brother's cruel murder of their mother, but he hadn't ever held someone as they passed. He wanted to check on him.

James found him still working with a piece of wood, while watching Colleen and Nate pet Sirius.

"James," Archie started.

"Archie," James sat next to him. "How are you handling Harris?"

Archie stiffened and paused in his whittling.

"I'm sorry about not lettin' ya know, that ya didn't get to say goodbye," Archie said with guilt.

"Don't be. You did what he asked of you. He was right. Regina's last minutes would have been filled with the pain of losing her child. We know how hard that is," James said.

"Still…" Archie trailed off.

"To be honest, I am thankful you were with him," James admitted softly.

"He couldn't be alone," Archie said.

"I've had people die in my arms before, both from battle wounds, and casualties of war. I know how hard this is going to be on you Archie. I can see you have one way of taking your mind off of things but know that I am available to talk or just sit with you, being with someone who cares can help," James said softly.

Archie nodded.

"Thanks, James," Archie said as he met James' eyes.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, just watching Colleen and Nate. They were walking along the small garden path. Sirius was between the two of them. Each had a handful of his fur clenched in their hands.

Ophelia and Edith found each other next. Ophelia was still covered in baking mess, but Edith was also covered in her paints. They greeted each other by hugging each other and getting each other's mess on themselves.

"How are you holding up?" Ophelia asked when she pulled back a little.

"We knew that Harris was only a matter of time, but I didn't think it was quite so desperate. I thought we would have more time with him. I feel like he shouldn't have only had one of us there," Edith said.

Ophelia nodded.

"I understand that. None of us thought that Harris was doing so poorly. He was downstairs yesterday. Colleen told us that he thought he just needed to rest and would be better. And by the time Harris realized it, Archie was the only who could be there for him," Ophelia said gently.

Edith nodded, but then burst into angry tears.

"Honestly, I feel cheated! We should have had more time to help guide him," Edith ranted.

Ophelia just held her tighter as Edith sobbed into her shoulder.

"Don't let this loss take away from your dream of having children," Ophelia whispered once Edith had calmed down.

Edith pulled back to give her a guilty look.

"Yes, grieve awhile. But don't let it stop you in the future," Ophelia said as she raised a hand to hold Edith's face. "You deserve all of your dreams. Regina and Harris wouldn't want you to give them up."

Edith nodded.

"How are you?" Edith asked, trying to change the topic.

Ophelia recognized this but allowed it.

"I miss them more with each hour. But I also can't help but feel glad that neither of them are suffering anymore. Regina was looking so poor a month ago, I don't know how she managed to make it after Colleen's birthday. Harris' migraines were getting worse, and if how my mother was before she died was any indication of how he was feeling, then I'm glad he isn't going to be hurting anymore. I also think that Nathan, Regina, and Harris can be a family now," Ophelia said.

Edith gave a small, strained smile.

"I don't know if I am that at peace with it, but those are very valid points," Edith said.

"You don't need to be where I'm at. It's been less than a day! And our relationships with both of them were different," Ophelia said with one last hug.

It was during this embrace that the rest of their family found them.

"Mama, Auntie Edith, you both look funny," Colleen said when she saw them.

Both opened their eyes and looked down at their dresses, now covered in a mix of baking mess and paints.

"Sometimes hugs are more important than cleaning up before the hug," Edith said as she looked between Colleen and Ophelia.

James gave her a look of surprise.

"Only in certain moments though. We don't want to get your Auntie Edith sick unintentionally," Ophelia added.

"That's true," Edith added.

"How are ya doing?" Archie asked both of them.

"Depends on the moment," Edith admitted.

"I'm taking Nate's perspective and am thankful that Nathan is taking care of them now," Ophelia said.

The family had a quiet evening, and they all went to bed early.

The Grants were all tucked into Archie and Ophelia's bed.

"Daddy, do you think Auntie Edith and Uncle James are okay by themselves?" Colleen asked sleepily.

"What do ya mean?" Archie asked.

"They don't have anyone to help them sleep, like Nate and I have you and Mama," Colleen pointed out.

Ophelia and Archie both looked at each other.

Nate just handed over his stuffed toy General. Colleen handed over her favorite bear.

Archie grabbed both and went into the long trek to the other side of the house.

Edith and James were clinging to each other. Both had eyes closed, but neither was asleep, when they heard the tapping at their door. James' head popped up in confusion, and the rest of his body quickly followed.

"Sorry about disturbing ya, but the children were worried about ya both," Archie said as he handed over their prized toys.

James took them with a choked-up throat.

"Try and get some sleep," Archie said as he left.

James nodded and closed their door. He then walked back to his side of their bed.

"Colleen and Nate were worried," James explained as he showed his wife the toys.

Edith gave a small smile.

"That's kind of them," she whispered.

James nodded as he put them both on his bedside table. Edith and James fell asleep looking at the toys.

The next few days were preparing for the double funeral for Regina and Harris. Edith had written an obituary for both, and had James send telegrams to people Regina would have known letting them know about her death and her son's death and when the funeral would be. There were several return telegrams saying 'sorry, for your loss, but we can't come at the moment.'

With each new response, Edith and James began to get more and more angry.

"What's the matter?" Archie finally asked as the Normandeau couple received a telegram from the last person they had sent one to.

"These are all of Regina's Society friends," James said, at the pile of 'no.'

"We're pretty sure they aren't coming because of her affair and how Harris was an illegitimate child," Edith said with a sigh.

"These are people she would have been there for," James added

"Harris' godmother isn't even coming," Edith whispered.

James shook his head in frustration.

"He has a godmother?" Ophelia asked.

"Regina told us that she had named her best friend, Agatha, as Harris' godmother. But she also said that Agatha has always known," Edith explained.

"Then why is she coming?" Archie asked.

"Something to do with her sister getting married to a wealthy businessman and not wanting to test the waters," Edith said.

James' look went dark.

"The only reason this particular family was in a high enough social circle was because Regina was friends with Agatha. She protected her," James spitted out in anger.

"Regina and Harris will be properly mourned by the people who truly matter," Ophelia said in comfort.

James and Edith both looked at each other before nodding.

So, it was a few days later that the Grants and James found themselves on the steps to the church where the Harrises funeral was held. They were all in deep black of their mourning clothes.

The mourners were trickling in. Most of them were the people they had interacted within Winnipeg. Some of Ted and Wilma's friends were also there. Others were colleagues of James.

There was exactly one couple from Regina's old life who showed up.

"Hello, James," the woman said as she stuck out her hand.

James took it and gave her fingers a light kiss.

"Seems a bit light on Regina's friends," her husband pointed out.

James just gave a light nod.

"We had been warned against coming, but you and Regina have always been good people, and Richard Wainscott was asking to lose her," the woman added.

"We also thought it best to side with you, than that hothead," her husband added.

James nodded in agreement.

"Thank you for coming," James said as he gestured for them to go inside.

The service was small in attendance, but the passages read gave the mourners peace. At the graveside in the mausoleum, Regina and Harris were interred with grace next to the other members of the Harris family.

Over the next few days, the family was busy with what and how to take care of the house before they returned to Red Deer. As they were making preparations to return, James went to visit the mausoleum by himself one last time. Only to find a woman in a traveling outfit and large coat, putting Regina's favorite flowers next to her marker.

She was whispering something.

James took one look at her and felt anger go from the tips of his toes to top of his head. He hadn't felt this much anger since he had been in a battle as a green soldier. He tried breathing to relax, and it almost worked until her whispered prayer captured his attention.

"You and Harris always have my love and support," her voice echoed in the small space.

James gave a sarcastic scoff.

"Just not publicly," James sneered.

The woman turned around, startled in being caught.

"James!" she hissed; her eyes wide with fear.

James glared at her. She averted her eyes.

"I…I…I…I wanted to come…" she tried to explain.

James just narrowed his eyes even further.

"My sister is still new to her husband's society," the woman whispered.

"You and your sister wouldn't have been accepted into ANY society without Regina,"

James glowered.

The woman nodded.

"You have to understand how precarious our reputations are," the woman pleaded.

"I do. Better than most. But that doesn't mean I will let your slighting of my sister and nephew, in their deaths, go unpunished!" James growled out.

"I didn't want to cause you and Edith any more harm. I had thought that I wouldn't see anyone," the woman explained.

This was the wrong thing to say, because James' eyes flashed with more anger and indignation.

"So, you expect to support them, by slinking to their graves unnoticed?" James said.

"I'm not slinking," she protested.

"Agatha, either you support them outwardly and to the public eye, or you don't support them at all," James stated firmly.

Agatha's eyes went wide. But she didn't say anything.

James scoffed.

"We are leaving Winnipeg in three days, Agatha. At that point, I am locking and hiring a 24/7 guard of this mausoleum. If you can't support them in life or death, then you don't get unlimited access to their grave sites," James sneered, before he turned on his heel and left to go about arranging the guard duty.

Hey everyone, this chapter is sad and filled with anger, but that is grief! Thanks for the positive feedback!