Chapter 8:

Tap-tap... tap-tap...

'What's that noise?' Rae thought drowsily, awakening the next morning. It took her a moment to realize someone was tapping on the door. "Come in," she murmured with a yawn.

Ann crept in. "Momma... I heard someone walking around singing... but... but no one is up..." She gave Rae a frightened look.

"Are you sure you weren't just dreaming, sweetheart?"

She nodded. "I woke up 'cause I had to go potty..."

Spot woke up and rolled over, "What's going on?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.

"She heard someone singing," Rae explained.

"It was probably just her imagination. Go back to your bed and go to sleep, Ann."

"But it wasn't," she whined, climbing on the bed and pounding Spot's chest emphatically. "I heard it!"

He grabbed her little fists in his large hands, "Ann you better start behaving, quick."

She whimpered. "I heard it, Daddy. I did. I'm not making it up."

With a sigh he stood and scooped her up into his arms. "Fine, we'll go take a look just to show you that nothing is there and then you are going back to your bed."

"I didn't see anyone... I just heard it..."

"I'm just going to prove to you that there is no one there."

She sniffled and plopped her head on his shoulder.

He carried her out into the hallway, "See...no one...now will you go back to sleep?"

She whimpered. "I'll... I'll try..."

"Julie is here with you too, sweetheart. You'll be fine."

"Do I have to Daddy?" she sniffled.

"Yes. We talked about this before. You have to learn to sleep by yourself."

She nodded silently as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Gently, he kissed the top of her head and set her in bed. Wiping her tears away, he pulled her blankets up over her. "You'll be all right, I promise."

"Please don't leave me Daddy."

"But I have to go back and stay with Momma, Annie."

"But..."

He placed a hand on her head. "Ann..."

Her lip quivered.

Julie rolled over, "It's alright, Ann, I'm right here," she whispered, wrapping her arms around the younger girl.

She sniffled and plopped her head on her pillow. Spot gave Julie a grateful look and left the room after saying goodnight. He walked back into his room and dropped heavily onto the bed next to Rae.

"Trouble getting her to bed?"

He nodded.

"Well...? How'd you do it?"

"Julie did it."

She smiled, snuggling up to him. "I'm glad we found them."

He kissed the side of her head, "Me too."

* * *

"They're back, they're back!" Andy ran into the house shrieking.

Rae winced, feeling better for the first time in days, but she still had a headache. "Who's back?"

"Molly and Kendra and - and - and the other two!"

She pulled herself up from the couch and made her way to the front door. Sure enough, Molly, Blank and Shadow were headed toward the house with Baby Kendra.

"Welcome back," she called, almost quietly, for shouting made her head hurt more.

Blank gave her a concerned look, "Are you alright?" he asked, as he jogged up the porch steps.

"I'm okay... I think... I've just been a little sick off and on for the last few days..."

"Are you sure that you feel up to taking care of Molly and Kendra?"

She gave him a slightly inquisitive look.

"You already have your hands full with Chris, Julie and the twins, if you don't think you can handle Molly and Kendra, I can always take them to Mrs. Doc."

"I... I think we'll be fine... I have Spot... And Nick is still living with us... And Chris and Julie are often a tremendous help. But thank you." She smiled appreciatively.

"If you're sure." She nodded. "Alright, then Shadow and I are headed back to Brooklyn on the afternoon train."

"You aren't staying with your father then? How did it go? If you don't mind me asking, that is."

"Father had to go back to his boat. It went alright I guess. We spent a lot of time talking and catching up and he promised to stop in and see us in Brooklyn, next time he's in town."

"And they had a couple vicious little spats too," Shadow chimed in with an evil grin, stepping up beside him. He elbowed her hard. "Hey!" she protested, rubbing her side, "That hurt!"

"It was supposed to."

She whacked the back of his head.

Rae smiled, watching them. "Alright you two, cut it out, I don't want Ann and Andy to start beating up on each other."

"But beating him up is my daily exercise," Shadow kidded, walking past her and into the house.

Blank sighed. "I don't think things went well with her and our father either..."

Rae leaned against the doorframe. "Give them time, Blank. You can't suddenly expect them to be family after being apart for so long."

He nodded and sighed. "But ... you should have been there... I could just tell.. you could feel it- She wasn't ready to forgive him."

"I know how she feels Blank. I'd feel the same way if I found my parents."

He nodded and sighed. "I guess I just expected too much, hmm?"

"A little. You just wanted your family to be together again."

"I guess." He gave her a little smile and then entered the house after Shadow.

Rae reached to take Kendra from Molly and rubbed her nose on the baby's fat cheek. She couldn't help but smile when Kendra cooed at her. A pair of strong hands took Kendra from her and she turned to see Spot standing beside her. He slipped his free arm around Rae and led her back inside. "You shouldn't have gotten up. They would've come in to see you," he said.

"I know... But you don't know how tired I get of just sitting around... doing nothing... Even if I am sick."

"I'm just trying to get you feeling better, sweetheart, so that I can take you to see Trent and make sure that nothing is wrong."

She nodded, resting her head on his shoulder.

He kissed the top of her head as they stopped next to the couch. "Sit down and I'll let you have Kendra again."

She smiled a little and sat down, holding out her arms immediately. "Hi sweetie," she cooed, stroking the baby's cheek gently. Kendra's little hand came up slowly and gripped Rae's finger. Rae bent down to kiss the baby's cheek, "Welcome home Kendra," she whispered. Spot watched Rae with the baby and kissed the side of her forehead gently.

Blank cleared his throat, "Shadow and I have to leave to catch the train..."

Spot stood up and squeezed Blank's shoulder. "You two be careful, okay? And tell Trent we'll be coming up to see him soon."

"We will," Shadow said as she bent over to kiss the baby's forehead.

"Come back to visit again," Rae insisted. "And tell everyone else they can come too."

"But not all at once," Spot added hurriedly.

Shadow laughed, "I think I'll tell them to all come at once...because Spot said they could," she said with a twinkle in her eye.

He smirked. "You do and you'll regret it little girl." Then he winked.

Blank turned to Molly and gave her a big hug, "I'll come back and see you Mol, as often as I can."

Molly and Shadow exchanged wary glances before giving one another very tentative embraces. "Uh... maybe I'll come too," Shadow finally said, stepping back quickly.

Molly nodded slightly, "I'll be waiting..."

Glancing at one another, Shadow and Blank nodded firmly, swinging their sacks over their shoulder, waved goodbye to Nick, Chris, and the others, and headed out the door. Molly sighed and leaned against the doorframe, watching them leave.

~*~

Rae was sitting in bed reading a few mornings later when Spot entered the room with a tray of food. Her face paled, "Spot, please take that out of here, I..."

He backed up as she bolted past him. Setting the tray outside the door, he then returned and sat next to her in the bathroom, pulling her hair back as she threw up. "Are you all right? What happened?"

"Just the smell of that food makes me sick," she answered weakly.

He frowned, holding her close when she finally straightened.

She attempted to stand, but he picked her up and carried her back to the bed.

"I'm sorry Spot... I'm so sorry..."

He kissed her forehead. "Stop apologizing. It's not your fault you're sick."

She turned her head to the side and closed her eyes as a single tear rolled slowly down her cheek.

Climbing up next to her, he slipped his arms around her waist, rocking her back and forth slowly. "Don't cry, darling."

"I'm sorry Spot...I hate being like this...and I know you get tired of having to take care of my all the time..."

"I'm not tired of it. Not at all. I wish you'd get better because it worries me... and I know you don't like being bedridden, but I'm not tired of it. What kind of husband would I be then?"

She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, "You are too good to me, Spot Conlon."

He smiled. "Nothing's too good for you."

She looked up at him, "I love you, Spot."

"I love you too, Rae." He glanced over at the book she had been reading, "Ah, so you were reading the diary again, eh?"

She nodded, glancing down at it. "It's very interesting. The woman and her husband actually fell in love... I'm glad for them... It must have been awful, being in an arranged marriage like that... not really knowing who you were married too."

"It was," a strange voice answered.

Rae looked up. "Did you hear something?"

Spot was glancing around. "I... I thought so... Hello? Anyone in here?" But there was no response.

She shivered and shrank closer to him. "She tells of a secret passage that goes from the third floor out to the barn, and another one that goes from the barn out into the woods...."

"Did she say where exactly it starts yet?"

"Not yet, but she did finally name her husband."

Spot tilted his head. "Finally, eh? What is it?"

"Kris...but his closest friends call him Nick..."

"Nick..." He gave Rae an odd little look. "You don't suppose..."

Simultaneously, they shook their heads. "Naaah... can't be..."

There was a knock at the door. "Come in," Spot yelled.

Julie stuck her head into the room. "Nick wants you downstairs..."

Lifting a brow, he nodded. "Both of us? Or just me?"

"Both of you."

He glanced at Rae. "Wanna piggy back ride?" he asked with a smile.

She glared at him.

"I'm serious."

She shook her head, "No piggy back rides, please."

With a smile, he scooped her up. "You're no fun," he teased gently.

"No...you just spoil me."

He grinned. "Well, someone has to do it."

She kissed his cheek, "Let's go see what Nick wants."

Carrying her downstairs, he set her down in the living room and sat next to her, waiting for Chris to bring Nick in.

They glanced at each other in shock as Chris entered not only with Nick....but with an older woman as well.

Rae and Spot exchanged glances.

Nick put his arm around the woman's waist, "Rae, Spot, this is my wife..."

"You're married?" Spot squawked before he thought.

Nick and the woman beside him smiled and nodded. "I'm Noelle," she replied, holding out a slim, slightly aged hand.

Rae gasped and brought her hand to cover her mouth.

"What's wrong honey?" Spot asked her, wondering if she needed to be rushed to the sink or not.

"That's your diary!" Rae murmured.

"Diary?" Noelle lifted a brow slightly, curious.

"I... I found a diary in this house and..."

"Oh yes, that." She laughed lightly.

"So... that means... this is... your house?" Spot stared at Noelle and Nick.

"It was," Nick answered, "we haven't lived here in years"

"Oh my..." Rae put a hand to her head. "And we just... up and trespassed..."

Spot turned to her concerned, "Are you feeling sick again?" he whispered.

"I... I just feel faint..."

"Please don't faint on account of this. We have no intention of pressing any charges whatsoever...Why do you think I haven't said anything before now?" Nick asked.

Rae rested her head on Spot's shoulder. "But... how... how did you know we were here?"

Nick and Noelle exchanged secretive smiles. "Let's just say a little bird told us," Nick finally replied.

"I've heard that before," Rae muttered.

Spot grinned. "Hmm, wonder where?"

Rae turned back to Nick and Noelle, "If you don't live here now....where do you live?"

"Further north," Noelle replied.

"I have so many questions...but I can't think clearly...my head hurts too much," Rae said, holding her aching head.

Spot stroked her hair gently. "Save them for later."

Noelle knelt in front of Rae, "Maybe you should see a doctor, honey..."

"We've been trying to get her there... but every time we think we can get her out of the house, she gets quite sick again," Spot explained.

"Maybe you should just go ahead and take her," Noelle said, giving Rae a knowing smile.

He glanced at Rae. "Honey?"

Rae sighed and nodded, "Take me to see Trent," she whispered.

"We'll take care of the children," Noelle added.

Rae looked at Noelle gratefully, "Thank you."

The older woman smiled. "You are welcome, dearie."

Spot kissed the side of Rae's head, "Let me go pack up a few things and then we can go." She nodded, squeezing his hand.

Noelle left the room and returned a moment later with a glass of water. Spot slipped from the room to pack while Noelle sat with Rae. "So tell me what has been going on, Nick tells me you've been ill for quite some time."

"I usually wake up sick...and certain smells make me sick...and my head has been hurting...."

The woman nodded wisely and gave Rae a secret smile. "Well... I think I have an inkling as to what it could be..."

Rae looked at the older woman, "I think I know what your inkling is...but that's not possible."

Spot tramped into the room then. "Ready Rae?"

She nodded.

He helped her up and he thanked Nick and Noelle profusely. "We can never repay you..."

"There is no need to repay us." Nick said.

"But... You've given us so much," Rae replied.

"No more talk of repayment now...just go and see that doctor," Noelle said.

They nodded and went to say goodbye to the children before heading out the door.