Across town Sippi was let into the Webster house by the butler. Upstairs, China was in the room, tending to Lizzy, as she was every time he went there.
"Is she any better?" he asked.
"A little...but not much."
"How long will it take?"
"If she continues to improve...she could go home in three days."
"That long?" Sippi asked with a frown.
"It's actually rather soon," China pointed out.
"I wish it were sooner. I hate keeping this from them."
She sighed tiredly. "Well, I am trying."
"Why don't you let me stay with her tonight. Go home and get some rest, China."
"I don't know... if something changes..."
"I'll send for you."
After a long pause, she nodded. "Well... All right."
"Now go see your husband and get some sleep."
"I shall. There better not have been any major changes for the worse... Or I'll be very angry."
"There won't be. Now go!"
And she went. He gently picked Lizzy up and sat in the rocking chair. She slept rather peacefully now. "I'm glad you're feeling better," he whispered.
Lizzy stirred in her sleep and buried her face in his arm.
"What's the matter, sweetheart?" he asked, fingering one of her little curls
She simply yawned and slept more.
"You're just like your Momma."
He smiled a little. Just like her. He pressed a kiss to her brow. "Sleep well, little one."
~*~
Spot woke around midnight to find the other side of the bed empty. Yawning, he stumbled from the room in search of his wife. He saw a light down the hall, coming from the study and quietly, he headed for it.
He opened the door and rubbed his eyes, trying to focus in the sudden brightness. "Rae?"
There was a start, and the sound of a book dropping. "Spot! You scared me!"
"Why aren't you in bed?"
"I had a lot on my mind..."
He walked over and sat beside her. "Wanna talk about it?"
She sighed and picked up the book that she had dropped. "This was the last book Julie read..."
He sat next to her and took her hands.
A single tear rolled down her cheek. "When she read a book, she would put her name in the front and the date she finished...and a little note about what she thought about the book..."
"We don't have to sell books, if you'd rather not..." Spot said quietly, putting his arms around her.
"I can't Spot...Look..." she said, opening the book. In the front cover was a something Julie had written, in a shaky handwriting. He looked down to read what she had written. JULIE GRAHAM CONLON.
Gently, he guided Rae's head on to his shoulder.
"I still want people to enjoy these books, Spot...but I can't sell them."
He was quiet for a long time. "Perhaps... Perhaps we should make our bookstore into a library?"
She looked up at him. "Could we, Spot?"
He nodded. "When Chris comes back, I'll have him help me build some shelves... perhaps the townspeople will donate books too."
She smiled.
"Does that sound better to you?"
"Yes it does."
"All right, then it's settled."
She nodded. "It's settled."
"Now will you come back to bed?"
"Yes. But I want to check on the kids first."
He nodded.
She stood and walked up the stairs, stopping first in the boys' room. Andy and Sam slept soundly in their beds. She walked in, leaned over, and kissed each of their heads gently. She walked across the hall to the girls' room. Marty's covers were on the floor. She stooped down and picked up the quilt. Marty fidgeted and buried her face into the pillow, dozing on. Rae kissed her forehead and covered the sleeping girl back up, before moving to the side of the room, where Annie and Ginny shared a big bed.
"Sweet dreams," she whispered, even though they were fast asleep already. She kissed each forehead, before heading back downstairs.
Spot was waiting up for her. "You think you can sleep now?" he asked with a smile.
She crawled back into the bed. "I think so."
"Good."
Just as she rested her head on his shoulder, Robert woke up crying.
Rae moaned a bit. "I was ready to sleep too..."
"I'll get him," Spot said.
"He's hungry...hand him here."
He gave Robert to her. She yawned and started nursing Robert. It was only a few minutes before he decided he was done and fussed a bit to be put back to bed. Spot took him and carried him back to the cradle.
"Sleep well little guy," he whispered.
Rae sniffled. "Do you think Sippi will find Lizzy?"
"Yes." He kissed the side of her head gently.
"I still have the feeling that something is wrong with our baby."
"Shhhh," he murmured, stroking her hair. "Everything will be okay."
~*~
Chris knocked on the door of Blank's apartment the next morning. The door opened a crack and Kendra's face appeared. in the opening. He had to suppress a laugh. "Hello Kendra."
"Shh!" she said, placing a finger over her lips. "Aun' North is 'leepin'."
He smiled. "Okay, I'll be quiet," he replied in an exaggerated whisper.
"She's sick again."
"All right, I'll be extra careful not to disturb her."
He walked into the flat and sat in a chair, pulling her into his lap. "Where is your Momma?"
"Shoppin'."
"This early?"
"She gotta go to work."
"Oh, I see." He ruffled Kendra's hair a little.
"When you gonna be my Daddy?"
He smiled. "Have a little patience, Kendra. Soon."
She made a face.
He crouched to her level. "Now now, none of that, kiddo."
"But I want a Daddy!" she said, giving him a pleading look.
"You're getting one sweetie."
She sniffled. "Jake and Ben was making fun of me, cause I ain't got a Daddy."
"Well tell them you're going to get the best daddy ever," he said with a smile.
"Can...can I..."
"Yes you can."
"Chris?"
"Yes?"
"Can I go 'head and call you Daddy?"
He smiled. "If that's what you'd like."
"Really?"
Kissing the side of her head, he said, "Really."
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I love you half pint."
"I love you...Daddy."
He smiled. The door opened and Molly walked in with an armload of groceries. She smiled at the sight before her, of Kendra and Chris hugging. Chris jumped up to help her with the bags.
"Thank you."
"Welcome," he said. "I haven't told Kendra yet."
"I wondered why I didn't here yells."
"Tell me what?" Kendra asked, climbing up in a chair.
Chris picked her up and sat her on his knee. "I have to go back home."
She was silent for a moment. "But...why?" she asked, her lower lip quivering.
"So I can earn some money and fix up a house so you and your mom and I can all live together."
"I don't want you to go..." she said, a tear falling down her cheek.
"I know kiddo. But the sooner I go, the sooner I get to be your daddy."
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Maybe you can come stay with me for a while...in a couple of weeks..." Chris said, looking up at Molly.
She nodded. "Of course."
He kissed the top of Kendra's hair. "I need to leave, baby..."
She sniffled. "Promise I can visit?"
"I promise."
He stood and put her down, before walking over to Molly. She smiled, looking up at him. He slipped his arms around her and rested his forehead on hers. "Goodbye, sweetheart,"
"Goodbye."
He gently kissed her. Kendra giggled.
"Hey missy, no looking," Chris said with a smile.
"But Daddy..."
He smiled. "But what?
Molly sent her a look and Kendra stuck her finger in her mouth. "Nothin'."
"All right," he said, giving her a little grin.
She gave him a shy grin.
He smiled and gave Molly another kiss. "I'll be back soon."
"It won't be soon enough," she whispered.
He smiled and stroked her cheek. "I'm sorry it can't be sooner.... you could both come back home, if you liked."
"North needs me right now..."
"All right." He smiled again. "I shall see you girls later then," he said, heading towards the door.
~*~
China walked into the nursery looking much refreshed after a good night's sleep. "How was your night?" she asked Sippi.
"She slept most of the night..."
"But... "
"But what?"
"I could sense you hesitate..."
He sighed. "She woke up a couple of times...and I spoke to her, but she never looked at me...."
China frowned a bit. "Odd...." She headed up the stairs.
"I don't know anything about medicine...but I'd say that she's..."
"She's..."
"Blind!"
