Chapter Nine

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A Very Different Sunday

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When the morning sun rose in Hope Valley there had been little change in the Infirmary. Before the end of Rosemary's shift, she and Faith had gotten Elizabeth to sip some chamomile tea and to lie down. In the morning, Fiona was on duty, had Elizabeth sitting up and had brushed Elizabeth's hair when Clara delivered a basket with some breakfast and a carafe of coffee. Faith checked-in and found no change in her patient's condition, so she headed to church before relieving Fiona after the service.

After church, Faith replaced Fiona and Joseph came to visit and pray with Elizabeth. He attempted to get her to talk, read Scriptures and quietly waited as he silently prayed. When he asked if she would like to have them bring Jack to see her, she made eye contact and shook her head, no.


At two PM, Bill knocked on the door having come to collect the lunch dishes to return them to the Café. As there was no change, he whispered to Faith that he was going to watch for Lucas, tell him what happened and accompany him over.

As he entered the Café, he saw Lucas drive past and pull up to the Saloon. Bill hurriedly left the basket behind and followed Lucas. By the time Bill arrived, Lucas was in his office. Bill knocked and entered, not waiting for a response.

Lucas looked up startled, ready to chide Bill on his intrusion. He stopped short though, reading aggravation on Bill's face. "Bill?"

"Bouchard. Sit down. I have to bring you up-to-date and it's not pretty." Lucas sat, his eyes becoming wide, and followed Bill as he paced and began the story.

"You don't know this, but Nathan and Allie left Hope Valley yesterday. They have moved to Regina." Bill missed the slight smile that teased Lucas's lips at that news. His gladness was short-lived though as Bill continued.

"It was Nathan's wish to avoid judgement, accusations and confrontations so he only told certain people privately. When he entered the schoolroom yesterday, Nathan intended to leave a letter for Elizabeth in her desk, requesting that she transfer Allie's school records. Elizabeth surprised Nathan by her presence and read his letter while he stood there."

"As I understand, she unloaded all of her anger, disagreement with his decision and parenting. She expressed her disdain at an increasingly loud volume. She even tried to slap Nathan in her rage. When she almost fell over, Nathan caught her arm, keeping her from stumbling until suddenly she wept and wailed. Joseph was witness to it all from the back office and he said Elizabeth keened. Do you know what that is, Bouchard?" As Lucas nodded yes, Bill added. "It was loud enough for Rosemary to hear at the Village Voice office. Elizabeth then sat, pounding her desk until she stilled to silence and nothingness. Nathan was catching a late train, so he sent Rosemary and Faith to be with Elizabeth. With Joseph's help they got her to the Infirmary. Someone has been with her ever since, with some of the ladies taking shifts overnight. She has refused to eat, or speak and hasn't cried since she left the schoolhouse."

"Lee took Jack overnight and Jack is with the Coulters now. But Bouchard? You have some decisions to make about care for Jack and some shifts to take to watch your fiancée."

"I don't understand. Why does she need to be watched?"

"Because, Bouchard, Elizabeth has had some sort of breakdown. A nervous breakdown, a shock and she is at risk for taking her own life. She cannot be left alone in this condition."

"Suicide?" Lucas tried to comprehend the meaning of all this. "A breakdown?" A darkness crossed his face as he began to grasp that Nathan's departure was what set-off his fiancée's fury and caused her to snap. Lucas stood, his own rage thinly veiled. "So Grant has already left?"

Bill stated calmly, "Yes. He and Allie left yesterday afternoon."

Lucas swore then continued. "That blasted man has been a thorn in my side since the day he arrived." He swore again.

Bill watched and listened, not surprised in the least. He wasn't happy with this uncouth version of Lucas Bouchard, but he wasn't surprised. Ignoring the comments about Nathan, Bill asked again. "So what are you going to do about Elizabeth and Jack? They are your responsibility."

"Mine? We're not married. Why are they my responsibility any more than anyone else's? Call her parents."

"No, Bouchard. You call her parents." Bill emphasized the 'You.' "Engagement assumes responsibility for both Elizabeth and her son. You still have to take care of her even if her parents do come... And it is a long train ride from Hamilton to Hope Valley."

Lucas cursed again. "And how am I supposed to do that? Huh? How am I supposed to take care of Elizabeth and Jack? How?"

"That's for you to figure out, Bouchard. First, I think you need to see them."

Lucas grabbed his suitcoat and put it on again, stomping and muttering under his breath as he stormed out of the Saloon. Bill followed a few steps behind, praying that Joseph was still in the Infirmary and Faith didn't have to face this alone. Otherwise, Bill knew he would have to stay and witness a very difficult scene.

Lucas stormed into the Infirmary without knocking, startling the doctor and the pastor as he loudly demanded. "Where is she? Where is Elizabeth?"

Joseph and Faith stood as Lucas whipped the curtain out of the way. He was not prepared for what he saw. Elizabeth sat there, pale, silent and unmoved by his arrival and loud questions. She wasn't even returning his stare. She just sat there in bed. Silent and still.

Lucas jerked to a stop, eyes wide and mouth open.

Pastor Joseph was the first to speak. "Hello, Lucas." Joseph moved to offer Lucas a chair.

Lucas sank into the chair, himself in shock. This was Elizabeth? The woman who was so full of life and passion and who always welcomed him with kisses. Lucas reached for her hand. It was cold and she didn't respond to him when he squeezed it. He kept staring at Elizabeth, but finally addressed the doctor. "What has happened? Faith? What is wrong with her?"

Faith returned to her seat, folded her hands and began to quietly explain. "Elizabeth has had a psychological shock. I believe it has triggered a trauma. A memory? A fear? A realization? We won't really know until she is willing or able to talk, but some stress has brought this on."

"I was there when it happened, Lucas. Upon realizing that Nathan and Allie were leaving, Elizabeth became very angry. She shouted and screamed and almost hit Nathan. She was hysterical, really, and then she wailed, collapsed at the desk and began to hit it with her fist. When she finally stopped crying and calmed down, she wouldn't speak or anything. We half-walked, half-carried her here. That was twenty-four hours ago."

"I don't understand. What did Nathan say to Elizabeth to cause that behavior?"

"Nathan told her they were leaving Lucas, and leaving on the afternoon train. I heard Elizabeth yell at him for not telling her in advance because of the friendship they shared, but Nathan only responded that there wasn't much friendship left and he wished her God's best. He did say he didn't owe her an explanation or a goodbye. We believe his leaving triggered something as what he said was calm and mild. He was very quiet actually. Elizabeth did all the shouting."

Lucas tried to get his mind around the fact that Elizabeth had reacted so violently to Nathan's departure. "Nathan didn't tell me he was leaving and I am not yelling or whatever…"

Faith and Joseph just looked at Lucas, although they individually questioned if he could be that incapable of understanding. 'Clueless' was Faith's word of choice. 'Dense' was Joseph's.

"What can be done for her?" Lucas turned away from Elizabeth to look imploringly at the doctor. "What are you doing, Faith?"

"Right now, we wait, Lucas. We keep her warm, try to get her to eat or at least drink, let her rest and keep watch. Someone needs to be with her when she is ready to talk, because talking is what she needs the most." Faith explained.

"Well, that and prayer." Added Joseph.

"Yes, and prayer." Agreed Faith.

"What do I need to do?" Lucas almost whispered he was so afraid of the answer they would give him.

"Take a shift to wait and watch with her. Let her know you are here and want to listen. Tell her we both will help her talk through whatever is troubling her." Faith paused. "What shifts would you like to take, Lucas?"

"Uh…" Lucas panicked inside. He did not feel adequate to the task being requested. "Can I get back to you on that? I need to go see Jack and Bill tells me I need to arrange for his care. I guess Elizabeth will not be teaching tomorrow? Maybe not even able to come home?"

"Lucas. Look at me." Faith's voice took on a firmness not usually heard. "Lucas. Elizabeth will not be teaching for a long time. At the very least for a few weeks. And she will not return home until she has begun to talk things through and can safely be left alone. You need to decide today what you are going to do, Lucas. If you need an hour or two, fine. I'll be here. But I need to know what arrangements you are making."

Lucas grasped at the opportunity to escape the room, even for a couple hours. "Okay. I'll figure out something and be back in a couple hours." With that he stood and left the room, making no comment to Elizabeth.

It was Faith who saw it and motioned to Joseph. A single, lone tear trailed down Elizabeth's cheek.


Lucas left the Infirmary with more questions that when he entered. He was more subdued though, and more confused. He returned to his office and locked the door. He needed time to determine his next steps. What he wanted to do was get right back into his car and head back out of town. What he needed to do was far different. He sat at his desk, thinking he was sitting in the middle of the road.

Withdrawing a piece of paper from his drawer Lucas began to jot things down to try to clear his head. 'Tell the Thatchers.' He stared at that sentence and changed the period into a question mark, thinking, 'Should I?'

His next item was Jack. 'Who to ask to stay with him at night? Who to watch him during the daytimes? Should I do something with him, myself? What?'

'With Gustav's help I can provide meals…' Lucas ran his hands through his hair in frustration. 'It sounds like they expect me to stay with Elizabeth sometimes too. When do I do that?'

Not as promptly as he usually was, Lucas entered the infirmary at four-thirty. He looked at Faith with raised eyebrows, but wasn't surprised when she just nodded no change. He motioned her to the door and opened it. On the porch, Lucas explained he had arranged for Laura to stay two extra hours with Jack and the Coulters would keep Jack overnight for the next few days. He would watch Jack Monday evening before bringing him to the Coulters and Bill was willing to watch him Tuesday night. That was as far ahead as he could plan.

"And when will you sit with Elizabeth? What shift?"

Lucas coughed then stated. "I will come for the early morning before work and for lunch too if you need me."

Faith stared at Lucas, making every effort to control her temper. "Lucas. A shift is four to five hours long at least. Stopping in at your convenience is not enough, not nearly enough. You cannot assume business as usual and leave this caregiving to others who have their own jobs, families and responsibilities. If you don't already know this, Hope Valley rallies around its own, but not when there is a family member shirking their responsibilities. Other than Jack, you are the closest family that Elizabeth has in town."

Faith took a deep breath. "If you cannot take the full shift this evening, then I will expect you here promptly at five o'clock tomorrow morning and you will remain here until I open the Infirmary at ten o'clock. You may return at noon so that I can take a lunch break for an hour. If Elizabeth has any visitors during your shifts, you are not to leave them in charge. You, Lucas…" Faith repeated herself. "You are responsible to stay with her during your allotted shift. We'll talk more tomorrow morning."

"You may stay now until Fiona comes at seven this evening. I'll let Molly know to expect you at five in the morning."

Noticing he was about to protest, Faith gave him a look, daring him. As she turned to go back in she added, "Let me collect my things and I'll leave you to it." She faced him again, "And Lucas? You are not allowed to touch Elizabeth in any way but to hold her hand. Understand? I don't care how familiar you two are kissing on the streets or in private, but in the Infirmary, and given her emotional state, nothing but her hand. Doctor's orders, Lucas." With that Faith disappeared into the Infirmary momentarily, then walked out and down the street.

Lucas stood watching Faith walk away, basically struck dumb. He was so angry he could spit, but words eluded him. He turned on his heal and went back inside, opening the curtain and sitting beside a silent Elizabeth.


Since Fiona had a break in her schedule on Monday morning, she offered to stay with Elizabeth so that Faith could make a couple of house calls. Fiona had slept between midnight and eight. Molly was home sleeping now. Lucas, stating that Eizabeth had slept fitfully, left as soon as Faith arrived at ten o'clock.

Sitting beside Elizabeth's bed, Fiona quietly flipped through the pages of the worn Bible that was kept in the bedside table. She slowly perused the comforting words of Psalms, until she saw Psalm Forty-two. Fiona spoke quietly, her hand on Elizabeth's forearm.

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept a holyday.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance…

Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
Why are thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."
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"I have often gone to this Psalm for comfort, Elizabeth. It reminds me that God is always with me. That his love is with me all day and his song with me in the night. It reminds me that he is my rock, solid, dependable, supporting me. And when I am mourning or sad or depressed? I tell myself to hope in God, for this will pass and I will praise him again. Hold on to hope, Elizabeth. Hold on."

Fiona watched Elizabeth's face as a single tear trailed down her cheek. It was something.

Thumbing through other pages, Fiona's eyes fell on Psalm twenty-three. After reciting it, she thought of David as a shepherd boy, comforting King Saul by singing to him. She closed the worn leather Bible and, in her sweet, dulcet voice, Fiona sang the old Scottish Psalter version of the Psalm.

"The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want, He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me the quiet waters by."

"My soul he doth restore again, and me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness, e'en for his own name's sake.

My table thou has furnished in presence of my foes,
My head thou dost with oil anoint, and my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me,
And in God's house forevermore my dwelling place shall be." (*5)

This time as Fiona stopped singing and lifted her eyes to the woman in the bed, she saw Elizabeth gazing back at her with tear-filled eyes. Elizabeth reached out her hand to take Fiona's and held it lightly. Not knowing what to say, Fiona just covered their hands with her other hand and whispered reassurances to Elizabeth that she was with her and when she wanted to talk, Fiona or Faith or Pastor Joseph would gladly listen.

Eventually Elizabeth closed her eyes and leaned back against the pillow, but she kept her hand holding Fiona's. Holding someone's hand could be a lifeline, a way to give strength to someone in need of your strength, to offer comfort and support, to encourage and assure someone of your presence and reassure them that they are not alone. Fiona silently prayed for all these things for Elizabeth as she waited for Faith to return.


When the doctor entered the Infirmary, she brought a basket of lunch she had picked-up at the Café. Faith set her doctor's bag on her desk and carried the basket inside the curtain. Surprised to see Elizabeth holding Fiona's hand and laying with such a peaceful expression, she smiled and raised her eyebrows to Fiona.

Faith spoke softly. "Elizabeth, I don't know if Lucas is coming or not, but I picked-up some food for the three of us. Would you like to try some soup and maybe share a sandwich?"

At the mention of Lucas's name, Elizabeth's eyes flew open with fear. She couldn't even answer the questions about food, but squeezed Fiona's hand and whispered. "Don't leave me with him. I don't want to see him yet."

As those were the first words Elizabeth had spoken since Saturday, Faith took them seriously. "Then you don't have to see him today, Elizabeth. Let me lock the door and if he comes, I'll send him away. One moment." Faith disappeared around the curtain and turned the key.

"Okay, let's have some lunch." Faith spread a towel over the bed and unpacked their lunches. She filled a mug with soup and handed it along with a spoon to Elizabeth, surprised that she willingly accepted it. "Just be careful because it is hot, my friend."

The three women enjoyed a quiet meal, with Faith and Fiona occasionally mentioning some town news or discussing the weather or how well Angela played the piano at the service yesterday. When the doorknob rattled and a knock sounded, Faith stood to answer.

"Oh, Molly! Hello! I'm leaving the door locked to monitor visitors for our patient. Come around and say hi."

At the sight of their patient, Molly exclaimed. "Oh Elizabeth! I am so happy to see you looking a little better. I had the midnight to five shift last night and you were sleeping fitfully, but today you appear more at peace. I see you all had some lunch too. Good!"

"Thank you, Molly." Elizabeth whispered. "Thank you, Fiona."

"You're welcome. I'll be back again, but I have a few appointments this afternoon. Thanks for the lunch, Faith! See you all!" Fiona waved as she departed. "You want to lock the door behind me?"

Faith stepped outside as Fiona motioned to her. "She had a tear fall when I read a Psalm and then was looking directly at me when I sang Psalm Twenty-three. At the end, she reached out for my hand... It's a miracle to me! Wait until Joseph finds out, and Bill!"

"Fiona, you can tell them, but let me ask Elizabeth who she is ready to see, before we encourage anyone to visit, okay? There may be reasons she wouldn't want to interact with someone, just like she didn't with Lucas. I want to proceed according to her comfort and timing, okay?"

"Of course. But I will tell them to encourage them." Fiona smiled. "We need some good news right now. Maybe you should ask who she wants to see? Oh, and should we plan on shifts again tonight?"

"If you don't mind? Yes?" Faith nodded. "I will discourage Lucas from coming though in light of her response just now."

"Okay. Shall I take the five to ten shift then?"

"If you would, please? Thank you, Fiona. I'll see you later." Faith stepped back into the Infirmary and locked the door.

As Faith came around the curtain, Elizabeth spoke quietly. "Faith? Thank you for all your care."

"You are welcome, Elizabeth. One day at a time and you'll be feeling better. May I ask a couple questions so I can make your stay as comfortable as possible?" When Elizabeth nodded, Faith continued. "I need to know who you want to have visit and if there is anyone besides Lucas you don't want to see. I will make sure everyone who comes knows you may not want to talk."

After questioning Elizabeth on the townspeople she wouldn't mind visiting, Faith addressed the most important question. "When do you want to see Jack? And who would you like to bring him?"


(*4) Psalm 42: 1-5, 8-11, King James Version, Public Domain

(*5) Psalm 23, The Scottish Psalter of 1650, (Metrical Psalter) Public Domain