I see Thomas Hughes everywhere I go the first few days, walking on eggshells as I go about my business day in and day out. For a moment I wish he would disappear, go back to whichever hell he came from, but then I remember that as long as he's hanging around me he's leaving Anne alone and it makes it almost comforting to find him in the cafe across the street or loitering outside of the surgery on the odd afternoon.
I put on a mask each day, one that pretends everything is alright, and neither myself nor Anne really believe it. We know that Roy is on his way and that it's only a matter of time before he arrives in the Glen, ready and eager to stake his claim. All we can do is be ready for him whenever he gets here. That has to be enough.
But it's trying. It wears on us with every passing hour and despite having each other, there's still a chasm between us that we can't seem to overcome no matter how hard we try. No amount of quiet words or promised glances can give us the peace we so long for.
When Friday morning finally rolls in and I leave Anne breathless at the foot of her tiny schoolhouse I pray that everything will come to a head sooner rather than later. I was growing weary of the waiting, of holding out until she was truly able to make her own decisions. I wanted her free of this, once and for all so that she could decide if staying in the Glen was what she actually wanted.
"Doctor Blythe," a hollow voice greets as I look up from where I'm balancing my tea on a notebook. The tiny glass teeters, a hiss coming from my lips as I watch it tip over and crash to the ground, shattering into a million little pieces. "Oh! Oh no, I'm so sorry!" The woman moans, dropping to her knees and grasping at the edges of glass frantically.
"No - no, don't bother! They always give me the worst mug of the bunch and I think they're secretly re-stocking with my efforts!" I laugh, bending down to grasp the woman's shoulder. She looks up at me then and I take in her black eye, the way she tries to hide it with loose hair and a tipped cap. "Beth…"
"Please - I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to startle you Doctor!" She cries, scampering back from me a foot. I ease off and lift my hands in surrender, attempting to look as unthreatening as possible to this woman who had clearly seen better days.
"Beth, it's alright," I remind her quietly, careful in my tone. She shivers before me, closing her eyes and shaking her head as she tries to breathe through the tears that clearly want to break free. "Why don't you come inside and we can take a look at that eye?"
With my free hand I unlock the door and hold it for her as she steps inside. She looks around slowly and works to avoid eye contact with me as I swiftly close the door behind us.
"I didn't - I mean, it's fine," she insists, glancing towards me as she hovers near the waiting chairs. I watch her as she paces, clasping my hands together in front of me as I wait her out. "It doesn't hurt anymore. Not really. I just - you see - I'm having trouble seeing since it happened and I'm concerned. I didn't know who else to go to and the occulist is all the way in Charlottetown and Marcus - "
"Would you like to come into the examination room? We'll have a look?" She turns to me and smiles sadly, nodding as she blinks up at me. I have to swallow my words, reminding myself that I needed to remain neutral here. The woman deserved treatment without my judgement, even if I wanted to pummel her husband with my own two hands.
Motioning towards the bed I help her up to sit on the edge, holding her hand as she teeters unsteadily on the stepstool and says a small "Thanks".
"How long has it been like this?" I ask gently, lifting her hat and brushing her hair away from her brow. The swelling is bright and fresh, her eye red with burst blood vessels and bruising that trails vibrantly down her face. It makes my stomach curdle to think that someone had done this to her.
"Only a day or so. Harris was crying and I tripped - "
"Beth," I sigh haltingly, shifting into her view for a moment. "You don't need to hide - "
"It's not what you think, I'm just clumsy."
"No, you're not. I won't judge you Beth but you need to tell me what actually happened or I may mistreat you without realizing it, okay?" I press my fingers lightly around the area checking for broken bones and thankfully finding none.
"He only hit me by accident," she admits quietly, tears coming to pool in the corners of her eyes. I nod and continue my exam for another few minutes, rendering the diagnosis as something that will definitely need an occulist as soon as possible.
"I think it may be a detached retina. It's a serious injury and if you choose not to treat it you may lose sight in the eye. I'd like you to take the afternoon train to Charlottetown and spend the evening - I'll call ahead and ensure you get an appointment on arrival." Beth stares at me as though I've grown a second head, her mouth agape.
"I couldn't afford to go - "
"It's on me this time. I need you to get this looked at," I urge, my expression hopeful as she looks away. There's a strained silence as she clutches her hands in her lap, her teeth biting her lip.
"Will you tell Marcus where I've gone?" She asks so lowly that I almost don't hear her. Looking up quickly I watch her shift, watch her shoulders relax as she meets my gaze slowly.
"Only if you want me to. I'll claim doctor-patient confidentiality if you prefer I don't." She ponders that for only a moment before briskly nodding, climbing off of the table and stumbling to the side as her feet hit the floor. Righting her by her shoulders I lead her back to the entryway and provide her with train fare out of my petty cash box.
Taking the coins with care she swallows thickly and spares a final look towards me, her voice cracking. "Thank you, Doctor Blythe. I'll never forget you for your kindness." And with that she disappears and heads towards the train station to wait for the next departure.
With Beth out of harm's way I say a small prayer of thanks for one success story this day and turn towards my paperwork. If I've gauged it right I should be done before the afternoon is out and I'll be able to collect Anne from the schoolhouse without an issue.
I'm barely through half of what I want to finish that day before the phone in the surgery rings and I'm tearing towards the edge of town, my medical bag in hand as I hustle through the streets. I know what awaits me at the end and my chest hurts with the realization of it all.
The train station looms overhead as I enter through the ticket gate, stepping onto the platform and urging my way through the crowd of people towards the body crumpled on the ground before us.
Beth Murphy lay unconscious, not breathing and pale as I drop to my knees beside her. She doesn't move as I try to rouse her and my heart is in my throat as I check for vitals and any sign of life.
"What's wrong with her, Doc?" The Station Master asks as he crouches down beside me, his eyes wide as he watches me struggle to come to terms with what I know is true but still am determined to deny.
I refuse to answer him for what seems like ages, fighting to bring Beth back to the world of the living even as her skin grows colder with each passing second. Around us the bodies shift and cry out as my compressions crack her ribs, the sound horrifying even though I've heard it time and time again.
Though my training is sound there is nothing I can do to bring the light back into the woman's eyes and I falter, groaning at the effort and cursing the circumstances that had led me here to this place. I'd missed the unsteadiness in her step, the confusion that she'd tried to hide. I'd missed the hidden injury and she'd collapsed here alone, without anyone to hold her hand as her body gave in to the beating she'd suffered in the last day of her life.
With hands squeezing my shoulder I rear back angrily, whipping my medical bag to the side of the platform and stalking away with knuckles pressed into my eyes.
"Doctor, will she be alright?" A stranger asks from afar, their voice weak. I turn and glare at them, fury barely contained within me.
"She's dead. Her husband murdered her." The crowd gasps, lurching away from the body and looking appalled at the confession I've just uttered. It was true and I would not relent until Marcus Murphy was jailed for his crimes. "We need to call the undertaker."
The crowd is silent, tears slipping onto cheeks as they stand accosted and troubled. My skin crawls as I instruct the workers to help me bring Beth's body into a holding area. I don't know how to deal with this, the loss so fresh after something I should have prevented.
"Doc, what do we do next?" The Station Master questions after the dust has settled and I'm merely stalling in his office.
"What do you mean?" I shoot back, glancing around me and finding the room emptied.
"Well, they've come and collected her, do we need to do anything else? Is that why you're still here?" Shifting in my seat I look up at him in shock, slowly coming down from my confusion to realize that it must have been hours since I've been sitting here. A quick glance out the window tells me it's late afternoon and I scramble to my feet, looking around me abruptly.
"No - I mean, I'll make a report to Officer Barton, but I guess I should go… Anne - Cordelia will be looking for me," I stumble over my words and hastily gather my things, avoiding eye contact with the Station Master who's confusion doubles at my misnaming. I don't stick around to see the fallout and hurry away, desperate to get to Anne and hold her in my arms.
I make my way almost frantically towards the schoolhouse, hoping beyond hope that Anne is still safe there holding late tutoring sessions. It's not a far walk on the scale of things but still I arrive late, finding the doors locked and the building shuttered for the weekend. Groaning inwardly I turn down the road towards home, wanting to see her and tell her how much I love her before it's too late.
There's a black carriage in the lane near my house when I come around the treeline. My mouth goes dry as I see crates stacked on it, understanding blossoming in my chest as a man bangs heavily at the door.
"May I help you?" I ask evenly as I come upon my doorstep, looking up at the well-put together man. I move towards him cautiously, recognition flickering in his eyes.
"I've come for what's mine, Blythe," Roy Gardner replies tightly, turning to raise his fist once more to the door.
"I don't think you'll find what you're looking for in there. It's just me today," I attempt. He scowls at me and mutters something incoherently, stepping down off of the stoop.
"You've got her hidden away here somewhere and I've come to collect her. Don't - " He holds up his hand as I open my mouth to deny it. "Don't interrupt me boy. She's been gone long enough. It's time for this dalliance to end."
My blood runs cold as he steps towards me, his eyes sharpening as he glances down at the ring on my finger. I twist away from his touch and scramble up to my door, my palm landing on the handle and praying the door is open. Behind it I hear a gentle click and I push it open, slamming it as soon as I'm through and clicking the lock closed before resting my head against the heavy wood.
Outside the man shouts angrily, banging at the door and causing the hair to rise on my arms. "You've stolen my wife Blythe!" He screams and I exhale forcefully, turning around to where Susan is standing next to me.
"He's been here for hours but you weren't answering your phone at the surgery. I wasn't sure what to do." She wavers, watching me breathe heavily through the stress pumping in my blood.
"I - it's been - there was a situation at the station and Beth Murphy died," I finish quietly, her eyes flashing with recognition as she looks at me with horror. I nod and turn away from her, inhaling to steady my hands as I try to figure out what's next. "Where's Anne? Is she in her room?" I ask as I begin to head to the hallway. I need to see her, to ensure that she's alright.
"She isn't home - I'd expected she would be with you," Susan replies hastily, a new wave of concern filling her voice. Turning towards her quickly I stop breathing, sputtering as she stares at me. "It's alright. It is. He's here so he doesn't have her. She's alright," Susan assures, her words somehow remaining steady. Bless this woman's unflappable demeanor.
"Susan - did she not come home after school finished?" She shakes her head and I groan, my fingers pulling at my hair as I try to think of where she is. If she wasn't here, safe, she was somewhere where he could get her. I couldn't protect her if she wasn't with me. "I need to find her," I state lowly, glancing out the front window and watching as Roy paces across my yard.
"Surely if you go out there he'll follow you. And what if she comes home while you're gone? You need to stay here and wait for her!" Susan insists as she paces slowly around the kitchen.
"But what if - "
"Let's call the Turners. Let's see if they can find her wherever she is. Maybe she went in to meet you at the surgery?" I relent and grab at the phone, dialing quickly and waiting impatiently until the line is picked up on the other end.
Breathless and weak, I ask Sarah numbly if she's seen Anne, providing the few details that I can. It's midway through our conversation that Roy's yelling can be heard through the door and Sarah picks up on it through the phone.
"I'm going to start the phone tree for the Ladies Auxiliary, Gilbert. We'll find her and keep her safe until you can come collect her, do you hear me?" She states calmly, though I can hear the fear prickling in her voice.
"Thank you Sarah," I respond before hanging up the line. Beside me Susan sits heavily into a kitchen chair, watching the door with a furious anger that's almost palpable.
"I can't understand what she ever saw in that man," she hisses, listening to the rumbles of anger slipping through the cracks in the house.
"He wasn't like this when I met him before. He was smooth and collected and I hated him because I was jealous that Anne would want someone else," I reply harshly, self-blame evident in my tone.
"She blames herself you know, for all of this. She talks about how he's the only one to blame but when it comes down to it she still thinks she's the reason he became so angry." I can't deny what Susan is saying, having witnessed it myself in the quiet conversations we'd shared and the marks on her body that I'd glimpsed only briefly in our time together.
Anne's history was worn on her like a second skin. The marks from poorly healed wounds, from long ago injuries that she carried all of her life. I'd seen them throughout our childhood and I'd since been trying to lift them from her shoulders, if only so that she could for once be rid of them. But I'd failed and she'd dived head first into something that had taken everything from her, stolen years of her life. I couldn't watch it happen again.
"I'm calling Officer Barton," I whisper as it all comes into place in my mind. I won't stand by again. Anne would not become Beth Murphy.