April 21, 1940
In the wee hours of Sunday morning, neither Olivia nor John could sleep.
"All kinds of terrible things keep running through my head." Said Olivia. "She looked so small in that bed, so helpless."
John sighed. "The awful thing is Liv, there's nothing we can do about it." He paused. "Why don't you get some sleep?"
"What about you?" Olivia was concerned.
John shook his head. "I can't do it."
Olivia, too, was restless. She sighed and sat up. "I'm gonna go make some coffee."
John didn't respond, still staring out the window.
Meanwhile in the boys' room, Jim Bob was awake. He reached under his bed and pulled out his suitcase. He tried not to disturb either of his sleeping brothers. But the suitcase accidentally hit on the floor and stirred both Jason and Ben.
Ben sat up. "Jim Bob, what are you doing?"
"None of your business." Came the reply.
"Are you running away again?" Jason questioned.
Jim Bob was irritated. "Why don't you just leave me alone?"
"We're not gonna leave you alone when you're doing a dumb thing!" Jason said, standing up to go flip on the light switch.
"I'm getting out of here. I can't stand sleeping up here, having nightmares and everybody hating me." Jim Bob said.
Jason was getting frustrated. "Why don't you just act your age? You can't run away from your conscience and that's what you're trying to do."
"Jim Bob, I'm just as guilty as you are." Said Ben. "Even more so, I'm older."
Jason meant business. "I'm telling you Jim Bob, put your clothes back in the drawer and go back to bed."
"You think you're Daddy?" Jim Bob challenged his brother.
Jason was normally quiet and didn't like bossing people around, but he knew this was one time he had to stand his ground. "Look, Mama and Daddy got all on their minds they can handle right now. You do as I tell you." Jason gently, but firmly shoved his brother onto his back on the bed.
Jim Bob got up, fuming.
Ben watched silently. Both of his brothers were quiet, but they both had wills of iron. He was hard-pressed to guess who would win this battle of the wills.
Jim Bob and Jason stared at each other for a minute. Jim Bob then began to unbutton his shirt.
Jason turned around, walked over to the lightswitch, and flipped off the lights.
Jim Bob and Jason climbed back into bed.
The boys and John were eating breakfast at the table when Olivia came downstairs.
"I'm packed John."
"Where are you going Mama?" Jim Bob asked.
"I'm gonna go stay with Elizabeth for a while, you'll all have to make do without me." Olivia said.
"Do they have room for you at the hospital?" Jason asked.
Olivia was determined. "They'll have to make it, even if they have to put a bed in her room."
Zeb tried to talk sense into his daughter-in-law. "Now Liv, don't try to do everything. Mary Ellen is strong and she's got the know-how. And Curt will be looking in on her as well."
"A child does better in the hospital if the mother is close by." Olivia defended herself.
John nodded. "It will mean a lot to Elizabeth. Just remember to take care of yourself, ya hear?"
"Isn't there something we can do?" Jim Bob asked.
"You can all help Erin." Olivia stated. "She's going to be running the house while I'm away."
Erin doubted her abilities. "Me?"
Jason smiled at his sister. "You're not a kid anymore."
"Well I never said I was, but doing everything? The cooking, the cleaning, and taking care of Joy?"
"I've already spoken with Jenny. She said she's only a phone call away if you need any help. But she said that any time she comes over, she will be bringing three more little ones. But I expect the two of you can handle it. And the boys and your grandfather will help." Olivia replied. She then turned to the rest of her children. "You'll all have to carry your share of the load. This isn't an easy time. That's why I want you all to pitch in without complaining."
"We'd better go." John said.
"Jason, will you carry my suitcase for me?" Olivia asked.
"You're leaving before church?" Erin asked.
"You've never missed a Sunday in your life Olivia." Zeb added.
"Well this is one Sunday that Reverend Fordwick will have to manage without me." Olivia said.
"Wait a minute Mama." Erin said. She went over to the counter to get something. "Take this to her. It's the Nancy Drew book she was reading."
"The Clue Of The Tapping Heels? Sounds like fine nighttime reading material." Olivia remarked.
Erin chuckled. "I know she'd appreciate it."
"All right, I'll make sure that she gets it." Olivia smiled.
"Tell her we miss her." Jason said.
"I will." Said Olivia.
"Do say we'll all be down to see her soon." Zeb added.
"I'll come see her this afternoon after church." Ben said.
"Tell her I love her." Joy added.
"I'll do that Sweetheart." Olivia kissed her youngest daughter.
Jim Bob remained at the table while the other members of his family went out onto the porch to say goodbye to their mother.
"Don't run yourself ragged Erin." Olivia cautioned, getting in the truck.
"We'll make sure she doesn't." Smiled Zeb.
"Tell her Joy's learning to write her name." Erin said.
"Tell her we'll be down there to see her real soon." Jason said.
Zeb and the siblings waved at the couple as they drove away.
Zeb headed inside to put his tie on. Jason followed his grandfather inside.
"Erin," Ben called after his sister.
Erin turned around.
"What do you think Elizabeth would like?"
"I think she'd like to be walking to church this morning." Erin bluntly stated.
"You're a big help!"
Erin went inside. Jim Bob was still at the table. He hadn't touched his plate.
"You're not eating breakfast?"
"I'm not hungry."
"Jim Bob, you can't starve yourself because you feel guilty about Elizabeth."
"I'm going to church." Jim Bob muttered, going out the front door.
Jason came downstairs.
"Jason, if you see Miss Fanny at church, will you tell her that I may not be in tomorrow?"
"I don't think she'll be expecting you. I'm sure Corabeth's already called everyone in town about what's happened."
Erin rolled her eyes and nodded.
"Did Jim Bob go to church?"
"I guess so." Erin replied.
"I think he's in bad shape. In the middle of the night, he was fixing to run away."
Erin's eyes widened.
"Well, I'm gonna see if I can get a ride with John-Boy to the hospital after church. Don't count on me for lunch."
"Well you tell Elizabeth that I'll be over there as soon as I can get away from this house."
Jason smiled. "I'll do that. See you later."
"Bye." Erin said.
Erin sighed and went to the sink to start on the mile-high pile of dishes.
Zeb came in. "Going to church, Honey?"
"I figured I'd better stay here this morning Grandpa. I've got all these dishes plus I need to start Sunday lunch."
"I forgot to ask your daddy if he was coming back for lunch. I wouldn't be surprised either way. Maybe it's best to make enough lunch in case he does show up. Is Joy still around?"
"I think she's up in our room."
"I'll go get her. See you after church, Erin."
"Bye Grandpa."
At the hospital, Mary Ellen walked into Elizabeth's room. She scanned Elizabeth's plate. "Well you're gonna have to eat more than this if you want to get those legs working again."
"I thought the food tasted funny."
"Well it's not Mama's cooking, that's for sure. But you're still tasting the anesthetic."
John and Olivia came in.
"Look who's in bed this time of morning." John smiled, kissing his daughter's forehead. "Did you sleep any?"
"Off and on." Mary Ellen answered. She nodded to the casts and smiled. "Can you imagine sleeping in those things?"
"I woke up in the middle of the night and I didn't know where I was." Elizabeth said.
"Everyone at home sends their love." Olivia said. She kissed her daughter's forehead. "Here's a big kiss from Grandpa and a book from Erin."
"My Nancy Drew book! She remembered I was reading it!" Elizabeth beamed.
"She sure did." Olivia smiled. "I'm gonna stay here with you for a while."
"At a hotel?"
John shook his head. "Your mama's gonna move in with you."
"Will they let you do that?" Elizabeth asked.
"Curt cleared it." Olivia smiled.
"You know how your mama has a way of convincing people." John winked.
Elizabeth smiled but her smile faded. "I guess Aimee's walking to church about now."
"I'm sure she's thinking about you." Olivia reassured her daughter.
John touched his daughter's exposed toes. "Honey, can't you feel that?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "I can't feel anything at all."