Delbert's pov
After that Mrs. Arrow returned to the room with a ever so slightly amused look at Amelia and my self.
"Oh uh Maddie I..." Amelia stuttered and stumbled rubbing her neck as did I. We probably looked like some caught schoolkids, and to put it lightly thats how I felt.
"I...I wish to talk to you in a bit Amelia just you and I , Sam left something for you here.." She started then looked to me, "But for now...I wish to invite you to stay for dinner." The grief in her voice stated she did not wish to be alone even if with her two er three children.
Amelia accepted the offer then looked to me, I'm a candid we cannot turn down the invite to food I dare say. "Dinner sounds lovely." I confirmed. Madeline smiled then walked away to the kitchen.
"She's...handling this well?"
"It would seem so Del but Craigorian's aren't ones to show much emotion in front of ones they do not know."
"So uh...what of Alex?"
"That bloody brute will be fine."Amelia mumbled ever so slightly, "He's always been on his father's case about never being home then complain if they didn't have what the others had."
"Ah sounds like my eldest sister Selest." I couldn't help but laugh, it was true after all she was always the card she was like a second mother to me as well.
"Delbert...I'll tell you more about Arrow and his early years with his wife and I after dinner." She smiled some walking into the dining room, it was a lovely decorated room with red walls, dark hard wood floors and trim with lots of silver accents and family photos everywhere. I caught my eye to one that was an older picture of a wedding picture of Mister Arrow and Mrs. Madeline she was in a lovely gown might I add he dressed in his uniform both beaming. another of their children and then one of a teenage...Amelia? Yes, it was her I could see those beautiful eyes.
"Delbert darling are you coming to join us?" amelia's voice
"Oh uh yes yes ma'am." I chuckled and sat down to one of the finest meals I've seen since well Thanksgiving. Mrs. Arrow sat down at the head of the table reaching a frail hand over and rubbing her husbands empty chair not noticing we were saying grace, he was her everything I could tell, her rock so to speak-don't shoot me- everything in her life wouldn't make sense for a while then it would snap back together.
It was certainly the quietest dinner I'd ever been to everyone was grieving so I sat there in my own thoughts of my past until Amelia shook me leading me to the couch she was about to start talking to me when a cry was heard and Alex Arrow came running down.
" Alexander what-"
"It's mama she's fallen ill!"
Amelia's POV
Well hell.
What a perfect interruption to my would-be storytime. I sighed and looked to Alexander. "What do you mean she's fallen ill?"
Alexander looked at me apprehensively before huffing. "She's pale, quiet, and shaking."
Sounded like some sort of shock, I thought. I went into the kitchen to find Alexandra by Madeline's side, holding her hand and patting it worriedly while crouched beside her. Madeline looked worse for wear; chalk white and slumped to the side slightly with her eyes closed, her body shaking subtly. I walked over and put a hand on her forehead and then took her arm and rested my thumb on her wrist. She still had a pulse. I looked to Alexandra. "What happened?"
Alexandra looked up and then back at Madaline. "She w-was just looking at Papa's chair and then said "He's gone" and seemed to faint or something."
I knelt down and patted her face lightly before checking other vitals, putting to use some minor training and tips I'd received from Lindsey.
"I think she just needs some rest. Put her to bed and stay by her side." I told Alexandra, who nodded. Alexander came forward and picked up Madeline, carrying her to bed. Alexandra quickly followed. I brought up the rear while motioning for Delbert to stay where he was. I knew he'd only be a bother if he tried and followed. In their bedroom, I stopped at the doorway. Everything was still crisp and clean, just like both Madeline and Samuel had liked it. Nothing was out of place, all the pictures were straight, and everything smelled like the lavender Madeline kept in vases around the room. Madeline herself was laying on the bed with a cool cloth on her forehead while Alexandra sat in a chair beside the bed with a pitcher and a basin and another towel. I was about to come over and offer some sort of comfort, when Alexander stopped me, glaring down at me.
"I think you've caused this family enough grief as it is." He said lowly, glancing back at distraught Alexandra. I blinked and stared at him. I couldn't believe it. This lad, the boy I'd helped raise quite nearly, was going to try and throw me out. Blamed me for everything…
"Well I'll be damned." I growled. "You're one-"
"Just go."
"Why I n-"
"Go."
I stared at him and saw Alexandra looking at us. She mouthed "I'm sorry" before turning back to Madeline, who was fretting in her sleep. Even Alexandra...though she was more than likely just wanting to keep out of trouble. For good measure, I kneed Alexander in a place gentle for a man and lightly stomped out, passing by Delbert on the way. He looked at me curiously while I just opened the front door and looked at him.
"Let's continue on, Doctor." I said quietly, and went down the front steps.
