"Mr. Lodge and Mrs. Bartlett"
EPISODE 1 - Families
ACT 3
Margaret softly sang a lullaby in the living room. Preston stood up near the fireplace, lost in his own thoughts. The sound of the main door brought him out of his mind and he walked toward Michaela, who had just entered the house.
"How he is?" she asked to the banker.
Preston shrugged his shoulders. "He stayed upstairs in the bedroom since..." he replied about Nicolas. 'You should bring this to Mrs. Bartlett." he said while pointing to the milk bottles.
Mike nodded and smiled to Margaret. "She must be hungry, here is something to help you."
"Thank you Dr. Quinn. I'm sure she will appreciate it." the woman answered before she started to feed the baby.
"What will Nicolas do now?" Mike asked while turning toward Preston.
"I don't know. He is still in shock." Preston felt sad - sure he wasn't very close to Nicolas, but he wouldn't wish something like that happened to him.
"You will need some help with Victoria?" Mike asked well-knowing that none of the two men was accustomed to caring for a baby.
The banker nodded. "I must admit that my experience with babies is very limited." He looked at Margaret. "I was wondering if Mrs. Bartlett could stay at home until we found a solution. Not that I doubt all of your skill Michaela, but you shouldn't neglect your patients at the clinic."
"I don't see any problem Mr. Lodge, if Margaret is in agreement?"
"Well, my daughter is at home and James will have to go to school today, he must be already worried about my long absence, I should..."
Preston put up his hand to interrupt the woman. "You could bring Isabelle here, the house is large enough for another person."
Preston drove the carriage to the Bartlett house at the first sign of the sun in the sky. The house was small, no more than two pieces Preston thought while looking to the building.
Preston got down from the carriage and helped Margaret. "While Victoria is sleeping, you could arrange the rooms upstairs, so James could stay at home until you will work with Victoria."
"Thank you Mr. Lodge, I do appreciate that thought but I prefer that they not have their own rooms. The bed would be enough large for them to share the same room."
Preston nodded. "If you want." he replied regardless of his opinion.
Margaret walked toward the door and knocked before opening the door.
"Ma?" James said with a half-sleeping voice.
Preston entered and caught himself on a luge hook over the door.
"Oh, beware Mr. Lodge." Margaret said while turning back and moved the luge. "Sorry. This is so precious to James and he wouldn't have forgotten if something had happened to this luge. It was the last gift that his father made for him."
"Mr. Lodge?" asked James while down the ladder from his bed.
"Mr. Lodge will need the cradle. Can you show to him where to pick-up it, I will awake your sister." Margaret said while walking to the opposite of the room from her bed. "I will have to work at the Lodge house today, after school. It would be nice if you can come take some clothes and join us there. I will explain everything to you this afternoon. Oh, and go to Grace Café for lunch please."
After Isabelle was sitting on the bed, Margaret give her a dress to wear and closed the curtain which served as a wall to separate the small bedroom from the kitchen.
The woman opened an old box and picked up a few baby clothes owned by Isabelle a few years ago. It wasn't chic, but the baby would have something until the Lodge could bring new clothes. She put the baby things in a bag than inside the cradle that Preston held in his hands.
"That is an awesome piece." Preston said while examining the cradle, surprised to see as such "Thank you. George made it when I was pregnant for Frank and we keep it for our other children." she was proud of it, her late husband was very talented with the wood crafting.
Isabelle walked toward her mother and Margaret kissed James on his forehead. "Have a nice day. Be quiet at school."
It was near the lunch time when Preston arried in town. His first step was to send a telegram to Boston.
"What can I do for you today?" Horace asked with his usual smile.
"This." Preston put his message on the counter with money. "Send it to Boston immediately."
"Sure." Horace replied while picking up the note to read. His expression faded out in the middle of the message. He took the money and was giving the change to Preston when he noticed that the banker had already left the post office.
Preston crossed the street toward the general store. Inside, he gave another paper to Loren. It was a list that Michaela wrote in the morning when she was waiting for him and Margaret.
"Loren, could you prepare this for me? I'll come back for the box in one hour." he put again some money on the counter while turning back and leaving the store.
Loren read the list, surprised to see so many baby accessories while thinking that Mrs. Lodge seem to have given birth maybe.
Outside, Preston walked toward the Café and looked at the pies.
"You want a piece of pie maybe?" Grace asked.
"No, not a piece." he replied. "I want the pie." he said, while thinking that it wouldn't be wasted with the children at home.
Grace nodded and put a pie in a box, while Preston ordered enough for a lunch for him and his guests. He wasn't sure what the little Isabelle would like to eat, so he took a dozen of oat cookies, which could also be good for James he thought.
Before he left the Café, he also asked for a supper delivery in the evening.
For the next half-hour, he stayed at the bank alone. He selected a few files to bring home to work on in the evening and left for the general store.
"Say congratulation to the new parents." Loren smiled while bringing the box to Preston. He had add a little pink ribbon around it - he made a good profit with this sell.
"That isn't the moment Loren." Preston said, while picking up the box and turning back to his carriage while Horace entered the general store and gave a telegram to Preston.
"I just wanted to be sypathetic." moaned Loren behind his counter.
"Mrs. Lodge died while giving birth to the baby." explained Horace.
Preston got back to his house with the groceries and the baby items purchased at Loren's store. He also received from his parents condolences to Nicolas and a notice about them sending Mrs. Appletown to help take care of the baby when Nicolas will want to get back to Boston.
Preston entered his house and heard some noise coming from the kitchen.
Margaret was baking some bread while teaching Isabelle her cooking secrets.
He didn't want to interrupt them and walked to the living room where baby Victoria was sleeping quietly like a little angel. The banker sighed, doesn't understood how a such tragedy could happen to so little a person. His thoughts gone to his brother and he looked to the stairs. He walked to the first floor and didn't find Nicolas in any of the rooms.
Worried, Preston walked outside to the backyard and finally found his brother sitting behind a tree with a wine bottle half empty in his hand.
"Nicolas, you shouldn't be there." he said while looking the bottle.
"And where should I be?" he shouted with an angry voice.
"Maybe with your daughter, without this bottle for sure."
"And who are you to give me this kind of advice?" Nicolas said, while taking another drink in the bottle.
"Your brother."
Nicolas try to stand up to say his mind to Preston, but fell on his side. Preston helped him to stand up but Nicolas pushed him.
"I don't need your help, or your advice. You can't imagine anything of what I live." Nicolas tried again, with difficult to stand up to walk inside.
Thursday arrived and Nicolas stayed in his bedroom since Monday, not wanting to take or see his daughter.
This afternoon, before he got back to the Lodge house, James went to the general store immediately after his school. Loren gave him a large package which James waited for a few days now. He thanked Loren and hurried to get back to see his mother with his new box.
Arriving, he entered quickly and brought the package to the living room.
"Ma?" he asked while glancing around.
Margaret came down the stairs quietly. "Shhh... the baby is sleeping."
"Happy birthday Ma!" he whispered while showing the box.
Margaret was surprised, she didn't expected this and with the busy week she had, totally forgotten her own birthday.
"That is for you Ma." James said, impatient for her to open the box.
"For me? But you didn't have to do this."
"Oh, I insist Ma, please."
Margaret opened the box and was totally amazed by what she found inside.
"But James... it's too much money."
She examined the winter coat and the matching boots. "How could you be able to purchase this?"
"Oh Ma, you know I work hard at the bank. And you deserve it, your own is shabby since the time you bought it."
She wanted to smile to her son, but she was suddenly worried. Sure James was working really hard, but the value of these new clothes was over what she could purchase herself.
"James..."
"You don't like them?"
"No, that is not that. They are wonderful, too wonderful. I wonder where you could get enough money for that."
"Don't worry with that Ma, please." he said to calm her.
"James, are you sure you didn't make something..." she paused for try to use the right word to not offensd her son.
"Ma! I didn't steal the money if that is what you want to ask to me!"
"I didn't say that, but put yourself in my place. Where did you get all the money for that?"
"Ma, please. That is a gift, nothing more."
Margaret noticed that her son was trying to avoid the real reason.
"James, I know this face and I know you are trying to avoid telling me how you got this money. I'm worried, I thought that you could always confide in me."
James grinned, while thinking about his mom attitude. "I... the bank, well Mr. Lodge, borrowed me the money so I can purchase you this birthday gift. Nothing illegal Ma. I pay back the bank with a part of my weekly salary."
"You have a loan at the bank?" exclaimed Margaret.
James didn't want to use the word loan, but she said it. For an answer, he nodded to his mother.
"But you are a kid! Let me talk to Mr. Lodge when he gets back."
"Someone called me?" Preston said while entering his home.
"Please, Ma..." begged James.
"Something wrong?" the man asked after noticing the tension between James and his mother.
"Wrong?" Margaret shouted to Preston face. "What was the idea to give such loan to a kid?"
Preston was surprised by this attack. "If you are talking of James, yes. He is a good worker and had a good motivation for this loan. I trust him and know that..."
"But he needs to stay a kid. You don't need his money to get richer! He works so hard to have his own money, that is unfair to lose it in interest for your only fortune!"
"James is a bright boy. It is a good way to prepare him for the adult life, the sense of responsibilities. There is nothing bad in that Mrs. Bartlett. My father always told us that..."
"I don't care about what your father said Mr. Lodge!" Margaret interrupted him. "You are not his father and you will not teach me how to raise my son!"
She glanced tenderly to James. "That was very kind what you did sweetheart, but you don't have to get involved with this kind of debt at your age. You should profit from your childhood, not own debt."
Margaret turned back to Preston again. "I will refund the loan. Take it from my current pay here and if needed, we will arrange for other payments."
They could hear baby Victoria crying.
"If you want to excuse me, someone needs me." and Margaret walked upstairs and left Preston and James alone.
"I'm sorry Mr. Lodge. I didn't want that to end like that." the boy sighed sadly. "She is probably tired with all this work, please, don't be angry at her."
Preston didn't have time to answer when Margaret came down the stairs With Victoria in her arms. She walked toward Nicolas' bedroom.
"But what are you doing?" Preston asked.
"I should be time for Victoria to meet her father after all these days.
That isn't good for her to stay away, nor for him." the woman said while entering the bedroom.
Preston sighed - the situation wasn't under his control.
Friday morning, Mrs. Appletown arrived at the train station. She looked the same as Preston had in is childhood memories - only with some more white hair.
"Welcome to Colorado Springs Mrs. Appletown."
"Thank you Preston. Let me see you." she said while she put her little glasses on her nose. "That is fascinating how you grew up, perfect gentleman like your father. So where is the baby?"
"Let me bring you to my house and meet Victoria."
"With pleasure Preston. The last time a baby girl was in the family was so long ago, what an unexpected and wonderful surprise!"
"Here is the list I made for Victoria. And this bag, for the travel."
Margaret said while giving it to Mrs. Appletown.
Margaret was a little sad to see Victoria leave for Boston - in a week she was attached to this sweat angel. But to see her in her father arms was probably the best for the little girl.
"If you need anything else, don't forget to ask it." Preston said to his brother and Mrs. Appletown.
"That would be fine Preston. I could arrange myself for the travel." the old woman said while picking up her bag.
"Nicolas." Preston nodded while holding out his hand toward him.
But his brother didn't reply to him and simply helped Mrs. Appletown to enter the carriage and followed her with Victoria.
"Give it some time." Margaret said to Preston while she put her hand on his shoulder.
Preston watched as his brother left, feeling more distant from him than anytime before.
Margaret walked inside. "I will begin our packing." she said while moving to their bedroom. Isabelle helped her mother to pack the clothes and they walked to the main door.
"I think we are ready to get back home Mr. Lodge." Margaret said.
Preston, sat down on the front steps glanced at them while surprising himself to think about how the house would be empty again with the leaving of Nicolas, Victoria and the Bartletts.
"Let me help you. You don't have to walk." he said while picking up Margarets bag and looking at Isabelle.
The carriage arrived near the Bartlett home when Margaret noticed an black horse attached to one of the fences. She didn't expected any visitor and wondered who it could be.
She didn't wait for Prestons help down from the carriage and hurried to her house.
"James? She asked while opening the door. She froze in a few seconds when she noticed the man sitting at the table with James.
Isabelle arrived behind her mother and said perplexed "Pa?" while walking toward the man.
Margaret immediately put her arms around her daughter. "That is your Uncle Stanley sweetheart." Margaret said, unsure about if she should be happy to saw him here after all these years. She wasn't angry at Isabelle, she never met him and never knew that George had a twin brother.
"Maggie?" Stanley said while standing up and coming to hug his sister-in-law.
"Look Ma!" James said while showing some gifts on the table that his Uncle brought to them.
Margaret faked a smile, wondered from where all of this came.
"Where should I put the cradle?" Preston asked while entered inside.
"Oh!" exclaimed Stanley, not expecting Prestons presence. "Let me help you Sir." he said while picking up the cradle from Prestons hands. "That isn't the one that George made for Frank?" He said, happy to be here.
"Well," Preston started uneasily. "If you do not need me more, I will leave you to your family."
Margaret nodded. "Thank you Mr. Lodge."
"No, that's me who thanks you. You were very helpful this week." He tapped his hat, closed the door and left.
"I know that you didn't expected my arrival Maggie, so why don't I not take you all for a supper at the Café? I'll pay the note!"
Margaret tries to smile at Stanley to not ruin the kids happiness.
END of Act 3.