Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Based on the characters created by Stephanie Meyer, in her Twilight Saga series of books
WARNING: This story will contains scenes of domestic violence, strong language and other forms of physical violence, up to, and including death.
Chapter 8
Hellos and Good-byes
Mary Alice began screaming just as the sun peaked over the horizon. Callie ran to pick her up to keep her from waking Alison, but it was already too late. As she pulled her from the crib, she heard Alison moaning from the bedroom. Callie quickly placed Mary Alice back into the crib, with a promise to see to her soon, and ran to Alison's room to check on her. She found Alison curled in a ball, her sheets wet, and moaning in pain. Callie ran into the hall, yelling for Molly to run for the doctor, as she rushed to Savannah's room at the same time.
Savannah, hearing Callie's call, jumped out of bed, grabbed her robe and threw it around her shoulders, as she ran for Alison's suite, with Callie, still running, right behind her. It was the beginning of May, too early for the child to be born. Savannah thought back to the night before. Alison had been complaining that her back had hurt ever since dinner. She had gone to bed early because of the pain. Savannah had heard of such pain as being called back-labor. A sign that the baby was soon to come. But it was too soon, and Savannah had dismissed it, thinking that Alison had simply overexerted herself.
When she reached Alison's room, she was shocked to see her curled around her extended belly, moaning, and unconscious. As she worked to straighten her out, Alison regained consciousness. Then she began to scream. With Callie's help, Savannah replaced the wet bedding with dry, clean pads, in preparation for the birth of Alison's second child. Savannah stayed by Alison's side, while Callie tried to comfort Mary Alice, as she wailed uncontrollably. When Molly returned, she had a warmed bottle, and the doctor was right behind her.
"Miss Rita is calling for you," Molly told Callie.
Callie looked at the closed door to Alison's room, then to Mary Alice, then to Molly.
"I'll let you know, as soon as anything happens," Molly assured Callie. "Please, the Mister is in a bad humor."
Callie placed Mary Alice into Molly's waiting arms and rushed out of the room. Molly made every attempt to satiate Mary Alice, but the child refused to be consoled. She changed her diaper, and tried to give her the bottle, but it was no use. Some few minutes after Callie had left, Mary Alice began to scream with new vigor. Not two minutes later, Vernon stormed through the door of the parlor. He pushed it with such force, that it slammed into the wall and bounced back into his hand. Molly saw the smile on his face, and a shiver ran up her spine.
"Take that screaming brat into your room." Vernon ordered Molly.
She rose and scurried around him, grabbing a small stack of diapers as she went, and took Mary Alice to her room and closed the door. By the time Callie had returned to the suite, Vernon was pacing the floor, exuding anger and impatience with every step. He glared at her, as she entered the room.
"My boy seems to be anxious to meet me," he said in her general direction.
"We have no way of telling whether it will be a boy or a girl." Callie lifted her chin, in defiance of his assurance that he would soon have a legitimate heir.
"It will be a son." he hissed through clenched teeth.
Callie took a step back, in fear of his wrath. It was then she heard the screams of Mary Alice, and the pleas from Molly for the child to calm. Callie excused herself with a nod, and stepped into Molly's room without knocking. She quickly moved to Molly's side and watched as Mary Alice continued to wail. As her screams weakened, Molly was finally able to coax her into taking the bottle.
"I've got her." Molly told Callie. "You should go to Miss Alison. Miss Savannah may need you." Callie nodded and left Mary Alice to Molly's care.
Callie slipped out of Molly's room and quickly entered Alison's. She gasped at the sight before her. Alison had been restrained in her bed. Her arms were over her head and tied to the headboard, and her legs spread apart and tied to the foot of the bed. She writhed and screamed, as the doctor tried to examine her. Savannah was at her head, trying to calm her, and keep her conscious.
"Callie," Savannah called to her, "run and get a bowl of cool water and a cloth to wipe Ali's forehead with."
Callie nodded, and ran from the room. She grabbed a decorative bowl off of a small table near the hallway door, and ran down the hall to the bath room. She filled the bowl half way full, and carefully returned to Savannah. Grabbing a washcloth from the suite's linen closet, she continued to Alison's room. She set the bowl on the small nightstand, and watched as Savannah wiped away the sweat from Alison's face and neck.
"The baby is breach." Savannah told Callie, quietly. "The doctor has tried to turn it, but it refuses to be turned." Savannah drew in a deep, shuddering breath. "Doctor Wilton is going to have to reach in and grab the baby's legs and pull it out." Tears began to flow from Savannah's eyes.
"Are we ready?" Doctor Wilton asked both Callie and Savannah.
"Callie?" Savannah looked to her. "You must hold her leg in place. She must not clamp her knees together, or she may hurt the child and the doctor."
Callie nodded, and leaned over Alison's leg, to hold it in place. Doctor Wilton leaned over her other leg, and began to reach into Alison. The focus and concentration that the doctor was using, caused sweat to breakout on his forehead and face. His arm turned, and extended farther into Alison, as she screamed with every slight movement of his hand.
"Got it!" the doctor said, and began to slowly withdraw his hand.
Callie saw the tiny feet of the child, as the doctor placed his free hand on Alison's extended belly. He felt for her contractions, and pulled hard on the child, every time she had one.
"It's a girl!" Doctor Wilton said, as soon as he was able to tell.
"Cynthia," Alison sighed, just before she screamed again, and Cynthia completed her journey into the world. "Cynthia Savannah Brandon." Alison announced weakly.
Doctor Wilton finished the delivery of Cynthia, and quickly handed her off to Callie.
"She's bleeding too much." He stated, and tried to wipe away the blood, to find out just where the excessive bleeding was coming from.
Savannah watched as the doctor worked frantically to find the source of the blood. She felt helpless, as Alison began to pale. She felt the coldness seep into Ali's hands and tried to talk to her.
"Please, Ali," she begged. "Stay with us."
"I told you," Alison's whisper was barely audible. "Take care of them."
#
Molly knew something had changed when Mary Alice suddenly became calm. She could hear the sound of the newborn child through the well constructed walls, but that was all she heard. She watched Mary Alice, as her eyes moved to the wall that separated her room from Alison's, then lifted to the ceiling. She saw the smile on the child's face, and heard her as she laughed at the ceiling, and she knew that Alison was dead. Molly held Mary Alice close and was finally able to feed her. Tears flowed from her eyes, as she snuggled with the small child.
"Too young," she whispered to her. "Much too young to see such things. Too young to know." Molly's brow furrowed as she watched Mary Alice, and she worried. "Your father will not understand. Your grandmother loves you, but she will not understand. You must learn to hide what you know." Molly rocked Mary Alice, as she drank from her bottle. "They must not know!" Molly's whisper was a desperate plea that she knew Mary Alice could not possibly understand. Fear creped up her spine, as she held tight to the tiny eight month old.
#
Doctor Wilton pronounced Alison's death, just 15-minutes after the birth of her second child. Tears flowed from Callie's eyes, as she cleaned up the newborn. The doctor gave her a quick examination and pronounced her healthy and whole, then he gathered his equipment, and assisted Savannah in cleaning up Alison's body.
There was silence in the room, which made the sound both startling, and thunderous, when Vernon began beating on the door.
"I will see my son now!" He yelled through the door, just before it too, slammed open.
Callie swung around in fear, clutching Cynthia to her chest, and backing toward the wall away from the door.
"The child is female." Doctor Wilton announced sternly. He turned to face Vernon. "You have a fine healthy daughter. But, I have to tell you..."
"I don't care what you have to tell me." Vernon spat out, in the doctor's face. "If it's not a son, I don't want it. I'll give her a while to recover, then we shall try again." The smile on his face was more of a malicious grin.
"There will be no next time." The doctor informed him. "Your wife has died."
Vernon was silent for a moment, then began to laugh, loudly. "Well, that certainly solves my problem." He left the suite laughing, and yelling for Rita.
"Will he see to her burial?" The doctor asked Savannah.
"I don't know." Savannah answered, shaking her head slowly, as tears flowed freely down her face. "And I don't have enough available funds to see to it myself."
"I have been saving much of my pay, Miss Savannah." Callie offered. "It's not very much, but maybe we can convince some funeral parlor to accept payments."
"I have some of my pay hidden away, as well." Molly had entered the room silently, after she had heard Vernon leave.
"I will talk to a patient of mine. He knew the late Mister Brandon. He may allow the payments." He looked at the three women, as they morned the loss of one they loved so very deeply. "I will see what can be done, and let you know later this day." He nodded to each of the women, and left.
Savannah completed preparing Alison's body, then took Mary Alice from Molly, so she could take the soiled bedding to the laundry. She placed Mary Alice into her crib, then went to her room to retrieve the cradle from where it had been stored. Callie sat in the rocking chair, and rocked the newborn, Cynthia.
"Your mother loved you very much." She whispered to the sleeping child. "Don't you worry, little one. You will always be loved." And as she rocked, tears fell to the blanket that wrapped around the premature infant.
Callie placed Cynthia into the cradle, then stood straight, as she looked to Savannah for answers as to what to do next. Without a word between them, they began to clean. Tears continued to flow, as they worked to clean both Alison's room and the parlor. Within two hours, they had the rooms spotless, and ready for the removal of Alison's body. Breakfast had been started late, due to Alison's delivery, and death. Molly arrived in the rooms shortly after the women had completed their cleaning.
"The Mister requires that you both be present for breakfast." Molly informed them.
Callie and Savannah both gave out a deep sigh, as they rose from their chairs and followed Molly to the lower floor. They took their seats quietly, not looking at either Vernon or Rita, who were already eating.
"Well!" Vernon said around a mouth full of food. "Get a plate and get something to eat." He ordered.
Silently Savannah and Callie chose their breakfast from the buffet table, then took their seats again. They both began to pick at their food. Savannah took the first bite, nodding to Callie to eat as well.
"We'll need to keep our strength up." Savannah whispered to Callie.
"Yes you do." Vernon started. "Well, new developments require many changes." His smile was huge, and terrified Savannah, but she maintained her society smile, and prepared for Vernon's announcements. "Mother, you do not require such a large suite, just for yourself. Once the body has been removed, I think you should move into that room. It has plenty of closet space for your things. What doesn't fit, you can put out for the charity boxes. Molly will move back to her old quarters, and that will leave room for those children. Rita and I will be married as soon as possible, and Virgil will be announced as my son and heir." Very pleased with himself, Vernon smiled while he ate. After a short while, he began to quietly laugh to himself.
Savannah watched Rita, as Vernon amused himself with his food. She saw how terrified Rita was. She thought her eyes were those of a trapped animal, a reflection of how trapped the young woman felt. As much as her heart wanted to go out to her, Savannah just could not bring herself to feel sorry for Rita. She had chosen Vernon, back when he was engaged to Alison. She chose to disrupt their marriage. She had freely chosen to encourage Vernon to be cruel to his wife. Now, she was paying the price for her decisions. So, as much as Savannah thought she should feel sympathy for the young woman, all she could do was pity her.
Savannah and Callie finished their meals, and returned to their suite. Just before a small lunch was brought to their rooms, Doctor Wilton returned with news from the funeral parlor.
"A Mister O'Keefe will be arriving soon." He informed the women. "He and his family will see to the preparations for the service. He will speak to you about the financial arrangements, and his men will remove Alison to his parlor." He sat quietly, as they waited for the men to arrive.
"Doctor Wilton," Savannah spoke softly, "please join us. We are having sandwiches and tea."
The doctor nodded, and they waited the rest of the time in silence. Within two hours, Alison's body had been gently removed, and Mr. O'Keefe had agreed to take the funds the women had, along with a modest donation from the doctor, as payment in full. A wake was scheduled for the next day, with a small notice appearing in the local paper later that afternoon. The entombment was scheduled for the following day. Alison would be entombed in her family's mausoleum. That service would be private.
"But how do we explain the absence of her husband?" Callie asked after Mr. O'Keefe had left.
"We don't." Savannah raised her head high. "We simply do not answer, or you may direct all questions of that nature to me. The children will, of course, be in attendance for both events." Savannah ordered. "I will not leave them here, to his-scrutiny." They all agreed to this. "Molly shall have to attend as well. You will require her assistance with both of the girls."
Callie nodded her agreement, as they worked out the finer details of Alison's funeral. When everything was settled, Doctor Wilton agreed to send a carriage for the ladies, and the children, in the morning after breakfast. As time approached for the final meal of the day, Savannah said good-bye to the doctor at the door to the parlor. When Callie was called to see to Rita's son, Savannah relaxed into the rocking chair.
She looked down at the cradle containing Cynthia, then across the room at Mary Alice in her crib, and she began to cry. This was the one, and only time, she would allow herself to grieve for Alison. The tears poured from her eyes, as she thought about the daughter she had loved, for less than two years. She grieved for her loss, and for the children's loss. But a part of her was also happy. Alison had escaped from Vernon. She was free from the pain he had inflicted upon her, and would have continued to inflict upon her. Her hatred for her son grew.
Anger replaced the tears, and Savannah raised herself up in the chair, as she thought about what she would be facing in the next two days. A simple plan began to form in her mind. There was money tucked away, that Vernon had no knowledge of. Money that would see her through, should she need it. But first she would have to ruin Vernon, and ruin him she would. She knew he was having problems with his business. It was nothing compared to the problems he would have, once she was done, and the funeral was the perfect place to begin.
"Do you hear me Alison?" She whispered, so as not to wake the slumbering infants. "I shall see him ruined. The women of this town shall hear of his betrayal to you. They need not hear specifics to know what kind of bastard he is, for he is no son of mine." A sinister smile covered her face, as she considered her plan. "The men, who think they run this town, shall see that it is the women who truly rule here."
A knock at the door, brought Savannah from her mental contrivances. She altered her facial expression, and pasted on a smile, as the door slowly opened.
"Miss Savannah?" Molly peeked her head in the door. She smiled when she saw Savannah sitting in the rocking chair. "The Mister calls you to dinner."
"I'll be right down, Molly." Savannah nodded to her. Molly nodded once and closed the door. She hurried down the hall, and took the back stairs to the kitchen, in an attempt to avoid Vernon as best she could.
Savannah stood and began her trip down the stairs to the dining room. The closer she got, the more her plan developed. By the time she took her seat, her strategy was almost fully fleshed out, and ready for her to implement. She watched as Vernon smiled as he ate. When she felt he was content and in the proper mood she asked from him, what she needed.
"Vernon, son." She smiled at him. "I have made arrangements for Alison's remains. There will be no cost to you, son. I have seen to everything. But I would require Molly's assistance. I ask that she be allowed to accompany us tomorrow and the next, to help us."
Who is this "us" you refer to." Vernon noticed his mother's smile, and feared to trust it.
"Callie and myself." Savannah looked to Rita to include her in the conversation. "I thought it might be possible for Rita to list the times she would require Callie's presence, and we would make sure that she was returned to the house for her duties." Savannah continued to smile sweetly at them both.
"I think that..." Rita started, but Vernon cut her off sharply.
"You're not here to think." He bellowed at her, as his fist hit the table. "As for you, mother. Those arrangements will be fine. Have Callie meet with Rita this evening, and organize a schedule for the next two days. But don't think that this is going to continue. She is being paid to perform duties in this house. I expect her to do them." He had been pointing his fork at Savannah while he talked, and waving it at her, as if it were his royal scepter. "As for Molly, she may accompany you in your two day adventure." Then he chuckled to himself, as he looked down at his plate and continued with his meal.
Savannah lost her smile, but only for a moment, as the word "adventure" echoed in her head. The anger she had felt before, threatened to rise again, but she controlled herself and plastered the smile back on her face. She had Callie and Molly freed to accompany her. So far, she had been lucky to get what she needed from Vernon. After tomorrow, that may all change. And she still needed to talk to Mr. Connelly, to have an accounting done of her mother's accounts. Savannah smiled to herself, as she remembered how Orin had "allowed" her to keep the money from her mother's estate, separate from his money. He had been sure that it couldn't have been very much, and wanted the appearance that he was allowing Savannah to have her own money. Savannah actually began to chuckle as she entered the parlor. It was not a tremendous amount of money, but by leaving it in the bank, for the last 20-years, she was sure it was more than enough.
Savannah relaxed back into the rocking chair, and watched her granddaughters sleep. Tomorrow would be a sad and busy day. She smiled, as her eyes began to slowly close, as she drifted off to a fitful sleep.
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