So here it is, chapter 13! Thanks for all of those who have read this far and as always please please review!
-wr
Chapter Thirteen
Misery. Pain. Death. You don't even wish it upon your most hated enemies.
It's the one thing that brings all of us to tears.
It may be different for everyone but in the end, we all cry tears for the pain and misery that comes from the death of a loved one.
-A segment from the obituary page from the New-York News of the World Gazette, February 2nd, 1902
Teddy folded close the daily paper before setting it down on his old oak desk. He rubbed his light grey eyes that were tired from reading and from the many nights he lay awake, comforting his restless wife. It had been a just under four weeks since his mother-in-law had passed away and still Elizabeth softly cried when the two of them lay down at night. But as the good husband that he was, he would stay awake with her, rocking her in his arms until sleep had come over her. Even after she had drifted away, he would lie there, watching her sleep soundly. As the days wore on the less Elizabeth mourned over the death of her mother. But it wasn't her he was worried about; it was her younger sister Diana.
Diana was the one that had taken it the hardest. Ever since the funeral her eyes were always red and puffy from the damages that the dried up tears had left behind. It was hard for her to be at her mother's side when she passed. Teddy believed it is what was hurting her the most. But she was a strong one, always smiling through the pain. She tried to show no weakness even though behind closed doors is where the pain was too much for her to handle. Many times, Teddy walked by her room to hear her softly crying. He wanted to walk in and comfort her but he knew it was no use. Once someone was around her, the tears were turned off and the fake smile came back on, making everyone believe that she was all right. He felt terrible for not being able to help her but he knew it was better to not do anything, even his wife had said so. Diana was the kind to mourn on her own rather than around anyone else. It is the way she coped with the death of their father and it is the same way she will cope with the passing of their mother.
Teddy rested his elbows on his desk as he buried his face into his hands. The previous month had gone by with little good news. The only positive thing was that he and his family had successfully hidden Diana from the judgmental eyes of society. Teddy knew she wasn't ready to jump back into the brutal world the city of Manhattan had set up for people of high class to live in. But at the same time, it would take a ton of weight off her shoulders if she would just show her face to the world instead of hide it under the brim of a hat. He knew it was her choice and when she was ready, she would go through with it.
Outside his closed office door, his ears picked up footsteps running past, followed by Keller's loud screams of pain. Teddy shook his head and a small smile crossed his face. He stood up from his desk, pushing back the chair he was sitting in. He made his way out of his office and out into the hallway where his son's crying grew louder. He looked to his right where he saw Mary holding the sobbing boy in her kind arms. She rocked him from side to side, using her soothing voice to calm him down. But it was no use; he held his little arm against his body in pain. Tears raced down his face with a sense of panic but Teddy knew it was nothing serious. This wasn't the first time his son had fallen and hurt himself and it certainly wouldn't be the last.
Mary caught his eye and offered a weary smile.
"A clumsy one he is," she said to Teddy shifting Keller in her arms to a more comfortable position.
"Aren't they all at this age," he said back as if he had gone through this before. In Mary's arms, Keller still cried out and it seemed if though he wouldn't be stopping soon. The maid was struggling to keep him calm as he dug his face into her shoulder.
"Here," Teddy held out his arms, "let me take him."
"No, I have him sir, you are very busy and must get back to work-"
"I insist," he cut her off. She knew there was no point in arguing for Teddy would win. Besides she had no real reason not to hand over the child to his father. Teddy could tell that even if she would have tried to make him get back to work, there was no denying how grateful she was by his offer. Mary was tired, dark circles appeared under her soft grey eyes. Like Teddy, the last month was also a difficult one for her. Elizabeth was usually the one taking care of Keller but since the death of her mother, she had been so caught up with the funeral and her own self mourn, Mary had to care of Keller more frequently than in the past. It wasn't a part of her usual jobs but she never complained.
Mary gently carried Keller over to Teddy where he slowly picked up his weeping son from her arms. He rested the child's head against his shoulder and slid his hand on his son's back. He began to tap his hand gently while talking to him a soft, steady voice. Keller's crying began to die down at the sound of his father's familiar voice. Mary's eyes grew in amazement as the young boy's tears stopped falling. His large eyes gazed off as his father walked him around the brightly lit hallway.
"How do you do that?" she asked wanting to know his secret but Teddy could only shrug.
"I have no idea. Sometimes this works and other times he will just stop on his own." For a minute they both just stood there, waiting for Keller to start screaming again. But he never did. Instead he lay peacefully in his father's arms as if he never wanted to be anywhere else.
"I think," Mary said breaking the silence, "it's just the father's touch." Teddy looked up not knowing what to say. He could only watch as she led her fingers though the small boy's light blond hair.
"You can go," Teddy told her, "I have it covered here."
"Are you sure?" she asked hesitant to leave. He nodded as Keller began to squirm in his arms. Mary smiled then made her way past the two of them and down the hallway. Soon she was out of site, leaving Teddy and Keller alone.
Teddy set his son down on the ground. For a second, Keller just sat there, thinking of what he could do next. He used the wall to help him stand up and then he pushed himself off of it to walk unsteadily by himself. Teddy smiled at him, thinking of how grateful he was to be able to raise him as his own. He glanced up at the clock that was placed on the wall, It was almost nine o'clock; Elizabeth and Diana had been gone for most of the afternoon now. In the past few days, the two sisters were needed at their old childhood home for a number of things. Whether it be working through the will, marking things that were to be sold that were no longer wanted, or talking to a realtor about selling the house, the girls had been going nonstop. Teddy did what he could to help but the two sisters seemed to have everything under control.
"Mr. Cutting?" a young voice called from behind him. He turned to see Isabella standing in the hallway with her arms behind her. She curtsied in his presence before continuing to speak.
"You have a visitor," she said like she had many times before. Keller then walked up to Teddy and grabbed a hold of his leg as if he didn't want him to go.
"At this hour?" he asked as he picked up his son.
"Yes I know it is late to have someone be arriving but I believe it is Mr. Henry Schroonmaker at the door," she answered. Teddy shook his head and started his way towards the front door.
"Come," he motioned Isabella to follow, "let us go see what he wants." The two of them made their way down the grand marble staircase before entering the foyer. Isabella rushed ahead of him, making sure it was she that was to open the door. When she did, Teddy saw his old friend leaning against a marble column looking up into the cloudy night sky.
"Henry?" he asked as he shifted Keller in his arms. His friend heard his voice and turned his head. His expression was sadness and confusion.
"Teddy my friend!" his voice not matching the mood that he was truly in. Henry stumbled forward, letting himself inside. With Teddy's free hand, he helped hold his friend steady himself as Isabella shut the front door behind them.
"Are you alright?" Teddy asked but already knew the answer.
"Not," he paused for no reason, "entirely." It was then Teddy noticed the bottle of brandy that was that Henry clutched in his hand. It was almost completely empty.
"Henry, are you drunk?" he asked and his friend nodded.
"Isabella can you please go get a glass of water for Henry please?" Isabella nodded and walked off, leaving the men alone to talk along with Keller who was almost asleep in Teddy's arms.
"What is wrong with you," Teddy asked as he took the bottle out of Henry's hand.
"I have no idea," Henry replied shaking his head more than necessary.
"Henry you can't just barge in like this, you can hardly stand on your own."
"I know but I didn't have my driver with me and your house was ever so close."
"I thought you were passed this," Teddy said looking Henry straight in the eye.
"I just couldn't handle it anymore," Henry said.
"Handle what exactly?" Isabella reentered the room with a glass of clear water in her hand. She gave it to Henry who brought it straight to his lips and started to drink it selfishly. As he did so, Teddy handed her the bottle of brandy and waved her off. Henry finished off the glass and looked down at the bottom. When the maid was out of earshot, he answered Teddy's question.
"I couldn't handle the stress of it all." Teddy knew that was the best answer he was going to get. There was no real reason why Henry turned to drinking; it was just what he did. He let out a sigh and realized Keller was sound asleep against his shoulder.
"Look, Henry. It is too late for you to be going home now so why don't you just head upstairs and go to sleep in one of the guest bedrooms." Henry smiled at his friend's offer.
"That would be most appreciated," he replied. Teddy patted his friend on the back and smiled back.
"You will be okay," Teddy reassured his friend as they made their way towards the stairs.
"Yes," Henry said agreeing with him, "I know."