Julia was observing the Saturday afternoon outdoor painting class under the trees on the asylum grounds when Ruby arrived. Julia noted Ruby appeared to be uncorseted under her loose gown in the heat, and Julia was jealous, although she would never admit that.

Ruby waved an envelope. "I have some good news. Are you almost finished here? I want to show you what came in the mail."

Julia checked the time, spoke quietly to the attendant and escorted Ruby to her office.

"See these pictures? They were salvaged from the wreck. I asked the hospital in Missouri if there were any effects from the parents that had been set aside and there were. There is a small cameo & some scientific instruments that are being sent on too." Ruby set out photographs of exotic locations, but mostly Karl and Mina as a much younger child, spanning several years. Julia recognized some of the landscapes, and buildings as similar to those in Mina's drawings.

"Ruby, this is wonderful. I can use them to stimulate her memories." She spontaneous hugged her sister. She shuffled through the pictures, "Are there none of Sara? Memories of mother are very powerful." She was disappointed there were none.

"I think Sara took all the pictures. Miss Bell answered my inquiry by saying Sara did not enjoy being photographed, so there may be none extant. I understand there was not even a wedding picture taken." Ruby pointed to one shot. "This is her, though, the profile in this picture, I think I recognize her."

Julia studied the woman. Very short, light-colored hair, cut in a masculine style. Wearing trousers! How daring! The better to tramp all over the world certainly. The face was further obscured by the goggles she wore in the motor-car. Not much to go on. Hopefully, Mina will respond. Julia put the pictures aside. "I must say, that was quick work. How did you manage?"

Ruby was coy. "I have my secrets." Turning to face her sister, she said, "Speaking of which, I also had a telephone call from my editor. I have a new assignment that I need to start soon… Julia, I am going to have to leave Mina here with you." As Julia started to object, Ruby pressed on. "She is making progress here, you said so yourself. And I certainly can't take her with me. When her family is found, you are going to want them to come here to fetch her, are you not? And not take her away until she is either better or can properly be transferred to another doctor's care? In the meantime, Ican afford to pay for her care and what ever she needs."

"Ruby…what if we cannot locate her family? What then? Will you abandon her?" Julia was angry now. So like Ruby to pull a stunt like this.

"Julia, be sensible. I have to earn my living too and you know what I do to make it. Can you see me becoming a nurse so I can stay here and look after her?" Ruby smiled as she said it, and Julia recognized it as the truth.

"I'm sorry Ruby that was unfair of me." Julia fanned herself and checked the time. "Mina is waiting for you and I must be off. See you later tonight. And thank you for getting these photographs. They will be invaluable." She smiled to show no hard feelings and kissed Ruby on the cheek. Julia put the pictures in a file and picked up a set of drawings Mina made, to show William. On second thought, she selected a few of the pictures to compare to the drawings when she got home.

###############

William was late getting home. The hot weather was spawning drunken fights and he called to say he would be delayed, as one of the altercations turned deadly. She had reminded him he needed to pick up his shirts from the laundry if he wanted a fresh one for Sunday. She closed the pocket doors separating the front parlour from the rest of the house. She saw 2 of the private patients that come to her consulting room, and made her clinical notes. After that, to amuse herself while waiting for William, she displayed the photographs on the kitchen table, where there was better natural light. There a something bothering her about them but she could not put her finger on it just yet. Well, I will let it come to me, just like I tell my patients it will.

Ruby called to say she was gong out to eat with a gentleman she met at the Asylum who wanted to discuss her world travels. "Don't wait up for me!" she told Julia. Julia did not take the bait. She had given up long ago trying to rein her sister in.

When William came in, he too was bearing a sheaf of papers with his bundle of shirts. "These were delivered today. I think it includes the marriage certificate copy and I am told a birth certificate may arrive by Monday, or at least the pertinent facts. I have not had a chance to open them. My contacts in New York sent them by night-train. Because the boat sailed under an American flag out of the city, the marriage was registered in New York." She noted with some satisfaction he looked a little rumpled from the heat and his day at work. There was a smudge of chalk on his suit.

Julia opened the folder and drew out the marriage certificate. "Sara Bristol and Karl Van derVere August 3rd, 1898." Julia thought back to her own marriage day and smiled. Then she said, "They only had less than 7 years together—how tragic. However, by all accounts they were very free and happy ones." She was feeling sentimental and went over to kiss William. He responded and held her tightly, despite the heat. Seven years. She thought that was about the number of additional years she and William could have been together….. Nonsense. The past is in the past.

He parted from her. "Now we have the names of the grandparents and places of birth, I will make additional inquiries for extended family." He smiled. "Right now I would like to eat, as I missed my lunch, and a shower before bed."

####################

"William! Stop it! You know I can't think when you do that!" Julia giggled. He smiled back. Over the years, William had become his most unselfconscious when they were together in their private bed room, and this pleased her no end. They lay on their bed, naked, under the ceiling fan, trying not to sweat. Julia had even removed the sheet from covering her body hoping the evaporation could cool her off. It was not working. He was stroking the soft spot on her foot, just below her ankle. Unable to sleep they started teasing each other, but it was too hot to even touch with more than a fingertip. Julia tried to teach him to visualize a cold mountainside or being at the beach as a way to ignore the heat. That was not working either, and there was always more than the heat of the air between them anyways. I always want him. She chuckled to herself recalling she had entertained the briefest doubts that the only reason for their powerful attraction was the element of forbiddance and unrequited longing, or that age would diminish desire. Any more arousal would be difficult to resolve tonight. She batted his hand away playfully. "We have to get some sleep. Maybe if we just touch our hands together?"

He settled himself next to her and acquiesced. He was one of God's blessed creatures: a man in love with his wife.