A/N: Little snippets here … Introspective, but with little action, it will set us up for the rest of the story.
These events take place over the course of ten days; individual dates are not listed, but the events are chronological.
Tossing "Little Wonders" on the playlist - Spotify; chelsiesouloftheabbey; "After the Fall." I've used this before (in WWTA) but it's applicable here as well.
xx,
CSotA
Let it go, let it roll right off your shoulder,
Don't you know the hardest part is over?
Let it in, let your clarity define you;
In the end, we will only just remember how it feels.
Our lives are made in these small hours,
These little wonders, these twists and turns of fate.
Time falls away but these small hours,
These small hours still remain.
~ "Little Wonders," Rob Thomas
April 14-23, 2015
"Chief!"
Detective Willis rushed into Vyner's office as the older man was hanging up the phone; Willis was out of breath but had a determined look on his face.
"There's been a sighting of the O'Brien woman. A patrol unit spotted her down in Boston. They recognized her from the bus station video footage and are holding her. I can be there in less than three hours -"
"Go," Vyner interrupted. "And bring her back here, on suspicion of arson and a double homicide."
"Any word on the brother?"
"Last known addresses seems to be in Kennebunk - just got approval for the surveillance from the DA. We're on it - go."
"You got it," Willis said. He stopped by his own desk to grab his lunch bag and then ran out the door, hopped into the patrol SUV, and sped off.
Lights and sirens all the way, he told himself, the adrenaline making his fingers tap on the steering wheel. No way are we losing this lady now.
Elsie and Charles were making breakfast when Tommy stumbled out of his room.
"You're up early," Elsie commented kindly. "Did you sleep much?"
Tommy nodded, rubbing his hands on his face. "A bit, yeah. Thanks." He plopped down on one of the counter chairs and added, "That smells good."
"Waffles, bacon, and toast," Charles said with a smile.
"Someone was starving when he woke up," Elsie chuckled, tilting her head in Charles's direction. "That always means a big breakfast for the rest of us."
Tommy smiled a bit but said nothing.
"Why not go and get dressed and put your school things together? We should be ready to eat soon after that," Charles suggested as he pulled a waffle off the iron and put it on the warming dish in the oven. "Ten minutes?"
"Okay," Tommy mumbled, yawning widely.
Elsie watched him head into the bathroom and heard the door click shut.
"So far, so good," she mumbled.
"Typical teenager, I think," Charles agreed. "Do you think he slept like he said?"
"From the look of him? Not a wink. Would you have if you were him, though?"
He sighed sadly and shook his head. "No, I don't think so."
Daisy and Tommy got off to school fine, albeit with a few more yawns from Tommy along the way. Elsie was desperate to spend some time in the barn with Anna; she'd been working the girl to the bone but had barely seen her since Easter. What's more, she needed to rework the schedule a bit now that she wanted to accommodate some riding time for Tommy. She wasn't sure how strong of a rider he was, so Anna would have to supervise that particular task instead of Charles or John, if for no other reason than liability for the business.
"Hello?" Elsie called out softly, and she heard a shuffle from behind the door.
Anna peeked her head around the corner. "Elsie!" she gasped, blushing furiously.
Elsie rolled her eyes and shook her head, a smile on her face. "Good morning, dear," she said. "Morning, John!" she called a bit more loudly, chuckling as she turned and walked away. "I'll be back in fifteen minutes, you two," she added over her shoulder. "Make sure you're decent."
Anna turned guiltily to John, who was busy buttoning the top three buttons Anna had undone on his shirt.
"Don't worry," he soothed her, placing a kiss to her forehead. "She knows we wouldn't have done that here."
Anna raised an eyebrow. "We have before," she smirked.
"She wasn't home then," he reminded her. "My God, I could never look Elsie in the face again if we did that when she was home. No way," he insisted.
"Fine," Anna answered, walking away with a bit of a sway to her hips. "Just wait until I get you back to our home, Mr. Bates."
"I look forward to it," he chuckled, reaching for a pail.
Charles tossed an extra head of lettuce into the grocery cart, pushing it along and meticulously checking items off of his list.
Steaks, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, fruit … Oh, the cereal - damn, have to go back …
He turned around and realized he was smiling as he peered down at the cart, which was full of food for what he considered to be his growing 'family.' Anna and John were at the house for lunch half the time; Tommy being there now meant larger meals for dinner, which he was happy to prepare; Beryl and Bill were stopping by next week. Then there was Mary, whom they were trying to have around whenever possible.
Elsie had her follow-up appointment later on that afternoon, and Charles was looking forward to hearing about Richard's opinion on her progress. They were a bit worried given the amount of time she'd been up and about lately; additionally, she'd been spending a lot of time sitting and working on the laptop - first with the recertification coursework so that Tommy could move in, and then with getting ahead a bit on farm things as she prepared for returning to school. But Charles knew that, all in all, she was progressing more rapidly than they'd initially been told to expect.
School vacation was the following week, and Charles wanted to take Elsie and the children somewhere fun, at least for a couple of days. He had an idea but had yet to run it by Elsie, not wanting her to fib to Richard about how she was feeling simply because she wished to get away.
As he tossed two boxes of cereal into the cart and headed to the checkout, he discovered that he was whistling. Whistling! He shook his head at his folly but felt the familiar feeling of contentment and love growing once again, the thing that had been blossoming slowly in his chest from the moment Elsie Hughes had agreed to go on their first date.
"Good morning, Mr. Carson," came a slightly faint voice from his right.
Charles looked up and saw William standing at the end of the grocery line, a crisp, blue apron tied around his waist and a shiny, new nametag pinned to his chest.
"William!" he greeted the lad, holding his hand out. "I didn't realize you'd gotten a job here."
"Once a week after school, to try it out," he said. "Mum wanted me at the restaurant, but …"
Charles chuckled. "Yes, I think I understand. Well, it seems you're doing fine so far," he commented, nodding to the well-packed bag that William put in his carriage. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Mr. Carson. Have a nice day."
"Here we are," Anna said, putting the car in park. "Shall I go in with you?"
"If you want," Elsie shrugged. "It's a gorgeous day outside, though, so if you'd rather sit out in his little garden area I'll just find you when I'm finished."
"Mmm, that sounds heavenly, actually," Anna said. "He's done such a fabulous job back there - it'll make quite a nice spot for the person who buys it."
Elsie was shocked and turned quickly to Anna. "What do you mean?" She knew Richard was considering retirement but she didn't think Anna knew that yet.
Anna pointed to the window. "Just there - look."
Elsie's eyes followed and she took in a short breath as she read the sign: Established Business For Sale, it read, followed by contact information for a local realtor.
"Well, well," she mused, the corner of her mouth lifting. "What do you know?"
Anna giggled. "Not as much as you did, apparently. See you in a bit - good luck."
Elsie made her way into the office and smiled at the receptionist - a slight, sweet woman named Bessie, born and bred in Misty Cove and sounding every bit like the native from Maine.
"Mornin', Elsie! The Doc'll be right with ya," Bess said by way of greeting. She handed Elsie a clipboard. "Updated HIPAA* form," she explained. "Just fill that out for me and I'll take it when you're done, hun."
"Sure thing."
Elsie sat and filled out her information, smiling when she added Charles Carson and his phone number to her Emergency Contact and Health Care Proxy sections. They'd discussed this last week and had agreed it would be best to update everything now, before they left on honeymoon to … well, wherever they ended up. Charles had been prodding her for two weeks to start thinking about a location; however, at the moment, she just couldn't manage to focus on anything beyond Tommy and getting better. Wedding planning would be coming soon enough.
"All set," Elsie said, handing the clipboard back to Bessie. "Thanks."
"Alright," Richard said as he washed his hands, "let's see what we have. Been feeling well?"
"Mostly," Elsie allowed. "Spent a ton of time sitting these last couple of weeks - computer work. But I was on the laptop so I could switch chairs when needed, and I took pretty frequent breaks."
"Working on anything fun?" he asked, clearly interested.
"A few things for the farm," she said, "but I was mostly working on getting my foster parent recertification done."
"Really?" Richard asked, astonished. "Any particular reason?"
Elsie smiled and nodded. "Tommy Barrow."
"Ah, wonderful news, Elsie! That boy needs a stable home. If you don't mind my saying so, I imagine it helps that you know him fairly well?"
Elsie scrunched up her eyebrows. "How do you know that?"
"I hear things," he said, smiling.
Of course. The thought that Tommy (or, perhaps, Laura … although Elsie doubted it) may have confided in Richard about his trust of Elsie was good news, indeed. He's doctor to half the town, after all.
"I see," was all she said aloud.
"Alright, take these," he said to her, all business as he handed her two pillows. "Lean forward over them," he added, and she complied.
Richard untied the back of the hospital gown and examined her spine. He pushed on a few spots, tenderly at first but then a bit more firmly.
"That hurt?"
"No, not at all, actually."
"And this?" he asked, applying firm pressure to one particular area.
"Not really - a bit uncomfortable, but I wouldn't call it pain, exactly."
"Excellent. Alright, let's have you stand up."
Elsie got off the examining table and stood. Richard had her lean and bend in various ways, checking her flexibility and how far she could move without discomfort or pain.
"Remarkable," he praised her. "You've done very well."
"Why, thank you," she said, smiling.
"No lifting anything over ten pounds, and no lifting combined with leaning, correct?"
"Correct. I think the only thing I do that bothers me after a while is sitting in one position for too long: at the table, reading in bed, things like that. We drove over a pothole the other day, and that did a number. But otherwise, things are fine."
Richard looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "I presume you've resumed a level of intimate activity as well? And aren't suffering from any pain in that regard?"
She stared at her hands, which she was twisting one against the other. "We have, and I appear to be fine."
"You're being careful, then, I presume - and will need to continue to do so for at least another month or two. But there's nothing indicating that what you are doing is hurting you at all."
She dared to look him straight in the eyes.
"Alright, then."
"Well, I'd say you're good to go, Elsie. Stay away from any farm chores until at least the middle of the summer. But you should be able to return to school at the end of the month as planned, no question – just don't sit at your desk all day without moving about some, and no lifting any children. If something happens, you'll need to get assistance, understood?"
She nodded.
"Good. You should be feeling much more like your old self come August."
"Excellent. I've been waiting to hear that. I was afraid I'd be pushing my luck, planning a wedding before I was sure I could enjoy it."
"I'd say by then you should be fine. Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?"
She almost let it slide, but she just couldn't. Not anymore.
"Yes," she said hesitantly, biting down on the edge of her lip. "Actually, there is."
Tommy slung his backpack over his shoulder and turned swiftly - and almost walked straight into Daisy.
"Hi," she said quietly, glancing around to see the other kids that were near them.
"You all set? Your Papa should be here by now. Sorry I was running late; had to see one of my teachers and get help with something."
She nodded and they fell into step side-by-side as they crossed the school.
"So I've got an 'appointment' today," he said hesitantly. "With the horse?"
Daisy giggled and nodded. "It's nice."
"It's bizarre. I know it's supposed to be some weird therapy thing, but seriously. It's a horse."
She just smirked at him as he pushed the school door open for them. "You'll see," she whispered.
They climbed into the car, Tommy taking the front seat.
"Everyone have a good day?" Charles asked as he pulled away.
"Yep!" Daisy said from the back.
Charles looked sideways. "And you, Tommy?"
"It was alright," he said quietly.
The memorial service for Laura Barrow was scheduled for the Saturday that would begin school vacation, and Tommy and Elsie had begun to plan it with Mrs. Kent; before then, though, Tommy still had a few things to take care of.
"I wrote something for the memorial service during my study block."
"Did you? And are you happy with it?"
Tommy looked at him curiously. "I am, actually."
"Well, that's what matters," Charles said.
It was not the reaction Tommy expected at all. He thought he'd be questioned about what he'd written, or maybe that Charles would want to discuss the service; he had braced himself for answering several questions, to the point where he'd almost said nothing at all.
"Thanks," Tommy muttered, knowing that Charles - who merely nodded - would hear every word the boy hadn't said as well.
Beryl tucked herself into her husband's side, smiling at how lying with him in their bed was the one place she had where she could feel so small, quiet, and protected.
Bill wrapped his arm around her and placed a kiss to her lips. "You look exhausted, love."
"It's been a hell of a week," she sighed. "I'm glad you're bringing William to and from work. Thank you for that."
"Well," he countered, "you deal with Ivy showing up at the restaurant as soon as the bus drops her off after school. One day a week to and from the store is the least I can do. And with vacation being next week we'll both be busier, I imagine."
"Yes, let's not talk about that quite yet, thank you very much. I'd like to survive the weekend first, I think."
They were quiet for a while, each lost in their thoughts. Beryl trailed her hand absentmindedly over her husband's stomach, wondering for a moment how many thousands of times she'd done the very same thing over their eighteen years of marriage.
"What's the matter, hm?"
"Oh, nothing."
Bill tilted her chin up so that she was facing him. "Don't even try that with me, love. I'm not one of the kids, and I'm not Ethel - although I think she sees right through you, too," he smiled. "Something's eating away at your keen mind, and neither of us will get a wink of sleep until you spill it."
She leaned over and kissed his chest. "It's Elsie," she whispered.
"Elsie? Is she alright? Charles hasn't said anything."
"Oh, no, I'm sure she's fine." She patted his arm, then entwined their fingers over his chest. "It's just … well, this thing with Tommy … oh, I'm being foolish."
"I doubt it. You're rather perceptive, love. What about Tommy is bothering you?"
"It's not him. Not exactly, anyhow," Beryl said. "Only, having him at the house … well, I can't help but get the feeling that it's not a temporary situation - not in her mind, anyhow."
"Do you think she wants to adopt him?" Bill asked incredulously.
"I'm not sure," Beryl said thoughtfully, "but that I don't think she'd deal well if he went elsewhere."
"Perhaps not," he mused.
Beryl listened to the clock ticking; she sighed as Bill pulled her impossibly closer.
"She's different lately," Beryl said after a while. "She's acting … well, like how a mother acts," she whispered.
"Well, now, that's no great surprise, is it? She's always had it in her, you know that."
"Perhaps. It's just that this isn't quite the route I pictured for her."
"What do you mean?" Bill asked slowly.
She raised herself up on her arm and looked down into his eyes.
"She wants it all, love. She wants Daisy and Tommy and Charles … and, unless I'm horribly mistaken, she still dreams of having a wee babe of her own."
"Aw, but she can't … can she?"
Beryl raised her eyebrows and shrugged. "Who knows? She had such trouble before, but that could easily have been Joe's fault."
"True. But, Beryl … surely she's given up on that by now."
"That's what bothers me," she admitted. "I could be very, very wrong, but I don't think she has."
"Morning, Phyllis," Joseph said quietly from her doorway.
Phyllis looked up as a brilliant smile broke out on her face. "Well, good morning." She checked her watch. "It's been … what, six hours since you wished me that?"
He came in and closed the door before taking the seat next to her desk. Reaching out, he laid his hand palm-side up, and she put her own inside of it.
"I wish you'd stayed," he whispered, "but, at the same time, I'm glad you didn't."
She looked at his face, examining it as he stared resolutely at their hands; she noticed the redness that crept up his neck and over his jaw and ears.
"I understand, but I am happy we're on the same page regarding the waiting. I don't wish to compromise your standards."
He met her gaze then, trying to discern if she were teasing him, realizing he should have known better. "I just like to do things … traditionally," he managed.
"Well, then, I hope a fair few more late-night movie dates are in my future, Joseph."
He thought back to his bedroom - the nightstand, specifically, and the small, black, velvet box that currently resided within it.
This summer, he told himself. You'll do it this summer, after school is out.
"How's Friday?" he grinned. "But in town. The Age of Adaline opens then."**
"Perfect. Dinner first?"
"You bet."
He kissed the back of her hand and got up to leave.
"Joseph?" Phyllis called after him softly, rising from her chair to meet him by the door as he turned.
"Yes?"
She reached up and cupped his cheek. "You are a man of integrity and honor. I know you try to keep that hidden, but it shines out from every part of you for those of us who care to see. I appreciate it."
She leaned in and kissed him softly, albeit quickly.
"I do love you," she whispered.
He grinned soppily at her. "I know you do, Phyl. I love you, too."
A knock on the door interrupted them, and they broke apart quickly so that Phyllis could open the door.
"Sorry to intrude," Edith said kindly, "but your ten o'clock is sitting in the office. She's never early, either, so I thought I'd come and fetch you."
Joseph furrowed his brow, but Phyllis seemed perfectly at ease.
"Just a reconvene for a student," she assured him. "And the parent is happy, not eager to attack. I'll see you later."
"Alright," he agreed, leaving the door open behind him.
"How are you?" Phyllis asked Edith.
"Feeling really well," Edith said, holding the door for Phyllis as they passed through to the hallway. "Second trimester just started, and I've got more energy and am actually keeping food on the inside, which is a nice bonus."
"Good."
"Let me know how that goes," Edith said, tilting her head toward where the parent was waiting.
"Will do."
Elsie poured two hefty measures of brandy into the snifters on the counter. She carried them down through the sunroom and out onto the patio. The light from the sun was filtering through the trees but not quite making it to the pond, which rippled with blackness in the shade of the leaves.
"Here you are," she said, handing one of the glasses over.
Mary took it gratefully and nodded, then turned her attention back to the pond; Elsie sat beside her in the chair Mary had thoughtfully dragged over, one that was straighter and easier to get in and out of than the Adirondack*** Mary had chosen for herself.
"Your duck is back," Mary said, pointing to the underbrush across the pond. "Daisy showed me earlier. She said it's nesting."
Elsie glanced over at the duck and then stole a glance at Mary. She was pleased to find a small smile on Mary's face, something that only Daisy had been able to bring out these past couple of weeks.
"She'd better be careful, too," Elsie murmured. "There was a fox out last night."
Mary sipped her brandy and sat back in the chair, letting the glass rest snugly in her hand. She'd lost a bit of weight, and Elsie was concerned for the girl. They'd taken to having her over a couple of times a week, a plan which was threefold: Daisy got to see her aunt, Mary could get to know Tommy a bit, and Elsie and Charles could make sure she ate a good dinner and went home with leftovers for lunch the following day.
"Thank you for taking care of me," Mary almost whispered, as if she'd been reading Elsie's thoughts. "I didn't expect to be saddened by the funeral last week. I thought … well, I suppose I thought I'd be relieved. Closure and all that. The insurance has come through and reconstruction is beginning on the newspaper building; I'm living in a beautiful, safe place. I'm safe myself for the first time in a long time …" She gazed into the deep amber liquid again. "I don't know what's the matter with me," she admitted, her voice wavering.
Elsie reached over and took Mary's empty hand, squeezing it before she let it go again.
"You've been through such a shocking set of life-altering events. Even if you feel you should be relieved, the dealing with it is very draining. Don't sell yourself short, Mary. You are going to get to the other side of it all … eventually."
Mary looked over at her. "And you and Uncle Charlie are going to keep an eye on me until I do, I suppose?" she said wryly.
"Daisy would never forgive us if we didn't," Elsie smiled.
"Mm, I suppose not." Mary sighed, sipping her drink once again; Elsie remained silent, knowing something important was at work in the younger woman's mind. Probably working out what to say about Tommy, she thought.
But, not for the first time, Mary surprised her.
"She adores you, you know," Mary said suddenly. "Daisy, I mean."
Elsie said nothing for a moment, and Mary was afraid she'd made her uncomfortable.
"I know she does," Elsie said eventually. "Charlie told me that once, too. I remember reassuring him that I adore her, too."
"It's clear you do. And, Elsie?"
Elsie looked up and saw the guilty look on Mary's face.
"Don't," she said. "I know what you're thinking, but it's unnecessary. You didn't know me then, not really. It's alright."
Mary nodded, grateful for Elsie's understanding.
"I was foolish then," Mary said eventually. "Wrapped up in my own misery; unwilling for others to be happy when I couldn't. I think I was hell-bent on making others miserable, too."
"I've been there," Elsie told her, eyebrows raised to reinforce her words. "I was that person, too. When Joe died … and maybe before. And a bit when I got here – when I met everyone," she said with a chuckle. "When I met you."
Mary laughed. "I remember that day," she said. "Town meeting, and I thought, 'Who in hell is this woman, coming in and asking all these questions?'"
Elsie laughed. "They needed asking," she insisted. "And we can agree to disagree on that, thank you."
"Fair enough." Mary stood and walked to the pond's edge, draining her glass as she did so.
"Thank you," she said again.
"Whatever for?" Elsie asked.
Mary turned to her. "For giving me another chance," she said.
"Well, Charlie adores you," Elsie said simply.
"Yes, he does. That's worth more to me than you could possibly know," Mary murmured.
"Oh," Elsie answered softly. "Don't count on that."
Mary turned to face her once again, smiled, and nodded, the understanding of exactly what Charles Carson's love was worth passing between them in a monumental flash.
Next up: Memorial service and school vacation.
I love reading your thoughts - please leave a review if you feel so inclined. An enormous THANK YOU to all of you lovely, lovely reviewers. I wish I could reply to all of the Guest reviewers! Your kind thoughts and words have kept me going. (And to the person who sobbed and snorted her way through the last chapter … sorry/not sorry? I always take those comments to mean I did my job, and so I thank you.) :)
*HIPPA: Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act. In the States, patients routinely update information such as health insurance company and policy number, primary care physician, name, address, and health care proxy. Signed forms are required to allow physicians to share a patient's confidential medical information with other physicians.
**'The Age of Adaline' really did open that weekend - April 24, 2015.
***Adirondack chairs are beautiful, and they are everywhere in coastal New England. They're also pretty hard to get out of, and someone with a healing back would never be in one. See the cover image of this story if you're not quite sure what they are. :)