Summary: Going to medical school is hard. But Jem figured if his father went to medical school and graduated, Jem can to. All Jem and Faith wants to do is help people. But what happens while Jem and Faith go to medical school and then Faith gets pregnant during their first year?
Title: Faith, Hope, and Happiness
Chapter 1
"Are you sure you have everything you need? All your medical textbooks, paper tablets, pencils, notebooks?" Anne asked anxiously to her oldest son.
Jem grinned at his mother. "Yes Ma, I promise. Dad and I went over everything just this morning, making sure I had everything I needed. He tripled checked. I have my medical bag that you and dad bought me with everything in it. I promise, I'll be just fine."
Anne turned to Gilbert. "Maybe Jem can just stay here and you can teach him everything he needs to know? You're the greatest surgeon in all of Glen St Mary. Jem doesn't need to go to school, does he? He can learn from hands on experience that you can teach him?"
Gilbert gently placed a kiss on his wife's forehead, "Trust me Anne-girl, if I could keep Jem at home and teach him everything, even surgery, I would do that in a heartbeat. It would save us a ton of money. But Jem has always done good in school so it's okay. He will be the next famous Doctor Blythe."
Anne sighed knowing she couldn't win this battle. Anne kissed Jen's head and then told the boys she needed to check on Susan. Susan has been in the kitchen all morning baking Rilla's favorite dinner and dessert. It was Rilla's 13th birthday. But instead of Susan being in a good celebratory mood, she has been in a bad mood because Jem was leaving in a month for medical school. Jem winced as he heard the cupboard door slam and then the sound of pots and pans being laid down harshly on the stove.
"I didn't mean to upset Mother about going to school. I just want you to help people and so does Faith. We plan on studying a lot together". Jem said.
"Don't worry about your mother. She'll be fine. She knew this day was coming, but I think you should go and speak to Rilla. She has been rather upset about you leaving for school." Gilbert said.
"It's her 13th birthday Dad. She should be excited about today of all days. Do we really need to give her a check up on her birthday?" Jem asked.
"I rather get it over with now. That way she doesn't have to dwell on it and you two can have a good rest of the time while you're still here. Rilla is the closest to you aside from Walter. In just a few short weeks, it will just be me, your mother, Susan and Rilla. You all will be off at school. It may be her birthday but she needs a checkup. She was rather anxious this morning and I pulled her into my office to discuss what was going on. She told me she was scared of being a teenager, the body changes around this time and she doesn't want you to go to medical school. She is terrified of starting school and you have always helped her with her homework. I reminded her I was a teacher once and so was your mother. She can always ask us for help but maybe it would be better if you spoke to her." Gilbert said.
Jem let it all sink in. Then looked up the stairs where his sister's room was then looked back at Gilbert.
"I don't have to go to school. I can stay here and tutor Rilla and earn money for boarding fees for when I do go to school. Faith and I did talk about that some and she said if worse comes to worse, she'll be alright with me staying home and helping Rilla."
"No, no Jem. I wouldn't expect you to sacrifice your medial schooling for Rilla. You have always wanted to be a doctor and now is your chance. Rilla will be just fine. Go up and speak to her but when you guys are done, I expect you in my office for her checkup. Remember, you're doing all the work. I'll be there to help guide you if you need help. I'll go and get the injection ready and the instruments ready for her blood draw. Take your time." Dad said.
Jem nodded his head. "I noticed she has been rather quiet and keeping to herself. She is more than welcome to come and stay with Faith and I. We would love to have her. Faith thinks of Rilla as a sister."
"Let's give it time after you leave for school. I need to keep an eye on her anxiety because she has been rather anxious about you leaving. Change is hard for her. Go speak to her Jem. Tell her once you get settled, perhaps she can stay with you guys for a visit." Gilbert said.
"Okay dad. I'll go up now." Jem said.
Gilbert patted his son on the head and watch his son go upstairs to comfort his sister.
Walking quietly up the stairs, Jem looked at all the pictures on the walls from over the years. Pictures of the children of different stages in life hung up on the walls. He stopped walking and looked at one picture. It was his favorite. The picture was taken a when Rilla was about 5 years old and he was grinning at the camera as he held Rilla upside down and she was squealing with laughter. Her hair was wild and all over the place. Jem was talking enough at that age that when he held Rilla by the ankles, the tips of her hair was hardly touching the ground. He chuckled at the memories.
He walked up the stairs and knocked on the door. The door was open ajar and he saw Rilla curled up on the bed and knees tucked into her chest. Her hair was coming out of her braid.
Jem didn't bother for an answer. He walked right into her room and sat down on the bed. Out of habit, Jem brushed her hair back to check her pulse. If he knew anything about doctoring, his father taught him the basics. Whenever Rilla was stressed out and Jem was around, he would always check her pulse first.
Rilla didn't even flinch or groan when she felt Jem check her pulse. She let him because she knew she was going to miss that whether she wanted to admit it or not. She sniffed and buried her face on her pillow.
"Hey Munchkin. Do you think we can talk for a little while? I want to make sure you'll be okay while I'm away at school." Jem said.
Sniffing, Rilla got up from laying down with Jem's. He wiped her eyes with his thumb. "Your pulse is much too fast. I rather it be slower by the time we go down stairs."
Rilla made an attempt to say something but Jem stopped her. "If I know anything dad taught me, it's basic doctoring. I still plan on giving you one last medical checkup tonight after supper when we all settle down. I expect your pulse to be back to normal. I expect you to eat your supper too."
"I don't want you to go to school Jem. Can't you stay here? Dad can teach you everything you need to know. He is the best doctor and surgeon here." Rilla said.
"That's basically what mom said just before I came up here. I have to go to school Rilla. I want to help people and children especially. I want to make people feel better and so does Faith. When the time comes Faith and I plan on taking over dad's medical office. You'll be my first patient." Jem said.
Rilla's lips trembled. "Who will help me with my homework? You have always helped me with that."
"Mom and dad used to be teachers, remember? I'm sure they will help you. I want you to talk to them. Once Faith and I get settled into our dorms, I want you to come stay with us. It can be for a week or a weekend. Whatever you feel comfortable with. I know you easily get homesick, but I think you should practice being away from home. I'll have everything you need medical-wise to help you." Jem said.
Rilla looked at him hesitantly. "I don't want you and Faith to get mad when I get anxious. You got mad at me that one time I went with you and Faith on a trip to one of Faith's family members houses."
Jem grimaced at the memory. "Faith wasn't mad at you, munchkin. She was mad at me because I force fed you when you didn't eat your breakfast. You know perfectly well that dad and I don't put up with that. You need to eat food and that will help with the nausea when you get homesick. I'll do it again if I have too. But Faith was mad at me for force feeding you and I got a big lecture from her after you ran off. She wants you to come and stay with us Munchkin. She thinks of you as a sister. She's protective of you to just like I am. That's why I got the lecture from her about what a bad brother I was."
"You're not a bad brother Jem. You're my favorite brother aside from Walter and he is going off to school soon as well this year. Then it will just be me at home with mom, dad and Susan. I would like to come and visit you and Faith if you and dad will let me." Rilla said.
Jem grinned. "I would love that Munchkin. You can be my guinea pig when it's time for me to practice my blood drawing skills, and giving you injections and practice my sewing skills. We'll have fun!"
Rilla wrinkles her nose. "Can't Faith do that? I'm terrified of needles and blood."
Jem patted Rilla's arm and grinned, "Please Rilla? You'll be my first ever patient. I'll be as gentle as I can. I already do the basic doctoring on you with dad watching. What's the difference?"
"You don't have to stitch me up and give me injections or draw my blood. Dad does all that." Rilla said.
Jem scoffed. "I helped stitch up your cut you had on your hand just a few months ago. I didn't do so bad, see?"
Jem took Rilla's hand and turned it over so he could see her palm. "See, hardly a scar. With dad's help, you were basically my first patient and I hardly left a scar. My stitches are tiny just like dad's!"
Rilla looked at her hand that Jem basically stitched back up. He really did do a good job and she supposed that she could be his and Faith's guinea pig.
"Well, alright. I suppose I can be your guinea pig. As long as you don't push the needle in my arm to hard." Rilla said.
"Thanks Munchkin. I'll practice my needle skills on Faith first." Jem said.
"I'm going to regret this." Rilla muttered.
"Now, another thing I want to discuss. I expect you to eat all your meals. Especially after I leave for school. I don't want any excuses on why you didn't eat them. Having an empty stomach will just make your nausea worse. I'll be getting updates from mom and dad on the matter. You know perfectly well I won't let you get away with not eating. Dad won't let you get away with that either. You're skinny enough and you need weight on you. I don't want to force feed you tonight of all nights. I'll be watching you and making sure you eat. I want to do a check up on you with dad present just to make sure I'm using the medical instruments right. I'm 99.9999% sure I am, but dad wanted me to tell you that you need an injection for school and he wanted me to practice drawing blood. So, I get a head start on the subject which why I partly came up here. He is waiting for us in his office."
"N,n,N, Now?" Rilla asked.
Jem nodded his head. "It's better we do this now and get over with early so we can enjoy the rest of our evening Munchkin. I promise I'll be as gentle as I can. I have done this before with some of dad's patients and they said I did good. Please trust me. If I hurt you, just tell me and dad can take over."
"Why hasn't the other kids gotten checkups from you?" Rilla asked.
"Because they aren't scared of doctors, needles and blood. They also don't have anxiety problems like you. So, you my dear Rilla, get to be my patient. I'm going to worry about you the most while I'm at school and so will Faith." Jem said.
"You don't need to. I'll be busy struggling in school while you're doing medical school. I wish you can stay home and tutor me. I'll be good and do what you tell me to do. I promise." Rilla said.
Rilla's lips started to tremble and a fresh set of tears started to fall from her eyes. Jem wiped her tears again with his thumb and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"I would if I could Munchkin. But I need to concentrate on my own schooling. Trust me, my homework will be much harder than yours. Mom and dad will help you with your school work. I promise. When you come see me on the weekends, I'll help you too. School will be starting soon for both us. You can do this. I don't leave for another few weeks so we still have time to spend together. I need you to promise me something." Jem said.
Rilla looked at her brother curious.
"While I'm at school, I want you to promise me you'll keep up on your studies. If you need help, ask mom or dad. Don't forget they both used to be teachers. Secondly, I want you to promise me that you'll eat breakfast. Especially if you feel nauseous and anxious or at least half of it. I'll get reports from mom and dad. I expect you to eat the rest of your meals too. You know I won't put up with that when you visit Faith and I." Jem said.
Rilla bit her lip and looked at Jem. She knew he was being serious. Going all Doctor mode and teacher mode on her.
"Come on Munchkin. Dad's waiting for us in his office. I'll make you a deal. If you don't fight me when I give you an injection, I'll play a few rounds of checkers with you." Jem said.
"Let's make the best of the last few weeks, okay? I plan on being home every evening. You and I will have plenty of time together, okay?"
Sniffing Rilla nodded her head yes and she allowed Jem to take her hand to head downstairs to their dad's office.