Chapter Thirty-Eight
THE NEXT DAYS WERE A blur of stress and grief.
Ma hadn’t died. Not yet. She lay with an erratic heartbeat and struggling breaths in the hospital bed before Ezekiel.
The doctor said she’d been overdosed with morphine and it was up to God which way Ma went.
Ezekiel prayed it was toward healing. At least not having a job meant he could stay by her side.
Graham laid a hand on Ezekiel’s shoulder, startling him out of his vigilant watch for Ma’s each breath. “How is she?”
“Her breathing is a little more even, I think, but she still hasn’t awoken for anything longer than a few sips of broth.”
“I’m praying for her and for you.” Graham settled into a creaking chair opposite Ezekiel. “I’ve just come from meeting with Marcellus and Detective Hall.”
Ezekiel snapped toward Graham. “And?”
Thanks to the testimonies of inmates being considered unreliable, Nora was still stuck in that putrid boil raised from the depths of Hades.
Dr. Chalfant had believed Mrs. Reed’s word over theirs.
According to her, Ezekiel and the others had broken into the room as she was subduing two hysterical patients and had misinterpreted the situation.
No one in the hall could say they saw Mrs. Reed’s hands around Nora’s throat, and Mrs. Reed explained away Nora’s bruises as the result of Ma’s attack on Nora.
Had Dr. Chalfant even looked at Ma? Even before this, she didn’t have the strength to squash a bug, much less choke someone capable of fighting back.
“Nurse Ingram testified to the ruse Mrs. Reed used to get her and the orderly out of the room. The old bat was smart enough to question Nurse Rhodes when she arrived at isolation and didn’t administer the dose to Katherine.
Between that, the evidence that Mrs. Reed was hired under a fabricated name, and Detective Hall’s investigative notes predating the incident, Dr. Chalfant has conceded that Nora’s situation warrants more consideration. ”
“That’s it? Her situation warrants more consideration?” Perhaps it was the doctor who should be placed in an asylum. He clearly didn’t have any wits.
“She’s a ward of the state and still seen as an unstable patient who needs care.
With charges being brought against Mrs. Reed and witnesses having confirmed that the Winston in the hospital is the same one Katherine attacked, Marcellus is consulting with a lawyer to see what can be done.
Detective Hall has received the police report from New York, but we’re still waiting on the one from Scotland Yard.
The battle for Nora’s, and even Katherine’s, freedom is far from over.
Dr. Chalfant still won’t allow either of them visitors. ”
Ezekiel felt sick. How long would Nora have to suffer alone? Did she even know that Ma yet lived?
God, why? I’m trying to trust, and I know trusting You doesn’t mean all will end in the way I think it should, but this is hard. I’m at the end of myself, and I don’t know what to do.
“Come to supper tonight,” Graham said. “Marcellus will be there, and I think it would be good for him to get to know you.”
The invitation was kind, but the last thing Ezekiel wanted was to visit with the man who blamed him for all that had transpired—even if Ezekiel’s pantry was empty.
“I can’t. Tristan’s been alone all day, and he’s not been himself lately.
He’s actually been begging for my attention and not just fish. ”
“Bring him too. The missus has always had a soft spot for that beast.” Graham stood. “I’m not taking no for an answer. If you’re not there by seven o’clock, we’ll come to you.”
“Fine, but I’m only staying for supper.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Ma’s rhythmic breaths filled the silence Graham left behind. Never had Ezekiel felt so helpless.
Ma came home in a still-weakened state a week later, and to his surprise, the Guardians appeared at his doorstep the same day, declaring the Beaumonts their next project.
Miss Gibson had procured a fainting couch so Ma could rest more comfortably in the parlor, where it was easier to care for her.
Over the following days and weeks, the Guardians worked on an alternating schedule to help with any needs he and Ma had.
They entertained Ma and helped immensely with Tristan.
Miss Plane even cut his claws so the beast did less damage to people and furniture.
Miss Pelton did a fair amount of cooking with supplies the women daily brought—often inviting Detective Hall and Mr. Davis to join them for supper.
Ezekiel would have preferred silence and solitude, but he had to admit the intrusion was helpful for more than just taking care of Ma.
Mr. Davis wasn’t Ezekiel’s best friend, but the forced time with him had allowed them to come to a truce.
Eventually, they might even like each other.
The Guardians’ presence also allowed Ezekiel to leave the house to search for a job.
Two weeks of searching only proved Crosley had been true to his word.
Every reputable opera house had turned him away, even when he’d practically begged for any position, no matter how lowly.
Graham’s vouching for him hadn’t helped either.
It was a humbling and humiliating process.
His last hope for a theatre position lay in the Over-the-Rhine district.
His German was passable for short conversations, but he doubted it was good enough for anything more.
But that was a worry for tomorrow. Today was one of those rare days when the Guardians were absent.
Ezekiel played through Graham’s operetta while Ma listened from her reclined position.
He’d finished the remaining piece yesterday, thanks to her encouragement.
It was a bittersweet ache, bringing Ma pleasure while grieving the loss of composing with Nora.
He could have waited, as there was no longer an impending deadline.
Crosley had canceled the debut performance out of spite as soon as he’d had another to fill the dates, and Graham was too busy helping with the case against Adler and Mrs. Reed to find another venue.
Ezekiel finished playing the aria Nora had helped him create, and Ma clapped with an enthusiasm that defied her weakness.
Although Ma was getting stronger, he doubted she’d ever be well again.
When he secured employment, he’d have to find someone to sit with her.
The Guardians wouldn’t be around forever, and by the time Nora was freed, she may not even be interested in him anymore.
Especially when she discovered that any future for them included caring for Ma.
Tristan jumped from Ma’s lap and raced to the closed window seconds before someone knocked on the door.
By the way he pranced in a circle, begging to be set free, Miss Plane must be here with his usual treat of fish.
Ma chuckled softly, and Ezekiel smiled at the sound.
Whatever lay ahead, he’d never regret having her here with him.
Ezekiel stretched, then opened the door. Instead of Miss Plane, Nora stood on the other side.
He blinked. Surely his eyes deceived him. But it was her. Perhaps looking a bit worse for wear, with her thin face and the purple smudges beneath her eyes, but still gloriously beautiful and standing here.
She flew into his arms, and his whole being sighed with relief.
Oh, how he’d missed her! He buried his face in her hair and squeezed her tighter.
He had no words, at least none that could get past the lump in his throat.
Twenty-four long and terrible days without visitations or word beyond that she was holding her own.
Twenty-four days of wondering if she’d received his letters and worrying if their fledgling relationship could survive the silence if she hadn’t.
And yet, she was here. In his arms. Finally.
“Do you think you could at least move to the side so your mum and I can get inside?”
“Don’t be so grumpy, Marcellus,” a soft voice said. “You’ve had your turn with her. Now it’s his.”
Ezekiel didn’t release Nora from his embrace, but he did scoot them toward the window so Mr. and Mrs. Davis could enter and shut the door. Tristan, impatient for his turn with Nora, leaped from the table to their shoulders and bumped his head between theirs.
Nora laughed and nuzzled her face against his. “Hello, Beast. I’ve missed you too.”
Ezekiel didn’t want to let her go, but Tristan wormed his way firmly between them, and Nora stepped back to hold him in her arms. That cat could forget about any fish bites tonight.
Unwilling to completely relinquish her, Ezekiel wrapped an arm around Nora’s shoulders and guided her to the couch across from where Mrs. Davis hugged Ma.
“Oh, Mrs. Beaumont! Thank you!” Emotion choked Mrs. Davis’s words. “Thank you for saving my girl’s life.”
Ma shifted uncomfortably. “Would you like coffee?”
Obviously Ma didn’t know what to do with the gratitude and had leaned into her former duty as hostess. Unfortunately the offer was impractical. She hardly had the energy to walk to the kitchen each day for meals, let alone make a pot of coffee.
“Marcellus and I would love some, but allow me to help. That way the three of us can become better acquainted.”
“I’m staying right here.” Mr. Davis eyed the nonexistent space between Ezekiel and Nora that not even Tristan’s sprawl across their laps could hide.
“Oh no you aren’t. You’re needed in the kitchen.” Mrs. Davis gave Mr. Davis a gentle shove that direction, but not before the man cut Ezekiel a warning look.
After Mr. Davis moved into the hall, Mrs. Davis tossed a wink over her shoulder and assisted Ma out of the room.
“When were you and your ma released? No one told me we were even close to the possibility.” Ezekiel brushed a stray hair behind Nora’s ear and once again drank in the sight of her. Thank You, Lord, for bringing her home to me.