Edwina (33 page)

“Aye, he would not,” came the reply. “Come
missus, we shall be aboot our duty.”

Edwina walked them to the door, whispering,
“I will stay until you have rested, and then of course, you should
return.”

Their smiles of gratefulness told her she’d
spoken well.

“Now Paige, it’s you and me,” Edwina
whispered, smoothing the covers that lay over the small body. “I
have a surprise for you when you wake up. We shall talk about your
mother. I have pictures.”

She couldn’t fill up her eyes enough with the
patient whose soft brown eyes were hidden in sleep. Her heart leapt
at the second chance she was being given.

Edwina found a chair and dozed. Her nerves
had settled down, and she wanted to be awake when Paige woke. There
was so much to tell her.

She had not thought to call Cecelia or
Spencer about the accident. They were busy, and besides, she was a
grown woman and should take charge of her own life. Perhaps Mr.
Dunnegin had told Cecelia before he left. He did say Cecelia had
helped him locate attorneys.

An hour passed in sweet relief. She was where
she should be. Awake now, she held Paige’s hand and waited. A tap
sounded at the door.

The lighting low, it was difficult to see who
approached.

“Ilana,” Edwina whispered.

“I’ve come to assist.” She gave Edwina the
evil eye. “Where is Alex?”

“He left for America.”

“When?”

“Several hours ago.” Edwina saw her veiled
reaction. The woman was a

coiled snake waiting for the right moment to
strike. Besides, how did she know about the accident? And why
wasn’t she surprised to see her here?

“I have only just heard about the child’s
accident. You may go. I will stay with her.”

She didn’t move. Edwina formed her words
carefully. She didn’t want to cause any more trouble. “I
cannot.”

“You may leave.” Ilana’s dark eyes bore into
hers.

Edwina remembered what Mr. Dunnegin said.
Ilana was not the woman he thought her to be. This was not a good
thing. And she was not confrontational. If someone dismissed her,
she usually went.

“It would be good if you left, Ilana. I think
perhaps you should call Mr. Dunnegin and speak with him.” Edwina
would not allow her eyes to drop to her kneecaps. Not this time.
She stood to her feet.

“I’ll do just that, miss.
And you will find yourself relieved of
your
position.” She turned and
sashayed out the door, her gold dress shimmering as she passed
through the low-lit room.

“You are beautiful, Miss Ilana, but you are
not kind,” she whispered.

Her heart was not racing, and Edwina was
surprised.

Paige began to waken. She mumbled “mommy”
several times. Edwina stepped to her bedside and murmured, “I’m
here, Paige. I’m here.”

The child tried to lift her arms, but plastic
lines held them captive. “Don’t try to move, sweetheart. I will
come to you.” Edwina climbed up next to her and lay carefully so as
not to hurt her.

“Can I have mummy’s hat?”

“Sure. It’s here on the table across the
room. I’ll get it and come back.” Edwina moved off the bed and
retrieved the cap.

Climbing back on the bed, she lay it in
Paige’s hand. “There it is in your right hand.”

Her eyes struggling to stay open gazed at her
right hand. The smile on her face was Edwina’s reward.

For the next five days Edwina and the
Gillespies took turns feeding, playing, and sleeping in the same
room with Paige. Each day she began to move about more. The first
few hours sharing her mother’s pictures had been Edwina’s joy. She
had introduced the child to the one who had borne her and loved her
for the first four months of her life. At times Edwina wept for the
mother who would not raise her own child. What a gift Elizabeth had
given them all.

And for the next five days they wrung their
hands. They had not heard from the laird. How had Mr. Dunnegin
fared in court? Would the grandfather come and take Paige away from
them? Edwina could not fathom even the thought of that. What would
Mr. Dunnegin do? And the Gillespies.

And what had happened to Ilana? If that woman
knew of Paige’s whereabouts, maybe others did, too She knew now why
Alex Dunnegin had been so concerned about Paige’s existence.

“Do you think Bertie would like to come?”
Edwina asked Mrs. Gillespie on the fifth day.

“Nay, she barely knows the child. She has to
keep the castle running as though she serves only the Laird. She
never visits the farm for fear of being followed.”

“Is that why Mr. Dunnegin moved Paige to the
manor? To hide her away?”

“Oh yes. Even when the laird married the
young Elizabeth, he kept her at the manor. Her father had spies
looking for the lass. Not because he loved ’er, mind ye, but
because he needed her to come back to run the company. She’d been
the nicest lady amongst all those wolves, ye know. And when she
left... well, don’t ye know the good folks didn’t like ’er auld
man. He needed ’er back.”

Edwina was beginning to understand everything
now. And her conscience smarted. She’d judged so wrongly. Why had
she assumed things were as they seemed? She made a choice that day
never to disregard the fact that people need to do things sometimes
that others may not understand—and that did not give her reason to
judge them.

Walk a mile in their
shoes
, came to mind.

When it came time to release Paige, the
Gillespies signed her out. Oh, how Edwina wished Mr. Dunnegin would
call. What was keeping him so long?

She’d already broken the promise she made not
to inter- fere. God was in his heaven, and everything would be all
right.

Six days after the accident, Paige came home.
Edwina and the Gillespies played nursemaid to their patient. Her
every wish was granted. Until the fourth day.

“I want to see Silsee,” she whined.

“Aye, ye’ll not be getting off that bed yet,
lass,” the older woman said. “I’ll bring ye fresh pillow covers now
and brush out your hair.”

Edwina smiled as Mrs. Gillespie walked out of
Paige’s room. “Out in the barn and two broken legs... ach.”

“You’ll take me won’t ye, teacher?” Edwina
knew she was being discreetly lambasted.

“I’ll not,” she countered. “But I’ll get the
puzzle we were working on, the one with the daisies.”

“I don’t want it. I want to pet Silsee. She
needs me. I’m her mommy.”

Edwina saw her need, but could not grant it.
She had stopped calling her mommy so often, and she was glad. The
child did not need to confuse her real mother with her teacher.

“Be a good lass. You’ll be out there soon
enough. I’ll go out and pet Silsee myself and tell her mommy’s
coming out in a few more days, okay?” She mussed Paige’s hair.

“Okay, but she won’t like it.”

“Like what?”

“You’re not her mommy.” Paige tilted her head
just so.

“You’re right. And I’m not your real mommy
either, but know what? Your real mommy can’t be here, so I’ll be
here for just a little while longer, just like Silsee. She’ll have
her mommy back—you!”

Edwina thought herself clever on how she had
just explained the mommy situation when she heard, “Yes, but my
mommy isn’t coming back.”

Edwina’s hopes crashed at her feet. So much
for trying to explain why death took her mommy away. Forever.

There was no good explanation, Edwina
decided. “You’re right, sweetie. It is true.”

Paige pouted for a long time. Edwina let her.
She needed to grasp the truth and to grieve. All would come in due
time.

“I’ll be gone for a while. Why don’t you take
a nap? Then you’ll be rested because we’re going to stay up late
tonight.”

Paige’s face brightened, but Edwina could see
she was tired.

“Go to sleep now. I’m off to the barn to pet
Silsee and tell her her real mommy’s coming in a few days.”

Paige never answered, her eyelids already
fluttering.

Late into the night Edwina played games with
her charge. During Monopoly she challenged Paige to make decisions,
count money, and learn how to sound out names on the board.

The Gillespies long off to bed, she pattered
to the kitchen in bare feet and robe looking for a treat for the
two of them and returned with two frosty bowls.

“Ice cream!” Paige shouted from her bed. “Do
you like ice cream?” Edwina played the fool.

“You know I do... don’t you?”

“Of course. Silly girl. I love it too,
remember?” Edwina pulled her into conversations to keep her awake
and active so as not to notice her bedridden state. This was not
going to be easy.

“When is father coming?” She slurped from her
spoon.

“I’m sure I don’t know, ye wee lass.”

“You’re not Scottish!”

“I know, I know.” Edwina slurped her ice
cream and made the child giggle. “You mustn’t do this when people
are about, Paige.”

“I won’t. And you won’t either will you, Miss
Blair?”

“
Oh no, it wouldn’t be nice
at all.” Edwina slurped loudly.

They fell over laughing.

The phone rang, startling both of them.
Edwina untangled herself from the bedding and ran to answer it.

“Hello?”

“Miss Blair?” It was Paige’s father.

“Yes.”

“I am coming home—”

“Is Paige—?” She knew she interrupted.

“Yes. She’s safe with me for now.” Edwina
clapped her hand over her mouth. She wanted to cry.

“Thank God.”

“Thank God, indeed.” He sounded tired. “Is
she doing well?”

“Yes, very well. We’re playing games right
now.”

“This late into the eve?”

“Yes, but I’m also holding classes at the
same time. And helping her forget she cannot run yet.” She was
whispering.

“Ah, ever the lass who would be aboot
running, eh?”

“Yes.” Edwina smiled.

“Reardon is bringing me now. I should be
there in a few minutes.”

“Now?” Edwina wanted to shout.

“Aye. Is that a problem, lass?”

“Ah, no, of course not. I have to go.” Alex
Dunnegin was left on the line. Edwina had already run to Paige and
said loudly,

“Your father’s coming. I’ll be back. Don’t
move, Paige, please don’t move.”

The child looked at her as though she’d grown
donkey ears.

Down the hall she went. She looked like a
hooligan with her hair tied up in knots, sticking out all over her
head. She had shoved it into a rubber band and forgotten it, not to
mention she was in her raggedy pajamas. Not suitable clothes for
teacher, nor a woman about to see her employer. Tossing off her
robe and ripping her pajamas off at the same time, she danced
around, heels pounding on the floor as she tried to remember where
she’d put her pants. Rifling through the closet, she finally found
something to wear. Not exactly formal, but what did the man expect
at this hour? It was well past midnight.

Where was her brush? She always kept it in
the same place, but of course it was not to be found. She heard the
front door open.

There it lay where she’d put it earlier. She
pulled out the rubber band, jerking strands of hair with it.
“Ouch.” She combed through it quickly, washed her face, and took a
quick peek in the mirror.

It would have to do.

Hauling in a deep breath for good measure,
she eased out the door and made her way slowly down the hall,
listening. Mr. Dunnegin and his daughter should have some time
together alone.

“Father, you should see me ride my bike. Miss
Blair bought it for me, and... and . . .” Her face fell as she
remembered. “It got broken.”

“Yes, it did. But ye’re all right, lass.”

Edwina couldn’t help but draw closer to see
them together. Was he hugging her? Telling her how much he loved
her?

She stepped closer and clamped a hand over
her mouth. The big Scot was crying. Not so his daughter could see,
but Edwina could see through the crack in the doorway. He held her
in his embrace, arms around her narrow back. She turned away, angry
that she had been so nosy.

She realized then that she was still
barefoot—thankfully. They would never know she’d seen. She tiptoed
away to her room, put the things away she’d thrown in her hurry,
then got down on hands and knees looking for those infernal
shoes.

That’s how Mr. Dunnegin found her. Payback.
She had not shut her door.

She looked up and saw he was standing there
with a smirk.

“Lost yer shoes?”

She looked at him with side-glance. “How did
you know?”

“Cecelia says you never wear your shoes when
you’re supposed to. But that I already knew.”

“She did? You do?” Edwina liked hearing her
sister’s name. She missed her dreadfully this minute, suddenly
feeling like the third wheel.

“Aye. She told me other things too.”

“Oh boy.” Edwina sighed.

“Tis a good sister ye
’ave.”
And beautiful too
was sure to follow, but it didn’t. She scolded
herself for being so jealous of her sister and the Scot. They’d had
plenty of time together, Spencer reporting that the two had gone
together to South Carolina. She waited for the next sentence to be,
“We’re getting married, Edwina.”

“We’re getting married, Edwina,” she heard,
and her head popped up. She tried to stand and caught her toe in
the hem of her other pant leg.

“I knew that.” She dusted off her hands, glad
the truth was out.

“How’d ye know, lass?”

“Well... I just knew,” And heaven forbid, she
didn’t know what came over her next, but she told him. “I even
wrote a story about it.”

“Aye, and will ye show it to me then?”

“No... you don’t really want to... it’s a
first draft. Nothing a guy would want to read anyway.” She
pooh-poohed him, her heart breaking even though she should be happy
for her sister.