New Beginnings (New Beginnings Series) (38 page)

Outside of the terminal, carriages waited for the train passengers who needed transportation. There were horse-drawn trams travelling east and west on both sides of the station, but Sam thought it would be best to hire a carriage. He asked the driver in a covered coach to take them to a hotel of good standing within walking distance of The Thomas Jefferson Medical College. The driver lifted the luggage into the vehicle as Sam gave his hand to help Sara climb up to the high seat. She cuddled up close under his arm and they enjoyed the scenery of the city as they travelled, although she stayed rather quiet during the journey. Sam knew whatever the problem was, it was not over yet.

It was only about three blocks to the posh accommodations the driver delivered them to, asking if it would be fine if it was about a five-block walk to the college. The hotel appeared to be one of high quality and although it was not quite as elegant as the Windsor it was more than suitable for their visit.

Their hotel room was much more extravagant than Sara wanted. Sam asked for the hotel’s best without consulting his wife, knowing exactly what she would say. This was not only still their honeymoon, but also their first Christmas together and he could well afford to give her the best.

The room was on the fifth floor of the hotel and once again they avoided the many steps by the use of an elevator. The bellboy accompanied them with the luggage and showed them to their room, unlocking the door to the lavish suite and handing Sam the key. He guided them through the three rooms their accommodations held, including a sitting room, bedroom and their own bathroom

As he always did Sam generously tipped the bellboy, as he had the elevator boy, as he left their suite.

From the bedroom there was a door which opened out onto a balcony, which Sara stepped out on to admire the view. Sam followed, wrapping his arms around her. Although it was not quite freezing it was cool outside. They looked out, finding themselves in a busy part of the city, the city hall being only half a block north of them. A tramway followed the street they looked down upon.

“It has been a long time since I’ve had a Christmas without snow,” Sara said as she looked down at the buildings and the many people coming and going. Decorations were everywhere, reminding them of the special day coming soon and in the distance a bell could be heard. “This still reminds me a bit of New Brunswick. The air isn’t as dry as the prairies and you can almost smell the freshness of the ocean.”

“We are miles from the ocean.”

“Something in the air tells me it is there.” She leaned against her husband, taking in a deep breath. “If I close my eyes I could still be back home.”

“Are you definite you have made the right decision, Sara, to let Anne have the house and land?”

“It was never really mine and Anne was more of a daughter to my family than I was. She was always there for them. It is hard to give it up and I will miss it, but home is with you … our home in Manitoba. Right now there are much more serious matters at hand and important questions to find answers for.”

“As hard as it may seem, I guess it is time to put everything in God’s hands.”

Sara thought it odd how she was raised in a Christian family, loved God like no other when she was younger, but had all but turned her back on Him. Sam, on the other hand, never knew God and admitted he never prayed until after he met Sara and feared losing her. But here he was closer to Him in many ways she was not. Although it puzzled her, she wished she had it back, but didn’t know how, or maybe was scared to get it back. It crossed her mind often, but she kept it to herself, occasionally feeling the void it created. But she had the love of her life, her soul mate, as Lily said and for now she possessed all she needed. She felt slight hope in their visit to the medical college and felt there would probably be no further answers to her questions. It was Sam’s belief which brought them here, but she so much wanted to make him happy. She knew it did, for her to at least give it a try. As much as she knew he would like to have a child of their own, it was more of a gift he hoped he could give to her. “In God’s hands,” he so often said. How she wished she could once again put it in God’s hands, but so many times in the past she asked, so many times it was not answered. She couldn’t help but think why it would be different. No, she was here to make her husband happy and how it scared her she could fall short of the goal.

They went back inside and lay down on the bed, holding each other. Sara seemed to be feeling better, but still was not herself and it worried him. She was so tired and fell asleep easily. He was glad they were close to the college and they could go there if she got any worse. It frightened him to wonder what he would ever do if something happened to her. How could he survive a moment without her? He continued to hold her until she woke with the smile which always made his heart skip a beat and those eyes which possessed him.

Sara was feeling much better after she woke and agreed to go out for lunch as it was just a little after noon. They went downstairs to the dining room and although she didn’t have much, Sam was satisfied she was eating something and kept it down for a change. Maybe it was travel sickness, but still it didn’t seem quite right and he wasn’t completely at ease with the situation.

After lunch they took a walk along the street the hotel was on. Sam suggested he would take her out on the town that night as long as she was feeling better. Not far down the street was an herb and natural remedies shop. Sara was amazed, because this was almost unheard of by this advanced time of medicine. It was here she hoped to find items for her medical box, which was back at home.

She went into the shop, while Sam went exploring along the streets to enquire what the city had to offer. She was greeted by the pungent smell of the many herbs and various concoctions. There was an endless supply of items, some she never heard of before but many she had. As Sara looked through the items, a tiny, wrinkled lady, who looked to have a bit of a gypsy appearance, greeted her. The woman told her customer to browse and to ask any questions she might have. Sara continued to look through the articles, reading the labels of the jars and packages. Each gave the name and if different, the Latin wording, what it was used for and how to prepare it. On one shelf were wooden boxes holding individual tubers, roots, or bulbs, most of which were familiar to her.

After a short time, Sam stepped into the store for a moment to be certain his wife was fine. He told Sara he would be back in about an hour, as by the look of the store, it could probably take that long to look around at everything available.

After she browsed, Sara took a basket and started putting items into it, some new to her, but most she knew were tried and true. There were, much to her surprise, a jar of beaver glands. From behind the counter the old woman occasionally looked up at her only customer, watching the items which interested her. As she put some of the contents from that particular jar into a bag, she spoke up, “You have been taught well and you are very careful what you select.”

“We have a long way to travel and I do not have much opportunity to get to a truly natural shop, so I must choose wisely.” Sara carried the basket to the counter and the old woman took each item out with care, wrote down the name and cost on a paper, prudently adding up the total as she went.

As she got to the one particular bag she said to Sara, “There aren’t many people who come in here who know what beaver glands are used for. I use it as a test of knowledge.” She walked out from behind the counter when the adding was completed and the payment made. “Would you care for a cup of tea dear, as you are waiting for your husband to return?”

Sara graciously accepted, hoping this woman had more advice for her in the art of healing. She directed her customer to sit at a table near the large window at the front of the store. The old woman explained she often watched the comings and goings of the city and the new technologies appearing every day, from that very spot. Sara tried to give the woman a hand with her preparations but she answered, “No dear, you have just arrived from a long journey and you must rest for a while. Besides, you have not been feeling well for a time.”

Sara looked at her in disbelief. How could this woman grasp so much when they hardly talked? As if she read her mind the woman answered, “I can see the hotel entrance from this chair and I saw you arrive this morning and your husband was concerned about how you were feeling before he left.” Sara smiled back at her hostess, realizing it was not mystical powers but a keen mind she possessed.

They sat at the table for a short time when the woman asked her name and told Sara her own was Mrs. Horvath, but all her customers called her Mama and she insisted Sara also use the term. She placed a plate of biscuits on the table with the tea. They were a type Sara never saw before, being small and baked into triangles and they smelled strongly of ginger. Mama poured them each a cup of green tea, complete with floating tea leaves. “Most people these days use a tea ball to hold the leaves, but it takes the flavour out of them,” she remarked. Sara smiled and nodded back at her as she took a sip of the hot beverage. At first she refused a biscuit when Mama passed the plate to her. “They will help to settle your stomach,” she told Sara. “You have the look in your eyes which say you haven’t eaten well for a few days.”

To be courteous Sara took a biscuit. Surprisingly as she ate it, the usual nausea didn’t over take her.

They talked for a time, Sara telling the owner of the store about living on the Canadian prairies. When the tea cups were emptied, Mama made no effort to refill them, but instead looked into her own for a quick moment, then peered into Sara’s empty cup. She marveled at the skill of this woman, believing whatever future prediction she would give her probably came from her own information and in all likelihood she wouldn’t realize it. Sara remembered going to the local fair with her father when she was small and the gypsy fortune-tellers were there. Her father showed her how they would ask certain questions and with great skill and knowledge of facial expressions and voice differences made up believable stories. But as Sara waited for the prediction, the old woman sat quietly, thinking to herself.

Before they could get back to talking, Sara saw Sam walking back to the store, coming from across the street. She rose from her chair and thanked Mama for her help and conversation, offering her hand in respect for the older woman. Mama took hold of it and looked at it palm up for only a moment, held it in both of her hands. As Sam was nearly at the door she quietly said, “Do not use the crocus bulbs yet. Miracles happen at Christmastime.”

At that moment the bell over the door tinkled as it opened and Sam walked inside. Sara tried hard to take the concerned look off of her face, replacing it with a big smile for her husband.

“Have you found what you were looking for?” Sam asked, putting his arm around his wife.

“And then some.” Sara still smiled, but she was puzzled by what Mama said.

Sam shook Mrs. Horvath’s hand as she extended hers out to him. She looked into his eyes which shone back at her and she remarked, “The moon has seen a caged heart released.” She gave him a bag she set on the counter, “These biscuits will help settle your wife’s stomach and will help get her appetite back. I recommend one before she gets out of bed in the morning and another before each meal. I think before the bag is empty the problem will subside.” Sam thanked her and offered her more money, but she refused it adamantly. “No, it is not often I have the privilege to help people the stars have bound together.”

They left the shop with smiles, but confused by what the old gypsy woman said. Although she didn’t say she was, Sara was quite convinced she was indeed a gypsy fortune-teller and a very good one. As they returned to the hotel Sara told her husband of her meeting with Mrs. Horvath, although she did leave out the old lady’s advice. A miracle, she said. Sara was quite certain it would take nothing short of a miracle to see her through this.

While Sam was away, he had walked to the college and met with Dr. Evans’ nurse. He made an appointment for the next morning, which unfortunately was the last day they were available before the Christmas holidays. He was warned any test results would not be ready until after the New Year. Because the doctor was in a teaching department, the students had already left for the Christmas break and he was also going to be away. Sam made plans to fill Sara’s days as much as possible so she would not worry. She would never let him know how concerned she was but he could read it in her eyes and was starting to think it was what was creating her sickness. In fact, he was quite certain of it.

Chapter Twenty-eight

The biscuits Mama Horvath gave Sara did the trick of settling her stomach and for the first time in a while they went out to a restaurant and enjoyed their meal. She chose to be careful by not eating a heavy serving of food but it seemed her appetite was back. She enjoyed their time together in the eatery, a small place on the street down from the hotel which boasted a home-cooked flavour, especially for travelers missing a taste of home.

Afterwards they slowly strolled along the streets enjoying the freshness in the air which seemed to be absent all those days on the trains. As they walked back toward their hotel along Chestnut Street, they were surprised when after the darkness set in the lamps came on without the aid of the lamplighter and electric lights brightly guided their way along the street. They were rather amused it was the only street which had the new convenience as the side streets were still using the gas lighting they were so used to.