Riverbreeze: Part 1 (28 page)

At the sound of the word dogs, Robin piped
up. “Doggy? Where doggy?”

Robert had taken that last statement the
wrong way. Ignoring Robin, he accused Elizabeth. “So now you are
likening my son to your dogs?”

“Where doggy!” Robin said even louder. He was
trying to get Robert’s attention by patting Robert’s face.

“No! Of course not!” Elizabeth cried, hurt
and angered by that accusation. “How could you think that of
me?”

“WHERE DOGGY?” Robin was crying now, his pats
to Robert’s cheek had become slaps and Robert had to take a firm
hold of Robin’s hand before it came in contact with the cut on his
cheek and open it again. But it was too late, in the process of
grabbing Robin’s hand, Robin’s fingernails had scraped against the
cut, opening it unbeknownst to Robert, although he felt the sting
and blood was starting to ooze from it.

“Where is that damn dog?” Robert snapped at
Elizabeth.

“Daddy bweeding!” Robin cried, distracted for
the moment from his missing cloth dog.

At Robin’s announcement, Robert automatically
touched his cheek, his fingertips coming away smeared in blood.
Touching the inch-long cut had disturbed the first oozing of blood
that had started to coagulate, but now if the bleeding was not
stopped, it would soon be dripping off his jaw.

Elizabeth acted immediately. All was
forgotten, the dog, Robert’s rude growl, the speaking of French.
“Oh, now look what you have done.” She chided, and she quickly
pulled a plain, white cotton handkerchief from her sleeve and
maneuvering around Robin, pressed it to Robert’s cheek before he
had a chance to object. It smarted, but he was more concerned with
her ruining one of her good handkerchiefs on him. But she didn’t
seem to mind. Then in a surprisingly adult voice, she ordered,
“Hold this and sit down. And do not remove it!” She added for good
measure.

Robert was slightly taken aback by her
command, but was also amused by it. “Yes, mummy.” He said with a
teasing grin, before settling himself on the edge of the bed with
Robin on his lap. Robin was getting heavy anyway, and with only one
arm able to hold him, he would soon become too heavy to carry.

“Oh hush!” Elizabeth retorted, but
nevertheless, smiled at his good-natured raillery.

“Oh hush! Oh hush!” Robin parroted
happily.

“That’s right, Robin. Daddy needs to hush and
sit still while I tend to his injury.” Ignoring Robert’s open
mouth, ready to respond, she turned her back on him to check to see
if there was water in the pitcher on the bedside table. There was
and she poured it into the bowl. She also took the time to light
two candles which were each held in old lead-glazed earthenware
candlesticks made in Jamestown. Only after she had done this did
she turn back to Robert.

“Now, let me see that.” She said crisply,
carefully removing the cloth from Robert’s cheek. It came away with
a large bright red stain right in the middle of the
handkerchief.

“Ooh, that looks painful.” She said
matter-of-factly, seeing the bruised cheek close up in all its
angry colors of black, purple and blue. The bruise had had time to
develop and it was not pretty. “Does it hurt?” She asked, looking
into his eyes.

Robert merely shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll
live.” He answered.

“Hmm.” She murmured, turning to the bowl and
rinsing the cloth in the water, turning it pink. As she turned back
she asked, “What happened anyway?”

“A misunderstanding between Phillip and
myself.” He simply said. He was not going to try to explain things
in front of Robin.

“And you do not care to elaborate?”

“Not at this time.” He said, tilting his head
imperceptibly towards Robin.

Robin, thankfully, had completely forgotten
about his cloth dog and instead was now playing quietly with the
tassels at the ends of the drawstring on Robert’s shirt.

“I understand.” She said. She moved back in
closer to Robert, her hip pressing against his leg, her body quite
close to him. With the first touch to the wound with the cool, wet
handkerchief, Robert winced and instinctively pulled his head back
away from her touch.

“Hold still.” She said, chiding him as if he
were a child.

“Sorry.” He mumbled.

This time she held his jaw with the slim
fingers of her left hand and then even while holding the
handkerchief in her right hand, with her thumb and pointer finger
pushed his hair back, tucking it neatly behind his ear. Then she
gently dabbed and pressed, cleaning away the blood.

“Was that also a misunderstanding between you
and that gentleman I saw you conversing with while on the lawn?”
She asked conversationally, as she rinsed out the cloth once
again.

Robert shifted uneasily when she turned back
to watch the cut to see if it had stopped bleeding. Even though the
bleeding had slowed, it hadn’t stopped altogether and she pressed
the cloth to it again. She didn’t need to hold his jaw again and he
rather missed that. With a grimace, he said, “I’ll tell you about
that later as well.”

She smiled amusedly at him while still
holding the cloth and asked, almost gleefully, “You’re in big
trouble, aren’t you?”

“What makes you say that?” He asked, trying
to appear affronted.

“Remember, I witnessed a sample of your
impulsiveness no less than two hours ago.”

He flushed slightly, his neck turning red
beneath his tan, but he grinned nevertheless, admitting. “You’re
right; I am in big trouble.”

“Don’t tell me; your big mouth again?” She
teased, returning the smile.

“I was defending Jamie.” He said coldly.

“Ooooh.” She sing-songed, doubting that.

“You do not believe me, do you?” He demanded,
his eyes sparking like blue fire. “I’ll have you know that I am
very loyal to my brother. You, of all people, should understand
that.”

“I’m sorry.” She apologized, shamefaced. “I
do understand. I should not have doubted you. Forgive me?”

She was so honestly remorseful that he
couldn’t resist her. He sighed, his body relaxing. He nodded.
“You’re forgiven. And I’m sorry for being such a brute.”

“Shh. We’ll talk about it later.” She said,
placing her fingertips on his lips.

The bleeding had finally stopped when she
took the cloth away for the last time. The cut was now a thin,
bloodless line among the colorful bruise. “There.” She said. “I
think that will be all right now, but I fear you will have a scar
from this. Is there any salve available to put on it?”

“I know not. When Jamie cleaned it the first
time, he didn’t think it was bad enough to require any. I haven’t
even seen it myself.” Robert said, instinctively bringing his
fingers up to his cheek to touch and feel the wound.

“Touch it not! You will make it bleed again!”
Elizabeth scolded, grabbing his hand. Noticing the dried blood on
his fingertips she immediately wiped his fingers with the same
handkerchief.

“Not touchit, Daddy! Bweed ‘gain.” Robin
repeated, finally breaking his much-appreciated silence. After
Robin had become bored with the tassels, his thumb had made its way
into his mouth and he had watched fascinated as Elizabeth had
tended to Robert.

“All right, son.” Robert chuckled. “Daddy
won’t touch it again.”

And then Robin looked wishfully at Elizabeth
and said, “Me?” He turned his chubby cheek towards her and patted
it.

Robert and Elizabeth exchanged an amused
smile when they realized that Robin wanted the same attention she
had given Robert. So with a great show she tenderly wiped his cheek
with a clean corner of the handkerchief in a mock procedure. He
giggled delightedly and squirmed in Robert’s lap.

“Kiss? Kiss bettah?” He asked.

The adults exchanged another secret smile.
Elizabeth then gave Robin the gentlest, most loving kiss on his
damp cheek, and then an extra kiss on his forehead, caressing his
curls, before stepping back.

“Kiss daddy bettah?”

This time when Robert’s and Elizabeth’s eyes
met, they didn’t smile, but something special passed between them.
Robert realized that Elizabeth loved his son as much as he did and
she had also accepted him, flaws and all. It was time he stopped
acting like a spoiled child and started acting like a responsible
man.

Robin watched expectantly. With a wink at
Elizabeth, Robert turned his head to the side presenting his
injured cheek to her. In that position he was facing Robin and he
winked at Robin also.

Elizabeth, feeling confident and bold, leaned
in, placing her fingers from her left hand on his jaw like before
and she kissed Robert low on his injured cheek, nearly on his
jawline, in the same manner she had kissed Robin, gentle and
loving. And when she was about to move away, Robert caught her
quickly under her chin and returned the kiss, this time on her
lips.

She was so startled, she was speechless.

“Thank you…for everything.” Robert finally
said, his voice low and intimate, then becoming playful, his eyes
twinkling, he quipped. “Or perhaps I should say
merci
?” He butchered the pronunciation of the word on
purpose, with his English accent it came out sounding like
‘muh-cy’.

She gasped, but then smiled in response to
his infectious grin. “You, sir, are a rascal!” She declared
teasingly.

“Who?
Moi
?” He
teased, elongating the word so that it came out, ‘moowaaaa’,
batting his eyelashes at her. That made three out of the ten words
he knew.

“Ah!” Elizabeth let out an indignant shriek.
But she was enjoying this little game.

Robin copied her. “Ah…ah!”

With her hands on her hips, Elizabeth
continued, “I see now how remiss you have been in learning your
lessons. It appears I am going to have two pupils to instruct in
the fine language of French.” Her voice may have sounded teasing,
but she was dead serious.

“Oh, no.” He said, laughing. “One language is
enough for me…”

“And one language is enough to get you in
enough trouble, Rob…” Jamie said, striding into the room, looking
rather impatient. His hands were in fists at his side. “Have you
finally gotten over your selfish little fit enough to come
downstairs and attend your own father’s funeral?” He sneered.
“Everyone is waiting, Rob, waiting for the infamous Robert Bassett,
although why we should even bother to wait is beyond me.”

For a split second both Robert and Elizabeth
were taken aback at Jamie’s vehemence.

“Jamie, I’m sorry…” Robert apologized,
feeling horrible.

“Is that all you can say?” Jamie
demanded.

“It was my fault we’re late.” Elizabeth cut
in, surprising both men. They both stared at her. But she was not
swayed. “Robert’s wound opened and I took longer than was necessary
to care for it. Please, Jamie,” she pleaded. “Please do not be
angry with your brother.”

Again both brothers were surprised. They
exchanged looks of bewilderment.

Elizabeth reached for Robin. “Come to
Maman
,
ma cherie
.
We’ll get your doggy now.” To Robert she whispered, “Talk to him;
apologize; do whatever you have to.” And she left the way she came
in, with Robin in her arms, the lad twisting her collar.

Jamie watched Elizabeth leave, his mouth
agape. His eyebrows were nearly raised to his hairline.
“
Maman
?
Cherie
?” He
questioned in disbelief.

Robert just laughed. “She’s teaching him
French. She says ‘tis the natural thing to do.”

“It is?” Jamie asked, still stunned that
Robert would be so nonchalant about it.

Robert had reached Jamie and stood in front
of him. “That’s not important, Jamie.” He said, placing his left
hand on Jamie’s shoulder. He was going to take Elizabeth’s advice
and talk to his brother.

Eye to eye, in a voice full of remorse,
Robert continued, “Listen; I know I’ve done some rather foolish
things today…” Jamie snorted; Robert ignored him, continuing, “…and
I know I’ve caused you grief…”

“You walked out on me! I needed you, Rob.”
Jamie cried.

“I know. I was selfish and stupid and
unfeeling and…and…” Robert hesitated only a second before Jamie
picked up for him. “You forgot coldhearted and inconsiderate and
pathetic…”

“Now wait a bloody minute!” Robert exclaimed,
believing his brother had gone too far. “Pathetic?” Robert
repeated, considering. “Do you really think I’m pathetic?” He
asked, shocked and hurt.

Jamie let out a big sigh and rolled his eyes.
“No, I guess not.” He admitted reluctantly. “But you are still
selfish and stupid and inconsiderate and…” He waved his hand and
ended weakly. “And all those other things.”

“Well, at least I’m not pathetic, thank God.”
Robert stated, satisfied.

“Why can’t I ever stay angry at you? Why?”
Jamie repeated, angry at himself.

Robert’s expression softened. Squeezing
Jamie’s shoulder again, he said gruffly “Because you know that I
love you…” His voice lightened as he continued with an impudent
grin on his face. “And because I’m the only half-decent brother
you’ve got!”

“Mmph!” Jamie snorted.

Robert hooked his arm around Jamie’s neck and
pulled him roughly against him. His voice low and gruff, he said,
“Jamie, I’m truly sorry. I do not like it when you’re angry at me.
I am as lost without you as you are without me. We only have each
other now. We’re on our own now. I promise I won’t let you down
again.”

Jamie had started crying again. Robert held
him as he had countless times before when they were children; when
their real father had died and they were old enough to understand
what it meant; whenever Wesley had belittled and punished them; on
the ship to Virginia when they had left the only home they ever
knew and faced a scary and unknown future; when Jamie lay
deliriously ill with the intermittent fever, so afraid he would
die. And now when they had suffered another tragic loss.