21

MAGGIE FINISHED PACKING a few articles of clothing and toiletries into her small valise. There would be no staying in her brother’s home now that baby Ivy no longer needed her.

She scanned the room one last time and attempted to ward off the cloud of melancholy. Losing Ivy had hit her harder than she could have imagined. All along she’d feared Colleen and Rylan had become too attached to the mite, but she hadn’t counted on becoming smitten herself. She ached for the sorrow her brother and sister-in-law must be experiencing, and for their worry over Delia on top of Ivy’s departure.

Maggie closed her bag and descended the stairs to the main level. In the likelihood that she’d be gone for a while, she would empty the icebox and bring any perishable food with her.

As she finished tidying the kitchen, someone rapped on the front door. Maggie hurried to peer out the side window and, seeing Adam on the step, allowed him in.

The grim set to his jaw told her how hard this evening had been for him, as well.

“Did Jolene make the streetcar all right?”

“She did.” He twisted his cap between his fingers, his brows slashing his forehead. “I don’t think you should stay here alone, now that—”

She pointed to her bag in the hallway. “I know. Just let me get the food from the kitchen.”

A few minutes later, they locked the house and began the two-block walk to the orphanage. With Adam beside her, Maggie had no fear for her safety.

She glanced sideways at him as they walked. “What will you do now?”

“I’ve had no direct contact with the illness, so I should be fine. But I’ll stay away from anyone until I’m sure.”

Maggie nodded, hating to think of him relegated to the church basement. “You could come to the orphanage, too. I’m sure there’s plenty of work to keep you occupied.”

They reached the front steps at St. Rita’s, and Adam stopped, pinning her with a frank stare. “I think you know why that’s not a good idea. Things have become . . . complicated between us. Being confined here will only heighten feelings that need to fade.”

She’d wondered how he would act after their kiss. Now she had her answer. Maggie sighed. “Don’t I have any say in the matter?”

Adam gave a sad smile. “I fear I must be sensible for the both of us.”

For the second time that night, Maggie’s heart squeezed with sorrow, preventing her from saying anything further.

“If you need me, you can reach me through John McNabb at the Shepherd of Good Hope Church.”

The night breeze blew stray strands of hair about her face as she reached up to kiss his cheek, wishing she had the nerve to linger. “Take care of yourself, Adam,” she whispered. “I’ll be praying for you.”

She lifted her skirts to climb the stairs and then, with a last lingering look at his anguished face, she entered the building.

Aurora’s usual optimism had deserted her, leaving her clinging to a last thread of hope. Seated beside Delia’s bed, she twisted a damp handkerchief between her fingers. No matter how many times she bathed the girl’s face, her temperature refused to drop. She supposed she should be grateful it hadn’t worsened, but to see a once-healthy child this helpless caused an irrational fear that overwhelmed the comfort prayer normally afforded.

She reached out to brush a stray lock of hair from the child’s forehead. “Please get better, Delia. Your family needs you.”

Once again, Aurora found herself fighting tears of helpless frustration that she could do nothing more to heal her. She blinked back the moisture, hoping to dispel the depression that plagued her.

“Miss Hastings, may I speak to you in private, please?”

Aurora reluctantly moved her hand away. “Right away, Doctor.”

She made a deliberate effort to smooth the covers, then paused to check on little Greta before sedately following Dr. Reardon into the hallway. An unnatural hush hovered over the building, unnerving Aurora further.

“We can talk in Mr. Montgomery’s office.”

The grim lines on Dr. Reardon’s face added to Aurora’s dismay. Did he have bad news to impart? Or had she made an error with one of the patients?

“Please sit down.”

Aurora complied while he took Rylan’s chair and folded his hands on the desktop. Nothing about his manner eased her anxiety.

“I wanted you to know that I’ve engaged the services of a nurse from the hospital to assist here.” He gave her an apologetic glance across the desk. “I resisted bringing anyone else into the situation, not wishing to expose anyone unnecessarily. However, Mrs. Patterson has already survived typhoid fever and has no qualms about coming. She’ll arrive later today.”

Aurora shifted on her chair. “Is there a problem with my work?”

He smiled, creating fine lines around his eyes. “No, no. You’ve done your best despite difficult circumstances. I fear it was my selfishness that got you into this unfortunate situation. I should never have insisted you accompany me before determining the extent of the illness.”

A flush heated Aurora’s cheeks under the directness of his gaze. “It’s not your fault. You had no idea it would be so serious.”

“Still, I can’t help but feel guilty at the risk I’ve exposed you to unnecessarily.”

“Nothing I won’t face as a nurse.” She rose and smoothed her apron.

The doctor rose, as well, and studied her for several seconds, as if debating adding something further. At last, he nodded. “I’m certain Mrs. Patterson will prove an excellent role model.”

“I look forward to meeting her.”

Dr. Reardon came around the desk. “One more thing before you go. I neglected to mention that your father came by earlier today.”

Aurora held back a gasp of dismay. She’d spoken to her mother several times on the phone, but always when Papa was at work. “What did he want?”

“To take you home.” A touch of amusement lit his warm eyes.

Aurora’s fingers tightened on the chair back. “How did you get him to leave?”

“I told him you had to remain until we’re certain that you haven’t contracted the illness.”

“And he accepted this?” Aurora couldn’t imagine anyone stopping her father when he was on a mission, especially when that mission concerned his only daughter.

“Not at first. But I convinced him I was looking out for your welfare and that you would be in touch with him soon.”

She released a tiny sigh of relief, and the pressure on her ribs lessened. “Thank you, Doctor. I hope my father wasn’t too adversarial.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve handled worse in my time.” A hint of a smile twitched the doctor’s mustache. “Come. Let’s get back to work.”

As Aurora accompanied him back to the sickroom, an uneasy suspicion arose. Dr. Reardon appeared far too pleased with himself. And for Papa to leave without seeing her, something must have transpired. Aurora prayed it had nothing to do with an anticipated match to the esteemed doctor. For no matter who her father tried to pair her with, Aurora feared that only one man held the key to her heart.

And unfortunately it wasn’t Philip Reardon.

“There’s a woman on the telephone wanting to speak to Mr. or Mrs. Montgomery. I hate to disturb them. . . .”

Maggie turned from the sink to see an agitated Sister Veronica in the doorway. “It’s all right, Sister. I’ll take it.”

Maggie dried her hands and made her way to Rylan’s office, where she picked up the receiver and spoke into the mouthpiece. “This is Maggie Montgomery. May I help you?”

The woman on the other end identified herself as the O’Learys’ housekeeper. “I’m afraid I’m phoning with unpleasant news.” The woman hesitated. “Mr. O’Leary wanted Miss Colleen to know that her mother has taken ill with typhoid fever.”

Maggie sucked in a breath. This was the first time they’d heard of any other case of typhoid outside of the orphanage. “What about the others in the family?”

“So far no one else has been affected.”

“Thank goodness. Is there anything else you’d like me to pass on?”

“Please tell Miss Colleen we’re praying for Delia and all the children.”

“I will. Thank you for calling.” Maggie hung up the receiver and remained seated at the desk. She hated to add to Colleen’s burden with this latest piece of distressing news. Knowing Colleen, she’d want to be in two places at once. And she was already turning herself inside out over Delia.

Maggie found her thoughts turning, as they so often did, to Adam. Despite his strained relationship with his parents, Maggie felt certain he’d want to know about his mother. A pang of regret wrenched her heart. It had been over a week since she’d seen or heard from him. She missed the comfort of his presence, for whenever he was working on the grounds, she always felt safe.

Recalling his last words about how she could reach him, Maggie picked up the receiver of the phone again, waited for the operator, and then asked to be connected to the Shepherd of Good Hope Church. Nerves dampened her palms as she waited for an answer. At last, a man’s voice came over the line.

“Hello. Reverend McNabb speaking.”

“Good day. I hope you can help me. I’m trying to reach Adam O’Leary.”

There was a subtle pause. “May I ask who’s calling?”

“My name is Maggie Montgomery. I’m related to Adam’s sister by marriage.”

“Oh yes. Adam told us about the situation at the orphanage. I hope everything’s all right.”

It would be so easy to tell this man the news and let him impart it to Adam. But the selfish side of Maggie wanted to tell Adam in person—and be there to offer whatever comfort or support she could. “The children are holding their own. But I have something I need to discuss with Adam, if you don’t mind.”

“I’m afraid he isn’t staying at the church any longer.”

A cold ball of fear settled in Maggie’s stomach. “Where is he, then?”

Silence hummed over the line for several seconds. “Adam is . . . doing some renovations at a store on 14th Street. There’s no phone installed, but I could get a message to him, if you like.”

Maggie paused to digest this new information and made an instant decision. “No, thank you. I’ll make sure someone finds him and tells him the news in person. Where is this shop?”

“On 14th Street near the corner of 4th Avenue. Beside the general mercantile.”

“Thank you so much for your help, Reverend.” She hung up the receiver before he could ask any more questions.

Her heart beat a wild rhythm as her common sense warred with her emotions. By all rights, she should heed her brothers’ advice and avoid Adam. Adam himself had made it clear that he would not entertain a romantic relationship with her. Yet she could not forget the power of the kiss they’d shared and the host of emotion it evoked within her. Never in her life had she felt anything like it. She had to believe something so intense could not be wrong, that God had brought them together for a reason. And so she would take advantage of this small opportunity to see Adam again, if only for a few minutes.

Leaving the orphanage should not be a problem, but she would check with Dr. Reardon to be sure. Then, once she was cleared, she’d set out to find Adam and this mysterious store.