––––––––
"So," Victoria began, "how have you been feeling, Kathy?"
"Better, ma'am, but I still feel real tired. And... and I can feel the beginnings of that antsy feeling you warned about. But, for the most part, I feel well."
"I see. Now, if you'd slip off your drawers, and lie down and let me examine you. I'm sorry if it seems a bit embarrassing and invasive."
"Don't worry, Miss, I mean, Doctor. You can't imagine what we were ex—"
"Yes, dear. I don't believe I can. But, they can't hurt you ever again. We will do everything we can to help you and Lynn. But still, you need to do all you can to forget those things."
"Yes, ma'am. I will."
All the time they'd been speaking, Victoria had examined the girl who only flinched once.
"There, all done," the doctor said. "Now, can you remember when your last monthly was?"
After a moment, Kathy answered, "It was still hot. I remember that. But, honestly, mis—I mean, Doctor, I couldn't tell you for sure if it was July or August."
"Well, that means either a March or April baby. And, to be honest, your baby is probably small and underweight, so his size isn't giving us a true idea of when to expect him.
"I think we must get you free from the opium and fatten you up. Then, we might get a better idea of when this baby is due.
"Now, you get dressed and go downstairs. And," she reminded the girl," please send Lynn up."
Kathy was almost out the door, when she answered, "Yes, ma'am."
The bedroom door opened and Lynn peeked around the edge of the door. "Kathy said you wanted to see me."
"Yes, dear. Come in and close the door behind you. I wanted to give you a complete examination. So, if you'd slip off your drawers and hop up on the bed."
"Do I have to?"
"I'm afraid so, Lynn. Please. I promise I won't hurt you."
"Yes, ma'am."
"That's a good girl," the doctor said, as she took her pulse, before listening to her heart and lungs. While she was putting her stethoscope away, she asked in a nonchalant voice, "Lynn, with two older sisters, I'm sure you must know about your monthly courses. But, you're still very young. Have you started having them?"
"Well, Miss, I had them two or three times, but it weren't regular like Lisa's."
"About how much time between them? Just a rough guess."
"Six or seven weeks, at least. And, I had pains something awful."
"Yes, some young women do have a rough time of it. But most grow out of that much discomfort."
Victoria looked at the young girl as she sat, quiet but anxious, on the side of the bed, smiled and said, "Now, could you lie back where you are. I know this is intrusive, but it won't take long."
Lynn did as she was asked, but trembled. Victoria tried to reassure her, by saying, "I'll only be a few moments. I promise. Then we'll have tea and cake. That is if anyone remembered to save us any."
Lynn smiled at that and said, "We had pie last night. But I wouldn't say no to a piece of cake right about now."
"Good," the doctor said. "We're all done. Step back into your drawers and come downstairs. Meanwhile, I'll go save you a piece. But don't lolly-gaggle, or I won't be able to guarantee you'll get any cake."
All the conversation came to an abrupt halt when Victoria walked into the kitchen. Everyone turned to look at her, as if to ask, 'Well... '
"May I please have a strong cup of tea?"
Kit hopped up and set the kettle back on the heat, saying, "I'm afraid the pot is empty, but I'll make fresh. It won't take but a few minutes."
"I'm sure Kathy told you that the baby will arrive in March or April, at least that's what it looks like now. We should have a more precise date after she's put on some weight.
"And, I'm fairly sure that neither has any disease. Of course, I'll need to keep checking on that for a while."
"Kathy wants to learn how to sew," Eva said.
"Yes, I'm sure Lynn will want to learn as well, but they won't be in any condition to take lessons. I doubt they'd be able to concentrate on working on anything now, even if they already knew how to sew."
"Eva, why don't you go tell Gus and Jake there will be coffee, tea and cake in about twenty minutes?" Meg said. Then, turning to the girls suggested, "Slip on your new nightdresses and robes, so the doctor can see them, please."
Once the girls returned, modeling their gowns and robes, the doctor nodded, and said, "Meg, they're wonderful. And you say they're easy to make?"
"Yes, very easy. And, because of the drawstring at the neck, they'll fit a variety of sizes. Also, they're plain enough to wash and dry quickly."
"So, you're proposing we make a supply of these gowns as part of equipping the hospital?"
"Yes," Meg said, "and the robes. Perhaps, even short robes, for people to wear when they're sitting up in bed."
"Well, don't get too involved in making them, Meg. Remember, we haven't even approached the town council about obtaining the building yet," Victoria answered.
*****
Kathy and Lynn had gone upstairs to bed right after Gus left with Meg and Eva, leaving Colleen and Kit to clean up after dinner. Miranda and Victoria were in the parlor, conversing in low tones, when Kathy came downstairs, again. "Miss... my head hurts something awful," she said, as she rubbed her temples.
They'd already sent Kit and Colleen up to bed, just in case they were needed later on.
The doctor stood up and went over to the girl. "Come on, Kathy," she said, taking her hand. "Let’s get you back to bed. Staying up won't help you feel better. I’m sorry, but there's nothing I can do for you, except fix you chamomile tea to help you get back to sleep." Then she led her up the stairs.
Miranda got up and went into the kitchen to put the kettle on for tea while Victoria and Kathy climbed the staircase. By the time Victoria reentered the kitchen, Miranda was filling a small teapot with hot water.
"Thank you, Miranda. I'll let it steep for a few minutes, before I take it up to her."
"This is the beginning, isn't it?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so. Although, it might just be a headache. I'd hoped they'd have at least another day or two, so we could get more food in them. But, there's nothing we can do about it. Since it's so late, I'm going to stay the night. However, I must go into town in the morning. I have other patients I need to check up on. But, then I'll be back.
"I think Kit and I will have to split our time between town and here. That way, one of us is in the surgery during the day. Once their symptoms become serious, we'll have to rethink how we divide up the work load.
"Once we work that out, we should be all right while Meg is away. And—"
"Wait? What? Where is Meg going?" Miranda asked.
"Oh dear!" Victoria said, frowning. "I wasn't supposed to tell you about that."
"What?"
Victoria dropped her voice to a whisper and said, "All right, but only because you all will be staying here until Sunday evening.
"The Clearys are leaving town. And Meg wanted the reverend to marry her and Gus. So... so..."
"What!"
"You mustn't talk about it. And if she comes out here you mustn't let her know you know. She and Gus are going to be married after services on Sunday and then they are going on a brief wedding trip to Chicago."
"Oh, without a big ceremony, or wedding breakfast, or anything?" Miranda groaned.
"I get the idea that they'll have a party later on, in the spring, after the girls are well. But, I don't know for sure, so don't talk about it. Please,
I promised I wouldn't tell you before Sunday afternoon."
"Of course, I won't say anything. It's just that, I don't know. I guess I wanted Meg to have a grand wedding. Like the one I didn't get to have."
"Well," Victoria whispered, "Neil and I probably won't have anything I'd call grand either. He was married before after all."
"Wait!" Miranda said, in a low voice, but definitely not a whisper, "You and Neil are getting married, too?"
Victoria felt the flush creep up her neck and face. But she answered, "Well... yes. We became engaged the night before everything happened. In fact, Gus was toasting us when the three of them passed out. And, I figured out who was responsible for, well... everything."
"Oh, Victoria! I'm so happy for you!"
Reddening even more, she said, "Thank you. I'm very happy, too."
This more intimate conversation ended at the sound of Colleen coming down the stairs.
She was rubbing the sleep from her eyes and brushing her hair smooth with her fingers. She was wearing one of the simple, flannel robes, wrapped around her, the sash tied in a loose knot.
"I thought I heard Kathy come downstairs. Is she sick?" Colleen asked the older women.
"Just a headache," the doctor answered. "We're brewing chamomile tea, and you can apply cold compresses on her head, since you're up. I probably shouldn't have stayed the night," Victoria continued. "So, I have to get some sleep tonight, because I'll need to be ready to work in the morning."
"That's why I got up, Miss... I mean, Doctor," Colleen told her. "To help wherever I'm needed."
"What about Lynn?" the doctor asked.
"She's sleeping. At least," Colleen said, "she was when I got up."
For a moment, Victoria thought the young woman was going to add something more. But, after a rather long moment of silence, decided she was wrong. And, turning to Miranda said, "Perhaps, you should go to bed, at least for a couple of hours. Colleen and I can deal with Kathy."
"But you just said you needed to rest," Miranda said.
"I promise I'll wake you in a few hours. Now, go on."
Victoria came down to find a cup of fresh coffee waiting for her. She took several, grateful sips, before she asked, "So, how did Kathy do the rest of the night?"
"She was a bit fitful, but after a while she settled down and did sleep."
"Good, because Lynn is looking a bit green. I'm afraid she's not going to be very happy today," Miranda answered. She stopped, adding, "Meg ordered a hefty supply of peppermint candy. Can I tell them they can have some whenever they wish?"
"Yes," the doctor answered. "That's a good idea. Hopefully, it will help their nausea.
"Well, I'll finish this coffee and head into town. I'll make sure no one is in dire need of medical attention and then come back out here."
"Try to get the girls to drink some very sweet tea, and eat some scrambled eggs and toast. Even if it's just a bite or two at a time. And, if that seems to be sitting well, perhaps have them try several swallows of milk, as often as possible. That should give them the best chance of keeping them well."
"Yes, Victoria. Of course," Miranda said.