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JACK OFFERED ALICE his handkerchief. It broke his heart to think she might possibly lose her friend, too. And what would Fin do? Lizzie had always been the girl for him and he the only one for her. Jack doubted Fin would ever be able to give his heart to another, if he had any heart left to give. “Ready?”
Alice took a deep breath, ran her hands over her apron to smooth out the wrinkles, and lifted her chin. “Yes.”
“For Fin.” He squeezed her hand.
“For Lizzie.” She nodded.
They went in together. Doc insisted he wear a mask, even though he’d been exposed and hadn’t gotten sick. He handed Alice a fresh one, as well. “Better safe than sorry. We’ve lost too many friends and family already.”
Jack placed his hand on Fin’s shoulder. “You look like you need a break. Why don’t we step outside for a bit, find you something to eat?”
“No, thank you. I can’t leave Lizzie. I need to be here when she wakes.”
“I’ll watch over her.” Alice squatted down in front of him and gently laid her hand on his cheek. “You have to eat to keep your strength up. You’ll be no good to her if you get sick, too.”
“All right.” Fin sighed. “Come get me if . . .”
“Of course.”
Fin shoved his hands into his pockets and slowly followed Jack down the town’s deserted main street. “Lizzie was all I thought about when we were sitting in some muddy foxhole. We would get married, and I would go to work in the butcher shop. We’d have to live with mom and dad at first, but we’d save every penny until we could buy our own house and start filling it with little Finleys. But now . . .” His voice cracked. “When I was in the hospital, those dreams were what kept me going.”
“Hang onto them. When Lizzie’s well again, and this quarantine is lifted, we’re going to throw you one hell of a wedding party.” Jack hated how easy it was to lie.
“Thanks. I appreciate what you and Alice are trying to do, telling me Lizzie’s going to get better and all, but I can see which way this is going.”
Jack stepped in front of Fin and shook him by the shoulders. “Listen to me! Maybe things don’t look good right now, but Alice got really bad for a while. I didn’t know what to expect, but then she got better. Lizzie could get better, too. Keep praying, and if worse comes to worse, you’ll have all of us holding you up until you can stand on your own again.”
Betty interrupted Fin before he could respond. She must have been watching from her front window. “How’s Lizzie?”
“Not good. We could lose her.”
Betty grabbed him in a tight hug. “Tell me, what can I do to help?” She stepped back and waited for instructions. “Bring her fresh water? Make tea? Wipe her brow? Just tell me and I’ll do it.”
“We’ve got this covered,” Jack said. “Go home to your mother where it’s safe. Alice doesn’t need another friend on one of those cots.”
Betty nodded and stepped away. “We’ll pray for her, for everyone.”
“That’s something we can never have too much of.”
She returned to her mother standing watch from the porch, wringing her hands.
“Come on, Fin. Let’s find you some food.” Jack wondered where were they going to find some place to eat with every door in town locked up tight?
“Lizzie has some leftover chicken she wouldn’t want to go to waste. Some milk. We might even find an apple or two left from the ones I picked from Mom’s tree.”
* * *
JACK WASHED THEIR FEW dishes while Fin stared at his hands folded in front of him on the table.
“I saw so much death, so many torn and mangled bodies at the Front. Some unrecognizable but for their tags. I never expected to come home to it, too.”
Jack put away the last clean plate. He leaned against the countertop and dried his hands. He didn’t know what to say.
Fin continued. “I imagine Harry’s told you all about it, about George.”
Jack wondered who George was, but didn’t ask. He sensed Fin didn’t want to talk about him, either. “Harry and I don’t talk much.”
“Mmmm. Guess he really isn’t the sharing type.”
“No. Never was.”
Fin slapped his hands down on the table and stood. “Let’s go.”
* * *
JACK LEFT FIN AT LIZZIE’S bedside and went in search of Alice. He found her working at Doc’s desk at the rear of the gymnasium.
She looked up from her notes. “Did you find something to eat?”
“We helped ourselves to some leftovers in Lizzie’s icebox.” Jack held out a covered basket. “Brought you a piece of chicken, an apple, and some milk to wash it down.” He set the basket in front of her, pulled up a chair, and sat down.
“Thank you. I was so busy thinking about Lizzie, I forgot all about food for myself. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until now.” She took a bite and smiled. “I’ve always been able to count on you.”
Jack smiled. “Less talk. More eating.” Even tired, her hair mussed from being pushed out of her face too often, her dress and apron wrinkled and dirty, Alice was beautiful.
I’ll always be there for you, Alice.
Doc joined them. “You two have made me quite hungry. Will you be all right if I run home for a bite to eat? I have a few stops to make after, but I shouldn’t be more than a couple hours.”
Alice nodded. “Of course.”
Jack stood. “I can stay with her until you return. But then Alice needs to go home to rest, and I need to go check on the animals.”
Alice frowned and opened her mouth to argue.
“Jack’s right.” Doc shook his finger at her. “I’ll hurry back.” He put on his hat and coat, picked up his black bag, and was gone.
Jack laid a hand on her shoulder. “I know you want to be here with Lizzie, but you’ll be of no use to her, or anyone else, if you get sick again. Doc can ring us if she needs you. I heard Iris is back at her switchboard.”
“All right.” Alice wiped her hands on a napkin. She attempted to smooth out some of the wrinkles in her apron. A lock of hair fell loose. Jack reached up to tuck it behind her ear. His fingers lingered a little too long on her cheek, and she stepped back.
What was he thinking? “Your hair . . . I was just . . .”
“I have to check on Lizzie.” Alice hurried away. Did her heart race the way his did at his touch? He’d have to remember never to do that again. She was to be his sister, nothing more.
“Excuse me, Mr. Barnes.” A young boy tapped him on the arm. Jack recognized him as one of Mrs. Armstrong’s students. Tommy Hemeuer. It was just him and his mother. A widow living on meager means, she always found the money to see Tommy had what he needed to become a successful adult. Jack understood Tommy to be a smart, well-mannered boy in school, but anyone who heard him play knew his piano skills were sorely lacking. He always tried to make himself scarce when the boy was having his lesson.
“Hello, Tommy. Can I help you with something?”
“My mother’s dead. She was breathing awful loud. Then she stopped.” A tear ran down his cheek. He hiccupped when he tried to suppress a sob.
Jack looked where the boy was pointing. One of Mrs. Hemeuer’s arms hung limp over the side of the cot, her eyes were wide and jaw slack.
“Here, have a seat.” Jack took an apple from the basket. “Miss Armstrong didn’t eat this. You look like you might be hungry. I’ll check on your mother.”
Tommy thanked him, apple juice already dribbling down his chin. He took the napkin offered and wiped his mouth. He practically swallowed each bite without chewing.
How long was the boy sitting at his mother’s side? How long since his last meal? He’d keep him there until Doc returned. They’d have to find someplace for Tommy to stay. He couldn’t go home alone to an empty house.