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ALICE TOSSED AND TURNED in her bed. Lizzie’s fever still hadn’t broken, was even a little higher, when Jack insisted they leave for the day. She wanted to stay all night. She wanted to be at Lizzie’s side if she passed. Fin was with her, giving Alice some comfort, but it wasn’t the same as being there herself. Doc promised to stay and ring them, no matter what the hour.
The parlor clock struck two, its chimes echoing through the otherwise silent house. She fluffed her pillow, again, and stared out the window at the stars and moon in the clear night sky. Alice slipped out from under the covers and went to her knees. “You have already taken so many home, Lord, please spare my friend. Lizzie has a heart bigger than any other person I know. We need her with us every day as a reminder of what is truly love and goodness. Without her, Fin will be lost. There would be no little Finleys to cheer his days after all he went through on the Front. Doc says there’s nothing more he can do, but there is always something you can do. You are the almighty. You have all the power. Nothing is outside your reach.” She buried her face in her arms and wept. “Please.”
When the tears finally stopped, and her breath no longer came in hiccupping gulps, Alice climbed back into her bed and slept.
* * *
ALICE CRINGED AT HER reflection in her bureau mirror the next morning. Her eyes were red and puffy. “You are a sight.” She pinned her hair in place and went to the kitchen to make coffee.
Jack came in from the barn as she finished making their breakfast. “Don’t know about you, but I didn’t sleep much last night worrying about Lizzie.”
Alice poured him a cup and set it down. “Me, too.” She turned away, trying to hide her red eyes from him.
“Alice?” He gently held her arm. “Did Doc ring you last night? Is Lizzie—?”
“No,” she cut him off. “No, he didn’t. I assume she made it through the night, but I’d like to get there as soon as possible.”
“Of course. We can go as soon as you’re ready.”
They ate in silence and Alice left the dishes in the sink for later. Something she would never do normally, but this wasn’t a normal day.
* * *
THERE WAS NONE OF THE usual teasing or happy chatter on their drive into town. The sun was shining in a cloudless sky, and the breeze a little warmer than usual for early November, but the only thing on her mind was if they’d get to Lizzie’s bedside in time.
She didn’t wait for him to help her down. Her feet hit the ground at a run the moment the horses came to a stop. The sound of her shoes on the wooden floor echoed down the hall. Jack’s uneven gait followed close behind her. Alice hesitated, hand on the gymnasium door.
Oh, Lord, don’t let us be too late.
Jack caught up to her. They pushed the door open together and stopped. Lizzie was sitting up on her cot, leaning against Fin’s shoulder, weak but very much alive. Alice rushed to her side.
Lizzie smiled and stifled a cough. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I feel like I did for a moment.” Alice reached out to touch Lizzie’s cheek. “We were afraid you were lost to us.”
Jack squeezed Lizzie’s hand. “Welcome back.”
“I could never leave my Fin. He’s finally come home to me.”
Doc joined them. “Good morning, Alice. Good morning, Jack. I see you’ve discovered our miracle patient. I’ve never seen anything like it. Just when I thought it was almost over, the fever broke, and she opened her eyes.”
“What time was it?” Alice had to ask. Could it be true?
“Shortly after two this morning. I checked my watch.”
Alice remembered the parlor clock striking the hour, falling to her knees in prayer. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Jack put his arm around her and held her close.
Lizzie slipped her hand over Alice’s. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s right.”
Doc motioned to Tommy Hemeuer. “Bring some fresh water for our patient, please.”
“Sure thing, Doc.”
Jack rested a hand on Doc’s shoulder as they watched the boy hurry away. “It was a nice thing you did, taking in the boy.”
“Tommy’s a good kid.” Doc smiled. “He told me he wants to be a doctor.”
“He’s smart.” Jack chuckled. “So, may I suggest more Latin, less piano?”
Doc laughed. “He already offered to quit his lessons to spend more time helping me. From what I’ve heard, that’s a good idea.”
Alice nodded. “I whole-heartedly agree.”
Fin kissed Lizzie on the forehead. “You need to rest.” He was slow to stand. He’d probably been sitting like that ever since Lizzie opened her eyes. “I’ll stop and tell Betty the good news.”
Doc’s attention turned to the front door. “If you’ll excuse me, it appears the youngest Cooper boy’s trying to get my attention.”
Brian Cooper’s anxious dance, shifting from foot to foot, waving his arms, wasn’t because he was fighting off a swarm of bees.
Tommy returned with a pitcher full of cold well water. Alice filled Lizzie’s glass and handed the pitcher back to Tommy. “Go around and see if any of our other patients need a drink.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She held the glass to Lizzie’s lips. “Drink this. I’ll check on you later.”
Fin went home to sleep, and Jack left to do his chores. Alice surveyed the room. So many empty beds. It appeared the worst might truly be over. “When do you think we can lift the quarantine, Doc?”
“Soon, I hope. Barring a new wave of patients, at this rate we might be able to return to normal in the next couple weeks. You and your young man can start planning your wedding,” Doc assured her.
“Speaking of wedding plans, I have a favor to ask you.”
“Of course.”
“Would you walk me down the aisle? Now that Dad’s gone . . .” Alice’s voice cracked.
“I’d be honored. But first, I’d like you to come with me to check on Miss Woodson and Miss Darling. Olive Woodson’s been sick for several days now. Muriel’s been caring for her at home. Appeared to be a mild case at first, but she took a turn early this morning. Muriel sent young Cooper to fetch me.”
They took Doc’s buggy. Miss Woodson and Miss Darling shared a small cottage on the edge of town and it would be faster than walking. The boy was adamant they should hurry.
Spinsters, the ladies had been friends since childhood. Story around town was, after their betrotheds drowned in the St Croix River during the spring log drive of 1868, they moved in together and vowed to never love again. From that day forward, you never saw one without the other, often walking arm in arm, whispering like schoolgirls. While most people agreed it was an odd relationship for two women of their years, no one begrudged them their friendship after what they’d been through. Alice asked her mother about it once, but her mother only said sometimes things just worked out that way. When Alice asked her what she meant, her mother told her to hush and mind her own concerns. So, she did.
When no one answered their knock, Doc opened the door and called out. “Hello, Miss Darling, it’s Doc Peterson and Alice Armstrong.”
Soft crying led them to the bedroom behind the parlor. They found Muriel Darling lying on the bed, cradling Olive in her arms and stroking her hair. “Oh, my love,” she sobbed. “Whatever shall I do without you?”
Doc pressed his fingers to the side of Miss Woodson’s neck, feeling for a pulse. He looked at Alice and shook his head. She went to Miss Darling’s side.
“Come with me.” She helped the grieving woman to her feet. “Show me where the tea is. I’ll make you a cup.”
“Whatever shall I do without her?” Miss Darling repeated.
Alice sighed. “Whatever shall we do without them?”