Loren realized he must look quite idiotic in the presence of this obviously sophisticated lady, as he stood with his mouth open but no words coming from it!
"How do you do?" Daphne asked again, a bemused smile playing across her face.
"Oh, fine, Ma'am. I'm Loren Bray, the owner of this here establishment."
Obviously, grammatical structure had eluded him as well!
"I'm Daphne Bell," she introduced.
Bell...Bell.."Say, we have a doctor in town named Bell. Must be a common last name."
"Actually, he's my son."
"Really? Your son? Well, he's a very fine doctor."
Daphne and Loren then got into a conversation, so totally engrossed that they did not see Gretta take two steps into the mercantile, see who was standing at the counter and flee, almost as if for her life.
The next two days passed in a similar fashion in Philadelphia. Colleen went back to classes as planned, happy at last to absorb herself into something. She was, miraculously, able to concentrate.
Things all changed three nights later. Andrew was awake, having sworn off his nightly painkillers, an action he was seriously regretting at the moment. He saw his wife go from a peaceful sleep next to him into thrashing all over the bed, crying out incomprehensible words in her sleep. Colleen suddenly sat straight up in bed and yelled out "NO!!!"
"Colleen, Colleen! Wake up! Darling, you're dreaming!" Andrew said, trying desperately to rouse her.
She woke up, and looked around in bewilderment, until she saw Andrew next to her, wide-awake. She started to cry for what seemed the millionth time since the start of the whole ordeal. Andrew held her close, vowing not to let her go until she told him exactly what she had been hiding. And this time, she would.
Alexandra sat up in bed when she heard Colleen's cry. She waited a moment to see if she could hear anything else. Not hearing another sound, she resisted her urge to investigate and closed her eyes again.
Alexandra and Nathaniel had just gotten to sleep, fairly late that night, when Mrs. Brenner's kid brother pounded on the front door. "Marie's havin' the baby!" The 15-year-old shouted, and Dr. Pennington was up and out of there in minutes. Marie Brenner had been one of Andrew's patients, but obviously, Andrew was in no condition to deliver the baby...
Although Nathaniel had told Alexandra not to wait up, she just couldn't get back to sleep. She was worried about Colleen and Andrew...as well as her sister Erin. Catherine was still not speaking to Alexandra or Erin, and she was also giving Charles a hard time for continuing to visit his daughters daily.
Alexandra put on her robe, and was about to go fix herself some tea. She opened the bedroom door and was startled to see Erin getting ready to knock upon it.
"Aria!" Alexandra cried. "Are you all right? Couldn't you sleep?"
Erin looked down at her feet. "Oh Sasha..." She said, softly, "Can we talk?"
Andrew continued to hold Colleen. Soon, she began to calm a little.
"Oh, Andrew!" she said, finally. "I was so frightened. He..he..." she began to tremble.
"Did he...hurt you, Colleen?"
Andrew felt his rage against Patrick Collins rising, but he kept it in check for Colleen's sake.
"No...he never touched me, Andrew, I swear it...but..." She began to sob again.
Andrew simply held her until she regained enough composure to continue. "He said he'd kill you, Andrew...that I'd be a...a widow."
"But he didn't kill me, Colleen." Andrew comforted. "I'm right here, where I'll always be..."
"You can't promise me you won't die, Andrew..." Colleen said softly.
"No one can...I know." Andrew replied, "but I can promise you, I will love you, honor you, cherish you...as long as I live...I already have..."
"I love you Andrew." Colleen whispered. For now, that was enough. They would still have to talk more about their experience, but Andrew's reassurance allowed them to finally sleep that night.
Alexandra and Erin went downstairs and made tea. They then brought it up to Erin's room, where Alexandra urged Erin to sit up in bed, while she sat in a chair.
"What's wrong, Aria?" Alexandra asked.
Erin responded. "It's Mama. I don't know how you survived...two years without speaking...do you think she'll really do that to me as well? I won't give up my dream... I won't! But it's such an empty feeling."
Erin began to cry. Alexandra held her sister.
"I won't pretend it was easy, but then, I always had my husband...and he was enough, if it had to be that way..."
"That's just it!" Erin cried, "You have Nathaniel...I have no one!"
Alexandra was speechless for a moment. She remembered a time when she thought she was all alone.
"No, Aria, that's not true. You have both of us, and you have Father. And soon, when you're ready, someone will come into your life to share it as well! Never let yourself be alone when you don't have to!"
Erin knew that what her sister said was true, and that reassured her somewhat, but she was still feeling a bit lonely..."Thank you for being such a good sister!" Erin said finally.
"Thank you dear, Aria. And don't worry, Mama will come back to you...I know it!"
Erin and Alexandra embraced and quietly waited for Nathaniel to come home.
Early the next morning, Nathaniel arrived in time to change and then go on to the clinic for the rest of the day. Although he hadn't slept, he felt he could handle his responsibilities there. Nothing he hadn't done before. He found Alexandra sleeping in the chair in Erin's room so he left her a note before he left again.
A couple of hours later, Colleen and Andrew woke up in each other's arms. For the first time in a long while, neither one had been troubled by nightmares. They both felt much better about life in general. There was still plenty to be worked through, but now the lines of communication were open again. They could now truly begin to heal.
In Colorado Springs, Daphne had been, surprisingly, really enjoying the attentions paid her by Loren Bray.
At first she thought he was just another ignorant small town character...but that was not entirely the case....He was certainly more intelligent than he looked. Daphne could perhaps come to like it here...
Daphne was now ready to inform her son of her presence and was on her way to the Chateau clinic when somebody called out, "Mrs. Bell!"
Daphne turned around. "Mrs. Bell! How nice of you to come and visit! I've heard so many wonderful things about you, not only by your reputation, but from your wonderful son!" Daphne smiled. It was Gilda St. Clair.
Michaela had been watching the kind and loving way Gretta had been treating Katie. She almost felt bad about having contacted Nicholous Ryan. However, the truth needed to come out. She wondered when he would be arriving. She hoped things would all work out for the best. Sully came into the room.
"Michaela!" he called. "I think you need to see this. It's another telegram from Nicholous Ryan."
Colleen and Erin were back from classes later that day. Charles had been visiting with Alexandra and Andrew. Nathaniel had come home, feeling slightly unwell from lack of sleep, but was nonetheless playing the charming host, when someone came to the door. An uncomfortable hush fell over the group. It was Catherine Harrison.
Catherine didn't waste any time with greetings; she simply got right to her point.
"Erin, pack your things. You're coming home now."
"Are you willing to accept my decision to go to medical school?" Erin asked carefully.
"I refuse to discuss the subject."
"Then I refuse to come home," Erin said calmly, sitting back in her chair.
"Erin Tatiana Harrison, I've had quite enough of your impertinence, young lady!" Catherine yelled.
"Mama, I am not a "young lady" anymore. Like it or not, I can make my own decisions," Erin said quietly. She had already made up her mind to keep her famous temper in check, but it was getting increasingly difficult!
"I can't believe you are encouraging this...this nonsense! Both of you!" Catherine said, addressing her husband and her older daughter.
"No, Catherine, I can't believe you are continuing to go on like this! Erin has made a choice. We all know you disapprove, you've made that bluntly clear. But like it or not, you have to accept it. Now, we are going home. Aria, Sasha, thank you for tea. I'll see you later. Catherine." Charles firmly took his wife's elbow and led her to the door before she could cause any more trouble.
Alexandra looked over to her sister. "I'm proud of you, Aria. You didn't lose your temper."
"Ohhh, I could just scream!" Erin fumed, looking at the door.
Colleen looked up from the desk where she sat, doing her homework, over to Andrew's bed. He was napping.
She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. A full day of classes had really worn her out. Tiredly, she finished up the last of her studying, put her books away and curled up on the bed next to Andrew for a well-deserved rest. God willing, she hoped she could finally sleep with ease that night. She hoped and prayed that the nightmare was ending.
Daphne finally managed to disengage herself from Gilda's seemingly endless chatter and continue on to her room. After removing her traveling costume in favor of a cooler muslin gown and freshening up a bit, she made her way back to the clinic.
"Come in," Dr. Bell addressed the knock at the door. He stared at the figure standing in the doorway when he turned.
"Mother!"
"Ah! You still know me! Wonderful!" Daphne said, "Now don't just stand there staring, Ryan...come and greet me properly!"
Dr. Bell was speechless...he never knew what to expect from his mother, especially since his father had passed away.
"Mother!" He repeated, this time warmly embracing Daphne..."...as a good son should!" he could hear her say..."I didn't think you were coming till Christmas, Mother. This is a surprise! A pleasant surprise indeed!" Ryan said, really meaning it.
"Well, I really couldn't wait." Daphne said. "You had me terribly curious. I wondered what kind of place this could be, that you could tell your uncle where you were going, but not your own mother."
A slight edge crept into her voice before she could check it.
"Oh, Mother." Ryan said, "I didn't want to worry you...somebody had to know my whereabouts, who better than Uncle Nathaniel...I knew he'd probably tell you, but I was also afraid you wouldn't approve."
Daphne responded, "Well, it's not so much that I wouldn't have approved...although I didn't...and I'm not sure I do now. That remains to be seen. But you hurt me, Ryan. You didn't trust me with your plans...I thought I'd been a good mother to you!"
Daphne pouted slightly, knowing full well that her son could never stand to see her cry.
"I'm sorry, Mother." Ryan said, "Next time I decide to leave town, I will tell you...will you forgive me?"
Daphne paused for a moment...just to make Ryan squirm.."Of course I forgive you, son. I love you!"
Ryan smiled. "And I love you too. Have you had dinner yet?"
Daphne smiled, "Well, no...but I am meeting that dear Mr. Bray at Grace's tonight...I'm sure he won't mind if you come along!"
"Loren Bray?" Ryan thought, "This should be interesting."
"Well? Do you want to join us, dear?" Daphne asked.
"Wouldn't miss it!" Ryan said, as he followed his mother out the door.
"But you didn't scream, Aria!" Alexandra smiled.
"That's the point! You stood up to Mama, and maintained your dignity. My little sister is growing up! I only wish my husband had been awake to see it...poor thing.." she continued in a melodramatic tone..."He would have been so proud..."
Nathaniel was sitting back in one of the chairs, sound asleep, exactly where he had been since shortly after Catherine's arrival. He had somehow missed the entire argument.
It was just as well, Alexandra thought...Erin laughed. Sasha could always make her laugh.
"Well, I guess I'll just leave you alone then...I have plenty of studying to do! Thanks again...I love you, Sasha!"
Erin went up to her room. Alexandra woke Nathaniel long enough to put him to bed. She told him all about Catherine's visit, although she was certain she'd have to tell him again tomorrow, then got ready for bed herself. It had been a long day. She hoped tomorrow would be better.
In Philadelphia, the next few days passed uneventfully.
Andrew's leg was well on the mend. He and Colleen had had some serious discussions and were even closer than they had been before.
Andrew decided it best to rent a small flat for the two of them that was closer to the office and Colleen's school.
As much as he loved Mrs. White, the "nesting bug" had bitten both of them and Colleen was anxious to start her own home.
Catherine continued to remain aloof to both of her daughters, but Charles put up with it less. Erin kept her temper and Alexandra kept her sanity. Nathaniel's workload evened out. The elder Cooks returned to their Boston home, and Clara remained on in her hotel penthouse. As Alexandra had hoped, things were getting better.
Long after Katie had gone to bed, Gretta sat up in the rocking chair in Colleen's room, fretting.
Like it or not, her past was slowly but surely catching up with her. She had been a fool to think that she could run from it!
With a sad sigh, she reached under her nightdress to feel the chain that held her wedding band. She had worn it there ever since the train wreck.
And Ryan. What in the world was she going to do about Ryan?
She thought back to three years previously; a much simpler time. Ryan had been sent to visit cousins of his, one of which was Gretta's best friend Heidi. The two had met and had fallen into a simple summer crush.
That was it. After three months, he returned to the States, and she to school.
She remembered with a shudder the encounter she had with his mother when she came to get her son. Daphne hated her. Gretta had no idea why!
Still, after Ryan left and his letters dwindled, she forgot him. Then, she had met up with him when she came to America for the first time. It was he who had held her sobbing when she poured out the story - the WHOLE story as she lay in the hospital bed suffering from the ill effects from the horrendous journey. Then, she had simply disappeared. And now, here he was again! She shook her head in despair. What on earth was she to do?
Michaela was slowly getting ready for bed. She had just finished turning off all the lights downstairs and was passing down the hallway. A dim light peeping out from the crack at Gretta's door made her stop.
"Gretta?" Michaela whispered. She quietly waited for a response.
"Umm...I'm just about ready to go to bed." Gretta's voice was very soft and anxious. She sounded almost worried.
"Okay. Good night." Michaela walked off, her forehead knitting in worry. She wasn't so sure how Gretta was reacting to the fact that Nicholous Ryan knew where she was. She wasn't even sure how Gretta would react to his recent telegram.
Michaela closed her eyes and sighed. It wasn't good news. She and Sully had read it over and over again. Nicholous Ryan wanted them to watch Gretta every minute until he arrived there. He was coming to take her home to her painful past.
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