Whatever Tomorrow Brings (The Californians 1) (5 page)

"We've needed a break for a long time, Maureen, you're aware of that. But every time we planned to come back to the states the plans were interrupted. With Theresa feeling the way she does, we knew it was time to come back. We need to see a doctor while we're here."

"Theresa," Maureen said gently, even as hope burgeoned within her that this was not as serious as it seemed, "did you think of your age? I mean, the changes a woman goes through? I hear it's a little different for everyone."

"I've heard the same thing, Maureen, but I've never heard of anyone developing sharp chest pains and a dry cough."

"You have a cough?" The words were almost whispered as the older woman's hopes faded quickly.

"A dry cough and every afternoon and on into the night I run a fever. It keeps me awake. I don't think the children suspect anything, although I feel more burdened every day to tell Kate and Sean."

They talked for another hour and Maureen went off to bed with a heavy heart. Her hopes had been dashed so quickly in the face of Theresa's cough and fevers. For the first time in many years, Maureen Kent was terrified.

Kaitlin woke up the next morning when Marcail climbed into bed with her.

"I'm freezing, Katie," the little girl's teeth chattered and Kate pulled her close. They lay in the quiet house and listened to the rain hitting the windowsill.

The previous afternoon they had come into a cloudy San Francisco and thought it chilly. They realized now that yesterday had been warm compared to this cold-toyour-bones feeling brought on by the rain.

"Katie?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you miss Hawaii?"

"Not yet, but I'm sure I will."

"I miss Loni."

"She probably misses you, too. You can write her, you know."

They fell silent and dozed off. They woke again when Sean lightly tapped on their door and came in. Seeing that Marcail's bed was vacant, he slid slowly beneath the covers, shivering all the while.

"It's freezing here," he said in a tired voice. "I thought California was sunny."

"Not in February," Kaitlin said. "How do you feel?"

'A little better. I'm weak, but that's probably because I'm starving,"

"You're always starving." Marcail stated.

"That's true," Sean answered in his logical way. "This is a big room," he added.

"What's yours like?" his little sister wanted to know.

"It's big too, everything is black and gold." Sean looked around the green and white room that belonged to the girls with some envy. His own room was dark and gloomy. The room belonged to his cousin Percy, and he would never have complained. Actually, he was very thankful. The bed was the most comfortable one he'd ever slept in. A small shudder went through him as he remembered the nightmarish days aboard ship in that tiny bunk. The return voyage popped into his head and he stubbornly pushed it away.

Everyone took things slowly at first and by the third day all were well rested.

Maureen had come to some decisions on the first night and had already begun to act upon them. She was going to take care of this family. She was going to see Sean on his feet doing things with other boys his age, and she was going to get a playmate for Marcail. Kaitlin, with her looks, well, it would be no trouble finding a few young men to escort her around town. That would give her plenty of time to take care of Theresa.

Why, her brother and sister-in-law were a team, she couldn't let anything separate them! In fact with no cleaning and cooking to do, Maureen could already see that Theresa was feeling better. Maureen had sent for the doctor and he arrived shortly after breakfast. As she paced in the upstairs hallway outside of her brother's room all these thoughts ran through her mind. Both he and Theresa were in there with the doctor. Maureen wondered how long she would be able to stand the suspense.

"Did you notice anything, Sean? I mean, did you think mother was sick? I know she's had a cough, but I just thought it was that cold hanging on." Kaitlin looked stricken and Sean felt helpless as he shook his head.

That morning while Marcail was playing in the kitchen, Patrick and Theresa had sat their oldest children down and told them that a doctor was coming to see Theresa because she hadn't been well.

Kate and Sean had said little as their father spoke and now questions came to mind almost faster than they could handle. How sick was she? When did it start? Who is this doctor? Is this why we came to California?

The questions filled their minds again and again, even as they knew they would have to wait for their answers. And as they both tried to pray, Doctor Weston was asking his own set of questions.

"How old are you, Mrs. Donovan?"

"Thirty-nine."

"Have you normally enjoyed good health?"

Theresa looked up at Patrick who stood by her chair. It wasn't that it was a difficult question to answer, it was just something they'd never thought much about.

"We're hesitating, Dr. Weston, I think, because we have enjoyed such good health. Theresa was sick with the pregnancies but, I think as a whole, the five of us have all been very healthy and obviously taking it for granted."

"How many times have you been pregnant?"

"Three."

"But you were always up and about soon after?"

"Sean's was the most difficult, but even then I bounced right back."

Doctor Weston was very thorough. He asked about Theresa's family history, her grandparent's deaths, her parents' deaths and the deaths of any siblings. At times he only nodded and made notes; other times he wanted specifics.

Theresa explained to him that she'd caught a slight cold last fall and had not been able to shake it off. She told him of her reccurring fever and how hot she was at night. When she told of her dry cough, his face went from concerned to grave. Patrick's heart began to pound in his chest as he prayed.

"Do you ever cough up anything?"

"Not until we were on the ship traveling here. I coughed up some blood." The words were whispered.

"Theresa!" Patrick's voice was pained.

"You were so sick, Patrick," tears came to Theresa's eyes as she spoke. "It was just a little blood and you had enough to worry about. I didn't want to do anything to spoil our trip."

Patrick's arms were around his wife and Dr. Weston walked over to the window to give them some privacy.

Paul Weston had known Maureen Kent for years. When she'd asked him to come and see her sister-in-law, he'd cut into his busy schedule and came without delay.

Fifteen years ago he'd have told Mrs. Donovan she had consumption. But they had a name for her ailment now, not that it did any good. Theresa Donovan had tuberculosis, and if she was coughing up blood there was probably little he could do for her. He turned away from the window to tell the Donovans his prognosis, wishing all the time that he'd been out of town when Maureen's note arrived.

eight

"You would think I was already dead by the way you're all acting." Theresa Donovan's family looked at her in utter shock when she spoke these words from the doorway of the library.

"I've had to wait for a time when we were all gathered without Marcail to speak with you. I know I've shocked you but I'm still here and I don't want to see my family in mourning."

Theresa stopped to give them all a few moments to digest what she had said. Doctor Weston's news was over a week old and after lunch everyone had moved to the library, a room as elegant as the rest of the house, to stare at the fire as they'd done every day since the man left.

"We just want you to be comfortable, Theresa, and not overdo." Father cleared his throat when Theresa gave him a stern look.

"I'm not yet an invalid, Patrick, and I think I can gauge when I need to rest. Now, I've faced facts and the first fact is that I won't be returning to Hawaii with you. Secondly, Marcail is going to be nine years old in two weeks and not one plan has been made for her birthday. And finally, all of San Francisco is waiting to be explored and if you won't go sight-seeing with me, well, I'll go by myself!"

"But mother! We thought you were feeling sick and we-" Sean's voice was so young and confused that the anger drained completely out of his mother.

"Please, all of you listen to me." Theresa's eyes moved to each one, Patrick, Sean, Kaitlin and Maureen, holding their gaze for just a moment before going on softly. "I have times when I feel quite good and all of you know that. Just sitting around and waiting for my fever to go up in the afternoon accomplishes nothing. Starting tomorrow I would like to begin going out. I want us to start with a tour of the city if it isn't raining. We shall take each day as it comes. Now, are you with me?"

"Of course we're with you, Love," Patrick spoke as his arms surrounded her slight frame. "Please forgive me for treating you too fragiley. Fragiley? Is that a word?"

Everyone laughed and they all talked about what they wanted to do in the days to come. As Theresa made her way out of the room to lay down for a rest, she gave them some words that would long live in their hearts.

"We need to thank God for this thing He has brought into our lives. It's a precious gift that He's given us by allowing us to know what's wrong with me. So many die without warning. This way we can have special times and you'll have memories to hold close in the days to come when things look black.