Among the Darkness Stirs

She had diligently reviewed the paper but had not been able to fulfill the task. She heard noises in the other room and moved to join her sister, Frances, who appeared half asleep.

“Audrey,” she said in greeting before taking a thick slice of bread and stuffing it into her mouth.

“Frances,” her mother admonished behind her. “Please remember your manners. You behave like a farmer.”

Frances, duly scolded, quietly took her seat while her mother poured herself a cup of tea.

“Mother, Francie is very young. She doesn’t have to be so proper in her own home, surely.” Audrey winked at her sister.

Augusta cast an eye at Audrey. “I disagree. The home is where manners are taught. Your father was always too lax with you. I won’t be the same with Frances.”

Audrey tried hard but couldn’t resist rolling her eyes.

“And don’t roll your eyes at me. It’s a vulgar habit,” Augusta told her.

Audrey looked away and concentrated on buttering her bread as her mother added a bit of milk to her tea.

“What are your plans today?” her mother asked her.

“I thought perhaps to take a walk and go into town.”

“Excellent. A good brisk walk is good exercise. I don’t want you to put on weight. Men like a trim figure.”

Audrey blushed lightly. “Very well, Mother. I’ll make sure to keep a trim figure for all the many, many men lining up outside our door to marry me,” she returned sarcastically.

“Really? Many, many men?” Frances pipped up, thinking her sister was serious. “Where?”

“Whenever you’re finished, you can be on your way, Audrey,” her mother said coldly.

“Ma’am,” she said and removed herself from the room.

She pulled on her bonnet and tied it under her chin. Her mother could be so hard on her sister, and Audrey tried to fight it when she could. She was lucky her father had been her champion when she was young, but Frances had only her.

She walked along the lane and passed the milkman who was headed to her house. He nodded to her and doffed his cap as she bid him a good morning.

She set out along the path, breathed in the crisp morning air, and grinned in spite of herself. It had been a month since her father’s death, and though she felt his loss keenly, she knew she must move forward. Her sister and mother needed her strength, and she must find a way for them to survive.

The pharmacy sign hung above the front door of the building. The doctor shared a small office at the back of the pharmacy. He brought business and income to them. He had been the doctor in the village for over twenty-five years, and his hours were well known. He was only in the office on Monday and Friday mornings. Otherwise, he was out visiting patients.

Dr. Thomson had been married years before and had brought a woman from the north to the small village. He had been devoted to her and she to him. She had given birth to a stillborn and died a week later. He had never remarried.

He had grown older in the village. He had tried to bring younger doctors in to work alongside him, but the villagers would not have it. The people had been stern that they wanted Dr. Thomson and no other. In the end, Dr. Thomson remained a steadfast force in their small little world.

“Dr. Thomson?” Audrey said as she knocked on the door to his office.

“Come in,” came the response. When she entered, he looked up from his newspaper. “Audrey, my dear, what brings you to see me? Are you unwell?” He gestured to the seat across from his desk.

“No.” She shook her head and took the seat he offered. “I’m not unwell. A little melancholy perhaps.”

“That’s to be expected,” he said, folding the newspaper in half and placing it aside. “Grief is a difficult path to walk. Some people grieve for some time and then move on. Some grieve for a lifetime like our beloved queen for her Prince Albert. It takes time. But time does heal the wounds of the heart. Can I get you a cup of tea?” he asked.

“No, thank you.”

He studied her with his intelligent eyes. “So, tell me. What brings you here?”

Audrey paused and chose her words carefully. “Mother and I went to see our solicitor, Mr. Felton.”

“Old Felty. How was the visit?”