The Problem Child (Emerson Pass Historicals 4)

“You’ve woken me, yes. It’s a mother’s instinct. I always wake at the slightest sound. I’ve seen you leaving in the car every morning very early. I assumed you were meeting someone. Fiona reassured me that it’s only Viktor. She said you two are tossing rocks about to get stronger. I can’t imagine why.”

“I’m training for skiing,” I said.

“Skiing? “ Mama’s forehead crinkled in evident confusion. “Why would you need to prepare for skiing? Don’t you just put the skis on and head down the mountain?”

I glanced at Addie. She hadn’t yet returned to her history reading and seemed engrossed in our interchange.

“I’m building my endurance,” I said. “For ski jumping mostly. Viktor’s very good at coming up with ideas to make me stronger.”

“It’s so romantic,” Addie said.

“Romantic? What’s that to do with anything?” I tried not to smile but was unsuccessful.

“Have you finally fallen for Viktor?” Mama peered at me with narrowed eyes. The same look she’d often given me when I was little and she knew I’d been up to no good.

“Don’t look so surprised. Isn’t that what you’ve all wanted me to do?”

Mama smiled. “It is indeed. I’ve been waiting for a long time for you to come to your senses. There’s not a finer man than Viktor.”

“Why do you sound sad then?” Addie asked.

Mama did sound somewhat forlorn.

“Because I’ll be losing another one. Another of my birds flying from the nest.”

And flying off the edge of a mountain.

“Will you be married to him soon?” Addie asked in an excited voice, followed almost immediately by a dipping of her head. Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

“Addie, what’s the matter? I’ll still visit all the time. Like Jo.”

She shook her head. “I might not live to see you in your wedding gown, and that makes me so very sad.”

“Oh, darling.” Mama crumpled like a tissue.

“Addie,” I said. “This is utter nonsense. You’re not dying. Theo and Dr. Neal are very good doctors, and they’re going to make you better. Look how much better you’re feeling today.”

“But people need food to live,” Addie said. “What if I can only eat chicken broth? I’ll not grow round and strong like the rest of you on that alone.”

My sister might be ill, but she wasn’t feeble-minded. She knew the risks and the reality of her illness.

“Your sister’s right, darling.” Mama seemed to have recovered somewhat. She dabbed under eyes. “You simply mustn’t think about anything but how much better you’ll be soon.”

“I’d like to live.” Addie spoke in a small, soft voice that trembled with emotion. “But I’ve always thought I’d leave the world sooner than all of the people I love. Except for Grandmother, of course.”

“You’re not leaving this world before me,” I said. “Or Mama or Papa. You’re going to get strong and outlive us all. How about that?”

“I do so want to live. I want to become a teacher like Mama was. Then I’d like to have a beau and get married and have babies.”

“You’re going to,” I said. Please, God, let it be so. I decided to change the subject and return to Viktor as a way to distract them. “Viktor’s awfully mean to me. You should see the things he makes me do.”

“Like what?” Addie asked.

I described the sprints and the stacking of the rocks. “Today, I had to climb the stairs to the jump at least a thousand times while he sat and watched.”

“That’s funny.” Addie giggled.

“He’s having his revenge on you for tormenting him all these years.” Mama wiped away the remnants of her tears.

“Actually, he’s helping me get strong so I can win.” Why had I said that? Win what? That would be the inevitable question. I was such a big mouth.

“Win?” Mama asked sharply. There it was.

“If I can’t compete in Flynn’s competition, at least I’ll know myself that I could. Viktor’s measuring my jumps.”

Mama touched her fingertips to the bottom of her chin. “I can understand why you’d do that. You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you could beat them all.”

She did understand. I could see it in her mother eyes that peered at me with unconditional love and acceptance. From the very start, Mama had understood me. She’d never tried to make me be someone I wasn’t. “It’s important to me that I know.”

“Yes, I can see that,” Mama said.

“Was there something like that for you, Mama?”

“Teaching. Coming out here all alone. Saving my mother and sister. Doing something only men did. I was quite frightened, but I knew I had to do it.”

“You did. Splendidly,” I said.

“If I hadn’t braved it all, I’d never have found all of you and the life I was meant to live. You keep jumping, my darling. Someday the world will catch up.”

If she only knew what I had planned to shock the world.

Mama got up from the window seat and went to the door. “Cym, come downstairs with me. I’d like a cup of tea. Addie, will you be all right for a moment?”

“Yes, Mama. I’m fine.” Addie returned to her reading.

I followed her out to the hallway.