Eugenia's Embrace

"You can't mean that," Frederick said thickly.

"Yes. I do mean it. And now I must leave you."

Frederick stood in her way once again, and with trembling fingers he pinned the diamond brooch atop Eugenia's right breast. "Please think of me whenever you wear this, my sweet one," he said, then rushed on ahead of Eugenia and out of the house.

"My God," she said. "What will happen next?" She then rushed up the stairs, taking them two at a time, remembering Dawn, and how ill she was. Oh, please God, she prayed to herself, don't let it end for her tonight. Not on Christmas Eve.

"Alison, go and call the doctor. Fast," she said aloud, hurrying.

The length of the hallway leading to Dawn's room seemed extra long this day as Eugenia made her way down it. When she reached the room, she placed her hand on the doorknob, then hesitated for a moment to take a deep breath. She had to be prepared for anything. She couldn't let Dawn see the fear in her eyes. She had to act as though everything was going to be all right. She opened the door and stepped inside. One fast look toward the bed showed a mere shadow of what was once a vital, beautiful young woman. Eugenia choked back a sob and inched her way across the room until she was at the bedside, looking downward. Her heart ached when she gazed upon the face of grayness, a face that had sunken in to reveal the sharp cheekbones beneath. And how her eyes had darkened around them. Eugenia bent down and touched Dawn's brow. It was so hot. She was burning up with a fever, but she was so pale. "Dawn?" she whispered.

Dawn's eyes opened, but Eugenia could see the glassiness, knowing that Alison had administered a heavier dose of morphine for the increased pain radiating from both Dawn's lungs.

"Eugenia?" Dawn said in a rasp, then took a deep, long breath, making a noise like a rattle emerge from the depths of her lungs. "How… are… the… girls making it?"

It pained Eugenia hearing the words coming so hard for Dawn to speak. She couldn't believe that Dawn had worsened so fast. Right before her eyes. But here she was, so thin, so frail. For some strange reason, Eugenia was now seeing her sister Elizabeth lying there looking upward, pleading. Eugenia shut her eyes and shook her head to clear the thought from her mind. Elizabeth was home and very much alive.

"The girls are having fun, Dawn," Eugenia said, smoothing Dawn's hair back away from her forehead. Then she sat down and took one of Dawn's hands in hers. It was also hot. Eugenia only wished the doctor would hurry. But how would she handle it with Dawn? How could she make Dawn agree to let him into the room? But no matter. She would take it upon herself to have him go against Dawn's wishes. It was only for Dawn's best interest.

"They've decorated the parlor beautifully," Eugenia added, forcing a laugh. "And do you know? They act like a bunch of school girls. It's hard to realize they entertain men in such a fashion."

"Take care of my girls," Dawn said, coughing hard, turning her head away from Eugenia.

"You know I will," Eugenia said, having to keep the tears from surfacing.

"I'm sure I only have a short time," Dawn whispered, breathing deeply once again, moaning softly as the pain took over. The morphine was not even helping now. Eugenia knew that it probably was because Dawn had taken it for so long. It just wouldn't kill the pain as effectively any longer. Not the way that she wanted it to.

"Dawn, I have to tell you something," Eugenia said firmly.

"What… is… it?"

"I've told Alison to call a doctor for you."

Dawn tried to rise, but fell back down into a heap on the bed, gasping for air. "Eugenia… you… know…"

Eugenia covered Dawn's mouth lightly with her hand. "Shhh," she said softly. "It's going to be all right. The doctor will only help, not hurt. I should have forced the issue much sooner than this."

"You… know… I___"

"Yes, my dear," Eugenia soothed. "I know. But please trust me. You know I love you as my own sister, don't you? Don't you know I would do the same for my sister?" Oh, how her heart ached, wanting to do so much more for her, even knowing that she would be willing to trade places with her. She had never seen anyone she loved so near to death before. She wasn't sure if she could stand the inner torment of it. She swung her head around when she heard the door opening. She sighed with relief when she saw Alison direct the doctor into the room. Eugenia squeezed Dawn's hand and looked warmly at her.

"It will be all right," she whispered. "You'll see."

"I love… you… Eugenia," Dawn said as tears began to roll down her cheeks. "Please, always remember that."

"I will," Eugenia said, choking back her own tears. She rose, turned, and faced the doctor, then hurried with Alison from the room.

"Have I done the right thing, Alison?" she worried aloud, pacing back and forth in the hallway, wringing her hands. It was ironic hearing the merriment of the girls down below her. They did not realize that their madam was about to die. Was it fair to them? It was what Dawn had requested. Surely she had to honor one of Dawn's last requests. She had surely not honored Dawn's request about a doctor.

Alison went to Eugenia and placed her arm around her waist. "Eugenia, I know you

've never liked me very much," she said quietly. "But please believe me when I say I know you've done the right thing by Dawn. In every way. And I respect you so for it. Friends?"

Eugenia's eyes blurred with tears as she looked toward Alison, seeing a different person standing at her side. The hardness had been erased from her eyes, and only a deep sadness could be seen. Yes, Alison was being sincere. And Eugenia now knew that she had read her wrong. Even from the beginning. Alison had only done as any other girl would have done for the person she loved. It hadn't been an unclean love. Alison had loved Dawn as a sister. She had even given her daily injections of morphine, had been there when Dawn had needed her. Yes, Eugenia had been wrong about her.

"Friends, Alison," she whispered, hugging Alison to her. Together they began to let their pent-up emotions out, wetting each other's shoulders with torrents of tears. It was a relief for Eugenia to be able to cry, to have someone to fall back on. But then the door to Dawn's room opened, making Eugenia and Alison stand to attention. Eugenia wiped the tears from her eyes and studied the expression on the doctor's face. "Well?" she asked.

"Pneumonia," he said darkly. "She may last the night. Or maybe until tomorrow. It's hard to tell. Even too late to take her to the hospital."