Eugenia's Embrace

"Nell hasn't any room to tell you anything," Eugenia said firmly. "And anyway, she's got Adam. She doesn't know what it's like to be alone. I think she's forgotten what it was like while living in my house of girls."

"Then you think it is all right?"

Eugenia put a finger to her own lips, kissed it, then placed that finger on Theresa's brow. "Yes. It's all right. Please don't worry."

A light tapping on the door drew Eugenia up from the bed. She looked at Theresa once again as she was rising, smoothing the skirt around her. "Please don't worry. Okay?" she said once again, feeling the same peaceful warmth inside her that this young girl created. A feeling of complete love, so clean, so wholesome. She had kept trying to convince herself that it was just that, clean and wholesome. She turned and opened the door.

"Eugenia," Adam said, looking at Eugenia, then Theresa, and frowning. "I think you'd better come downstairs."

"Why, Adam?" Eugenia asked, looking back at Theresa also. She knew what was in Adam's mind, seeing Theresa in her room. She didn't know if he would ever understand.

"There's someone here to see you," he said.

"I didn't hear a carriage arrive," Eugenia said.

Adam laughed awkwardly. "You were probably too absorbed in your morning's tête-à-tête," he said, again looking toward Theresa.

"Adam, you stop that," Eugenia snapped, curling her hands into two tight fists. This had been the only side of their happy household that could in the end destroy it all if Adam, Nell, and Key didn't begin to understand. Denise did understand. Denise had known only her sister, just the same as Theresa, for so long, until they had been taken in at The Old Homestead Parlour. And Iris? She was so grateful to Eugenia, anything Eugenia did was right.

"Well, what are you waitin' for?" Adam said, his cheeks reddening above his beard. Eugenia knew that she had embarrassed him in front of Theresa, but she didn't care. He had to learn his place. Even though he was a big part of this house, she was still the rightful owner and expected the fullest respect from all who lived under her roof.

"Theresa? Want to come down with me?" Eugenia asked, turning to face her.

"No," Theresa said softly, her eyes watching Adam. "I think I'll just go to my room for now."

"Whatever you say," Eugenia said, then followed behind Adam as they went down the spiral staircase. When she reached the bottom step, she stopped, stunned to see Drew… standing there with a child in his arms; a little girl.

"Drew?" she whispered, feeling lightheaded. She thought she would never see him again. "What are you doing here?" she gasped.

"This is Jessica Marie, Eugenia," he said, straightening a bonnet on her head of tight, black ringlets. "Your niece."

"Jessica Marie?" Eugenia said, going to her, touching her softly on the cheek. She was Drew all over again. With his deep blue eyes, his curly hair, and the same smooth complexion. "My niece?" she said, realizing that the name Jessica Marie was a part of her own name and her Mama's.

"Yes. She's almost two now."

Eugenia's arms ached to hold her, but she saw her clinging tightly to her father's neck. And how sweet she was in her cape of navy blue velvet with black patent leather shoes glistening so brightly one could almost see their reflection shining back at them.

Eugenia's mind went to her sister. She hurried to the door and looked outward. "Where's Elizabeth?" she asked, swinging back around to face Drew. She had long forgotten her resentment of her sister. Elizabeth had been all that was left of Eugenia's family, and Eugenia had wanted to share the rest of her life with her, even if Elizabeth had captured Drew in the most dishonest fashion.

"Can we go in the library and talk?" Drew said, putting Jessica Marie on the floor, removing her cape from around her shoulders and the small hat from her head.

"Why yes," Eugenia said, listening to the clatter of feet as Jessica Marie ran ahead of them. It made her heart swell with pride, realizing that that little girl was a part of her. Her own flesh and blood. But where was Elizabeth?

"Can I get you coffee, or tea?" Eugenia asked as she motioned with her outstretched arm for Drew to go ahead of her into the library. Then she went and stood with her back to the fire.

"Nothing, thanks," Drew said, sitting on a chair. Eugenia watched Jessica Marie climb up on his lap, again wrapping her small arm around his neck, then thrust a thumb of her free hand into her mouth, and turn and stare in wonder at Eugenia.

"Now, tell me. Where's Elizabeth?" Eugenia asked, not liking the expression of bleakness that had seemed to take the blue from Drew's eyes. It was beginning to frighten Eugenia, wondering why he hesitated.

"I have bad news, Eugenia," he began quietly.

"Bad news?" she said, almost inaudibly.

"Elizabeth. She's been dead now for quite some time."

The heartache inside Eugenia was more intolerable than at any other moment in her life. She choked back sobs of desperation. "Elizabeth? Dead?" she whispered, lowering herself down onto a chair. "When? How?"

"During childbirth," Drew said, looking at Jessica Marie. His fingers began to fidget with the white lace that trimmed her pale blue corduroy skirt.