“Don’t worry. I’m happy to stay. I slept a little on the sofa. Mr. Harrison said it was all right to do when I had to be here all night.” He quickly added the latter explanation.
“I’m completely fine with that idea,” she assured the boy. “I sleep in my room when it’s my turn to keep the hotel at night. Uncle Harrison put that bell in place,” she said, pointing to the pull, “for that very reason. It’s quite a loud bell.”
Manuel smiled. “I’m glad you do not mind my sleeping.”
“Do you have a lot of people to tend this morning?” Susanna noted it was nearly six-thirty.
“No. There are only two guests, and they’re staying until Saturday.”
Susanna nodded, feeling relieved. “I’ll be at my parents’ house. Just send someone to us if you need anything.”
He nodded. “We will be fine. You’ll see.” He smiled, revealing crooked teeth. “Tina and I are praying for your family.”
“Thank you, Manuel.”
Owen opened one of the double doors and ushered Susanna outside. The day was pleasant, with clear blue skies overhead. All around them, the town was waking up and coming to life, and Susanna couldn’t help but smile. She really liked this little town. The summer heat wasn’t so very bad—at least not if one could escape into a nice adobe house. Of course, she hadn’t tried the winter here, and others had warned her it could get quite cold. But surely no worse than Kansas.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Owen said as they approached the house. “Are you worried about what you’ll find?”
“I suppose I’m anxious, not really worried. I just want to know for myself how things have gone. When Mark was dying, I would fall asleep on the fainting couch in the corner of the room. Each time I woke up, it was with that same sort of anxious curiosity. I wasn’t really worried about knowing the truth. I just wanted to get it over with.”
They knocked on the door, and then Susanna walked inside.
“Father, it’s me.”
He sat at the table, drinking black coffee, as Susanna knew he had done most every morning. He looked surprised to see her.
“You should still be sleeping. You’ve hardly been gone six hours.”
“I know, but I wanted to see how Mother was doing.”
He smiled. “The doctor was here at five thirty. Blessed man, I didn’t know anyone made house calls that early. He said her fever has dropped considerably. He believes she’s turned a corner and will recover if we are devoted to getting her through this.”
“Of course we are.” Susanna was almost offended that the doctor would even question such a thing. Then again, maybe it had been whispered around town that their family was enduring a difficult time with one another. Susanna hoped not.
“That’s exactly what I told him.”
“I’m going to see her,” Susanna said, looking to Owen and then her father.
“Go. No one will stop you,” Father replied. “I’m sure your presence will be good for her.”
Susanna passed into the room and listened to her mother’s labored breaths. Perhaps they were a little easier, but she was still very sick. Sitting in the chair beside the bed, Susanna took her mother’s hand and pressed it to her cheek. She had never felt close to her mother. Was it too late? Could they rekindle their relationship and make a fresh start?
“Susanna,” a barely audible whisper sounded. Her mother’s eyes opened.
“Mother! How are you feeling?”
“Tired.”
“Of course. Your body has been fighting off the pneumonia. The doctor says you’ve taken a turn for the better. Isn’t that wonderful?” She smiled as she lowered her mother’s hand back to the bed. “You still have a long way to go to fully recover, but we will be here to see you through.”
Her mother offered a weak smile. Her entire countenance seemed different to Susanna. It suggested Mother really had made her peace with God.
A coughing fit started, and Susanna quickly raised her mother forward and began pounding on her back with the flat of her palm. The doctor had mentioned that it could help loosen the mucus, and Susanna wanted to do whatever she could to make matters better.
Father came into the room. “Do you need help?”
“No, I’m fine. Mother woke up, and the coughing started.”
“The doctor is bringing something over today if it arrives. It’s something to put out medicine for your mother to breathe.”
Susanna shook her head. “How is that done?”
“It’s some sort of steam machine. I can’t remember what the mechanism is called, but apparently there’s a way to heat the water in the container, which then sends the steam into another chamber where the medicine is kept. Then the patient breathes in the steam. He said this will open her lungs and let her breathe easier. He ordered it several days ago, even though I said I wasn’t sure I could pay. It’s very expensive.”
“You needn’t worry about that, Father. I’ll pay whatever it costs.”
“And if she can’t, I will,” Owen said from the door. “We’re family now, or very nearly.”
Mother stopped coughing and signaled Susanna to let her lie back down. Susanna first plumped the pillows, then eased her mother back.
“Is that better?” she asked.
“Much,” Mother replied with another cough.
“I think, since things are better, I’ll head over to work,” Owen said. “You should have some time together as a family, without other people around. This was a real close call, and it makes a person rethink things.”
Susanna nodded. “It does. Thank you, Owen, for being here for my family and for me. I’ll walk you to the door.”
“No. You stay here with your mother. I’m just fine.”
Susanna didn’t protest. She remained at her mother’s side. Father brought a chair in from the other room and sat beside Susanna.
Gladys gave a very slow shake of her head. “I’ve made . . . such a mess . . . of things. I’m sorry.”
Father nodded. “I’ve made terrible decisions, and my mess is just as big. I’m sorry, as well.”
Susanna almost felt like an intruder. Her parents were fixated on each other, but given the placement of her father’s chair, she couldn’t get up and leave. With no other choice, she sat with her head bowed, quietly looking at her folded hands. That they were admitting their past mistakes gave Susanna hope, and she found herself praying for them both.
Owen began working on the latest project at the shops. He found it impossible, however, to keep his mind on his work. He was blessed to know that Mrs. Ragsdale was better. That would raise Susanna’s spirits and, in turn, raise his own.
He suppressed a yawn and went in search of the stays he would need to repair this particular boiler. That would be just the first part of this job. They would also need to replace the firebox. It would definitely require his complete attention, so he needed to clear the cobwebs from his head now.
“Owen, you looked exhausted,” LeRoy told him as they crossed paths.
“I am. I was supposed to take today off. Susanna’s mother has been quite ill, as you know, so I was up until past midnight. I had a room at the hotel but couldn’t sleep much.”