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“A few weeks. But looking back she was tiring more and more easily, since Christmas, and not eating as much. I just didn’t want to see it.”
“You could’ve sent for me sooner.” She was obviously needed, Ellen thought, if just to keep Hamish looking presentable and food on the table. The residents of Seaton had brought hams and casseroles by the barrowful, but Hamish hadn’t seen fit to do much with any of it.
He shrugged again. “Ruth said not to.”
“Don’t you think I would’ve wanted to know? To be here?” Ellen could not keep the hurt from entering her voice, even though she blamed herself. Her actions in the past few years had shown otherwise. She’d only been to Seaton twice in all that time, and the visits had been brief and awkward.
Perhaps they truly believed she wouldn’t have come, wouldn’t have wanted to.
“Ah, Ellen.” Hamish’s voice was thick. “What am I going to do without her? I know she was sharp, and some thought she was cold, but she was dear to me. She was the soul of this store, even if I was the heart. She was my soul.” He wiped his sleeve across his eyes, unashamed. “I don’t know why I loved her so much, I honestly don’t! When I told Douglas that I aimed to marry her, he laughed right out loud. Told me she was too prickly for his taste, and he was right. She is prickly. But you know, after all these years, I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He turned to Ellen, smiling sadly, the traces of tears still visible on his pouchy cheeks. “I wouldn’t have her any other way.”
Ellen knelt in front of her uncle, putting her arms around him. “Of course you wouldn’t, Uncle Hamish. And I wouldn’t either.”
As soon as she spoke the words, Ellen knew them to be true. Aunt Ruth was prickly and difficult and proud. She was hard and stern and strict, and yet she was more. It was only now that Ellen saw it and knew it to be true. A tear slipped down her cheek as Hamish returned her embrace, and she laid her cheek on his shoulder.
The next week saw Ellen occupied with familiar tasks, caring for Ruth who drifted in and out of consciousness, sometimes not noticing Ellen and the small duties she performed, at other times all too aware of Ellen moving quietly in her room, changing sheets or filling the water pitcher, bathing her forehead, bringing clear broth for her to drink.
She watched Ellen with bright, knowing eyes, but rarely spoke, and neither did Ellen.
One afternoon when the heavy weather had broken so the sky was
clear and the air fresh, Hamish told Ellen to take a walk.
“You’ve penned yourself inside all this time, and there’s no need. Ruth is sleeping, and I can be on hand. I know for a fact Louisa Hopper would like to visit with you. She’s here until August, when she goes up to Amherst Island.” From somewhere Hamish found a smile. “What’s that about, then?”
Ellen managed to find a smile as well. “Louisa’s found a beau, Uncle Hamish. I reckon we’ll be hearing wedding bells soon.” She surprised herself by how normally she was able to say it.
“How about that, then!” Hamish slapped his knee. “Another man likes them prickly as well! Go see her, Ellen. I’m sure it will do you good to hear her news.”
Ellen did not really want to hear Louisa’s news, but she knew her uncle meant well. In truth she’d barely given her friend a thought since her return, so occupied had she been with her duties towards Ruth and Hamish. Now she felt a different foreboding fill her, for she didn’t really want to speak with Louisa, not with the memory of their words at the New Year still fresh in her mind.
“Go out, enjoy yourself,” Hamish urged, and Ellen smiled thinly. She would have to see Louisa at some point; perhaps it was best to get it over with. She changed her dress, instinctively smartening herself just a bit, and walked towards Water Street.
Mrs. Hopper answered the door, but this time she greeted Ellen warmly, taking her arm and drawing her forward into the house.
“Ellen, we’ve been so sorrowful to hear about Ruth. The doctor says she isn’t long for this world. Do you think it’s true? I know you’re only a nurse, and in training at that, but...”
“I couldn’t tell you how long it will be,” Ellen answered with quiet dignity. “But we’ll be by her side until she passes.”
“Of course you will,” Mrs. Hopper murmured. “So dedicated, despite you rushing off to Canada like that. I’m sure Louisa will be thrilled to see you. Did you know she is spending all of August on that island? We’ll be coming ourselves at the end of the month, to meet them, and this Jed, of course. Louisa tells me they have one of the most prosperous farms on the island.” Mrs. Hopper’s mouth tightened a bit, and Ellen doubted she liked the idea of her only daughter being courted by a farmer, prosperous or not.
“How very exciting,” Ellen answered with a polite smile. “Louisa did mention it to me, I believe.”
A moment later Louisa came down the stairs, stiffly, a look of caution on her handsome face. She looked older, Ellen saw, and more dignified. All traces of childish bad humor were gone, and she was a young woman indeed, beautiful and proud. No wonder Jed loved her.
Louisa held both her hands out to Ellen, who clasped them in her own with awkward grace. “I’m so glad you came, Ellen.”
“Shall we all take tea in the parlor?” Mrs. Hopper suggested, and Louisa gave a little laugh.
“As delightful as that sounds, Mother, Ellen and I haven’t seen each other in a long while.” She turned to Ellen, her eyes bright. “I know what we’ll do. We’ll go to the soda fountain on Main Street. Have you been, Ellen? It’s new and all the rage.”
“Soda fountain?” Ellen repeated dubiously, and Louisa giggled.
“It’s 1910, you know! You must keep up with the times!”
They didn’t have a chance to speak until they were in Welton’s Druggists, a smart new building with stone steps and ornate iron scrollwork flanking its glass doors. Ellen vaguely remembered that the building there before had been an old brick one, a blacksmith’s whose services were obviously no longer needed.
Louisa pushed confidently through the glass doors, striding towards the back where a row of high, cushioned stools stood in front of a long, marble counter, similar to the one in the general store, save that behind it was a young man in a white apron and cap, and there were rows and rows of taps and bottles.
