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“Of course.” Dr. Turner reached out to take the pill. “Please give me some water.”

Evan jumped into action and helped his father with the glass. Once the pill was taken, Erik continued with his instructions. “I also brought this.” He pulled out a jar of salve.

Dr. Turner smiled. “Ah, the Richardson’s Magic Croup and Pneumonia Cure Salve. Very good stuff.”

“I believe they’ve changed the name to VapoRub, but I agree it’s very beneficial and want you to use it generously. Hot liquids would also be good. Tea with lemon and honey, chicken broth, although the latter can cause coughing in some cases so go easy.” Erik looked at Evan. “We must make certain to get food down him as well.”

“We will,” Evan assured.

“I promise to do my best,” Dr. Turner offered weakly. “You said you were at Turner House during the storm. Is all going well?”

“Brigette lost her baby. It was hard on Leah. She presumed it was through some lacking in her own abilities. I assured her it had nothing to do with her.”

“It will take time for her to understand and grow into her role there. She’s already come a long way.”

Erik nodded. “I agree. She’s doing a good job, and I told her so.”

“Well, that’s certainly a change of heart on your part.” Dr. Turner fixed him with a curious stare. “What has brought about that change, I wonder?”

Erik put away his things and straightened. “She’s doing things my way,” he said, not yet willing to tell her grandfather and uncle that he was developing feelings for her. “I get along famously with people when they see things my way. You, better than anyone else, should know that.”

Dr. Turner laughed, causing another round of coughing. Erik helped him with a sip of water, and the cough eased. Still, he could see in the older man’s gaze that he was already aware there was much more to the matter than Erik was saying.

“If you send the sleigh for me again tomorrow, around the same time, I will be happy to come out and check up on your father again,” Erik told Evan. “My transportation in the snow is rather limited. I don’t trust our car to make it back and forth.”

“That’s not a problem. I’ll have it there for you every evening until he’s well,” Evan declared. “Now don’t run off. We’ll be having supper at the house in about ten minutes.” He checked his watch. “Yes, exactly ten. I’ll have something sent over for my folks and the staff, but why don’t you join us at the house?”

“If that meets with Dr. Turner’s approval, I’d be glad to join you.”

“It certainly meets with my approval,” Dr. Turner said, but it was clear he was completely worn out from the visit. “Please go and enjoy your evening.”

Leah thought about Erik and all that he’d said as she went to check on Brigette later that night. She’d seen her several times through the afternoon and evening, but now in the still of the night, Leah felt called to go to her.

She found Brigette crying softly into her pillow. She stopped when Leah approached, and though tears continued to stream down her cheeks, she offered welcome. “I’m glad to see you,” Brigette said, struggling to sit up a bit.

Leah quickly placed a pillow behind Brigette for better comfort. “I didn’t want to disturb you but just felt it was important to check on you.”

“I think now that things have settled down, the sadness has come.” Brigette wasn’t much older than Leah, but at the moment she seemed like a little child, lost and alone. “I can’t help but tear up when I think of that poor baby. Dr. Sjolander said it was a boy. A son that was unwanted and unloved.”

“Oh, Brigette.” Leah sat down on the chair by her bed. “That child wasn’t without love. You cared for him and did what was required to bring him life. That alone showed love. You came here rather than go to one of those seedy back-alley clinics where they could have taken him from you. That, too, shows love.”

“But I didn’t want to raise him and be a mother to him. In my selfishness, I wanted nothing to do with him because his father wanted nothing to do with me.”

“Was it that alone, or was it because you knew that you couldn’t provide for him on your own? Or was it because you’d seen how your mother struggled to raise a child without a father?” Leah took her hand. “I believe you wanted only the best for this baby and feared your limitations. To me it was quite unselfish to give him life and then offer to give him to another woman who could not have children, all so that he could have the best possible future.”

Brigette wiped at her cheeks with the edge of her nightgown. “I just feel so sad.”

“Of course you do. And you are more than entitled to grieve this loss. Many won’t understand it, and of course because of your circumstances you want to keep it to yourself. But you needn’t keep it from us. I know about it, and Nurse Foster knows. We care deeply about you and this pain. You can always come to us. Come to me anytime, and I will grieve with you and share your pain.”

Brigette bowed her head. “Thank you. I don’t have words other than these.”

“You don’t need any words. God knows your heart.”

“I heard you lost the baby,” Natasha interrupted from the door. “I don’t know how it is that you have all the good fortune, and I have none. Maybe I should throw myself down the stairs.”

“Natasha, that is quite uncalled for,” Leah said, getting to her feet. “I know you are angry and hurt, but you don’t need to impose those feelings on Brigette. She’s struggling with all of this and doesn’t need to feel your wrath.”

“She should feel happy. She doesn’t have to continue in this lie we’re living.” Natasha had worn nothing but her nightgown, and her pregnancy was very evident. “I hate that I am made to bear this child.”