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“When I had pneumonia three years ago?”
I nodded solemnly.
“Your mother said the boys. What have you done for them?”
“Only simple things. Mrs. Allums says it is good for small children to experience mild illnesses. It makes them stronger when they are older. I just have to be careful not to touch them when they are ill. But if it gets serious, I intervene.”
“Is that what your mother was referring to?” he asked, unimpressed.
“No, sir,” I said, trying not to allow my irritation to show. “She was referring to her own body. After Lydia’s birth, her womb was damaged. She could not carry another babe, or not without putting her own life in danger. I healed her womb.”
I had not known his eyes could grow so round.
“You healed her womb?”
I nodded.
“You were seven when Thomas was born!”
“Yes.”
He fell back into his chair, running a hand down his face. “Did you know what you were doing?” he finally asked.
“No, but Mama did. She asked me to hold her hands and sing to her. That is what I had done for Jane when she had the pox.”
He continued to stare at me like I was a stranger.
“She also hugged me a lot. At first I thought she was simply being affectionate, but I eventually understood.”
He gave me a look.
“I do not mind it, though. I was a little vexed at first. A person does not like to be used for something without their knowledge. But Mama was indeed ill, and there was the entail to think of. I could have done nothing less had I known. And my brothers are very dear to me.”
His eyes suddenly lit up. “That is why the boys always wished for you to hold them! You made them feel better.”
I smiled at him. “Yes, I finally realized that was it as well. A surprising number of babies suffer from stomach upset.”
“Can you tell what ails a person, then?” he asked, now all fascination.
“Not usually, but occasionally the affected area emits heat. This is easier to determine on babies because they are so small. It takes but a moment to run one’s hands over their entire bodies. And of course I can hold them. That is the fastest way to heal someone.”
He sat back again, a shocked look on his face.
“That is what happened with Great Aunt Ida. Her entire body was damaged and the illness was of longstanding. I held her in the night for several hours. It worked very well. I was nervous to try it, but I had experimented on Jane the week before when she had a cold, so I knew my theory was sound.”
My father was staring at me now, his eyes glowing in a way I had never seen before.
“Why do you look at me so?” I asked tentatively.
He shook his head. “I am shocked. And fascinated. And rather curious, to be honest, but also doubtful. It is a strange combination.”
I laughed. “I understand you completely. When I was old enough to understand how strange it was, I was in quite a state for nearly a week. But I have always had this gift, so it is not so strange to me. I can imagine it is very odd for you to hear.”
“It is. But do not worry, Lizzy. Your secret is safe with me.”
“I had no worries, Papa. You are my father. You will always protect me.” I stood and leaned over his chair to kiss his forehead, pretending not to see the doubt that flashed across his features.
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