ANDREW THREW THE clinic door open and was not prepared for the sight before him. Bloody strips of cloth were scattered all over the floor and Christine was trying to hold Gwen down. Michael was filling a syringe with some form of medication.
“Hold her down, Christine,” Stephen bellowed.
“I’m trying,” Christine responded.
“What the hell are you doing to my wife?” Andrew yelled. “Get your goddamn hands off her!”
Stephen turned calmly to face him. “Andrew. We need your help. Gwen is reacting to the pain, but not completely lucid, and we need you to hold her down. I’m finishing the stitches now and then we’ll be done, but if we can’t keep her still, she’ll rip open her wound.”
“I’ll help,” Jamie offered.
They made their way to the table and Andrew thought he might be sick. There was blood everywhere and other than a draping across her upper thighs and lower abdomen, his wife was naked and lying on the table like a pagan offering.
“You can’t see her like this,” Andrew said to Jamie.
“I’ll cover her,” Christine said and grabbed a sheet to place over Gwen’s chest.
Gwen screamed again and Andrew rushed to her side. He stroked her cheek and whispered in her ear as he held one shoulder down and Christine held the other. Jamie grabbed her ankles and did his best to keep her legs still.
Andrew kissed her forehead. “Beautiful girl, I’m here. I know it hurts and Stephen is very sorry about that. He needs to fix you. He just has a few more stitches to finish and it’s going to hurt, but I need you to be brave. Be brave sweetheart, for me.”
She calmed instantly at his voice. Michael made his way to her side with the syringe.
“What is that?” Andrew asked.
“It’s morphine. It will help,” Michael found her vein and pushed the plunger.
Gwen’s breathing began to slow and her body was no longer tense. Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief until Stephen stuck the needle in her flesh and then she screamed again.
“Wait! Stop,” Andrew said with tears filling his eyes. “Do something.”
“I don’t want to use chloroform. I just have three stitches, Andrew. Seriously, less than five minutes,” Stephen said.
“Gwen. Listen to my voice, beautiful. It’s almost over.”
Steven stuck the needle in and she screamed again.
“Hurry!” Andrew bellowed, and Stephen did.
She screamed one more time and then it was over. She fell back, unconscious, and Stephen cut the thread with scissors. Christine moved around the room, picking up the bloody bandages and putting them in a bowl. They would be taken out back to the fire pit and burned.
Stephen placed a poultice Michael had prepared across Gwen’s stitches. He wrapped a long strip of cloth around her waist to keep the square in place. When he was satisfied it wouldn’t move, he secured it with a pin.
“I really wish we had a stretcher,” Stephen said.
“We could use a sheet,” Jamie suggested. “The four of us could carry her and keep her straight.”
“I’ll grab one.” Christine rushed into the hallway, returning a few minutes later with the linen.
“She needs to be covered,” Andrew said.
“I brought an extra sheet.” Christine wrapped Gwen securely before they moved her. The men lifted her and moved slowly out the door. They almost ran into Charity, who was hovering in the hallway, Richard beside her, doing his best to comfort her.
“Is she all right?” Charity asked, obviously terrified.
“The worst is over, but we need to get her upstairs quickly,” Christine said gently.
Charity nodded and Richard pulled her into his embrace so the group could pass.
The men carried Gwen up the stairs. They put her in the bedroom at the top of the stairs. Sophie was waiting for them and pulled the covers back so that they could place her between the cool sheets. Michael, Jamie, and Stephen left the room so that the blankets could be removed in private.
“She needs a nightgown,” Andrew said.
Sophie shook her head. “She’ll get too hot, and Stephen needs access to her wound.”
Andrew frowned. “She hates to sleep without a nightgown.”
“I know, but she has to,” Sophie said.
“She’ll be mortified,” Andrew whispered.
“No one but you will see her,” Sophie said and patted his arm. “I promise.”
He nodded and pulled a chair next to the bed.
“We’ll leave for now, but will check on you shortly. You still need to eat, so we’ll bring you a tray,” Christine said, and the girls walked out the door.
Andrew placed his hand on Gwen’s forearm and squeezed gently. “You gave us quite a scare, beautiful. You need to wake up now and apologize. I need to know you’re going to be fine.” He took her hand and gently lifted it to his lips. “Please wake up, sweetheart. I need to see those beautiful eyes.” He kissed her palm. “Gwen, please, sweetheart. Open your eyes.”
“Drew?”
He turned to see his sister had slipped into the room. He stood and hugged her. “How are you, Liza? I’m sorry I didn’t ask before.”
“I’m well. How is Gwen?”
“I don’t know. She’s still unconscious.”
“Andrew?” Elizabeth whispered. “Do you really blame Adam?”
He deflected the question. “Did they hurt you? In any way? Did they hurt Gwen?”
“No, not at all. We were fed well and no one laid a hand on us,” she said. “Answer my question.”
Andrew let out the breath he had been holding. “I want to kill him.”
“Adam?”
He didn’t say anything for several seconds. “Among others,” he grumbled.
Elizabeth wrung her hands. “You can’t blame him, Drew.”
“He should have taken the threat seriously.”
Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears. “So should you!”
“You should go home and be with your family,” Andrew said.
“You’re my family too, little brother.”
Andrew sat next to Gwen again. “Go home, Liza.”
Elizabeth laid her fingers over her mouth. “Andrew, don’t do this.”
“Your boys will want to know their mama is safe.”
“Andrew, you must forgive him.”
“Liza.” He dragged his hands down his face. “I will eventually. Just go home. I have Teeny and Nona close and I have a feeling Mama’s not far away.”
“You’re right. She’s downstairs, pacing the foyer.”
He grimaced. “See?”
“I’ll come back first thing in the morning.”
“Don’t, Liza. Please. Spend time with…” he stalled. “He needs you more right now, but we will let you know if anything changes.”
“You can’t even say his name?”
“Liza, go home.”
She closed the distance between them. “All right, Drew. I’ll go. However, I’m returning at lunchtime. No arguments.”
Once she left the room, he kissed Gwen’s hand again and hoped for more time alone with her, but that didn’t happen. Less than ten minutes later, Christopher knocked on the door and opened it when Andrew bid.
“How is she?” he asked.
“No change,” Andrew said.
“Your mother has insisted you eat. May I sit with her for a little while?” Christopher stared down at his sister, pain written in the tight features of his face. Andrew hesitated. Christopher glanced back at Andrew. “I will call for you if anything changes. I promise.”
“Drew,” he heard his mother call from the hallway.
He sighed and let Christopher take over the vigil. He left the room and made his way downstairs.
“How is she, dear?” Miriam asked.
“I don’t know, Mama. She hasn’t awakened yet.”
His mother squeezed his arm. “How frightened you must be. Please come and eat something and then you may return to her quickly.”
Andrew nodded and followed his mother into the dining room where everyone seemed to be talking at once. As soon as they saw him, the room went silent.
“No change,” he said as he sat down.
The last thing he wanted to do was be in the company of people, but he tried to remind himself that they were his family and all they wanted to do was be a support. Nona put a plate of food in front of him and Christine handed him a glass of water.
“It’s almost three in the morning. Why aren’t you all asleep?” he asked.
“We all tried.” Jamie shrugged. “Didn’t work.”
“Except Emma,” Sophie added. “She’s in the parlor on the couch. We forced Hannah to lie down on the other one and I think she may have been able to fall asleep, but she probably won’t stay that way for long.”
“Would you like some time alone, Andrew, or are you okay with us being with you?” Jamie asked.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” he said.
“Perhaps we should give you some space,” Sophie suggested.
“I had Betty prepare several of the guest rooms, so everyone is welcome to stay,” Nona said.
“Thank you, Nona, but I’m going to take Emma home. We’ll return in the morning,” Clayton said.
“Christopher’s with Gwen,” Andrew said.
“We know. I’ll give Hannah the option to come with us, or stay,” Clayton said and squeezed his shoulder.
Andrew nodded and took a bite of the food he couldn’t taste.
“Would you like me to go to your place and get some clothes? You’re welcome to borrow anything of mine, of course,” Jamie said.
“I plan to take her home tomorrow, Jamie, so I should be fine.”
Jamie nodded without comment and took Sophie up to bed. The rest dispersed as well and Andrew was left alone with his mother and sisters.
“Teeny, you really should go home and rest,” he said.
“We’re staying,” Stephen said from the doorway.
“Yes, Andrew, we’re going to stay. Just in case,” Christine insisted.
“Andrew!”
At Christopher’s yell, Andrew knocked the chair over in his haste to rush out of the room. He took the stairs two at a time, with Stephen and Michael following behind. “What’s wrong?”
“She’s moaning,” Christopher said. “I think she’s waking up.”
Andrew stretched out on the bed beside Gwen and pulled her hand to his lips. He stroked her cheek and whispered to her. “Beautiful girl. It’s time to wake up.” She moaned again. “Sweetheart, I’m here. Open your eyes.”
“Andrew?” she rasped. “It hurts.”
“I know, sweetheart. Just lie still,” he crooned. “Can you open your eyes?”
“I’m so tired, Andrew,” she whispered.
Stephen turned to Michael. “I need a candle.”
Michael handed him one and he pried an eyelid open and ran the flame across her eye to check her pupil, then did the same to the other.
“Open your eyes, sweetheart,” Andrew whispered. Her eyelids fluttered and he could see the valiant effort she was making to open them. “Please let me see your eyes, beautiful. I haven’t seen them all day and I miss them.”
She smiled slightly, but still didn’t open her eyes.
“It hurts,” she whispered and tried to pull at her side.
“No, Gwen. Don’t,” Michael warned. “You could pull the stitches out.”
Gwen groaned.
“If you open your eyes, we’ll give you one of those pills,” Andrew whispered close to her ear.
Michael was still unaware of Stephen’s origins, so they needed to continue with the secret. Stephen left the room briefly and returned.
Andrew squeezed Gwen’s hand. “Sweetheart. Open your eyes now.”
She turned her head toward his voice and slowly raised her eyelids. Her pupils were dilated from the morphine and he wasn’t entirely certain she could see him.
“There you are,” Andrew whispered and kissed the palm of her hand.
“Michael, would you please prepare another poultice?” Stephen said.
“I’ll return shortly,” Michael promised.
“Okay Gwen, you need to take this before he returns. I know you want to sleep, but he can’t see you with this,” Stephen said and slipped the pill into her mouth.
Andrew helped her sip some water and then gently laid her head back down on her pillow. “Good girl.”
Gwen yawned. “Sleep.”
Andrew looked at Stephen, who nodded and left the room.
“I love you, sweetheart.”
“Mmm, I love you, too,” she whispered.
Andrew stroked Gwen’s cheek and watched her until he was certain she was asleep. He let himself fall asleep next to her but didn’t relinquish her hand.
* * *
Andrew woke when he heard Gwen groan. He sat up quickly, despite the protest of his exhausted body. “Gwen?”
“It hurts, Andrew,” she cried and clawed at the sheets.
“I’ll be right back. Don’t touch your side, sweetheart.” He opened the door and found Christopher on the other side, asleep in the hallway chair. “Chris?”
“How is she?” Christopher stood, although Andrew could tell he was still somewhat asleep.
“She’s in pain,” Andrew said. “Can you find Stephen, please?”
Christopher moved toward the stairs and Andrew returned to the room. Gwen was sobbing. “Sweetheart,” Andrew whispered and rushed to her side.
“The pain. It burns.” She started to reach for her side as she whimpered. “Andrew, make it stop. Please.”
“Shhh. I will, love, but don’t touch your side.”
Stephen walked in with a syringe and pill. “How bad is the pain, Andrew?”
“It’s bad.”
Gwen cried out. “Andrew, I need it to stop. Please make it stop.”
Stephen handed Andrew the pill and found a vein to pump the morphine into.
“What do I do with this?” Andrew asked.
“Just hold onto it for now. The pain is too intense for that. She needs morphine.”
Gwen relaxed almost before Stephen pulled the syringe from her arm. “I’m going to check the wound now that she’s calm.”
Stephen went to the basin and washed his hands. There were clean bandages on the bureau that Christine had brought in earlier that morning, so he grabbed a few of them and the jar of fresh cream Michael had made for a poultice.
Stephen took scissors and cut the bandage from her body and gently pulled the pad from her wound. He asked Andrew to open the door and Stephen called out for Christine. She entered the room a few minutes later.
“Could you please get me clean water, preferably warm, and alcohol? See if Michael has any pure alcohol in his office.”
“Of course,” she said and went to find the supplies.
He checked Gwen’s stitches and gently wiped the old cream from her side. Christine returned with the supplies and helped him clean the rest of it off.
“It’s quite red and raised,” Christine observed.
“Hmm,” Stephen murmured.
“What’s wrong?” Andrew asked, concerned.
“The wound appears to be irritated, but for now, we just need to watch for infection,” Stephen said distractedly.
“What does that mean?”
“It means it’s not infected right now, but we’ll need to watch it,” Christine assured him.
“Alcohol, please,” Stephen said.
She handed him the bottle and he poured it over the wound. Despite her drug-induced state, Gwen’s body naturally reacted to the sting and she whimpered.
“Stephen!” Andrew growled.
“That was the worst,” Stephen said and put more of the cream on a pad of cotton. He placed it over the wound and wrapped a long length of bandage around her waist once again. “How are you feeling now, Gwen?”
She turned her head slowly toward Stephen. “My body feels heavy and my mouth is dry.”
“That’s the morphine. You’ll get very sleepy shortly.”
Gwen sighed. “I’m already sleepy.”
Andrew kissed her forehead. “Sleep, sweetheart. We’ll all be here when you wake up.”
She nodded and closed her eyes.
“She will more than likely sleep for the next few hours, Andrew. You should come downstairs and eat,” Christine said.
“I’m not going to be able to take her home today, am I?”
“Not for at least a week, Andrew,” Stephen said.
They heard a knock at the door and Charity walked in, looking haggard and tired. “How is she?”
“She’s resting now. Stephen gave her some morphine,” Andrew said.
“May I sit with her?”
Andrew hesitated.
“You need to eat, little brother. Don’t make me force you,” Christine threatened.
Andrew nodded and climbed off the bed. He pulled a chair over for Charity to sit on and left the room. Richard stood in the hallway, his arms crossed, looking a bit like a Roman sentry.
“Have you eaten, Richard?” Christine asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Would you like to join us anyway?”
He shook his head. “I’ll just wait here for Charity.”
Christine pulled Andrew downstairs and into the dining room. Jamie sat at the table holding Junior and Sophie was preparing a plate.
“Where is everyone?” Christine asked.
“In the parlor,” Sophie answered. “They didn’t want to hover.”
“But you did?” Andrew raised an eyebrow in Jamie’s direction.
“Absolutely,” Jamie said. “Can’t get rid of me, brother. Sorry.”
“How’s Gwen?” Sophie asked.
“She’s sleeping now.” Andrew sat at the table. “She woke in pain, but Stephen gave her some morphine.”
“Poor thing,” Sophie said.
Andrew sighed. “I have to admit, I’m relieved to have such good medical care for her.”
“Yes. Could you imagine if Stephen and Michael weren’t so accessible?” Jamie agreed.
“And the fact my very talented sister is involved doesn’t hurt either,” Andrew said.
“Thank you,” Christine said as she squeezed his shoulder.
Sophie set a cup of coffee in front of him. “Are you feeling a bit more settled about everything?”
Andrew nodded. “Yes. I think so.”
“It was very frightening,” Christine said.
“I’m in wonder at your ability to stay so calm, Teeny,” Andrew observed. “How do you do that?”
“It’s simple,” came the voice of Stephen as he joined them. “She’s perfect.” Christine rolled her eyes and Stephen gave her a quick kiss. “I wouldn’t be half the doctor I am if she wasn’t by my side.”
“Stephen. That’s not true,” she argued.
“It is, sweetness. All of it. I growl and snap orders and you are right there, meeting every need without taking anything personally. Face it. You’re perfect and I love you.”
She smiled up at him. “I love you, too. But, now we need to stop talking about me and focus on Gwen.”
“I’m not done talking about you,” Stephen said.
Christine blushed. “Stop,” she whispered.
“Christine?” Andrew said.
“Yes?”
“Thank you. Truly,” he said.
Christine’s eyes filled with tears. “I would do anything for you.”
Andrew smiled. “You’ve proven that more than once.”
The small group sat down to eat and Andrew began to relax. He also realized just how tired he was.
“You look like you’re about to pass out,” Jamie said.
“I am suddenly quite tired,” Andrew admitted.
“You should rest.” Sophie scooped Junior up from Jamie and kissed the baby’s head. “Gwen will probably sleep for several hours, so you should too.”
“I think I will.” Andrew rose to his feet. “Would you mind picking up a few things from the house for us?”
Sophie and Jamie replied in unison, “Not at all.”
Andrew left them with a list and a key before he made his way back up to Gwen. He nodded to Richard, still standing guard, and then opened the door and found Charity in the chair, holding Gwen’s hand.
“How is she?” he asked.
“She’s been a bit restless, but hasn’t woken up.”
“You look exhausted, Charity,” Andrew observed. “I’m going to try and sleep now. You should as well.”
“I’m not certain I can,” she argued.
“Gwen would worry if she knew you weren’t sleeping, Charity. And if you got sick, she’d be beside herself.”
Charity smiled. “Yes, she does worry, doesn’t she?”
“Yes, she does, and since she appears to be doing better, why don’t you try and sleep.”
Charity nodded and rose to her feet.
“Good. Will you please have someone wake me when her parents arrive?”
“Of course,” Charity said and left the room.
Andrew saw Richard wrap his arms around her as the door closed. Andrew removed his shoes and slowly climbed into the bed. He didn’t want to jostle Gwen. He leaned over and kissed her cheek as he whispered his love for her. He took her hand, kissed it, and held it to his chest, then quickly fell into a deep slumber.