Chapter 16
786 Words
Chapter 16
Scarlet and James had left Donny at home with Hope. John hadn’t wanted too many people around. He knew that Merg would only want him, James, and Scarlet there. She wouldn't have wanted others to know that she was gone.
Scarlet looked across the coffin at John. She blinked back tears as she saw him staring at the coffin. James took her hand into his own. He squeezed softly.
“Good-bye, Merg,” she heard James whisper softly.
Scarlet watched as the coffin was lowered into its hole. A tear ran down her cheek at the same time it began to rain. She moved closer to James as he put his arm around her waist.
“I’ll miss her,” she said.
“I know,” he said.
“Who’s going to take care of the babies?” she asked.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll help John find someone.”
“Why did she have to die?” she asked. “She didn’t deserve to die.”
“I know,” he said. “Let’s go over to John and talk to him. Come on.”
James lead her to where John was standing. He looked up when he saw them standing in front of him. Scarlet hugged him close to her.
“It’ll be fine, Scarlet,” John said. “I sent a letter to Mergs’ sister telling her what happened.”
“I see,” Scarlet said as she moved away. “”Have you found help with the twins?”
“Yes,” John said. “I found a woman that lost her own husband and baby. She has agreed to come help.”
“I’m glad,” she said. “Be safe.”
“I will,” John said. “Thank you both for coming.”
“Nothing would have stopped us,” James said. “We will miss her.”
“We’ll see you later when we come to check on the twins,” she said.
“That will be fine,” John said. “I just need to be with my babies for awhile.”
“All right,” James said as he took Scarlet’s arm. “We will be by later.”
“How was it?” Hope asked after they returned home.
Scarlet and Hope sat in James’ study. Donny was taking his afternoon nap. James had gone back to the shipyard to get some work done. He had said he would be back soon.
“It was fine,” she said. “It’s hard to believe that she is gone. She finally got the babies that she wanted and was taken away from them.”
“At least she got to enjoy the New Years eve party,” Hope said. “Everyone that came said that they loved it.”
“I’m glad that they liked it,” she said. “I was upstairs with Donny most of the time. You know how sick he was. I was afraid that we were going to lose him.”
“Thankfully he is alright,” Hope said.
“Yes,” she agreed. “But it has left him changed. I think he lost some of his hearing. He doesn’t seem to hear what I say. He used to look at me when I talk to him. Now he just stared off when I talk ti him. He does the same to James.”
“I’m sure he’ll be fine with time,” Hope said. “I wouldn't worry too much about it.”
“No one know about us having another baby yet,” she said. “I want to tell James’ parents this time. I don’t want them to find out about this one the same way they found out about Donny.”
“I wish the best for you,” Hope said.
“When I had Donny,” she said, “I never once thought I’d die. Now with Merg gone, I fear I might.”
“You don’t need to fear,” Hope said. “You have James to take care of you. If something goes wrong, he will help you. I’ll even be here to help you get though this.”
“I thank you for saying that,” she said. “You are a good friend.”
Hope stood as she said, “There is no need to fear. You will have this baby and everything will be fine. You and James till grow old together. The two of you are an example of what marriage should be like.”
Scarlet stood and followed Hope from the room. She smiled at her friends back. Hope was right. All she had to do was believe and it would come true. She had hoped that James would love her one day and he had.
“I’ve been thinking,” Hope said. “Maybe I should get a job. That way I could at least have some money.”
“If you need money, just ask James,” she said as they entered the kitchen. “He’ll give it to you. You are a part of our family now.”
“Don’t worry,” Hope said. “I’ll figure it out.”
“Of course you will,” she said. She heard Donny begin to cry. “I wish he would have slept longer.”
Hope laughed.
- Writer
