“Two hours a week.” Doc shook his head. “Two hours a week at twenty minutes a day.”
“I can’t do that.” I tucked the blankets even closer to my body. “I’ve never been so cold in my life. Two hours a week, Doc? I’m still cold from that.”
“The treatment is meant to linger in the body. It may take you some time to regulate to a warmer temperature. I am sorry. What a puzzle! The Merrics need the cold but not you. You’re a curious member in your family. Unusual.”
“I don’t think it’s that unusual. My grandma runs hot, but we never once thought about throwing her the freezer.”
Doc had a good chuckle. “When you put it that way.”
“So, will we be doing it again?”
“No. I will cancel all future cold treatments for the time. In fact, I believe you may never need them.”
At least I wouldn’t have to be frozen every day, but it concerned me if it was the treatment to ward off the illness. “Does this mean I’ll get the Tennabris?”
Doc smiled the way doctors do when they have no clue what to tell you. I’d seen that look enough times at Grandma’s appointments. “You are your own person, Waverly. I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
Don’t worry about it? Most of my family had died of the Tennabris, a disease I would most likely inherit. I hugged my knees tight. I had to figure this all out somehow.
“I can see you’re still worried.”
“Doc, can I be honest with you?”
He nodded. He was my doctor, and he was my link to Grandma’s illness, so I continued, “I think Bollard used some kind of tech on me to get me here, and I am still mad and confused and unhappy. Grandma is the only thing making any of this okay. If I can help her, this will have all been worth it, but if the Merric’s haven’t already done it, what chance do I have of helping her? She had faith I would but—” I stopped myself short, deciding to tell no one about my quest to find the necklace and the words.
He reflected and appeared torn on how to respond at first. He took my hand. “You put too much pressure on yourself with your grandma.”
“Doc, I don’t understand. If this world has cures for so many things, why no cure for the Tennabris?”
“It’s not from lack of trying. Some things are a mystery,” Doc explained, but it wasn’t good enough.
“But there has to be an answer.”
Doc let go of my hand. “You really love her, don’t you?”
I nodded. “She’s my grandma and one of my best friends.”
“Then anything is possible.”
Chapter 14
What the What?
Emerald necklaces lay across a black velvet cloth on a table. The emeralds were of varying sizes and shapes, some ovals, some squares, some octagons, and they were set in various precious metals: platinum, white gold, silver. Some used diamonds to make the chain. Some had long emerald teardrops that fell low on the chest. Other emerald necklaces collared the clavicle, highlighting the bone.
I held my hand up to each necklace, judging the unique cuts and beautiful colors. One green was close, but the cuts clashed. Fifty necklaces and no luck. I should have known it wouldn‘t be easy.
Enzo’s chest was still puffed out, albeit a little less full. “First try would have been a miracle, so this is fine. I will find plenty more. Again, this is fine.”
“It is.” Manon offered me a smile and took my arm. Together we walked towards a small sitting room. She wore a yellow bohemian style gown which clashed with my light blue art deco dress.
“And it is not the end of my surprises either. Our guests are sure to have arrived.”
“Lady Poppy?” I hoped. When I saw her next, I planned on asking her all about my grandmother.
“No,” Enzo said, leading the way out of the drawing room. “I’m confused on why you want to meet with her. She’s full of nonsense.”
“I’d still like to meet with her.” There was more to her story, and I wanted to know it. Although, I had to admit, I didn’t quite understand why anyone would fake hearing issues or mental illness. The pretend condition invited the people around Lady Poppy to talk badly about her right in her presence. Personally, I’d rather not hear what people said about me.
Together, we entered the small sitting room, and a cheer greeted me. My eyes struggled to put together what I saw, and it took a dumbfounding minute of double takes to understand my audience.
Standing in front of a couch were Mr. Hincho, Mr. Naugle, and Mr. Wilbur.
They bowed. “Your Highness.”
I ran to them, and they picked me up into a bear hug. The happiness I felt from seeing loved ones from home overwhelmed me. I wasn’t alone anymore. This was like being home. My three teachers, our family friends, were right here.
But the happiness faded as I questioned why my father’s best friends were in this strange land.
“Wait, what is going on?” I stepped back and noticed their strange uniforms. “What are you doing here?”
All three of my teachers turned to the corner of the room. “What should we tell her?”
It was then I saw Dryden and Rudolf.
“The truth,” Dryden suggested, and he pointed to an empty chair. “Waverly, please.”
Manon and Enzo joined Rudolf leaning against the wall. I sat in the chair, Dryden sat in another, while the three sat opposite me across a small coffee table. These men who taught me math and sewing, who had joined us for Thanksgiving dinner, and who chaperoned prom were sitting in the foreign land of the Merric’s.
“You work for my uncle, don’t you?” As slow as I might be, at this point it didn’t take a genius. In my old life, this would have been crazy thinking, but considering the last few weeks, it made sense.
Mr. Hincho shook his
