The silence made her heart pound and herhands shake. She tried to make as little noise as possible. Shecarried a bowl into the kitchen, which was also in completedisarray. The food shelf stood empty. Someone left pots and pansunwashed in the sink, crumbs and empty crock jars on the table.
The chairs here were also in disorder. Motheralways pushed the chairs in at the table in a neat square when notin use.
Fear pricked Tillie’s heart. Mother wouldnever leave her kitchen in such a state. Something happened.
A floorboard creaked over her head. Her eyeswent to the ceiling, and she listened. Another footstep, comingfrom the room above her, at the top of the stairway. William’sbedroom. Tillie walked to the hallway and jogged up the stairs. Atthe landing between the first and second floor, she heard Mothersay something in a quiet voice and Maggie respond.
Tillie entered the bedroom. Mother sat on theedge of the bed, with her back to the door. Maggie sat on the otherside, dipping a bandage into a basin of water. They concentrated onthe soldier moaning between them. The sickening sweet smell in theroom told her his wound festered.
Tillie opened her mouth to say hello whenMother rose from the bed. She turned to stretch her back and sawTillie standing in the doorway. Mother froze and her eyeswidened.
“Am I so changed, Mother, you don’t evenrecognize me?” Tillie’s laugh sounded forced.
“Oh, my dear child, is that you?” Mother heldout her arms, and Tillie threw herself into her warm embrace. “I’mso glad you’re home again. No harm has befallen you?”
Tillie tightened her grip on her mother assudden sobs jerked her body. Mother’s embrace deepened as sherocked and crooned into Tillie’s ear. Maggie’s arm slid around herback, and Tillie released one of hers and embraced Maggie as well.The three women hugged and cried. After several moments, theypulled apart, and Tillie smiled at them. “I must look a sight. Youdidn’t even recognize me when I came in.” She swept a hand down herdress. “I confess I am filthy.”
“For a moment I thought you were someragamuffin orphan looking for a home.” Mother sniffled and wipedtears from her cheeks. “Your clothes are still in the basement. Whydon’t you go down and get yourself a bath.” She put her arm aroundTillie and guided her out the door and back down the stairs all thewhile keeping up a commentary. “Father went to the church to find adoctor for that poor man.” She gestured toward the bedroom. “Hetook a turn for the worse in the night. Sam went home for a fewdays. I trust the captain told you about Ginny?”
“He did.” The smile disappeared from Tillie’sface. Deep circles lurked under Mother’s eyes, and her hair neededbrushing. Her skin appeared sallow and her cheeks sunken, but allthings considered, they came through pretty well. The soldiermoaned again. Mother glanced back upstairs.
“You go ahead, Mother. I can get my own bathready and change, and come up to help you if you need me. If not,I’ll be happy to clean up downstairs.”
Mother brushed her knuckles along Tillie’scheek. Tillie closed her eyes and leaned into Mother’s hand. Motherkissed the spot where her hand touched. “Welcome home, my dear. I’mso glad you’re back, safe and sound.”
“I’m glad to be home.” Tillie smiled. “Imissed you all so much.” Her voice choked, and water filled hereyes. She cleared her throat and blinked fast several times.
Mother returned upstairs. Tillie watched hergo then went down to clean up.
Chapter 24
Tillie bounded up the cellar stairs andclosed the door before stepping into the kitchen. She bumped intoFather as he entered from the backyard.
He grabbed her in a fierce embrace, startlingher as his tears wet her shoulder. She patted his back with soft,uncertain strokes. She steeled herself not to pull away, but Fatherheld her so tight, her ribs hurt and she struggled to breathe.Nevertheless, she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed himtight.
“Oh my dear, sweet child. Please forgive mefor sending you away.” Her wet hair muffled his words.
“Father.” Tillie hugged him tighter. “There’snothing to forgive.” She kissed his cheek and smiled. Her tearsmingled with his, and her heart swelled.
He cupped her cheeks in his palms and stareddeep into her eyes, before snugging her back into his embrace. “Isent you from the frying pan straight into the fire.”
“You did what you thought best. I’m notangry.” She leaned back in his arms. “Besides, all’s well that endswell.”
At dinner, which consisted of bread—withoutjam or apple butter—and water, they exchanged stories. While theyate, she told them of her experiences—about General Weed, of theArmy forcing them from the house, and of their desperate flight toTwo Taverns. At several points, she hesitated. How much of what shewitnessed should she share? She picked her words, not wanting toupset her parents. They expressed their guilt many times already.As she finished, she shrugged as though to say, oh well, I’m safeand unharmed.
Taking Father’s hand, she glanced around thetable. “I do have one good thing to tell you as a result of myexperiences.” A sudden stab of self-consciousness overcame her asheat rose up her neck and into her face. She gave them a shy smile.“You and Mother will be pleased.”
“Do tell.” He squeezed her hand.
“When I sat with the captain caring for thegeneral, he gave me his Bible. We talked a great deal. Then weevacuated. I found a lot of time to read and… I can’t explain it,but I understood what you and Mother tried to tell me all theseyears. A man came over and helped me work through the passages.Turns out he’s a minister.” Looking around at her family’s bemusedfaces, she smiled a big happy grin. “Well, I guess what I’m tryingto say is I’ve given my life to Christ. I don’t want to sound likeI’m bragging, but it’s true.”
Father stood and tugged Tillie
