Reaching over to grasp that hand, Emily comforted Gracie.
“Don't worry. I need to move forward. I have given far too much time to something that took far too little time to have done so much damage to me in my life. But God blessed me with a wonderful gift to show He has accepted my sacrifice. Despite my struggles, I would change nothing because I have my beautiful Emilene.”
The girls hugged and then Emily went back to the nursery to relieve Sister Teresa Rose so that she might attend the ceremony.
Gracie and her attendants hustled off to get dressed. Since nearly everyone within the convent would be attending, there was a general rush to rooms to change into wedding finery.
Sister Agatha had met with Gracie in private and given the girl her personal blessing, excusing herself from attending the ceremonies as too much bustle at her age.
“Besides, someone needs to mind the place while everyone is off celebrating. Just be sure to drop by to see me now and again. You know you will always be our baby girl.”
Gracie smiled tearily as she leaned forward and kissed Sister Agatha on the cheek.
“Thank you for rescuing me and treating me like your own daughter. And we are all your daughters of the heart. You will always be my mother.”
Handkerchiefs were brought out by both women and a warm hug was exchanged before Gracie left Sister Agatha to her cup of tea.
CHAPTER 20 – Measles
Emily was the one who found the wrapped bundle set at the top of the stairs, during Gracie’s wedding. It was a newborn and had a severe rash, which Emily discovered when she bathed the child.
She recognized it as measles from when her sister had had them. No one knew why Emily hadn't broken out as well, but Barbara had caught them from the little boys next door. By the time the outbreak in her apartment building had ended, she had been the only one not to fall prey to the disease. Even one or two adults who had not had them as a child broke out in spots.
Mr. Anderson had had rather a hard time with breathing for a while but he eventually recovered as did everyone else she knew. She finished bathing the infant and swaddled it before calling over softly to Sister Anne, who had volunteered to stay behind so Sister Teresa Rose could attend.
“Don't come near me!” she said, causing Sister to stop in her tracks. “This child has measles and we don't want to infect anyone else if we can avoid it.”
Sister nodded decisively.
“You are absolutely correct. Why don't you stay where you are until I've had a chance to prepare a room for you and the child. Have you had measles?”
Emily shook her head. “Almost everyone in my building caught them, but I seem to have been immune.”
“Well just because you didn't catch them the first time doesn't mean you might not get them now. Although I have not heard of people getting them twice. I recall having measles as a child, but I don't want to come in contact with you and then expose others to the risk. So we're going to treat this with a bit of isolation. Will you be all right with that?”
Emily smiled her gentle smile. She had rather suspected that would be the case.
Sister Anne quickly arranged for a small cubicle to be cleaned and prepared for Emily and the baby.
Sister Teresa Rose, who had left the reception early to let Sister Anne enjoy some of the supper, arrived to relieve her, but was warned to stay back.
As Sister Anne explained, Sister Teresa Rosa watched as Emily tried to get the infant to accept a bottle, placing a few drops of liquid on its lips and rubbing.
“You have the honor of naming the child, Emily,” commented Sister Anne.
“I rather think Rufus would be appropriate,” she said slyly.
“Rufus?”
“Why yes, for his red coloring.”
Startled, Sister Teresa Rose laughed aloud, joined swiftly by chuckles from the other two women.
Here was an Emily she had never met, one with a sense of humor. Was she finally going to be restored to herself fully? Oh how wonderful.
The measles progressed rapidly. Emily had finally gotten Rufus to suckle and he was given plenty of fluids and bathed in calamine to reduce his discomfort, but he had been dehydrated and half-starved when he arrived and was too weak to survive the ailment. He did not live more than a day despite Emily’s careful nursing.
Emily was devastated, but also aware that her own stomach was already breaking out in a rash. This must be a rather virulent strain, she thought. She recalled the time between exposure and outbreak was usually a bit longer, but she rapidly became quite ill as well.
Sister Teresa Rose, who had been trained in nursing at the Woman’s Hospital of Philadelphia, agreed. Although the rash looked like measles, its initial location, more consistent with chicken pox, and the rapid development, seemed to indicate something else. She sent for the doctor.
CHAPTER 21 – Goodbye
Doctor Johnson was startled when he examined Emily. She seemed to be wasting away before his eyes. He concluded that the previous trauma to her body and mind had reduced her defenses against illness, although all the usual remedies were being applied. But as far as he could see this was just a severe case of measles attacking a weakened person. He shook his head and said a prayer as he left the room.
~~~
Emily had adamantly refused to allow Barbara to see her during the first few days of her illness. She would rather her sister spend the time with Emilene and didn’t want to take a chance of passing along the disease. She only allowed Judith
