Jonah stares at her with his mouth in a small oh shape. “Your home is far away too, right?”
“I am from England, Jonah. It is lovely and soon you will get to meet my brother, Alex.”
“Why is he coming here? Is he gonna take you away from us?” He demands growing agitated.
“Yes, Jonah. He is coming to fetch me,” she answers truthfully.
Jonah drops his head and sniffles. “You are mad at me cause that man hit you. That’s why you are going away,” he whispers.
“No! Jonah I could never be mad at you. That man is a monster who hits women and children. Love shouldn’t hurt, Jonah. It should fill you up with hope and joy. You want to know a little secret? When I am with you, my heart is full again. It is a gift you give me every time I see you.” Jonah throws his arms around her neck and squeezes her tight.
“Please don’t leave us, Summer. I will be good and listen to my next teacher, I swear!”
The door opens and Victor walks in and stares at the two of them. “What’s all this?”
Jonah leaps off her lap and runs from the room, “You have to make her stay! I don’t want her to leave me like my Momma did!”
Victor is stunned into silence. Summer throws the covers back and stands slowly reaching for her robe. “I’m afraid it is my fault he is upset. I told him about my brother, and well, he put it together and realized I will be leaving.” Victor hurries to help her with her robe and steady her as she moves to a chair.
“Summer, I was hoping to speak to you about that. Jonah needs a tutor, someone he can trust and learn from. That someone should be you. I will pay you more than the standard rate, if you are interested?”
“Victor, you know I am leaving. It will only make the going harder.” Summer argues, but inside her mind the idea is taking root.
“I see your point, but we don’t know how long that will be. You said yourself, it could be weeks or months for your brother to get here.” He sighs and runs his hands through his short hair. “Jonah has been traumatized by this ordeal and maybe together we can teach him to trust again.”
“Truthfully, I would love to tutor him. I get to spend the day with Jonah and get paid for it, what’s to think about,” she replies. “But, if he asks me about leaving, I will tell him the truth. Hopefully, with time, he will come to accept it.”
Mrs. Evert comes in and stops short seeing the two of them in such close quarters and alone! “Should I come back?” she asks.
“No, I was just offering Miss Denning a job. She will be Jonah’s new tutor and travel with us to New York after the doctor clears her.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful! Jonah will be better off in your hands, Miss Denning. Are you ready for your bath now?”
Victor stands and leaves as Mrs. Evert and Summer begins preparing her bath. She shakes out a few of her day dresses and Mrs. Evert offers to have them pressed for her.
“That would be wonderful. I will help you with any of the preparations for travel, Mrs. Evert.”
“Thank you. I won’t have to worry about replacing you. The house in upstate New York has a staff. I am accustomed to packing for the trip and it will only be the three of you travelling so it shouldn’t take too long.”
Summer is shocked by this news. “Oh, I see. That’s not acceptable. My brother would… no that can’t happen. We have to hire a chaperone to go with us,” Summer stammers out.
Mrs. Evert chuckles, “Ease your mind my girl. The house is staffed with a cook, a maid and stable hands. The cook lives in the house as well as the maid. I am glad to hear you say it though. He is a handsome man and considered quite a catch.”
Summer laughs, “I’m sure, but I am not in the market for a husband. I am going back to England with my brother when he arrives.”
Mrs. Evert just smiles at her. “You know, life doesn’t always work the way we plan. Sometimes it turns for the better and you don’t even see when it’s coming.”
Summers smile fades, “I’ve quit believing in happy endings, Mrs. Evert. Life is hard and cruel. He deserves better than a broken woman.” The pain in her eyes and voice is unmistakable.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. You just soak for a while dear.” She leaves from the room and wipes her eyes. So much loss and pain at such a young age, it breaks her heart. Maybe these two need a helping hand.
Mr. Yates has experienced loss too, and it’s time for him to open his heart again. Jonah loves Summer and it wouldn’t take much for Victor to fall for her. The wheels start turning and she leaves to talk to the cook.
As Summer strips, sinking into the tub the clouds outside open up and pour out to the earth below. She stares out the window and wishes she could rid her heart of the pain inside. Summer sinks deep under the water and washes her hair, carefully scrubbing around the goose egg. The swelling is going down each day. Every muscle in her body hurts, the steam soaks into her bones and she bathes until the water grows cold.
Trembling from exhaustion, she dries quickly and pulls on her sleeping gown with robe. She sits by the fire and begins to finger comb her hair, unaware of the plans being made downstairs. When her hair
