“Does he need anything? Medicine, something for the fever or anything?” Michael asked. “We could run into town and get anything he needs. Might help more than a sedative.”
“No, no, Millie has everything we need to take care of him.”
“Josie, he’s feverish, burning up and delirious from it, and the best you and the good doctor can come up with is a sedative?” an incredulous Michael asked.
“It’s not what you think, okay?”
“Then tell us what it is, because I sure don’t understand why anyone would not give a fever reducer to a feverish kid,” Michael continued to argue.
“His fever isn’t from a virus or illness, it wouldn’t help.”
“Then what is causing it, Jos?” Damien asked.
Josie shook her head, “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try us,” Damien said. “Please, Josie, we want to understand. We want to help, you, him, anyone at this point.”
“He’s possessed,” Josie responded, staring straight at them.
“What?” Michael said, shocked.
“You can believe me or not, but I’m telling you that’s what’s wrong with him.”
“It’s okay, Josie. We believe you,” Damien said, trying to be reassuring. “We believe you. If there’s anything we can do to help, please just ask. In the meantime, you should try to get some more rest.”
Josie nodded. “Thanks.” It sounded like the storm had passed, she thought some fresh air may help her. She moved toward the door. Turning back before exiting, she said, “You guys might want to use the afternoon to pack up. I think the first train leaves early in the morning.”
After leaving the room, she continued to the front door. Ominous clouds still filled the sky, but it was not raining at the moment. She pulled her cardigan closed against the damp air as she exited the house. She wandered the grounds for hours, spending some time gathering various natural ingredients to help Max with the fever.
After preparing them and leaving them with Max, she returned outside, making her way to the gazebo. She sat on the swing, gradually gliding back and forth. Her mind was a jumble. She thought once she had all her memories back her life would be easier; instead it felt like she had two separate entities warring inside of her. She had been Josie for just shy of twenty-five years, but Josie still clung fiercely to her life, to its simplicity. She longed to be only Josie again, to only deal with what Josie had dealt with and considered problems.
But she realized this would never be, even if she made it past her twenty-fifth birthday, she now had all her memories. Could Josie’s life fulfill her? Would she ever truly be happy? Would she be able to return to that life without guilt or concern for her family? Would she always be drawn back into this dysfunctional fold? Could she live here as she was? Her mind was being torn in two different directions.
“There you are,” Gray said. Her thoughts had preoccupied her so much she had not even noticed him approaching. “Mind if I join you?”
She shook her head. “You’re wearing your ring. I hope that means you’re considering staying?” Josie didn’t answer him, searching for the right words. She pondered how to tell him she didn’t have an answer to his question. “It’s okay, you don’t have to answer.”
“I’m sorry, Gray, I don’t have an answer. How’s Max?”
“Holding his own. Not great, but no worse.”
“It will not stop. It’s just going to get worse.”
“Then we’ll fight, like we always do,” he said, putting his hand on her knee.
“But, I can’t really fight, not like I used to,” she said, tears forming.
“Celine, it’s okay. We’ll fight the best we can. I support you no matter what you decide.”
Josie rubbed the ring on her left hand with her thumb. It seemed Gray had learned some patience over the last twenty-five years. She eyed him, considering his words then nodded, grabbing hold of his hand. She would take the time-buy for now.
Chapter 23
Josie sat at Max’s bedside. Avery had fallen asleep long ago, but Josie wouldn’t let herself sleep, she had to be on constant watch. Despite her eyes being heavy with sleep, she forced herself to stay awake. As morning approached, Charlotte came in, waking Avery and telling Josie to go get some rest. Josie stood in the hallway for a few moments, unsure of what to do before deciding that she wouldn’t be able to rest even if she tried. Instead of heading for her room, she went the opposite way, spending the final hours of darkness roaming the property.
She returned to the house at daybreak, moving like a zombie. Gray was already up, heading down to breakfast. “Are you okay? Where were you?” he asked as he watched her walk through the door.
“Out for a walk,” she said.
“Are you hungry?” he asked. Michael and Damien appeared on the stairs.
“Good morning,” they both said.
“Good morning,” Josie answered. “Heading into town today?”
“Ah,” Michael began before Gray interjected.
“No, the train is not running today. Won’t be for the better part of the week. Something about the tracks being washed out. Looks like they’re stuck here.”
“What? Are you serious?” Josie asked. “Perhaps we can have Henry drive them to Portland and you guys can get a car there,” she continued, spit balling ideas to get them home.
“We’re happy to stay!” Michael said.
“Yeah, no problem here,” Damien said.
“Well, I have a problem! I don’t…” Josie started, becoming perturbed.
“Celine, Celine, it’s okay. We’ll get them on their way as soon as we can. It’s fine, nothing to worry about,” Gray said, putting his hands on her shoulders and giving them a rub.
“Gray, I think…” she said again.
“Celine, I’ll handle it. Now, come on, you need to eat.”
After breakfast, Josie checked on the children again. She made her way into the foyer. She took a few steps in before she stopped dead in her tracks. The front door opened. A man strolled in. Air gusted past her, ice cold. Her ears were greeted by the
