Page 59 of Brian and Cora
He was quiet for a long moment, absently rubbing his thumb over the soft felt. From down the hall came the sound of Jewel stirring from her nap, humming tunelessly to herself.
“I just want to protect her.”
“So does every loving father of daughters. But the truth is…life is full of tribulations and sorrow. Every girl, every woman, has to learn to cope with suffering. That must be part of Jewel’s journey, too.”
He shook his head. “Children who are Mongoloid die young.”
“I know.” Cora couldn’t bear the thought. The pain this man must carry on a daily basis….
“Jewel’s already lived years beyond what’s expected. She won’t mature to the age of a normal woman. In the course of her short life, I can keep Jewel from ever being hurt by others.”
She placed a hand on his arm. “But is that truly living?”
Silence lingered. He studied Ivy’s photograph.
"I need to think about it," he said in a weary tone, finally looking directly at her. "It's not just my life that would change."
"I’ve known Ivy since we were younger than Jewel. I promise from my whole heart that she’s a kind woman. She’ll fall in love with Jewel, just like we all have. Please, Torin, promise you’ll really consider having her teach Jewel."
"I will." He stood as Jewel's humming grew louder. "She's awake. Would you like to give her the J yourself?"
"I would love to."
Jewel emerged from her room, her hair adorably mussed from sleep, dragging a worn rag doll. Her face lit up when she saw Cora. "Cor-a! See Sas-ee now?"
"Soon, sweetheart. But first, I have something special for you."
Cora knelt and held out the pink felt J.
Jewel set her doll on the sofa and reached for the letter with both hands, her eyes wide with wonder.
"J," Cora said clearly. "A pink J for Jewel."
"Jay," Jewel repeated, hugging the letter to her chest. "Jewel's Jay!"
Tears clouded her vision. How I love this child. "That's right. Your very own letter."
Jewel clumsily danced in a circle, clutching her treasure. Then she stopped and looked at her father with sudden worry. "Papa have letter?"
"P for Papa," Torin said, his voice thick. "Maybe Miss Cora's friend Ivy can make me one too."
"If you decide you'd like that," Cora said carefully, standing.
Their eyes met over Jewel's head. In his gaze, she saw fear warring with hope, protection with possibility. I’ve planted seeds. Now I have to wait and see if they will sprout.
"Thank you," Torin said quietly. "For everything."
"Sas-ee now?" Jewel entreated, still clutching her J.
"Yes, sweetheart. Let's go see Sassy Girl and show her your new letter."
As they walked back toward Brian's cabin, Jewel between them chattering about her "Jay," Cora felt a mixture of hope and trepidation. She'd potentially changed several lives with her suggestion—Jewel's, Torin's, and, hopefully, Ivy’s. No matter what else came of her time at Three Bend Lake, she’d always have the satisfaction of making a difference here.
CHAPTER 18
The silence pressed against Brian's ears like cotton wool. Not the peaceful quiet of solitary writing but an emptiness that echoed with absence. Cora had been gone less than an hour, and already the cabin felt wrong without her presence.
He'd grown accustomed to the small sounds of her living in his space—the whisper of turning pages, the soft humming when she thought he wasn't listening, the gentle clink of dishes being washed. Even when she sat perfectly still, absorbed in one of his books, the air itself seemed brighter, lighter somehow.
