As I held Colett, I had the strangest feeling wash over me. I couldn’t help but wonder what Sophia was doing. Who was holding her while she cried?
“Please don’t cry, Colett. I promise you, everything will be okay.”
If only my heart believed my spoken words.
THE COOL JANUARY morning hit me in the face as I walked along the path with Colett. “Are you feeling better?” Colett asked as she peeked over at me from under the rim of her fashionable hat. I had gotten sick again with a fever and the doctor insisted I had to stay in bed. I was furious. Every time I started feeling better, something would set me back.
“I am.”
Walking along in silence, my mind wandered. Sophia might have already had our daughter. I promised her I would be back in time for the birth of our child. I promised.
Colett cleared her throat as if she was unsure of what to talk about it. “Are your legs bothering you today, Daniel?”
Pulling me from my thoughts of Sophia with her question, I turned to Colett. “No, they are getting stronger by the day.”
“Your hands?”
Lifting my right hand up, I wiggled my fingers at her as she tittered. “I think you should try and write a letter this evening.”
Stopping, I turned to Colett. “Why am I not hearing anything, Colett? Not even from my uncle in England. What if—“
“No! Daniel Stowe, you do not even whisper those thoughts in your head. There has to be a reason as to why our letters are not getting through.”
Nodding my head, my eyes drifted to the river. “It’s beautiful here. I shall miss it.”
Placing her hand on my arm, Colett chuckled. “You shall not. You are heading for home tomorrow, Daniel. The last place you will think of his Bordeaux, France.”
Chuckling, I said, “That is not true. I met a wonderful young woman in Bordeaux, France, who nursed me back to health. Her smile is infectious, and her heart one of a kind.”
Giving me a small nudge, she looked up at me. “I fear I’ve failed on the nursing you back to health with the latest round of sickness.”
“Nonsense, I feel fine and the doctor worries too much.”
Seeing her nod her head from the corner of my eye, I stopped walking and faced her. “Do you think I’m not up for traveling, Colett?”
Chewing on her bottom lip, she looked into my eyes. “I pray that you are. The journey will be long and it is winter months, so storms could delay our trip and—“
Placing my finger to her lips, I shook my head. “I must get home to her. I do wish you and your mother were not being stubborn and insisting on returning with us.”
Looking away slightly, Colett stared out over the river. “Our home is New York, not France. I’m glad we are leaving, to be honest. I’m ready to start a new life, make new memories.”
“Then it is settled. We shall both be excited about our adventure across the sea tomorrow.”
Tossing her head back and laughing, Colett agreed. “Yes. Our adventure starts tomorrow.”
As we walked back to her family’s house, Colett and I talked about everything. It was very easy to talk to her; she had an interest in everything. Her dream was to own her own boutique in New York City. Her mother thought it a silly plan, but her father thought it was brilliant. Colett had been buying fabric with each trip we took into town. I’d carry it back the best I could since my hands were both still healing and the moment we got home she took to her sewing machine. Her dresses were beautiful and, dare I say, modern.
“What of you, Daniel? What are your plans when you get back to Sophia?”
Swallowing hard, I stared straight ahead. “Our plan before my ill-fated trip was to open a restaurant on Tybee Island, which is right outside Savannah.”
“Do you like to cook, Mr. Stowe?” Colett asked playfully.
Giving her smile that made her blush, I nodded my head. “Indeed, I do, Ms. Fortier. I very much like to cook.”
Placing her hands on her hips, she shook her head. “I shall make you cook me something this evening before we leave tomorrow. My last real meal for at least three weeks.”
A chill ran over my body. Three weeks and I’d be in New York. Then I would take a train to Savannah and straight to my parents’ house where I will wrap my darling Sophia in my arms.