Chapter 2

Chapter Two

R obert Cratchit turned to wring out his rag in a bowl of water, then once again faced his patient, Mr. Sims, and gingerly wiped the rest of the fennel poultice from the man’s eyes.

“There, that should be the last of it,” Robert said. “Though it won’t restore your sight, it should help with some of the pain and the swelling at least.”

“Oh, I don’t think anything could truly heal these eyes of mine, Doctor,” Mr. Sims said, sitting up in his bed. “But I appreciate your efforts, just the same.”

Robert nodded, then moved to rinse his equipment, drying them off and packing them up. He normally visited Mr. Sims once a week, but Robert had gotten behind in his work, taking time to visit patients in the neighboring village, so the poor man’s swelling had been worse than usual. And yet, Mr. Sims did not complain.

“Do the Fosters still come to visit?” Robert asked.

“Oh yes, bless them. I can manage for the most part, but they do come and help wash my dishes, and tidy up a bit, just the things I’ve missed. God bless the Fosters.”

Indeed. Seeing that Mr. Sims was almost entirely blind, he was fairly limited in his capabilities. Though he tried to live independently and feed himself, and went on walks with his mindful dog, Charlie, Mr. Sims could not survive alone.

Robert tried to do all he could as the man’s vision had waned. Mr. Sims had already been to the oculist before and received surgery when he was younger which helped a great deal, but he could not afford such a procedure again. Nor could it be guaranteed that at his age, he would survive it.

“Very good. Then I will return next week, and without tardiness. My apologies again, Mr. Sims,” Robert said.

“Do not worry yourself, sir.” Mr. Sims waved his hand. “I cannot expect all of Hamstead to stop the world for me. You have your own lives to live, and you especially should be out meeting people, being social, calling on ladies.”

Robert guffawed, stopping short. “Calling on ladies? Whatever would that be my business for?”

“Well, I don’t mean to be insensitive, but your children need a mother, don’t they?” Mr. Sims patted Robert on the shoulder. “Especially a handsome man such as yourself… of course you should marry again!”

Robert shook his head. “And how would you know that I am handsome at all?”

The old man quirked his brow. “Well, I have eyes, haven’t I?”

They both laughed, dousing the tension that had sparked in Robert’s chest. Not only that, but it reminded him to be grateful. This man had lost nearly everything in his life. His family, his fortune, and he barely had the last of his health. Despite all the pain and disappointment, Mr. Sims kept his good spirits, and it was a lesson to Robert in that moment. There was always something to be thankful for.

“I appreciate you coming to see me, Doctor,” Mr. Sims said with an outstretched hand.

“It was my pleasure, I assure you,” Robert responded, giving his hand a firm shake. “Until next week.”

Robert saw himself out, making sure Charlie was nearby in case the old man needed help. As he made his way down the country lane, he took a moment to breathe in the cool autumn air and appreciate the plethora of leaves that colored the treetops and speckled the path before him. He was tired from his many visits of the day, and he was ready to return home to his family, but it was a mile walk through the village of Hamstead to his house on the other side. So he meandered by the shops and homes, cautious when he reminisced about his childhood, for his memories needed to be carefully filtered to avoid including one person in particular.

“Oh, Mr. Cratchit!” yoo-hoo-ed one voice in the village square. Robert stopped in his tracks and turned to greet the pleasant and portly Mrs. Fezziwig.

“Have you heard?” she whispered fiercely, which was not quite a whisper at all. “I was just told by Mrs. Bennet, who heard it from the rector himself that Mrs. Marley has returned.”

Robert froze and considered that he might need someone to use his own medical devices on himself, the way his heart stuttered nearly to a stop. With the passing of her Aunt Fanny, Robert had wondered if Caroline would return, but he had been banking on her pride keeping her away. Far away.

“Is that so?” he asked lightly, trying to appear unaffected.

“Indeed. I have yet to see her for myself, but I heard when she arrived at her aunt’s house yesterday, she was dressed very fine.”

Of course. Robert would have expected nothing less.

“Well, I thank you for the information, Mrs. Fezziwig,” Robert said, stiffly tipping his hat. “Have a good day.” Then he turned his feet back toward the autumn-colored walk home.

He had not intended to be so curt with her, but her news had left him entirely unsettled, much more than he had anticipated. The news of Caroline Marley’s return meant nothing. He had no doubt she would stay just long enough to inherit and return to her life in London, for she did not belong here. She belonged elsewhere, and good riddance. The sooner she left, the better.

Shaking his head, Robert dismissed any thoughts of the woman, and blindly made his way back home. It was nothing more than a cottage really, but that was where he was needed and wanted and loved. No matter how shabby it might be.

Upon opening the door, he was surrounded with warmth. “Father!” One voice called out, and his two children rushed over to him. He opened his arms to his daughter, Martha, and his younger son, Tim. This was where his heart belonged, what he worked tirelessly for. Even though the pay as a doctor was meager at times in their small village, he tried to make the world a better place for others, and especially for his children.

“How was your day?” Robert directed the question at Martha.

“Very well. Tim even took to writing his name.”

“Did you really, my boy?” Robert asked. Tim nodded with a grin, Robert tousling his hair.

From a doctor’s perspective, he knew Tim to be perfectly healthy at the age of six. But as a father, he couldn’t help but worry. The boy had not spoken a word since his mother died. He could breathe and laugh normally, and he learned to write his letters and numbers in school. He listened well and understood conversations, he just didn’t contribute to them. So he wasn’t a fool or a simpleton of the mind, he had simply gone mute, and Robert didn’t know how else to help him. Other than to love him, and hope that one day, his son might find his voice again.

Together, the three walked into the kitchen, where his mother-in-law, Mrs. Rosemont, stood cutting vegetables. “They’ve both been such a great help today,” she said reassuringly.

“I’m pleased to hear it,” Robert said, squeezing both their shoulders.

Before he could ask about the day further, a knock sounded at the door. The cadence of it was so familiar, he did not need to answer the door to know who stood on the other side, but it made his stomach drop.

Martha looked up at him. “Today?” she asked in surprise.

“I didn’t think…” Robert swallowed and moved to open the door.

There stood Fred Scrooge with his daughter, Kitty. The young girls embraced as they normally did, but Robert didn’t quite have the words to ask right away.

“Good day, Robert. Shall we be off?” Fred asked.

“But I thought… I had told Martha not to expect any music practice again for some time,” Robert said. “We don’t know who the new owner of Longford Manor will be, or the new tenant, for that matter.”

“Then you’ve not heard?” Fred said, his eyes bright with delight. “Caroline is staying.”

The unease in Robert’s stomach sank lower still, curdling and souring. “Staying?”

“Well, at least for the time being, until Christmas. Aunt Fanny’s will insisted she host the Christmas ball, or Caroline would inherit nothing. Clever woman.”

Ah, so that was the arrangement. Caroline never would have stayed willingly, but he knew she couldn’t leave a penny of inheritance unclaimed. The sum of her conquests was all that mattered.

“I do not think it a good idea,” Robert said in a voice that lacked confidence. “Perhaps we ought to wait until she leaves to continue practice for the girls.”

Aunt Fanny, who had been lovingly dubbed so by the entire village, opened her music room to any who wished to improve their talents, so Martha and Kitty had always gone to practice the pianoforte together. But now that the old woman was gone, there was no telling what Caroline would do. What Mrs. Marley would do.

“Will the new mistress allow us?” Kitty asked.

But Fred waved his hand. “Of course. I’m her brother. She might give the appearance of being cold and detached, but I know deep down she has a heart somewhere.” He gave Robert a light pat on the shoulder, just as Mr. Sims had. “She loved you once, didn't she?”

Robert stiffened, shaking his head. His children didn’t need to know about this. “Please, Fred. I do not wish to discuss the past.”

“My apologies. If it worries you so, why not come with us? You can judge the situation for yourself. We can see if the invitation for music practice is still open, and if not, then we can all return home. But I am certain I can persuade Caroline.”

The idea still left Robert unsettled. He had no desire to see Caroline himself, but he could not allow his daughter to be in her house without knowing she would be treated properly and with respect. He glanced at Martha, whose eyes were wide as she nodded emphatically.

Unable to deny his daughter anything, Robert huffed. “Very well. Let me get my coat.”

The girls cheered, and they followed Fred hand in hand, headed down the street toward Longford Manor. Robert had gone to visit every so often with the girls for their music practice, and more frequently when Aunt Fanny’s health had declined, but if Caroline had taken up residence until the holidays, then after today, he would have to forgo any visits until she left. For his own wellbeing. He would need to keep his distance from the estate and avoid her in any social circumstance. He had no desire to rekindle their past connection, and his only thought was to provide for his family, to see his children happy. So he would go to make sure his daughter was safe, but he would keep Caroline from his sight and from his mind until Christmas, and then hopefully she would be gone for good.