White Gate Heart

• Chapter Twenty One •

As much as I yearned to remain beside Jamie and give her my full attention, I felt a calling to enter the house and check upon mother. The servants had been taken well care of her and I had left a letter to my maid on instructions for mother's care. As much as Father didn't trust them, I held them with my life, as did mother. 

Holding up the bottom of my white dress, I dragged myself up the hill. It was tiring, especially after the previous day and its events. My head throbbed and I rubbed at its temples in hope of relieving some of the pain. Suddenly, as I reached the top of the hill, I heard pattering feet heading in my direction. I looked upwards and was more than astound to see over half of the servants gathered at the front of the house.

My maid was sprinting towards me, gasping for breath. I greeted her with a curious smile, unsure of how to feel seeing everyone gathered at the front portico. She seemed frightened and too wide eyed to not concern over what was happening. 

"Rebekah! Your.. momma. . . she needs help," she sputtered over a heavy breath. Panic pumped in my veins and I didn't bother to gather my skirt. Without another word, I took long strides to sprint towards the peeling and creaky steps. I skipped steps, unconsciously pushing certain servants aside to get to the house. Everyone was crowding around the house, only inflicting further panic and dread.

"Alright! Everyone git going! We don' need the whole village o'er here!" a man's voice bellowed behind me. I slammed open the door and skipped more steps jumping up the stairs. I heard rattled coughing and heavy gasps as I drew close to mother's door. A servant rushed out the door with a wooden bucket that sloshed. I gagged at the wretched smell that wafted from her bucket and I knew what it was she was carrying to dump outside. 

I took a deep breath before entering into her room. I needed to gain my composure in order to comfort mother in whatever state she was in. Nothing could prepare me for what was inside that deep maroon colored room as I slowly entered. 

Abeline was sitting in a crooked chair on my mother's left bedside. A damp cloth was pressed tightly to her forehead as she gasped for breath. Mother's lips were a pale white, her nose a bright pink in contrast to her paled face. Her eyes met mine and seemed nearly pleading for her death. I felt hot tears prick my eyes and I desperately wanted to rid of the bile rising in my throat. Mother lifted a fragile hand to where I stood, waving me over with as much mustered strength. 

Her hair was plastered to her face and every few seconds she shivered. My heart seemed to slow and quicken at random moments and all I wanted to do was sprint out of the room and cry. My mother tried to grin at me as I drew closer. Her mouth opened to speak, but her throat was so dry she could barely muster a whisper. 

I bent down beside her and watched as one small tear slipped from her eye.

"Say goodbye to them for me," she croaked with a rough cough at the end. I shook my head vigorously and refused to allow her such talk.

"I won't have to." It was all I could say at the moment. Losing her was not an option for me. I looked up at Abeline desperately and searched her face for any emotions she held. Dried tear stains streaked her face and she sniffled occasionally. Shrugging, she pursed her lips. Mother nodded despite my protests and sighed through her stuffed nose.

"Where's the doctor?" I questioned suddenly, angry with his absence. Abeline sighed and seemed to grow sad with my question.

"I sent my husband out to grab him, but he couldn't find him. He searched and tried to find someone who could help her, but everyone's busy and no one knows how to help her," Abeline whispered to me. 

"I-I can hear you, Ab," mother rasped with a small chuckle. 

"I'm going home." With that final comment, mother squeezed my hand and took one last breath of air before her eyes froze on my face, her soul gently and slowly lifting out of her bright green eyes. Her hand grew faint in Abeline's and she cried out. The servant suddenly flew in with another bucket, thinking mother had released more bile.