Boundless

Chapter 29

    Jenny’s health declined rapidly. By the second week in December, she was completely bedridden. Like before, I spent all my time sitting next to her bed trying to keep her entertained. Unlike before, I had to share my chair by the bedside with Charlie. He came every day and read to her and told her the town news. Even though she never told me, I could tell Charlie’s visits brightened up her day more than I ever could.

    While Charlie was with Jenny I would go to the Beverley House for a dress fitting or a meeting with the chef. I always wished my sister could come with me and see me in my large dress or try the food that was going to be at the wedding breakfast. Every time I returned home I tried to tell her every detail of the Brussels lace or the extremely expensive fish but I knew it wasn’t the same as being there in person.

    One afternoon as I was telling Jenny about my brand new veil, she interrupted me. “Rebecca, I know I haven’t always been supportive of you and Ezra…and you don’t know how terrible I feel about it.”

    “You don’t have to say that.”

    She put her pale hand over mine. “I do. I want to apologize for thinking I knew better than you. As much as I would love to hear your every thought, I can’t, so I assume. It’s not right.”

    A tear dropped onto the sheets beneath me. “Your opinion matters to me, Jenny, it always has and always will.”

    “I just want...when I’m gone I want you to forget that conversation ever happened. Forget your nagging sister.”

    “We’ll be far too old to remember a silly conversation like that.” I grasped for a subject change, anything. “Have you heard about the floral arrangements yet?”

    Christmas Eve, I woke up to find Jenny paler than usual and her breathing more labored. Dr. Perkins came immediately and examined her. He listened to her weakening heartbeat and felt her forehead. He tried asking her questions but she only got halfway through her answers before running out of energy.

    Finally, Dr. Perkins pulled my father, mother, and I into the hallway. “I’m very sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Colson, but I think this is the end.” My mother burst into tears and leaned against my father.  I stood silently in the dark hallway staring at Dr. Perkins, waiting to call his bluff.

    My vivacious sister, whom everyone adored and who was always teasing, couldn’t be dying. The death of a person such as her seemed wrong, it would unbalance the universe.

    The moment I realized Dr. Perkins was serious, I fled down the stairs to grab my coat. I don’t remember opening the door and running down the street. The next thing I remember is knocking on the door of the Wallis house.

    Sheriff Wallis opened the door immediately, letting a large amount of snow into his warm home. “What can I–”

    “Charlie. Where’s Charlie?”

    Charlie appeared behind his father at the door. “I’m right here. Is something wrong?”

    “Come with me. Now. It’s Jenny.”

    He followed me out the door without even putting his coat on. The ice on the roads didn’t matter, we ran as if it wasn’t there.

    By the time I made it back to the house, Dr. Perkins had left and my parents were sitting in Jenny’s room. My mother was sitting on the chair holding one of Jenny’s translucent hands to her face and my father was standing behind her with his hands on her shoulders.

    I sat down on the other side of the bed. “Hey, Jenny,” I grabbed her other hand, “look who’s here to see you.”

    My sister’s head slowly rolled to look at Charlie and I. The corners of her lips curled up slightly. “If I’d known you were coming...I’d have…put some pearls...on.”

    Charlie gave her a small smile.

    She narrowed her eyes at him. “I hope...you brought...your coat. Wouldn’t want to…catch your death.” She smiled at her morbid joke then began coughing furiously. She paled a little more. With her dark hair and white skin, she looked like a fairy tale princess waiting to be rescued by her handsome prince.

    Her voice was almost a whisper. “Rebecca.” I leaned forward so that I could hear her every word. “Choose wisely.” With that, she looked at Charlie. “Marry Pollyanna Howe...she always had a...thing for you.”

    With a large amount of difficulty, she turned her head to look at our parents. A tear slid down my father’s cheek. She opened her mouth to say something but was consumed by another coughing fit. I let go of her clammy hand to brush a lock of hair from her face.

    When the fit subsided, she leaned against her pillow and closed her eyes. “Dream of me,” she murmured.

    And then the universe came unbalanced.