Dahlia awoke screaming just before 2:00 AM. Dahlia ran into the nursery and started to console the twins who were also screaming. Marie ran up the stairs and into the nursery. She took Albert Jr from Dahlia's arms and sat on the other rocker with him. They were inconsolable at first and then cried themselves to sleep.
"Something is wrong, Marie. Something is very, very wrong." Dahlia was somber.
"Do you think it is something they ate?" Marie was upset too.
"I woke up at the same time they did all of us screaming. Sitting there with the baby I tried to contact Albert and nothing. There is still nothing. He was always with them too." Dahlia was frightened, something rare in her. She was despondent and lethargic.
"Get some sleep, darling girl, there is time enough tomorrow to investigate." Dahlia embraced her "sister" tightly. They returned to bed.
"Marie, I am not going to work today. The children are not settled and they need me more than some sick horse." Dahlia was nervous and paced up and down the stairs. The twins fussed all day. Dahlia took them for a walk in their perambulator for two hours in the afternoon and they slept well. They as supper preparations were being made. After putting the twins in their play fence in the library, she sat with them. Nervous and figiting she wept.
"Dona Mckinley, there is a man to see you in the front vestibule." The maid sat down with the children.
"I am Mrs. McKinley." She told the young officer in his dress blue uniform.
"May I come in? I have to speak with you." Dahlia led him in her heart sank. She knew there must be something wrong with Albert. Dahlia was shaking and barely incontrol of her voice and emotions. They sat in the parlor.
"May I get you something to drink? Water, wine...?" Dahlia spoke so softly the young man could barely hear.
"No, thank you for your gracious offer. Mrs. McKinley, we received a wireless message a short time ago. Captain McKinley's name was on the casualty list. There was a pitched battle with hostile forces in the Philippine Islands the evening past." The young officer was choking down a cry and his eyes were wet. "I knew your husband. He was the finest gentleman I have ever known. As we learn more, I will come personally to let you know his condition."
Dahlia wept and her hand shook as she reached out to take the overseas telegram from the young man. "Thank you for being so polite and professional." She showed him to the door and hugged him. Before he got to his horse, he was broken down and openly crying.
"Dahlia, my dear" Marie met her at the door and she was in tears too. She embraced Dahlia. "How can I be of comfort?" Marie hopd she could be the comfort to Dahlia that she had been when Robert Jr. passed.
"You already are a comfort. We are now the old dried up McKinley widows. Now we fit in with our in-laws in Modesto." They both laughed between the sobs. "I do need to inform Albert's mother. As soon as we know for sure. I cannot be mean. She may have just lost all her sons and her husband."
"Dahlia, that is you. That is one of the many things that I love so much about you." Marie accompanied Dahlia upstairs where they exchanged twins as they spent hours caressing and holding them.
"They know him. They already have him inside. He was the only boy and man in my life. There was never a question that there would be anybody else." Dahlia was no longer weeping. She was solemn and mournful. Her shoulders slumped and her eyes were downcast. The fiery obsidian of her eyes was dull and languid.
"Do you think it could be a mistake?" Marie already knew the answer. Dahlia merely shook her head, no.
The officers of the State Volunteers kept Dahlia informed. They confirmed the worst. The young lieutenant told her about the particulars of bringing Albert's body home and funeral arrangements. She was also informed that he had been nominated for some military honors.
"I sent a message to your father and mother. I know you would want them to know." Marie was sweet and took over all she could. She had even informed the veterinary school.
"Thank you, I have been in a daze since that morning when I could no longer sense him." Dahlia knew what she had to do. She had always handled the financial details of their life.
The following morning, Dahlia telephoned the Western Union office. She dictated a telegram to her mother-in-law giving the circumstances of Albert's death. As she hung up the telephone, she thought that this would be her last communication with the woman
"You haven't eaten for two days. How about some cheese, sausage, and some basque sourdough bread I have a nice fresh Boudin loaf it will go well with my father's vintner's reserve wine." Marie was cherishing her role as "big sister".
"That sounds wonderful. You and I relaxing and listening to the Victrola." Dahlia smiled for the first time in nearly a week.
Dahlia had tea and toast for breakfast. "Marie, I haven't heard from my mother yet. Do you think she feeling alright? I know she loved Albert as her own son." Dahlia helped clear the table and then took the twins for a walk. She walked slowly and she tried to think about what her life was going to be now without Albert. She slowly opened the front door and was set upon.
"Oh, querida mia! Mi hija pobrecita." Ericia and BJ had rented a rig, dropped everything and driven all night and half the day to get to Oakland.
"Mamma, I am sad, not dead." Dahlia pushed back to avoid been smothered. "I am so happy that you came and you Pappa."
BJ was as solid as a mountain but his eyes showed his grief both for his daughter and the young man, Albert. " I am here for you. Anything you need, I am here."
"Did you leave Joel behind?" Dahlia missed her brat of a brother.
"We didn't lock up. I left my forge burning. Joel wanted to be by your side but he was mature enough to volunteer to stay behind and take care of everything." BJ spoke softly and slowly you could hear the grief in his voice.
Ericia busied herself by crying into a hundred handkerchiefs that she brought for Dahlia. "Have you eaten any thing since you got the news?"
"Yes, Mamma we had cheese sausage and bread last night that we washed down with wine." Dahlia and Marie knew what was coming next.
"Just as I thought you haven't eaten anything. Those are antojitos, not food." Marie and Dahlia sniggered a little. "I brought some things to cook some real food." BJ rolled his eyes. Ericia invaded the kitchen and started ordering the cook around.
"Pappa, we have some beer on ice from the Anchor Steam brewery in the City." Dahlia waited for the yes.
"That sounds like what I need right now." You could see the anxiety fade from him as he sat down in a rocker. Marie retrieved the beer and Dahlia helped him remove his boots. He was sound asleep minutes after finishing his beer.
"We are so fortunate you and I to have the family that we do." Maire was looking at BJ with sincere appreciation.
"We are. And we are blessed to have each other." Dahlia embraced Marie as she sobbed on Dahlia's shoulder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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This should have been written two weeks ago. I kept dragging my feet because I knew what was coming. It was emotionally difficult. I was choked up through the entire chapter. I have Albert as a KIA in the Philippine uprising. Another one of our dirty little wars in SE Asia.
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