The Ruby in the Storm

Chapter 29: In the Name of Hope

Chapter 29: In the Name of Hope

Samuel had never run so fast in his life. Like a deranged madman, he pushed through crowds of people in his endeavor to make it to the docks where Malia said John worked. His sister was about to give birth to a child and, despite his obvious reservations towards Eliza and John's marriage, John deserved to be there to see his child born.

Samuel skidded to a halt when he reached the docks and at that moment he realized how unfamiliar his place really was. It was as if he had walked into a maze, yet John perhaps walked this same path every day, taking turns and not thinking twice. He probably walked through the same crowd Samuel had pushed is way through, and he probably wished everyone he saw a good morning. Was he well known here? Was he well respected?

What does it matter? Eliza is in labor!

"Excuse me," Samuel approached a tall, well built and well dressed man, on the assumption that he possibly knew where he should go. "I'm so sorry, but do you know where I can find Mr. Quincy? It's a matter of some urgency."

The man frowned, but then nodded. "That I do, my good man. In fact, he was just behind me..."

"I still am," John hurried forward, frowning at Samuel as he approached. "Apologies, Fitzgerald. Samuel, what are you doing here? Is everything well?"

"I..." Samuel shook his head and tried to ignore the fact that John was even on speaking terms with such a seemingly well to do man. "It's Eliza."

John's face paled immediately. "What is it?"

"Is Mrs. Quincy unwell? Is she ill?" The well-dressed man—Fitzgerald—pressed, also panicked. "I will send for my physician immediately!"

"No, no, she's in labor!" Samuel snapped, not meaning to. "Right now, in fact, your mother is with her. But we must hurry!"

John didn't have the time he needed to process Samuel's words, but he still followed when Samuel turned and took off without so much as a goodbye to the other man. For all Samuel knew, he was also coming along. None of that mattered right now; he had to get home to his sister. She was probably so scared.

Somewhere along the way, Samuel must have taken a wrong turn because John took the lead. Samuel couldn't see the look on his face, but from the way John uncharacteristically pushed and shoved through the crowd without muttering so much as an apology—much like Samuel had done earlier—he could tell John only had Eliza and his child on his mind and nothing else. It was likely he had forgotten that Samuel was even there, following like a lost, scared, and confused duckling. He often wondered what it would be like to have a child with Leila, but the fear he was feeling with Eliza's labor was making him second guess any fantasy he had created. Of course he would need a child, but he would not like seeing his wife—or himself—in such a state.

When they arrived a John's humble home, John all but barged through the doors, with Samuel and Fitzgerald—Samuel had noted a while back that that man had actually come along—following closely behind.

"Eliza!" John shouted, rushing up the stairs with his coat still on. "Mother?! Eliza?!"

Samuel raced up after him, but the two men were blocked by the door that Malia had locked, behind which Eliza was giving birth.

"I have to get in there," John pounded on the door. "Mother, open this door!"

"No, John," Malia's voice sounded sternly on the other side. "You know it is against my practice to let the husbands in while the wives are in labor."

Eliza's shriek following that statement didn't help resolve matters.

"What about me?!" Samuel demanded.