My New Family

Chapter Thirty: I get the Fever

    It is now night, and I'm working on François's coat. I want to give it to him before the Lorys leave for Switzerland. It sounds like we will be married in a year or two. He and I asked Stepfather for his blessing a few days ago, and both him, Mother, and Madame Lory said they couldn't be more pleased! Mother wants me to finish my schooling first, though, so that's what I'll be doing in the meantime.

     It's been a busy day; we went to the Arc de Triomphe, the Revolution Memorial, the Louvre Museum, the Orasy Museum, the Sainte Chapelle, the Panthéon, and the Eiffle Tower. Tomorrow, it seems as if we are visiting Notre-Dame for Sunday Mass in the morning, then Sacré Coeur, the Cluny Museum, and a few other places. Then we'll  head back to the hotel, pick up our things, and take a train back to Amiens. Mother has finished another three squares for her quilt, and Evelyn is finishing one of her berets; it's a sandy-grey buff, with other bits  of color mixed in. It's beautiful - I love it! I finish the collar, then go to bed. I only have the left side to finish tomorrow night on the train.

     I let Evelyn and François drag me around on my feet. I'm not feeling to well, but I'm trying not to let it show. I don't want to spoil everyone's fun on our last day here.

     "Pauline, why aren't you eating?" Anna asks me, attracting Mother's and Madame Lory's attention. I groan quietly as they rise from their chairs and come over to inspect me. Now I've done it. "Pauline, you look faint!" Mother exclaims. Madame Lory passes her hand over my forehead. "Fever." she says. Stepfather looks concerned. "You sure?" "Positive! I can't believe she's still conscious, what with having been walking about all day in this heat."

     I grow dizzy with heat as Stepfather, Evelyn, and François walk me back to the hotel, leaving Mother and Mrs. Lory to take the rest to Sacré Coeur, our last stop. I want to see it, too. "I'm fine." I hear myself insist. "No, you aren't." Stepfather says.

     Mercifully, soon we are there. Stepfather takes François to find a doctor with him as Evelyn stays with me, bathing my forehead with wet cloths from the bathroom.

     The doctor, or rather, the lady doctor, comes into the room with her equipment. Evelyn stands aside, and it all suddenly goes blank for me.

     When I wake up, François is gone to tell the others to come back for a meeting. Father is talking with the doctor, and Evelyn is sitting on the bed next to me, a cloth in her hand. I turn my head a little, and see that she's fallen asleep. Poor her, having to care for a stupid sick step-sibling like me. I look near the door of the room as I hear the nurse say, "This girl, Pauline, is in no condition to leave. She might not make it, especially since your house is hours away." "Yes, I suppose you're right. I'll have her stay somewhere here for the time being. but I have to get back to my job, and the rest of the family has things to do at home. so I don't know how it will work yet." "Then, Monsieur, I have a favor to ask of you. A couple of woman nurses and I will have to leave our currant boarding house, and the place we will go to next will not be available for sixteen days. If you would pay for a room here, we would care for your daughter free of charge. And there'd be at least one of us here at all times. It would be like having one's own nurses. But the choice is up to you, of course, Monsieur." Father thought for a few seconds. "I should be glad to, on two conditions: one, that one or two of Pauline's siblings may be with her at all times, and that I may meet these fellow nurses of yours tonight before I leave." "Certainly, Monsieur. I shall bring them to this hotel at six o'clock this evening, if that is alright with you." "Yes, by all means, do. But I shall expect you to care for her as your sister." "We will."

     What an adventure this is going to be! Stepfather came back at six, and detailed Phill and Evelyn to stay with me. Evelyn's managed to find some sort of retreat that will take place in the next week, so she convinced Stepfather to let her stay, too. I think she'll enjoy it! One of the two nurses Nurse Henrait brought with her was called Celine LePainne. Sounds kind of familiar, doesn't it? and she looks exactly who I think she is: that girl who sat next to François on the train! The other nurse is   called Anne Springer.   

    I am in the bed, and Phill is trying to make me drink some soup. I shake my head - why does she want me to drink something hot when I'm already burning up? And now I am shivering and don't know why. This is just horrible. Phill manages to pour a few drops into my mouth, and it tastes wonderful. Not so bad after all, I guess. I am falling asleep again...

     The next few days are a blur - some of the nurses checking on me, Evelyn and Phill giving me little serving of food, Mother, Stepfather, or Madame Lory running in every couple of days... I wake suddenly, and Madame Lory is at my side. "My dear Pauline," she whispers, "do you hear me yet?" I nod. "I'm leaving tomorrow. Is there anything you want me to do?" I show her the unfinished coat. ''For François." I whisper. "If you have time."

     Finally, on August twenty-sixth, I am well. The nurses have four days left in the hotel, but Phill and Evelyn take me home. I am glad to be there - and just in time for school, too!