Five Sisters (58 page)

"What I'm trying to say . . ." said Charlie, "Very inarticulately . . . is that . . . in fact . . . despite what I said before, and despite what I wrote in that letter, and despite . . . despite everything, I
do
love you, Sara. And, if you haven't already given your heart to another and if you're willing to forgive me . . . I . . . I can only hope that you'll have me. Because I know now that you're the only one for me. And being separated from you only made that all the more clear . . . I don't want to lose you again and I don't want to waste anymore time . . . You're far too good for me, but if your feelings have not changed and you're still willing to overlook my faults, then I have something I'd like to ask you."

As he stepped forward to cross the room and knelt down beside Sara, she could no longer control her sobs. Her heart had stopped, her shoulders were still shaking, and her sleeves were sodden.

Charlie reached forward to take both her hands from her eyes, leaving the tears to fall freely down her face. He touched them softly to his lips and Sara nearly felt her heart crack into two.

"Will you marry me, Sara?"

The room was suspended for a moment, completely silent and completely motionless. Ethan and his parents were
shocked,
their eyes wide and their mouths dropping open in awe. Brook wore a lopsided smile and Emy clasped his hand, her heart rising. Nathaniel was rather startled, for he'd never quite seen Sara so upset nor Charlie so smitten, and his right eyebrow rose unwittingly. Gail's hands were covering her mouth while Mary's were clasped in front of her chest, and both girls were staring intently at their sister in wonder.

The silence slowly diminished as Sara's sobs became louder. She couldn't help it. And with her hands still held by Charlie, she couldn't wipe away the tears running down her cheeks and nose. But she bit her lip ardently and finally spoke, though her voice was muffled and hoarse from crying.

"Yes," she said, nodding fervently, "Yes, of course I'll marry you, Charlie."

All at once, the room erupted into shouts and laughter, sighs and smiles. But Sara heard no one and saw no one but her Charlie.

Her hands were thrown carelessly around his neck and Charlie beamed. Sara's heart was racing now but she still couldn't stop crying. Her damp cheek pressed against his shoulder and her tears were dried on his sweater. "Oh Sara," Charlie kept murmuring, as though still in disbelief, "Oh Sara, you're finally mine at last." Without even thinking on it or propriety a moment, Sara's face traveled upward until her lips met Charlie's. All at once a cold rush traveled through her veins, reaching from her mouth all the way down to the tips of her toes. She was shivering now, her head growing dizzy. She'd been waiting for this moment for so long, waiting for the day she could finally rest comfortably in Charlie's arms and know he wouldn't pull away.

Ethan & Mary Lindsey

Ethan Lindsey and Mary St. James wed the following March and the day went just as wonderfully as Mary had always imagined. Scarcely any clouds were visible, the sun shining brilliantly, and the temperature was warm for the brisk spring day. Mary's dress was lovely, the ceremony went on without a flaw, the food was delicious, and their guests had a marvelous time dancing. Neither Ethan nor Mary could ask for anything more.

After spending a week in the mountains, they moved into the little house John and Ethan had worked so hard to build. While Ethan continued his studies at the university, Mary found a job at a local seamstress shop in town and she worked long hours there for their first two years together so that they were able to maintain a stable income. It was difficult, one can imagine, for such an optimistic and beautiful girl as Mary to become accustomed to working life, but she did it for hope of their future.

Once Ethan found a job at the hospital in Brighton, she and Ethan tried desperately to start a family. They'd both always wanted children and now that Ethan was no longer in school, it seemed the perfect time. But things didn't go quite as well as Mary had planned. It took years for her to finally become pregnant. And when she did, she became quite ill indeed and was forced to quit her job as a seamstress. The pregnancy was uncomfortable and filled with complications. Mary spent most of her days alone in bed, though Betsy stopped by often; Ethan worked from dawn until dusk. And then, after all that struggling, Mary took a violent turn for the worse and was taken to the hospital. She'd had a miscarriage.

After several more miscarriages in the next few years, Mary became with child once more. She and Ethan were still trying their best to be optimistic, despite all their difficulties, and somehow Mary made it through another horrific pregnancy.

In the middle of a cold, winter's night, their baby girl was born.

Her name was Amelia, after her grandmother, and she was everything they'd always wanted.

While Ethan worked hard to become a surgeon, spending nearly everyday at the hospital, and Mary returned to her old job, little Amelia grew up.

She spent most of her days with her mother, on the floor of the seamstress shop surrounded by scraps of fabric and thread and measure tools. The women Mary worked with adored Amelia and they always made sure that the scissors and needles were out of reach for her little, stubby fingers. Once she was old enough to walk, they dressed her up in frilly laces and lovely calicos, tying ribbons in her hair and adorning her hats with bows.

Little Amelia looked exactly like her mother, from her black, shiny ringlets down to her milky white skin. Her eyes were a beautiful shade, sitting just between Ethan's navy and Mary's clear blue, and her lashes were far longer and darker than any child ought to have. With skin as soft as silk, her cheeks were often pinched by the ladies of the seamstress shop, much to her distaste, and Mary always made her wear a hat for fear she'd end up with a face full of freckles.

Amelia's father doted upon her constantly, bringing his darling daughter surprise gifts from town whenever he could spare the money. Her room was filled with exquisite china dolls, their faces painted with rosy cheeks and crimson lips; rocking horses with real hair that she could braid with pretty ribbons; dollhouses with miniature furniture so intricately designed it was nearly as attractive as the furniture in her house; and tea sets that came with everything one needed to set up a proper meal. She was the envy of every girl in the county, to be sure. Whenever a child was invited to the Lindsey's house they couldn't help but be flattered and dressed in their Sunday best so as not to look silly next to Amelia's lovely dresses and ribbons.

Throughout Amelia's childhood, Ethan and Mary tried for another child. They wanted nothing more than another lively face to light up their house. But the attempts were to no avail. The miscarriages continued and Ethan soon feared another baby would wreak havoc upon his dear Mary's health. In this way, it soon became clear that Amelia was Mary's angel, the only child she could ever have.

As the years past, much to Mary's pride and Ethan's dismay, Amelia grew into an attractive young lady and found many interested boys around Brighton. She went off to town every Saturday, her arms around the waists of her girlfriends, to attend the weekly dances held in the great old stockroom. Just like her mother, she easily stole the hearts of many a men and enjoyed acting the part of a playful coquette. There was a new beau calling at the Lindsey's doorstep every week and Amelia was happy to oblige them.

Their life was a happy one through and through, despite the disappointments of Mary's many miscarriages. Ethan found success as a doctor and Mary no longer had to work. They lived in that beautiful house in the countryside of Brighton for all their days, adding more luxuries as their fortune increased. Mary Lindsey lived comfortably in a life nearly as perfect as she'd always dreamed of, becoming content with only one child to keep her happy. With a loving husband, charming house, and wonderful young daughter, she truly couldn't ask for anything more.

Charlie & Sara Wilkie

Charlie Wilkie invited Sara St. James to join him on Violet soon after Mary's wedding. Of course, she accepted him without hesitation.

Taking up the girl's old room aboard the old ship, Sara found herself far more comfortable now that she had the entirety of the tiny room all to herself. Nearly two of the beds were stacked with crates of Sara's book collection, an engagement gift from John, which she set upon reading immediately. And unlike the voyage to Brighton, where Sara spent nearly half of her time in solemnity, she was able to enjoy herself immensely. She fished with Rory and Zooey, learned to play Jess's fiddle, danced with Charlie and the other boys at midnight parties, and relaxed in Charlie's office in the company of a thick novel. Being the only woman on board she became the mother of all the sailors, cooking their meals and cleaning their clothes, but it wasn't half
so
bad as she imagined it might be. Someone was always willing to help out if need be and the men were never very picky about the cleanliness of the ship or the quality of their food.

By far though, the most wonderful thing of all was that Sara no longer needed to hide her love for Charlie. When she thought of him, she no longer felt tears welling in her eyes or anger arising in her heart. Sometimes when she was stirring soup in the kitchen or reading in his office, he'd creep up behind, wrap his arms around her, and give her a fountain of kisses. The sailors loved to tease poor Charlie about it, but in truth they were all very happy for their beloved captain. Not one could doubt that he and Sara were truly meant to be together.

The only struggle for Sara aboard the ship was that she was separated from her sisters. They were, besides Charlie, her best friends and it was difficult to finally be separated from them after so many years together. But she wrote them often. Long, detailed, novel-like letters that she stuffed into envelopes and sent at every port they entered. And Charlie made sure that Violet traveled back to Brighton during the holidays and whenever else he could manage.

After two long years of engagement, Charlie and Sara were married in a small ceremony aboard the ship in the port of Brighton. Sara wore a very simple, yellow gown and Charlie put on his best trousers, shirt, and tie. The guests were few, including only Sara's family, the Lindseys, Nathaniel, and Charlie's sailors. They said their vows and the sailors shouted hurrah and everyone traveled down to the city in a long procession, entering a pretty, little restaurant not far from the docks. Toasts were said, stomachs filled, and then they all headed back up to the ship so that Jess and Billy could play a tune while everyone else joined in a merry, lively dance. Stars slowly began to fill the sky and the moon came out of its shadow as the festivities continued. It was far into the night before the party finally came to an end.

Only two weeks after their honeymoon, Charlie and Sara set out on Violet once more. They traveled up and down the coast, never too terribly far from Brighton for Sara's sake, and continued on as they had before with little changed except that Sara's name had become Mrs. Sara Wilkie. But as the weeks continued, another change become apparent as well as it was found that Sara was with child.

Despite the fact that she was on a rocky ship in the huge ocean, Sara's pregnancy was uncommonly comfortable. She had no morning sickness, no seasickness, and little to complain of. With fifteen sailors and her husband to help out, she rarely had to struggle with any household chores and as soon as the final weeks began, Charlie took her back to Brighton so she could be with her sisters and near the hospital.

The baby came right on
time
, on the morning of the first day of October. He was beautiful and healthy with ten tiny fingers, ten tiny toes, and a fuzz of dark hair.

"What shall we call him?" Sara asked, rocking him to sleep in her arms that evening.

"Royston," Charlie replied, softly but surely. It seemed he'd had the name planned for months, the namesake being more than obvious.

Sara smiled, "Royston Wilkie."

Royston soon grew to be a curious young toddler. His hair was just as dark as his mother's and his eyes were as green as his father's and, like Charlie, he adored the sea. Aboard Violet, he was allowed to roam wherever he might wish to, for there was always someone around to keep an eye on him. With flushed cheeks, a sweater knitted by his Aunt Mary, and windswept hair, he'd run across the decks as quickly as his stubby legs would allow him. The sailors adored little Royston, and he them, but he couldn't help but wish for a little brother or sister to play with.