Olivia's Mine (32 page)

“It is good to see you Olivia, and you do
look happy.”

Olivia smiled. She was content.

Later that morning, a crowd had gathered
outside the mine entrance as word of the imminent rescue spread. It
had been eight long days since the men were first trapped. The fact
that they were alive was regarded as a miracle.

As Olivia and McMichael stood outside the
mine entrance awaiting word of the rescue progress, they heard
cheers coming from beneath the ground. Jimmy, close by as always,
grabbed a helmet and ran into the tunnel.

“My son!” Akiko cried, looking at McMichael
helplessly.

“Let him go Akiko,” McMichael assured her.
“He’ll be safe enough.”

“Can you hear them?” Olivia said excitedly.
“It’s good news! I can’t believe it, it’s good news!”

Jimmy was gone barely a few minutes before he
was back at the mine entrance. He was grinning ear to ear.

“My dad. He’s okay!” he said, running into
his mother’s arms.

Akiko eyes swelled with tears. She hugged her
son tightly as the emotions ran from her.

Overcome with emotion himself, McMichael
turned hugged Olivia.

“Thank God,” he said. “It’s truly a
miracle.”

Realizing what he had done, he released
Olivia from his embrace.

“Pardon me Olivia,” he said. “I was
overcome.”

“I understand Mr. McMichael,” Olivia said,
herself overcome with relief. “No harm done. This is the most
wonderful news we could have hoped for.”

But from the corner of the mine entrance,
Frank had witnessed the brief embrace. His breathing began to
quicken and he found it hard to contain his rage. While the other
men were bringing out Harry and Yan, Frank turned his back on them,
staring blindly into the rock.

“I’ll get him,” Frank vowed.

At Sarah’s home, Lucy was pinning up the
loose strands of the bride’s hair.

“You look stunning,” Akiko said.

“I know!” Sarah said excitedly.

Lucy rolled her eyes, but she had to admit
that indeed, the bride was beautiful.

“I am about to become Mrs. Jason Bower,”
Sarah sighed. “I never thought this day would come.”

“Well it has,” Lucy smiled. “And you’ll only
be missing two people from your guest list.”

Harry and Yan had been brought out of the
tunnel earlier that morning in fairly good condition, but were
being hospitalized as a precaution. Yan had been able to walk out,
but the men had carried Harry out on a stretcher, as his strength
was weaker than the younger man’s was.

The dark cloud of doom that had hung over the
community had been lifted and there was an immediate
celebration.

Rudy stood on the street observing as people
were openly raising their spirit glasses to good tidings. Then men
had come out of the tunnel a few hours ago, but there was an
ongoing impromptu parade in the streets as neighbours celebrated
with neighbours.

“You want me to do anything about that?” he
asked McMichael.

“I’m sorry Wolanski, what were you saying?
The sun seems to be in my eyes.”

“And the money from the beer is lining your
coffers,” Aaron Bower laughed.

“Well then, everything worked out for the
best, didn’t it?” McMichael added, and raised his own glass of rye
to the heavens. “Frenchie,” he said as the Captain walked by,
“come. Let me buy you a beer for transporting this wonderful family
and our new Bertha so safely to the mine.”

Frenchie stopped dead in his tracks. Did
McMichael just offer him a drink? He had known the man for many a
year and that had never happened before aside from the one night
long ago when he and William had saved the life of the sailors.

“I suppose I could find it in my heart to
drink to the rescuers,” he said.

“Well come on then gentlemen. Please join me
in the bar. You too Rudy, I do believe you’re officially off
duty.”

McMichael’s rarely seen burst of light
heartedness was brought to a halt as Frank, having drank more than
his fair share of ale, had him in his sights.

“You!” Frank said, pointing at McMichael.
“Come here you bastard!”

The street was suddenly silenced.

“Frank,” Wolanski said. “You’ve had enough,
turn around and go home.”

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Frank said. “I was
talking to that slimy, money-pinching boss of mine.”

McMichael stared blankly at Frank.

“I said go home Frank,” the sergeant
said.

“That slimy, money-pinching, wife-stealing
boss of mine,” Frank continued, staggering towards the two men. “I
saw you. I saw you with your arms around my wife.”

Wolanski looked at McMichael.

“Are you out of your ever-loving mind Frank?”
McMichael asked.

“I saw you. And you weren’t even slinking
around. You were embracing my wife in the middle of the street
where the whole world could see. I knew you’ve been after her for
some time. I just couldn’t catch you.”

He started to come towards McMichael, the
hatred burning in his eyes. Wolanski put his hand on his gun.

McMichael realised that Frank must have seen
him hug Olivia in the excitement of the rescue.

“It wasn’t what you think Frank. I was
excited that the men were alive. Akiko was hugging Jimmy. I hugged
your wife. I would have hugged Sarah if she was beside me, but it
just happened to be your wife.”

“Just happened? I’ve seen you looking at her.
You look at her like Les looked at your daughter. You’re about to
get what’s been coming to you for a long time.”

“Okay Frank,” Wolanski said. “That’s it.
You’re under arrest.”

“No,” McMichael said. “Don’t arrest him. He
saw what he saw. But it was innocent. Think what you want about me
Frank, but have some faith in your wife.”

“That’s right, she’s MY wife. You keep your
hands off my wife. Olivia’s mine. Do you hear me? She’s MINE!”

“Frank, because I respect your wife’s family
and I don’t want to have to explain to them that you’ve been
arrested for being an idiot on the day of your brother-in-law’s
wedding, I’ve asked Rudy to let you go. He doesn’t have to do that,
but I’m hoping he shows some compassion and let’s you off the hook.
But now you’re officially fired. Your days at my mine are
over.”

Frank took a swing at McMichael, but he was
far too drunk for it to land with any accuracy.

“Frank,” Wolanski said. “I’m officially
escorting you home to sleep it off.”

“You are drunk Frank,” McMichael said, “and I
have a vehement distaste for that. I suggest you do what the
sergeant says before I change my mind and charge you with attempted
assault.”

The crowd in the street remained hushed.

“All right people,” McMichael said. “The show
is over.”

A thunderclap exploded, breaking the tension.
Wolanski pushed Frank towards his home, escorting him up the
hill.

“He’s been chasing after her for months,”
Frank said.

“You just keep your mouth shut Frank,” Rudy
said, “before I re-acquaint you with your room at the jail. It’s
pretty much as you left it.”

Olivia had gone home to change before the
wedding later that afternoon. She had purchased a green velvet
dress for the occasion and its empire waistline hid the slightest
sign of her pregnancy. She rubbed her stomach. Emily had decided
that Olivia was having a baby girl and told, not asked, her to name
it after her. Olivia had not given any thought to a name for the
baby. She started to explore the possibilities in her mind when she
was awoken from her daydream by the sound of pounding on the
door.

Rudy, not waiting for her to answer, opened
the door and threw Frank inside. Her husband fell to the floor.

“What is going on?” Olivia asked.

“He’s drunk and he accused McMichael of
making a pass at you.”

“He did WHAT?”

“And he’s lost any hope of ever working at
the mine again. I think that’s enough for one day. He’s all
yours.”

“Oh Rudy,” Olivia sighed. “Why today of all
days? Help me get him into bed will you?”

Rudy looked at Olivia as she stood helpless.
She couldn’t lift Frank’s deadweight if she tried.

“There isn’t anything to it, is there? You
and McMichael?” Rudy asked.

“Rudy! I’m surprised at you. Of course there
isn’t.”

“One never knows,” Rudy said. “I see a lot of
things in my line of work.”

“Mr. McMichael has never been anything but
civil to me. Well, as civil as Mr. McMichael can be. He has never
in his life made a pass at me. Everyone knows Mr. McMichael
loves...”

She was about to say “Lucy”, but caught
herself in time.

“...only himself.”

“Just so you know, Frank saw him hug
you.”

“Oh,” Olivia said. “So that’s what this is
all about. Trust Frank to be around to misinterpret the only time
McMichael showed an ounce of human compassion in public. He hugged
me when he heard the men were safe. It was just a reflex
action.”

“That’s what he said,” Rudy agreed.

“What on earth am I going to do with this
man?” Olivia asked, looking at Rudy. “That’s a rhetorical question,
I don’t expect an answer. But Rudy, what on earth am I going to
tell my father when Frank doesn’t show up at the wedding? What is
it about my husband and family weddings? What is it about my
husband?”

That one she needed help with.

By mid afternoon, on-again off-again
rainstorm was on again. Sarah’s eyes started to mist up.

“Do not worry Sarah,” Akiko said. “The rain
is a sign of good luck. It rained on my wedding day and look how
long Harry and I have been married. And so happily too.”

“Is that true Akiko?” Sarah asked.

“Yes!” she said, giving Sarah hope. But Akiko
had crossed her fingers behind her back while saying it, and had
given Lucy a disheartened look.

“Come on Sarah,” Lucy said glancing out the
window. “The carriage is outside to take you down to the church.
Mr. McMichael hired it special to take you, and look how
wonderfully it’s decorated with white bows. I’ll go tell your
parents it’s here. Hurry outside, will you? We can’t have you late
for your own wedding.”

Akiko took a long slender box from where she
had placed it in the corner of Sarah’s room earlier in the day.

“Here,” Akiko said, “I have something special
for my special friend. It will take your tears away.”

Sarah opened the box to find a beautiful
white, handcrafted umbrella.

“Oh Akiko,” Sarah smiled, “you truly think of
everything. You’re a wonderful friend. I can’t thank you
enough.”

“You are welcome. But we must hurry. We can
keep your future husband waiting because he is a patient man. But
if we keep Miss Lucy-boss waiting we will be in trouble.”

Sarah giggled.

True to Lucy’s word there was a handsome
black horse-drawn carriage, decorated with satin bows waiting to
take the bride and her family to the church. Sarah smiled and waved
like a queen as she passed by well wishers themselves enroute to
the wedding.

Lightning flashed illuminating Sarah’s
beaming face.

“Maybe you’d better put the umbrella down,”
her mother said. “You won’t get wet in the carriage. We don’t want
anyone struck by lightning.”

The thunder that followed the flash almost
covered the light knock on Olivia’s door, but she recognized the
distinctive rapping from her childhood. Knockety-knock-knock. She
went to answer it.

“Billy!” Olivia said. “Where have you been
hiding on me?”

“I was helping down in the mine,” Billy said.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you at breakfast earlier, but I
needed to clean up.”

“You look handsome,” Olivia smiled. “It’s
good to see you.”

“Handsome I may be,” he said, “but sadly I
don’t have a date to the wedding. I understand you may be in need
of an escort.”

“News travels fast.”

“Get your things,” he said, giving her a hug.
“We’ve got a wedding to go to.” He took her by the arm.

“It’s quite a storm out here,” he said,
taking off his long formal coat and opening it wide. “Here. Let’s
put this big coat over and heads and run.”

With Father Fernier away attending the
Cardinal’s funeral, the diocese had sent up a young priest to
perform the nuptials, Father O’Donnell. It was his first wedding
and to say he was nervous would be an understatement. He did
however, have the exuberance that youth can have, and Olivia found
the wedding service quite moving. Prayers were said at the
beginning for the blessing of the mine rescue.

“Do you, Jason Bower, take this woman to be
your lawfully wedded…”

The next word seemed to have slipped from the
young priests mind. He looked like he was about to faint.

“Wife,” Sarah assured him. “I have been going
over this in my head for days.”

Sarah was beside herself with happiness, and
Jason was lovingly supporting her through her special day. It was
only when Olivia reached for Frank and saw her brother Billy beside
her, that she was reminded of the frailness of her own marriage.
Olivia wiped tears from her eyes. She wished nothing but the best
for Sarah and Jason, but she couldn’t help but remember how full of
hope she had been on her own wedding day.

McMichael sat at the back of the church.
Although he had been invited by both sides of the wedding party to
sit in the front pews, he had decided to allow the families their
own space. He had known Sarah since she was a teenager and was
pleased that she had finally found her man to love. He remembered
fondly the many times he had been forced to console her when she
was lovesick, even though he complained bitterly at the time. So
far he hadn’t had to console his own daughters, but he would be
experienced when and if the time came. He could see Olivia sitting
with her brother. He hadn’t expected to see Frank, but he knew it
must have been hard for Olivia to come with her brother,
nonetheless.