Chapter 20: common threads

When we get back to the cabin there is a note waiting for me.

"It looks like you have been invited to Annie's wake." Nimrod informs me as he reads the note.

"When?" I ask, trying to read over his shoulder.

"O'dark 30." he reads to me, I just give him a confused look.

"A half an hour after the sun sets," he clarifies.

"Oh,"

"That will give us some time to talk to Melville and Godiva." he reminds me.

I had completely forgot that we were to have them for dinner. How were we going to do this? I am not up on my couples for a meal etiquette.

"I have nothing to wear," I look sadly down at the bathing sheet I swiped from the bathhouse. Again.

"You'll be fine," he comforts me with a pat on my shoulder.

I just huff at him and stalk into the bedroom to put on my one outfit that has not been burned.

I realize that I am going to have to do something about my clothing situation. I have nothing but the outfit that Gwen lent me and my nightgown. And I have no idea how I would go about making something. I come from an age where you went to the department store and bought your new clothes there. This home made stuff was lost on me. Or more to say I was lost in it.

Nimrod joins me after he penned a note to Melville and Godiva. He quietly folds our Robes and my sheet and puts them away. His movements are calm and practiced. I sit and just watch his hands.

When he finishes he nudges me. "Come, we have to go visit you charges."

I grasp his out stretched hands.

"Why bother," I am dishearten by the lack of progress I am making with them.

"You need to be consistent, They need that," his eyes tender, as he looks at me.

Was he talking about me. I don't need healing. No, really I don't. I am as healthy as a horse with a broken leg.

Nimrod gives one last look before he leaves me to deliver the note. I see to my so called charges. They are the same. Skittish, uncommunicative and frightened. I leave them after hours of trying to get them to understand that we are friends.

Just as I feel a gray funk coming over me, I am ambushed.

"Nosis. Have you been avoiding me?" Maggie storms over.

"Of course not," I smile at her scowling face. "Nimrod and I have been doing rounds. And it has only been, what? A couple of days."

She gives me one last pout then throws her self into my arms.

"I heard what happened with Napoleon," Maggie says. Oh dear has she worried herself over nothing.

"I am fine, we are fine," I hug her and give her my reassurances. She bounces back right away.

"Are you going to the wake tonight?" Eager eyes look up at me.

"Yes I am. Did you send me the note?" I ask.

"What note?"

"Never mind," I dismiss it.

"Tell me about the wake, What am I to expect?" I start her on a new subject.

She launches full force into it. "Well, I have never been but from what I hear, it should be some night. My mother always says you can tell who has been to a wake, by all the babies that happen afterwards."