"I could have fallen out of the chair if I didn't grip the arm firmly. 'There won't be more than the three of us to care for,' he added. Of course. I thought he meant me and them.
" 'All right.' I said. 'I'll do it. My son's away at college now so that won't be a burden and my husband can care for his own needs while I'm here.'
" 'Your husband owns that small garage and body shop just outside of the village, doesn't he?' Blake asked me. 'yes,' I told him. 'DeMarca Station,'
"He nodded and then he said. 'Tell him I have two dozen trucks that make a run near here twice a week. They'll be directed to fill up at his station and go there for any minor repairs. We'll, in fact, draw up a contract for the service.' he added.
"Two dozen trucks twice a week and minor repairs! What a carrot, I thought. ,My husband will be beaming from ear to ear. 'I'll call him first thing in the morning,' Blake added.
" 'Thank you. Mr. March.'
"'Thank you." he repeated.
" And now.' I said, turning to Emma. 'How long have you known you were pregnant?'
"She didn't reply. She got up. 'Follow me,' she said and led me to the dining room table, where there was a paper for me to sign. I looked at it and saw it basically said what she had told me it would say. For a moment, only a moment. I hesitated. My heart was warning me, you see. Then I signed it and she said. 'Come along.'
"We went upstairs and then to the attic door. She took out a key and unlocked it. Really confused now. I followed her up the stairs, and there, lying in bed, looking as contented as a well-fed cat and reading a romance magazine, was her sister. Frances. The shades were drawn closed on the windows.."
Mrs. DeMarco paused and closed her eves.
"I'm afraid,' she said. "I have to lie down. Just help me to my bed. I'll finish telling you everything lying down," she added.
Alanis sprang to her feet and took her right arm. I took her left and we helped her rise and guided her to the bed. She sat and I fixed her pillows. She smiled at me and lowered herself.
"Go to the sink, dear, and get me a glass of cold water, please," she told me.
I hurried to do it and returned. She drank some, then handed me the glass.
"Well," she began again, "you can just imagine. Like everyone else. I thought Frances was somewhere else. 'How long have you been up here?' I asked her. She looked at Emma, either because she forgot how long or she wanted permission to tell me.
" 'She's been here a little more than a month now,' Emma said. 'and she's more than a handful. Don't worry,' she continued. 'you'll earn every penny of what we're paying you. Frances.' she told her. 'Mrs. DeMarco will be taking care of you now. She'll be with you until it's over. You are to listen to her, obey her and not make her job any more difficult than it already is. Understand?'
" 'Yes. Emma.' Frances said.
" 'Please give us a list of what you will need in the way of medical paraphernalia. Mrs. DeMarco,' Emma told me. 'and medicine or whatever.' she said.
" 'Okay,' I said.
'In the meantime, are there any questions I could answer for you?' she asked.
"I looked at Frances. She looked sweet and young and so vulnerable that my heart went out to her.
" 'Hasn't she been out of this room, this attic, during this time?'
'"No,' Emma said. 'and I'm afraid that is how it has to be until it's over.'
" 'But walking, fresh air--'
" 'Open the windows, but keep the shades down and her from standing in them if they are opened. We don't want anyone to see her. Walk her all over this house, if you like. I understand going up and down stairs is helpful.'
"She gave me one of her official smiles, and I thought what you thought, of course: Frances is having a baby out of wedlock and Emma wants it to be kept secret. At that moment I didn't think Blake was the father. Why would a wife want her husband's mistress and the resulting child well cared for like this? Frances Wilkens must have strayed and had some affair with a stranger or even someone in the community I knew, and Emma was embarrassed for the family.
"I could see Emma wasn't about to tell me anything more. 'I'll leave you to discuss the
procedures, diet, exercise, whatever with my sister.' she said and left the attic.
"I was never a gossip. I asked Frances nothing about the father of her child. I went through the proper medical questions and the symptoms, performing the examination I always did with a woman who had realized she was probably pregnant or had been diagnosed as pregnant. I talked about food and the vitamins I'd be getting for her and then I left.