She nodded.
I listened, having her take in deep breaths. As I did so, I noticed a quilted box on the table, filled with what appeared to be letters.
Nora must have noticed I saw them because she said, “Those are Mom’s old letters from my father.”
“He wrote to me every week when he first came to America,” Mrs. Cassidy said. “Until he saved enough to send for me. You wouldn’t have thought to look at him, but he wrote such romantic letters. They were in the basement when it flooded last year, so some of the ink is blurred now. But I know all the sentences anyway.”
I put the stethoscope on her back and had her take in a deep breath. “I can’t hear anything too alarming, like pneumonia,” I said.
“That’s good,” Mrs. Cassidy said.
“Dr. Neal has ruled out tuberculosis and cancer,” I said, thinking out loud.
“Thank the good Lord,” Nora said. “But she’s been like this all through the winter. Dr. Neal thought she’d be better when the warm weather came but she’s not. If anything, she’s worse.”
I took out the bottle of cough syrup from the bag. “Dr. Neal had the druggist put this together for you. He said it should soothe your throat.” I turned to Nora. “There’s nothing harmful in it, other than a little alcohol, which will make her sleepy. Give it to her before bed and any time during the day when one of the coughing fits comes on. Also, putting your face over a steaming pot of water will help.” I poured a capful of the syrup and handed it to Mrs. Cassidy. “Take that now and have a nap.”
“This will help me sleep then?” Mrs. Cassidy asked.
“I believe it will.” I studied her for a moment. “Are you able to eat?”
“Food doesn’t taste right,” Mrs. Cassidy said.
“She barely eats,” Nora said.
“You need to force yourself,” I said to Mrs. Cassidy. “It’s important you get your strength up. I’m hoping with some good rest and nutrition, you’ll be restored to yourself before long.”
“I hope so too.” Mrs. Cassidy collapsed back onto the pillows.
I returned the stethoscope in my bag. “I’ll come by tomorrow to check on you.”
“You’re a good boy,” Mrs. Cassidy said.
“I’ll walk you out,” Nora said. “I need to get to my chores anyway.”
As we walked to my car, Nora was quiet.
&nbs
p; “You all right?” I asked.
She tilted her head toward the sun before sticking her hat on top of her head. “I can’t lose her too, Theo. She’s all I have left.”
I bit my tongue to keep from promising her that her mother would be fine. They’d taught us that lesson in medical school. We shouldn’t make promises, other than to share the worst possible scenario. “I’ll do everything I can to help her. In the meantime, you’re doing a great job taking care of her.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I gave her one more smile that I hoped was reassuring before getting back into my car. As I made the way down their dirt road, I glanced in the rearview mirror to see Nora trudging toward the barn, the weight of the world evident in the slouch of her shoulders.
***
Dr. Neal was much recovered by the time I returned to the office. He’d had a good nap on the sofa in his office and was now in with a mother and little girl with a sore throat. Nurse Kelley had welcomed me back with a fat sandwich made on Isak’s bread. “He came by with a loaf for you and some cold cuts from Higgins.”
Higgins were our local butchers. Clive Higgins was married to my aunt Annabelle. Speaking of a strange pair, I thought. A butcher and a woman who made delicate and intricate wedding gowns.
I ate my sandwich in the office, along with a glass of water. The waiting room was empty so I felt comfortable leaving the door open as I ate, enjoying the sound of Mrs. Kelley’s efficient gait as she worked in the other room.
Dr. Neal came into his office just as I was finishing up my lunch.