Unwept by Laura Hickman Tracy Hickman Read Free Book Online Page A

door to greet you. We have so many things planned for you! Is your trunk upstairs? Did you meet anyone from town on the way in? How was your train ride? Would you like to see your room? There are so many handsome young men in town just now for the fall house parties. You’ll have to meet Merrick; he’s by far the handsomest. He’s my beau, you know. Is that shade of green popular in the city? It reminds me of a soldier’s uniform.” Jenny pointed at Ellis’s skirt.
    Ellis had opened her mouth several times in an effort to answer Jenny’s barrage of questions, which quite took her breath away. Finally perceiving a moment’s hesitation, she looked up, smiling, and simply said, “No, I don’t think so. In fact, I can’t stand it.” The girls’ eyes met in merriment. Their laughter spilled out and floated out across the water.
    â€œI can see you’re travel weary. Here,” said Jenny, taking Ellis’s hand in her scarred right hand. Jenny tucked Ellis’s hand into the crook of her elbow. As she did so waves of relief poured over Ellis. In this moment she felt safe. Arm in arm they strolled up the lawn toward the house.
    â€œYour garden is lovely; it still looks like summer,” said Ellis.
    â€œOh, do you really like it? I was hoping you would. Merrick thought you would like it, too. He helped me with it. You always liked summer best. Did I mention he’s my beau?”
    Ellis wondered if the very important-seeming Mr. Bacchus had actually been trimming the hedges in the garden. It seemed unlikely.
    Ellis hesitated, not knowing how to respond. She knew it must show in her face, for Jenny chortled lightly and said, “Forgive my blithering. I’m just so happy to see you. I know I probably shouldn’t ask, but do you remember anything yet? Do you remember me?” Jenny looked into Ellis’s eyes with such hope that Ellis wished she were good at lying so she could tell her yes.
    â€œWell, I’d have to say that beyond knowing my name, I don’t know anything much. I have a million questions I’m just bursting to ask you.”
    They sat down on a porch swing and gazed out over the water.
    â€œWhere to begin? Please tell me something about myself, my family, where I’m from, anything at all really,” begged Ellis.
    â€œOh, dear Ellis, I wish I could!”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI once lost memories, too, and the doctor and Merrick helped me piece my life back together again. This is one of the reasons you’re here, because they believe I’d understand better than most how you’re feeling. I wish I could tell you things, but the doctor would be unhappy with me. He says your case is different than mine and it is very important for you come to remember on your own.”
    Ellis struggled with tears. Two spilled over the rim and down her left cheek. This was not the answer she was hoping for or one she understood. She now knew why the doctor had dodged answering any questions in the car.
    â€œTears. I wish I could put them in a bottle, dear Ellis. It’s going to be fine somehow; I promise,” and Jenny leaned forward, touching more than wiping them away. “I recall less about you because of my accident than some of the others, I guess. I’m sure you will begin to remember soon.”
    â€œI wish I had some proof that I’d been here before … that I know this place … that I belong. I wish I just had a picture, a photograph, of the two of us.” Ellis tilted her head down and away from Jenny’s awkward ministrations.
    â€œI think it’s quite possible, now that you mention it, there is a picture somewhere in the house. It’s very important to you, isn’t it?” Jenny twisted the muslin of her skirts in her fingers, looking thoughtful.
    â€œIt would make all the difference to have something tangible.”
    â€œTangible,” Jenny