Chapter Six


Time passed, and Angela felt like she had her husband back! The last three weeks since their return home had been quite happy and peaceful, to her and Caleb's immense relief! Colin was obviously making every effort to be home as much as possible with them, even taking some time off work to take them on rides in the country again. They picnicked and enjoyed the early autumn afternoons together, so much so that Angela was convinced her prayers had been answered.

And on her first night back, in bed, he had welcomed her in the most tender, loving way, attending to her every desire and need. "Colin, I've missed you so! I've longed for you at night - I've missed your body next to mine!" Angela said as she carefully lowered her nightgown straps off her shoulders. Colin watched her, knowing what his next move should be. His love for her was still alive, and he came to her, pulling her nightgown off as he undid the front buttons, past her breasts, down her belly. His hands touched her soft skin and she felt as if she were on fire! He was different! She had always enjoyed their lovemaking before, but this was much more intense…she didn't understand it, but at the same time, she didn't need to. She just wanted to feel…to know that his love for her hadn't died…that he still desired her. They moved together as one, hot with passionate desire, until their climax, and Angela lay there, flushed with satisfaction, not knowing quite what to make of it. Surely her absence had made Colin's heart grow fonder! Her plan had worked!

But then, on the Tuesday morning of the fourth week, the dreaded announcement came. "I'm afraid I need to leave on business, Angela. I'll need to go to London the day after tomorrow. There's just no way I can put it off." Angela searched Colin's face, looking for the coldness she had seen so often before, but there was none. She smiled. "Why Colin, I understand! You've been so accommodating to both Caleb and me since we returned, I suppose it's rightfully time we shared you with your career! How long will you be gone?" "Three, maybe four days. I don't expect it to be too long. And I'm very pleased to know that you do understand, my love!" Colin bent down to kiss her cheek and left promptly for the office. Standing alone in the foyer, Angela's head suddenly ached and the room began to spin as a wave of dizziness overcame her.

"My word, Madam, you must have passed out! If I hadn't happened by the foyer who knows how long you would be here alone - are you all right?" Angela opened her eyes and saw Andrew kneeling beside her. She was cold, clammy and weak. I - I don't understand what came over me. Colin left for the office and then the room began to spin around…why, the next thing I knew you were here holding me!" "Yes, well, as I said - here, let's get you up off the floor and into a chair!" Andrew gently lifted her up into his arms and carried her to a side chair in the foyer. "Madam Angela, why don't you stay here for a minute and I'll tell the cook to make you a nice hot cup of tea. Then I'll help you over to the parlor where you can rest!" "Thank you, Andrew! That sounds fine to me." Angela was terribly shaken and was thankful that Caleb wasn't around to see this happen. He was in the other wing of the house with his tutor. Angela had discussed enrolling Caleb in school with Colin and he had been surprisingly receptive, but they were only in the early planning stages and hadn't even approached Caleb yet; that was to happen at dinner this evening. She took a deep breath and thought, "Colin and Caleb must not know about this. Surely, it is nothing. I must tell Andrew not to say a word!"

"There, there now, here's a cold compress to put over your forehead," Andrew said as he helped Angela onto the parlor sofa, to lie down while she waited for her tea. Does that feel better, Madam Angela?" "Oh, yes, Andrew, it helps very much! Thank you, again. Please, I'll be fine now. You can go ahead and check on the tea and I promise I'll stay right here!" "Very well, Madam. I won't be long!" Andrew left the room, and Angela lay there in silence, save for the sound of the ticking grandfather clock standing majestically in the corner.

Her mind was filled with the same question repeating over and over, "Why did this happen? Why does my head hurt? Why, God? Why?" But only the clock answered with its loud chimes, which didn't help her headache. It was now ten o'clock in the morning.

"Your tea, Madam Angela - it's chamomile, along with a warm croissant, in case you feel like eating a bite or two." "Thank you, Andrew, just set it down there on the table. Uh, Andrew, you won't mind keeping this little incident just between us, will you? I mean I really don't think I want Caleb or Master Colin knowing about this - after all, I'm sure it's just a spell of some sort. It won't happen again…" Angela's voice trailed off as she looked expectantly at Andrew. "Whatever you say, Madam. I can keep a confidence, if you wish." Andrew smiled slightly, raising his eyebrows. "Will Madam be needing anything else? Or shall I leave you for a bit and check back later?" "Later will be fine. Thank you again, Andrew." "Forgive me for saying so, Madam, but it's against my better judgement to keep this confidence. I do believe that this spell could be something serious. But I've been serving you for too long not to follow your wishes." And with that, he left the room. Angela closed her eyes, praying that the headache would go away.

After about an hour, her headache did, in fact, subside, so Angela spent much of the day resting. She also re- read the three letters and information materials they had received in the past few days from boarding schools. She had spoken to Colin about enrolling Caleb in a school on the very first night she returned home, and they had also discussed it at length for several nights thereafter. Finally agreeing on which schools might be appropriate and not too far away, she had written the inquiry letters immediately and was pleased to have received responses so quickly. Their plan was to enroll Caleb for the Winter Semester, so time was growing short; he'd be starting school in January and it was already late September.

After dinner that evening, Caleb, his father and mother all sat in the parlor discussing the prospect of boarding school. Caleb was not at all pleased. "Caleb, you must know just how hard this will be for both your father and I to see you leave home! Why, I'm not sure how we'll get by without you, but I also know that this is a good way for you to make friends and get an excellent education at the same time. We are doing this for your own good, my darling!" Angela exclaimed. Caleb looked at her and Colin with tears rolling down his cheeks. "What did I do wrong, Mama? What did I do to make you angry with me? Why do you both want to send me away?" He quickly rose from his chair and ran out of the room and up the staircase to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

Colin looked at Angela and said, "I knew it wouldn't go well, but I wasn't quite expecting that! Do you want to go and speak to him or should I?" "I'll go up, Colin. I'm not promising anything, but I'll see what I can do to make it better. It rips my heart out to see him hurting like this! Are we doing the right thing, Colin? Is he better off at boarding school than here at home with us?" "You know he is, Angela. Granted, I was a few years older than Caleb when I left for school, and it was an adjustment in the beginning, but these things work out - you'll see. And Caleb will see too, in time." Colin walked over to his wife and gave her a hug. "Go upstairs and work your magic, woman!" he said with a wry smile. She smiled back and took a deep breath. "God help me!" she said. Colin's smile faded. "You don't need God to help with this, Angela. You just need to trust in us - in our family." And he turned and walked out of the room.

By the end of October, the decision on a school had been made and Caleb's enrollment paperwork was completed. He would begin his studies in early January at a highly reputed private school approximately 25 miles from home. But his mother's health had deteriorated to the point where her headaches were nearly constant and she could no longer hide them from either Colin or Caleb. Their long-time family physician, Dr. Valeri, was attending to her this cold and rainy Saturday morning, with Colin and Caleb waiting outside the bedroom, in the hallway.

"Father, is Mama very, very sick?" "I honestly don't know, Caleb. I only wish she had told us sooner about these headaches. From what she says, I'm afraid they've only gotten worse over time." Dr. Valeri came out of the bedroom, silently closing the door behind him. "Colin, I've given Angela a sedative so that she can sleep and escape her pain for a while. In the meantime, I am going to wire an old college friend of mine in London, who specializes in neurology. Her condition, quite frankly, is beyond my abilities - she needs a specialist, and there are none in our little town. In fact, there are no nuerologists of any repute to speak of in all of Transylvania; it's just too new a specialty. I wouldn't trust her condition to anyone but the best. I'll be in touch as soon as I hear back from him. Just try to keep her comfortable. Bed rest is probably the safest thing for her just now." They walked down the staircase to the foyer below. "We will keep her comfortable, Doctor. Thank you so much for coming!" "And Caleb, you must be strong for your Mama! She needs you right now, more than you can know!" Dr. Valeri said as he looked down at Caleb seeing tears in the boy's bright, blue eyes. "I will, Doctor - I'll be strong!" Caleb answered as he shook the doctor's hand.

Caleb remembered those words of his, one week later, as he stood under his father's umbrella in the pouring rain, and carefully set the long-stemmed red rose on top of his mother's casket. The priest droned on and on…"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…he maketh me to lie down in green pastures…" Caleb wasn't listening. He wasn't listening to the priest, or praying to God anymore. God hadn't listened to him. God hadn't answered his prayers. Mama was dead, and nothing else mattered.

That night, before bed, Colin came to speak with Caleb in his bedroom. "May I come in, Caleb?" "Of course, father." Colin hugged his son, and sat down on the bed with him. "I just want you to know that despite our problems, I loved your mother very much. And I love you, very, very much, too! Don't ever forget that, Caleb! There is a bond between you and me - a very special bond - one that goes far beyond even father and son. It's much too complex to explain to you at this age, but when you are older, I will explain and you will understand then. Just trust me, Caleb. We are destined for a long, long life together! I guarantee it! You won't be alone - not ever!" Caleb looked gratefully into his father's eyes. "I love you, father!" "I love you, too, son!" And they hugged each other tightly, neither one wanting to let go.

End Of Chapter Six
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