Part 24 (1/2)
”Yes, Amy.”
She was in his arms in an instant, sobbing. ”Chris. He - I saw him raise the gun, but I - couldn't - couldn't make any noise - or - or - move -”
”It's alright now, Amy. I'll take care of you.”
”P-Promise?”
”I promise.”
”Forever?”
”Forever and ever,” he said solemnly. They talked most of the evening, until Amy's eyes began to droop. Very gently, Barnabas lifted her from the chair and carried her to the bed. ”Rest now. We'll talk again tomorrow evening.”
”You'll be here?” He could hear the insecurity in her voice.
”You have my word.” He stayed at her side until she slept, then followed Julia and Lee from the room. ”How soon can I take her back to Collinwood, Julia?”
”You're going back home?” Julia asked.
”Amy needs the security of being back at Collinwood. I'm sure Elizabeth will agree to let her stay there.”
”Would you excuse us, Lee?”
”I have night rounds anyway. I'll check in on Amy later.”
At her house, Julia poured herself a gla.s.s of wine. ”What reason will you give Amy for her not moving into the Old House?”
”My - depression over Angelique's death; the fact that she will have David at Collinwood, someone her own age instead of two bachelors. I'll convince her, Julia.”
”Give me another day at least to work through any residual effects that night might have left.”
There was a knock on the door, and Willie let Quentin in. His blue eyes held a myriad of feelings - most prominently guilt. ”What the devil is going on up here?”
Julia gave him a large measure of brandy, glad in a way that his first meeting with Barnabas since the episode with Maggie was coming in this way. It tended to keep Quentin from taking his cousin to task. ”If you'll calm down, we'll tell you.”
He downed another full brandy while listening and reading the letter. ”The coward's way out? I wish I had had the48.
courage to do it a long time ago. Then none of this would have happened.”
”But it would have. The curse wouldn't have ended with your death, Quentin,” Julia said.
”Then I should've found a way to end it.”
”We tried, Quentin,” Barnabas reminded him. ”Even Magda tried. There was simply no way.”
”That doesn't stop the guilt. Every time I look at Amy, I see Jenny, Lenore. That child doesn't deserve any of what's happened to her. Is she going to be alright?”
”After her reaction to Barnabas?” Julia asked with a slight smile. ”I think so. As long as he's there for her.”
Julia was called away to the hospital a few minutes later, leaving Quentin alone with Barnabas. ”Quentin, I think we need to talk,” Barnabas said.