July 14, 1859

July 14, 1859

Dear Safiya,

Firstly, I have absolutely no questions about the story, I just want to know what happens next.

Secondly, I am sorry that it took so long to write back.  I will explain why in a bit.

Thirdly, I will tell you about the party.  Oh, it was grand.  I mean, I was dead tired from working all day and part of the night and then the next day.  I only just managed to finish reading your letter before I fell asleep.

I found out that the boy’s name is James Shuster.  His grandfather was an immigrant from Germany, and his parents names are Loretta and Gregory.  James prefers to be called Jamie, but will be called James if it is a Father, an elder, or a teacher calling him so, but no one else.  Personally, I think Jamie suits him better.

Anyway, everyone loved the food, especially the meat pies.  I did get your letter in time, and I made chocolate mousse.  That took forever, but it was worth it.  Mm, delicious.

After dinner and dessert we went into the living room and talked for a very long time.  Thankfully, Mr. Shuster does not drink, and so Mr. MacJohns felt that he shouldn’t drink either.  At least not that night.

The twins were tired because they were running all about the farm that day with excitement, so Cindy went and tucked them into bed.

The thing is, Jamie was staring at me.  The entire night.  It kind of scared me at first, but then we started talking, and he was curious about me as well.  I had fun talking to him.

Just when they were about to leave, it hit me.  The illness.  I don’t know what it is or was, but I suddenly collapsed.  My head started throbbing and it was like someone had dropped me into a cauldron of boiling water.

Thankfully Jamie was standing right next to me at the time, so he caught me, and almost instantly after his touch most of it went away, but I still felt like I had a fever, which I did.

‘What is wrong with her?’ Jamie asked Mr. MacJohns, who was staring dumbly at me.

I replied for him, ‘I have been feeling unwell for a little while. Really, it’s probably nothing, I’m fine-’

Mrs. Shuster interrupted with, ‘No, you are not okay. You obviously are not fine. Tell you what. Why don’t you come and stay with us for a while? It shall lighten your mood, and my mother is an herbalist. She’s coming tomorrow and would surely be happy to treat you. What do you say? Mr. MacJohns?’

He stuttered, ‘Well, I really have to talk to my wife about this-’

Mrs. MacJohns came back down then, and in a few minutes I was getting my things ready to stay there for a few days. That’s part of the reason why I didn’t reply quickly.

When I walked into the door I gasped. You wouldn’t believe what kind of treasures they have! There’s too many to describe here. Anyway, when I asked, they simply replied that they traveled a lot, and proceeded to show me to my room. It had a huge fireplace, which I got started right away. I felt much better.

Not much happened that night and the next day. I mainly just sat in my room and slept or ate or talked with Jamie. I was exhausted, and Mrs. Shuster’s mother was late.

Then on the twelfth she came. She was a very sweet woman, Anna was, for that was all that I was allowed to call her. You probably know of her already.

To simplify everything, I spent the entire time there recovering, and now I feel, well, better. Not fantastic, but not bad either. I’m still a bit ill. Oh well. I’m sure it will get better with time.

With love, Lucy