Julia came out of the girl's room,
her expression thoughtful. She was considering going over
to the Inn, just to make sure Barnabas hadn't thoroughly lost
his temper. But as the doctor considered, Barnabas and Angelique
came down the hall. He was angry. She could tell from
the way he gripped his cane and the way he moved. "Are
you all right, Angelique?" she asked, looking past
him to the other woman.
"I'm fine, Julia. Thank
you."
"Your concern, Julia, is admirable,"
Barnabas said. "Where is she?"
"In there," she said, indicating
the room behind her. "She's asleep." When
he started past her, Julia placed a hand on his arm. "Let's
go to my office and talk first."
For a moment, she thought he might
ignore her and push past her to enter the room. Instead,
he turned and led the way down the corridor.
Inside the office, Angelique sat down on
the divan, content for the moment to let Julia attempt to handle
the problem. Barnabas turned on the doctor immediately.
"What's wrong with her, Julia?"
"Sarah is-"
Angelique felt Barnabas' reaction
immediately. She straighted, realizing that she hadn't told
him. "Sarah?" he questioned, as his eyes
burned into her. "You had the-audacity to -"
"I TOLD you that I felt her move
for the first time just after your sister died," she defended
herself. "She-She looks like your sister -"
His look promised retribution later,
but now he turned back to Julia. "I believe I asked
you a question."
"And I was attempting to answer
it," Julia reminded him. "I have to run some more
tests, but I do know that it's a blood disorder. Sarah fatigues
easily, she's very pale. As to the cause, I'm not sure.
Nor can I say with any certainty that I'll be able to cure it
if I DO find it."
"Is her life in danger?"
"At his moment, no. But
if this - illness continues to sap her strength -" she lifted
her shoulders to complete the statement.
"I see. I'll pay the medical
expenses, of course."
Angelique's pride made her speak up.
"That's not necessary, Barnabas. I -"
"She is my daughter, and my responsibility.
What have you told her about her father?"
"As little as possibly.
Just that we were married only a few weeks before realizing what
a mistake we had made and got a divorce. I told her that
by the time I realized she was going to be born, I didn't know
where you were."
He started toward the door.
"I'm going to see her."
Angelique put a hand on his arm, only
to withdraw it upon seeing his expression. "Let her
sleep. You can see her tomorrow."
"I won't wake her. I just
want to look at her." He had addressed his comment
to Julia, not Angelique.
"It's Angelique's decision,"
Julia told him.
He didn't look at Angelique, simply
remained where he was. Angelique sighed. "Go
on." She stood looking at the closed door. "He's
so angry."
"He's in shock, Angelique.
How did he find out?"
She was so small, so pale, Barnabas
thought, standing beside the bed where his daughter slept.
His daughter. His - and Angelique's. And she DID look
like that other Sarah. As if uncertain she was real, Barnabas
lifted a shaking hand to smooth back the light brown hair.
Brown eyes fluttered open to examine him.
"You're - him," she said
quietly, her face filled with a curious contentment.
"Who?"
"My father. I always told
Mother that I would know you if I saw you - You are, aren't you?"
she asked, revealing a glimmer of uncertainty.
"Yes. I'm your father,"
he told her, his voice gruff with emotion.
"Does Mother know that you're
here?"
"She's waiting in Dr. Hoffman's
office. I wasn't supposed to wake you."
"I'm glad you did."
"Why don't you go back to sleep?"
"I'm afraid you'll be gone when
I wake up."
Barnabas smiled. "Now that
I've found you, Sarah, I'll never let you go. Sleep now."
Angelique stopped pacing when the
door opened. "Did you see her?"
"She's a darling child.
She knew who I was before I said a word."
"You woke her?"
"No. She woke on her own.
She looked at me and said she knew who I was."
"She told me that she would recognize
him."
"I waited until she fell asleep.
Julia, how long will she have to stay here?"
"A few days - possibly a week."
"Why do you want to know, Barnabas?"
Angelique asked.
"I have to re-open the Old House
and get Willie back from Boston-"
"You're planning to take Sarah
to the Old House?"
"It's where she belongs,"
Barnabas told her.
"And what if I have made other
plans? I've already found a place for us to stay -"
"Oh?"
"I'm going to rent the Evans
cottage from Julia."
"By all means. But Sarah
will be at the Old House with me."
Angelique felt the situation spinning
out of control. "Just a minute, Barnabas. I've
tried to keep my temper, becaues I know you're the wronged party
here, but Sarah is just as much my daughter as she is yours -
I raised her for nine years without any help from you, and I can
continue to do so, if necessary."
"I admit that, but I wasn't aware
of her existence. Now that I am, I intend to take full responsibility
for her."
"And what am I supposed to do?"
Angelique asked, looking up at him.
"I'm sure you could return to
your career -" he suggested.
"I am not leaving without my
daughter," she told him.
"Sarah," Julia interrupted,
"won't be going anywhere for some time. What she needs
most is both of your support. She doesn't need you to be
constantly arguing, pulling her back and forth between you.
Sarah is MY patient, and I won't allow EITHER of you to upset
her, is that clear?"
"Yes," Angelique agreed.
"Perfectly clear, Julia.
I'll be going now. But I'll be back early tomorrow. I'm
sure Elizabeth will be anxious to talk to you, Angelique, once
I've told her about Sarah."
"I'll go out to Collinwood tomorrow,"
Angelique told him.
"Good night, then. Do you
need a lift out to the house, Julia?"
"No. I'll probably just
stay here for the night. Good night."
He hesitated in the doorway, glancing
at Angelique, as if he might wish her a good night as well, but
finally he closed the door behind him.
"The nerve of that man!"
Angelique declared, arms folded across her waist. "He
hasn't changed. I don't think he ever will."
Julia shook her head. "Oh,
he's changed, Angelique. He's changed."