Julia's Last Hope by Janette Oke Page B

are here,” he promised.
    “I mean for our tea.”
    “Yes, dear. For our tea.”
    “But shouldn’t we pay them if we are going to use their water?” she asked.
    “My dear, we will pay them,” he tried to assure her.
    “But I didn’t see you pay.”
    “We pay when we leave,” he tried to reason.
    “Are we leaving already? Goodness! It seems that we just got here,” she said, rising to her feet.
    Julia could not understand the strange exchange. She wondered if she should leave the room and give the man an opportunity to calm his disoriented wife.
    The man stood also. “No, dear, we are not leaving yet.” He eased her back into her seat. “And you are quite right,” he hurried on. “We do owe this lady for her fine tea, made of fresh spring water. Here. I will pay her. See! Right now.” He reached into his pocket and drew out a bill, which he handed to Julia. His wink told Julia to take the money without comment.
    Julia accepted the bill with a trembling hand. “Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Williams,” she managed.
    Mrs. Williams settled back in her chair.
    “That’s better,” Julia heard her say.
    Mr. Williams set aside his cup. “I do think my wife needs some rest,” he explained. “If you will excuse us, I will take her to her room.”
    Julia nodded. “Dinner will be served in the dining room at seven,” she said.
    Mrs. Williams allowed her husband to take her arm, help her out of her seat, and steer her toward the staircase.
    “Wait!” Julia heard her say when they reached the hall. “I want to see the picture.”
    After several moments Julia heard the footsteps continue on.
    Julia wasn’t sure how to plan for dinner. Would the couple like company? Should the family join them? Or would they prefer the serenity of being alone?
    During the Hammonds’ visit, the twins had eaten in the kitchen and Julia and John had taken their meal in the dining room after the guests finished. But the Hammonds had been a family of five. They had almost filled the table themselves. Mr. and Mrs. Williams would not do so. Should the Harrigans join them? Julia pondered the question. She finally decided that the guests, at least for their first meal, should be served alone.
    Mr. and Mrs. Williams appeared at the dining room door promptly at seven. Jennifer was given the task of serving the table. Julia oversaw the meal from the kitchen, and Felicity began clean-up at the big kitchen sink.
    “She sure doesn’t eat much,” Jennifer said on a trip to the kitchen.
    “I noticed that,” replied Julia.
    “Do you think she doesn’t like our food?” asked Felicity.
    “She keeps saying ‘this is so good’ and ‘that is delicious,’ ” said Jennifer, “but she doesn’t even eat it. Just takes a bite or two and lets the rest sit on her plate.”
    “Perhaps she doesn’t have a very big appetite,” Julia commented. “She does seem rather frail. Maybe she has been ill.”
    “He eats well,” said Jennifer. “He had two helpings of everything.”
    “Good,” Julia responded. “He is very thin. He needs to put on some weight.”
    Jennifer disappeared to clear the table and returned a moment later with a frown on her face.
    “What’s wrong?” asked Julia.
    “She asked how long I have been working here. When I told her I live here, she said ‘poor child’ and patted my arm. Then she said she did hope it wouldn’t be too long until I’d be able to leave. What did she mean, Mama?”
    “I have no idea,” said Julia.
    “Did her husband know what she meant?” asked Felicity.
    “I—I don’t know. I had the feeling he was trying to—to hurry her. He suggested a walk in the garden for some fresh air. He asked me for permission. When I told him to go right ahead, she patted my arm again and said, ‘Such a nice, sweet girl. I’ll talk to the people in charge.’ And he hurried her away.”
    “That’s strange,” said Felicity.
    Julia agreed, but she said nothing to the girls.
    “If they have finished