with those ways .” He turned to Mrs. Ropson ruefully. “There are other things of greater concern here. Perhaps, that’s where your worries lie?”
Doctor Hodgins and Mrs. Ropson eyed each other like two dogs that just nosed onto the other’s territory, leaving May Eveleigh staring after them with a sudden scent of another intrigue. Sensing her neighbour’s perked ears, Mrs. Ropson dropped her eyes from Doctor Hodgins and turned to May with an apologetic smile.
“Our good doctor is well aware of the worries I have to put up with—Sidney’s asthma attacks and my arthritis. It’s hard taking on the concerns of others when you can’t get out of bed most days, although nobody can say the reverend or I have fallen slack in our duties.”
“Tut-tut my dear, no one can say you don’t carry out the church’s work,” May said, her voice expressing shock at the thought. “Is that what’s being said, Doctor?”
“No, no,” Doctor Hodgins shook his head and smiled at the two women. “I’ve heard nothing but good about the charitable nature of the reverend and his wife. And about you as well, May. That’s why I have no concerns about Kit and her mother’s well-being. What the good Lord don’t provide, I’m sure you ladies will. Hah,” he exclaimed, glancing out the window looking up to the road, “here comes Drucie. Why don’t Kit and I leave you to talk privately with her and rest your worries?”
I sprang to my feet and headed for the door.
“Where is Josie?” May asked, a strong look at Mrs. Ropson as she made a final attempt to hold Doctor Hodgins back and keep the meeting going.
“Out scouting Lizzy’s partridgeberry patch,” Doctor Hodgins replied.
“Berry patch! Well, well,” May said, her interest suddenly snagged in another direction. “I’ll be glad to help pick Lizzy’s partridgeberries, if I knew where her patch was. Goodness, no one’s ever been able to find that patch.”
“And cursed will be the ones who do search it out,” Doctor Hodgins said, jarring the door. “I guess it’s for Kit to decide what’s to be done with the patch.”
May Eveleigh watched as I pulled on a heavy wool sweater that Nan knitted, and moved to stand besides Doctor Hodgins.
“Well, if you needs help, Kit,” she said, trying to keep her voice soft, like one not quite knowing how to talk to a baby.
“A bit late for picking berries, isn’t it?” Mrs. Ropson asked.
“Hah, the later the sweeter,” Doctor Hodgins replied. “Right up to the second and third snowfall, isn’t that what Lizzy claims, Kit?”
I nodded and, toeing the door open, squirmed outside just as Aunt Drucie come puffing up to the stoop, her skinny, wrinkled face a brownish pink from walking in the chilly air.
“How you doin’, Kit?” she asked breathlessly, unknotting her bandanna from beneath her chin and shoving past me to get inside out of the cold. “My, my, it’s not fit, the wind’s not fit.”
“Good day, Drucie,” Doctor Hodgins said heartily, standing to one side to give her room. “You’ve got some visitors. You be sure and have a nice chat, now,” he said, patting her shoulder as she suddenly went quiet upon seeing the upper-ups that had come to visit. Quickly closing the door behind him, Doctor Hodgins laid an arm around my shoulders and we walked down the gully. Josie was squat behind a rock, keeping watch on who was coming and going.
“There you are, Jose,” Doctor Hodgins called out. “How come you didn’t come in to greet your guest? Follow along now, there’s things we have to talk about.”
There were a lot of things Doctor Hodgins talked about as we strolled down the gully and onto the beach, mostly warning Josie about running off with her men friends and risking having me sent away, and her left alone to fend for herself. And make sure you keep the house clean, he went on, and that you, Kit, go to school every single morning. You don’t want to give them any reason to come snooping