Subj: Together We Stand-sequel part9
Date: 7/10/00 1:30:01 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Julianka
Elizabeth, Willie and the children waited nervously in the hall outside Maggie's room. Elizabeth was touched by the way Hallie tried to comfort Amy and soothe away her tears. After what seemed like an eternity, Julia finally emerged from Maggie's room. She was hit with a deluge of questions.
"Now, now. She's fine." Julia pacified. "You children run along. Maggie will be up and around by dinner."
The girls meekly went along, but David didn't budge. Stubbornly he pushed out his chin, and said, "I am not a child. And I want to know what happened."
Elizabeth thought to herself, "He's never looked more like Roger in his life!" To David she said, Apologize to Julia. If you don't want to be treated like a child, don't act like one."
"But I.."
"David!"
"Oh, alright. I'm sorry."
"I apologize to you David, I didn't mean to treat you like a child." said Julia patting his back. "Friends?"
"Sure." smiled David. "I hate to kept in the dark."
"I understand. But David, I'm not keeping anything from you. Maggie really is fine. She just fainted. I feel, just to be safe, she should rest for a couple of hours."
Elizabeth spoke, "David, why don't you find the girls. You all may watch television."
"Wow! That new gothic soap opera is on in about 10 minutes! Thanks Aunt Elizabeth!"
Julia chuckled, "You've just made his day!" as she watched David speed away.
"I don't approve of this shows perse, but it should keep them busy and out of trouble for a little while." stated Elizabeth.
Julia indicated to Elizabeth and Willie to follow her to her room. Once they were inside she closed the door.
"What is it Julia? It wasn't just a faint was it?" queried elizabeth.
"That's hard to determine. I told David the truth, from all signs she is fine. A couple of things bother me though. Willie did you grip Maggie's arms at any time?" Julia said.
"Her arms? What yah mean? I picked her up, but..no, I didn't touch her arms." attested Willie.
"I'm not aquising you Willie, but there are bruises on her arms. They appear to be a man's handprints. As if a man had grasped her arms in this matter." said Julia as she demonstrated on Willie.
"It wasn't me." declared Willie.
"I didn't think it was. The marks are too large to be made by David or the girls. Also, when the children found Maggie, she was still on her feet. She fainted as they ran toward her. She landed on back. You know the grass is higher on that part of the lawn, so no bumps or bruises from that. The only other injury is a slightly swollen lip." Julia diagnosed.
"Ya! Her lip was bleeding a little when I got to her." said Willie.
"Maggie doesn't remember anything?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, she remembers watching the children playing, then coming to with Willie and the children bending over her." reported Julia.
"Physically Maggie is sound. I want her to rest until dinner and to bed early. I'll check on her when I get in tonight." stated Julia.
Elizabeth thought, "This may have some thing to do with the situation Eliot and Quentin had discussed with her. She had best to information Eliot quickly. Looking at Julia, she decided not to worry her with it. Let Julia and Roger have their evening out."
"We should let Julia finish getting ready Willie." said Elizabeth.
"Ya. I'll see yah later Julia." said Willie as he left.
"Roger came in while you were in with Maggie. He's getting ready now. Don't worry about Maggie, I'll keep my eye on her. See you down stairs shortly," said Elizabeth, as she, too departed.
To be continued.....