Read Online Resurrecting Harry by Constance Phillips - Free Book Online
Authors: Constance Phillips
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instead of what she’d lost in Harry.
“The misses is just fine.” Edwin spit the words through clenched teeth. He squeezed her hand so tight that her flesh turned white. “Hopefully they send me home, or these bills are going to do us in.”
“Don’t you worry about anything but getting better.”
Bess had been volunteering at the hospital the day three of Edwin’s coworkers had carried him into the hospital. He’d been in the utility room of the factory when a malfunctioning boiler had left the man with third degree burns on his arms, neck and the right side of his face. It was just the kind of work-related accident she’d always feared Harry would succumb to, and she’d bonded with the man from minute one. Anything she could do to assist him in his recovery made up, in part, for not being able to help her husband pull through his illness.
“It won’t be long now,” Joseph said. “You’re healing nicely.”
Bess gave a sideways glance and noticed Joseph rubbing an ointment from a small glass jar instead of the salve she’d witnessed Martin using the week before. “Is that a new treatment?”
Joseph began wrapping the arm with a clean bandage. “It is, in fact, an ancient remedy. We’ve been using it for a few days, and I’m quite pleased with the results.”
Edwin rolled his head toward the door. “Did I smell your famous brownies?”
“You certainly did.” She patted his hand. “As soon as Joseph is all done with you I will bring you one.”
“I think I’d likely starve if it wasn’t for you bringing us such good home cooking.”
As Joseph carefully laid Edwin’s arm back on the bed, Bess found her feet and released the man’s hand. “You exaggerate. I know full well that they are treating you well.”
“The treatment, maybe, but not the food.”
“I need to talk to Dr. Cooper,” Joseph said. “But I suspect you’ll be able to go home by the end of the week. Now, I want you to lay back, close your eyes and get some rest. Mrs. Houdini knows the patients can’t be given any outside food until the nurses check your prescribed dietary requirements and clear it.”
Joseph walked to the foot of the bed and motioned for Bess to follow him.
“Hopefully when I come in next week, you’ll have already gone home, Edwin.”
“From your lips to God’s ears, Mrs. Houdini.”
Bess patted his hand again, before meeting Joseph. Together they walked toward the door, and she waited until they were out of earshot before speaking. “Why do you put me in these predicaments? You know how Martin feels about you using untested treatments in the ward.”
“I will not apologize. It is my calling to heal. Since I’ve begun using my ointment, the patient’s burns have been healing at an accelerated rate. His family needs him at home, and I’m helping him get there. Are you going to tell Dr. Cooper?”
She inhaled sharply and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “No. No, Joseph. You’re secret is safe with me.” She turned and walked toward the small table, grabbing the back of the chair to support herself.
Joseph’s hand grazed her shoulder. “Mrs. Houdini? Are you all right?”
She shook her head. “It’s been a very emotional couple of days.”
“You’ve had your mind on Mr. Houdini lately. Haven’t you?”
There was no point in trying to keep it a secret. She nodded. “Yes. It’s silly. It’s been almost a year.”
“Grief doesn’t keep time, nor do the spirits. He is heavy on your mind, because your soul feels his absence.”
She turned and smiled at the man. Maybe Joseph was pandering to her. It wasn’t unusual for people to try and please her simply because of her celebrity, but it did ease her pain to hear someone say they believed that her soul was tied to Harry’s. “You are a good man, Joseph. I wish my Harry and I had known you then. I do believe you might have been able to do what those doctors in Detroit couldn’t.”
“I would have been honored to
“The misses is just fine.” Edwin spit the words through clenched teeth. He squeezed her hand so tight that her flesh turned white. “Hopefully they send me home, or these bills are going to do us in.”
“Don’t you worry about anything but getting better.”
Bess had been volunteering at the hospital the day three of Edwin’s coworkers had carried him into the hospital. He’d been in the utility room of the factory when a malfunctioning boiler had left the man with third degree burns on his arms, neck and the right side of his face. It was just the kind of work-related accident she’d always feared Harry would succumb to, and she’d bonded with the man from minute one. Anything she could do to assist him in his recovery made up, in part, for not being able to help her husband pull through his illness.
“It won’t be long now,” Joseph said. “You’re healing nicely.”
Bess gave a sideways glance and noticed Joseph rubbing an ointment from a small glass jar instead of the salve she’d witnessed Martin using the week before. “Is that a new treatment?”
Joseph began wrapping the arm with a clean bandage. “It is, in fact, an ancient remedy. We’ve been using it for a few days, and I’m quite pleased with the results.”
Edwin rolled his head toward the door. “Did I smell your famous brownies?”
“You certainly did.” She patted his hand. “As soon as Joseph is all done with you I will bring you one.”
“I think I’d likely starve if it wasn’t for you bringing us such good home cooking.”
As Joseph carefully laid Edwin’s arm back on the bed, Bess found her feet and released the man’s hand. “You exaggerate. I know full well that they are treating you well.”
“The treatment, maybe, but not the food.”
“I need to talk to Dr. Cooper,” Joseph said. “But I suspect you’ll be able to go home by the end of the week. Now, I want you to lay back, close your eyes and get some rest. Mrs. Houdini knows the patients can’t be given any outside food until the nurses check your prescribed dietary requirements and clear it.”
Joseph walked to the foot of the bed and motioned for Bess to follow him.
“Hopefully when I come in next week, you’ll have already gone home, Edwin.”
“From your lips to God’s ears, Mrs. Houdini.”
Bess patted his hand again, before meeting Joseph. Together they walked toward the door, and she waited until they were out of earshot before speaking. “Why do you put me in these predicaments? You know how Martin feels about you using untested treatments in the ward.”
“I will not apologize. It is my calling to heal. Since I’ve begun using my ointment, the patient’s burns have been healing at an accelerated rate. His family needs him at home, and I’m helping him get there. Are you going to tell Dr. Cooper?”
She inhaled sharply and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “No. No, Joseph. You’re secret is safe with me.” She turned and walked toward the small table, grabbing the back of the chair to support herself.
Joseph’s hand grazed her shoulder. “Mrs. Houdini? Are you all right?”
She shook her head. “It’s been a very emotional couple of days.”
“You’ve had your mind on Mr. Houdini lately. Haven’t you?”
There was no point in trying to keep it a secret. She nodded. “Yes. It’s silly. It’s been almost a year.”
“Grief doesn’t keep time, nor do the spirits. He is heavy on your mind, because your soul feels his absence.”
She turned and smiled at the man. Maybe Joseph was pandering to her. It wasn’t unusual for people to try and please her simply because of her celebrity, but it did ease her pain to hear someone say they believed that her soul was tied to Harry’s. “You are a good man, Joseph. I wish my Harry and I had known you then. I do believe you might have been able to do what those doctors in Detroit couldn’t.”
“I would have been honored to
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