Life is mostly froth and bubble, Two things stand like stone, Kindness in another’s trouble, Courage in your own.
Adam Lindsay Gordon
Ye Wearie Wayfarer, Fytte 8
Chapter 18
Ever since Evelyn confronted the seaman Mr. Cox, she had not been to or gone near the docks. The more she thought about the two brothers the more her heart ached to see their reconciliation come to pass. Though tragic the events were, healing could restore what had been broken for so many years. So one day after her work at the hospital, she followed the enticing of her heart to restore her own friendship with Mr. Cox, the brother in charge of the ferry. She strolled down the dock to where Mr. Cox fiddled with his ropes.
“Mr. Cox, good, morning, how are...”
“Great Jehosephat, Miss, what are you doing sneaking up on me?”
“You didn’t hear me? The heel of my boots made quite a bit of noise.”
"Ah, pay no mind to me, it’s nothing,” he said as he dug the heel of his palm into his temple.
“Mr. Cox, are you all right?”
“As I said, pay no mind. Now what do ya want?”
“I know we parted under less than favourable circumstances the last time we saw one another...I came to apologize.”As she said so, Mr. Cox’s face angled upward to see her. “I had no right to meddle in your affairs when my own are in disarray.”
He continued to tie his knots. “Apology accepted. I know you’re right. I’ve been thinking about what you’ve said. I’m so tired of being upset at my brother. I have been bitter for thirty years or so. Thank you for...your help.”
Evelyn nodded to acknowledge his thanks; she was surprised by the difference of his sincere demeanour. She thoroughly enjoyed seeing him happy, happier than she had ever seen him before. “What will you do now?”
“I suppose I’ll go see him. Tarnation! I don’t even know where he lives!” He raised his hands in frustration.
An idea came to Evelyn’s mind. “I cannot recall the way to your brother’s home, but I know where we can find him. Meet me here this Sunday around eleven o’clock in the morning.”
“All right. I don’t know about this...”
She left, feeling quite pleased with herself; therefore she decided she had to share her good news and excellent plan with someone. Gerald still didn’t know anything about the two brothers’ past, but she decided it would be a good time to tell him. She also wanted to ask him about...cigars.
She raced to his office, but when she arrived, he wasn’t there. It really was quite odd. She always found him in his office reading, or studying, or musing two or three hours after work. She stepped in and inhaled deeply some traces of his presence. She let her fingers glaze over his shelves, microscope, desk, papers.
Thoughts of him left her somewhat giddy, prodding romantic thoughts to surface from their weak jail cell.He treated her with respect, admiration, and care. She had been left in want when Carl left her the first time and then again when he died. Now Gerald had taken his place. Both men were so different. Carl...had been sensitive, intelligent, full of energy and life before it had been taken away. On the other hand, Gerald was a leader, somewhat fearless, nimble with his hands, and steady. How could she ever reconcile the fact that she loved two different men in such a short span of time? Was she fickle? She didn’t want to believe so. She had always thought she was constant, faithful. She had never during her marriage to Carl ever thought of another man in a romantic way, even when he had gone and she had been all alone.
Most of the time when she thought of Gerald, she had no qualms; however, there were times like these when she doubted her own good character.
She left his office spotless, untouched. She walked down a few more steps to Clyde’s room.
“Hello, Evelyn. I’m so glad you came tonight. See...” He jumped up with a piece of paper and set it into her hands. “I’ve been creating my own mathematical problems and solving them.”
She studied the problems and was consequently amazed at his ingenuity. “Clyde, these are...well, these are wonderful. You have such a fantastic mind. Where do you get it from?”
“Well, perhaps, I received it from my mother. She was a schoolteacher, you know.”
“Was she? Come, sit. Tell me about your parents. Oh, first before I forget, where is Doctor MacCrae?”
“Is he not in his office?”
“No.”
“Well, wherever he is, I know he’ll come back to bring me home...I mean to his home.” Clyde started to play with his laces. “You wanted to know about my parents?”
Evelyn enthusiastically nodded.
“My father—he wasn’t particularly smart like my mother was. He worked in the sugar factory which used to overlook the harbour.”
“The Acadia Sugar Refinery?”
“Yes, that’s the one; he was hardworking, and he used to tell me stories just like Doctor MacCrae does sometimes. Did you know Doctor MacCrae reads his medical books to me sometimes? I really like listening to all the complicated terms.”
“Do you intend to study medicine one day?”
“Maybe, I think it’s a very honourable profession.”
“It is.”
“Anyway, what was I saying again?”
“Your father worked in the factory.”
“Oh, yes, he was gruff, but he loved us very much. He would teach me to play baseball and we would go fishing. He also loved my mother very much. Sometimes when she was in the middle of cooking supper, he would wrap his arms around her waist and twirl her around the kitchen. He never hit my mother like some of my schoolmates’ fathers hit their wives. And my mother, she was beautiful. She had golden hair and green eyes. And whenever I was sad or mad, she would say, ‘Clyde, never look down but up.’”
“You paint them with touching words as wonderful parents.”
“Yes, they were.”
“Do you remember the Cox brothers I told you about?”
“Yes, I do. They sounded like a sad pair.”
“They won’t be very soon. This Sunday I’m bringing Mr. John Cox to his older brother Mr. Cox. Mr. John Cox has decided he wants to reconcile their sad past and see his brother.”
“I am glad but...”
“What is it? You don’t seem to be too glad.” Evelyn touched his arm.
“I just wish you and your mother would do the same.”
What truth were in his words; but her fear that the situation would become worse continually held her back. Her walls were up and they would not so easily be let down. “I know. But it’s not that easy.”
“Why not?”
“When you grow into a man, things will not be so simple. They will become more complicated.”
“I cannot see why. Everything is simple now. How can it not be when I’m older?”
“That’s just the way life is.”
“Well...I’m going to try my hardest to stay true to what I know.”
“Then you do so. Are you sad being here by yourself most of the day?”
“Sometimes, but I’m not alone. Providence is always with me.” He showed such fortitude; but he couldn’t stay in that forgotten room day after day. Someone could adopt him, bring him under the wing of a real family home setting. She could adopt him. But, of course, not in her present situation. Perhaps in the future when her circumstances changed, she could become his mother.“I must leave. It’s getting late.” She kissed the top of Clyde’s head. “I will see you soon and let you know the results of Sunday’s meeting.”
“Please, do.”
***
Sunday morning’s bright sun filtered through the partly open curtains. She stretched her arms over her head. Her mind was a little groggy, but it snapped back into awareness when she thought of the potential reunion between two lost brothers she had come to hold dear to her heart. She had brunch with Betsie, whilst sipping on hot lemon tea. After a relaxing morning of lounging on the sofa, reading the newspaper, and chatting about goings on in the city, both Betsie and Evelyn started to get ready to go out. Betsie was going out for a walk with one of her beaus.
“And which one is this?” Evelyn called out to Betsie as Betsie was primping her hair.
“Rupert.”
“And what are you going to do with your string of beaus? After that banquet, a whole lot of men showed up at the door asking for you.”
“You know,” she stood under the frame of Evelyn’s bedroom door, twirling her lock of hair, “I really like this one.”
“The bookworm?”
“Yes.”
“I’m so happy for you and I approve.”
“Really?”
“Yes, he seems like an amiable gentleman.”
“I think so, too.” Her cheeks coloured instantly.
“Have a wonderful time, Betsie. I’m going to go now.”
“All right.”
“Is Rupert coming for you here?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
She strolled out and arrived at the docks half an hour later. “Good morning, Mr. Cox, you look rather fine today.”
“You like my scarf?” The scarf was a green and red checkered pattern.
“Yes, I do.”
“I only wear it for special occasions.”
“Well, you picked the perfect day for it. We’re going to see your brother.”
Mr. John Cox was excited though he carefully made sure his features would not divulge anything; yet he almost trotted rather than walked. Evelyn had to work hard to keep up her pace with his.
“So where are we going?”
“We’re going to the tar paper church north of Kaye St. That is where your brother attends church.”
“Church? Well, what do you know. Really, I’m not that surprised. He was the one who really held to tradition. The first Christmas we spent with my sister being blind I suggested that she open her presents first, seeing that well...she could not see. But no, he was so pigheaded in staying firm to our tradition that the eldest open his presents first. I thought that was one of the most selfish things he had ever done.”
“I don’t think he goes to church just because it’s tradition. It seems he is quite sincere in his actions.”
“Humph.”
They walked the whole way to their destination; for it was a brisk warm day. How could one not want to walk in such weather as it was! Evelyn planted herself upon the exact same spot where she had seen Mr. Cox the first time since she had seen him in his confinement. She held Mr. John Cox back, insisting with some pressure that he stay back and wait with patience. They had arrived a little earlier than what she had been aiming for.
In a few minutes people filed out. And then...there he was. Evelyn had no need to hold back Mr. John Cox. The subtle shock of seeing his brother after so many years rendered him frozen, speechless. After a moment’s time, a gulp slid down his throat.“That’s my brother.”
“Would you like to go see him?”
He nodded in reply.
She walked but he...he was at the rim of the parishioners’ circle in seconds. And from afar she saw two estranged brothers beholding each other, slowly walking up to one another in wonder, and finally embracing each other, both frames heaving like mountains shifting from the pressure which had been building beneath the earth. Change was happening; to Evelyn it was a miracle to see. She stood there in place until both brothers looked at each other and then to her. Once they did, she neared them with her heart brimming full of happiness.
Mr. Cox’s eyes were full of wonder. He raised his hands to the heavens and breathed out, “God has done this; He has used you, Evelyn, to help two old codgers reunite despite their cowardice.”
“I’m happy for the both of you. I believe I’ll leave the two of you to rediscover who each of you are after so many years of separation.”
“Thank you for your help,” Mr. John Cox said.
“Your welcome, goodbye.”
The two brothers waved her off, as she meandered back home through the sea of people.