Corliss Cage weakly reached for Marjani’s hand.
“Honey,” Marjani shook her head. “You got your cross to carry and you got to carry it.”
Mrs. Cage gurgled.
Marjani placed her hand on Corliss’ forehead. “You’re gonna live Mrs. Cage. You got to.”
“Why?” Corliss rasped as Robert and Punch looked on.
“You gotta go back to Marionneaux. You gotta raise your son. There’s much you gotta see, honey. Even if you don’t want to see it. You got a place in all of it. Much pain, yes. But, triumph. Now, listen to me, Mrs. Cage. Ain’t no tellin’ what kind of pain sits out there waitin’ for us. I think of that, each day. I do. I think of it when I look in the eyes of my grandchild. I see her look up at me with them big brown eyes and I think, ‘Chil’, I wish I could keep the pain from you forever.’ But, I can’t. She’s gotta live and feel pain. And, so do you. Maybe life’s got nothin’ but pain for you. But, that don’t mean that one day, because you done lived—somebody, maybe even my grandbaby—might do somethin’ good. And, if not her—then somebody a hundred, two hundred years from now. All because of you. All because on this night, you lived.”
Corliss closed her eyes.
“Now, Mrs. Cage. We will see each other again. Your life and mine will forever be tied together. And, in ways that not one of us can guess. So, we both gotta live so that what’s ‘sposed to happen will happen. And, we gotta live until the day that the Holy Mother comes for us. You understand?”
Mrs. Cage nodded slowly.
“Well said, Chum.” Mr. Punch whispered.
“It’s just true, Sir.” Marjani smiled.
“We have to go, Mrs. Cage,” Robert said. “Try to rest.”
“Find him.” Corliss coughed hoarsely.
“We will,” Punch nodded. “Make no mistake. And, well, though my words can’t make no difference, I hope you feel better. I think you’re a nice lady, I do. I think you got yourself caught up in somethin’ awful. I know what that’s like. But, I also know that even in the most awful web, you can find love and peace. And, coo! I hope that’s what’s gonna be left for you, one day. None o’ this is your doin’, Mrs. Cage. And though what I say may mean nothin’ to no one, I hope you know—even when the day’s are terrible dark—that this strange man’s got respect for you.”
Mrs. Cage nodded.
“Good night, Mrs. Cage.” Robert said as he, Marjani and Punch left the room.
“Poor lady,” Punch shook his head.
Robert nodded.
“Here, let’s hope Cecil and Adrienne have had better fortune than we did.” Punch continued as they descended the stairs.
As they came down, Edward Cage—still flanked by the two officers—stared up at them smugly.
“I told you that you’d find nothing. I only hope you didn’t disturb my wife too much.” Edward smirked.
“Your poor wife, Mr. Cage,” Punch spat. “Has got bigger troubles than us. She’s a good woman only she’s got you hangin’ on to her. Ain’t fair, it ain’t.”
“Spare me your folksy English morality.” Edward frowned. “And, round up your kin and get out of my house.”
“My brother and his wife will join us when they’ve finished their search.” Robert snarled.
“They should be well on their way.” Edward laughed. “Last I glimpsed ‘em, they’d gone to inspect the outbuildings. There’s nothing there either.”
However, when Cecil and Adrienne entered Edward Cage’s workshop, they did, in fact, see something—something they hadn’t counted on.
Ulrika Rittenhouse and Barbara were locked in a terrible brawl as the child wailed from his wooden crate.
“Leave us!” Ulrika screamed as she scratched at Barbara’s face.
“Cecil!” Adrienne yelped, scrambling for the baby. “It’s Colin!”
“Don’t touch him!” Ulrika howled, trying to fend off Barbara Allen.
Adrienne picked up the baby and handed to Cecil who rushed from the building.
“Where’s my son?” Adrienne shouted as she backed toward the door.
“You’ll never find him,” Ulrika laughed as Barbara struck her in the stomach.
Adrienne fled from the structure as Barbara and Ulrika continued their nasty fight.
Did you miss Chapters 1-385? If so, you can read them here. Come back on Monday, November 7, 2011 for Chapter 387 of Punch’s Cousin.
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