ROMANOV AUTUMN
Chapter Thirty-Four

The next morning, Mr. Rockefeller took Jack and Alyiah to the train station. "Best of luck to you both," he said, after shaking his former employee's hand. "Please let me know if you need anything."

Jack nodded, thanking Mr. Rockefeller, and led Alyiah into the station. "Thank you again for your kindness, sir," he replied, and after a final wave, they disappeared into the crowd.

"It is too bad you were too tired to make love last night," Alyiah whispered, and Jack stared at her.

"It was a mixture of that and embarrassment at the thought of doing so in someone's guestroom," he replied. "Alyiah, if we want to do this, I want to make sure we have no restraints besides the protection. I don't want to feel awkward."

Alyiah nodded in understanding, but it was killing her to have waited this long. "Jack, I truly do want to have a baby soon," she added as they sat in their new train car. "In Russia, a woman is not considered complete until she has given birth."

Jack raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you believe that?" he asked, and she nodded, leaning against him.

"Yes," she replied. "Jack, you have no idea how badly I want one. It was torture to lose our first...to know we were so close..." Her voice cracked, and Jack wrapped his arms around her.

"Alyiah, I know you want a child," he replied. "I want one, too, and we're going to have one. I promise. And there are plenty of women who have experienced stillbirths, and came to have perfectly healthy children later on. I'm sure you'll be one of them." He tapped her on the nose and Alyiah smiled gratefully, allowing the rocking of the train to soothe her.

*****

They didn't arrive in Wisconsin until late the following morning, grateful to stretch their legs. The small town of Tandovi hadn't changed at all since Jack had left two years before. He held Alyiah's hand as they wandered down the main street. He knew he would have to stop by Esther's first, and as he told Alyiah this, he felt his heart racing. He hoped his guardian would not be angry with him after his reckless departure.

Alyiah sensed his anxiety and slipped her arm around his waist. "This place is lovely," she complimented, and he kissed her forehead. He was about to respond when he heard someone cry out his name.

"Jack!"

He whirled around to see Olivia racing in his direction. She had grown up quite a bit; her hair was thick, very long, and light auburn. She was an inch or so shorter than Alyiah, and carried a basket over her arm. Jack barely got to say hello before she leapt into his arms, planting kisses all over his face.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming home today?" she asked, her eyes widening at the sight of Alyiah.

"We didn't have a chance," he replied. "Olivia, this is my wife...Alyiah. Alyiah, this is my sister, Olivia Dawson."

Alyiah nodded politely, and Olivia returned the gesture, shaking her head with a big smile on her face. "Wait until Esther sees you...she'll be so excited! Oh, Jack, you look so handsome! I'll bet you've been all over the world! You'll tell me everything, won't you?"

Jack laughed as they strolled along the street, and he placed a hand on his sister's shoulder. "I'll tell you as much as I can remember," he replied.

"Jack wrote and told me all about you, too," Olivia said, turning her attention to Alyiah, who blushed a little at being the center of attention. "Is it true you danced for the Imperial Ballet? What was it like? Oh, I'll bet you wore so many pretty costumes!"

Alyiah smiled shyly and glanced at Jack. "Yes, yes," she replied. "I was saddened to leave Paris, but your brother made the adjustment well worthwhile." She accepted a kiss on the lips, and Olivia giggled.

"How is Esther?" Jack asked, and her expression grew rather serious. "What is it?" He cocked his head to one side.

"Esther's not doing well," Olivia began quietly. "She caught influenza last winter, and the fever weakened her heart. She is not able to move around as freely as she did before...plus, her eyesight is poor."

Jack looked at Alyiah, who reached up to stroke the back of his head. "Are you still in school?" Jack asked, and Olivia shook her head.

"No...I'm doing my lessons at home because she needs my help," Olivia explained, and both of the women jumped when Jack excused himself to sneeze, the dust from the road bothering him slightly.

"Bless you." Alyiah chuckled when it happened again, and they reached the horse and carriage waiting for them.

"We should get back to our apartment, then," Olivia announced, climbing into the driver's seat. She looked so much older sitting there at the reins, and when Jack offered to take over, she refused to let him. "Oh, no, I'm getting quite good at this," she admitted, and gently urged the animal forward. Jack let out a final sneeze before climbing into the carriage himself, and this sent Alyiah into a fit of laughter.

"Goodness!" she breathed, and he made a face.

"I'm glad you find it so amusing," he replied after blowing his nose, and she pinched his side.

"Of course I do," she whispered into his ear. When they arrived at the three-story apartment building, Olivia led the way up the steps.

"She has aged a lot since you last saw her," she warned, "but really...she is the same person."

Jack nodded, feeling as though he were on board the Baltic again, the way his stomach churned with nerves. Everything looked so familiar...especially when they reached the front door. Olivia opened it up, and the apartment hadn’t changed either. The wallpaper with flower trim was still up, along with the piano sitting by the window.

"Olivia, dear, is that you?" a quiet voice called from down the hallway leading to the bedrooms, and Jack shielded his eyes against the dusty sunlight.

"Yes," she replied. "I have a surprise for you!"

Jack stood waiting patiently, encouraging Alyiah to sit, which she did, for her feet were aching. Esther came into the parlor, wearing a light green dress, her hair graying and pulled into a French twist. Her expression changed dramatically when she saw her guests, and without a single word, she opened her arms for Jack. He came into them willingly, the tears bottled inside finally spilling down his cheeks.

"My Jack...oh, my little one, when did you arrive?" she asked, reaching up to touch his face. "You've grown so tall and handsome! And this must be Alyiah...Olivia has told me all about you from the letters she received. You are quite the angel, my dear." She took Alyiah's hand and gave it a gentle shake.

"I'm sorry I didn't let you know I was coming sooner," Jack apologized, rubbing his nose, which was starting to itch slightly again. "We spent the night in New York with the Rockefellers, and were so busy I forgot to send a telegram."

Olivia was beaming from ear to ear, her face rosy with excitement, and she encouraged her brother and his wife to sit down while she made tea in the kitchen.

"You must tell us everything," Esther replied, and Jack wet his lips.

"I'm so sorry I left you the way I did," he began. "I was being very ungrateful...I should have..." He paused, and Alyiah frowned, recognizing his expression all too well.

"Darling?" she asked, and he took a deep breath.

"Thought I had to sneeze." He chuckled, and Alyiah relaxed again, fiddling with her gloves.

"Jack, please don't feel guilty about that," Esther insisted. "You were ready to stretch your wings and fly...I would have only held you back. I am so proud of you...we've saved all of your letters, and I daresay...you have made quite a name for yourself!"

Jack chuckled. "Well, I wouldn't say that," he replied. "I've done and seen a lot of things, but I'm not well known for it."

Alyiah heard a soft mew in the distance, and her heart stopped in mid-beat. "Is that a cat I hear?" she asked, and Jack looked at her, confused. Esther glanced towards the bedrooms, and then back at them.

"Oh, yes...that would be Lily...Olivia got her for me as a gift, to keep me company while I was recovering in bed last Christmas. I'm sure she told you about my illness, dear?"

Alyiah closed her eyes, remembering Jack's reaction to Sasha and the kittens in her family's home.

"Yes, and I'm sorry to hear about that...I wish she would have written me...I would have come back," he began, and gave a sniffle. "Excuse me..." He stood up and sneezed, and Alyiah went to Esther's side, whispering in her ear.

"We found out Jack is terribly allergic to cats," she said, and Esther's eyes widened. Olivia came rushing out as Jack continued sneezing, and ushered him into the kitchen.

"Oh, goodness...I am so sorry, dear!" Esther insisted, and ordered Olivia to gather Lily at once, who was rubbing her small, fluffy white body against Alyiah's legs. The cat was locked in Esther's bedroom quickly, and Alyiah rushed to her husband's side, trying to encourage him to relax.

"When did you discover this?" Olivia asked as her brother struggled to breathe, the constant sneezing making his head throb and his chest scream in pain.

"While he was visiting my family in Russia," Alyiah replied. "Our cat had a litter of kittens, and I am afraid they produced the same reaction. Oh, dear one, try to relax..."

Jack managed to take a gulp of air after a few moments, and felt slightly lightheaded. "Here," Olivia began, offering him a glass of water, and Alyiah watched as he took a few small sips, massaging his forehead.

"Thank you," he croaked, and everyone watched him anxiously. "I'm all right..." he added, and Alyiah led him to a chair in the parlor, where Esther made him as comfortable as possible.

"Are you sure?" Olivia asked, and Jack nodded, reaching up to take Alyiah's hand, squeezing it firmly. "I suppose we never would have known when we were younger, because our parents didn’t have a cat or a dog," she added, and Jack coughed again, his chest still a bit tight. When he was finally able to relax again, Alyiah encouraged him to drink the tea Olivia had brought from the stove. "Now that you're feeling better...tell us everything!" Olivia bounced up and down in her seat, and Jack managed a small laugh.

He told them how he took the train to California, worked as an artist in Hollywood, and met one of his best friends, Harry. Then he told of his work on the ship, where he'd saved one of the richest men in America from a thief, and how Mr. Rockefeller took him in as his own personal assistant. "He helped me afford to travel to Europe," Jack continued. "I spent some time in London, and it was in Paris that I met this beautiful young lady." He loved how Alyiah still blushed at every compliment, and Esther shook her head with a smile.

"Jack, I am so proud of you," she said. "I can never say that enough. I wish you and Olivia had been my own children...for I feel that you are sometimes. Where do you plan to go now?" she added, and Jack cleared his throat, taking another sip of tea. His most recent sneezing fit had worn him out considerably, and he was ready to collapse into bed.

"We're going to Ma and Pa's home," he told Olivia, who nodded eagerly. "You two are welcome to come and stay with us...we have plenty of room."

Olivia glanced at Esther, who smiled. "I'm afraid that would be out of the question," Esther replied. "It is more convenient for us to stay here in the heart of Tandovi, rather than out in the country, where getting to and from is a bit of a challenge. Olivia is also apprenticing to be a midwife in between her studies, and I do think it would be easier for her to remain here."

It was Olivia's turn to blush, and Jack stared. "A midwife, huh?" he asked. "At thirteen?"

Olivia smiled. "Yes," she replied. "I've always been interested in medicine and things like that, so when Esther's health started failing, I made sure to learn what I could from Dr. Owen...you remember him, don't you?" she asked, and Jack nodded. "I told him I'd like to become a midwife someday, and he's offered to teach me all he knows. I can't officially be one yet, but the sooner I learn, the better."

Jack glanced at Alyiah, who seemed very impressed. "You're something, Olivia. Do you know that?" he asked, and Esther chuckled warmly.

"But the offer to live with you is appreciated, Jack," she said. "We must come by and visit, of course. And I am certain you and Alyiah will wish to have time to yourselves to start your family. Have you thought about having children?"

Jack cleared his throat again and felt Alyiah squeeze his hand. "Yes," he answered. "That is definitely in our plans." He felt a little guilty, not telling his family about the stillbirth, but wanted to start over in that regard.

"Good, good," Esther replied. "Well, one thing I must give you is the carriage...we do not need it as badly, and you will have to travel quite a distance back and forth. I do not expect Alyiah to walk to and from town."

Jack started to protest, but Olivia gave him a look. "Thank you," he said.

They went for an early supper at one of the small taverns, and after saying good-bye to Olivia and Esther, Jack took charge of the carriage. The seat was big enough for Alyiah to sit beside him, which she did gladly. She had to keep her hand on her hat, for the wind was strong that day.

The closer they got to the Dawsons’ original family home, the more emotional Jack became. He could hear the roar of the flames and his parent's cries for help in the distance, and had to pull over to the side before a small panic attack began.

"It's all right," Alyiah soothed, holding him close. "My dear Jack, it is all right...do you wish for me to take the reins?"

Jack gave a great sniff and shook his head, glancing around the countryside. "No," he replied weakly. "I'm sorry...I haven't been here since the night my parents died, and...it's making me very uneasy."

Alyiah squeezed his arm. "You will feel better once we arrive," she insisted, and when he gathered his bearings, they drove the rest of the way to the house. Alyiah was thrilled by the size and splendor of the area surrounding it. She threw her arms around her husband as soon as they got out of the carriage. "You did not tell me you were bringing me to live in a palace!" she cried, and Jack laughed, watching as she twirled around in the front yard, her dress billowing as she did so.

"Hardly a palace," he admitted, "but I suppose it is bigger than your family's cottage." He followed her around the side where his mother had kept a rather nice kitchen garden, but it was now overgrown with weeds. Alyiah stepped inside the small stone walls, gazing upward at the apple tree.

"Do you think I could fix the garden and make it grow again?" she asked, and he stuck his hands in his pockets, glancing up at the clouding sky.

"Sweetheart, you may do whatever makes you happy," he replied, and she kissed him, "but I think we'd better get the horse into what's left of the barn before it starts to rain..." He coughed, and Alyiah frowned.

"I thought you said the barn had burned down, didn't you?" she asked, and Jack nodded his head.

"Part of it burned, but half of it is still standing...I was able to catch a glimpse while we were coming up the road."

Alyiah heard a rumble of thunder in the distance, and shivered a little as another breeze ruffled her hair. "Let us go, then," she said, and together they managed to get the horse fed using the supplies provided by Esther, and watered. It gave a short whinny was it sat in the covered barn half, which was a mix of charred black and red. Jack whistled quietly to himself as they stood looking at it from a distance.

"How are you?" Alyiah asked, and he looked at her.

"I'll be fine," he replied, kissing her neck, and without warning, the skies opened up. Alyiah screamed in alarm, and then began to laugh, following Jack as fast as she could run into the house. When they were inside, she began to kiss him passionately and peered into his eyes.

"Make love to me immediately," she ordered, and he stared.

"Don't you want to explore the house first?" he asked, and she kissed him again.

"Later," she whispered, and practically knocked him onto the couch in the parlor, still covered with a white sheet.

Chapter Thirty-Five
Stories