Acadian Star (10 page)

“Stay there, I'm coming for you,” Meg called. She reached her in the middle of a clearing and hugged her with all her might.

“Marguerite. You came!” Geneviève said.

“I'm sorry. I'm so sorry,” Meg said. “I should never have left you alone back there.”

“No, it was a horrible idea to set off on my own like that. I just wanted…” Geneviève trembled as a new wave of tears began. She took the shawl Meg offered and wrapped it tightly around her shoulders.

“You wanted your papa back.” Meg stroked Geneviève's hair and choked back her own tears.

“And then I felt like I was walking into a bog and must have wandered off the path…”

“Don't worry. I'm here now.” Meg balanced Joseph on one hip and wrapped her arm around Geneviève to warm her.

“I just wanted to see Papa. With Maman gone, I just can't bear the thought of losing him too.”

“But your papa would want you to be safe. Imagine what he'd think if he knew you were out here like this, looking for him. And little Daniel—he needs you.”

“I know that now. It was stupid of me to go. In my heart, I know Papa is gone.”

“But you didn't want to turn your back on him. I understand, Geneviève, really I do.” Meg kissed her and Joseph too, then hugged them both.

Joseph wriggled out of her arms. “Blech, Margit.”

The two girls let out a laugh. Meg sighed at the sight of the smile on Geneviève's face.

“Let's go home.” Meg wrapped Geneviève's arm around hers and took Joseph by the hand. She led the group through the forest and up the rutted path back to the house.

Madame Galland met them at the door with baby Daniel in her arms as they arrived.

“
Merci le beau Dieu
!” She whisked the group into the house.

“When I found the dish at the door and no one at Madame Douaron's, I didn't know what to think!”

“We're sorry we made you worry.” Meg helped Geneviève sit on a chair by the table. Joseph scooped Mache-couine into his arms and scrambled up on the bed.

“Where were you?” Madame Galland demanded. “I was afraid the soldiers had taken you.” She patted the bundle in her arms, trying to quiet the fussy baby.

“It was my fault,” Meg said. “We got separated, then Joseph came to find me. But we're together now.”

Madame Galland grabbed Meg by the arm and pulled her to the other side of the room. She fixed her gaze on Meg, her eyes filled with fury.

“You left her alone? How could you? Of all the times to disappoint me.”

“I…I'm sorry.” Meg shrank back at the outburst.

Madame Galland struggled to compose herself. She turned away from the others and spoke in a low voice. “I have a baby who can't be settled, a boy with an air for adventure, and a blind girl to look after. If I can't depend on you, Marguerite…” Her voice trembled as she spoke. “Well, I really don't know what I'll do.”

Meg was left breathless by Madame Galland's words.

Madame Galland turned and crossed the room to put Daniel in the cradle, then pulled a blanket over Joseph as he lay snuggled on the bed with the cat. “Come, Geneviève. Sit by the fire and warm up. I'll get you some fresh clothes.”

Madame Galland helped Geneviève change into dry stockings. When she returned to the cradle to tend to the baby, Meg took a deep breath and crossed the room to the trunk to retrieve a hairbrush.

“Here.” She loosened Geneviève's ribbons and brushed the strands away from her face. “Let me fix your hair.”

She pulled the brush through Geneviève's hair with long, fluid strokes. The motion brought her back to Picasse Bay. This could have easily been Nève's hair she was brushing. A hopeless sadness threatened to overwhelm her as she laid one tress over the other in a neat braid, then secured it with a ribbon.

“There, that's better.” Meg cleared her throat and sat by the fire next to Geneviève. Madame Galland looked up from the cradle and offered an appreciative smile.

“Thank you, Marguerite.” Geneviève rested her head on Meg's shoulder. “For everything. You're the best friend a girl could have.”

A pang of guilt rose within Meg. Brushing Geneviève's hair was one thing, but could she really take on the responsibility Madame Galland was asking of her?

She'd stopped herself from returning to the present when she'd found out Geneviève was in danger. But given the chance again, would she make the same choice?

Meg lay awake between Geneviève and Madame Galland. She shifted in the bed, trying to get comfortable. Her body ached to the core. What she wouldn't do for a hot shower and her own soft bed back in Picasse Bay. They'd gone to bed in their clothes, not knowing when the soldiers would come for them in the morning. Baby Daniel slept nearby in his cradle. Madame Galland rocked it occasionally through the night when he stirred.

Joseph lay cuddled at Meg's feet after having spent the evening sobbing. Madame Galland had told him that the cat would have to stay behind. He'd finally drifted off at the foot of the bed, clutching his blanket, with Mache-couine curled up at his side.

Meg lay in the darkness, weighing her decision. With the Galland family now back together and Geneviève safe, she had a choice to make. Should she try to return to Picasse Bay now, or should she see this whole thing through and wait until everyone was safely on the ship? And what guarantee did she have that she'd be able to return at all? she wondered.

Finally, she heard the even breathing of sleep above the buzz of the mosquitoes in the rafters. The oyster shell beckoned her from the pocket of her apron. She reached for it and held it in her hand, following the fissure along the length of the shell with her thumb. The crack had edged its way even farther across. How much longer did Meg have before the magic was lost and it was too late?

Just then, she heard Joseph whimper softly. He pressed his body against her feet. Meg propped her head up onto her hand to look at him as he rubbed his blanket to his nose. This was more than she had bargained for.

Madame Galland had enveloped her with love the moment she had stepped into the house. Baby Daniel was a helpless infant. And Geneviève was becoming more and more of a friend, not just a distant ancestor. To complicate matters, Meg hadn't counted on falling in love with a new little brother.

The weight of the world pressed down on Meg. Could she really leave this family, her family, without knowing whether they had made it onto the ship together? She let out a heavy sigh and flopped back down onto the mattress. The hay padding stuck out in places, prickling her arms.

“You can't sleep either?” Geneviève whispered.

Meg turned her head slightly toward her friend. The outline of Geneviève's face was the only thing visible in the low light.

Meg wondered what it must be like to be blind. No shadows, just darkness. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine. A feeling of wooziness overtook her senses. Familiar red, white, and blue pinpoints of light danced behind her eyelids.

“No!” Meg cried. Her eyes flew open. She wasn't ready to leave.

Not yet.

“Shh…you'll wake everyone.” Geneviève reached for Meg's hand in the darkness and instead touched the edge of the shell. “You still have it,” she said, taking the shell in her hand.

Meg stiffened. “Um, yeah.” How did Geneviève know about the shell? Wasn't it Ginette who had given the shell to Tante Perle? Did that mean the shell was actually from this time, passed on from one Marguerite Gallant to another? There was only one way to find out. Meg hesitated before continuing, then asked, “Do you remember what you said when you gave it to me?”

“Of course,” Geneviève replied. “I said if we ever found the other half, we'd be friends forever.”

“Yes,” Meg whispered. So it had been Geneviève all along…and the first Marguerite. The realization swept over Meg like a cool breeze from an open window.

“I even remember what it looks like,” Geneviève said as she placed the shell back into Meg's hand.

“What can you remember?” Meg asked.

“I remember the inside was as white as a pearl and looked like the morning sky. The bluest blue streaked with the prettiest pink.” Geneviève was silent for a moment, then continued.

“And I remember your face, Marguerite. I'll never forget what you look like.” She turned to her side and traced her fingers around Meg's brow and cheek.

Meg was overwhelmed by the gesture. She felt Geneviève's fingers slip over her hot tears.

“Now I've upset you,” Geneviève said.

“No, it's not that. It's just…well, everything.”

“I know.” Geneviève leaned back against the mattress and folded her hands on her stomach. Soon Meg heard Geneviève crying too.

“What will become of us, Marguerite? All of us?” Geneviève asked into the darkness. Meg's heart ached at the strain in her friend's voice.

Maybe it was the bond of the Gallant family ties throughout the generations or simply the quiet strength of the friendship that had grown between them, but in that moment, Meg made her decision.

“
C'est bien
.” She tucked the oyster shell in the pocket of her apron and reached for Geneviève's hand in the darkness. Whatever she had to do, she couldn't let this family—her family—down.

“Friends forever, Geneviève. I promise.”

Chapter 15

M
EG AWOKE WITH A START
. She felt for the shell in her pocket. It was still there. And so was she. An odd sense of relief washed over her as she awoke to the same reality as the night before.

Meg couldn't remember the moment she had fallen asleep. Her sleep had been so deep, she was sure she hadn't moved a muscle. Her limbs felt like lead. Mosquitoes buzzed around her face, renewed by the warmth of the sunshine streaming into the simple house.

But something was wrong. The pressure she had felt at her feet the night before was not there. She bolted upright in bed.

“Joseph!” The little boy was gone. The cat had vanished.

“
Mon Dieu
!” Madame Galland was up in a flash. “Joseph!” Meg helped her search the house.

“What's the matter, what's wrong?” Geneviève grasped the side of the bed and struggled to stand.

“It's Joseph! Mache-couine must have wandered off and he's probably gone after him!” Meg had only known the boy for a short time, but still a powerful force possessed her, willing her to find him. “I'll go look for him!” Meg headed for the door.

Madame Galland grabbed Meg's arm and swung her around.

“You'll do nothing of the kind. Stay here with the others. Keep the door latched until I return.” Her eyes were wild. Meg nodded, catching her breath. With that, Madame Galland ran out of the house.

Meg did as she was told and snapped the latch closed behind her.

To stop the English, you know.

Tante Perle's voice echoed in Meg's mind. Had she gone through the same motions to try to save this family, only to fail? The reality of the moment flattened Meg's resolve. Why would this time be any different? She leaned her brow against the door.