Victoria Thompson - Murder On Mulberry Bend

“We’ve been trying to get him to put his weight on his foot,” David explained. “He’s never walked, and his foot has been sore for a while, so naturally, he’s reluctant.”

Sarah turned to Malloy. “He’s probably just stubborn, like his father,” she said with a smile. He didn’t smile back. Maybe he really was angry at her. Or maybe he was just upset about Brian and didn’t want to show it. She didn’t bother to wonder how she knew that about him.

Brian was still clinging to her tightly. “Let’s see if we can give him a reason to walk,” Sarah suggested. “Malloy, take him back.”

“He’ll throw a fit,” Malloy protested.

“And he’ll want to get back to me,” Sarah said. “When he does, set him on his feet and let him go.”

“Wonderful idea, Sarah,” David said, moving out of the way to give them room.

Malloy’s dark gaze was unfathomable as he reached out and wrenched Brian away from her. The boy did pitch a fit, arms and legs flailing as garbled sounds erupted from his throat. Malloy held him at arm’s length until Sarah could step back a bit and stoop down, her long skirts pooling around her.

“All right,” she said to Malloy, who slowly lowered the boy to the floor.

“Brian, come here,” Sarah said, forgetting he couldn’t hear her. He didn’t need to hear to know what her outstretched arms meant, though. He tried to drop to his knees so he could crawl across the distance that separated them, but Malloy held him up, allowing his feet to touch the floor but letting him go no farther down.

His normal foot planted on the floor, but he kept drawing up the damaged one each time it touched.

“Come on, Brian!” Sarah urged him, beckoning him with her hands, her smile bright and encouraging. “You can do it!”

Malloy let him move forward a step when his damaged foot came down in front of the other one. The boy looked down in surprise and instantly drew the foot up again. This time, however, he stared at it, as if trying to figure out what it had done.

All the adults in the room held their breath as he tried to decide what to do next. After what seemed an hour, the boy gingerly lowered the damaged foot to the floor again, and this time Malloy quickly reached down and scooted his good foot forward, forcing him to take a step with his weight on the damaged foot. His knee buckled, but Malloy didn’t let him fall.

Brian turned his angel blue eyes to Sarah beseechingly, but she just kept smiling and beckoning. “Come on, sweetheart! You can do it!” she insisted.

He looked down at his foot again and this time lifted it tentatively and placed it down a step ahead. Sarah clapped her hands, and Brian smiled when he looked up and saw it. He wanted desperately to please her. She pointed at his normal foot and motioned for him to move it forward.

His beautiful face screwed up with mingled apprehension and determination. He tried one more beseeching glance, but Sarah nodded and beckoned again. “That’s right, you can do it!”

As quickly as he could, he threw his good foot forward a step, putting his weight on the damaged foot for only the briefest of seconds. But when he looked up, he saw Sarah was laughing and clapping again, cheering him on. Two more halting steps, and he had almost reached her. Frantically, he pried Malloy’s fingers from his hips, then lunged forward on his own, walking unaided for the first time in his life, and collapsed into Sarah’s arms.

She hugged him to her, fairly squealing with delight. David’s strong hands helped her to stand upright, and she swung Brian around in joyous celebration.

“Never underestimate the power of a beautiful woman, Mr. Malloy,” David was saying.

Sarah turned to Malloy to share this wonderful moment, but he wasn’t smiling. Could he possibly be unhappy that Brian could finally walk? Instinctively, she knew she had to make him part of this. “Now I’ll send him back to you, Malloy,” she said.

She carefully untangled the boy’s arms and legs from around her and turned him to face his father, then bent down and set him back on his feet. Malloy hesitated only an instant before going down on one knee again and reaching out for his son.

This time Brian knew what he was supposed to do. The damaged foot tentatively found the floor again, and when Malloy reached out, Brian began lurching clumsily toward him. Sarah held on to keep him from falling, but after a few steps, he impatiently pushed her hands away. He wanted to do it himself!

She let him go, hands still hovering only inches away, to catch him if he fell. But he didn’t fall. He staggered triumphantly into his father’s arms. Malloy enveloped him, burying his face in the sweet curve of the boy’s neck. Sarah felt the sting of tears as she stepped back.

Brian could walk. The wonder of it washed over her, leaving her weak with gratitude. “You’ve done a miracle, David.”

“All in a day’s work,” he demurred. “Bring Brian into the office when you’re ready, Mr. Malloy,” he added. Taking Sarah’s elbow, he guided her into his adjoining office and drew the connecting door almost shut behind them, allowing Malloy a measure of privacy to deal with his emotions.

For herself, Sarah could hardly hold back her own, and she couldn’t even begin to imagine what Malloy must be feeling. Brian would be able to walk. Soon he could run and play in the street like other children. His world would no longer be limited to the small flat where he lived with his grandmother.

And he would never become another cripple begging on the streets for his livelihood.

“Anne is angry with you,” David was saying as he seated himself behind his desk. Anne was his wife and a dear friend of Sarah’s.

“I hated breaking our dinner engagement, but I can’t plan my schedule the way you can,” she reminded him. “Babies come when they want to.”

“I was instructed to tell you that we expect you for dinner tomorrow evening, no excuses.”

“I’ll be there if you promise to allow me to come early so I can play with the children.”

“I’m sure we would all be delighted,” David assured her. They chatted for a few more minutes, and Sarah was grateful for the distraction. By the time Malloy brought Brian into the office, she had regained her composure.

But she almost lost it again when she saw that Brian was walking. Malloy held his hand and was giving him more than ordinary support, but he was taking his own steps, however uncertain. His small face was a study in determination and pride as he glanced up to see her reaction.

This time she didn’t try to hold back the tears. Her eyes filled and overflowed even as she laughed in delight. “Oh, Malloy, isn’t it wonderful?”

But when she looked up at him, his expression remained grim. “He’s still deaf,” he reminded her.

She felt as if he’d slapped her. She stared up at him, but he didn’t even glance at her as he took the other chair and hoisted Brian into his lap.

David had been shocked, too, but he was too professional to let it to show. He explained to Malloy what to expect and answered his questions. All the while, Brian kept examining his new foot, tracing the scars with his finger and poking and prodding and wiggling his toes, then comparing his two feet and silently marveling at how alike they now were.

His wonder was enchanting, but Sarah still felt the sting of Malloy’s rebuke. What was wrong with him? Why wasn’t he overjoyed? And why on earth was he taking his anger out on her?

When David was finished and Malloy had no more questions, Malloy gathered Brian up and rose. He shook David’s hand and thanked him. Then he turned to Sarah, nodded, and took his leave. Brian reached back longingly. Plainly, he wanted her to come along with them, but Malloy didn’t even glance back.