Sharing Corrie

Chapter Three

 "Oh, Christina," Corrie cried, running to her sister's side and scooping her into her arms.

"Corrie," Christina answered, voice breathy.

Corrie released her sister so she could examine her face. Christina's normally pale features had become pallid and ghostly. Her skin seemed to hang from her angular cheekbones and pointed chin, and dark shadows outlined her eyes. Christina's leg was in a thick plaster and set upon a pillow. Christina offered her a wan smile, and Corrie fought back the tears. Why hadn't she come sooner? Why hadn't she called to check on Christina more often? She couldn't help but feel culpable for her sister's malady.

"Chris, what happened?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"Hannah, can we have a minute," Christina asked the curly headed girl.

"Of course," Hannah answered, "I'll be in Alex's office."

When the girl's boots had clicked out of hearing, Christina sighed and laid her head back against the pillow. "Oh, Cor, I'm so glad you're here."

Corrie perched on the edge of the bed, taking Christina's chilled hand in hers. "I would have come sooner had I known. It took an irate letter from Aunt Jack for me to discover your condition."

"I told Mother and Father not to bother you," Christina whispered.

"You need me, and I'm here. It's not a bother," Corrie answered, smoothing limp strands of near-black hair from Christina's forehead. "Now tell me what happened."

"In March, I was starting to get better. David and I went for walks along the bank of the Rapahannock, and we were so happy. I think...I think he was going to ask Father if he could marry me, but then the war came. He's so blasted brave. He was the first man to sign up from Irvington, and everything just happened so fast, and when he left, I was utterly devastated." Christina drew in a wavering breath. "I was so alone. Father yelled at me for being so upset over a man who hadn't even proposed and swore he would find me someone better. There's no one better than David," Christina exclaimed, her jaw tensing. "I grew angry and ran away. I climbed a tree, just like when we were kids, and as it grew late, I fell asleep and toppled from the tree, breaking my leg." She sighed. "I've been here ever since."

Corrie pulled Christina's head to her chest, running her fingers gently through the girl's coarse hair. "I'm so sorry, Chris. I'm sorry I wasn't here."

"It's not your fault. At least I have David. He's already sent me letters, and I'll keep writing to him and hoping for the best."

"Well, you'll need to get feeling better for when he does return after the war," Corrie murmured into her sister's ear, grateful that she didn't have to muster a falsely courageous smile.

Between Christina's illness and the peril David would be in, they both knew that Christina and David's future was precarious at best, but Christina needed hope if she was ever to recover.

"It'll be easier now that you're here," Christina answered, gently pulling away from Corrie. "Besides, now you can intervene on my behalf with Father. He can try to marry you off to someone instead of me."

Corrie laughed. "I'm courting Edwin, so I'm not sure how much help I'll be. But I'm spending every day with you until you feel better."

"You, Aunt Jack, and Hannah? You'll spoil me," Christina added with a grin.

"Who is Hannah?" Corrie asked with a glance toward the door from which the girl had exited.

"She's Dr. Benjamin's little sister. They moved here a year ago when he started his practice. She's been my unofficial nurse."