𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃, ⁱˢⁱᵃʰ ʲᵉˢᵘˢ

64

Tommy groaned, walking to answer the phone. "Yea?" he asked. "Yes i'll accept the call."

"Hello, Lizzie"

"Tommy, it's ruby she's not well, she's got a temperature of 101 the doctors just left." she said quietly. "What did he say?" he asked. "He says he thinks it's flue but he's gonna come later to check on her, she's been coughing..Tommy he says it's not a good idea for us to travel, we can't board that ship to Boston today,"

"That's all right, Lizzie, don't worry" Tom glanced at the whore who was collecting her things.

"Don't worry you just stay there for now and get her better and..can i speak to her?"

"She's sleeping."

"Yeah, we'll let her sleep. Let her sleep. Lizzie i have a bit more business to do here. Look, you just book a new passage when Ruby's feeling better, doesn't matter if you don't get here for Christmas. Just get here"

Lizzie lot a cigarette. "And then i'll get this business done. You get here with the kids and then no more. It'll just be us and the clean air out in the West. I found a place in the mountains. There'll be snow"

Lizzie smiled slightly. "Tell Ruby i'll build her a snow man. How long has she been coughing"

"A few days. She's been out running wild with Johnny Dogs' kids out in the cold by the river." Lizzie sighed. "Are you okay Tommy? Your voice it sounds different"

"It's just cold. I'll get this business done in Boston and that'll be the end of it. Then i just want to..just want to pick Ruby up and hold her in me arms, you know, i miss the weight of carrying her."

"I gave her the presents early, she loves them. Last night, she was burning up, she was delirious. She kept talking. Johnnys kids have been teaching her to speak Gypsy" she turned to the window.

"Teaching her to rob and steal more like" Tommy laughed.

"When she was delirious, she kept saying these words. 'Tickner Maura, Tickner Maura, O Beng O Beng' over and over again" she said.

Tommy sat straight.

"What, Lizzie, what did you say, what did ruby say?"

"Tickna Maura, something like that?"

"Did she say any other words that you didn't understand?" he asked. "O Beng, i don't know"

"No, Lizzie did she say any other words in Romany? Fucking listen to me" he shouted. "I don't know Romany words, Tommy,  i don't think so"

"Just 'Tickna Maura' and 'O Beng'?" he asked. "Yes"

"Did she see anything when she was burning up, what could she see?" Tommy paced. "Fuck" she whispered. "Lizzie please just answer the fucking question" he shouted. "She said she could see a man. A man with green eyes, she was delirious she was burning up. What the fuck is the matter?"

"All right, Lizzie i'm coming home."

"Tommy it's just a fever, love"

"Listen i'm coming home on the next steamer. You keep her out of school, keep her away from the river, don't let her ride or go near a horse"

Lizzie sighed.

"Tell Johnny Dogs and his wives what she's been saying. Do you hear me? Tell Johnnys eldest wife to put a Black Madonna around her neck" he shouted.

"You listen to Esmeralda the same way you listen to a fucking doctor"

"Fucking Gypsy stuff" Lizzie held her head. "Yes it is Gypsy stuff, Lizzie! Yes it fucking is" he shouted loudly. "Get curly there. Tell him to stay in the stables with Ruby's horses. And you do everything that Johnny Dogs and his wives fucking tell you. Do you understand me? I'm sorry Lizzie do you understand?"

"Okay" she sighed. " I'll do it"

-

"Hello, my boy" Florence smiled widely, picking up the boy who ran to her. "You're home" he said excitedly. "I am home," she said, fixing his clothes.

Isiah stood smiling, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"How'd it go?" he asked. "Micheals been arrested, Tommy set him up." She nodded, placing the boy down and ruffling his hair. "Well" Isiah sighed, "Lizzie called, Ruby is sick, Tommy is coming home early"

"Oh that's not good" Florence placed a hand on her hip. "Did she say what was up with her?"

Isiah shook his head. "Just says she's ill."

Florence nodded along. "How has Toby been?" Florence asked. Isiah nodded. "Asking for his mother at night" he smiled, wrapping his arms around her. "One day, Flo" he whispered, "one day we can get away from all of this, maybe live in, i don't know, on a field, get a big plot of land." he smiled. "A house, a big one all for us, we can raise Toby and keep him away from all the danger"

She nodded. "I'd like that, Siah, i just don't know when that would be possible"