Wishes & Tears Read Free Page B

explain that which defies explanation?
    “Is that what you really think?”
    “What else am I to think? That you dropped out of the sky from one hundred years hence? What nonsense!” He pulled the cloth off her forehead and threw it in the basin, causing a splash.
    “You’re a doctor, a scientific man. I should think if anyone could understand my plight it would be you.”
    He stood. “Don’t toy with me. As soon as you are well enough, you can reunite with your clan on the Barbary Coast. You can go cast your spells on some unsuspecting oaf!”
    He abruptly turned and marched out of the room.
    She lay in bed wondering what was to become of her.

Chapter 2
    Faith gazed in the oval hand mirror that Bridget had lent her. The haunting reflection made her gasp. Gone was her perfectly chiseled face, replaced by sunken cheeks, angular bones, and hollow eyes. Her glowing ivory complexion had turned pasty and sallow. Her eyebrows needed tweezing and dark roots were growing out from the center part of her hair. “California blonde” was returning to mousy brunette. In disgust, she threw the mirror at her side on the bed, closed her eyes and settled back against the pillows. No wonder Doctor Forrester had been avoiding her.
    A gentle knock rapped on her door.
    “Come in,” Faith said, opening her eyes.
    Bridget ambled in with a silver tray laden with a tea set, scones, and teacakes. She set down the tray on the bedside table with a rattle and turned to Faith.
    “Tea time, ma’am. Some sweets to put some meat on your bones.”
    “Don’t drill it in, Bridget.” Faith sighed. “I know how dreadful I look.”
    “Nothing that some food and time can’t heal.”
    “And some Clairol.”
    “What ma’am?” Bridget tilted her head, stray strands of carrot red hair escaping from her starched, frilled cap.
    “Oh, you wouldn’t understand. I just took so much for granted: peroxide, hair coloring, makeup, manicures,” Faith said, inspecting her ragged nails and chipped red polish.
    Bridget shook her head, her gaze puzzled.
    “I just want to return to normal.”
    “Ma’am, if your appearance is bothering you, perhaps I can be of some assistance. Before coming to work for the good doctor, I had been a lady’s maid. I can help you with your toilette,” Bridget said, beaming with self-assurance.
    “I would be a challenge.”
    “It would be my pleasure.” Bridget smiled, her apple cheeks glowing.
    “Looking good is akin to feeling good.”
    Faith met her gaze. “You have been so kind to me. I’ll put myself in your hands.”
    “After you’ve had your tea I’ll return with my bag and I’ll see what I can do.”
    • • •
    Later, Bridget returned and eased Faith into a wicker chair. She opened her satchel of grooming aids. Faith watched in fascination as Bridget withdrew items from the bag like a magician revealing props. These props, though, were grooming aids from another era. The five-prong waving iron, a braided wire hair roll, a tortoiseshell pompadour comb, and boar bristle brush were considered antiques by Faith.
    “It’s been so long since I’ve worked for a lady,” Bridget said, picking up the hairbrush, she stepped behind Faith and began to brush her thick and tangled mane in caressing strokes.
    The effect was soothing and was the first grooming Faith had had since entering this bewildering time and place.
    “You work magic with that brush.”
    “That’s quite a compliment, ma’am, coming from a gypsy and all.”
    “Do you really believe I’m a gypsy?”
    “I don’t know otherwise. I’ve always been quite fascinated with gypsies.”
    “Sorry to disappoint you but, contrary to what Doctor Forrester believes, I am not a gypsy. I’m a schoolteacher.”
    “Ma’am, it isn’t my place to question but … ” Bridget hesitated.
    “Go on.”
    “I was wondering. Where did you come from?”
    “If I told you the truth you’d think me insane. Let me say that I come from a strange place far away