Jack studied the clippings briefly, then glanced across the street to the druggist.
“What you probably don’t know,” she went on, “is that neighborhood midwives almost always have a druggist they work with, where they consult and get whatever preparations they need. Druggists keep a list of midwives who work in the area, and take messages for them. Some druggists work with only one or two midwives they trust. My cousin Amelie—I haven’t told you about her yet—worked with Smithson for more than thirty years before she gave up her practice. Another midwife took her place, her name was Sarah Conroy, but she’s retired now too. I’m not sure who’s working with Smithson now, but this—” She touched the newspaper advertisement. “This makes me wonder.”
Jack was listening closely, keeping his thoughts to himself. Anna knew her voice had gone hoarse, but she would tell all of it. She had to tell all of it.
“Amelie was an excellent midwife. People still talk about her. Sarah was just as good. And both of them would help women who came to them in trouble.”
She saw that he understood. For a long moment he considered the newspaper clipping, and then he took in a deep breath and let it go.
Jack asked, “Do you know who took Sarah’s place? Who’s working with Smithson now?”
“No, not with any certainty. But I could find out.”
“Wait,” Jack said. “Let me see if I follow your thinking. A woman comes to talk to this Smithson when she’s looking for a midwife, either to deliver her when the time comes, or to regulate her courses—” He was using the euphemistic wording from the newspaper.
“To end the pregnancy,” Anna clarified. “Yes.”
“And it’s always worked that way?”
“It’s not the only way a woman finds a midwife, but it is one way, yes.”
“And you’re thinking that this Dr. dePaul is trying to get the attention of women who come to Smithson’s for this purpose.”
“When you say it like that, it sounds very far-fetched—”
“No,” Jack said. “I see it that way too. But there are a couple of other possible explanations. First, it could be nothing more than a way to stand out from the other advertisements. This dePaul might be running the more usual kind of ad as well, he’s just casting a wider net—”
Anna managed a shaky smile. “Of course. I should have thought of that.”
“—hold on, I wasn’t finished.” He cradled the back of her neck in one hand and drew her in to him, put his mouth to her ear. “Sometimes a thing feels just a little bit off. Not quite right. That’s probably what you picked up, that feeling, because I’ve got a whiff of it too. So let’s talk to Oscar about this, put our heads together.”
A train rattled by overhead, and they stayed just as they were until it was gone. Then Anna pulled back to look at him directly. “You’re not just humoring me?”
“Hell, no,” Jack said. He gave her a grim smile. “I’ve got my faults, but I’m not stupid. You’d never stand for that, and I wouldn’t want you to.”
? ? ?
THEY WERE CUTTING across the park and almost back to the family when Jack saw that Anna’s aunt Quinlan was walking toward home, braced on either side by Elise and Margaret.
Just that quickly Anna’s expression shifted to what Jack had come to think of as her professional mask. Without discussion they both broke into a jog. By the time they caught up, Anna had managed to produce an easier smile. She said, “You are more sensible than I am, Auntie. I should take a nap too.”
Her aunt wasn’t so easily taken in. “Don’t fuss, I’m perfectly fine. Jack, take that girl back to the picnic, would you? She’s going to try my patience.”
The uncharacteristic peevish tone seemed not to alarm Anna, but to put her worries to rest. “You’ll send word if you need me?”
“Of course I will. Give me a kiss and go on. You too, Elise. And don’t argue with me, I won’t have it. A short walk will do me good. I’ll send Margaret back just as soon as I’m settled.”
Jack said, “Don’t I have any say in this?”
Four faces turned to him. He sighed in mock disappointment, leaned down, and, moving gently, lifted Anna’s beloved aunt into the cradle of his arms.
“Don’t fuss,” he said to her. “I won’t have it.” And he started down the street at a brisk pace.
For a moment he thought she was going to box his ears, but suddenly she gave a squawk of a laugh and relaxed.
“You do remind me sometimes of my Simon. I had a difficult time when I was expecting Blue, and so he carried me everywhere.” She looped an arm around his neck and patted his cheek. “I am so glad to know you’ll be looking after my Anna.”
? ? ?
IT WASN’T MORE than a quarter hour before he got back to the park, but Rosa and Lia were lying in wait and jumped out at him. He took one look at their expressions and crouched down.
“Aunt Quinlan is just fine,” he said. “Nothing to worry about.”
“We’re not worried,” Rosa said. “We’re confused.”