Fic: Mr. & Mrs. John Moore (aka Sara Howard Moore) VIII: Beaded Pearls (10/10)
Title: Mr. & Mrs. John Moore (aka Sara Howard Moore) VIII: Beaded Pearls (10/10)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): John/Sara, Greta Bremer, Julia Ogden, Miranda Minton
Fandoms: The Alienist/Murdoch Mysteries
Genres: Angst, Drama, Historical, Holiday, Horror, Mystery, Suspense
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings (this chapter): None
Spoilers: None
Summary: Halloween still clings to Pine Grove like cobwebs.
Chapter Summary: After the storm, it's always the brightest.
Date Of Completion: April 23, 2021
Date Of Posting: December 21, 2022
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, TNT, Shaftesbury Films and The Canadian Broadcasting Company do, more’s the pity.
Word Count (this chapter): 1333
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
The entire series can be found here.
X
APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUTS AND MOXIE
Snow sparkling,
Diamond-bright,
So goes the darkness
Into the light.
Merilee Moriarty
"Winter's White"
1899 C E.
Brilliant sunlight streamed through the dusty windows of the Mansion, touching the entwined bodies of Sara and John as they slept on a semi-comfortable bed. John's blanket had been thrown over the two of them.
Sara gradually came awake, holding onto John as she wondered about that night. It seemed so dream-like, just like last time, she knew had been no dream.
Oh, John, it was so close this time.
She gently stroked his face. Her fear had nearly overwhelmed her, but John was not lost to her.
John's eyelids fluttered awake. He smiled and Sara felt joy blossom within her
"Good morning, my lady," John said.
"Good morning, kind sir."
John rubbed between his eyes. "I have a headache."
"I'm not surprised."
He looked at her. "Last night wasn't a dream?"
Sara shook her head. "Last time wasn't, either."
"Huh." John stared up at the ceiling. "I suspected as much."
"Must be the writer in you."
John smiled. He patted his stomach. "I'm hungry."
"Even with a headache?"
"Hey, we haven't eaten since lunch yesterday."
Sara untangled from John and rolled out of bed. She looked out the window. "Afraid we're pretty snowed in."
A knock sounded on the door. "How about some breakfast?" Greta asked.
"How...?"
"I threw some food into the bag. It may be lunch and supper, too."
"We don't care, do we, Sara?"
"No, we don't."
"All right, come on down to the kitchen."
Intrigued, John and Sara got dressed and went downstairs, John a little wobbly but Sara right beside him. Cheerful voices could be heard in the kitchen and the three women greeted the Moores with smiles and good cheer.
"We cleaned off the table. Have some apple cider doughnuts," Greta invited.
"Oh, yes," John said, he and Sara taking seats at the table.
"I washed out some glasses I found in the snow, and filled 'em with snow to melt into water. I figure we can drink the Moxie I brought here."
"Moxie, huh?" John asked with a twinkle in his eye.
Sara loved seeing that twinkle. She realized how hungry she was and bit into her doughnut.
"It tastes heavenly," she said.
"Thank you." Greta beamed.
"The water is certainly cold," Julia said.
"North Pole Special," Greta quipped.
"Merry Christmas would appreciate that," John said as he ate his doughnut.
There was more badinage, then it was time for answers.
"Madame Miranda, you called the spirit possessing John 'Abigail'. I thought Emily was the spirit in this house?" asked Sara.
Miranda drank her snowwater. "She is, but so is Abigail."
"What happened?" Julia asked.
"After the seance in 1876, Abigail had been possessed by Emily. We did not realize it at first, but eventually the family called me in. It took some doing, but we freed Abigail."
"But she's here in this house," Sara said.
"She is." At Sara's confused expression, Miranda continued, "She was killed in a carriage accident."
"The Biggsby Curse?"
Miranda smiled sadly. "Or precarious mental stability. It may not have been an accident."
Shock went around the table. Sara shivered, wondering what it was like to court self-destruction. Her father...
"You all right, sweetheart?"
"Oh, ah, yes."
"Exorcism seems rather easy. I thought it was harder than that." Julia cocked her head.
"It is." Miranda took a sip of water. "But I know Abigail would not be difficult. She is a forlorn soul."
"You knew Abigail had possessed John?" Sara asked.
"I felt it."
"Impressive."
"Well, after so many years, I learned something."
After breakfast, Julia said she would check on the horses. She took a shovel and returned an hour later, covered in snow and chilled.
"They're better off than we are," she laughed, which triggered a sneezing fit.
"Out of those wet clothes," Greta said firmly. "We found some blankets you can use."
Julia made no protest. As she disappeared upstairs with Greta, Sara directed John to the sofa in the library.
"How are you feeling?" she asked him.
"Better." He took a deep breath. "Being possessed is a little unnerving.'"
"Just a tad."
John smiled. He grasped Sara's hand. "And how are you?"
"Better "
Understanding passed between them. John suggested, "Maybe you should advise Ellie Biggsby to forget her renovation plans."
"I just might." Sara squeezed John's hand. "All I know is, we are never setting foot in this house again."
"Amen to that!"
& & & & & &
Despite being snowbound, the day passed pleasantly enough. There were talks in the library and shoveling a walkway with 'all hands on deck', as Julia called it. Even John insisted on helping. He pounded his chest lightly and said, "Fresh air would do me good."
Sara kept an eye on him but the cold air did seem to be doing him some good. The shoveling was going well, and Julia made another check on the horses.
"It's always beautiful after a storm," said John.
"Yes, almost worth the storm." Sara was careful as the snow was heavy. Shoveling heavy snow could be dangerous. She concentrated on the next shovelful.
Whap!
"What the...?" Sara was shocked as icy cold snow slid down the back of her neck.
"Gotcha!" John was positively gleeful.
"So, sneaky, eh?" Sara quickly scooped up some snow, packed it, and let it fly.
"Oof!" John staggered back as the snowball hit his shoulder.
"Snowball fight!" Greta yelled.
The battle was on! Snowballs flew through the air and Julia joined in on the fun when she returned from the barn. Shrieking and laughter was the order of the day.
"All very childish," Sara observed as she ducked.
"All the better, my dear," John declared, letting another volley fly.
The fight lasted several minutes, and everyone laughed as they brushed off snow and finished shoveling. They trooped into the house and dined on cider doughnuts and Moxie in front of a crackling fire in the library.
"Well, you all certainly showed moxie today. To Moxie!" Greta held up her glass of the drink and everyone clinked glasses.
5 & & & & &
The next day was a little warmer and some snow melted. The snowbound party was able to finally bid Pine Grove farewell, and a thick morning fog obscured the house as they rode away. If a mournful wail sounded, it disappeared in the howl of the wind that suddenly sprang up.
& & & & & &
Later that day, in the front parlor of Greta Bremer's boardinghouse, the party wrapped up loose ends.
"Buffalo Children's Hospital are okay with my delayed arrival. They're used to blizzards delaying things."
"That's great, Julia," said Sara.
"What about Andy?" John asked
"I told Dr. Osling that in my judgment, Andy is not insane. I also arranged with Merry Christmas to hire him to help out at her new restaurant."
"And he'll board a reduced rate while I get a permanent discount at the restaurant," said Greta with a beaming smile.
"Excellent all around," Miranda said.
"It all worked out." John was very satisfied. He had visited Andy to say goodbye.
"Mrs. Bremer, thank you for the apple cider doughnuts and Moxie. You saved our lives," Sara declared.
Everyone laughed and said their goodbyes to Greta and Miranda, who was staying the night.
Outside, John loaded their luggage into the waiting carriage. Sara smiled at Julia. "Back to your Detective Murdoch?"
Julia looked uncomfortable. "Actually, I'm planning my wedding to Dr. Darcy Garland of the hospital."
"Oh." Sara was surprised. The only man Julia had ever mentioned was William Murdoch. This was the first time she had mentioned her fiance. "Congratulations."
"Thank you." Julia climbed into the carriage.
Sara was puzzled. Her instincts told her that Julia was definitely interested in William Murdoch.
Oh, well, hopefully Julia knows her own mind.
She climbed in after Julia, John after her, and they started on their journey home.
& & & & & &
On a clear winter's day, thick fog still swirled around the Biggsby Mansion. It disappeared in a miasma of clouded despair.
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