parted in 1895 he forgave him, but for some reason, Reed kept broaching the subject. It could be his extreme old age causing his forgetfulness. No use trying to explain all this, instead he said, “I forgive you.”
With an exhale of ragged breath, Reed closed his eyes briefly and nodded, as if the words were a balm to him. Perhaps they were. After a few moments he opened his eyes and pointed to the box sitting on the floor between them. “In there you will find all my notes on the experiment and my subsequent analysis.”
A rush of anger tore through Luke. “I asked you decades ago to destroy them. You assured me you would.”
“Forgive me again, I could not do it. Think of all the advances that have been made since eighteen ninety-five and what is to come. This information will be vital in unlocking questions we currently have no answers for.” Reed coughed, holding a handkerchief over his mouth. When he regained control, he said, “Before Clara comes in, I must tell you years ago Glenna asked me to examine her during one of our visits to Cornwall. It is highly likely the reason you did not have children lay with her, not you.”
Luke’s spine stiffened at the news. Glenna never said a word. Foolishly, he thought they shared all, but then the Parkers were notorious for keeping secrets. Reed must have seen the look of shock on his face, for he shook his head sadly. “I never told Glenna what I suspected, because I was not entirely sure. I believe her cervix was tilted and I did encourage her to see a medical doctor for a more thorough exam as my knowledge was limited. I’m not sure she ever did. Perhaps not since she didn’t inform you of any of this.”
That was no doubt the case, and he and Glenna did tell each other everything, except she did not share her doubts about conception. What does it matter now? No use getting angry.
Reed continued, “It was not a priority as we all believed you could not father children. I tell you this for you may want to be tested yourself to be absolutely sure. In case you…with a woman….” Reed cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the subject matter. “Blast it, I should have told you soon after Glenna died.”
Yes, he should have. It made Luke wonder what else Reed had not told him. As far as women were concerned, Luke managed during the past eleven years to limit his carnal activity to ladies of the night, where in darkness they could not see him and he did not have to look at them. Along with his increased strength and enhanced senses, his libido also ran at a high level. Mired in grief, he fought his urges for several years. But not lately. A good thing he used sheaths under the circumstances to stem any chance of catching a disease. Even though he may be immune, why take chances?
No use losing his temper at this stage. There had been many unknowns through the years. He could hardly blame Glenna or Reed. Though despite their long, complicated friendship, a small part of Luke still did not entirely trust the old man. “I see.” What else could he say? “What other surprises will I find in your notes?”
At that moment, Clara entered the room carrying a tray laden with tea, mugs, and a plate of cheese and biscuits. Reed looked relieved at the interruption. Luke jumped to his feet and took the tray from Clara’s shaking hands then placed it on the table. Though Luke could not ascertain most changes in temperature, he found the parlor far too chilly. Damn and blast, he should have brought them coal as well as food. “Isn’t there a woman who comes in the morning to light your fires and prepare you both breakfast?”
Clara frowned as she poured the tea. “Yes, but she hasn’t been here the last two days. I went to her house to inquire as I was concerned she might be ill. The place is closed up tight. Perhaps they went to the country. She did speak of relatives in Sussex.”
“You should have called Fred or me,” he admonished gently. Though most of February had been mild, a couple of nights dropped near zero.
“You are both far too busy,” Clara stated, waving her hand in dismissal.
Luke slipped out of his suit coat and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. He had a fire blazing in the hearth in a manner of minutes. Taking the mug of hot tea, he sat down and watched as Clara lovingly fussed around Reed, ensuring he had plenty of cheese and biscuits and the blanket across his legs was tucked in. She grabbed her mug and took her seat on the other side of her husband. “When Fred arrives, we will light the fire in your bedroom as well,” Luke stated.
No sooner had he spoken his nephew’s name when Fred knocked and strode into the parlor. Clara tried to stand, but Fred bade her to stay seated, leaned in and kissed her cheek, then did the same with Reed. Pouring himself a mug of tea and grabbing a slice of cheese, he sat on the sofa next to his mother. “All together again, yeah?” he smiled.
Fred possessed an outwardly sunny nature but could turn serious enough when warranted. At five feet eleven, he was as broad-shouldered and solid as his father had been, and his features, though not classically handsome, were pleasing enough. Luke knew Fred often kept company with various ladies through the years, but nothing serious ever came from the brief dalliances. With his sable-brown hair and light brown eyes, he had the look of a Parker. He could have been Glenna’s son for all their similarities. Another roll of pain moved through him. Luke reluctantly pushed her from his thoughts as he fought to keep control of his grief.
“I want to be buried in Charlwood,” Reed said suddenly. That certainly ended all conversation.
“Dad…”
“Three generations of Parkers lived in the area and it should be my final resting place. Your mother’s too, when the time comes. You will see it done?”
“Of course,” Fred replied, his voice soft.
“Next to Glenna’s stone,” Reed insisted.
So much for not thinking of Glenna. Luke had never been to her grave. What did it matter? Her body was not there. She’d been swept out to sea because of his incompetence. He made a fist with his gloved left hand and the leather creaked in response.
“It is not your fault,” Clara said.
No doubt every emotion tearing though him reflected on his face. It always did. He was not a man to hide his feelings, though he tried. “I could not save her. This hand is not my own, and it could not hold on to her.”
A strangled sob left Reed’s throat and Clara rushed to his side. “Stop. Both of you. It is no one’s fault. An act of nature.” She kissed Reed’s forehead. “It is nothing you did, Reed, nor you, Luke.” Soon after Clara married Reed, she was informed of the experiment and Luke’s part in it. A family secret they all kept close to the vest.
The despair on the older man’s face was plain, and he understood it. Reed blamed himself for reanimating him and for replacing his severed hand. If Luke had remained buried and forgotten, Glenna would still be alive. In these long eleven years, no one in the family blamed him. He was eternally grateful.
“I should have this…thing removed. I would be better off with a damned hook or a wooden hand. Anything but this,” Luke spat. Before he was reanimated, Reed used the hand from another corpse and stitched it in place of the one he lost during the carriage accident. It was a horrible lump of flesh he constantly kept covered. Thankfully, there were no other body parts replaced. Bad enough there were moments he felt like Frankenstein’s monster since his reanimation. He certainly did not want to look the part. At least, no more than he looked now. Luke exhaled. “Forgive me. I usually do not sink into such morbid self-pity.”
Fred nodded. “If you cannot share your deepest feelings with family, who can you share them with?”
“True.
