Chapter Text
When Jo arrived at Die Rosen she was feeling a little nervous. Although she had returned there twice in the past few months, she had always known she was going back to the safety of the Sanatorium, where she was carefully watched over. Here, she would be expected to look after herself. She knew her sister and brother-in-law would be keeping a close eye on her wellbeing, but it didn’t feel the same.
She was met at the door by her sister, Madge Russell, who drew her inside. After helping her to remove her coat, Madge led her to the Salon. Once Jo was seated in one of the chairs, Madge spoke.
“I know this isn’t the most peaceful of places to live, Jo, especially since Jem tells me that quiet is what you need right now, so we’ve emptied the little sewing room out for you to use as your own sitting room.”
Jo smiled at her sister. “That sounds lovely, Madge.”
“There isn’t much in there at the moment, I’m afraid. Just a couple of chairs, a side table and a small bookshelf, but it’s all yours.”
“May I see it?” Jo asked.
“Of course,” and Madge led the way to the small room at the back of the house. It was just large enough for Jo. There was little room for anything other than the furniture already there, but it immediately felt like a sanctuary to Jo. A small watercolour adorned one wall and the door and window took up two more, whilst the last one was blank. The chairs had been arranged so the occupants were looking out of the window and the table was between them. A lamp stood on the top of the bookshelves, which were positioned to one side of the furthest chair.
“It’s perfect. Thank you for thinking of it,” Jo said.
“We still want you to use the Salon, but if things get too much, you can come here and rest. Jem says you’re up for ten hours a day now.” Madge led Jo back to the Salon as she spoke.
“Yes, Jack told me yesterday.”
“That’s excellent news. We’ve made sure that no one is coming to visit for the next week, so you can get used to being back here and with us, first.”
“Thank you.” Jem came into the Salon at this point.
“I’ve put your case on your bed if you want to go and unpack,” he said. Jo stood up and thanked him, relieved to leave the room. As she closed the door behind her, he turned to his wife.
“She’s going to take time to adjust to being back here with us all,” he said. “Don’t be surprised if she spends a lot of time in that sitting room at first.”
“I know,” Madge answered, slowly. “She seems so distant at the moment. It isn’t the Jo I know, at all. It’s as if you’ve brought a different person home.”
“She had to do a great deal of growing up whilst she was in the Sanatorium. It’s going to take time for us to become used to having her back here as well. She’ll rest after Mittagessen and hopefully, we’ll all feel a little less awkward, then.”
Upstairs, Jo slowly unpacked. She left the photo on the bed to take down into her little sitting room, and picked up the rosary Jack had given her. She debated whether she ought to give it back to him, but in the end she put it on her bedside cabinet. It was something that had brought her much comfort whilst she had been in the Sanatorium, especially at first when she had been on complete bed-rest and not allowed to do anything. She was on the road to recovery now, but she knew she still had a long way to go before she was completely cured. Suddenly, the gong sounded for Mittagessen. Jo quickly put the last of her things away and went to wash her hands, placing the now-empty case outside her door on the way.
After Mittagessen, Jo was obliged to retire to her room to rest. She was glad to slip between the covers and soon fell asleep, only waking when a tap came on her door. It was her sister who poked her head round.
“Jo?” she asked, softly. Jo turned her head and looked at her sister. “You have a visitor.” Jo sat up slowly. She was still a little groggy.
“Who is it?” she asked. She didn’t particularly want visitors so soon after arriving home.
“Jack Maynard,” Madge replied.
“I’ll just have a quick wash and dress, and then I’ll come down. Where is he?”
“He’s in the Salon.” Madge withdrew at this and returned to the Salon to tell him that Jo would be down shortly. They exchanged pleasantries whilst they waited for her to arrive. Ten minutes later, Jo appeared in the Salon and Madge excused herself to go on to the nursery, whither she was headed when he had arrived.
“Hello, Jo. I haven’t disturbed you, have I?” he said.
“No. It’s nice to see you,” she replied. She felt suddenly nervous at being alone with him and had no idea why. She knew him so well and generally enjoyed his company, but this time it felt different for some reason and she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. “Please, sit down and I’ll ask Marie for some coffee.” She rang the bell and requested coffee when Marie appeared.
“How does it feel to be back at home?” he asked, once Marie had brought in the tray.
“Strange,” she admitted. “I’ve only been home a few hours, though.”
“I’m sure you’ll get used to being back here in no time. Just take your time and try not to do too much at once.”
“I’ll try.” They drank their coffee in silence for some minutes, both feeling a little awkward at being in each other’s company outside the Sanatorium. Although they knew each other well, the main contact they had had over the past nine months or so had been as doctor and patient. It would take time for their friendship to return to how it had been before.
“Thank you for the coffee, Jo,” Jack said, as he replaced his cup. “I’d better get on though. I just wanted to see how you were settling in.” He stood up and Jo followed suit, accompanying him to the door.
“Thank you for coming to visit so soon,” she said to him as he left. She waved him off and returned slowly to the Salon. As she reached it, she changed her mind about going back in and went instead to the little sitting room which was now hers. Sure she would be undisturbed, she sank down into the furthest chair and gave herself up to thinking over what she’d been through in the past year, and what would happen in the future, now she was home. She was still there when she heard the gong for Abendessen. Feeling guilty at having stayed alone for so long, she hurriedly went to wash her hands and join her sister at the table. Afterwards, she went to the Salon until the clock struck nine. At this, she bade Madge goodnight and retired to her room and to sleep.