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The summer of Edward’s fourth birthday, Carrie planned a big celebration.  She was happier than she had been in a long time. Logan was back to his old self, and she felt secure in her life.  Carrie was pleased that they had finally attained their dreams; she enjoyed the pampered lifestyle and social acceptance that having the second largest congregation in Houston afforded them. All of their children were treated well, but especially Edward, who everyone had already determined would grow up to be just like Logan.  For his birthday celebration, they were holding the party on the church grounds so they could invite everyone.

On the day before his party Edward became violently ill. Carrie had been at the church working with the women’s auxiliary when she received the call from the nanny to come home because Edward was very sick.  Leaving the church immediately, she rushed home and found him listless and flushed from a high fever. The nanny told her that he refused to eat or drink.  Carrie immediately called Dr. Washington, who came over right away. After checking Edward, he gave him an elixir to help break the fever.  The doctor wasn’t sure exactly what had caused the high fever, but he told her that if the elixir didn’t reduce the fever within an hour she should take him to the hospital.

After Dr. Washington left, Carrie monitored Edward closely, looking for signs of improvement.  Changing her clothes, she called Logan to tell him to come home because Edward was very ill. 
To her dismay, he wasn’t at the council, where he told he would be until later in the evening.  She shrugged it off – maybe the meeting had been canceled.  She attended to Edward with the intention of trying Logan latter at the church.  He would certainly return to the church or home; there was nowhere else for him to go.  As Dr. Washington had all but predicted, Edward’s fever returned and worsened; he was delirious.  Carrie tried to calm herself so she could think clearly.  It had been over an hour and Logan still did not answer at the church.  She tried Dr. Washington, but his wife said he had gone out on a call to deliver a baby and she didn’t know when to expect him back.  Finally, at her wit’s end, she called the Norton’s and asked them to meet her at the hospital.

Carrie took Edward to the colored-only entrance at Hermann Hospital.  She was relieved to see Louise and Thomas waiting for her inside.  Thomas ran out to help her carry Edward.  She immediately went to inform the nurse that her son was very sick with a high fever and pleaded nearly hysterically for a doctor to look at him right away.  In a reproachful tone, the nurse advised Carrie to lower her voice and sign in.  She directed her to be seated until she was called.  “Can’t you see he needs help now!”  Carrie screamed, forgetting protocol or repercussions.  “My son, my baby, needs help now!”  She forgot this was the South and she was colored.  The only thing that Carrie knew was that her baby was sick and could die if she didn’t get him help. 

The nurse warned the Nortons to keep Carrie quiet or she and her son would have to leave. Thomas apologized for her irrational behavior, assuring the nurse that she would calm down until Edward could be seen.  The nurse explained that the colored doctor had called in sick, which meant Edward would have to wait until all of the white patients had been seen and treated.  Upon hearing this, Carrie broke down sobbing, pitifully pleading, “Won’t someone help my baby?  Can’t you see he’ll die without help?”

Moving next to her friend, Louise tried to calm Carrie and assure her that Edward would be okay.  But as they looked at the ashen child they prayed that it would be so.  Finally Carrie regained her composure and held Edward as though her life depended on it. Thomas was not able to contain himself any longer. “Where is Logan?” he asked. 

Shrugging her shoulders in reply, Carrie continued to stare at her beloved son, humming gently to soothe both of them.  Louise began feeling edgy and unsure. She whispered to Thomas, “You go find him; tell him his wife and son need him now!”  Thomas got up, knowing immediately where he would find Logan, even though he hoped he wouldn’t be there.  Carrie continued to rock Edward gently, singing softly to him, completely oblivious of her surroundings.  As she smoothed his hair down, she noticed his cheeks were no longer bright red and his eyelids had turned a bluish color.  Carrie saw his mouth relax and open slightly; he was not breathing.  Putting her lips to his forehead, she prepared herself for the heat from the fever; instead she felt a chill pervade him as the heat of life left his small body. She held him to her as if trying to hold the last ounce of life in.  Feeling a moan rise from her throat, she began screaming hysterically.  Louise and the nurses rushed over to see what the matter was.

At the same time Thomas and Logan were walking into the waiting area. Who is that screaming? Logan wondered. “Oh, no! Nooooo!” he wailed, as at that instant he saw Carrie doubled over on her knees while the nurse and a young white doctor struggled to take Edward from her. Louise held her from behind as she clung to him, gasping for air like a drowning woman.  Logan watched, immobilized by fear, until her tortured eyes caught his.  For a long moment their eyes met and locked, but he realized that she didn’t see him.  It was that look of blind despair that finally broke the fear’s grip on him, and he ran to comfort her.  Instead of coming into his embrace, she retreated from him as if as if his touch burned. Louise motioned to Thomas for help.

Touching Logan on the arm, he instructed, “We better see about Edward. Louise will take care of Carrie for now. Your work will come later.”  He looked pointedly at Logan to make sure he understood.  Thomas felt sorry for him as he watched the man’s shoulders stoop. He looked confused and defeated. He had lost so much so quickly, only God knew if he could ever get it back.