Authors: Frances Devine
Wondering what Miss Aggie wanted to talk to me about, I went to the parlor. She sat on the sofa, fidgeting with a ball of yarn.
She tossed it into the yarn basket on the floor. “Sit by me over here, Victoria.”
Curious about her apparent agitation, I sat beside her. “Miss Aggie, is something wrong? You look worried.”
She bit her lip. “I have a confession to make.”
I almost groaned out loud. What had she done now? “A confession? What is it?”
She picked up the ball of yarn again and began unwinding it. Whatever she’d done, or thought she’d done, she seemed to be in the throes of guilt over it.
“Promise you won’t tell any of the others?”
“Of course, I’d never betray your confidence.”
“You see, I’ve had the map all along.” She darted a glance at me and quickly averted her eyes, staring fixedly at the yarn.
“What?” Surely she was teasing.
She nodded. “I found the map in Robert’s things after his accident.”
“Robert? You mean your husband?”
She nodded. “I knew he was up to something that night. That day, he’d gotten a call. He’d said he’d take it in his office. By that time in our marriage, I’d lost all my trust for him. I knew he was after my inheritance. I picked up the extension in the kitchen. He was talking to Forrest. They spoke of the emeralds. Forrest said he never should havetrusted him. Robert laughed and said he’d moved the jewels to another location, and Forrest would never find them. Forrest threatened him, and Robert laughed and hung up. I’ve always thought Forrest had something to do with the brawl that started that night that led to Robert’s death.”
She took a deep breath and drank a sip of tea. “I was so frightened. I didn’t know what Forrest would do. I found the map in Robert’s safe. I knew it was the new location, because the notations on the map were in his handwriting.
“I found the location and covered it with a stone. It looked natural, so I was pretty sure no one would suspect anything was there.
“That’s when Forrest started after me to sell the house to those men he knew. But I knew what they were after. So I closed up the house and moved to the house on the beach.”
“So, Forrest dropped the subject?”
“Heavens, no. There were break-ins from time to time. But I didn’t care. As long as he never found the jewels. You see, I thought they’d belonged to my father, and therefore to me.”
“But why did you keep them hidden?” With her love of valuable jewels, this was beyond my understanding.
“Because, you see, I was afraid. I didn’t want to part with them. But if Forrest had killed Robert, he’d come after me, if he knew I had them.”
Okay, something else was bothering me.
“Why, then, did you pretend to find the map in Forrest’s belongings?”
“Oh, I didn’t pretend, dear. I hid it there myself several years ago so I wouldn’t forget where the jewels were buried. But after all the killings and other mayhem, I didn’t want anyone to know. I felt responsible somehow. Then, when you began to suspect Jack of being a smuggler, it all became clear to me. I knew I couldn’t keep the jewels if they rightfully belonged to someone else. I decided it was time to ‘find’ them.”
She cut a glance at me. “Do you hate me?”
“Oh Miss Aggie.” I put my arm around her and kissed her on her cheek. “Of course not. The killings and other crimes were never your fault. They were the fault of greedy men who had no consciences.”
“But, I was greedy, too.”
“No, it wasn’t greed. It was your youthful love of pretty things. You never quite outgrew that, did you?”
She shook her head, and pity for her washed over me. But I knew it wasn’t simply a love of pretty things with her. It was a desire to always have more than others, and at times that desire had evolved into a compulsion to obtain what belonged to someone else. Such as with Frank Cordell, who had always belonged to Miss Evalina. Miss Aggie had never quite outgrown that character flaw. That is, until now.
“You won’t tell anyone?”
“No. It’s none of their business. It’ll be our secret forever.”
Joy shone on her face. She’d found absolution.
T
he wine-colored stairs were like cushy velvet beneath my pearl white pumps. I stood at the top of the staircase and looked down the sweeping arc of steps. I could see the top of Dad’s head as he waited below to offer his arm and escort me into the grand ballroom. Prisms hung from the chandeliers, casting brilliant dancing lights on the walls and ceiling of the massive foyer.
Phoebe had stood here the week before when she’d married Corky. Her wedding had been the very first in the newly opened Pennington House. But I didn’t care. Today was my day. And no one had ever been this happy.
I drew in a deep breath of vanilla-scented air and stepped down. My heart pounded at the thought of Benjamin waiting for me in the ballroom. I’d be able to see him as soon as I stepped off the stairway. I took another step. Would he think I was beautiful? Of course he would. His eyes would mist, and he’d look at me adoringly as I walked toward him on my father’s arm. My Benjamin.
I took another step.…
My brand-new cell phone shrilled. Now why had I put my phone in the pocket of my wedding gown? For that matter, why did my gown have a pocket?
“Victoria. Victoria.” Miss Georgina’s screech pierced my ear. “You have to come with me.”
“Shhh, Miss Georgina. I’m getting married. Get off the phone please.”
“No, no, you have to come with me, now. Aggie’s gone missing again.”
“Oh no, please, God.” I took another step and stumbled, falling…falling…falling.
“Victoria.”
I sat straight up, my heart hammering and my pajama top drenched with perspiration.
“Victoria.” My mother’s gentle whisper, drifting through my bedroom door, was nothing like the screeching voice of my nightmare. “Wake up, sweetheart.”
Relief washed over me. For a moment, on waking, I’d thought the dream was reality. I jumped up and went to let Mom in.
She breezed in, her makeup done to perfection and her soft brown hair perfectly arranged.
She gave me a peck on the cheek. “Can you believe it’s your wedding day?”
I grinned. “Yes, but just barely.”
“Get dressed, dear. Your father is waiting to have breakfast with you.”
“I don’t think I can eat anything. My stomach feels a little queasy.”
“That’s only wedding-day nerves. You’ll feel better after you’ve eaten.” Mom’s no-nonsense tone made it clear she’d not be crossed.
“Okay. I’ll shower and be down in a minute. Tell Dad to go ahead and eat. He doesn’t have to wait.”
“He won’t hear of it. Hurry down now.” She breezed outof the room in the same manner she’d breezed in. I could hear the lilt of her voice as she sailed down both flights of stairs. I knew she sailed down. That was Mom’s way. I guessed she was greeting the seniors.
After I’d showered and dried my hair, I yanked on jeans and sweatshirt and headed for the door. Then I stopped, turned, and grabbed my cell phone from the nightstand. The phone was a gift from Miss Aggie. According to her, no woman should be without one. I stuffed it into my pocket and hurried down to the dining room.
Dad stood and took my hand as I came to the table. He had an amused expression on his face. “Mr. Downey has been telling me about his W. C. Fields collection. I think maybe we’ll have to watch some of those before I leave.”
“Now, Robert, don’t be silly. You know very well we’re leaving in the morning.”
Dad frowned. “I thought I might stay in Cedar Chapel a few days.”
She looked at him, brows raised. “What in the world for? Victoria will be on her honeymoon, remember?”
“Maybe I’ll look up some of my old friends. A few must still be around.”
“Suit yourself, dear. But I have to be in New York City the day after tomorrow for Helen Lake’s Christmas bazaar. I promised.”
An old familiar sadness gripped me, and my breaths quickened. Stop it, Victoria. You’re a grown woman. And your mother will never be what you want her to be
.
I reached for my water glass and took a deep drink. I had Jesus. And Benjamin. And the seniors. I’d be fine.
Mom drew a deep, noisy breath. “Or maybe I’ll skip the bazaar.”
I looked at her to see what she was up to.
She was smiling at Dad, and he appeared very pleased.
Mom had always hated Cedar Chapel. Was she mellowing out in her old age? Or, at least, older age. Fifty-three wasn’t that old.
After breakfast Dad announced he’d be in the rec room watching TV with Martin.
Mom took me by the arm. “Let’s go upstairs and have a mother-daughter talk.”
I looked at her in astonishment. Surely, she didn’t mean…
“Oh, close your mouth. That’s not the kind of mother-daughter talk I meant.”
I let out a
whoosh
of air. “That’s a relief. I wasn’t sure.”
We settled in the sitting room. Mom in the recliner and me in the rocking chair.
Mom shook her head. “I can’t believe you kept that old thing.”
“It’s Grandma’s.”
A shadow crossed her face. “You loved her very much, didn’t you?”
I nodded and blinked back the tears that filled my eyes.
She sighed. “She was more your mother than I ever was.”
I stared at her, mute. That was probably the most serious sentence I’d ever heard her utter.
As if she read my mind, she nodded. “I know I’m very superficial most of the time.”
“I didn’t say that, Mom. And I didn’t think it either.”
“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry I wasn’t the kind of mother you needed.”
I swallowed past the lump in my throat and opened my mouth, but no words came forth. I had no idea what to say.
“I was so young and self-centered when I married your father.” She paused, and pain crossed her face. “When you were born, I had no idea how to be a mother, and I suppose I may have resented the fact that I was expected to stay home and give up all my interests to care for a child.”
“Mom, it’s all right. You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes, because I want you to know.”
For the first time, I noticed tears spilling over onto her cheeks. I handed her a box of tissues, disturbed at her sudden self-chastisement.
“By the time I realized what I’d done to you, it was too late. When I tried to reach out to you, I found you no longer wanted my attention.” She bit her lip. “You had your grandmother, and you didn’t need me.”
“Mom, please don’t. It’s all right. Yes, I missed you. I couldn’t understand why you were always away. But I wasn’t the only girl at boarding school who seldom saw her parents.”
She squeezed her eyes tight, and I realized I’d said the wrong thing.
I reached over and took her hand.
She turned imploring eyes on me. “Victoria, in spite of what you might think, I have always loved you very much. I hope you’ll believe that.”
“I do now. And you’ll never know what it means to me to hear you say it. I love you, too, Mom.” I smiled and squeezed her hand. “Now, let’s leave the past behind. I’m getting married in a couple of hours to the man I love with all my heart. And I have my mother here to straighten my veil.”
“I’ll be there for my grandchildren. I promise. Maybe not every week or even every month, but they’ll know Ilove them.” She smiled. “Now, let’s get you ready for that wedding.”
An hour later, Mom and Dad drove me to Pennington House. My wedding gown was waiting for me in a luxurious suite on the second floor. The wedding was a gift from my parents. The wedding location was a gift from Miss Aggie and Corky. They’d provided me with the most luxurious guest suite in the hotel. Phoebe, my matron of honor, was there ahead of me in her wine-colored gown.
She and Mom helped me into my dress and veil, and then Mom went downstairs to be seated.
Strains of Mozart announced the beginning of the procession. Phoebe gave me a hug and hurried downstairs to make her entrance.
A few minutes later, I stood at the top of the sweeping staircase. I stepped slowly down the stairs and placed my hand on my father’s waiting arm. The pianist struck the bride’s cue, and we stepped forward.
As we walked into the grand ballroom, my eyes met Benjamin’s. What I saw there was pure adoration. I smiled as I walked toward him.
My best friend. My heart’s desire. My Benjamin. Always and forever.