A Tale of Two Lenores

by Terry Mattingly

  “Shane. I am sorry,” she began, placing a hand on his arm. He recoiled from her touch. Lenore took in a sharp breath, surprised at his reaction. Beyond pride at this point, she squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, and faced him not hiding the hurt in her eyes, but doing the best she could to stave the flow of tears threatening to spill down her face.

  “Shane, I am sorry I hurt you,” she started over. “I purposely did not introduce you as my friend because I was hurt, angry, and jealous of your affection for Bethany. It was a mean, petty slight. I hope one day you can see it in your heart to forgive me.” She paused and studied his face. Seeing his own hurt, anger, and something else, disdain, Lenore knew she had severed the bond of their friendship, forever. “I understand, Shane. I will miss your friendship most of all. Good-bye, my friend. I wish you happiness with Bethany.”

  Shane merely nodded. What Lenore mistook as disdain and anger was his inability to speak without crying and pulling her towards her. He watched her walk away. She turned once to look at him just a Bethany Allan joined him, twining her arm through his. She noticed he had not pulled away from Bethany’s touch as he had her own, but place his hand on the woman’s own, thus confirming what she already suspected. Shane cared for Bethany. The sadness palpable in her final smile of good-bye to her friend.

  Lenore sighed when the intercom announced her flight to La Guardia. She picked up her carry on and walked toward the queue. She was ready to board when she heard a familiar voice calling, “Collins.” Lenore turned in time to see Travers holding a sign with the word SORRY. Her heart lightened as she shot him a smile.

  ***

  Shane had distanced himself from Lenore as far as possible at the memorial. He did not trust himself to say what he wanted in the crowd. He saw Lenore walking towards him after Tim left his side. He expected stilted politeness from Lenore and steeled himself for the worse, folding his arms across his chest and tightening his jaw. She touched his arm and the sensation shocked his heart. He recoiled from her touch, noting the hurt and tears that sprang instantly into her eyes. But Lenore stood firm, facing him, chin up, shoulders squared, with her hurt and humility. The sincere, honest apology she gave to him sounded like a final good-bye. Shane could say nothing. He was afraid he would say the wrong thing, yet again, or worse, cry. He crossed his arms tighter resisting the urge to wrap his arms around Lenore.

  That’s when the import of Collins’ words hit him, rammed into him like a linebacker. She was saying good-bye. Lenore was apologizing for destroying their friendship. She was wishing him happiness with Bethany. He didn’t want Bethany Allan. Shane wanted his friend Leni Collins, but his behavior with Bethany, his defense of the woman, and his taunt of the other night had done the trick. Lenore thought Shane loved and wanted Bethany. He stood there like a stone wall, saying nothing as she walked away, her head heal high. She turned once to look back at him in time to see Bethany place her hand on his arm, a touch he did not reject. He saw the anguish in Leni’s face.

  He resolved then to talk with her later that evening. To tell Leni how sorry he was, and of his new-found feelings of love for his her. It was not to be. Maddy and Carl were taking their niece to the airport and since Lenore had an early flight Friday morning, the group decided to leave for Louisville after the service. They would spend the night in a hotel, getting plenty of rest before seeing Lenore off. When Shane arrived at the Collins to make his peace with his friend, no one was home. He walked next door to his parents’ home. Lenore and her family had left for Louisville, his mother informed him. Miserable, he went home, resisting the urge to drown his sorrows again. Shane wanted to see Leni before she got on that plane.

  He had just barely made it. Collins was preparing to board the plane. Shane had a grabbed a newspaper, ripping a page into. He borrowed a black crayon from a nearby kid and wrote his apology. “Collins” he yelled. Getting her attention, Shane held the sign high. SORRY. The tightness around his heart loosen its grip when she gave him a big warm smile.

  Shane watched the plane as it flew out of sight, calling to mind one of his favorite old country music songs by Merle Haggard, Silver wings. He stood looking up into the sky even as the plane faded out of sight.

  Chapter 24

  Shelia Stone met her friend Lenore at La Guardia airport two days ago. The two women had met at Columbia and became fast friends. Shelia, like Lenore, needed a secure income to support herself while pursuing her law degree. Also, like Lenore, Shelia minded her business. She was a good listener with excellent observation skills and knew how to read people. Shelia also had a crush on the club’s charismatic owner, Carlos Alvarez, who had eyes on for Lenore Collins since he hired the bartender six months ago. She could not be jealous of her friend. Lenore was unaware of the affect she had on the man.

  It wasn’t that Lenore was the most beautiful woman working at the club, it was the way she carried herself. Of course, it also helped that Lenore Collins was Carlos Alvarez’s dead wife’s doppelganger, except for those eyes. Shelia saw the portrait of Elenora Alvarez in Carlos’s private office. She was occasionally called upon to serve refreshments at his monthly meetings with his political associates. Carlos caught Shelia studying the portrait on one such day, telling her the woman was his wife who died in childbirth. Shelia noticed how his cold eyes softened and warmed when looking at the woman. Why he is still in love with her. That explained why Carlos Alvarez remained one of the city’s most eligible bachelors. Sure, the man had mistresses along the way. In the three years Shelia worked at Club Nocturno, she had seen several come and go. He never had affairs with his employees. The man never appeared interested in his female staff, until Lenore Collins.

  Both Alvarez brothers wanted to same woman, for distinct reasons. Luis wants the woman just to prove a point, and Carlos wants to reincarnate his Elenora through Lenore. Looking at her friend sitting across the table from her this morning, Shelia recognized that Lenore Collins was vulnerable to the cause of either brother. Lenore’s face and eyes revealed the strain she lived under the last week. She and Lenore had spoken several times this past week when Lenore was home in Hylton. Shelia could not imagine finding her own father near death and then having to make the decision to let him go. There was something else going on with her friend; something other than grief for a well-loved father. Shelia Stone would find out this evening.

  “Two more weeks, Lenore, and I shall have to call you Dr. Collins,” Shelia teased.

  “Another year for you, Shelia, then you will have your JD,” Lenore reminded her.

  “Well, that is true, but I will still have to pass the bar. You are home free, girlfriend.”

  “You will be there for me, won’t you Shelia.” Lenore asked, especially now that her father would not be there.

  “Sure, Lenore,” Shelia reassured. “What about you aunt and uncle?”

  “Aunt Maddy and Uncle Carl are flying up. They will in New York for a few days and then leave for a trip to Ireland.”

  “Oh, that will be lovely,” Shelia exclaimed. “Are you going with them?”

  “No. I was invited to South America, however,” Lenore informed Shelia with a trace of bitterness in her voice.

  “Uh oh. Jared Taylor finally made his move, did he?” Shelia and Lenore had discussed the young archeologist’s increasing pressure for ‘more intimacy’ in their relationship. In other words, Lenore had remarked, he wants to have sex. “Tell me what happened. And, while you are at, ‘fess up as to why you have avoided any reference to that cop you are friends with.”

  “Shelia, I have been such a fool.” Lenore felt the heat creep into her cheeks and the sting of tears in her eyes.

  “Oh, Lenore, tell me what happened,” Shelia coaxed gently. She poured them both another glass of wine.

  Lenore bared her thoughts and heart to her friend, leaving out not even the smallest detail. Shelia heard it all from the time Travers picked Lenore up at the airport to the time he showed up just a she was preparing to board. Lenore was
an excellent story teller. She described and mimicked Bethany Allan’s casual loosening two buttons on her blouse; the deliberate thrust of her chest towards the detective causing the buttons to pop open. She laced the tale of Travers ogling Bethany’s cleavage with sarcastic humor. “I tell you, Shelia, he was drooling. I was so embarrassed.”

  “He had not a clue she was deliberately leading him on, did he?” Shelia sneered.

  “Not a clue,” Lenore groaned. “Later that evening he texted, wanting to talk. I was so mad and jealous, Shelia. He wants to talk to me but wants to bed Bethany.” Lenore had not deleted the text and she now showed it to her friend.

  “Wow. You were really pissed.” Shelia was impressed. “What is this about a picture of you on Alvarez’s phone?”

  “I have no idea. It doesn’t matter anyway. Bethany succeeded in planting the proverbial seed of doubt in Shane’s mind. Couple that with the fact I actually worked as bartender in what he says is a rich man’s hook-up joint, he now thinks I am a regular slut.”

  “Lenore, if you ask me, your friend is as jealous of Alvarez as you are of this Bethany.” Shelia told her.

  “Don’t be silly, Shelia,” Lenore scoffed. “To Shane Travers, I am only a friend, always have been. That has probably changed now, though, after what I did to him.”

  “Oh, Lenore. What now?” Shelia felt like she was having the script of a soap opera read to her. She watched the tears stream down her friend’s face.

  Lenore detailed her treatment of Shane when Jared was in town and his frosty reception of her apology at the memorial service.

  “Shelia, he jerked away from my touch, like it burnt him. I could see the anger and dislike in his face. Then, when Bethany put her hand on his arm, he didn’t shake it off, but placed his hand on top of hers. Don’t you see? He really does love her. And, I love him,” she admitted, sadness flooding her face.

  “Oh, sweetie.” Shelia covered her friend’s trembling hands with her own. “I think you are wrong, and I don’t even know your detective. But I do know men, and Shane Travers would not have showed up at the airport with the word SORRY scrawled over a sheet of newsprint, displaying it for everyone to see unless is cared more than a little for the woman.”

  Lenore was not so sure. She poured herself another glass of wine, against her better judgement and Shelia’s. What the heck? She was taking a cab home anyway and there sure would not be a man around to take advantage of her, she told Shelia. Or, was there?

  “Ms. Collins,” Lenore, hearing a warm, suave voice, looked up to see Carlos Alvarez. “I heard of your father’s death. I want to offer you my condolences.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Alvarez.” Lenore’s reply, simple and gracious.

  “May I join you ladies?” Carlos asked, standing expectantly.

  Shelia did not think it was the best idea but could not say so in front of the man. Lenore was too distraught and had too much wine to care.

  “If you want, Mr. Alvarez,” Lenore invited.

  I hope Alvarez is the gentleman people say he is, and I believe him to be. Lenore is broken hearted and tipsy, ripe for the picking by an unscrupulous man. Shelia needed to stay on her toes to protect her friend. She need not have worried. Carlos Alvarez was the perfect gentleman. Before long, he had managed to put a smile on Lenore’s face and drew a laugh or two from Shelia. He offered to give both ladies a ride home, which they accepted graciously. Alvarez walked with both women up to Lenore’s attic apartment, assuring she was safely locked in for the night before returning to his vehicle. He then drove Shelia Stone home.

  Shelia made the decision to take advantage of the privacy of the ride alone with the man to interrogate Alvarez. “Mr. Alvarez, what exactly are your intentions towards my Lenore?”

  “I beg your pardon, Ms. Stone?”

  “You know what I mean,” Shelia started. “You have surreptitiously watched Lenore from day one. You warned patrons and male staff that she was off limits, effectively tagging her as your woman. I cannot help but think that you are attracted to Lenore, and for all the wrong reasons.”

  “What business is this of yours, Ms. Stone?” Alvarez asked in a clip tone. “Need I remind you that Ms. Collins and myself are both adults.”

  “Lenore is my friend. I don’t want her hurt by you or your brother.”

  “My brother has been warned, and I am not like him,” Alvarez hissed. “Surely, after three years of working at Club Nocturno, you have reasoned that out, Counselor Stone.”

  “Everyone knows that you are not at all like Luis, Mr. Alvarez.” Shelia confirmed. “Lenore is an attractive, intelligent woman, self-assured in every aspect except when it comes to her appeal to men. A man broke her heart a few years back, using her as a means to an end. She has not yet regained confidence in herself when it comes to men. Another man recently treated her in a very cavalier way, reopening that old wound.”

  “Why are you telling me this, Ms. Stone? I do not think your friend would appreciate your sharing of such confidential information about her love life.”

  “No, she would be mad as hell,” Shelia admitted, laughing. “Mr. Alvarez, I have seen the portrait of your deceased wife, a wife I believe you have never stopped mourning or loving. Lenore resembles her so much they could be related. Even the name Lenore is a derivative of Elenora.”

  She could see Alvarez white knuckles as his hands clenched the steering wheel. I have hit a nerve. Shelia continued. “I think you see your Elenora in our Lenore. You are trying to resurrect Elenora in your life through Lenore. Somehow, word is out that you carry a picture of Lenore on your phone, but I think it is your wife.”

  “I thought you were studying to be an attorney, not a psychologist.” Alvarez mocked.

  “I am right, aren’t I?” she insisted.

  “And if you are correct in your in-depth analysis of my heart and mind, what then?” They had pulled up to the curve in front of Shelia’s apartment building. He turned to face her, surprising not in anger, but almost in anguish, Shelia thought.

  “It won’t work, Carlos.” Shelia had never called the man by his first name before, but his name rolled off her lips, naturally. “Lenore will wilt in a relationship without love. She wants a man to love her. It won’t take Lenore long before she realizes she is just a replacement, a stand in for the star of your heart.”

  Carlos knew the woman beside him spoke the truth. The memory of his beloved Elenora was never far from his heart and mind. Sometimes, the pain he felt was as raw as the day his wife died. He remained celibate for two years after her death. Even the thought of having a sexual relationship with another woman after Elenora’s death felt like adultery to Carlos. Eventually, his physical needs won out over sexual loyalty to his dead wife, but his heart and soul and joy still belonged to his angel wife.

  Many women sought him out for short, enjoyable, and yes, profitable dalliances. Those relationships always ended with no complaints from the women or Alvarez. Women whom Carlos could tell wanted and expected a permanent commitment, he soon quit associating with. When Lenore Collins appeared in his life, Carlos felt a lightening of his heart. This woman was the physical reincarnation of his beloved, and after months of observation, he noticed many other similarities between the bartender and his wife. Lenore Collins could never completely fill the void in his heart left by Elenora’s death, she would be but a simple bandage over a gaping wound.

  “Shelia,” Carlos too discarded formality, “I appreciate your concern for your friend, and your frankness in sharing those concerns with me. I cannot promise you I will give up my pursuit of the lady, but I will be more considerate of her feelings. I have come to admire and respect the woman for more than her resemblance to my wife.”

  “That is all I can ask, Carlos.” Shelia acknowledged. “Now, if you can just keep that vulture of a brother away from her. He does not take rejection well. Your last warning, however, seems to have hit home. Word is he has backed off, for now.”

  Carlos knew this to be a fa
ct, but how did this woman know? She must have read his mind for she told him, “I am a very observant person. My father taught me that one learns more keeping the mouth closed and the eyes and ears open.”

  “A very wise man, your father.” Carlos liked this woman. “I shall see you safely to your door, Shelia.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” she demurred, but he insisted.

  At her door, Carlos had one more question. “There is a young detective in Lenore’s home town, Shane Travers.”

  “They have been friends since childhood. Lenore is in love with him.” Shelia confided.

  “Are those feeling reciprocated?”

  “That I don’t know. I think there is an old girlfriend in the picture causing mischief. That is how Lenore heard of the picture on your phone,” she explained.

  “Ah, yes. The old girlfriend must be the blond realtor I deal with in Hylton. She spied me taking a peep at the picture during a meeting.” Carlos told. “Although it would suit my needs very much if the blond became a permanent fixture in the detective’s love life, I do not see that happening. I met the man, he appears rather perceptive. He will not choose the blond over Lenore Collins, believe me. Good night, Shelia. I am glad we had this conversation. Will I see you at work tomorrow?”

  “No, Carlos. I believe I will need to find another job.”

  “Why? Are you no longer happy at my club.? What has happened.” He demanded grabbing her arm, not roughly, but with a firm yet gentle hand. “Has someone been harassing you, too?”