A Tale of Two Lenores

by Terry Mattingly

  “No Carlos. I have decided that I respect you too much too betray you, and I am afraid that is what will soon be expected of me.” Shelia could not stand duplicity in anyone, especially herself. “I was approached several months ago by the FBI and asked to spy on Luis. My sister was a drug addict who turned to prostitution to make money, the agent who approached me knew of her history. She died, Carlos, from a deliberated overdose after being subjected to a brutal gang rape at a party she was working for her pimp.” Sheila chocked on a sob. “She was only 18.”

  Carlos pulled her to his chest, comforting her. “Go on,” he coaxed.

  “I swore revenge after Mandy’s death. I vowed to spend my life putting away the scum of the earth that I feel pushers and pimps to be.”

  “Thus, law school? Why not law enforcement?” He was curious.

  “Law enforcement does it best, for the most part, to nab the jerks, but lawyers and judges don’t always follow up.” Shelia explained. “I want to prosecute the bastards myself, leaving no loop holes for them to wiggle through.”

  “So, you have been keeping the FBI informed of my brother’s activities.” He said this casually, but he was seething inside. Not at the woman in front of him, but at men like his brother. Carlos recognized that many of his own activities were illegal, but to him they were not dirty crimes. Not like his brothers trade in drugs and prostitute.”

  “Yes, and I have no regrets, Carlos. I will not lie. The man deserves to be put away for life for all the people he has helped destroy.” She locked eyes with him, never flinching, holding her head up proudly.

  “Now the FBI are requesting you spy on me?”

  “Yes, they want to drag you down with Luis.” Shelia warned. “Look Carlos, I am observant, like I said. I know not all your activities are legitimate, but you’re are not like Luis. I know that is a double standard, but there it is. In a court of law, I will prosecute you if necessary, but I will not spy on you to bring you to that point.”

  “Thank you for telling me this, Shelia,” his rang with sincerity and admiration. “Aren’t you afraid I will run to my brother with this information?”

  “No. You know he will hunt me down and kill me after he and his goons had their way with me. I don’t think a man who respects women could live with that.”

  “You are right, Shelia. I could not live with your humiliation and death on my conscious.” Carlos brushed her forehead with a kiss. “Good night, again.”

  Shelia thanked him, once again, for seeing both she and Lenore safely home and told her employer good-night. She knew he stood outside the door until she locked and bolted herself in.

  Chapter 25

  The day Lenore had strived for since high school graduation had come and gone at last. Today, she officially received the right to the title as Dr. Lenore Collins, PhD. The day was bittersweet. Memories of her beloved father who was not there to see his baby girl, his prodigy receive her doctoral degree, floated in her mind. And then, there was Shane. Or, rather, there was no longer Shane, her best friend. Other than the brief encounter at the airport, they had no further contact in the three weeks since she left home. No congratulatory text, nothing. Of course, to be fair, Lenore had not mentioned the date to him. His parents knew of course; they had sent her a beautiful bouquet of pink and white roses with baby’s breathe. Perhaps, they had not mentioned to their son that today was the big day. Then, just as the person in front of her walked on the stage to receive her degree, Lenore’s text alert peeped. Damn, I forgot to turn off my phone. She quickly reached under her gown for the phone. She turned off the sound and covertly checked her message. On the screen was a thumb’s up sign followed by the hug emoji. Shane had not forgotten.

  Aunt Maddy and Uncle Carl came as promised, as did Shelia Stone. To Lenore’s surprise, Shelia’s escort was Carlos Alvarez. When the two women had a moment alone, Lenore questioned her friend.

  “I thought he did not date his employees?” Lenore probed.

  “He doesn’t. I no longer work at Club Nocturno. I resigned two weeks ago.” Shelia confided.

  “Why?”

  “I love you, my friend, but I cannot give you the truth, not yet anyway.”

  “Are you two lovers?” Lenore knew Shelia admired Carlos, but as little as two weeks ago Shelia was declaring the man had eyes only for Lenore.

  “No, Lenore. I believe Carlos and I are friends. Will there be benefits in the future? I don’t know. I wouldn’t mind, I will be honest.” Shelia grinned. “This is actually our first real date. We have met for lunch a time or two.”

  Mr. Alvarez had insisted on treating Lenore and her guests to dinner this evening at his infamous Club Nocturno. Aunt Maddy was thrilled. Lenore herself was nervous about reentering the establishment after her confrontation with Luis, but Carlos reassured her. “My brother will not be present, Lenore.”

  Lenore could not refuse to accept, given that Aunt Maddy was so excited. Shelia added her coaxing to that of Carlos. Lenore did not fail notice that her friend was now on a first name basis with her former employer. The man had even rented a limo for the evening. The limo ride caused Aunt Maddy’s thrill-o-meter to jump off the scale.

  Shelia and Carlos exchanged a few secretive glances as he escorted his guests to a private table overlooking the dance floor. Their waiter, Chad, was one Lenore knew well and liked. Orders placed, Carlos motioned for their waiter again. Chad appeared with a bottle of what Lenore knew to be costly champagne. Suddenly, the music stopped, the lights dimmed even more than usual, and a spotlight illuminated Carlos’s party.

  Carlos Alvarez stood, raised his glass and announced, “I would like to offer a toast to one of our own here at Club Nocturno, our beautiful bartender. Ladies and gentlemen, here’s to Dr. Lenore Collins, PhD.”

  Lenore felt the heat creep up her neck and into her face when Carlos motioned for her to stand. The crowd as one raised their glasses in toasting Lenore. She made a sweeping curtsey to the audience, thanking them graciously, just as the old Turtles tune Elenore started playing. Lenore could not hold back her tears as she smiled at Aunt Maddy. The song had been Lenore’s parents’ favorite song, their song. Her father would often sing the song to his daughter as she grew up. Lenore felt as if she received a heavenly hug.

  “How did you know?” Lenore questioned Carlos.

  “Your aunt,” he confided. “The song brings back memories for me, also.”

  She raised an inquiring brow.

  “My wife’s name was Elenora. I would go through the house whistling that tune to her when she was mad at me,” Carlos reminisced, his eyes sad and haunted as he looked at Lenore. “Worked every time. You remind me a lot her my Elenora.” He had pulled out his phone and scrolled through the photos, showing Lenore the picture of his wife.

  Her eyes flew open. “The picture Bethany thought was me?”

  “Yes. The little realtor is trying to destroy something incredibly special in your life, Lenore. Don’t let her succeed.” Carlos advised. “True love only comes once in a lifetime.”

  “Shelia thinks you are trying to seduce me. Shane thinks you already have.” Lenore said in such a matter-of-fact manner, she could have been discussing the weather with the man.

  “I was, Lenore,” Carlos admitted. “Our friend Shelia made me realize that no matter how much you may resemble my Elenora; no matter how much I want you to be, you are not. You deserve a man who can give himself to you completely. I can’t do that now.”

  “What happened to your wife, Carlos?” Lenore felt it must have been tragic. There was such sadness and longing in the man’s voice, her heart broke for him. Oh, to be loved in such a way by a man. What more could any woman want?

  “She and my son died during the birthing process. I buried my heart with them.”

  “Not all of your heart, Carlos,” Lenore told him gently, waving her arm around the table. “This party took heart.”

  The rest of the evening was one big party at the Club Nocturno. Lenore received
congratulations from former co-workers and club patrons. Dinner was delicious, the company delightful, the dance floor lively, and the wine flowed to freely.

  Back in her apartment, Lenore recalled the conversation with Carlos. Shelia, always forthright, must have questioned Carlos about the rumored picture of Lenore on his phone. What else has her friend divulged to the man? Lenore suspected Shelia bared Lenore’s heart to the man. How else would he know of her feelings for Shane? Try as she might, Lenore could not be mad at her friend for betraying her confidence.

  Sunday morning arrived with rain pattering against the window behind Lenore’s bed. She curled up on the daybed with a cup of coffee, and the book she bought while back home. She had two hours before meeting Aunt Maddy and Uncle Carl for Sunday brunch before they caught their flight out to Ireland. Thirty minutes later, Lenore closed her book giving up the pretense of reading. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the lunch with Shane that day and its calamitous outcome. She thought about calling him. No, that would never work, he may be with Bethany. I will text him Tuesday night when he is having dinner with his parents. At least then, I won’t be interrupting a romantic moment, even if she is at the house with him. The thought of Bethany Allan enjoying a Tuesday night family dinner with the Travers hurt more than she wanted to admit. Lenore clenched her hands, scrunched her eyes closed, and shuddered at the picture conjured up in her mind.

  She decided to dress and meet her aunt earlier than scheduled. A rainy, dreary spring day called for jeans, her lightweight lavender pullover sweater, and leather ankle boots. She fastened her mother’s single strand of pearls around her neck and completed her ensemble with pearl earrings a gift from her aunt and uncle last night. Her purse was laying on the desk next to the envelope Charlie B left beside her father. So far, she had resisted opening the packet. She was not mentally prepared to discover its contents yet. This afternoon, perhaps?

  Normally, Lenore would ride the subway for an outing, but today she splurged on a taxi. Traffic was light for a New York Sunday morning and her driver made good time. She arrived forty minutes early at the hotel. Aunt Maddy and Uncle Carl, packed and ready to go, waited for her downstairs in the coffee shop. Uncle Carl hiding behind the newspaper and Aunt Maddy reviewing travel brochures.

  “Good morning my favorite aunt and uncle,” she greeted the couple.

  “You just say that because it is true,” Uncle Carl laughed, “considering we are your only aunt and uncle.”

  “That just makes it double true, Uncle Carl.” Lenore declared. “Aunt Maddy are you planning the itinerary for this trip?” Lenore asked, picking up one of the brochures.

  “Yes, dear. Carl’s only request is to visit a real Irish pub, so the rest of the trip is up to me.”

  “You simply must visit a haunted castle for me, Aunt Maddy,” her niece implored.

  “I shall do that, Lenore. You know it is not too late for you to change your mind and join us.” Maddy had suggested this to Lenore when they first arrived in New York four days ago.

  “I appreciate the invitation, but I still have a few more days of my job at Columbia,” she told her. “Not to mention another video interview with Hylton University tomorrow, and an interview with a museum in Pennsylvania next week.”

  “I understand. You will let us know as soon as you hear something, won’t you?”

  “Of course, I will.”

  “Ladies let us adjourn to the dining room,” Uncle Carl suggested. “Lenore, your aunt and I have something important to discuss with you.”

  “Uh oh. What have I done?” she teased. “Am I grounded?”

  The brunch buffet claimed the family’s full attention for several minutes. Lenore found herself decidedly hungry this morning, for the first time in weeks. She had dropped a few pounds the last month and Aunt Maddy had made it her mission to fatten Lenore up these past few days. From their first night in New York four days ago, Lenore went out to dinner with her family every night. She had mostly picked at the inviting dishes placed in front of her, until this morning.

  “Well, dear.” Aunt Maddy nodded at her niece’s plate with approval. “I see you have decided to come back to the land of the living and eat again.”

  “This is really the first time I can say I have been hungry in weeks,” Lenore laughed. “By the time you return from Ireland, I will be fat as a butterball if I keep eating like this”. Lenore did not pile her plate high, but she was doing justice for the fluffy omelet filled with bacon, cheese, and vegetables she had selected.

  Breakfast was serious business for Uncle Carl, and he dug in with gusto. It was not until he had finished his second stack of pancakes that he broached the subject alluded to earlier.

  “Lenore, have you considered what you will be doing with your father’s house?” Uncle Carl wondered.

  “No, I haven’t,” she said. “I suppose I need to start giving it some thought, though. I hope I receive the position at Hylton, that is my dream. If I do, I don’t think I want the responsibility of a big house. I have been considering an apartment or condo overlooking the river, such as Shane Travers’ rents.”

  “Would you consider selling the house to us?” Uncle Carl ventured.

  “Of course, if you want it. What about your home in Lexington?”

  Maddy spoke up. “The kids are situated in other parts of the country. Carl’s family lives0 in Michigan. We were discussing moving to Hylton before your father died, as the two of you are my closest family. I have not changed my mind.”

  “Aunt Maddy, that would be wonderful,” Lenore exclaimed. “Of course, you may buy the house. Just remember, keep me a bedroom. I will need a place to sleep if I don’t find a job soon.”

  “That’s settle then,” Carl declared. “We will discuss this in-depth when we return from Ireland. We will, of course, pay fair market value, Lenore. No family discounts. This is your inheritance we are discussing.”

  “I won’t argue with that, Uncle Carl.” Lenore laughed. “I may have to live off my inheritance if I don’t get the position with Hylton.

  “Nonsense, Lenore,” her aunt scoffed. “You will be in high demand once the word gets out.”

  Lenore smiled at this sweet woman. “Aunt Maddy, you are biased of course. It is good to have you in my corner.”

  Lenore later went with them to the airport. Even Uncle Carl became a little tearful during the good-byes. She felt alone watching their plane taking off. Walking into her lonely apartment, Lenore decided to give Shane a call, Bethany, or no Bethany. He answered on the second ring. Lenore could hear raucous laughter in the background.

  “Travers?”

  “Well, if it is not Dr. Collins,” Shane yelled. “Hey gang, three cheers for Dr. Collins.”

  “Hip, hip hooray. Hip, hip hooray, Hip, hip hooray,” came the cheers followed by clicking of glasses.

  “There you go, Collins. A toast to honor your new title.” Shane sounded sarcastic to Lenore. “Of course, it is not the expensive bubbly your rich boyfriend toasted you with last night, but you can’t beat good old Kentucky bourbon or hick cops.”

  “You sound like you have already had several drinks too many, Travers.” Lenore commented dryly.

  “Yep. And I intend to have several more.” He slurred and stumbled over his words. “While the rich lover boy you snagged at that swanky club is cuddling you, I am going to cuddle with a bottle of bourbon and a sexy blond.”

  Lenore flinched, stung by his words, ending the call abruptly, an angry flush creeping up her face. How dare he humiliate me like that. Shane was obvious drunk and mad at her for some reason. She jumped up and stomped the few steps to her minuscule kitchen, picking up a picture of she and Shane off her desk she threw it to the floor. Lenore poured herself a glass of wine. He can have his blond and his bourbon. I don’t give a damn. Lenore was lying to herself and she knew.

  To distract herself, she returned to her day bed with her wine and the envelope Charlie B had left for her father. Inside the oversized envelope
was Lenore Wilkes diary.

  Chapter 26

  Lenore ran her hands over the pale blue covering of the little book embossed with golden trim. A ribbon the same color as the binding marked the page last read by someone. She carefully opened to book. Lenore Wilke’s mother had written a note to her daughter on the first page.

  Happy 16th birthday my dear Lenore. This little book is for your inner most thoughts, hopes, and dreams. For your own eyes only, your silent confidant. Love, Momma. August 22, 1898.

  Lenore experienced a measure of guilt opening the book. She had once kept a diary, as a teenager, and would have been mortified if her father had found and read it. The writer of this diary was long dead, 117 years dead. Still...

  August 22. 1898

  My 16th birthday. Momma and Papa gave me a party. Dalton came, of course. He tried to kiss me, as usual. He says sixteen is old enough to marry and will talk to Papa. I hope Papa says no.

  Entries were sporadic after the first, most reported on innocuous details of the daily life of a teenage girl in the late 1800’s. There were several entries referencing the young lady’s cousin Dalton Wilkes. Lenore knew from the legend that Dalton was the cousin the young Lenore Wilkes was bound to from the cradle. Dalton seemed determined to remind her often of that promise.

  Later entries, the young Lenore Wilkes complained of Dalton’s wet, slobbering kisses and his groping hands. I complained to Papa today about Dalton. He laughed and said Dalton was just eager. Not to worry, Papa, said he would speak to Dalton. A few entries later, she mentioned Dalton’s much welcomed absence from town as he was visiting family in New Orleans for a month. I am glad he is gone. I have told Momma and Papa I will never marry the odious man. Momma cannot say anything, of course, she has no say. Papa says I will change my mine. It is my duty to marry my cousin Dalton to combine the plantations.

  Lenore continued reading the book on the lookout for the first reference to Charlie Stuart. She found the first reference to Lenore’s love on August 22, 1899, the young woman’s 17th birthday. There were two entries for that day.