by RJ Krause
Chapter 12
Annie’s Charm
Mr. Monroe felt a mix of emotions when he finally got the news that his wife and son would soon be home. For many months he had been dodging questions from friends and neighbors concerning his wife’s absence. In fact, he almost began to believe himself that she might never come back. Nevertheless, he hurried down to the pier to welcome the ship. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw his beautiful raven-haired wife on the arm of a tall strong lad walking down the plank toward him.
Peter was no longer a boy. He had grown considerably and the few years of hard physical work aboard a three-masted schooner had filled out his chest and arms. Although he was only sixteen and maintained his youthful looks, Peter had become a strong young man.
Walking beside him was the same woman Theodore Monroe had married nearly twenty years before. To him, she looked even more beautiful at this moment than she had on their wedding day. I reckon it’s safe to say that Mrs. Theodore Monroe was about to shock the Beacon Hill community to its core. No longer was she a young girl from another country, insecure in Boston society and desperately longing to fit in. She had become a mature and confident woman who didn’t care what other people thought. All the phony airs that she had often displayed in the past, were discarded like yesterday’s trash. From the moment of her wild tantrum at the Monroe house before leaving to find Peter, she had again become Annie Ramos, the fiery tempered Portuguese beauty that enjoyed life to its fullest. All of her neighbors who walked around so high and mighty snubbing their noses at those “less fortunate,” were in for quite a surprise.
As word began to spread about the return of Mrs. Monroe and her son, the whole community was ablaze with gossip. Rumors circulated about what this “poor dear woman” must have gone through to find her son. Friends and neighbors came to call, ready to offer sympathy and listen to the dreadful story. I reckon everywhere you go you’ll find vultures ready to pounce when a person is down on their luck. What they hadn’t expected was to be greeted at the door by Annie Monroe looking happier and more vibrant than she had ever been. All who came to call were captivated by her charm. She became the envy of every man for miles around, and it wasn’t only the men. All of the prim and proper society women that she’d often shared tea with, were equally enchanted. You might expect these ladies to be somewhat resentful over their husbands’ attentions to Mrs. Monroe, but in reality the opposite was true. The women of Boston’s social circles adored her as much as the men.
New fashion trends were soon popping up all over town. Women were seen wearing pants, boots, vests, or anything else they chose to wear. Now, I’m not sayin’ that Annie’s abrupt arrival back in Boston suddenly changed the whole fashion scene, but I do know that within a few years things began to change for women all over the country. Times were changing. Before anyone knew what had hit them, women began getting college degrees and became successful in jobs outside the home. And yes, in a few more years, they would win the right to vote. Now I reckon an old cowboy like me don’t know anything about politics, or women for that matter, but I do believe that God created men and women to be equal and that’s the way it should be. Here I go again, getting away from my story about Mrs. Monroe’s arrival back in Boston.
The city’s elite was a fickle group. It was hard to figure out what they were thinking. Once you thought you had it figured out, everything changed. Upon her return, Annie Monroe became the talk of the community. It was not out of pity or sympathy because she had lost her son and had traveled to the end of the earth in search of him. She became the talk of the town simply because everyone loved her, and that included her own husband. Theodore Monroe had been so distraught over her absence that when she finally did come home with Peter in tow, he wasn’t sure how to react. His wife seemed like a different woman than the one who had left all those months ago.
The Monroe’s didn’t have much time to get reacquainted, however, before friends and neighbors began calling to welcome Annie and Peter back to Boston. With a houseful of noisy guests, the more reserved Mr. Monroe retreated to a tranquil corner of the parlor to watch all the activity. As he watched his wife, he was filled with renewed happiness and love toward her. He wished he could just shout it out, but that would have been completely out of character for him. He had never been very good at showing emotion. What he didn’t realize was that Mrs. Monroe felt equally as passionate toward him, and she had no problem expressing her feelings, much to the surprise of her guests.
“My dear friends and neighbors,” she announced to the group, “if you will please excuse us, my good husband and I have some catching up to do!” And with a twinkle in her eye, she walked across the room, took her husband’s hand, and led him up the stairs to their bedroom.
It was years later when Paniolo Pete told me this story and we both had a good laugh. There was all of Boston’s finest standing around sipping tea and drinking brandy when his mother made her sudden announcement.
“Bill, it was so quiet in that room you could’ve heard an ant sneeze!”
After his parents had gone upstairs, one of the older ladies in the room smiled at her husband, took his hand and headed for the door. After that, it was a darn near stampede with all those couples, young and old alike, headin’ for the door.
Pete stayed with his parents for a couple of weeks while his ship was being refitted and stocked with fresh supplies. It was an enjoyable time for the family, but Pete knew in his heart that Boston was no longer where he belonged. When it came time for the ship to sail, both he and his Uncle Nickel were ready. The goodbyes were short and heartfelt. Everyone had misty eyes when they finally departed, but for Pete it was a good feeling.
With the house to themselves, the Monroe’s settled into a somewhat normal routine. That is, until one day Mr. Monroe announced he was quitting his job at the bank. Pete’s parents had decided to buy a large parcel of land out in the country. For both of them, it was as if their marriage had started anew. With seemingly endless energy, they built a new house, and began planning and developing what was to become one of the largest racetracks on the east coast. Eventually, they began raising thoroughbred horses of their own.
But their wonderful new life together was short lived. Mr. Monroe died a few years after the opening of the racetrack. Although Pete was halfway around the world when the telegram reached him with the sad news, his mother assured him that his father had lived a full and meaningful life and passed away in his sleep with no suffering. Life was by no means over for Mrs. Monroe, however. In the years to come she would play a major role in Pete’s life.