by Ruth Hay
How had Vilma Smith managed to transform him in every way that counted?
How had he moved the million miles from his old farmhouse hideaway to this luxurious room in Harmony House?
How had he convinced this wonderful woman to accept his meagre existence and see it as a project to improve and enhance his life?
The truth was that he had resisted every attempt to brighten his surroundings, every move to get him to open up, every single opportunity to see her as more than the inept owner of two dogs.
She insisted, in their intimate moments, when truth was the only possible form of spoken communication, that she did not set out to draw him toward her.
“Exactly the opposite!” she confessed. “I was never willing to be pulled into the lifestyle you represented. I fought against it even while feeling grateful for your help with the dogs. I fought you with everything I could summon for many long months until I could deny my feelings no longer.
I believe if we had not been far from our usual haunts in that hotel, under such different circumstances, we might not have been able to break through our mutual barriers.”
He objected immediately to this version of events. But it had the ring of truth about it. Vilma was not one to sugar-coat things in her life. His secret fears were based on the insecurity of that one moment in that one particular place where they came together for the first time. If his present immense happiness depended on that unusual conjunction of circumstances, it meant life and love were fragile, uncertain and ephemeral.
He turned in bed and looked at Vilma now sleeping soundly by his side with Astrid inching her way up the outer edge of the bed to rest against her owner’s legs.
The realization struck him that this view of life and love was the only right one. Not a comfortable one, but valid nevertheless.
The conjunction of one moment in the wrong place had wrecked his previous life in a horror of noise and fire.
The outside chance of being employed at Harmony House at just the right time had brought him into the sphere of Vilma when she needed his help.
His wins at the dog show had impelled Vilma to open her arms to him, literally and metaphorically; an action he could not resist.
The unexpected rising water of the Thames River had solved the serious problem of their future living accommodations.
Andy Patterson had to resolve this dilemma in his own mind. There was a lesson here. One he must figure out, then understand and accept, with gratitude in his heart.
He looked toward the window where the sun was shining on a fine day. He had no control over the weather. It was just one more of the elements around him over which he, and all others, had no control.
This was the underlying insecurity of life. So much was sheer happenstance; some with good results; some bad. The good was a gift. It must be seized with both hands and cherished; never questioned, and appreciated fully, each and every day, in the understanding that all could change in an instant.
This was the way forward for him and for Vilma. Every moment must be lived to the full. No regrets. No fears. Together against all the odds.
He placed a gentle kiss on her sleeping forehead and slid down into her warmth again.
It was Christmas Day. A day he knew he would never forget.
By New Year’s Eve, Harmony House was back to its full complement of residents. It had been decided to welcome the new year with champagne toasts at midnight for those who wished to participate.
To Hilary’s surprise everyone was in attendance in the winter dining room with glasses raised as the New York glitter ball on television dropped down to the usual wild acclaim.
She detected an air of excitement that was in addition to the clinking of champagne glasses and the good wishes exchanged for the coming year. It was not long before the television was shut off and she found out what had caused the suppressed feelings. The news announcements began at once.
“Before everyone goes off to bed, I want to tell you all about Quebec City.”
Jannice O’Connor was lit up like a candle and her audience knew this was something different from her earlier account of the charming day with the O’Connor siblings in her former home.
“Of course I adored the ancient city and Mitchell was a wonderful host. We met in his home study to talk about my Irish heritage. He loved the photographs of the wedding trousseau and asked about every outfit. He wants to visit Eldon House and Museum London in the spring, but just today I got a letter from him telling me his proposal for a book has been accepted by his publisher and we will have to arrange many more sessions. Old tales brought to Canada are a major feature of his work. He wants me to be co-author! Isn’t it exciting!”
There was no denying it. Her enthusiasm was infectious and congratulations went the rounds.
When the excitement died down a little, Faith had a chance to interrupt.
“Since we are sharing successes, I want you all to know I have passed my Shakespeare course.”
Hilary led the cheers at this juncture.
“…………and also, still on the good news front, there will be an article in the local newspaper this month about my talks to students about good choices. They are calling me a ‘Youth Ambassador’ if you can believe it? Me, Faith Joan Jeffries, the despair of teachers everywhere! Before now, that is!”
Honor came to stand by her side and beamed with pride. She had been so pleased to see Faith’s behaviour with the younger Jeffries’ boys in Kingston. Honor and Mason had many good talks together about the early days with Felicity while Faith entertained the children. He insisted he could see similarities between the twin sisters. He stated Honor was the person Felicity should have been if her life had gone differently. Honor found something deeply comforting in his words. It felt as if an old wound had healed inside her.
She and Faith had hours of good conversation on the train trips to Kingston and back again. A new understanding was in place between them. They discussed the future and where that might lead Faith.
Her aunt almost wept when Faith acknowledged her debt of gratitude to the person who had taken her in even when she was ‘totally obnoxious’ to her.
Honor knew she now had an ally in Pauline Jeffries who told her the few days they had spent together had finally put to rest her husband’s regrets and fears about his choices long ago. She invited Faith and Honor to stay in the summer when many more outdoor activities were available.
“My boys have really taken to your Faith. She seems to talk to them like grown-ups, not little kiddies, and they love it. She expects them to act like grown-ups too, which is a great relief for me, I can tell you. Melvin in particular, has grown by leaps and bounds since he met Faith. He calls her his ‘big sister.’”
She and Pauline parted as friends and extended family members. Honor was delighted to feel she was no longer alone in her responsibilities to Faith.
* * *
Vilma observed how close together Honor and Faith stood during the announcements, and she knew what a good sign it was. The girl had finally proved her worth despite some poor decisions along the way. She felt more comfortable with her idea to leave Astrid and Oscar in her care in February.
The initial hand-over attempt was going quite well. She allowed Faith to supervise the dogs’ morning walk, during the school holidays, while watching them like hawks from the house. No incidents had occurred so far.
With the current air of excitement in the room, Vilma wondered if she should announce the successful connection she had made through her extensive contacts with other Canadian cohousing projects.
A few couples of had responded positively and initial discussions were underway for the week in Jamaica.
Vilma had not yet fully broached this subject with Hilary and Mavis so she decided to delay until she received their blessing. The entire holiday/honeymoon week was in limbo until the insurance was settled on Andy’s farmhouse replacement. That little job would be keeping both of them occupied for some months. The lo
ng term implications of the house reconstruction, was another conversation she needed to have with Hilary and Mavis. If all went well, Vilma would require her investment money from Harmony House. She would move to the new home with Andy, leaving a gap to be filled by another candidate.
* * *
Eve stepped forward as glasses were filled once more.
“My dear Harmony House family, I want to tell you I have sold five paintings at St. Mary’s Christmas Market. The money will fund many more paints and canvases and a large tarpaulin to protect my carpet!”
Everyone laughed in sympathy and smiled to hear about her success.
“I have already been invited to participate in summer shows in Ontario, and I mean to accept. The art community has been very welcoming to me.”
“Well done, Eve! This is brilliant news! I believe we will have to adjust your Kitchen Queen title to include Artist in Residence.”
More cheering resulted from this bon mot of Mavis’s but the party soon began to break up after everyone looked around the circle to see if more surprises were forthcoming.
In a few minutes, Mavis and Hilary were the only two left. They had shooed all the women off to bed and were finished collecting crystal glasses on a tray for handwashing, and tidying up the dining room.
New Year’s Day brunch was to be a casual affair in the kitchen with self-service.
“Mavis, come and sit here by the fire for a minute before we go off to bed.”
Mavis looked up from brushing crumbs into a plastic bin and went to join her friend on the couch.
“What’s up, Hilary? You must be tired by now. I certainly am.”
“Oh, yes! But it’s been such an ending to the year I feel we need to talk it over while it’s fresh in my mind. Things around here have changed, Mavis, and they will be changing even more, if I’m not mistaken.”
Mavis joined her friend on the couch with a sigh of contentment at being off her feet. The week between Christmas and New Year was such a busy one with gatherings of various kinds. She was glad January would bring her annual, self-imposed diet program, so she could lose the weight the festive season always encouraged.
“I do know what you mean. I looked around the group tonight and thought it might be the last time we seven would be celebrating together like this.”
“Really? I was thinking along those lines myself, but changes coming so abruptly? I thought we had more time.”
“Well, I could be wrong. And yet, the future is rushing toward us.”
“Isn’t that a suitable prediction in the first hours of a new year! Are you feeling particularly prescient?”
“Not really, Hilary! I’m more weary than anything else.
The indicators are there to see, however, and can’t be denied for long.
In two years Faith will be gone to higher education and she may be heading to Kingston for that, and possibly taking Honor with her. Honor can do her work from anywhere, after all.
Eve’s horizons are opening up. Jannice will need time in Quebec. Vilma is building a new home and new life with Andy. I will be involved with Louise’s ambition to foster children and you have a new interest in volunteering which you are developing into a major program, as I knew you would.”
“Goodness me! When you put it like that it seems our cozy little family can’t wait to depart from Harmony House. You and I are the only ones who may be fully based here. Have we failed somehow? Our original co-housing plan was for the long term, or so I believed.”
Mavis shifted in her seat. She had not intended to depress Hilary with all these predictions. She must turn the negative into a positive, which was always her role in their friendship.
“Don’t be too concerned, my dear. It depends on how you look at it. We two are the cornerstone.
If others decide to move on it has to be seen as success, not failure. We have managed to create such a warm and nurturing atmosphere in this lovely home that our little lambs, brought in from the storm, have grown and developed to their full potential under our care.
It’s not a bad thing to nurture others as we have done. It’s a great privilege. Perhaps new residents will fill the empty spaces here and new adventures will begin?”
“That is a lot to take in at this early hour, Mavis. I will need sleep before I can share your optimism.
Can you promise me at least a few months of comparative peace and quiet?”
Mavis smiled. She would promise, for Hilary’s mental comfort, but the future was never totally knowable. The past few months in Harmony House proved that to be the case.
It could well be that the pace of change was just moving up another gear and both she and Hilary had better be prepared.
Afterword
Ruth Hay’s fourth series, Home Sweet Home, follows the ups and downs of six women attempting to live together for mutual support and safety.
The fourth book, titled, Affinity House, will be published in 2018.
Read Ruth’s other series, Prime Time, Seafarers, and Seven Days on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iBooks.
Also read Borderlines a stand-alone thriller.
www.ruthhay.com
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Also by Ruth Hay
Visit www.ruthhay.com for links to all of Ruth’s stories: the Prime Time series, the Seafarers series, and the Seven Days series!
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Prime Time Series
Auld Acquaintance
Time Out of Mind
Now or Never
Sand in the Wind
With This Ring
The Seas Between Us
Return to Oban: Anna’s Next Chapter
Seafarers Series
Sea Changes
Sea Tides
Gwen’s Gentleman
Gwen’s Choice
Seven Days Series
Seven Days There
Seven Days Back
Seven Days Beyond
Seven Days Away
Seven Days Horizons
Seven Days Destinations
Borderlines (Standalone)
Borderlines
Home Sweet Home Series
Harmony House
Fantasy House
Remedy House
Affinity House (2018)