“Holy moly! Where in the world did you get that?” Henry blurted out with excitement as he started to sweat slightly.
“I bought it the day I was shopping with Anne. Do you like it, Mr. Engel?”
“Do I like it?” he repeated as he took an enormous gulp from his glass.
“I’m going to send you shopping with her more often!” he declared while admiring her beautiful figure. His compliment made Millie blush, but she appreciated it very much.
“I just figured I should look nice for my first celebration with Jake and Joe as Mrs. Engel. After all, a girl only gets one chance at her wedding night with her husband, right?” she asked as she took a sip from her drink.
Indeed, thought Henry. Indeed!
Chapter 24
D-Day
Henry awoke on Sunday feeling on top of the world. He felt alive and rejuvenated. Waking up next to his wife in a bed for the first time proved to be much more to his liking than the couch in the family room. Millie agreed that it was preferable to sleeping alone, and the marriage was off to a rousing start. For the next couple of days, Millie and Henry kept to themselves and enjoyed all of the benefits of being man and wife. Neither had much interest in taking a trip with Joe so close to motherhood, so they turned the time into their own private honeymoon at Oak Forest. They watched and waited as the little cat continued to progress toward her expected due date and puttered around the estate doing things they enjoyed. Mostly, they just spent time with each other being in love.
On Wednesday, they decided that they would go to Millie’s house for a while to begin the process of sorting through which things were coming with her and which others she didn’t want or need. Once Henry’s SUV was loaded to the hilt, Millie suggested that perhaps they could stop in and say “hello” to Anne on their way home. They hadn’t spoken to her since the day of the wedding, and Millie was anxious to find out how the author was getting along. It was late afternoon but not yet time to see Jake, so Henry consented and they drove past her house for a brief visit.
“Well, look at you two!” Anne exclaimed excitedly as she answered the front door. “You look so happy!”
“I guess marriage agrees with us,” Millie confirmed. Anne was pleased to hear that and invited them inside.
“So, what gives? Just passing through the neighborhood?”
“Nah, Millie was curious to find out how the secret book is going,” Henry said as he pointed to his wife.
“Oh, stop your teasing,” she told him. “Truth is, we were over at my house getting started on the move and I thought we’d check to make sure you weren’t working too hard. Have you been getting some rest and remembering to eat?” she asked the author as a mother might check on her daughter away at school.
Anne looked slightly fatigued but said that she had never felt better. Just that morning, she had been working on her new novel and had been planning to surprise them with a visit to Oak Forest that evening to discuss it.
“I’ve got just a bit more to do and then I’ll be ready to write the ending,” she explained. “That’s where you two come in. I was hoping that you would read the manuscript and help me decide how I should end the story. I’m not sure how you’re going to react to it, but I think it is simply the very best work of my life.”
Henry and Millie were excited to be honored with the privilege of being the first to see a book written by the renowned author. It wasn’t something either of them had sought or expected to happen. However, to be asked to offer an opinion on how to conclude the story seemed beyond their expertise.
“I don’t think either one of us is in a position to help you write, Anne,” Henry countered.
“Honey, I’m good at a lot of things, but I’m no author,” Millie added as reinforcement to her husband’s statement.
“Just trust me on this one,” Anne requested. “It will all make sense after you read what I have so far.”
Millie and Henry excused themselves and drove home filled with curiosity. They discussed what Anne’s book might be about and wondered why she had added the disclaimer I’m not sure how you’re going to react to it to her request that they be the first to read it. Henry suggested that perhaps it was some sort of erotic thriller, but Millie quickly dismissed that notion. She was convinced that Anne was not that sort and suggested that it might be a mystery of some type. For a second, Henry even entertained the thought that Anne might have written a book about him, but he didn’t mention it to Millie. He trusted Anne and had been assured from the beginning that she would not use him as a subject.
The afternoon passed slowly as they anxiously anticipated her arrival, but at last her Jeep made the turn into Oak Forest, and the wait was over. She was just in time for their meeting with Jake, and Henry prepared three drinks before joining the women at the kitchen table. She had brought along a medium-sized cardboard box that presumably contained the manuscript she wanted them to read.
“All right guys, here it is,” she said, patting the top of the closed container with her hand.
“I’m still not sure how we’re going to be able to help you, but we’re happy to try,” Henry said as he took a swallow from his glass.
Anne slid the box over to him and held her breath. He opened the flaps to find a large stack of typed pages inside.
“It’s separated into individual chapters so that you can each read parts of it at the same time,” she explained.
Henry removed the first chapter from the box and slid the container over to Millie. He glanced briefly over the text of the first page, but his heart stopped when he saw the title of the new book. He could feel the blood rush to his face as his anger rose.
“How in the hell could you do this?” he said sharply with growing rage.
“Henry! Don’t talk to Anne like that,” Millie scolded him. “What is it?”
He slapped the chapter down in front of Millie so that she could see the title.
“Oh honey, what have you done?” she whispered with disappointment toward Anne.
On the table, the first chapter of Anne Francis Wagner’s latest novel Chats with Jake and Joe sat between them.
“Please let me explain before you get angry,” Anne pleaded.
“I’m afraid it’s a little late for that,” Henry informed her, attempting to control his emotions.
“It’s not at all what either of you must be thinking. I would never betray your trust. Your name isn’t anywhere in the book; it’s all written as fiction. I created a small town like Lewis as the setting and borrowed some ideas from the stories you’ve told me, but I promise, the characters are not any of you. The only names that are the same are Jake and Joe. I really like the way that sounds but if you don’t approve, I’ll change that too.”
Starting to calm down just a little, Henry questioned why Anne had written such a book in the first place. He had been under the impression the entire time that all she’d cared about when she came to Lewis was Henry’s African adventure.
“Yes, of course, that is absolutely true. I wanted to know about the hunt to use it for a character in a book I was working on. But then, when I met you, Henry, I got an overwhelming feeling I’ve never had before. I suddenly had a million ideas for a book about a man with a cat named Joe. He had a rich life and traveled the world and in his later years he’d tell stories to Joe and his friend Jake,” she said, holding up her glass. “It’s an extraordinary concept for a novel. I promise that if you just read it, you’ll find that though I borrowed some of your experiences, the book is definitely not about you. The only problem I have now is that I don’t know how to end it.”
“It wouldn’t hurt for us to read it, Henry,” Millie suggested, attempting to broker peace.
“It’s the finest book I’ve ever written; I’m sure of it. It’s different than anything I’ve ever done. I wasn’t looking to do this, but it found me. I tried to ignore it, really I did, but something persisted and insisted that I write this story. With that said, I make two promises to
both of you here and now. First, I pledge that unless you both agree that it is one hundred percent ok with you, I will not publish the work. I’ll destroy it and never reproduce it. Second, if you do allow me to publish it, any and all royalties will be donated to any charity you choose.”
“Why would you do that?” Millie wondered.
“I don’t need the money. I’ve already got a lot more than I will ever spend. I just would love to reward my loyal fans and readers with this marvelous story. If I can generate lots of sales and do some good for others at the same time, I’d love to do so,” the author explained.
“Sounds kind of familiar, doesn’t it, honey?” Millie asked her husband.
Henry regretted that he’d allowed himself to become upset before he had heard Anne out on the matter. He was a little ashamed that he had so easily doubted her integrity.
“So, you’re willing to let us read this and if either of us has a problem with it, you’ll scrap it?”
“Yes Henry, I give you my solemn word. I truly hope that you’ll both approve of what I’ve written but if you don’t, it will never see the light of day. I respect and care for you both and would never do anything to hurt either of you. You’ve become like family to me and you can trust me completely.”
Based on those terms, Henry and Millie agreed to read Anne’s manuscript. He had always been an extremely private man but if the names and details in the book had been altered, he reasoned that it probably was not an egregious intrusion into his personal affairs. After all, unbeknownst to Anne, the Engels had a new charitable foundation to support. If the book was as good as Anne believed that it was, it would sell well. The possibility for a new and potentially vibrant source of funding for their venture was music to his ears.
Millie decided that Henry should read the book in its entirety first before she did. If there was something in it that he disapproved of or did not want her to know, he could veto it on his own. Henry appreciated her sensitivity and agreed that it was a good idea. Over the next two and a half days, he was consumed with reading Anne’s manuscript. In his opinion, she hadn’t remotely overestimated its quality. He sat for hours in his recliner in the family room and devoured the chapters, unable to break away from the story. Henry was intrigued by the masterful way Anne had woven some stories about his life with her own fictional places and events. He was surprised by the inclusion of several anecdotes from his childhood and adolescence because he could not recall ever telling her about them. It seemed to be more than just coincidence, but he guessed that maybe George had a hand in it.
However, there was one aspect to the story that was of particular interest to him. The main character, around whom the whole book revolved, had betrayed his only brother in a business deal and the two had not spoken for over fifty years. He had lived with extreme guilt and had attempted to repair the relationship by writing letters to his brother several times per year for decades. However, the brother who had been wronged never replied. The protagonist moved on, marrying and having a family. He was now an older man and nearing the last season of his life. His burden had only grown more cumbersome with time, and it affected him deeply. He was certain that his eternal destiny was to be determined by whether or not he received forgiveness for the transgression committed so many years before.
On Saturday morning, the sixth of June, Henry turned the final page of the final chapter but was left hanging. There were no more words beyond that for him to read. He was anxious to know how the story ended but realized that from there it was entirely up to him what happened next. Clearly, the main character of Chats with Jake and Joe was his brother Bill and the business deal gone wrong was really a reference to Mary. Anne had cleverly altered the facts to assure that no one would ever guess that it related in any way to Henry, but the point had been made. While reading the chapters, he had empathized with the protagonist and rooted for a reconciliation between the brothers. It was the first time Henry had ever put himself in Bill’s place, and it made him truly understand how he must feel. Just then, Millie passed into the room to join him and took a seat on the couch.
“Did you finish reading Anne’s book? Is it good?” she asked as she opened the cover of a magazine she had brought with her.
“It’s terrific, but I guess you already know that, right?” he said sarcastically.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Millie replied without answering his question.
“Come on, Millie, you’re in on this. I get it,” he said with mild annoyance. After reading the manuscript, he now guessed that it was simply an elaborate scheme to get him to contact his brother. He wasn’t exactly certain who all of the co-conspirators were but figured Millie was in on the plan. The most unbelievable part of it, in his mind, was that Anne had fabricated a bogus novel about his brother’s life just to make a point.
“I’m certain I have no idea what you’re talking about Henry,” Millie responded convincingly. “And I don’t appreciate your tone, either.”
“I’m talking about this fake book about me and Bill,” he said holding up a few of the chapters.
“Good Lord Henry, did she really write about you and Bill in there? I am so sorry, baby.” Henry was confused now. Millie seemed genuinely shocked and apologetic. She was either a much better actress than he had ever known or was truly in the dark about it all.
“Well, not exactly: it’s about two brothers and one cheats the other out of a huge boatload of money. They don’t talk for over fifty years after that even though the bad guy keeps writing letters to the other one trying to fix it. Sound familiar?” Henry asked with eyebrows raised.
“I’m so sorry, honey, I had absolutely no idea whatsoever that was what this book was about. I guess it’s my fault. The day Anne first came to Oak Forest we had a good long chat and talked about all sorts of things. Somehow we got to talking about you and Bill, and then I had a dumb idea. I told her how I wanted to help fix things and asked her to call George because he would know where Bill was in New York. Since Anne was from there too, I wondered if maybe she could get in touch with him and try to figure something out to help get you two together.”
Henry listened intently and waited to pass judgment until he had heard the entire tale. Anne had indeed called George and then determined how to get in touch with his brother. When she traveled to New York to attend to her own affairs, she also paid Bill a visit to get his side of the story. In addition, she let him know that there were allies in Lewis attempting to help him mend his relationship with Henry. Millie further explained that neither she nor George had known anything about the new novel or its contents.
“So, you’re telling me this isn’t a fake book? She really does want to publish it?” Henry asked, trying to be certain that he fully understood the situation.
“Yes, I’m afraid so. I guess you’re going to tell her no now, huh?”
“You know what? I’m going to tell her to run with it. I tell you something, it’s one helluva good book! Millie, I couldn’t put the damn thing down. I think it’s going to be a bestseller, and we’re going to raise all kinds of money for the foundation.” Henry went on to detail the entire plot to her. He shared some excerpts about real events that were included in the novel and compared them to how he remembered things to actually have happened. Henry now knew where Anne had gotten her inside information. It was fun for him to relive memories of certain events but through Bill’s eyes. For the first time in fifty-plus years, he missed his brother just a little.
“So, are you mad at me for going behind your back?” Millie asked sheepishly. Henry weighed his options. He could chastise her and be angry or understand that she was merely acting in a manner that she believed was in his best interests. Her heart was in the right place even if she had made a mistake. Once upon a time long ago, he had driven a woman he loved from his life over a botched attempt to get him back together with his brother. Now, Henry had learned from his past and handled things differently.
“No sweetheart, of co
urse not. I know why you did it, and I love you for it. Just don’t ever do it again,” he added with a wink that made her smile with relief.
“So, do you know how you want Anne to finish the story?” Millie asked.
“Yes, I know what happens next,” he said with conviction.
Henry stood and walked into his office. From where she was seated on the far end of the couch, Millie couldn’t see what he was doing, but she heard the weight of his body gently descend into the desk chair. Next, she heard a drawer and then the sound of an envelope being opened. She listened as Henry removed a letter from it and unfolded it. There was silence for a time after that and then a long deep sigh followed by the sound of Henry picking up the telephone and dialing. Millie heard the chair squeak just a tad from the load of his shifting weight as he leaned back. She wondered if perhaps he was calling George to harass him about his role in their conspiracy to reunite him with Bill. It seemed like a long delay but then she heard words that she had never dreamed she would.
“Hello Bill, this is your brother Henry.”
“Dear God, Henry, is that really you?” cried an older but still familiar voice from the other end of the line. “You finally called me; I can’t believe it!” Bill exclaimed with immense relief as he began to weep.
“Well of course; after all, it’s D-Day, Bill,” Henry said, dryly referring to the fact that this day was the 54th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy by Allied forces. “I always call a World War II veteran on D-Day. It just took fifty-four years for your number to come up.”
The joke broke the ice and relieved some of the tension of the moment. With her fingers crossed, Millie stayed put and eavesdropped for a while to see how things would unfold. She didn’t know if the call would be short and to the point or long and emotional. To her relief, it was the latter. Henry and Bill exchanged heartfelt sentiments that culminated in Bill’s sincere apology for his past wrongdoing and Henry’s apology for withholding his forgiveness of the same. With that business finally behind them, the conversation turned to lighter topics, and Millie left the room to give her husband his privacy. The brothers talked for nearly two hours and shared the details of their lives. Before finishing their call, they agreed to speak again early in the coming week to formulate a plan for Bill and his family to come to Lewis for a visit. It would truly be an Engel family reunion as most of the participants had never met one another before.
Celebrations With Jake and Joe Page 26