by Marilyn Turk
“Eleven years ago, your father seduced me. You’re shocked, aren’t you?”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Ha! Well, it’s true. And I’ve got proof too.”
Lexie glanced at Stella’s husband Jack, noting the pained expression on his face.
“What proof?”
“Remember that little girl on the boat ride with you? The one that liked your fur coat? That’s his daughter Evelyn.”
She tried to breathe, but the acrid odor of smoke filled her nostrils. She shook her head. “No, that’s not possible.”
Pointing her finger at Lexie, Stella said, “Oh yeah? Guess I should know, huh? Yeah, he got me pregnant, and when I told him, he promised to take care of me and the child. But then he went and killed himself. Coward.”
Russell burst in the front door. “Lexie! The house…” He stopped mid-sentence and stared at the scene before him. “What’s going on here? Jack? Stella?”
“You tell her, Russell.” Stella glanced sideways at Russell and nodded at Lexie. “He knows all about it.”
Lexie jerked her head at Russell. “Is it true, Russell? Did my father have an affair with this woman?” He killed himself echoed through her head.
Before he could answer, Stella took a step closer to Lexie. “This woman?”
“Russell, tell her she’s a liar.”
Russell moved toward Lexie. “The house is on fire! We have to get out, now!”
“No!” Stella screamed. “That’s mine, and this house is mine! He told me he kept his most valued possession in a safe place here. I figure he hid the lease here, and it belongs to my daughter, his heir.”
“But he already had heirs.”
Stella gave her a sinister smile. “You’re the only one left, besides Evie.” Looking at her husband, she motioned to Lexie. “Get it from her, Jack.”
Jack grabbed hold of the box and tried to wrestle it from Lexie’s arms as Russell lunged across the room. He knocked Jack down and seized Lexie by the arm while the ceiling above began to crackle and split apart as the fire made its way into the first floor.
“Stop or I’ll shoot!” Everyone froze and turned to face Stella holding a gun and aiming it at Lexie. “Give me the blasted box!”
“Lexie, give it to her.” Russell tried to pull Lexie toward him.
“No! Whatever is in this box belonged to my family, like this house.”
“Then I have no choice but to kill you.” Stella lifted the gun and pointed it at Lexie’s head.
“No, Stella. This has to stop.” Jack reached out to his wife. “You almost killed Abner. I won’t let you do this. Give me the gun.”
Parts of the ceiling fell around them, filling the room with smoke.
A startled Stella turned the gun toward her husband. “But Jack, it belongs to us, to Evie.”
As a chunk of ceiling fell inches away, Jack lunged for his wife and the gun went off.
Russell grabbed Lexie and raced out the front door with her, not stopping until they reached the street. They looked back at Destiny as the roof fell in, with flames shooting out the top and the sides of the building.
Lexie stared at the inferno, her trembling hands covering her mouth in horror. Russell put his arm around her shoulders, and together they watched the fire devour the house, while the dwindling rain did little more than sizzle as it hit the flames. Movement on the porch caught their attention as Jack stumbled out of the smoke holding Stella. He struggled down the steps and into the yard where he collapsed.
Russell rushed to the couple and helped pull them farther away from the fire. Lexie ventured near the man sobbing over his wife’s still form. “I told her to stop, to give up. She just wouldn’t listen.” A red stain spread across the woman’s chest. Lexie’s heart went out to the stricken husband despite his threats to her just moments earlier. He was a victim, too, and Lexie pitied him. The urge to pray for the couple grew inside her, so she did.
A resounding crash turned their heads to witness the final surrender of the house to the flames. Destiny was a smoldering pile of rubble.
Chapter 40
March 2, 1942
Lexie stared out the window from Russell’s office, trying to come to grips with the secrets of her family’s past so long hidden from her.
“I can’t believe my father had an affair with another woman.”
“Maybe he didn’t. No one knew for sure except Stella and your father, since no one else was around. And Stella could have been lying, but Robert made sure she kept quiet by sending her money every month. He didn’t want your mother to know, or you or anyone else, for that matter.”
Lexie turned to face Russell. “But how did Robert know?”
“The day of the hunt, Jack confronted your father in front of the hunting party. Jack was angry because he was in love with Stella and planned to marry her. Your father was drunk, which was his usual state after the stock market collapse. When Jack threatened to expose him, your father raised his gun at Jack. Robert and I rushed him, the gun went off and the bullet hit my foot, taking a couple of toes with it.”
Lexie’s eyes widened. “That’s what happened to your foot?”
“Yep. Robert took me to the infirmary, and your father stormed off.”
“What did Stella mean—‘he killed himself’?”
“That’s not true. When they found his body, the question was raised, considering his state of mind—drunk and upset. But the doctor ruled out suicide. It was obvious that he tripped on his gun and caused it to go off. It really was an accident.”
“But why didn’t you tell me about this, Russell? Didn’t you think I had a right to know?”
“Robert swore me to secrecy. I wanted to tell you when you came back here, but I thought it was better to leave the past in the past. I had no idea the past would rear its ugly head again.”
Lexie strolled to the picture on the wall showing her father, her brother, Russell, and Jack in their hunting attire. “Was this the day he died?” She crossed her arms and stared at the faces, shaking her head.
“Yes, the day that changed so many lives.”
She spun around and faced Russell. “So Stella sent the telegram.”
“Either she or Jack, under her orders.”
“She was pretty desperate.”
“Obsessed is more like it.”
Russell tapped the metal box on top of his desk.
“Looks like we’ll have to get a crowbar to open this.”
Lexie had forgotten all about the box, the one that almost cost her her life. She studied it, then an idea struck her.
“Maybe not.” She lifted her gold necklace with the heart and key out of her blouse. “Maybe this will fit.”
Russell lifted an eyebrow as Lexie unhooked the necklace and handed it to him. The key slid in and the box clicked when he turned the key.
“Are you ready?” He studied her face.
Lexie sighed. “Yes, go ahead.”
The lid creaked as Russell pushed it open. Inside was a faded red construction paper heart with a doily glued to its back.
“I made this.” Lexie picked up the paper heart and looked into the now-empty box. “I made it for Father. Is that all that’s in there?”
Russell spread out his empty hands. “That’s all. Wonder why he put that there?”
“Me too.” Lexie frowned. His most valued possession was a paper heart? Then she burst out laughing. “Of course. Father told me this was the key to his heart.”
Russell frowned. “So where’s the lease?”
“It must be with our accountant. I can’t imagine why Father would leave it here.” Shaking her head, she replaced the heart she’d crafted all those years ago back into the box. All of that for a piece of paper. Yet warmth filled her knowing Father loved her so much.
Russell shook his head. “Stella must have gotten desperate after Robert died and her money stopped coming. So she sent you the telegram, hoping you’d lead her to her fortune.”
“I wonder why she thought she’d find something valuable in the house.”
“Your father had an ironic sense of humor. He may have teased her about having treasure hidden in the house.”
“But his treasure wasn’t valuable to her.”
“No, only to him.”
Lexie’s tears trickled down her face, and she turned away to gaze out the window. “I hope she can get the help she needs at the mental hospital. Thank God, the bullet missed her vital organs.”
“Poor Jack. She must’ve been driving him crazy.”
Lexie’s heart skipped, and she spun around. “Russell, I have a sister!”
Russell drummed his fingers on the desk. “Maybe, and maybe not.”
“But what do you mean? If Evelyn is Father’s daughter…”
“If, Lexie. We can’t be sure. Jack might be her father. After all, he married her as soon as she got pregnant, and no one knows but God who the father of the child is. Your father was drinking heavily, and he probably made passes at Stella. But she could’ve made the whole thing up, just to blackmail him.”
“Well, I want to get to know the little girl anyway. I know what it’s like to have your mother in a hospital, especially a mental hospital. I can at least be her friend. Besides, I’ve always wanted a little sister. Russell, maybe it was really God that brought me here so I could help her.”
“Jack would like that. He dearly loves that little girl.” Russell studied her, a tender smile easing across his face.
“What are you looking at?” Lexie put her hands on her hips.
“You. You know Evelyn looks a lot like you.”
A knock sounded on the door and before Russell could answer, Bernon Prentice entered the office.
“Excuse me, Russell. I’m sorry to interrupt you, but this is important.” He remained standing, glanced at Lexie, and nodded. “Miss Smithfield, you can hear this since it affects you too.” Lexie sank down into a chair in front of Russell’s desk as he continued.
“The Coast Guard, based on orders from the White House, has ordered the island to be evacuated. We need to tell all our members and guests they must pack up and leave as soon as possible.”
Lexie glanced at Russell to see his reaction, knowing he’d expected the news for a while.
Russell nodded. “How would you like to do that, Bernon? Visit each one? Call a meeting?”
“Both. You and I can divide up the members at the cottages and the annex. We’ll post a sign about a meeting in the dining room for tomorrow afternoon.” Prentice put both hands on the back of the chair facing Russell’s desk.
“All right. And the staff—they have to leave, too, I suppose?”
“Yes, everyone, even those that live here year-around. We’ll have a meeting with them today before the rumor mills start flying.”
“Thankfully, I believe they all have relatives in Brunswick. I hope they can stay with them.”
Prentice shrugged. “I hope so too. We can’t afford to find housing for them.”
“I’ll take the cottages on the north side of the clubhouse.” Russell pointed in the direction of Hollybourne.
“Fine. I’ll take the rest.” Prentice faced Lexie. “I hate to end your stay this way, Miss Smithfield. I’m so sorry about what’s happened to you and Destiny. I wish you’d had a more pleasant visit here.”
Lexie smiled. “That’s quite all right. My time here has been exciting, for sure, but enlightening as well.”
Prentice raised an eyebrow. “Very well, then. I’m off to spread the news.”
They watched him leave, then Lexie turned to Russell. “So you’re finally going to tell the members.”
“Yes.” He nodded. “Finally.”
“Where will Abner go? Who will take care of him?”
“His roommate at the dorm has already offered his family’s home in Brunswick for Abner’s recuperation.”
“What about you, Russell? What will you do? Where will you go?”
“I have relatives on both coasts. But California is warmer than New England right now.”
“California?” Her heart sank. She hadn’t expected him to go so far away—from Jekyll Island or from her.
“Sure. Why not? I’ll need to get a job somewhere.”
“Will you look for a hotel or another club to manage?” Lexie made a sweeping movement with her arm, trying to keep her lips from trembling.
Russell smiled and rubbed his chin, his dimple teasing her. “I don’t know, maybe I’ll get a gig playing piano. You know, I play all types of music. That’s how I’ve picked up some extra money during the off-season.”
Lexie tried to imagine Russell playing piano professionally. What a different lifestyle that would be than managing the island club. Just when she thought she knew him, a picture of another Russell emerged.
Russell leaned forward, his elbows on the desk. “So I guess you’ll return to work at the hospital back home?”
She nodded, letting her gaze drop to her hands. “Yes, I guess so.” Tears filled her eyes. No one waited for her back home—no one that mattered. Would she ever see Russell again?
Russell got up from his chair and came around the desk, took Lexie’s hand, and kissed the back of it, pulling her to her feet. Her heart fluttered around inside her chest as he put his finger under her chin, lifted her face, and gazed into her eyes.
“Maybe I should move to New York instead. I’m sure there are jobs for piano players there.” His eyes twinkled as he studied her, running his finger down her face, stopping to push a curl away from her mouth.
She nodded, holding her breath.
“Swell. Because I don’t want to be too far from you. I love you, Lexie.”
He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. She melted into his embrace and allowed herself to be swept away to another dimension—one that was safe and filled with love.
After blissful moments passed, they parted to catch their breaths.
“Do you think you could marry a piano player?”
Lexie smiled and nodded as tears trickled down her cheek, then she tilted her head. “Guess that depends on who the piano player is.”
Russell laughed out loud and pulled her close. “This one.” He kissed her with such intensity, it took her breath away.
“Oh, then the answer is yes,” she whispered when the kiss ended.
He wrapped her in his arms and held her. “I’m sorry about Destiny, Lexie.”
She glanced up at him. “It was just a house, Russell, but God had other plans for my destiny.”
Acknowledgements
Thanks to ongoing preservation, the “Millionaires’ Village” at Jekyll Island is being restored. Guests are still able to stay in the beautiful Victorian hotel, known as the Jekyll Island Club. I am thankful to all those who work to keep this historic area preserved.
I especially want to thank Gretchen Greminger, curator at the Jekyll Island Authority, for her long-suffering patience with my many questions and emails. Gretchen was immensely helpful in giving me information and pointing out references for me to use.
It was a rare privilege to stay in the hotel and imagine what it had been like a hundred years ago. Our hotel tour guide, Gail Rumble, was very informative and entertaining. I was thrilled when she let us tour Russell’s office, now the Presidential Suite, and climb the spiral staircase (which replaced the ladder) into the tower where the telescope is. What a thrill it was to see what Russell saw when he looked around the island from his tower office.
Of course, I have to thank my husband Chuck for taking me on these research trips, helping me take notes, and gathering information for my book. What facts I missed, he didn’t, and I so appreciate him being my partner in this endeavor.
Thank you to my patient, understanding critique partners Sandra Barnes, Kiersti Plog, and Sarah Tipton for their time and effort to help me make this book better. You ladies provided me with special support and encouragement through the writing process.
I’d
like to also thank my beta readers for accepting the role of reading the book before publication and offering suggestions to improve it.
Thank you to Dan Walsh, whose book The Discovery opened my eyes to activities off our shores during World War II and inspired me to research that era in depth.
Thanks to my agent Joyce Hart, who encouraged me to write the book; to Leslie L. McKee, whose diligent editing polished all the rough places; and to Ann Tatlock, managing editor of Heritage Beacon, who saw the beauty in my story.
Discussion Questions for The Gilded Curse
1. Lexie Smithfield is afraid she’ll inherit her mother’s dementia. Have you “inherited” any traits from your parents? Are they good or bad?
2. Lexie’s fears make her suspect everyone, even Russell. Who did you suspect was behind the unusual activities? Were you surprised by the ending?
3. Russell is 4F due to the shooting accident. Spencer likes to make fun of his handicap. Have you ever known someone with a handicap? How did they handle it? How did others act toward them? Were they treated like they were inferior?
4. Russell struggles with a promise he made to Robert, Lexie’s brother, not to tell her about the situation between Lexie’s father and Stella. Do you think he should have told her sooner? Have you ever been in a situation where you wanted to tell someone something but had promised not to?
5. Lexie grew up afraid of the grotesques in the gothic chapel on the island because her mother was superstitious about them. Do you have any superstitions? Why?
6. Lexie thought God would be angry with her for ignoring him for so many years. Have you ever thought God was mad at you? Was it because of things that happened to you that you thought God was using to punish you?
7. Lexie was attracted to Spencer because he was handsome, popular, and flamboyant. But his character was flawed, and she ignored the warning signs until it was almost too late. Do you or have you ever known anyone like Spencer? Were you attracted to him or appalled? Did you find out too late what he was really like?
8. While Lexie is at Jekyll Island, Nazi submarines are off the coast torpedoing American ships. Did you know this really happened in 1942? Did you know the government tried to hide the reality of the situation from its citizens? Do you think that was right or wrong?