by Linda Gerald
“Now, look here Elizabeth; Dottie can be abrupt, but there is not a gentler soul. You will win her over. Don’t be upset.” He attempted a smile, but anger burned deep inside that his employee could be so insensitive. He appreciated her loyalty to Edwina, but Edwina had always been more than capable of defending herself. This woman was softer, more vulnerable. He touched the shoulder of his companion lightly.
“Oh, not to worry. I do understand how Miss Dottie must be feeling. It’s just that she’s correct. I’m sure that I could never fill the shoes of one as accomplished as Edwina. You see, I’m not trying to do that. She assumed that I want to ‘rule this house.’ I don’t wish that. Sure, sometimes I do dream of living here. However, I believe it is security, which I long to possess. I am not a fool. I would never presume to be attractive to you. Your happiness is important to me. Never, would I be foolish enough to think that I could please you, or even that you could love me. How can anyone care for someone without a mind?”
When she turned her head, he saw the tears running softly down her flushed cheeks. He took her hand as a move to comfort her, but she gently withdrew it.
“Well, I wouldn’t say that you don’t have a mind. You just do not possess memory.” They both laughed.
The older man softly spoke as he would to a confused child. He continued to explain that they had acted foolishly, on the day before, by even speaking of the possibility of a relationship. Instead, he reiterated that they should work on helping her recover her memory. It was apparent to him that they needed to diminish the daily stress of his guest. Maybe then, her memory could return. He mentioned a friend who was a Psychiatrist.
“I will not see someone who claims to understand others. How could he help me? I must help myself.” She stopped walking abruptly and looked in his face.
“Do you think that I am insane?” He laughed at her insecurity.
Gently, he pulled her close as he may a daughter. No other words passed. They continued to walk in the bright sunshine. Without warning, she became very animated. Pointing to the sky, she jumped like an excited kid as she looked up.
“Did you see that Blue Jay? He was glorious.” Mr. Grover turned to see eyes of the wonder of an innocent.
Her countenance changed from sadness to incredible joy. Her gait turned into a serious walker. Keeping in step with her became more involved. Each time a bird flew overhead, she pointed and knew exactly the species. Sometimes, she even added information particularly if it was a favorite. They both stopped and faced each other as it dawned on them that she was remembering.
“How can I remember birds but recall nothing about myself? Is this even possible?” He was baffled as well.
“Don’t you see, this must be good news. Maybe your memory is returning slowly. We must keep you away from unwanted stress. It appears that just being outside is a catalyst for joy.” They hugged.
“Oh, there is hope for us. Perhaps, my memory will return, and I may find my way home. Isn’t this good news? Dottie won’t have to put up with me. I must say, I will be so happy to have a place that is mine. Please, know that I am very grateful, but I can’t imagine the imposition, which I have leveled upon you.” Her smile was that of pure joy.
Mr. Grover wanted to explain that he would be sad if she left. Her arrival had inspired him. Joy filled his home for the first time since the unexpected death of his wife. “Enchanted” had become truly that. They continue to walk in silence. A loud noise invaded their solitude. Elizabeth jumped at the angry intrusion.
“What is that horrible sound? Is it a fire alarm.” She yelled over the loud assault on their peace.
Mr. Grover was becoming increasingly desperate with the actions of his employee.
“No, that is our beloved Dottie. She knows better than use that. Edwina instructed her, years ago, only to use that blasted thing in an emergency.” They began to run back to the house.
What had Dottie done now? Together, they burst into the warm kitchen. The temperature was stifling. Mr. Grover was fed-up with such rude behavior. This current scene had better be an emergency. At the same time, they began to remove jackets and scarves to endure the heat. What was the temperature?
“Ok, Ms. George, you have our attention. This better be good.”
Dottie knew that she was pushing his buttons.
“Maybe, it is not an emergency, but you have made your best friend angry.” She glared at the couple.
“What madness are you ranting about now? What ‘best friend?’” He was beside himself with frustration at her.
“Your favorite golf buddy just called. Apparently, you set a time to meet him at the club this morning. He called several times, but you were out walking with ‘Merry Sunshine’ here. You have missed your tee-time. Mr. Donahue is upset. He says that in ten years, you never skipped a golf game. Wants you to call him if you can pull yourself away from her.” Dottie pointed with her finger at the guest, who lowered her head as if she was guilty of ruining everything. Dottie detested Mr. Donahue but compared to this woman, he looked more like a friend.
“Please, excuse me, I’ll go outside. The outdoors makes me happy. I’ll go back to the pond and watch the ducks.” Elizabeth pulled her jacket and scarf around her. Then she smiled. As she closed the door, Mr. Grover turned to Dottie.
“Now, see here, old girl. What is up with you today? I have never seen such offensive behavior from you. Elizabeth does not deserve your crude comments. One more outburst from you and I’ll send you home.”
“Don’t need to send me anywhere. My day is over. You cozy up to ‘Buttercup,’ and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Mr. Grover pointed to a chair at the table. He and Dottie faced each other with contempt. When he finished his “discussion” with her, Dottie’s eyes were large. Harry Grover had never displayed such anger toward a friend and employee. Briefly, she thought about quitting. Since the death of Ms. Edwina, she had become very protective of Harry. They enjoyed sparring. Without noticing, it was apparent that with the passage of time, their relationship had changed more like two old friends. The guest must be confused by their verbal jabs. Harry explained about the loss of the girl’s memory with the consequential fragile state that surrounded her. Dottie agreed to back off and show more respect. It would be hard, but she would try. Closing the door, she removed the green curler again from her hair and smiled. The smile that he returned met with her approval.
Harry walked to the liquor cabinet. He lifted a crystal decanter and poured a strong Bourbon. Then, Grover dialed the number of Don Donahue, who answered on the third ring.
“Hello, old man. You ok? What’s going on?” Donahue sounded deeply concerned.
As he strolled to his favorite chair by the window, Harry spied Elizabeth outside by the pond. Instantly, he told his friend about the unexpected guest. Donahue had seen her the night before at the Met. It was he who passed her in the hall.
Disbelievingly, he listened as his best friend sounded like a schoolboy. Anger filled the soul of Don Donahue. Had his friend gone insane? Allowing an unknown person to stay at his mansion, what was that? What craziness possessed him? Dottie’s tirade, when he phoned earlier about her opinion of the young woman, had not helped in establishing a positive mindset. Although Don and Dottie had never gotten on well together, he already decided that he detested this unknown house guest just as Dottie described earlier.
The two men had remained friends since college. Donahue had been Harry’s best man at his marriage to Edwina. Although Donahue was never married, he professed he had a deep love for a woman long ago in his past. None of his friends remembered such a romance. When the other men, in their group, discussed Don’s claims of deep love for some women, whom none of them remembered, they only lowered their eyes. It seemed to be a lie. Don had a mean streak and an angry temper that seldom showed. Most people avoided him because when the anger did raise it’s ugly head, he acted like a madman. No one wanted to be the butt of his rants and raves.
“I thi
nk that you’re acting like a dang fool, Harry. Our life is perfect. Dinner a few times each week and golf three times at the club. Tennis doubles played with the Johnson sisters. What more do you want? You must stop this nonsense right now before you go to far. DO YOU HEAR ME?” His shout seemed immature and unnecessary. Harry sighed loudly.
The line went dead. Had all of his friends gone mad? Harry had only mentioned his guest was beautiful and young. He had not mentioned any relationship. Last night, Mr. Grover was reacting to the loneliness of his life, to the closeness of a striking woman. In the light of day, he realized his folly. Undoubtedly, his best and longest friend should respect the fact that a gift had arrived without his searching for companionship.
Harry sat in the warm, late afternoon light and watched the simple joy of a young woman as she stood in streaming light. She laughed with glee when a butterfly landed on her red, wool jacket. He could hear her talking to the ducks by the dark, green water of the pond. The light surrounded her in long slats through the trees. No memory, no possessions, but she was happier than anyone whom he knew. He longed for the peace which radiated from her soul. Everyone around him seemed angry and judgmental; she only radiated love.
EIGHT: BIRDS
Dottie George was a little late this particular morning. She had slept fitfully last night. Her actions, toward Mr. Grover’s house guest, bothered her. Dottie was not a rude person. Yesterday, she had behaved extremely rudely. All night, Miss Dottie tossed. Her mind felt shocked at the unchristian behavior exhibited yesterday. Her stride was brisk because the cold was a little deeper this morning, on her walk from her quaint cottage. Her home was shared with her only grandson, Tyler. Her desire was to apologize immediately to that poor woman.
When Harry and Edwina built the estate, they included several small cottages scattered around the vast acreage. There was the pool house, which Elizabeth used; the cottage, which Dottie had enjoyed since her employment; and two other small guest cottages. Even though the main house was enormous, Edwina had wanted the extra space. It never occurred to her that she and Harry may be childless with no grandchildren. The Grovers doted on Tyler, Dottie’s grandson, who was now nearing graduation from High School.
Dottie walked gingerly to the side, kitchen door. She spied the beautiful, young woman bent over something on the kitchen table. No one used the formal dining room located across the hall, except for dinner in the evenings. Harry always looked so lost but continued to enjoy his dinner, in the same spot he treasured with Edwina. The formal table remained covered in damask with candles lighted each evening; just as Edwina preferred. Mr. Grover tolerated the darkness and sadness of the grand room which once hosted spectacular dinner parties. None of those happened, since the death of the grande-dame of the mansion. Day hours spent collected around the old, wooden table located in the kitchen where Elizabeth now sat.
Dottie spied the young woman through the glass in the doors. Elizabeth raised her eyes to Dottie. A gentle smile spread across her young face. A mere nod sufficed words. Dottie felt just awful over yesterday’s meanness. What possessed her?
“Cold morning but lovely, hey Ms. Elizabeth?” A large smile shocked the girl. Again, a small nod. Obviously, she was unsure of how to proceed with the dark, large woman in the white dress and shoes, with a green curler tucked in the back of her hair. Yesterday, Dottie was not very accepting.
After a few moments, she shyly stated, “Mr. Grover is meeting Mr. Donahue for golf this morning.” Dottie grimaced.
She and Mr. Donahue had never gotten on well. He seemed arrogant and patronizing to the domestic help. Ms. Dottie did not like that sort of behavior. Quietly, she began to put away some groceries which she purchased last night for the “big house.”
“What are you laboring over?” Pointing to the paper, she noticed the yellow marker with several large circles around various advertisements.
“Well, I’m looking for employment. I can’t expect to live on Mr. Grover’s kindness forever. It is much too kind of him to allow me to remain here. I feel just dreadful. I am not a free-loader.” She went back to her search.
“Does Mr. Harry know this?”
The young woman shook her head “no.” She took a large gulp of coffee. Then Dottie noticed the tears in her eyes that streaked down her face. Slowly, she sat down without being invited. Gently, she reached for the girl’s hand. It was small and moist.
“Why are you crying? Something is wrong?”
Elizabeth nodded sadly. “Please don’t tell Mr. Grover, but I feel like such a loser. Each morning, I check the papers. No one is looking for me. How can that be? Am I so worthless that no one cares that I am missing? Yesterday, when he was out, I phoned the police department. No one, matching my description, is reported as missing. I guess it doesn’t matter. I’m just not important. Daily, I smile and try to find joy, as Mr. Grover suggested, but it becomes increasingly harder.”
Dottie squeezed her hand while she explained the many reasons that there may not be anything in the paper. Her best reason was that Elizabeth must be from another town, maybe far away. The light appeared in eyes which hadn’t shined in days.
“Yes, of course, you are correct, Dottie. I’ll bet that my family is searching, but I live so far away that I wouldn’t be aware of their efforts. Thank you for giving me hope that I may still find my family.”
“Well, it seems that Mr. Harry may not want you discovered. I haven’t seen those old, brown eyes shine in a very long time.” The girl blushed dramatically. “Is that so? He is most kind to me. Please understand that I don’t have an agenda. I am only trying to survive here.”
Dottie squeezed her hand again. “Listen, I was very sorry about my ugly words yesterday. I don’t know what, in this world, possessed me to be unkind. That is not me. Now, that Mr. Donahue, he is one mean man. You are not going to like him. Let me tell you.” She glared at Elizabeth as she waited for her reply.
“I don’t know. There are few people whom I have met that I don’t like. It is my goal to be kind to everyone, but I realize that there are some who make it impossible. Once I have done my best, I cut my losses and move on. There is no reason trying to be kind to some people. It’s a shame that he is so difficult. I met him at the Met that first night; did you know?”
The two women sat at the table as they sipped coffee. They laughed at Miss Dottie’s stories about Harry and Edwina’s antics. He would not mind. They talked with great love. Soon, the two went outside for a walk. They continued to laugh and enjoy each other with a complete abandonment of prejudice from yesterday. Now, they appeared to be the best of friends.
“Oh, look, Miss Dottie, there is a Black and White Warbler. See him?” She pointed to a small bird on a limb. He was ordinary looking to Dottie.
“I love birds, all of them. Of course, the grandest is the Bald Eagle. Each time that one flies over, I can’t breathe.” They looked at each other speechlessly.
“How do you know this? I mean, you don’t have memory.”
Elizabeth explained that she became aware of this gift yesterday. “Isn’t it strange that I remember nothing about myself but all sorts of facts about birds. Just being around them gives me such peace. I know that a part of my mind still works.”
Dottie nodded. After all, she was not an educated woman. It was probably not unusual that a person loses part of their memory. She put her arm around the guest who returned the hug. They walked on in silence until Elizabeth spied another feathered creature.
“Oh, look, there is an Eastern Bluebird! I love them. Did you see how fragile he is? He reminds me, of me.” She smiled. All sadness seemed to leave her spirit.
They returned home. Dottie started singing, “Bringing in the Sheaves.” Elizabeth knew some of the words. They hugged. Maybe her memory was returning.
A few hours later, Mr. Grover returned. Elizabeth was helping Dottie polish the silver. This action did not appear to sit well with Harry. He scolded Dottie. Something was wrong with him; it was apparent
. He appeared distracted and tense. Elizabeth asked him to walk with her. They both loved being outside. As they walked, no one spoke for a long time. The girl hoped that he would share his feelings. What had upset him?
“I know that you are angry, but you must understand that I can’t be a moocher. It is important that I do something to pay you back for all that you do for me. Please don’t be angry at Dottie. I insisted that she let me help.” The girl assumed that her earlier actions caused his anger.
Harry smiled and seemed to relax. “I don’t know why, but Don always manages to upset me. He dislikes Dottie and always talks about her. Of course, I know what he is doing, but he just rubs me and causes me to become a little angry. I’m not upset that you were helping Dottie. Not if that is what you want to do today.” He smiled again, sadly.
“Why would you continue to be friends with someone who is negative and insults your family? I believe that Dottie George is loyal and the same as family. Right? Why would he criticize anyone that you care about?” Mr. Grover looked into Elizabeth’s brown eyes and melted. There was so much about her which reminded him of his beloved Edwina.
“I don’t know. That is just the way that he has always been. He is an awkward person. Look; Don asked us over to dinner tonight. I hesitate because he is a hard man. Edwina finally won him over, but it took a long time. He loved some girl back in college, but none of us can remember anything about such a romance. Don has always been a very close friend of mine. I have tolerated plenty of abuse because he has a terrible temper. Still, he is an excellent attorney and an outstanding golfer. Will you go with me tonight? I told him about you. Of course, he wants to meet my house guest. He is difficult, but he will love you.”
“Mr. Donahue will not like me. Dottie says that he is arrogant and aloof. I don’t know what to wear. He will recognize Edwina’s clothes. He may have a problem with me showing up in her outfit. I don’t feel comfortable. Why don’t you go without me?” Elizabeth was aware of her ramblings; it didn’t matter, she did not want to go.