“What is that? Somebody must have come home for something,” Lucille said, as she went outside to see what was going on. She was shocked by what she saw. “Grandpa, come quickly, please! It’s Mark — he has been injured and he is in bad shape!”
At first, there was no use asking him anything but once he came to his senses, he told them how it had happened.
“I didn’t think that I would fall off the horse but I did. Then I couldn’t get back on so I tied myself to the horse, using the blanket, and the beautiful animal dragged me all the way home. You know how patient he is. He had more sense than me.” Mark felt bad and ashamed for being so stubborn.
“I am ashamed of you for being so foolish. You know that you could have been killed.”
“Your father is right. The money is not everything. We don’t need it bad enough to exchange it for you. Now it is going to take a long time to get well — if you ever do!” Lucille was furious.
He did recover quite well, but it took a long time. Had he taken someone home with him, it would have been less of a problem for all concerned and he wouldn’t have suffered cracked ribs. Well, he was always accident-prone.
Slowly but surely, the money started coming in. By now, they were getting back on their feet. As for paying off Monika and Magda, that had to be postponed for a while. With Helena, it would be harder, since she would not be leaving home even when she got her money. Helena was treated well but she wasn’t happy. After all, what kind of a life was this for a young girl like her? She had really been dealt a poor hand. She went through extensive therapy but by now there was no hope for further improvement.
“I am very pleased that we are not losing any land. It is nice to keep it together,” Helena said to Lucille. Helena also knew that Lucille was by now expecting her first child, and she had softened quite a bit toward Lucille. Mark noticed that and was very pleased.
“So, Helena, how do you feel about becoming an auntie again?” Mark teased her. “Do you think you can handle it?” He was really pushing his luck, here. But Helena adored her brother and was therefore very excited about a baby’s being in the house soon.
“I know that Lucille proposed this money-making project, and just so you know, I am grateful to her.”
“So have you told her that?”
“Mark you don’t have to push things toward Lucille all the time,” she now protested.
“Nobody is pushing anything. But it would be nice to see at least somebody, other than Father and me, seeing things straight around here. Don’t you think?”
For the first time, Lucille felt that she was being appreciated for who she was.
Grandpa Zanton, in particular, adored her and gave her full credit where it was due. She was bursting with excitement about the baby and assured everyone that she was doing well. On Sundays, after the service, she would talk to Mira about the baby and also about her personal feelings.
“I am slowly settling into some routine around the house.” It was easy talking with Mira about things like that because the men more or less always talked about the forest project.
“Speaking of the project,” said Mira, “I am proud of the way you have handled yourself regarding that. I always knew that there was more to you than we gave you credit for; however, I never quite knew how to broach the subject and tell you that I knew better.”
“It’s all right, Mira. I always knew that you were protecting me from harm, or at least trying to.” Then she hugged her. “We will always be the Kramer girls.”
Lucille fitted into the Zanton household in no time. She gained self-confidence without trying to prove anything to anyone. There had always been determination and strength in her, even when she was a little girl.
“Mira, is something bothering you?”
“Not that I know of. What brought that on, Lucille?” Mira asked.
“You don’t seem to be able to relax at home. I have been watching you for quite some time and I can’t figure it out. What is keeping you on edge?” Then she continued carefully. “Are you not well?” She didn’t want to pry, but there was something wrong somewhere. Mira was uncomfortable.
“I wish we didn’t have to sell our house,” Mira confessed. “I can’t tell you how much I miss our home. There are nights when I don’t sleep at all and then during the day, when I need my strength, I have little of it.”
“But you live right across from the house and can see it whenever you want. Are the Brunes treating you all right?”
“Yes, they have always treated me well. I just can’t help the way I feel. Mat gets annoyed with me about it. I know that, but he doesn’t say much. He just rolls his eyes with annoyance.”
“You must stop this nonsense and be grateful for having a loving husband who adores you — as well as his parents. You don’t even have to worry about Mat’s brother Robi.”
“Lucille, I am not you.”
“What about Ivan? Has he ever asked you the same questions as I have?” By now, Lucille was determined to cut this silly, unnecessary emotional cord that Mira was unable to cut from her home and was strangling her in her new life with Mat.
“Ivan thinks I need a psychiatrist and not a husband. So there, if you must know.”
“Not only do I agree with him, I also think that you are being quite unfair to Mat. What puzzles me is how come Ivan never mentioned anything to me.” Lucille was by now angry with both of them.
“I made him promise not to. He owes me that much.”
“Oh, he does, does he?”
Ivan had made himself quite at home at The House, as it wasn’t new to him. He had been to the house as a younger man with Joe, so, not being a stranger there, it was easy for him to relax. Grandpa Zanton made it very clear that he remembered him from those days, when he was around as a nuisance to young Joe. But times had changed, and he was now welcomed by everyone. Lucille was always happy when Ivan came. She was bouncing with excitement regarding the baby. She knew that she had made herself a secure home with Mark, not to mention her father-in-law, who adored her. She had a child growing inside her, so no work was too hard for her.
But Helena showed more and more apprehension, with the baby coming along.
“What is it, Helena?” her father inquired.
“It is all this anticipation these days. Don’t take me wrong, I am happy for Mark; he deserves to be happy. I suppose I just don’t like change . . .”
“Helena, babies tend to bring people together.”
“You think Lucille and I have a chance to be friends?”
“Helena, Lucille is already your friend, can’t you see that?” He was unable to understand how come Helena hadn’t seen it herself. “Must I babysit you at your age and guide you? You must put the past behind you.”
“What about forgiveness?”
“You have nothing to forgive as far as Lucille is concerned. She is the one who would need to forgive you girls for having been as unfair to her as you have. However, I assure you, she has already forgiven you. There is nothing to feel apprehensive about.”
Somehow, lack of self-confidence prevented her from feeling comfortable about letting go of the negative coaching she had been receiving in the past from Mother and Magda against Lucille.
“I wish I could be more like Monika. She is neutral and not afraid of what people think,” Helena confessed to Mark.
“So where does that leave Magda?” Mark was teasing by now.
“Magda is afraid of nothing. She is an imposing character, and you know it.”
“That is true, but you are a lady, which is something Magda could never be; and you would never have given Lucille a hard time had it not been for Mother and Magda. And you know that!” Mark said.
That was true. It was Mother and Magda who bullied her into siding with them. She never quite felt good about giving Mark and Lucille any trouble. Therefore, he had
no problem with her staying at the house with them. He just wished that she were happier and healthier.
“Look at us! The three of us are sitting here, useless, while Lucille runs around like a little girl who has just been given a new toy,” Grandpa commented.
“Well, we all have a pretty good excuse for being useless, I think,” said Mark. “I, for one, will not be like this for long. As for you, Father, you are the one who has worked on this farm the most, so don’t feel bad.”
“That leaves me. What smart excuse have you got for me?” Helena interrupted.
Grandpa bristled. “Helena, stop that nonsense! Nobody will ever blame you for lack of agility. We all wish better for you, but let’s not go on and on with it. I am getting tired of your whining and feeling sorry for yourself. You must step aside for a while and stop demanding attention when the baby comes.”
Mark said, “Lucille is happy and well. Yes, she is big, but that is part of being pregnant. Lucille has that optimism in her that I wish would rub off on you even just a bit. We are what we are but let’s not dwell on frivolous things, okay?” Mark was trying to iron the tension into a smooth surface. And it worked.
“That is fine with me. I am sorry,” Helena apologized.
“Let’s go and make ourselves useful,” Grandpa added.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Parenthood
IN JANUARY 1927, MARK AND LUCILLE BECAME PARENTS and they named their newborn daughter Vera.
Mark was speechless. Mother and daughter were both just fine.
“Well, well, well! Do we ever have a lovely little addition to our family!” Grandpa announced, tears running down his cheeks. Those were happy tears. He was afraid to touch the baby but he couldn’t stop gazing at her.
“She looks just like her mother,” Mark said and squeezed Lucille’s hand in approval.
“It is too soon to tell,” Lucille smiled.
Even though the girls pretended not to care too much, they could not hold back from coming to see the new arrival to the family. Besides, they were now quite happy the way things had turned out regarding their inheritance. None of the land had been sold (not that any of them would have missed it). Their father had given each her share of what would have been her mother’s part of the inheritance. He also explained to them that they would get the rest of the inheritance once he had passed on. They chose not to complain about that.
That way, by the time he died, Mark and Lucille would be financially secure again.
The girls were gossiping. “I still can’t believe that Lucille was the one who came up with the idea of how to save us from supposed financial ruin. How come Father never told us about it?” Magda bitterly protested to Monika.
“Father did mention having problems keeping up with Mother’s spending all along. Especially when it came to Mother’s blind fury over Helena’s needs. I think she felt guilty about the way she treated Helena regarding David. She was trying to make it up to Helena.”
“Mother loved me the most, and you know it. So why didn’t she confide in me?”
“Look who is talking. Magda, you were the biggest spender in this family besides Mother.”
Helena had had enough. She understood perfectly what had been going on all along.
“Magda, if you are so jealous of Lucille for having participated in saving us all, then how come it wasn’t you who did it? Why weren’t we all more co-operative? We all owe her an apology.”
“Not a chance,” Magda spat. “I must be going. Eric will be worried.”
“I just wish that we had been able to solve these problems before Lucille came into our home,” Monika said slowly and walked away. Then she went to see the baby.
They had all been oblivious of any financial problems. They were under the impression that money was plentiful by the way Mother spent it. Their father would not reprimand her.
“I am very proud of you two,” Grandpa told Mark and Lucille. “You can now run the farm, and I will be content to run the mill.” The mill had always been the connection for him with the local folks. He could earn some money there and was proud to do so.
Mark joked, “My father is always bragging about his new daughter-in-law. I think he favours her over the rest of us. Now that he has little Vera to brag about, maybe he will detour a bit?” But he didn’t miss the look that his father would give him as if to say, “I love you, son, for being you.” This, in turn, really softened the loss of young Martin. Not that he wasn’t missed or that he would ever be forgotten; but Mark, too, now had a place in his father’s heart. They say that you must let go of the dead in order to let them rest in peace.
“It has not been easy. I knew that Mother was ruining us with her spending. I take full responsibility for that. I should have stopped her. But in order to stop her, I would have destroyed her. She was a person of great pride and determination. She felt that she was always right. At the same time, I suffered, seeing a possible disaster and the ruin of what I loved almost as much,” Father Zanton confessed.
“Look, Mark, she has your curly hair,” Lucille was happy to say.
“Yes, and she has your temper.”
“Who says I have a temper?” That certainly promoted a challenge and, with love in her eyes, Lucille had to give in.
“I take it back. But she is as stubborn as you,” Mark informed her.
“Oh, go along! The men are looking for you outside.”
The hired help were all less productive these days, as nobody wanted to miss out on seeing the baby.
Anna, who was the boss as far as the women were concerned, warned them that she and Milena were quite capable of helping Lucille with the baby. However, Baby Vera wanted people around her. She liked the attention she was getting. Helena, especially, busied herself around the little one, and Lucille was content with that. It was what she had wanted all along.
“Here, my darling. You have had enough of socializing for the time being and now it’s time for your nap. You and I could both do with one,” Lucille chatted as she put the little one to bed.
“I think you’re right, there,” Mark interrupted.
“Oh, Mark, I didn’t hear you come in. I was just having a little chat with your daughter, here. I can’t tell you how worried I have been about having children, in case — ”
“Now you know as well as I do that we explained everything to Dr. Loncar and he dismissed any such worries. He said you could have half a dozen of them, remember?”
“I hope you are both right . . .”
“Yes, and now, how about that nap for both of you?” Mark reminded her. “And don’t say no.”
“Yes, Grandpa.” She was forever being told by Grandpa to get some rest.
Little Vera was quite high-strung even from the very beginning. She demanded attention, as well as food, but at the same time she paid attention to things around her, such as pictures on the wall, music playing, etc. She was quite a handful, indeed. Luckily, there were plenty of people around to spoil her. Especially Grandpa, even though he was afraid to hold her for very long in case she slipped out of his hands.
“Here, Helena, you take her for a while.” But Helena could only hold her for a very short while as well. She was forever preoccupied with those horrible spasms in her arm.
It was hard to say if Vera’s temper was due to her maternal grandfather, Joe, who had to have it his way at all times, or Grandma Zanton, who had a hot temper and also had to have her own way as well. Regardless, Vera was spoiled by all. She was a charmer and charmed them she did.
“Mark, you are a changed man now that you are a father,” complimented Monika.
“I thought I was perfect before as well.”
“Listen to him. You are only perfect because you married me,” Lucille now stepped in. “By the way, when is the christening going to take place, Mr. Perfect? What do you think, Helena?”
>
And before Helena could open her mouth, Grandpa yelled from the kitchen: “Would next Sunday be all right? My brother Drago is coming then, and you know that he would want to be here for the occasion.”
“Well, so much for my opinion,” Helena answered. Then she laughed.
“Yes, and my opinion mattered a lot as well,” Mark added.
“Next Sunday it is, then. We will have to see if Father Thomas is free then.” Lucille was happy to get on with it, as the winter had been quite bitter, and a lot of things had to be postponed accordingly.
But as we all know, walls have ears; the news of the christening quickly spread. Everybody was to attend, and things should run pretty smoothly. Some people, other than family, were invited as well, and there was a great celebration.
Mark and Lucille had plenty of support from not only the hired help but the villagers as well. They all knew what Mark and Lucille had been through when his mother was still alive. However, there was no mention of any problems. The farm was now prosperous, the hired help were supportive — even when at times they didn’t get paid on time, before things got back on track financially. They were loyal to the family and stood by them.
“There is still such a thing as loyalty around us,” Mark remarked proudly.
“Don’t worry, I will get you yet,” Anna threatened laughingly.
The hired help were often the ones to gently reprimand the Zanton girls when they, on occasion, outdid themselves arguing all over the house and didn’t know how to stop. After all, some of those people had been there long before the girls were born.
So now it was time to reward those wonderful and loyal supporters with love and also financial remuneration. It was now summer, and, despite the workload on the farm, there was happiness all around. They had done it. They had pulled out of the financial mess. Furthermore, they were now blessed with this little chatterbox called Vera, who just wouldn’t stop with that baby talk.
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