by Ruth Hay
Perhaps she would go upstairs. There was one window high up on the back of her house from which she could get a glimpse of anyone next door who went outside to the rear garden. She had seen the middle-aged woman with fading blonde hair who was busy plaiting the leaves of the tulips now that the spring flowers had gone. A younger woman with bright red hair (surely it was dyed that colour?) sometimes strolled around the garden beds and swung her arms around for a few minutes. She could use some exercise. She was quite portly in appearance and she might also have a slight limp. What was the story about that, she wondered, and where were the others? The problem was that she could not see the front of the house or spy on who was sitting on the covered porch. Very frustrating. But not really spying, of course. She was merely interested. After all, she had some responsibility to the other owners on the crescent who were absent most of the time. She was the guardian of property values. Heaven alone knew what was going on behind those walls. It could be anything.
At least she could add to her list of occupants the slim woman with the coiffure, (where did she get that style done?) who walked the two strange-looking dogs. She was trim and athletic looking with very smart sports clothes. Not the usual dog-loving schlumpy person. Why would she want two dogs? Is she planning on breeding them? Please, no!
The unanswered questions rolled around in her head and she could feel the throb of a headache beginning. She might just pour a small sherry and rest on her bed for a few minutes to calm herself down. Medicinal sherry, of course. Didn’t one of those television health gurus say that was a good thing to do?
After that she would try to think of something more pleasing to occupy her day.
Chapter 6
Mavis was delighted to have the chance to wander around the countryside looking for antiques for Jannice. There was a vast hinterland of farms and small towns surrounding London. She would borrow Hilary’s GPS and take a map for backup in case she got lost. Google would provide a list of auction houses and barn antique places she could try.
She would make a day of it and stop in a restaurant for lunch. She would also be on the lookout for plants for the summer garden. Inside the London limits there were very few gardening centres remaining. Most had been bought for housing and the apple tree orchards had long disappeared under the concrete roadways of new subdivisions. She would watch for roadside signs leading to greenhouses. Plants grown in the countryside were always less expensive and often the grower could advise as to the best planting conditions. When Pete was alive they used to go on buying expeditions each spring, ending up at the massive Canadale plant supplier outside St. Thomas if they still needed some fill-in plants.
She looked back on those halcyon days with a warm feeling of satisfaction. Pete would be happy she was still able to pursue her love of gardening in the new house with more extensive flower beds.
He would be happy she had Hilary and the others around her. He knew how much their life would have changed if their little girl had lived. It was one of the last things he was able to say to her before he died.
“I am so sorry,” he had murmured, when the nurse had left the room.
“It could not be helped,” she had said. “I am fine. I will go on for all three of us. Do not worry. I love you.”
Shortly after that his face had smoothed over. All the lines of pain and worry disappeared and he was gone. She was glad he had heard those positive words as he moved on, and she truly was fine. She would forge ahead and find happiness in the small things of life just as she always had done.
It was her positive attitude that made her so valuable in the courthouse work. Clients said they could grasp on to the peace emanating from her and get solace in their most panic-stricken moments. She was proud of this and proud she had been able to give that solace to her beloved Peter at the end. Somehow it made the empty hours easier. She was content. In fact the awful incident with Eve’s husband was the only disturbing thing in her life. She made a mental note to check in on Eve and see how she was managing. She knew the signs of mental trauma and she should be watching for them.
For now she began to assemble a notebook, pen and her phone. She had to make a record of likely antique places for Jannice to visit. This would be a real treat.
As the miles passed by in a bright spring afternoon, Mavis began to move deeper into introspection. She thought it must be something to do with being on her own, far away from Harmony House for the first time. Not that she was unhappy there in any way at all. No. It was just a lingering sense of responsibility probably deriving from the fact that she and Hilary had initiated the entire co-housing idea and to some degree they were responsible for the success of the project.
She had confidence in Hilary’s handling of the financial aspects of the venture but Mavis was the ‘people person’ according to her friend, and as such she had to be more aware of how the others were faring. She ran over in her mind her impressions of how Vilma, Eve, Honor and Jannice were adjusting to their new lives together.
Vilma was the easiest as she had recently spoken with her and could judge her happiness factor. Vilma was busy with her dogs and satisfied with her beautiful bedroom. The same could be said of Eve’s new room which suited her admirably. She was involved in the kitchen aspects of the house which provided her with many social interactions but whether or not she had recovered from the horrible home invasion was still to be estimated. She made a mental note to have that conversation with Eve very soon.
Honor, however, was a bit of a mystery. As the last to arrive on the scene, there had not been much time to get to know her. Apart from walking breaks in the garden where comments on the weather and the progress of the planting were shared, she really did not know much about Honor. Hilary’s positive opinion was based on her fiscal capabilities and the fact she was gainfully employed, but Mavis had seen a haunted look in the younger woman’s eyes from time to time and it concerned her. A way to get Honor Pace to open up a bit would have to be found for the girl’s own sake.
She was less worried about Jannice as she was securely under the wing of the competent Vilma Smith. This was demonstrated by the expedition Mavis had undertaken on her behalf. Once some suitable furnishings were located for Jannice, hopefully, all would be well with her accommodations. Her plan to take training as a nursing carer was the next hurdle she had to deal with on her way to independence.
At this point in her musings, Mavis spotted a roadside sign pointing to a side road and promising Bargain Spring Perennials. She would take a short detour and resume her hunt for antiques within the hour.
Fortunately, she had placed a large green garbage bag in the trunk of the car along with a cardboard box. It would not help new purchases to be rolling around in the back of the car scattering good soil all about.
She pressed the button that sent the car windows down completely and inhaled the sweet scent of growing things. May was the best of all months for a gardener. All the promises of renewal and growth abounded in the very air. She was glad she had not invited anyone to accompany her today. She was feeling wonderful; free and happy and useful.
Pete would be pleased.
* * *
Hilary gently closed the double doors to her sanctuary. She needed complete peace to think through the financial plan. Mavis was off on some jaunt. Vilma was exercising her dogs again. Eve was baking in the kitchen and Jannice was with Honor reviewing online courses.
The financial plan was not at the stage to be shared with Honor. If there were problems she preferred to tackle them on her own without the need to advertise the discrepancies of others.
She went to her desk which she had placed beside the third long window and felt the pressure drop from her shoulders. At this desk she had solved many problems in her previous life. It was here she had devised the plan to live out her life in the company of others. Here, she had once puzzled over staff issues and decided who needed to be transferred for the sake of school solidarity. In the desk drawer were files related to her
son Desmond and to his father’s will.
She shook her head and straightened her back. This was not the time to think about that particular and pressing problem. She needed to design a strategy to bridge the period during which the expenditures for the maintenance of Harmony House were in a state of flux for some of the inhabitants.
First on her list was Eve. She had paid the deposit for her share of the property and seemed to have enough left to purchase furniture. What concerned Hilary the most was the role Eve played in the household. She was not employed, so an income was not guaranteed. And yet some accommodation must be made for her contribution to the welfare of all the others. The role of Kitchen Queen was not to be underestimated. Keeping the fridge and cupboards supplied, starting coffee in the mornings and preparing snacks and meals which all enjoyed, were not small items. She also had a role with Honor in keeping an eye on expenditures using her former bookkeeping skills. This last part relieved Hilary of some worries. It was safer by far to handle investment and money matters in-house rather than leaving all that to financiers, no matter how well publicised they were. Too many investors had lost their life savings to the greed of such people. The newspapers frequently printed the stories of gamblers and thieves for whom the lure of free money could not be resisted.
All in all, Eve deserved some compensation. Hilary wondered if by adding a small amount to the monthly contribution of everyone else, she could subsidize a percentage of Eve’s portion, at least until the year was out and the true cost of utilities and insurance and so on could be calculated.
That seemed to be feasible, but were there others who deserved a similar break?
What about Jannice? The fact that she was presently involved in finding an online course to obtain qualifications was evidence of her intent to be a fully participating member. Yet, according to Mavis, the woman was sleeping on a mattress on the floor of her room. That did not indicate she had an excess of cash. Given the sad size and state of her former home and her generosity to the couple who had purchased it, Jannice must be worried about her remaining finances.
Could Hilary, and Vilma, possibly conspire together to help Jannice out until she completed her training and was employed? This would require some diplomacy. It would undermine the woman’s self-worth if she knew she was being given special privileges. According to Mavis, Jannice had come a long way from the state she had been in when she first turned up at Camden Corners. It would not be wise to risk her progress through heavy-handed measures, even if those were intended to help.
She put down her pen and looked at the figures she had scribbled on the pad. It would be a temporary measure but not hugely expensive. It must be appreciated that finding six women equally blessed with significant finances, was nigh impossible. Some adjustments must be made. Was that not the mandate they had wished to establish? ‘Mutual Help and Support’.
Hilary cast her hand over the desk and noticed a layer of dust there and also on the nearby window sill. She must soon attend to these neglected domestic duties.
Immediately, it struck her with full force that maintenance of the interior of the house had not been considered in the expenses list. Having the common areas dusted and vacuumed would soon become necessary. The well-used porch and the stone patio must be swept regularly and glass panels wiped on doors and windows as well as similar tasks assigned for the guest suite and powder room as well as the seldom-used winter dining room. The more she thought of this, the more she realised it could be a way to provide Jannice with an income supplied from maintenance funds.
Would she accept this job? Hilary was not sure. She would ask Vilma about this idea at the first opportunity. In fact, she would go downstairs and sit on the porch so as to catch Vilma on her way home after her walk with the dogs. It might be possible to get the matter settled today.
* * *
The single leather leash was attached to the harnesses of Astrid and Oscar by means of an inverted Y-shaped split, part way down, allowing Vilma to control both dogs at once.
This was the theory. In practice it controlled Vilma.
The power of two animals moving together with one thought in mind could easily overwhelm one woman who was not yet accustomed to animal ownership and whose arms were feeling the strain.
During the dog-training sessions in a large arena at the Western Fair Grounds, Vilma admired the control of the instructor. The variety of breeds assembled with their owners, seemed to recognize her authority and respond at once. Even Astrid and Oscar obeyed her commands and kept away from other dogs set on aggressive movements.
It all looked easy but it was not the same when Vilma was in charge. Even by copying the commands and the posture of the instructor, Vilma found herself less in control than she wished. She was beginning to doubt the decision she had made so impulsively when the two dogs were reconciled.
Poring over the book with information about the Australian Shepherd breed was not helping. These dogs needed constant exercise and mental stimulation.
Vilma Smith’s natural confidence was slipping. She was not sure she was capable of supplying what her dogs needed but she was loath to back down from the challenge and admit defeat.
She approached Harmony House with a sigh of sheer relief. The dog walks were longer each day in order to tire them out but Vilma was the tired one it seemed. The dogs had boundless energy.
“There you are, Vilma! I’ve been waiting to talk to you. Can you sit here for a minute or two and listen to my plan?”
At this point, Vilma would have been happy to sit anywhere to give both her feet and her arms a much-needed rest. She stepped carefully up the steps, noticing that her tired leg muscles were shaking slightly, then settled in a porch chair beside Hilary. The dogs sniffed Hilary’s feet and plopped down with tongues lolling. Vilma gladly accepted a glass of lemonade from the table between them and tried to listen to Hilary without revealing how hard her heart was beating in an attempt to cool her down and restore normal rhythms.
It took a minute until she could focus on what was bothering Hilary. Something about adjusting monthly payments? Eve’s and Jannice’s names were mentioned. It sounded fine to her. Eve was doing more than the average and Jannice might be willing to do a bit of light cleaning. Hilary wanted her to ask Jannice.
“No problem, Hilary. I’ll talk to Jannice about it. Now, I must get the dogs their meal. I’ll see you later.”
With that she was off up the stairs with dogs in tow. She realized if she had remained seated for much longer her legs would cramp completely. The only hope was to get in a hot bath and stay there until her muscles relaxed. She had put out the dry meal in their bowls before leaving the room so the dogs would be content to eat and sleep for a while before she took them out to the rear of the garden where the tree line started. After conferring with Mavis, she had selected a spot where the dogs soon got to know what was required of them. She placed an unobtrusive, sealed bin there, with a removable plastic liner and an attached roll of small pick-up bags. It was not far to go from the house in the early morning or at night and meant there would be no complaints about dog mess from the house’s inhabitants.
For now, she slipped into the steaming water, liberally sprinkled with a soothing bath oil, and temporarily banished all worries about how she was going to continue to manage two such active animals.
Chapter 7
In the morning a cool wind was blowing. Vilma took the dogs out early and rushed back indoors to relax with a coffee and toasted bagel before preparing for the dogs’ morning walk. If she was early enough, and their feet were clean, she could take the dogs with her into the empty kitchen. It was time to introduce them to more than their own room and the front entrance. Usually she could nip in and out of the kitchen without meeting the other residents. It was a necessary change to her pre-dog routine. Only one of many changes.
Mavis’s Marble was still confined to her quarters on the ground level so no worries there. The last thing Vilma wanted was to cause a figh
t between the animals, or worse, cause an upset for any humans before she had total control over the dogs. For the millionth time she blamed herself for not appreciating the huge responsibility animal ownership conferred on the owner. It all looked so simple on television. Perhaps if she had chosen one small puppy it would have been a simpler task. She and a puppy would have learned together. Establishing a real relationship would have happened organically. As it was, Vilma was uncertain how much Astrid and Oscar respected her. It seemed they were complete as a duo. She was not that important to them other than as supplier of food and comfort.
“For goodness sake! Act like an adult!”
Two thoughts occurred to her. She was talking to herself. A bad sign. Also, and more poignant, perhaps, it was just as well she had never had to raise any small children since she was having such a hard time raising two mid-sized dogs.
The morning walk was cut short by a sudden rain shower and by Vilma’s weary legs. She headed home by the side path past the garages, through to the garden and out to the dog patch. Mavis, in a head to toe raincoat, was planting in a raised bed and she waved her trowel in salute.
The dogs were walking in circles choosing which spot they preferred. Vilma found they accomplished this more quickly if their leash was temporarily unclipped from their collars. She stood nearby in the shelter of a tree, thinking about how she must buy more weather-proof outdoor wear.
Suddenly a noise, equivalent to a dragon’s roar, split the air and the dogs went crazy, running toward the evil sound, baying like wolves in hot pursuit with Vilma stumbling after them waving the leash.
It was Andy Patterson on his riding mower just starting to carve a path up the front lawn. The dogs came from behind and when they reached him, he stopped the engine, jumped down, and bent toward the dogs talking reassuringly and stroking their backs. He did not seem to be alarmed by the fearsome noise they were making, not to mention their fearsome appearance with their ruffs standing straight up.