“If you knew who I was,” she continued after several moments of silence, “why didn’t you ask me about this sooner?”
“I only put all this together last night.”
“So, you didn’t recognize me?” she asked tentatively.
“Never have seen your picture,” he said. “Only read about you. It was only when I heard your name that I started putting two and two together.”
“Have you told Tim?” she inquired softly.
“No … it’s not my place,” he finally answered. “But just know this, young lady,” he said somewhat roughly, “there are a few things he hasn’t told you about either. When you two work this thing out … just remember that.”
“Oh, Harry. You’re such an optimist. We’ll never work this out. Tim could never trust me after this.”
“We’ll see,” he finished simply. “I’d be more interested in what you will think of him. Getting cold yet?” he inquired as a concerned frown developed.
“Not yet,” she answered without looking at him. “I think I need to breathe your North Idaho air a little longer,” she said with a quirky smile. “But I’ll be all right if you want to go in,” she quickly added.
“Think I’ll do that,” Harry said … wisely understanding Erika’s need for a few private moments to sort out her past … and her future. A tender smile lit his face as he returned to Erika’s cottage. Though it still irked him that she had kept so much of her real life a secret, his sympathetic heart also told him that her decision to remain anonymous to all of them must have hurt her far worse. She would now have to live with her conscience … and to his way of thinking … that was the worst evil of all.
Erika spent the next several hours wandering up and down the lake’s edge paying homage one last time to the places that would forever live in her heart. Not ever having a real home, other than her uncle’s thirty thousand square foot mansion, and her small but elegant penthouse … she was beginning to think of Priest lake as the home she always dreamed of.
Shortly, her wanderings brought her to Bear Creek Lodge. Erika stopped abruptly as she once again admired the rustic architecture. Her eyes traveled to the eaves where the gigantic log beams came together. It was an awesome monument of warmth and security. Again, she remembered the tasteful decor and the loving attention paid to aesthetics. Someday, she promised herself, she would create a home like that … somewhere.
Erika buried her hands deeper into the warmth of her parka. She felt the temperature begin to rise. Even the snow was beginning to melt in the areas where the warm sun kissed its banks. She knew it was only a matter of hours before the snow was gone all together.
It was early in the season yet. But, she couldn’t help but imagine what it must be like to spend Christmas at the lodge … and then images of the one and only time she had entered the structure flashed vividly before her eyes. Memories of a warm crackling fire and the tender embrace she had shared with Tim began to tear at her heart. As her eyes misted, she told herself harshly that it wouldn’t be much of a Christmas anyway … with the real owners most likely occupying the Lodge themselves.
Slowly, Erika turned back toward her cottage. She guessed that all the morning’s occupants would be off doing other things. She could have some time alone there … for she had one bit of business of the utmost importance to attend to. She hoped it would be enough.
After adding another log to the now dying fire Papa had built hours earlier, Erika crossed the living area of the enclosed sun porch that faced the lake. Gingerly she lifted the artist canvas that she had carefully used to conceal the oil painting she had been working on for the last several weeks. Staying up until the wee hours of that fateful morning before their hike, she had been able to put the finishing touches on that painting. Erika had meant to present Tim with that painting … a peace offering of sorts. For she was going to use that opportunity to finally tell him the truth about her identity. How differently everything had ended up.
Erika slowly traced the features of the little boy who was fishing alongside a creek bed. After studying a picture she found at Maime’s cottage, she felt certain that her image reflected accurately what a younger Tim might have resembled. Though she would never consider herself a master painter, many of her friends and business associates had praised her talent, often trying to commission certain works. Though she had never shared any of her artwork with anyone outside of her Uncle, Erika was determined to break with tradition and gift T.J. with this work. It was an epiphany for her … and outward expression of the healing that had taken place in her life since first meeting him at the airport, so many weeks ago.
Before she could regret her actions, Erika quickly covered the painting again and returned to her room where she located some of her personal stationery. She would write him a note to say goodbye.
The next morning dawned bright and early for Erika. Before she had quite finished packing her things, Papa and Maime were knocking on her cottage door. And without waiting for an answer, they let themselves in.
“I’m almost ready,” Erika yelled from her bedroom at the back of the cottage.
“Take your time, dear,” Maime called.
“Well, I wouldn’t exactly say that Erika,” Papa quickly added. “Sam’s waiting at the airstrip … you jus’ have enough time to catch your flight in Spokane!”
After zipping her last duffel bag and clicking shut her luggage, Erika turned to look one last time at the lake she had come to love. She knew this one last look wouldn’t last her a lifetime, but she hoped the image wouldn’t fade too quickly either.
Slowly she slipped her raincoat over her arm. Glancing in the mirror over her antique dresser, Erika realized she had inadvertently dressed as she had when she arrived. Looking closer at the image she realized that though she might resemble Erika Crawford, in reality, she had become Marie Bancroft. The outdoors had deepened her skin tone somewhat. Her eyes looked tired, a lingering evidence of her recent convalescence. She had lost several pounds also. The clothes that had once fit as they were designed to, now hung in folds from her too-thin shoulders.
“Well,” she said aloud to no one in particular. “Maime promised to fix that as well.”
Chapter Seventeen
“Papa won’t forget to take care of that … that note?” Erika asked hesitantly after she and Maime settled themselves into the back of the limo sent to pick them up at Burbank Airport.
“Oh, dear, I’m sure he took care of it right away … but we’ll call him just to ask after we get where we’re goin’,” Maime said, secretly glad they would have a reason to call so soon.
The flight had been nerve-racking for Maime. She had only flown once before, years prior. Erika had seemed tense and that only increased Maime’s own anxiety. She was so happy they had finally arrived … and in the lap of luxury as well. Maime gently closed her eyes and leaned back into the plush leather seat. With the sun streaming in the window, she felt her strength beginning to return. And for some reason … she felt she would need it desperately in the days to come.
Maime’s first view of Erika’s penthouse apartment was stunning. Though Erika had described her lifestyle, Maime had not expected the sleek sophistication and wealth her apartment spoke of. After a closer inspection, Maime realized that there was nothing garish or ostentatious in the furnishings. Her heart swelled with pride as she saw what she had expected all along. Erika was a woman of taste. Even though she hadn’t been born into wealth, she now wore it as an exquisite cloak, made of the finest material … much as the Morgan family did. And that … Maime wholeheartedly approved of.
“Maime, this will be your room,” Erika was saying as she gracefully escorted Maime down a lushly carpeted hallway. “And I’m right here,” she said pointing to a double door entrance directly across the hall.
As Maime carried her worn suitcase into the spacious and delicately decorated yellow silk guestroom, Erika cleared her throat nervously.
“Maime … I just want to te
ll you how grateful I am that you accompanied me here. I know this must be a huge imposition on your life … but I’m not sure I could have made the trip without you,” she finished wearily.
Maime quickly glanced into the tired eyes of her companion. Her heart ached as she looked into the azure eyes that had aged beyond Erika’s years in the space of a few hours.
“Come dear, it’s time you crawled into bed,” she said succinctly taking Erika’s arm and leading her toward the bedroom indicated earlier.
“Oh, no. I need to make some calls … and Nora’s coming in to serve dinner … and,” she stopped long enough to expel an involuntary yawn.
“There’s nothing that needs doin’ right now. Plenty of time tomorra’. Now, nobody’s bringing dinner in when I’m here,” Maime added somewhat offended, all the while moving her charge abruptly toward the spacious master suite.
“Oh, but, Nora’s been here since I was a child … she won’t understand…”
“Now, now child. You just slip out of those clothes. Let Maime take care of everything,” she said quietly closing the double doors to anymore conversation.
After unpacking her meager belongings in the adjoining room, Maime ventured into the kitchen to see what sustenance, if anything, she could find. After opening cupboard doors and compartments, Maime was surprised to find many fine kitchen utensils as well as a well-stocked pantry. Erika had confided that she rarely ate at home and Maime knew her lack of culinary skills.
Before she could muster more speculation, she heard a key unlocking the front door. Maime froze in her exploration of the kitchen. Perhaps Erika had a roommate that she had forgotten to tell Maime about. Not wanting to be discovered digging in the cupboards; Maime quickly closed all doors that might give her away and ushered herself through the swinging doors and into the living area. She was just in time to see a small stout woman dressed in a raincoat with a long. flowered shawl covering her head turn from the door lugging two heavy bags of groceries.
“Good day,” she said in broken English nodding to Maime.
“Do … do you live here?” Maime asked hesitantly.
“No … not live here,” the woman responded. “Just cook … and clean house for Erika,” she said simply while moving toward the kitchen.
“Oh, no, no, no,” Maime said waving her arms. “No need for you to do that…”
“Why no need?” the woman asked sharply. “You not Erika. I cook for Erika. She be gone for over month and I cook her nice dinner. Uncle said she be home tonight.”
“Yes, she is home but … your services … won’t be necessary. I’m going to take care of all the cooking and cleaning while I’m here,” Maime said desperately trying to sound polite but firm.
Erika heard part of the brief interchange as she sat wearily at the foot of her bed, searching for her satin slippers. “Nora,” she said to herself. “I meant to call you.”
“You not replace me,” Nora said emphatically. “I be with Erika since small child…”
“Nora!” Erika exclaimed as she quickly opened her bedroom doors. “I’m so glad to see you. It has been so long.”
“Erika,” Nora said with emotion. “I’m so glad you home. I not have enough to do with you gone. Now this … woman,” she said defensively, “say I not work!”
“Nora, let me introduce you to Maime,” Erika quickly interjected as she finally reached the two women in the living room. “Maime, this is Nora.”
As Erika made the introduction both women looked skeptically at each other.
“Erika, you not look so good,” Nora said after glancing at Maime.
“I … well, I had an accident during my trip. I’m fine now … just a little tired but…”
“She’s not fine,” Maime confided to Nora. “She has only been out of bed a couple of days. In fact, it has been less than a week since we thought she might … pass on to the other side.”
“What!” exclaimed Nora.
Extreme fatigue settled over Erika as the situation escalated. She was not up to this tonight.
“Well, I admit that it was a bad accident … in fact…” Erika said wearily expelling a long breath, “For a while, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it either.”
“As in … dead?” Nora asked.
“The point is … I’m fine now.”
“What you doing up … you go to bed Erika Crawford,” Nora said waving a finger as when she was a small child trying to steal one of her flaky butter cookies.
Ignoring Nora’s directive, Erika continued, bent to have her say before she collapsed for the evening.
“Nora, Maime is the one who nursed me back to health. She sat by my bed for hours vigilantly seeing to my every need. If it hadn’t been for her healing ministrations … I could still be very ill. Anyway, she insisted, as did my Uncle from what I understand, that she accompany me back to Los Angeles. And I’m so glad she did,” Erika said smiling fondly at her friend. “So, she will be my guest for several days. Now as far as the cooking … I’ll leave that to both of you to decide. However, … Nora … I have a surprise for you,” Erika continued with a twinkle in her eye. “While I was away Maime taught me to cook.” And at Nora’s shocked expression Erika couldn’t help add, “… so I also will be fighting for my time in the kitchen as well.”
“You bad cook,” Nora said in astonishment.
“Not anymore,” Maime interjected proudly.
“Ai, Ai, Ai,” Nora exclaimed. “What come next?”
After Maime and Erika’s laughter had subsided, Nora announced that it was time for Erika to go back to bed. And this time … Erika agreed wholeheartedly.
The next morning the Santa Ana winds were blowing, refreshing the air as Erika stepped out of her luxurious Mercedes in the parking garage across from corporate headquarters. She was arriving much later than intended, but everything had taken longer than expected. To begin with, her hours of leisure at the lake had caused her to miss the wake-up alarm and then it had taken a good hour to get dressed, trying on dozens of suits until she could find one that didn’t hang so loosely. Finally, Maime had fixed a scrumptiously hearty breakfast that Erika could not politely refuse. And to be fair, as Erika crossed the breezeway to the skyscraper that housed Crawford Industries, she was glad she hadn’t.
As Erika crossed through the outer front office of the floor she occupied. All eyes were trained on her as she casually strode toward the executive wing and her office suite. Wide-eyed looks of astonishment crossed many faces as she gracefully glided through the corridor. “Just a few more offices and I’ll be home free,” she whispered to herself.
Without any more encounters, Erika reached her destination. Pausing briefly in the doorway, she glanced around, noticing several changes … hoping she wouldn’t find more. Ellie was not at her desk. Erika smiled to herself, a blessing in disguise to escape the barrage of questions. Crossing the lushly carpeted front office, Erika froze as she crossed the threshold into her private suite. A shocked silence fell as Ellie simultaneously glanced up just in time to see Erika’s stunned expression.
Pinning her lips tightly together Ellie wondered what she could say to dispel Erika’s obvious conclusions. As the uncomfortable silence lengthened, Ellie resorted to needless rhetoric.
“I didn’t know you’d be back so soon.”
“So soon,” Erika responded coolly. “I’m almost two weeks late. Obviously, you’ve been too busy to notice.”
“This isn’t what you think,” Ellie stuttered.
“What I think, Ellie, is that in the time I’ve been gone you have developed some very bad habits … including consorting with men of questionable character.”
“Now … Erika, sweetheart,” he drawled. “I take extreme offense to that. You know that I am a man of impeccable character … and a man of my word.”
“Caslin, get your lips off my secretary and get out of my office,” Erika responded sharply.
Sliding his hands into the pockets of an expensive Italian suit, Ste
ve Caslin lazily strolled toward Erika.
“Sweetheart,” he said bringing his face within inches of Erika’s, “Your secretary’s better in all the ways that matter than you ever thought about being.” As his sickly sweet warm breath wafted over Erika’s face making her stomach painfully contract, he continued his veiled threat. “It’s been a long-time Erika. I know it’s been tough on you,” he said derisively, “it really is a shame that I tired of you so quickly, perhaps you may even reconsider,” he drawled maliciously. And after his invitation produced little response he continued. “You will just have to find a way to get over me. I hope your month in seclusion will help mend your broken heart.”
Erika momentarily squeezed her eyes shut, trying in vain to maintain her fleeting composure. A prickling sensation began at the base of her spine, continuing until an almost indistinguishable shudder shook her slender shoulders.
When she opened her eyes again, he was gone. Left in Caslin’s wake was Ellie. Erika’s eyes narrowed as Ellie nervously gathered a few belongings, which left no doubt in Erika’s mind that Ellie had used Erika’s office as her own.
Erika gave herself a few moments to harness the pinpoints of anger threatening to overwhelm her. She had been gone over a month. Life at Crawford had gone on, perhaps even leaving her behind. And as she stood in that doorway waiting for Ellie to vacate her office, she had to question once again her priorities. A momentary vision of Priest Lake surfaced. The rippling water helped to cool her anger. Then as quickly as it had come … the rage was gone. The anger, however, only fueled the life-saving adrenaline she would need to seize control of her company and her position. This is why Uncle Lawrence never takes extended vacations, she mentally reminded herself. Control is too hard to gain once your absence has been adjusted to.
Ellie finally moved from around Erika’s desk. Clearing her throat, she stuttered an apology without making eye contact with her boss. Moving toward the door, Ellie finally stopped and looked into Erika’s eyes. A momentary look of hatred crossed her features before Ellie quickly schooled her expression to mimic the Ellie of old. Erika, however, recognized the look before it vanished.
Whispers of the Heart Page 29