Erin clicked it on. “We used to crawl up there and explore all the time. The old trunks, the discarded furniture. The clothes bags that smelled like mothballs. Our childhood wonderland.”
“Yeah, except now it only represents what can never be again.” Ellen gave her a sad smile. “Okay, let’s do this.” She edged up the steep ladder as Erin shined a stream of light into the darkness above. With each step the wood moaned and the springs screeched.
Ellen found the bare bulb light switch. With a click, the attic glowed in a soft yellow tone. Tiny sunrays emitted from the eaves as dust motes swirled in the beam. They reminded Erin of the minuscule one celled creatures seen through the high school lab microscopes. What made her think of that?
Erin crouched by an old trunk and creaked it open. The musty odor of yellowed paper swooshed out. Ellen perched on her knees next to her.
“Look. I remember Mom reading these Little Golden Books to us. Here’s The Poky Little Puppy. And The Gingerbread Man.”
Erin reached further and pulled out an old photo album. Water stains spider-webbed the faded silk brocade. She gingerly opened it and thumbed through the pages filled with now-sepia tinted photos tacked with small black triangles on each corner. Under most, the scrawled handwriting of their mother appeared on the thick greenish-gray blotter paper, diminished by age. “Wait. Here’s Mom when she turned three. That must be Grandmamma and Grandpa leaning over the cake.”
Then twins flipped through the life of their mother in silence, occasionally pointing to a photo with a teary smile. There in the attic, underneath the gentle swing of an incandescent light bulb, the years of envy began to dissipate until…
“Who gets to keep this?”
Ellen rocked back on her heels. “I really want it. My girls will love this. I doubt your twin boys would.”
Erin yanked the heirloom from her sister and clasped it to her chest. “Yes, but one day their wives will. And their kids deserve to know the history of our family.”
The eldest twin jumped to her feet, hands on her hips. “I’m the oldest, Erin. It is my right to choose first. And I want the children’s books as well. Two of my girls are still young enough…”
“That’s not fair.” Erin’s voice cracked in a higher pitch. “You always want it all. Go on eBay and buy them. On Robert’s salary you can afford to.”
Ellen leaned in, her voice raised by several decibels. “Oh, for goodness’ sake. I am sick of you bringing up how poor you two are. If it’s that bad, tell John to go get a second job.”
“Arrgghhhh.” Erin’s left hand reached for her sister’s face while her right clutched for the photo album.
Ellen slapped it away. Erin lunged at her and the two tumbled across the floor.
Thuds of footsteps sounded on the rickety stairs. Strong hands tore Erin from Ellen as each husband fought to restrain his wife.
“Stop it, both of you.” John’s voice echoed over the rafters. “Erin, Jesus would be ashamed of you.”
Erin glared at him and wriggled away. “Oh, shut up.”
Robert held Ellen at bay and scolded in her ear. “Dear Lord, Ellen. Look at you. What would the women’s club say if they saw you?” She twisted in his grasp.
“I will not do this with her.” Ellen hissed between clenched teeth. “Not until she gets off her high horse and quits waving her poverty like some Red Badge of Courage.”
John dropped his grip. “Really, Erin? How many times can you stab me? Why can’t you be thankful with what God has blessed us?” He screwed his eyebrows and gave her a slight shove with his shoulder before stomping past her and down the stairs. Somewhere below a door slammed.
Erin crumbled into tears.
Her twin hovered over her, arms crossed tightly over her chest like a displeased school teacher. “Serves you right. John’s a good man. I doubt cheating on you would ever enter his mind.”
Robert swung to face his wife. “What does that mean?”
Ellen’s face reddened. “Can’t you guess?” She turned on her heel and trudged down the ladder.
Robert cursed under his breath as he kicked the trunk a few inches. “Gee, Erin. Thanks a lot for getting Ellen riled again.”
Left alone in the dingy musty room surrounded by relics of love and cherished memories, Erin curled into a ball and wept. Lord, help me get through this. Help us all.
Chapter Eight
John, along with Ellen, silently prepared plates for the just-delivered pizza and salad, courtesy of Faulkner, Faulkner and Tate. Robert remained noticeably absent. After a while, Erin entered the kitchen, red-eyed and timid.
Her shuffled feet caused John to pivot. Hurt over her words still tightened his jaw. Erin moved to the sink and yanked a paper towel from the roll that hung beneath the cabinet. She doused it under the faucet and dabbed her eyes and cheeks. Ellen ignored her as she continued to count out forks.
Erin perched on the stool. “I, I’m sorry. To you both.” Her sentence ended in a shaky sob.
Ellen dropped the forks on the counter and pulled her twin into an embrace. “Me, too, sis. Me, too.”
For the next few minutes the twins swayed and cried pent-up-for-ages tears. John grabbed a wedge of pizza and exited on tiptoe. After a while, he found Robert in the study as he sat at their father-in-law’s desk digging through file folders. John sauntered up to him, hands clasped behind his back.
“Need help?”
Robert peered at him through his readers. He edged back in the swivel chair. “These I can figure out. My wife? Another story.”
John leaned against the bookcase. “Tell me about it.” He jutted his thumb towards the door. “Now they’re in the kitchen crying into each other’s shoulders. Lunch will be a while.”
Robert ran his hand through his hair and removed his glasses. “Ellen thinks I’m having an affair. She’s threatening to divorce me.”
John thunked into one of the chairs facing the desk. “Wow.”
His brother-in-law laced his hands over the piles of papers. “Yeah. Things haven’t been so great in our bedroom lately. Well, ever since Jade was born. Having a third kid at our age? Big mistake. It’s worn her out. That and her social obligations. At the end of the day there isn’t any energy for me.” He swallowed hard. “I’ve gotta admit. I’ve been tempted.”
John nodded. “Been there. Twins can be taxing. But once they got into middle school, things calmed down and Erin’s, well, interest in me increased. That is, until I again refused to accept a management position. Now all I hear is how I can’t provide. She keeps tabs on you guys. Did you know that?” His voice raised a few octaves to imitate his wife’s. “Erin has a new car. Robert got new golf clubs. Mom tells me they’re vacationing for two weeks with the girls in San Juan…”
Robert pushed away. “And Ellen nags about how I don’t live up to what she and my mother expect. We had to go because the Edwards and the Goldsteins were going. What would people think if we didn’t? Never mind it cost thousands of dollars.”
The two sat in silence for several minutes.
John cleared his throat. “No one ever told me marriage would be this tough. My parents make it seem so easy. Even now I see them sneak loving glances. Jesus bound them together forty years ago and they take it seriously.”
Robert intertwined his fingers behind his head. “Well, mine keep a civil distance from each other. He has his interests and she has hers. Divorce is still taboo in our circles, though of course it happens…a lot. Plenty of my colleagues sport trophy wives on their arms.”
John gazed out the window. “I’m not ready to hand in the towel, yet. Though after today, I really need to do some more praying.” He gave a sad chuckle and left the room.
*
Ellen rang the dinner bell, a brass one, which hung on a bracket in the corner of the dining room. On the table they had laid out porcelain plates, silver utensils and linen napkins. In the center, the takeout boxes and plastic bowls cluttered around two crystal candlesticks. A tiny fl
ame flickered from each taper.
Erin stood poised as John and Robert emerged with trepidation.
Robert scrunched his eyebrows. “What’s this?”
Ellen waved her hand like Vanna White over the letter board. “Lunch. Just because it’s pizza doesn’t mean we should eat on our laps.”
Erin inched over and draped her arm over her twin’s shoulder. “We made a truce. No more cat fights. Promise.”
Ellen crossed her heart and nodded.
The two men glanced at each other. “Well, okay then.” John shuffled to his wife’s side and pulled out a chair for her. Robert followed suit.
The four sat in polite silence as they passed salad bowls and grabbed for pizza slices. An uncomfortable thickness lay over the room as they ate.
After fifteen minutes, John pulled back his chair. “Robert, should we continue in the shed while there is daylight?”
Robert wiped his mouth. “Probably best. In the evenings we can go through the files.” He dashed a stern face at the women. “I gather you two can behave without supervision?”
Ellen, watching her twin, bobbed her head in sync.
The men screeched back their chairs in unison. “Good. Later, then.”
John laid down his napkin. “Remember the story of Solomon in the Bible with the two women who wanted the same child? He offered them an option. Choose who gets it or he’d order it be severed in half.” He exited without another word.
Erin sighed. “John and I need some time alone after dinner.”
Ellen stood and gathered the plates. “I suppose Robert and I need that as well. Though it might be too late for us.”
Erin’s mouth dropped open. Her question inched along her tongue in a whisper. “Are you getting a divorce?”
Ellen shrugged. “I’m pretty sure he’s having an affair with someone. I hired a private detective last week. No one else knows, other than his mother.”
Her sister sat back down, hands under her chin. “I had no idea. I’ve been toying with the same thing, except I am not sure if I can afford to do it.”
Erin slid back into her chair. “Erin, why? John is a gem.”
Ellen leaned forward. “And why would you? Robert makes a good salary, doesn’t he?”
“Money doesn’t buy happiness, sis. It sucks it out of the equation.”
“Yeah. Tell me that when you don’t have enough to get groceries.” She folded her arms over her breasts.
Ellen stared into her face. “Is it that bad?”
Erin shrugged. “At times.” She flipped the napkin over and bit her lip.
“Why didn’t you say so? We could help…”
Her younger sister shot to her feet, the tears shimmering in her eyes. “We possess more pride than that. John would never allow it.”
Ellen dashed to her side and held her hands. “Honey, we are all we have left. Mom and Dad always taught us that charity begins at home. Please, let me help.”
Erin wiped her face. “I’m hoping the inheritance will.”
Ellen gave her a squeeze. “Then let’s get cracking. What do you say?”
The two left the dishes on the table and strolled out, arm in arm.
Chapter Nine
Travis and Austin ignored the buzz from their uncle’s cell phone, for the second time. They knew they were supposed to meet them for lunch a half hour ago, but they’d waited in line to ride Space Mountain for fifty-five minutes. Now only twenty-five people stood ahead of them. Surely they’d make the next round.
“Just text him and tell him where we are.”
Austin shrugged. “Okay. But he’s beginning to bug me. I thought he said we were old enough to explore on our own. My football coach is less of a nag.”
“I know.” Travis shielded his eyes from the Florida sun. “But he is in charge of us while Mom and Dad sort out Gran’s stuff. Guess he feels the pressure, you know?”
Austin screwed his mouth to one side, his thumbs clicking away as they inched forward in line.
A beep-beep sounded as white words in caps sailed across his screen. “JADE IN ER. BUSTED HER CHIN OPEN.”
“Oh, wow. The little one’s in the hospital.”
Travis stared at his twin. “What?”
Austin showed him the message and then texted back. “OK. Will stay put & grab food here @ Space Mnt. Keep us posted.”
“Should we tell Mom?”
Travis gave his brother a wide-eyed expression. “No way, man. We’d all be on the next flight.”
The two slipped through before the attendant clicked the rope. They were on their way to ride the most popular one in Disney World…at last.
Two hours passed before their uncle texted they were out of the ER and headed for the hotel.
Austin pointed on the map to the arcades. “I’ve got an idea. Let’s win her a teddy bear or a doll.”
Travis high-fived him. “Cool.”
Fifteen dollars and an hour and a half later, they left the park at dusk, a bright pink three-foot Care Bear under Travis’s arm and two small gifts for Brittany and Elena in Austin’s, just in case. They bought a rose off the character from Beauty and the Beast for their aunt. Feeling grown-up and responsible, the two strutted from the theme park to the shuttle which would take them to their hotel.
*
That night over the dinner table the couples reviewed their lists. Robert and John sat on one side, the twins on the other. Erin spoke. “Ellen and I decided what we want. I want the old armoire and she wants the rocker and the bassinet. Her girls will love playing with it and one day their babies can use it.”
Ellen agreed. “We’ve divvied up the jewelry from our grandmother and the books. Most will be sold to the used bookstore on the square. The vintage clothes and other things will go to auction. But we can’t decide what to do with the four photo albums.”
Robert answered. “Easy. We’ll get them digitally reproduced. I know a company that specializes in that. Then each of you takes two of the originals. That way you both can keep a complete record.”
John slapped him on the back. “Great idea.”
Erin shot them both a stern glare. “But how much will that cost?”
Robert waved her doubt away. “The owner owes me a favor for saving his hide after an unwise investment decision. Don’t worry.” He pushed the list they had compiled across to the women. “Here is what we came up with. Most of the items in the garage and shed will go for auction, except a few older pieces which can be given away. John would like some of your father’s power tools. I have no use for them. I want the riding mower.”
Ellen cocked her chin. “Whatever for? We hire a gardener.”
Erin rolled her eyes. “And I bet he keeps your grass green all year round, too.”
“Hey,” John interrupted. “I pride myself on our green lawn. It’s the thickest in the neighborhood. And no dollar weeds.”
“He’s obsessed with them. He stands out there with his coffee cup in his robe at the crack of dawn bent to the ground searching for them.”
Robert chuckled at the image. “To answer your question, Ellen. Not at the lake house. I’m tired of paying the local kids to do a half-hazard job. It’s only a ninety minute drive. I can head up there on weekends during the spring and fall, and over the summer we’re up there a lot anyway. I don’t mind cutting the grass with a riding mower. After being cooped up in the concrete jungle all week, some fresh air will do me good.”
Ellen fiddled with the edge of the paper. “And would I be invited?”
Robert’s jaw twitched. “Packing up the girls would be a hassle, honey. And Brittany has so many intermural games.”
“Which you rarely attend as it is.”
Robert heaved his rising anger back into his chest. “We will discuss this later.” His gaze bore into her. She raised her cosmetically sculptured chin.
Erin coughed into her fist. “John, where will we store these tools?”
“In the garage. I’ll pigeon hole them in so we can s
till park the cars.”
“As long as I can do the laundry.”
Ellen whipped around. “You don’t have a utility room?”
Erin shot her eyes to the table.
John shrugged. “She’s been at me for years to build her one off the back porch.”
Ellen gulped her comment back into her throat and laid a hand over Erin’s. “Sorry. I can’t believe I’ve never been in your house. We should change that. What if we host Thanksgiving and you two Christmas?”
The two grinned warmly at each other as the men cocked an eyebrow and shoveled more mashed potatoes and gravy into their mouths.
*
Ellen and Robert entered their bedroom. He closed the door and leaned against it. “Ellen, why do you think I have something going on with my secretary?”
“Don’t you? Or is it someone else in the secretarial pool? More stealth that way, perhaps?”
“Come on. I wouldn’t do that…for our sake. It would ruin me, you know.”
“Well, you stopped asking a while back, so…”
“Because I kept getting the same answer, ‘Not tonight, I’m dead tired.’ That doesn’t mean I’ve asked anyone else.” He walked to his wife and held her hands. “I know raising three girls is tough.”
She arched an eyebrow.
He bobbed his head from side to side. “Okay, I don’t know. But I can imagine. And Jade, she’d be a handful even if we were in our twenties. So willful and adventurous.”
Ellen smirked. “She is that.” She let go of his grip and walked over to grab her phone from the duvet. “Speaking of, guess we ought to check in and see how the girls…” She stopped in mid-sentence.
Robert halted from pulling off his t-shirt, the sleeves dangling around his chest. “What?”
Ellen stared at the illuminated monitor. “It’s Uncle Blake. Jade had to have stitches.” She plopped down onto the edge of the mattress. “Oh, no. Robert.” Her eyes pleaded for her husband to fix it all.
He edged next to her, his arm draped over her narrow shoulders. “Call them.”
She swallowed a little sob and dialed the number. It took twenty minutes of reassuring and speaking with Jade, Brittany, Elena, and her aunt before she calmed down enough to decide against booking the red-eye to Florida.
Greener Grasses Page 4