Dani showered quicky and dressed. She was scrambling eggs when Maria walked sleepily into the kitchen. “Oh, boy, am I hungry.” She peered into the frying pan and licked her lips. “Is it OK if I pick up Bismarck now, Dani? The two days are up.”
Dani smiled. “All right, but hurry and get dressed. Don’t forget we leave today, rain or no rain.”
Dani placed the crisp strips of bacon on a paper towel, put bread into the toaster and scooped out the fluffy scrambled eggs onto warm plates. She poured frosty glasses of orange juice and then fixed herself a cup of coffee.
Dani carried her cup to the bedroom and opened the draperies. The car was gone. There was no sign of activity below. There was also no Jeep. Perhaps Stash had parked it in the back or around the corner. It wasn’t like Stash not to come through. Where was Stash?
Breakfast over, the apartment cleaned up—all the appliances turned off, ashtrays cleaned and emptied, luggage by the door—Dani glanced at her watch. It was nine-fifty.
“Are you ready, Maria? Do you have all of Bismarck’s toys and his catnip?”
“Yes, Dani,” the child answered, holding out a large wicker basket that was to be Bismarck’s home till they arrived at the little house called Red Top, in Glen Garden.
Dani took a last look around the tiny apartment. Quickly, before she could change her mind, she ushered the child through the door and locked it up. Once in the small lobby, she looked at the mountain of luggage that, for the most part, represented Maria’s new wardrobe.
“Ready, Miss Arnold? Your friend left the car around the corner. I waited for a free parking space and then I moved it for you. It’s right outside. Here are the keys,” the doorman said as he bent down to pick up the luggage.
“Fine, Joe. Come, Maria.” Dani walked through the door and immediately bumped into Maria. Bismarck howled his outrage at this rough treatment.
“Oh!” squealed Maria. “Is it to be the parade? Is your president to be here? Oh!” she squealed again. Dani could only gasp. She looked around to see if there was another Jeep on the street. She found there wasn’t. This was it. She shielded her eyes as Joe came up to her with the luggage, a smirk on his face. “It certainly is different,” he grinned.
Dani continued to gasp and Maria to squeal. “No, the president is not coming and no there is no parade,” Dani said sharply. “We are the owners of this . . . this . . . magnificent . . . vehicle.”
“You are making the joke? You mean we truly get to ride in this . . . this car?” Maria asked happily.
Dani squinted at the Jeep. It was painted an overall luminous chartreuse. There were handpainted, luminous peace signs and vines of all shapes and sizes. In between, there were red, white, and blue stars. “Definitely nauseous,” Dani gulped. Well, once inside she wouldn’t have to look at the horrendous monstrosity.
Maria, beside herself in glee, was busy touching first one painted star and then another. “And they don’t rub off,” she gurgled happily.
“I didn’t think I could be so lucky,” Dani grimaced. She stowed Maria in the seat beside her, gently placing Bismarck’s basket in the backseat. She saluted Joe and put the Jeep in gear. They were off with a flourish. Dani looked in the rearview mirror and saw Joe grinning from ear to ear.
The trip was uneventful, although they did cause quite a commotion when they swung on to Route 31. Dani headed south and straight for River Road. Once in the hills, no one paid the slightest bit of attention to the two girls and the brilliant Jeep. Dani watched the now familiar terrain and almost missed the turnoff for Hollow Road. Quickly, she flashed her signal and skidded around the corner. “We’re almost there, honey. Just up the road a bit.”
Maria looked at the heavily wooded road and exclaimed over the brilliant colors of the leaves.
“Here it is,” Dani said, pulling into the driveway, a catch in her throat. It was home. It would always be home. Suddenly she felt safer than she had in days.
She looked first at the eighty-foot tulip tree that stood in the middle of her front yard. She had expected to see a mountain of leaves. Kelly must have raked the yard for her. He was a good kid. In the summer, he mowed the grass and in the fall he raked the leaves. When she had tried to send him money, he had returned it. Soon he would be making his confirmation and she could repay him with a gift.
“How do you like it, Maria?”
“Oh, Dani. It is truly beautiful. Where is the brook? Where is Kelly? Where are the ducks? Where is everything?” she babbled happily.
“First, let’s do things one at a time. You take Bismarck into the house and let him out of the basket. I’ll carry in the luggage. By that time Kelly will be over here and he can show you everything else.”
“Will he like me, Dani? What kind of name is Kelly? I don’t know any saints named Kelly.”
“Kelly is a nickname the kids gave him. It’s short for Kelher and of course he’ll like you. You are the most beautiful kid I’ve ever seen. He’ll love those long curls. Hurry up before Bismarck has a fit.”
“Does he have a girlfriend here, too?”
“Nope. He has about two dozen girlfriends. Each time I come up here all the owners of lady cats lock up their pets.”
Dani traced her fingers lovingly over the warm cherry tabletops that were graced with brass lamps. She choked back a lump in her throat as her fingers touched her father’s pipe stand. An overwhelming feeling of nostalgia engulfed her. Far back in the ignored recesses of her memory, she could hear her mother’s voice calling to her father telling him tea was on. Her nostrils sniffed at a whiff of remembered hush puppies dripping creamery butter. Everything was the same. Her mother’s treasured collection of Water ford crystal, the big, deep, old-fashioned sofa that one could lose oneself in, her father’s books, the feeling of warmth and love. Everything . . . the same. Her glance fell to the fireplace and the brass andirons. There it was, the chip on the edge of the andiron and her mother’s voice: “But Jim, they were such a bargain and they remind me so much of the pair my grandmother had.”
Dani looked around the familiar room. Matching love seats in an apple green pattern and a light flanked the massive natural fieldstone fireplace, which was the focal point of the whole room. A high-backed wing chair covered in deep tones of russet brought a smile to her lips. She could almost see her father sitting there lost in his book. The perimeter of the floor was shiny oak. Nestled between the love seats was one of her mother’s prize possessions, an imported oriental carpet in shades of oyster white, soft Nile green and buttercup yellow. The effect was one of overall tranquility.
Dani basked in the remembered conspiratorial wink her father had shared with her whenever anyone mentioned another of the flea market bargains.
Everything was cleaned and fresh-smelling. Mrs. Alpert must have cleaned the house—she and her eleven kids. Dani walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Hmm. Milk, juice, eggs, bacon, fruit and bread and butter. At least they wouldn’t starve. “Let’s unpack and then you can get acquainted with the neighbors.” An hour later, the girls were settled in and there was a rap at the door. Maria raised hopeful eyes.
Dani grinned at the child who stood mute in her new blue jeans and striped pullover, navy blue sneakers and blue bows in her long curls. She looked good enough to eat.
“Come in,” Dani called.
The screen door opened hesitantly and a redheaded boy with a freckled face peeped in. “Hi, Miss Arnold,” he grinned.
“Come on in, Kelly. I want you to meet a friend of mine. Maria Mendeneres, this is Kelly Alpert.”
Kelly stuck out his freckled hand. “Hi,” he grinned.
Maria gave him a small curtsy and chirped out a greeting.
Dani groaned. “Ah, Kelly, she needs a little help. See what you can do, will you?”
Kelly grinned. “I can see that, Miss Arnold. I’ll do my best,” he said, looking at Maria doubtfully. “Come on, twerp, let’s go,” he said to the suddenly bashful Maria.
“Does he
mean me?” Maria whispered.
“You’re the only twerp around. So I guess he does,” Dani grinned.
“Terrific,” Maria grinned in return as she followed the freckle-faced Kelly through the door.
“Mazel tov, Miss Arnold.”
“Same to you, Kelly,” Dani laughed. “I can see it’s going to prove to be an interesting vacation.” Funny, Kelly made no comment on the garish Jeep. Probably sees them every day, Dani thought.
The days of early October turned into weeks for Dani and Maria. Kelly and his friends had the entire month off. The grammar school had burned to the ground in the late spring and the new school wouldn’t be ready till the middle of November. Dani found her days to be busy and was making remarkable progress with the cookbook. She’d even sent the first four chapters to her boss and received a glowing letter of praise. The evenings were spent quietly watching television or going to a local movie.
Maria spent her time with Kelly and his small band of friends. She was up at dawn and would fall asleep by nine o’clock from sheer exhaustion. Kelly had been as good as his word. He watched over Maria like a mother hen. He put up with her feminine ways and was slowly turning her into a tomboy.... Dani winced when she thought of how Alexander would react to the new Maria. But the child was deliriously happy. She trotted after Kelly like a puppy and he only had to speak and she was his slave. Kelly, however, did not take advantage of the child. Maria became as adept at “kick the can” as Tony Russo, and could shimmy up a tree better than Danny Ryan. Kelly praised her to the hilt when she became better at knot-tying than he was. The only lull in the child’s day was when the boys were occupied with paper routes or their confirmation classes.
Dani was busy making chocolate-chip cookies for the children to take on a picnic when Maria asked, “Will he invite me to go, do you think, Dani?”
“Invite you where?” Dani asked, as she carefully measured sugar into a big earthenware bowl.
“You know, his confirmation.”
“I don’t know, Maria. Has he said anything? The Alperts usually have a party for something like that.”
“He has not invited me, and I want to go. Tony and Danny are to go. They said so. Maybe because I am a girl they won’t want me there.”
“I don’t think being a girl has anything to do with it. I’m sure that you’ll be invited. If you are, you will have to start thinking of some gift to give Kelly.”
“I have already thought of that, Dani. When my father calls tonight, I will ask him what gift I should give. Will that be all right? I wish Kelly to have the plane ticket to come to Argentina for the Christmas holiday. Kelly said there is no school here for the Christmas season. Do you think that would be a good gift?”
Dani considered. “Has Kelly made any mention of wanting to visit Argentina?”
Maria nodded. “He said he would like to visit someday when he is rich. I know, if my father buys the ticket for Kelly he can get them for Tony and Danny and they can come together. Wouldn’t that be the greatest?”
“Absolutely,” Dani grinned. She had no doubt that Alexander Mendeneres would agree to the plan, regardless of the cost. If Maria wanted it and it was within his power, he would do it.
“What are you doing in the house anyway? Where are Tony and Danny?”
“Tony had to go to the dentist and Danny is delivering his papers because they came early. Were you here when the school burned down, Dani?”
“No, but the children will have to remain in school an extra month next summer; did you know that?”
“Sure. But the boys said they would rather be off now. It is lucky for me that they have no school, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“Hey, Maria!” A shout came from outside.
“They are back. So long, Dani. See you later.” She was gone before Dani could blink.
Dani resumed her baking and kept one eye on the clock. Promptly at five, she removed the last tray of cookies from the oven and slid in a tray of veal lasagna. She turned down the oven to low and sat back to enjoy a cup of coffee. She was munching on a piping-hot cookie, with her feet propped on the corner of the table when she raised startled eyes to see a form standing in the doorway.
“I knocked, but there was no answer,” Alexander Mendeneres said, picking up a cookie. “Delicious,” he said.
“I didn’t expect you, Mr. Mendeneres.”
“Can’t we dispense with the formalities? Call me Alex.”
Dani nodded. She did not, however, tell him to call her Dani.
“Where is Maria?”
“Maria is out with her friends. She’ll be home in time for dinner, which is at six o’clock. Would you care to join us?”
Alexander nodded. “I would be delighted.”
“Would you care for a drink?” At his nod she raised questioning eyebrows.
“Scotch, if you have it.”
Dani nodded and prepared the drink and made herself a gin-and-tonic.
They carried the drinks into the living room and sat facing each other on the love seats that flanked the fireplace.
“How is Maria? Has there been any more trouble?”
“Maria is fine. There has been no more trouble. I do feel that I better warn you that there has been a change in Maria. I am not too sure if you will like it. I, however, approve of it heartily.”
“Then I will bow to your judgement,” Alexander agreed gallantly.
“Ah . . . I hope you feel that way later on,” Dani gurgled.
“I take it she has conquered the American slang.”
“Oh, my, yes. Maria is definitely a pro now. Like she says, she can really ‘flip the bird.’ I’m not sure what that means myself but I haven’t the nerve to tell her I don’t know. And how is your project going?”
“I have made excellent progress. My goal is in sight. That is why I came here this evening. I think in a few short weeks, the matter will be closed. I wanted you to know that so you could make your own plans.”
Suddenly, Dani felt light-headed. The child would be leaving. She had grown so fond of her. And this strange man that made her pulse quicken when he was near. It was all about to come to an end.
“I’m glad that you were so successful on your . . . I wonder, though, if I might ask a favor of you? I promised Maria to have a Halloween party and to take her trick-or-treating.”
“I think that can be arranged.”
They made small talk. Dani, for some reason, was getting more uncomfortable by the minute. Alexander Mendeneres looked at the large, square watch on his wrist. “It is six-fifteen and the child is not here.”
“Don’t be alarmed. Kelly is usually very prompt. I am sure they got involved in some game and they will be here in a few minutes. In fact, I hear them now.” Dani turned her head to the wild giggling and laughter coming up the driveway.
“Miss Arnold is going to skin you alive, Maria.” It was Kelly speaking.
“Oh no,” Dani groaned. The door suddenly opened. Dani closed her eyes at the sight that met them. There stood three shamefaced boys with a wild-looking caricature of the pretty child that had left her kitchen about an hour before. She was muddy from head to toe, green slime dripping off her. One plump toe wiggled from a hole in mud-caked sneakers. Clutched in her fist was a fat, green garter snake. But that wasn’t the worst. Dani looked at the child’s head. Where in God’s name was her hair?
“Miss Arnold,” Kelly quavered nervously, “we sort of had an accident.”
“It was my fault, Dani,” Maria shouted happily. “The boys told me not to jump in the pond, but Danny said only boys with long legs could do it. I could not let him rip me off—right, Dani?”
“Absolutely,” Dani giggled, still looking for the long curls.
“Well, when she fell in the pond she got all that long hair tangled in the weeds and it looked like it was going to pull her under, so we cut it off with my pocket knife,” Kelly blurted.
“Wha . . . you cut my—”
“
Be quiet, Alexander,” Dani said sharply, “I will handle this.”
“Now I look like the boys. Only,” Maria said sadly, “their hair is longer than mine. I am so happy,” the child squealed, “and look, I have the snake. They said I couldn’t catch it. Where can I keep it?” Suddenly the child seemed to take notice of her father for the first time. “Hiya, Pop,” she shouted as she squished into the kitchen for a box.
“Hiya, Pop!” Alexander Mendeneres barked.
“I thought I told you to be quiet,” Dani snapped. “When I want you to speak, I’ll tell you.”
“Good work, boys,” Dani said. “I’m proud of you, and many thanks. How about some cookies?”
The boys nodded.
“Ah . . . Miss Arnold, you won’t punish Maria, will you?”
“Of course not. Let me introduce you to Maria’s father.”
Three small boys stood at attention for the introduction. All three manfully stuck out their hands to be shaken. All muttered polite phrases while Dani giggled on the sidelines at the expression on the man’s face.
Maria carried in a plateful of cookies and handed them to the boys.
Danny chose a cookie and sniffed. “Gee, Maria, you smell.”
“Yeah,” sniffed Tony. “You’ll have to soak in Mr. Clean. That’s what my mother does to me.”
“Great,” Maria gurgled happily. “What’s Mr. Clean?” she whispered to Dani. “Do you have any?”
Dani nodded. “It’s under the bathroom sink. Get a move on and make sure you clean up the bathroom. If you leave a mess, you’ll redo it tomorrow.”
“Right on, Dani. I’ll do a good job. Here, Pop, watch my snake for me,” she said, putting a shoebox in her father’s lap. Alexander Mendeneres sat, his mouth hanging open.
“You look better with your mouth closed, Alexander,” Dani grinned.
“Did . . . did . . . you see my daughter?” he exploded.
“Of course. But I also saw a deliriously happy child. Tell me, have you ever seen your daughter so happy?”
“No . . . but . . .”
“No, but what?”
The Future Scrolls Page 11