by Louise, Kara
“Would an hour from now be convenient?”
“An hour from now would be fine.”
Gina asked Elyssa for directions to her house and they hung up. She wondered whether Gina had been sent to discuss the matter that Mrs. Reed had mentioned in the letter.
Elyssa went outside onto her porch and sat down on the swing to wait for Gina. She knew that Gina’s visit today was a very strong indication that Will chose not to have any further interaction with her. She really couldn’t blame him.
Almost exactly an hour from the time they had hung up, a car pulled up front.
Elyssa stood up from the swing and walked over to the steps, watching the blond haired girl come toward her.
“Hi,” said Elyssa. “You must be Gina.”
“Yes, I am,” the young girl answered.
“Please come in.”
“Thank you.”
The two came into the house and Elyssa eyed her curiously. She saw very little resemblance between Gina and her brother. With fair hair and skin, blue eyes, and a rather thin build, they seemed rather to be opposites.
Elyssa ushered the young girl into the living room and offered her a seat, still fighting a desperate curiosity to know why she was there.
“I understand you attend Stanford.”
“Yes. But I was actually in Solvang with friends for the weekend. It’s beautiful country around here.”
“Yes, it is. I love it! Are you enjoying Solvang?”
“Yes, very much. I’ve been there a couple of times and every time I go, someone always assumes I am Scandinavian because of my coloring. I particularly love the Danish pastries!”
“They are scrumptious, aren’t they?”
Elyssa smiled, waiting for the young girl to state her business. She could see that Gina was rather shy and she took the time to gather her thoughts before she spoke. It seemed as though there was one area where Gina and Will were similar; neither were excessive talkers. But she was nothing like what Elyssa had expected.
“You have a beautifully decorated home, Elyssa. Did you do it yourself?”
Elyssa nodded. “I have a degree in interior design, but unfortunately my business is slow in taking off.”
“I like how you have incorporated different styles and fabrics. You do it well.” The young girl walked over to a table. “I recognize the runner here as Guatemalan.”
“Yes, I brought that back from my visit.”
“I like it.” Gina said.
“Thank you.” Elyssa watched as Gina began fidgeting and looked down. She waited for the girl to continue.
Gina slowly turned toward her and stood tall. Elyssa chuckled under her breath as she figured Gina must have been one of those privileged girls who had been sent to charm school to learn how to walk and talk in the most poised manner.
“First of all, I wanted to express my condolences to you in the loss of your sister and her husband. I know it must have been very difficult for you.”
Elyssa felt compassion herself for the young girl; for she was struggling for the right words and Elyssa wanted to reassure her. “Thank you, Gina. While it was very difficult at first, and I still miss her terribly, I am getting through it.”
Gina smiled and a small burst of uninhibited enthusiasm escaped. “How wonderful to have had a sister you were so close with. I only have Will and while there could not be a finer brother, I have often wished I had a sister.”
At her words, Elyssa felt another pang of regret at her remarks to Will, but said, “It can be wonderful to have a sister! Janet and I had something special.”
Gina looked down. “It must make it that much more difficult.”
Elyssa nodded, and murmured an affirmative.
Wanting to change the subject, Elyssa asked, “So are you and your brother close?” She hoped she was not being too nosy.
“Even though he is 12 years older, I couldn’t ask for a more wonderful brother.”
“And just what makes him so wonderful?” Elyssa was more curious than just making conversation.
“I don’t know. I guess I’ve always looked up to him. Being such an older brother, we never had that sibling rivalry between us. I can’t imagine what it would have been like when our father died for him to suddenly be my guardian if I hadn’t liked and respected him.”
Elyssa found it sweet that both Will and Gina seemed to brighten up and talk openly of the other when given the opportunity.
Gina paused reflectively. “I think my going away to college has been hard on him. He has warned me that he is going to fly out and visit me at least twice a month because he will miss me so much.”
Elyssa was rather surprised by that. “Don’t you feel he’s being a little overprotective by his visiting so often? Don’t you want a little freedom now that you’re in college?”
Gina laughed. “I wouldn’t call him overprotective, just caring. He knows how shy I am and he only wants to make sure I don’t spend every weekend sheltered in my room studying. I’m really not the partying type, so I honestly will look forward to his visits.”
“I see,” were the only words Elyssa could eke out. “And your visit to Solvang this weekend? He’s not with you, is he?”
“No. I’m actually here for a class I am taking.” Gina suddenly looked guilty and a sly smile appeared. “Don’t mention this to Will, but I am taking a cooking class.”
“A cooking class?”
“Yes. My major is business, but what I really want to do is bake. I’m taking a class near the university three nights a week and they suggested we make a trip to Solvang. One of the restaurants there allows us to come in and observe them for training. I had a couple of hours off this afternoon, so I thought I’d come by and see you.”
“And your brother doesn’t know?”
Gina smiled. “I think he suspects something. My fondest desire is to run a bed-and-breakfast. I can’t help but think the Santa Ynez Valley would be the perfect area. But you mustn’t say anything to Will.”
Elyssa let out a soft chuckle. “I really don’t think we’ll be talking. But would he not approve?”
Gina tilted her head back and forth as if she was not quite certain. “We’ve always both assumed I would work for Pemberleo, but I don’t think I have the passion for it.”
“Like the passion your brother has for it?”
“William has a passion for doing things excellently. Right now that involves running the family business. I think if other things presented themselves, he would enter into them with the same passion and Pemberleo would take a back burner.”
A part of Elyssa wondered whether that was indeed true. “So you never felt that he put Pemberleo before you?”
Gina laughed. “Well, there is one thing he puts before me and that’s his board meetings. I know that I am never to call him during a board meeting because that is the one time he does not want to be disturbed. It would have to be quite an emergency to get him to leave before it’s finished.” Gina paused and smiled. “No, I never felt neglected by him -- or my father.”
Elyssa smiled. “I can tell.”
“Anyway,” Gina brushed back a strand of hair that had fallen across her face. “The reason I came by was to tell you that Pemberleo Coffee would like to set up a memorial for Janet with money given in her memory to be used to build a park adjacent to the pre-school she worked at.”
Elyssa’s eyes widened. “A park by the pre-school?”
Gina nodded. “Yes. William said that he noticed the abandoned, boarded up buildings adjacent to it when you visited and there was really no place for neighborhood children to play but in the street. He spoke briefly to the woman who runs the preschool about the possibility of putting a park and playground there. He said he even put in a call to the Guatemala office while you were still at the facility to see if they could get things into motion as quickly as possible.”
Elyssa thought back to her accusatory look at Will when he walked away carrying on a conversation on his mobile ph
one, thinking he was doing business as usual. In reality, he was setting into motion the plans for a park for the children.
“He never said anything to me about it.”
“I don’t think he wanted to get your hopes up. Several things had to be checked into and approved before we could even move on this.” Gina laughed. “Finding the owner and contacting him was apparently not the easiest thing. Getting him to agree on a price was a whole other matter.”
Gina folded her hands in front of her. “Is this something that you would approve of, Elyssa? Would you like Janet to be remembered in this way?”
Tears pooled in Elyssa’s eyes and she nodded. “I can’t think of anything that would have made Janet happier.”
Gina reached over and took Elyssa’s hand. “I understand she spent a lot of time at the pre-school.”
Elyssa nodded, reaching for a tissue and she wiped her eyes. “Yes. When Will and I went to visit it, I was so touched by the children. I know they were very special to Janet.”
“I’m quite certain Will thought so too. With your approval, Pemberleo will set up the memorial and we will match any amount given towards it. But to get the memorial started, we will purchase the land, clear it, and put in grass. Basically, any additional money given will be used for playground equipment.”
“That is so generous. Thank you.”
Gina’s smile broadened. “No need to thank me; my brother made all the plans. I am merely the messenger.”
Elyssa nodded her head, knowing all too well what that meant.
Chapter 20
Elyssa mulled over Gina’s last remark. The fact that Will sent Gina to relay the message instead of communicating with her himself clearly indicated his disinclination to see her or to have any further contact with her again.
Gina stood up and walked over to a small table that had a wood carving on it and picked it up. “Did you get this in Guatemala?”
Elyssa nodded. “Yes, at Lake Atitlan in the market place.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” she said as she turned around. “Pemberleo has also established a memorial for Chad.”
Elyssa’s eyes widened. “I’m so glad! What will it be?”
“A scholarship is being set up in Chad’s name. One will be made available each year for a young man or woman whose family grows coffee beans for Pemberleo Coffee to enable him or her to further their education. A stipend will also be given to help the family hire others to replace the work that their child would have done. I believe the first is going to a young man named Pedro.”
“Pedro?” Elyssa exclaimed. “Oh, I know he will appreciate it!”
Elyssa’s joy at hearing what Will had done was tinged by the shame she felt by her presumptions and the heated words she lashed out at him at the airport. She was silent for a while and Gina asked if she was all right.
Elyssa laughed remorsefully. “I just can’t believe that Will did all this.”
“Does it surprise you?”
“I confess it does. I guess I…” Elyssa stopped. She knew she would be dredging up her original opinion of him and suddenly felt uncomfortable speaking so critically of Will to his sister.
Gina’s eyebrows lifted as she encouraged Elyssa to finish.
“I’m sorry, Gina, but sometimes I’ve wondered whether he even had the ability to consider other people or their feelings.” Elyssa shook her head. “There were times he seemed to care little for anything else but Pemberleo.”
Gina winced and sat back down. “Oh, my brother!” she said in a soft whisper. “You’re not the only one who sees him that way, Elyssa, and it’s true that a couple of years ago he was consumed by the company. I think he felt he was honoring our father by putting his whole self into it. He never neglected me and has always had the greatest regard for our family, but he struggles with showing compassion for others. I don’t think he lacks compassion, but he never really knew how to show it. I believe he is changing for the better, though.”
Elyssa took a deep breath as she recalled Janet’s similar reference, but there was still so much she needed to know. “Gina, do you know anything about your brother trying to talk Chad out of asking my sister to marry him?”
Gina sighed. “Yes, as a matter of fact I do know he advised Chad that way.”
“Do you know why?”
Gina looked down as though she were thinking. When she looked up, she said softly, “From what I understand of the situation, when Chad came to him, Will was already making plans to offer him the promotion. That meant he would be moving him to Guatemala. He didn’t want to mention the promotion to Chad, as he wasn’t yet sure of the particulars.”
Elyssa interjected, “How could he justify his advice when he didn’t even know Janet that well?”
Gina let out a sigh and smiled softly. “He did know Chad. He knew Chad was very easy going and would adapt anywhere. Not many people can pick up and go live in a foreign country. From what he saw of Janet, I believe he wondered whether she would be homesick the first month and talk him into coming back home. Perhaps she would have talked him out of accepting the promotion at all. Will knew Chad was perfect for the job and… well, yes, he was putting Pemberleo’s welfare before his friend’s.”
“I just have a difficult time believing Will had any right to do that,” Elyssa lamented in frustration.
Gina nodded. “Perhaps he was wrong, but I believe that it was merely a suggestion, Elyssa. What he was about to offer Chad was going to directly affect Janet if they married, but he was not able to explain his reasoning at the time. Besides, I don’t think Chad was offended by it. He still asked William to be his best man at his wedding.”
“Sometimes your brother’s behavior is so incomprehensible to me!”
Gina looked at Elyssa and smiled; her eyes sparkling a knowing gleam.
“What?” asked Elyssa. “You look as if you know something.”
Gina let out a breathy chuckle. “When my father took Will and me to Guatemala when we were younger, he used to say that I was like the beautiful flowers that dotted the landscape and Will was like the coffee beans.”
Now it was Elyssa’s turn to laugh. “Coffee beans! I thought of him more as one of those volcanoes!”
Gina tilted her head at Elyssa. “Really? A volcano?” A gleam sparkled in Gina’s eyes, followed by a sweet, hearty laugh. “A dormant volcano, perhaps!”
Gina’s hand went directly to cover her mouth and her eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, I can’t believe I just said that!”
Elyssa reached out and touched the young girl’s shoulder. “I’ll never tell, Gina. But why do you say that?”
“Because he’s always so controlled, holding his emotions in check. There’s nothing I gain more satisfaction from than seeing him really enjoy himself when we’re together. I’ve always longed for the day he meets someone who can bring that out in him. Not too many people have even seen him really laugh.”
Elyssa thought back to their time at Lake Atitlan and how he seemed to really enjoy himself. Those first few times she saw him really smile -- and laugh -- warmed her heart. That was when she found herself drawn to him.
Elyssa turned her attention back to Gina. “Now, tell me, what’s this about him being like a coffee bean?”
“I think my father meant that life came too easy for him.”
“Too easy?”
“Easy yes, satisfying no. I’ve only just truly begun to understand what my father was trying to say. Mind you, I have always held my brother in the highest esteem; he is a man of the highest integrity. But my father knew Will would need to go through a good amount of testing to round out his character. He needs some sort of challenge in his life that will force him to fight for what he wants.”
Gina bit her lip as she looked intently at Elyssa. “A flower easily and readily blooms into something beautiful with very little effort. I personally think my father was being a little too gracious towards me, but did you know, Elyssa, that the coffee bean needs to be dried, roaste
d, and ground up before it can truly be enjoyed? I think my father knew that Will would always have his wealth and position literally handed to him; even his popularity. He never had to work at making and keeping friends.”
Gina paused and took in a deep breath. “When our father died, it was difficult for William, but he has such a natural talent for business that he stepped into the role without too much trouble. Of course he grieved our father’s loss terribly, but he threw himself into work -- I think to help him get through it.”
Gina sighed deeply and her body trembled slightly. Elyssa reached out her hand and gently touched the young girl’s shoulder, encouraging her to continue. The thought that Will dealt with his grief this way had never occurred to her.
Gina continued, “I think he needs to be shaken up a bit more. He can tackle anything on a business level, but is somewhat at a loss if something happens to him personally. Friendships came easy to him because he was looked up to; but not because he had an engaging personality or an abundance of enthusiasm. It was because he was a good athlete, a good student, good looking, or wealthy. Even the women who have attached themselves to him have never really brought out that spark that makes him want to work at the relationship. I think he has always been more suspicious of their professions of love because he wondered if they really ever got to know the real William Denton.”
Gina smiled softly. “While any sort of testing would be difficult to go through, I believe it would do him a world of good. He’s only just learning there are things he will have to fight for, but he doesn’t even know how. He’s never had to before.”
Elyssa gave Gina a shrewd smile. “Perhaps I put him through more than a little drying, roasting, and grinding while we were in Guatemala.”
Gina looked over and met Elyssa’s eyes. “Yes, Elyssa. Perhaps you did -- in more ways than you imagine.” Gina then looked down and a slight blush crossed her face. Very softly, she said, “I think we both did.”
“We both did?” Elyssa asked.
Gina did not answer for some time. Finally, she said, “Yes. Unfortunately mine has to do with George Westham.”
“George Westham?” Elyssa was stunned.