On the way back to Aaron’s suite, he mentioned to Alexis that he would take Charlotte to the airport. “I know you begin writing in Hemingway’s studio tomorrow and that way you won’t have to worry about Charley. Besides, I’m flying out for my Time assignment tomorrow morning too.”
“Thanks Aaron, I appreciate that especially since I need to be at Hemingway’s house at 9:00 a.m. to meet with curator and have some photos taken. Aaron where are you going for your assignment?”
Aaron shrugged his shoulders, “Sorry, Alexis, I can’t divulge that information just yet; there’s lots of details to be worked out and a final clearance to obtain before I leave. I don’t want to jinx this assignment until I know for sure I’m going.”
Alexis gave him a hug, “Wherever you go, good luck.” She turned to her sister, “Charlotte, please text or call me when you land tomorrow. You know me, I worry until I know everyone is home safe.”
“Don’t worry,” Charlotte said as she gave her sister a hug and a kiss. “I’m a big girl, and I can take care of myself.”
The next morning, Alexis was over at the historic Hemingway’s house before 9:00 a.m. Poor Pablo only got a cup of coffee and a piece of toast for breakfast, “I’ll do better tomorrow, but I’m anxious to start writing; I have a great new idea on how to end my novel.” Alexis explained as she loaded up her car with the things she would need for the day.
After meeting with Lexie Murphy, she was introduced to Beth Hogan, the curator who would be taking care of her while she was in residence at the museum. Beth showed Alexis where the break room was located and a refrigerator filled with bottles of cold water. She was welcome to store the lunch she had brought and to help herself to the bottled water. Then Alexis was shown the way to the writing studio and given a key to let herself in and out of the locked room. Beth advised her to only spend a few hours at a time in the studio, as it wasn’t air-conditioned and the afternoons could be uncomfortable. As they were talking, a dark-gray-and white-striped cat with short tail walked in and rubbed up against Alexis’s legs.
“This is Francis Albert, a house cat who thinks he owns the studio. He’s a Manx, so make friends with him or he will make your life miserable,” Beth laughingly said as she walked out of the studio and locked the gate behind her.
Alexis bent down and scratched the cat behind his ears and petted him. Happily, he jumped up on the writing table and watched her. As Alexis looked around the room, she walked over to a large portrait of Ernest Hemingway that was in the center of the room. She was unnerved when she noticed that Hemingway’s eyes seemed to follow her movements as she walked around inspecting items. Putting her laptop and papers on a nearby desk, she pulled out a blank sheet of paper and put it into Hemingway’s old typewriter. Quickly she noticed, the ribbon was faded and the keys would stick as she typed. I guess Marcus was right; I will be working exclusively on my laptop. She rubbed her hand over the keys of the original Royal Portable typewriter that Hemingway used when he wrote Death in the Afternoon, The Green Hills of Africa, and To Have and Have Not. Looking around, Alexis wondered what it must have been like for Hemingway to write in this room, looking out of the window, pacing the floor, and creating masterpieces.
Alexis walked over to her laptop after noticing that Francis the Manx cat was sound asleep taking up most of Hemingway’s table. Tomorrow, I will put my laptop on Hemingway’s desk before Francis claims it, she promised herself. Settling down, Alexis started typing her new ideas into her manuscript. She had made a lot of progress before she started getting hungry and noticed it was noon. Several tours had passed by the studio, taking pictures and quietly talking and pointing at her. There was a sign on the grill gate explaining who Alexis was and why she was in Hemingway’s writing studio. Most people were respectful of her privacy. Alexis walked out of the studio, locking the gate behind her. She briefly thought about Charlotte and was relieved she was safely on a plane headed back to Phoenix. Walking to the break room to retrieve her lunch, she came across a large replica of the Hemingway’s house even down to the chartreuse shutters. She looked in one of the small windows of the duplicate house and saw several cats sleeping. How cute, the famous cats have their own special house.
After lunch, Alexis took a quick walk around the lush gardens before heading back to the studio. The Florida heat and humidity were growing more intense. She wasn’t sure how long she would be able to write in this uncomfortable climate. But once she sat down and got back to telling her story, the hours flew by. It was after four when she packed up her laptop and was ready to call it a day.
Back in the cottage, she was sticky and uncomfortable, so she took a shower and changed into her pajamas. Happily knowing she didn’t have to dress for dinner, she selected a Healthy Choice meal from the freezer. While she ate, she made notes of what groceries she needed to pick up for the next nine days. Settling down, she reread the paragraphs she had written that day. Smiling and pleased with her work, she got up to pour herself a glass of wine, when her cell phone rang. It was Marcus. It was eleven o’clock in Key West.
“Hi, Honey, how did your lunch with Walt …”
Marcus interrupted her, “Alexis, do you know where your sister is? She wasn’t on the plane when it landed. Your dad checked with Delta and discovered she never got on the plane in Florida.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
The Search
Alexis asked to speak to her father. “Dad, do you still have a contact number for your old friend, Patrick Baker? His son Aaron was here in Key West and Charlotte spent a lot of time with him. I know he was going on a ‘secret’ assignment for Time magazine, but he wouldn’t tell me where, maybe his dad knows.”
“Yes, I do. I’ll call him right now.” Arthur said, relieved he had a possible clue. “Thanks, I didn’t know who to call or what to do after I checked with Delta. I’ll call you back if I find out anything.”
Alexis was pacing the floor when her cell phone rang, it was her dad.
“Alexis, Patrick said that Aaron had a special writing assignment in Cuba, but your sister couldn’t have gone with him, I don’t think Charlotte has a passport.”
“Oh, yes she does,” suddenly Alexis saw the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. “Charlotte has been in contact with Aaron since Mom died. I saw her use her passport for I.D. at Sky Harbor. She and Aaron seemed very close—not like someone she hadn’t seen for twenty years. If she is in Cuba, I don’t think she can use her cell phone.”
“No, that’s what Patrick said,” explained Arthur. “He said that Aaron called him before he left Key West on a private chartered plane and told him not to expect any contact from him until he landed in New York a week from today. Do you really think Charlotte went with him without telling us? Didn’t she know we would be sick with worry?”
“Dad, I’m sorry, but I don’t think she cares. Charlotte does what Charlotte wants to do.”
Alexis went back to Hemingway’s studio the next morning. She woke earlier than usual so that she could prepare a substantial breakfast. She didn’t want to disappoint Pablo. A gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach persisted. Thinking back to the last conversation she had with Aaron and Charlotte on Friday night, they both must have known Charlotte’s plan was to go with him to Cuba, if she did indeed go with him.
Back in the studio, Alexis grabbed Hemingway’s circular table next to his typewriter before Francis could claim it. They both glared at each other and established their boundaries. After Francis moved to another spot, Alexis rewarded him with a kitty treat. She had decided to make friends with her furry companion. Francis approved.
On her lunch break, Alexis called Marcus to see if there was any news about Charlotte and ask him about the lunch he and Eric had with her dad and his cousin. That had been forgotten yesterday when they were concerned about her missing sister. Marcus said that Walter, who had brought his girlfriend Missy to lunch, was very nice and helpful. He knew several investors who might take calculated risks to finance abandon m
ines, especially if there was proof they contained valuable minerals. He would make some calls on Monday. Walter also warned the brothers that all the necessary extensive geology surveys, patent proceedings, and permits could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Marcus and Eric agreed that they would need investors to help with this process, if they decided to go forward with their plan to keep the mine. Alexis asked about selling the mine, but neither Marcus nor Eric wanted to discuss that option yet. Marcus also told Alexis that her dad was still following up on information about Charlotte. He had a call into Time magazine; Patrick had given him Aaron’s boss’s name and phone number. They all were praying that Charlotte and Aaron were together.
Pleased with her progress on her novel, Alexis was packing up her things to leave the studio when her cell phone again rang. This time it was Lexie Murphy. She wanted to remind Alexis that she was scheduled to be at the Custom House Museum for the exhibition “Depicting Hemingway” on Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. A photographer was going to document her viewing the famous marine wildlife sketches done by artist Guy Harvey as a tribute to Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.” Lexie also suggested a photo op of Alexis standing next to the life-sized bronze statue of the famous author.
Breakfast together was quickly becoming the standard routine for Alexis and Pablo. On Monday, over blueberry waffles, Alexis invited Pablo to accompany her to his choice of events during the Hemingway Days Festival. Pablo chose the museum exhibit on Tuesday and the Caribbean Street Fair and Running of the Bulls on Saturday.
“You do realize I will be flying home to Phoenix a week from tomorrow, don’t you?” asked Alexis.
“Yes, do you know how much I’m going to miss you? Especially your wonderful breakfasts.” Pablo said as he got up to pour a second cup of coffee. “If I haven’t said it enough,” Pablo looked into Alexis’s eyes and smiled. “Thank you so much for everything. Absolutely everything. I will never forget you and when your book comes out, I will be first in line to buy a copy.”
“If my book gets published, I will send you an autographed copy. Be sure and give me a mailing address before I leave.” Pablo nodded and smiled again. Alexis noticed that for a semi homeless person, he had perfectly straight white teeth.
That morning as Alexis sat on a chair petting Francis Albert, a terrifying thought made her sick to her stomach. What if Charlotte isn’t with Aaron in Cuba? What if Aaron dropped her off at the airport like he promised and someone kidnapped her? What if they were wasting time assuming that she is safe, when some terrorist or pervert could be holding her captive? If Aaron took Charlotte with him, why wouldn’t he have told his father?
Forgetting the time difference, Alexis picked up her phone and called her dad, waking him up.
“Alexis, what’s wrong?” her father asked sleepily. “Are you okay? Did you hear from Charlotte?”
“Sorry, Dad,” she apologized. “I forgot about the time difference. I’ve just been so worried about Charlotte. What if we are wrong and someone kidnapped her at the airport and we are wasting time not looking for her?”
“Honey, I thought of that too. I have a call into Aaron’s boss, he’s been out of town, but should be back in the office this morning. Also, Judith has a friend in Miami who is a private investigator who has been working on Charlotte’s case. Judith called him Saturday evening. I’ll call you back as soon as I hear from Time. How’s your book coming along? What’s it like working in Hemingway’s studio?”
“It would be wonderful if I didn’t have to worry about my sister.”
Feeling a little better after talking to her dad, Alexis sat down at Hemingway’s desk before Francis Albert could jump up and claim it. Proud of herself for outsmarting the cat, she got back to work.
Arthur called back around three just as Alexis was packing up her laptop.
“Good news, sweetheart,” her father began with a sigh of relief. “Aaron’s boss told me that Time had hired an assistant to accompany Aaron to Cuba. Aaron insisted he needed clerical help and recommended Charlotte Barnett. You don’t think there’s another Charlotte Barnett, do you?”
“God help us all if there are two.” Alexis said as a sense of relief flooded her body, which quickly turned into rage. Why couldn’t Charlotte have called Dad and let him know she wasn’t flying back to Phoenix? What about her daughter, how can she not even consider that sweet child?
The chiming of her cell phone interrupted her thoughts. It was Christopher.
“Alexis, what the hell is going on with your sister? Do you have any idea how frightened I’ve been? Ashley keeps asking me when her mommy is coming home and I didn’t know what to tell her. Who is this guy she’s hooked up with and what are they doing in Cuba? Do you know she found time to call her boss and tell her that she was having a ‘family emergency’ and needed to take extra vacation time? Sally, her boss, came down to my office this morning to see what was wrong and if Charlotte is okay. As always, I lied to her boss about Charlotte’s dad being sick to cover for my stupid ex-wife. She had time to call her boss to protect her job, but not enough time to call her father or her daughter. What is wrong with her?”
“Oh, Christopher, I’m so sorry she is putting you and Ashley through all this terrifying uncertainty. I guess Dad and I are used to her erratic behavior, and we are always so grateful when we discover that she is okay; I think we give her too many free passes.”
Alexis then gave Christopher an abbreviated story about Aaron. As she finished her conversation and started packing up her things, she realized that Charlotte could be in danger of losing custody of her daughter. Christopher was a great guy, but he wasn’t going to be taken advantage of, not when it meant the well being of his beloved daughter.
Driving back to the cottage, Alexis spotted an advertisement for “Key West Ghost Tours.” Smiling, she thought that might be fun, but she didn’t want to go alone. Maybe Pablo would like to go with her. Parking her car, she walked over to Pablo’s van, but it was empty and locked. She left a note on the windshield of the van reminding Pablo they were leaving for Museum at nine sharp and if he wanted breakfast and a shower, he needed to be knocking on her door at seven-thirty tomorrow morning.
Tuesday, July 19, began cloudy and overcast. The weatherman said it would be ninety degrees in the afternoon. Funny, how ninety degrees in Phoenix was almost pleasant; ninety in Key West is like living in a sauna, thought Alexis, as she got dressed for the photo shoot.
Pablo knocked on her door before seven-thirty; they ate breakfast, he showered, and she drove them to the Custom House Museum on Front Street. Alexis was glad she had reread Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.” The sketches gave a beautiful visual to Hemingway’s written words. The photographer, Neil Elliott, a pleasant young man, was easy to work with, and he even agreed to take a picture of Alexis and Pablo next to the life-sized bronze of the author on her iPhone.
Alexis dropped Pablo off at his van before noon. He agreed to go with her on the ghost tour that evening. On her way to the Hemingway house, she stopped and purchased two tickets for the 8:00 p.m. tour. It was after one o’clock before she was seated at Hemingway’s desk. Francis Albert was upset that she was late and missed his special treat. To make him happy, Alexis gave him two treats.
The next day, Alexis realized she was actually going to finish her book. She had spent the whole day in the studio to complete the one task why she came to Key West—to finish her manuscript. Alexis was grateful that Pablo had found his way to her porch to mediate. They both had enjoyed the walking ghost tour and hearing the creepy stories about haunted building and mysterious history and legends of Key West.
Alexis left around three-thirty to go home, take a shower, and change before her next scheduled appointment at Sloppy Joe’s to celebrate Ernest’s birthday. She was ushered into the crowded restaurant by Neil, the photographer, who had prearranged to meet her. She was startled when she walked into the room full of former winners and current contestants in the Hemingway
Look-Alike Contest. Alexis couldn’t believe there were so many portly gentlemen with gray hair and full gray beards, who honestly looked like the late Papa Hemingway.
The next two days, Alexis dedicated herself to editing, reworking, rereading, and changing her manuscript. On Saturday, she took the day off from writing. She and Pablo were going to the Street Fair and watch the Running of the Bulls around noon. They both enjoyed the open-air marketplace filled with arts, crafts, food, and various miscellaneous items. Alexis bought some gifts for Ashley and a Hemingway-themed Christmas ornament for herself.
The bizarre event titled “Running of the Bulls” consisted of the Papa Hemingway look-alike winners and losers. They were all dressed in white shirts, white pants, with a red cap on their heads. Their outfits would have made the citizens of Pamplona proud. They rode through the streets of Key West on large bulls made out of wood sitting on a platform with attached wheels. It was hilarious; Pablo and Alexis laughed and cheered on the contestants, and Alexis took lots of pictures.
“Please send me some of those pictures,” asked Pablo as he handed her a piece of paper. “Here is a post office box where you can send my mail.”
“Thanks, Pablo,” Alexis said as she put the paper in her purse. “I appreciate you being my buddy while I was here. Since my sister bailed on me, I would have felt very isolated and lonely in a strange city by myself.” Alexis also noted that Pablo dropped the “hippie” vernacular when he talked to her. He evidently was well educated and could communicate well.
Arthur called Alexis as she was eating her dinner. Charlotte had arrived in Phoenix that morning. She was completely unapologetic and unrepentant. After telling him about some of her experiences in Cuba, Charlotte told her dad that she was going to quit her job and move to New York to live with Aaron. When asked about her daughter, she said she planned to leave Ashley in Arizona with Christopher until she found a job in NYC and was settled.
The Girl in Hemingway's Studio Page 13