The Curse Of Ivy

by Josephine Aubrey

  Fred was also a designer of women’s fashion as well as a fashion consultant. Phoebe had met him through her work, and they had an instant connection. After meeting in the fashion arena several times, Fred had invited her to dinner and their relationship had progressed from there. He was her dearest friend, and she loved him.

  Now they were here in Paris taking in all of the sights, enjoying the culture, and frequenting art exhibits in between. They were staying at a posh hotel down town in the middle of the busy Paris scene, and she loved it. If they decided they wanted peace and quiet they could move to wine country and rent a small cottage in the countryside, but for now, she was happy.

  They had just settled in with a drink, when Phoebe received the call from Flannel Grayson about the death of her sister Hannah. She was heartbroken. After the phone call, she was stricken and crouched on the floor as if she had received a physical blow. With her face in her hands, she sobbed uncontrollably. Fred sat with her on the floor, and held her, until she could pull herself together.

  As her sobs subsided, Fred helped her to stand and led her to the sofa. “Fred,” she said, “It is my sister Hannah. She has died.” And she cried. “They found her in an old cave near Grayson Manor,” she continued. “They have had lots of rain there, and the Ohio River flooded the cave. No one knows why she went to the cave, but she did, and now she is gone. She was drowned in the floodwaters. I can’t even imagine how that happened, but I would not be at all surprised if it had something to do with Justin.” Her eyes shifted back and forth as if searching her brain for something that eluded her. Justin has always been such a screw-up, she thought. Everything the boy touched disintegrated. He was destructive. He is a danger to himself. Just thinking about him made her angry. She was sure that when this was over, they would learn that Justin was somehow the cause of her dear sister’s demise.

  “You know the sad part of all this Fred?” she asked wiping her eyes. “No Phoebe dear,” he said gently. ”Even though Justin has always been in trouble, Hannah never saw or acknowledged any of it. She was totally blind to his faults. I will tell you a secret, Fred, if you promise to keep what I tell you in the strictest confidence.” ”Whatever you need to say Phoebe, you go on and say it. You know you can trust me.” “Justin is not my son. He was Hannah’s,” she confided. “You are kidding.” He said in shock. “You mean that boy is not yours. How is that possible?” He finished. “It is a long story Fred.” She said sounding tired. “Hannah was pregnant with no prospects of marriage at a time when there was a great stigma attached to such things. Not just for her, but also for the baby. We left together for a long vacation, and when we returned, I had a new son. Even my husband, Jack, thought the baby was his. So you can understand Hannah’s fascination with him. The whole thing has been a tragedy, and now Hannah is gone, with no chance to tell Justin that he is her son,” and her voice trailed off into weeping.

  “It will all be fine Phoebe. I am so sorry you have lost your sister, but you will get through this.” ”Thank you Freddy. I don’t know.” She said as she laid her head on his shoulder. “Hannah, Hannah,” she cried. “She was my only sister. How could such an awful thing have happened? She was so good. What was she doing in that old cave anyway? My god, it must be falling in by now,” she ranted.

  After Phoebe had calmed down, she said to Fred. “I have to hurry and arrange for a flight back to Grayson Manor tonight. Would you mind calling and arranging a flight for me?” she asked. “I am so sorry dear that our trip is ruined, but we can do this again another time.” “Don’t worry about it Phoebe. I am fine. Let’s just arrange for your flight and get you home.” Holding her in his arms, he kissed her.

  “Now I have to hurry and pack. I don’t want to leave anything. Will you go ahead and make the reservation dear, and I will begin packing my bags. I do hope that I can get a flight out this evening. Elizabeth and Hannah were very close. Hannah had been like a second mother to her. She is probably feeling really low right now. I have to get home as soon as possible to be there for her. Freddy, you really are a dear. I love you.” Then she disappeared into the bedroom to begin packing.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Phoebe had a late flight from Paris to Louisville, so when she let herself in the front door at Grayson Manor, she was surprised to see everyone still up, huddled in the library all with grave faces still trying to make sense of the events of the last few days, and grieving for Hannah. Flannel hugged his sister-in-law Phoebe, and told her how sorry he was, while tears of his own grief ran down his face. Elizabeth was tucked under Phoebe’s arm in an effort to comfort her daughter while she was introduced to Patricia Grayson, David and Carol Grayson’s daughter.

  ‘Hello Patricia, It is so nice to finally meet you.” And Phoebe openly scrutinized the girl from head to toe. “I can’t believe this.” She said looking amazed. “You look just like Justine Grayson, the girl in the painting in the ballroom. That was almost one hundred years ago and here you are again.” And she laughed and hugged Patricia. “You are just beautiful, and a wonderful addition to Grayson Manor. We need more young people around here.” and she tucked Patricia under her other arm, and they all gravitated to the library. Now that is a good example of how to greet someone, Patricia thought gleefully. She really liked Phoebe. She had just acquired another friend.

  After Phoebe and Patricia had a long conversation about Carol and David Grayson, Phoebe and Flannel sat talking about all the news since she had been gone. “Flannel, I knew that you was ill, but I did not realize that it was so serious. I am so happy that you are well. It does not really surprise me that Justin is suspected to have had something to do with your problems. Then you say he is in trouble because of drugs. My god! He has always had a dark side, but this is the worst. Hannah and I did our best to raise him right, but no matter what we did, he was always in trouble.” She finished. “We all did the best that we could Phoebe, and that is all that you can do. Just let it go. You have enough problems right now.” Flannel said, and they exchanged glances that acknowledged their mutual grief at their loss of Hannah.

  It was two in the morning when the Grayson’s finally turned in. They were all exhausted emotionally and physically. Phoebe was completely drained after her long trip carrying the heavy burden of losing her only sister and best friend in the world.

  Phoebe still occupied the same suite of rooms she had shared with her husband Jack Grayson when he was still alive. The rooms were her safe haven and contained all of the personal mementoes of her life when Jack was here, and when he was not. There was the photo of her holding Justin, as a baby, when she and Hannah returned from their long vacation. Jack stood next to her with a proud smile, beaming because he was the proud father of his baby boy.

  It was a difficult situation to pull off. She was not ready to be a mother, and then there was her sister Hannah having to pretend to be Justin’s aunt, when her heart ached to announce to the family, and to the world, that this was her own son who she loved with all her being. Although Phoebe felt pity for sister, there was really no way that she could help her. The situation was dire, and the knowledge that Justin was really Hannah’s baby, and not Phoebe’s would have sullied the family name. The two sisters could not let that happen.

  Over time, as Justin grew into a little boy, the two sisters worked out a system where Hannah really spent more time with Justin than Phoebe did. There were times, however, when Hannah’s heart would ache when Justin was introduced to Phoebe’s friends as Phoebe’s son. Resigning themselves to the situation, however, both Hannah and her sister were relatively happy.

  Then little Elizabeth came along. Hannah loved her at first sight and of course her mother Phoebe, along with everyone else in the family, doted on her. Phoebe was a good mother, but she was also very busy with her social life and her charity organizations. Because this took up a lot of her time, Hannah took up the slack, and was thrilled to do so.

  Justin was six years old when his little sister was born. Although th
ere was an instant bond between Justin and Elizabeth, and it was obvious that he loved her, he seemed troubled by her at times as they were growing up. Phoebe would catch him starring at her quizzically, and she would wonder what he was thinking. She wondered if he noticed the obvious difference in their coloring and their hair. Justin was olive skinned with dark hair, and Elizabeth was blonde hair with hazel eyes.

  There was a point in his life when Justin seemed to go from a happy contented little boy to a troubled child, who quarreled with other children in the neighborhood and at school. Phoebe and Hannah tried to provide guidance for him, but it seems that neither of them had made much difference. Now Justin had done something unforgivable, and although she would give anything to have her sister back, Phoebe was glad that Hannah was not here to witness the destructive situation Justin had gotten himself into.

  As she prepared for bed, she let the tears fall for the loss of her sister Hannah, and the tragedy that had been her sister’s life. Tragic was the only word to describe; not only her life, but also for the way she had died. Phoebe knew in her gut that Hannah had, for some reason, gone to that cave and gotten caught in the floodwaters because of Justin. Justin was Hannah’s son and she would have done anything for him.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Flannel arranged for the viewing and the funeral to be set for the same day. Phoebe had arrived late the night before, but managed to pull herself together, after her long trip, to support her family, and to greet their friends who attended.

  Unlike her sister Hannah, Phoebe still appeared youthful, with beautiful hair, and was dressed in the latest fashion. It was obvious to Patricia that the woman was a vibrant upbeat sort of person, despite her obvious grief at the loss of her sister Hannah, she shone.

  When they attended the funeral, both Flannel and Elizabeth sat with Phoebe to lend their support, because they both understood what a great loss this was for her. They did the best they could. They were both devastated by the loss as well, and were dealing with their own grief.

  Hannah looked lovely. Phoebe had provided a dress with some color, and they had arranged her hair in a more becoming style. She looked peaceful and surprisingly younger. It made it possible for the person looking at her to imagine what she may have looked like when she was younger.

  At the grave, Phoebe and Elizabeth cried together, and Flannel was there to hold them. Patricia felt somewhat of a spectator since she had not known Hannah long enough to grow fond of her. Even though there had been an instant rapport and connection of kinship between herself and Flannel Grayson and her cousin Elizabeth, Hannah still seemed a relative stranger that she had to make an effort to know and love. She felt helpless for them, under the weight of their loss. In recent weeks, Patricia’s own life had changed drastically. Seeing the loss and grief of the Grayson family juxtaposed with her own sense of an altered life left her with an unease that comes from the impact of tragedy and grief. Life is change, and not always for the better, she thought derisively.

  Patricia regretted getting off on the wrong footing with Hannah Ivy the first day she arrived at Grayson Manor. Under the duress of arriving to find Flannel Grayson comatose, she had automatically assumed that Hannah had something to do with the failure to get him to the hospital. Now, too late, she understood Hannah, and her position here at Grayson Manor. She had also become aware of just how much Hannah dearly loved and tried to protect her family. If Patricia could have gone back in time, and done it all over again, she would have given Hannah the benefit of a doubt. She regretted not having gotten to know her. The fact that Elizabeth, and Phoebe, and her Uncle Flannel loved Hannah and valued her counsel, gave credence to the quality of Hannah’s character.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  After the funeral, the family, along with Rand Cameron, all gathered in the library where they all sat around the fire. The dancing flames were a comfort on this chilly May evening when everyone was in low spirits. To add some comfort to the occasion, and to lighten the mood, Flannel had ordered in catered food to be served. They were all huddled together eating, and enjoying hot tea, and each other’s company by the fire.

  Flannel sat in conversation with his sister-in-law Phoebe, Elizabeth’s mother. Elizabeth sat next to Patricia where she entertained Snuffles by letting him pull on her scarf. Sitting across from Patricia, Rand winked at her and smiled. She smiled at him in return, and gave him a long look that basically asked, what? He laughed at her and motioned for her to follow him. Leading her out to the foyer, he took her hands, and looked deep into her eyes.

  “You and I are going to have to get better acquainted.” “What? Saving my life is not acquainted enough for you?” “No. You know what I mean. We should talk. Like, this Friday. I could take you to dinner.” He finished. “You are right.” She said teasing him. “I would just love some dinner.” And she kissed him lightly on the tip of his nose, smiled teasingly at him, and then walked back into the library to mourn with her family.

  Rand stood there for a moment as he watched her walk back to the library, and smiled a longing smile of impatience. He could see his future with Patricia, and he couldn’t wait to marry her and begin their lives together.

  Patricia and Rand kept the date and had a wonderful time having conversations about just about every aspect of their lives, and when he took her home that night, he proposed marriage, and, of course she said yes. Actually, she had decided to marry him the day he had pulled her out of the Ohio River.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Gradually, over the next few days, the Ohio River went down leaving debris and silt on the lawn at Grayson Manor. When the river was within its banks again, Flannel Grayson had the old smugglers cave sealed up for good. In the basement of the old mansion, the doorway to the old tunnel that led to the cave was filled in with bricks, and the opening to the cave near the river was filled in with gravel and then closed forever with concrete. No longer could friend or foe access the old cave.

  Now the old cave, sealed off forever, was left to further decay. It was the end of an era of the cave being used for shelter, or shady dealings. This was done in honor, and in memory of Hannah, a momentous occasion to honor the loss of a loved one, and to insure that neither man or beast would become victim to the dangers lurking in the old cave ever again.

  The inhabitants at Grayson Manor continued on despite the emptiness felt by all that was the space that had been filled by our Hannah Ivy. She had unobtrusively been there for them all, to serve, give her support, and love them in the unique way that was Hannah. She was sadly missed.

  Phoebe created a distraction for Patricia and Elizabeth, taking them shopping, and visiting friends just trying to fill their time to distract them from the sadness of their recent experiences and loss. Life at the manor would never be the same, however, with the loss of Hannah. To add to the sadness, Justin had been indicted for dealing drugs, and on two counts of attempted murder.

  The drama that played out at Grayson Manor seemed surreal to all involved. There was Hannah who had lost not only her first and only love, but also her only child. Now she was gone. Lost in a tragic attempt to save the child she had never been able to embrace as her own. Then there was Justin, who, left behind by Hannah Ivy the mother he never knew he had, was left to face his punishment for his evil deeds alone. Oh, the family would be there, but not in the same spirit that Hannah would have brought to his predicament. It is true. All at Grayson Manor missed Hannah Ivy, but not as deeply and desperately as Justin did.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Seven Months later, Patricia and Rand were married. Flannel walked Patricia down the isle, and handed her over to Rand, happy to see his daughter married to an old family friend. Elizabeth and Karen were bride's maids looking stunning in teal chiffon. Patricia’s best friend, Karen, lent a sense of home to the occasion, and made it possible for Patricia to envision her two worlds melded together into one. Her friend representing her hometown, and her life with David and Carol, while being present
here in the rose garden for her wedding represented her other life full of love and support that she never dreamed she would ever have again after the loss of her parents.

  After Patricia and Rand had said their wedding vows, and the groom was allowed to kiss the bride, he looked deep into his wife’s tearful eyes and said, “You belong to me now. You are all mine.” “Yes,” she said through happy tears. “You have saved my life in more ways than one. I whole heartily pledge my life to you.”

  Both the bride and groom turned to their friends and family who were there to share this joyful moment with them, then looked at each other as if to say, “well here goes.” And then walked into the future together.

  The End

  Epilogue

  It had been years since Patricia had received the letter that informed her that she had family that she had known nothing about. She had been united with Flannel Grayson, her father, and acquired a wonderful cousin named Elizabeth, who had become like a sister to her. Then there was the loving, accepting Phoebe. Patricia loved having family. She reveled in it.

  Patricia’s home in Greenfield was still beautiful and welcoming. She and her husband Rand had kept her ancestral home in good order, spending time there whenever they could. She had sold her mother, Carol’s, accounting business and put the money in savings for her son, David, and her daughter, Gracie, for their future.