Laelia
Page 21
As was his habit, Jake wore a tie and sports jacket, as if he were going out to work for the day. Rebecca led him from his room and down the front stairs, saying gently, “Come with me, Jake. You have to meet someone.”
“I have his face,” Lydia said, covering her mouth in surprise as soon as Jake and Rebecca entered the library.
Rebecca sat Jake down in one of the club chairs so he would be across from Lydia. She sat in the chair next to him.
“Hello, I’m Lydia. I’m your daughter.” Lydia turned to Rebecca. “Does he understand any of that?”
“Not really. He goes in and out, but he never does well with short-term memory. What he does remember is from the time before his accident. Anything after, he doesn’t.”
Rebecca paused, her head turning, hearing Claudia enter the front door and walk through the hallway.
“I need to prepare my sisters before they meet you. But don’t worry about anything. You sit here with Jake while I speak to Claudia and Gracelyn. He should be pretty peaceful. Lydia, before you leave, I want to give you some flowers.”
Claudia had gone into the kitchen with her packages, thinking she would find both of her sisters there. Standing and talking rapid-fire to Gracelyn about her purchases, her back to the entrance, she turned when Rebecca entered.
“Rebecca, what’s wrong?” Claudia noticed Rebecca’s queer expression.
“I don’t suppose anything is really wrong, but we do need to talk. Gracelyn, could you pour me some water?”
“Of course, Rebecca.” Gracelyn exchanged an anxious look with Claudia.
Rebecca took several deep breaths.
“What I have to tell you is Jake has a daughter. Her name is Lydia. She’s a young woman in her twenties. She’s up front, sitting in the library. I want you to come meet her.”
“What?” Gracelyn blurted out without thinking.
“Oh, Rebecca, I’m so sorry,” Claudia said.
“No, please. She’s actually lovely. She’s had a difficult life, not much support. But she’s married to a soldier, and they’re expecting their first child. She came here to let Jake know before they left the country.”
“Rebecca, you don’t deserve this. I had no idea Jake was like that. I know it’s not the girl’s fault, but isn’t this hard for you?”
“It was hard before his accident. He was unfaithful several times. But now, everything Jake did to me, I’ve let it go. My life is very different from when all that happened, and I’m stronger. I built my business, I have the two of you, and now I have Randall. I want you both to hear what I’m saying. The only power we have, really, is to let things go. There’s no reason to hold on to all that pain.”
“Oh, Rebecca,” Claudia said earnestly, “I never thought you suffered like I did, like Gracelyn and I both did. I told you all my problems and you never once mentioned your own. I feel very bad that I didn’t comfort you.”
“You couldn’t have, because I didn’t let you know I needed comfort. And maybe I didn’t, in the same way. But you both are so precious to me that I haven’t needed much more than your being in my life. Never forget that.”
“Things are just never fair, are they?” Gracelyn said, still distressed.
“Things are what they are, Gracelyn. But they can always get better. Look what’s happened to me. I’ll be in Paris next week with a wonderful man.”
The three sisters sat registering what had happened in Rebecca’s life and what was about to happen.
“And don’t forget, Wilson’s gone. Deacon Smitherson called me this morning.”
“That’s fantastic!” Gracelyn instantly shifted gears.
“So, I want you both to meet this young lady and put her at ease. Her life has been harder than any of ours, and she’s not bitter. Don’t you see the lesson in all this?”
“Lord, have mercy,” Claudia said, shaking her head. “I do, Rebecca. But I don’t want any more of these lessons for a while. I shouldn’t say such, but it’s true.”
“We all need to rest for a minute. It will be good for me, going away. Now, you all won’t be mean to Jake, will you?”
“No, we won’t.”
“Gracelyn, I didn’t hear you say anything.”
“I promise I won’t be mean. I promise you, Rebecca. But only for you.”
“That’s a good girl. After all, the man is defenseless.” Rebecca smiled. “Come along, now. I don’t want Lydia sitting alone with her father if he starts getting wound up. She won’t know what to do.”
Claudia and Gracelyn followed behind Rebecca down the hall to the library. Stopping at the door, they both stared at Lydia, transfixed by her resemblance to Jake.
“I’m sorry for staring, but it’s amazing how much you look like Jake . . . your father,” Claudia spoke kindly. “I’m Claudia,” she extended her hand. “It’s good to meet you.”
Gracelyn followed suit. “I’m Gracelyn, Lydia. This is a little unreal, but I’m glad to meet you too.”
“I know it must be strange for all of you, especially for Rebecca. But I’m grateful she let me in.”
“Oh well, dear. Stranger things have happened,” Rebecca replied. “It’s probably best to take Jake back upstairs now. Gracelyn, would you mind?”
Gracelyn complied without answering, taking Jake’s hand and leading him back into the hallway and up the front stairs. When she returned, she joined her sisters and Lydia, who were talking calmly together.
“I suppose there are a lot of things to know when you meet a person,” Rebecca said. “I’ll send you a scrapbook once you get to Berlin. I have lots of pictures of Jake. I’ll send the address for Sacred Lamb too, in case you get back this way. Do you think you will be coming back stateside this year?”
“We hadn’t planned to. But I’ll certainly be in touch.”
“That will be good.”
“Did Rebecca tell you she’s leaving for France on Sunday?” Claudia asked.
“You are? That’s a coincidence.”
“It is, isn’t it? The trip came up kind of suddenly, but I’m really looking forward to being away. Jake will be in good hands with my sisters until I get back.”
“I wasn’t worried, Rebecca. I can tell you care about him.”
“I do. I’m not in love with him, but he’s a family member, a part of my history.” Rebecca paused. “I’ll be traveling with a male companion, a wonderful man. Maybe we’ll get a chance to meet your husband overseas.”
“I would like that, Rebecca.”
“Will you stay in touch with us here, Lydia?” Claudia asked, still damp-eyed. “At least let us know if you need anything.”
“Oh, yes. If you want me to. I would be delighted. Outside of my husband I don’t have any other family.”
“You have family now, dear,” Claudia told her.
“Claudia, will you go and see what Gracelyn is doing about dinner?” said Rebecca. “Lydia, I hope you’ll join us,” she added, realizing the girl was probably hungry.
“I’d love to, but I can’t. I promised Robert I would get back to the base before late, since I’m driving alone. But I would very much like to visit again.”
“We look forward to it. You’re a very sweet girl. We should get your flowers now, so you’ll stay on schedule.”
“Rebecca, I brought back some wonderful tangelos from the market,” Claudia said, as the three stood up to leave the library. “I’ll fix Lydia a bag of those and wrap up some bread and cheese so she won’t get faint during her drive.”
“That sounds fine, Claudia. But I hope tangelos are not what Gracelyn’s serving for dinner tonight.” Rebecca’s remark made them all laugh.
Claudia gave Lydia a quick hug, then left her and Rebecca to gather up a bouquet from the greenhouse and say their temporary farewells.
After Claudia walked away, Rebecca turned back to Lydia.
“Lydia, don’t take this the wrong way, but do you have your own money?”
“Yes, Rebecca. I have some savings and I plan
to work, once I learn the language.”
“You let me know if ever you don’t. That’s one thing we don’t mind doing. A man always holds some cards. It won’t hurt for you to be holding a few.”
About the Author
RUTH-MIRIAM GARNETT is a graduate of Harvard University. She is the author of a collection of poetry, A Move Further South, and the recipient of many grants and awards for writing, including a creative writing fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. A native of Webster Groves, Missouri, she divides her time between New York City and St. Louis, Missouri.
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A Move Further South
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Copyright © 2004 by Ruth-Miriam Garnett
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First Atria Books hardcover edition January 2004
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