Eye of a Needle
Page 16
“She was a complicated person,” Catherine mused aloud, “but like anyone she knew joy, sadness… all of it, even with all that money.” She shrugged expressively, “Don’t get me wrong, she was super rich and people did manipulate her for her money but she was also shrewd… and she was kind. She was independent in that she rejected having to marry when she was expected to and believed she made an economic difference during The Depression when she and her mother hired all those people to rebuild Bellosantuario.”
Mattie closed the bedroom door behind them and they slowly returned to the foyer.
“And the quote says he who fails to recognize the world is full of fools should smash his mirror and live alone…” Catherine tilted her head to look up at the taller women, “Those last twenty-four years she wasn’t really alone, was she? She spent a lot of money and time looking after her nanny’s daughter to the end of her days … and she provided educations for a lot of kids, like Bobby Becker, from grade school to university.”
Mattie added, “And she employed a lot of people for her costume and diorama projects.”
“She may have been afraid of the world because she was a rich, single woman, but she was still a good person.” Jordan took Catherine’s hand, “I just hope she was happy too.”
Mattie had her own key for the apartment and she closed and locked the door behind them, replacing the crime scene tape across the front door.
“So,” Jordan pressed the button for the elevator, “headed back to the bureau?”
“Yep.”
“Want to join us for lunch?”
“Hey, yeah!” Catherine enthused, “We need to get Cam from daycare, want to come?”
“Yeah,” Mattie’s smile was genuine, “I’d like that.”
Millburn, NJ
Arms slid around her waist, “Whatcha’ thinking about?”
She stood at the window and turned in the embrace, “I was thinking about Chateau Donjon,” Jordan draped an arm around the slim shoulders and led the way to their bedroom. “I was pretty envious of Louis Becker… of him and his son, living in the woods in their own private wildlife sanctuary.” She tucked her chin to look at her, “What a fantasy, huh? To raise Cameron with you in a place like that. But even though he walked his son to the bus stop every day, I wonder if they didn’t feel cut off from the world sometimes.”
“We live in the woods here too you know, our house sits right at the foot of the South Mountain Nature Preserve...”
“I know; we had some great hikes there last year, didn’t we?” They stood on opposite sides of the bed and turned down the covers, “It makes life so much simpler that we can just go there to hike and not have to own it, like Helga owned Chateau Donjon. Can you imagine the taxes she paid on that place for sixty years?”
“I don’t have to imagine,” Catherine clambered into bed, “I know; the property taxes gradually rose over the decades to a whopping hundred and seventy thousand a year.”
“Lord.” Jordan slid onto the mattress next to her, “You know, while we’ve been slaving away the snow’s been melting. Since South Mountain Reservation is just a few minute’s drive from our house we should really take advantage of all the recreational activities they have, we only got to a few of them last year. We should have a look at their website and try to get through the list before winter comes around again.”
“They do have tons of hiking trails… and you know Cam’ll want to see the zoo,” Catherine grinned, “again.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Jordan pulled on her, urging her close, “And that reminds me…”
“Yes?”
“I still owe you a make-out lunch in the park.”
She stood by her bed, holding the book, “I wish you had taken this.”
Catherine shook her head, “It’s all in the hands of the legal custodian now.”
Helga looked resplendent in a flowing silver-white gown; appearing to her as the tall elegant dancer she had once been, “Yes, it is…” she sighed. She put the book down and pulled Catherine by the hand to an ornate sofa bench outlined in gold brocade, “I wish I had met you earlier, I would have enjoyed writing you a few checks too.”
Catherine laughed, “I’ll bet you would…”
“I should have enjoyed sending your son to a fine college.”
“He’ll still go to one, Jordan and I made sure we’ll be ready when it’s time for him to go.”
“Excellent.” Helga motioned with her chin, “Can you see her?”
Catherine followed her gaze and saw the figure of a small girl in the distance, her arms held out as she twirled and twirled … “You look young,” she grinned, “How old were you there, four or five…?”
“That’s not me, that’s your daughter, Chelsea.”
Catherine’s mouth dropped open and she could feel and hear Helga chuckle softly next to her.
“She’s quite good.”
“Is…” Catherine swallowed audibly, “is that really her?”
“Yes.”
As they spoke another figure, the outline of a woman, appeared and held out her hands. The young girl ran to her and when she jumped into the outstretched arms, they disappeared.
“And that was your mother.” Helga said, “See? They aren’t alone, and they’re happy.” She turned to her, her smile brilliant, “I am happy too…” Catherine felt the warm hand grasp hers, “Know that we are at peace, all is well, and the only souls who live alone here do so by choice.”
Catherine could feel tears streaming down her face but she still smiled, “Understood.”
The inhale was harsh, almost gasping, as if she had been holding her breath. She sniffed and quietly cleared her throat, taking a moment to readjust to the familiar surroundings of their bedroom. She swiped at the wet tracks on the sides of her face where tears had run into her hair and she sniffed again, chuckling softly. Raising her head slightly, she squinted at the clock and then rolled onto her side, facing Jordan, content to watch her sleep in the growing morning light. We have some time… before the alarm goes off. She thought, noting for the thousandth time how evenly Jordan’s eyelashes fanned over high cheekbones.
When Jordan finally did wake, she smiled, “Good morning.” Catherine’s grin was sublime and Jordan sleepily pulled her close and planted a soft kiss on her lips. She inhaled deeply and looked at her, blinking, “How come the big smile?”
“Oh, you know… I’m happy.”