Affinity House

by Ruth Hay

  Was she now ready for another change?

  And there it was!

  The question that had been wearing away at her nerves and for which she had been using a great deal of her energy to keep submerged beneath the surface.

  She could block it no longer.

  She was in the midst of change already. Had she really believed everything in her life was settled forever? She had achieved a worthwhile profession and had a small car to provide some independence. This might not seem like much to others with higher ambitions, but to Jannice O’Connor, it was a huge achievement. Why did it no longer seem enough for her? What was the source of this restlessness?

  Time for some honesty.

  She settled her back more comfortably against the trunk of the tree, pulled down her summer-length shorts to cover her knees, and gave her mind up to her surroundings. Insects buzzed around her on their way to the wild flowers scattered in the grass. Tiny ants went up and down the trunk on their assigned tasks as if on a major highway. The sun dappled the forest floor and released scents of green growth.

  She took in a deep breath and pushed it out together with every doubt and fear in her body.

  What was holding her back?

  She and Mitchell had a wonderful time in Toronto. He was knowledgeable and stimulating company and she was quickly caught up in his search for the authentic locations of the Grace Marks story. There were hours of research in the Toronto Library System and hours watching the recent television series in the hotel of an evening with its unanswered questions adding to the host of unknowns. No one had the complete story of a simple serving girl accused of murdering her employers. Not even Grace Marks herself was sure of what happened.

  What Mitchell required of Jannice, apart from a valuable sounding board, were her insights into the mindset of immigrants from Ireland who arrived on these shores with generations of behaviours and traditions related to their feelings about their hated English overlords.

  Was it possible, he speculated, that Grace was overcome with deep feelings of resentment deriving from her ancestors? Had she reacted without thought to one unfortunate set of circumstances and condemned herself to fifteen years of imprisonment?

  Was she guilty or innocent in the deepest of senses?

  Jannice’s identification with Grace Marks grew more intense as the hours of investigation grew. Through the stories of her own parents, she knew how Grace must have felt. She endured lowly servitude for her superiors with little respect or consideration for her needs. There would be endless hours of backbreaking work with no thanks, only more and more effort required; a future in which this would never change until she died.

  Mitchell was at pains to point out how much better circumstances were today for labourers and domestics but something of Grace Marks had entered Jannice’s soul and darkened her perspective.

  Was this the change which seemed to threaten her?

  Mitchell Delaney was currently concluding his research in Toronto and consulting publishers. A title for his book had been decided: Irish Influences in Ontario. He was due to arrive in London for a visit to nearby Lucan to catch up on the Donnellys’ saga that took place there in well-documented and tragic circumstances.

  Jannice had also arranged for him to meet the young couple who bought her old home. Kathleen and Patrick’s family stories could add to his understanding of the period during which Irish settlers came to this part of Ontario and brought with them all the evil deeds of the past to haunt their new lives and ruin their futures.

  So then, what would happen when Mitchell departed back to Quebec to work on his book?

  Was their association over, once he had squeezed every last piece of knowledge from her?

  What was she to him?

  What did she wish to be?

  He was a charming man with impeccable manners. He had never given her a moment of concern as to his intentions. In truth, she had put up a high barrier between them; a barrier which would have discouraged all but a practised mountain climber.

  What would happen if she let down this barrier and allowed Mitchell, the man, to know her more intimately?

  Is this what she feared?

  Was she afraid of losing him completely when his work was done?

  Once that door opened up a crack, many questions flooded through. What sort of relationship was possible? Where would she live? Would he be content with a part-time arrangement allowing her to continue to live at Harmony House? Would Mavis and Hilary be shocked if that were to be her choice?

  Jannice O’Connor realized she had made a giant leap of faith in contemplating these questions at all. She also understood that serious changes would inevitably follow.

  Chapter 20

  Vilma Smith was roaming the far reaches of the woods with Oscar and Astrid. She was no longer afraid of losing control of the dogs or of finding herself in unfamiliar territory. Every tree and boggy area was well-known to her now and she relished the chance to escape from the house and wander in peace with her thoughts.

  Lately, her thoughts had been troubling. Andy Patterson had moved on. Their brief affair had died a natural death once his attention focussed exclusively on the barn extension and the dog accommodations.

  He had not invited her to see the finished premises and she had no wish to do so. Her dream of a cozy home for two had vanished. Living above the old stable block was not her idea of luxury. It suited Andy’s casual style very well and gave him instant access to the working barn but it was a step down for Vilma Smith.

  He occasionally borrowed her dogs to demonstrate agility or obedience training and she was happy to let him take them in his truck. He was always grateful, but that was as far as it went.

  She comforted herself with the knowledge that she had helped restore him to the active, purposeful life he always should have had. Her part in that transformation was over.

  She knew he would come running if she ever called on him for help. He owed her that much.

  She was gradually becoming content with her simpler life.

  No big dramas. No financial worries.

  Another winter escape holiday in Jamaica was in her future, and possibly more of the same with an agreeable travelling companion. There were amazing places to visit in the world. There were cruise ships filled with friendly travellers. All the options were available to her now.

  She had the dogs for company and the comings and goings of Harmony House for entertainment. There was always something bubbling up there. Brandon and Mandy’s arrival had sparked a number of events and she had been responsible for their inclusion in the house, on this temporary basis. She rarely saw the pair but she had heard no complaints. Perhaps this short-term occupancy was the answer for future residents. It certainly added interest.

  * * *

  Just as she was emerging from the deep shade of the woods, she noticed Astrid running off at an angle as if she had spotted a squirrel rummaging for nuts in the undergrowth. She opened her mouth to call the dog back when she recognized Jannice crouched under a tree.

  “Hey, there! Everything all right? I almost missed you!”

  Jannice awoke from a doze with a wet nose nudging her thigh.

  “Oh, it’s you, Vilma! I must have fallen asleep for a minute. I was deep in thought.”

  The confusion that accompanies a sudden awakening impelled Jannice O’Connor to blurt out her feelings in a way she never would at any other time. Vilma was a dear friend. She had bodily moved Jannice O’Connor from a past century into the modern age and she was the one person in the world who could be utterly trusted.

  “Vilma, will you come over here and listen to me? I am in need of your good advice.”

  As her friend spoke out, Vilma became aware of how she had neglected her ever since Eve’s passing. They had not spoken about it together and now she felt guilty. The dogs were ready to settle after their exertions and Vilma plopped down on the grass at Jannice’s feet, determined to make up for her recent neglect.

 
; “Ask away, my dear. Advice is cheap.”

  The whole story of Eve and then of Mitchell Delaney poured out of Jannice like a stream long dammed.

  Vilma was shocked and surprised at the same time but she concealed her inner reactions and listened attentively knowing that sooner or later Jannice would reach the crux of the matter and she would know where her help was most needed.

  She studied the anguished face in front of her and waited with increasing concern.

  When the long and convoluted tale finally ended in a teary sigh, Vilma was still confused.

  Was Jannice depressed because of Eve? Was she missing Mitchell Delaney? Was she simply feeling unsettled at the moment, or was this something more deep-seated?

  “Jannice, dear girl, I know I have been preoccupied with my own affairs of late and I need to apologize for that. You sound distressed and I have not been there for you.

  You asked for my advice today. Truly, I do not know what to tell you in the circumstances. Is it love advice you need? If so, I am presently a sad case. My own romance, of a sort, has fallen apart and I am dealing with broken dreams.”

  Vilma’s confession prompted Jannice to make a comparison with her own thoughts.

  “I do think you can help me with this Mitchell situation. You had a romance with Andy that was partly conducted here in Harmony House. It was not an official relationship like an engagement or a marriage, but no one was bothered about that. Is that the way things go these days?”

  “Well, relationships come in different forms depending on what is possible at the time. Andy and I had no suitable home together so we did what we could to be together whenever we could manage it. The women here understood our situation and we tried not to be too obvious when we spent a night in my room.

  Jannice, tell me. Is that what you want to do with Mitchell?”

  “Oh, he can easily afford a hotel room. That’s not the problem. But what if he wants me to go and live with him in Quebec City? I would be cut off by distance and language from all I know.”

  “Has he asked you to do this?”

  “No! No! But I think he would if I gave him an opportunity. He’s coming to London soon.”

  “So, then, why not ask him what he intends for the future? You can always say no. And, you can say yes and see where it leads. A night together in a fine hotel in London would answer a lot of your questions.”

  “Would you think less of me if I did that, Vilma?”

  “For goodness sake, no! It’s the twenty-first century, Jannice.

  I know you had a sheltered upbringing as a child, but today you can design a relationship to best suit you. If that design means you and Mitchell see each other occasionally in Quebec or in London, no one would question it at all. It’s entirely your own business.”

  “Hilary or Mavis would not object?”

  “Did you sign a clause in your contract restricting relationships?”

  “No.”

  “Neither did I Jannice. Think about this and make a plan so you can move forward.

  As for right now, we should get indoors. All this talking has made me thirsty for a tall, cool, glass of lemonade.”

  Vilma reached down and pulled Jannice back up onto her feet. The dogs shook the sleep out of their fur and headed for the house and a snack of their favourite crunchy nuggets. Their mistress had left the bowls of water and snacks out before they went on their walk so they knew what to expect.

  Funny thing about people. They seemed to need to sit still and talk about stuff for hours, when a good run would sort out most of their problems.

  Braden Santiago went out to stretch his legs after a long computer session with Honor. He had to admire her work ethic. She never seemed to stop once she was tracking down a good investment opportunity.

  He had put aside for now the matter of a music break or a lunch in town but he had not given up on either idea.

  Dusk was beginning to darken the sky after another lovely day when he saw Andy Patterson emerging through the bank of fir trees between the houses. Andy was pushing an electric lawn mower and he looked as if he was intending to cut the grass.

  Braden intercepted him with a call out.

  “Hi Andy! Haven’t seen you around lately. You’re working long days if this is the time you choose to cut grass. Can I help at all?”

  Andy was relieved to see Braden. The two men had grown close during the Jamaican week but in his attempts to avoid a confrontation with Vilma he had been turning up at Harmony House at ever-increasingly odd hours. He was hoping to come and go without encountering anyone from the house or answering their difficult questions.

  “Hi Mate! Sorry! I meant to keep in touch but things got in the way. I’ll be passing this lawn maintenance work onto a new guy soon. I don’t have the time now with the dog business catching on the way it has. Look! If you get a couple of beers, I’ll fast-run this machine over the grass and we’ll have a good chat about stuff. I want to know how your aunt is managing.”

  Braden accepted the invitation and went indoors to check the contents of the kitchen fridge. He found Mandy there putting together a platter of cold meats, bread rolls and cheeses. When she understood his mission she insisted on joining him and Andy on the porch.

  “Look, Braden, I really want to find out what’s going on with him and Vilma. I thought they were a sure thing when we first met them in Jamaica, but since we moved in here he’s been absent and Vilma doesn’t seem to be missing him.”

  “Well, come along if you must, but don’t embarrass the guy, Mandy. I think he’s trying to keep under the radar for his own reasons. He did ask about your mother though, so that’s a good excuse.”

  By the time Mandy had set up the wicker table on the porch with a laden tray and pulled three chairs near enough for comfort, darkness had fallen. She found candle lamps in tall glass containers and lit them for their ambient glow, and to keep mosquitoes at bay. The beer was still cold when Andy returned from stowing the mower in the garages and he drank down most of one bottle before he spoke.

  “Good to see you Mandy! How is your mother doing with her treatment?”

  This was a neutral topic and would serve to ease the conversation into more personal matters. Later on, Braden asked if he could take over the lawn maintenance for the interim period.

  “I am around here for most of the day and it would be no trouble for me to do it. You can give me the key to the garage. I’d appreciate the exercise. Too much hunching over computer screens is not good for me.”

  “That’s decent of you, Braden. It would really help me out. I have a young lad on site at the barn when I am absent but I really prefer to be there in case the bigger dogs get antsy in the evenings.”

  “No problem! So the business is doing well?”

  “Yes. It’s a lot of work and long days of training sessions but the new facilities are custom-designed for the purpose and that helps me keep all the balls in the air.”

  Mandy pushed the platter of food toward him. He looked like he could use a good meal. She took the opportunity to insert an enquiry of her own into the discussion.

  “What about that dream house project you and Vilma were talking about in Jamaica? How is that coming along?”

  Braden kicked his cousin’s nearest ankle under the table and shot her a warning glance that Andy missed while he was putting together a giant sandwich from the platter contents.

  Mandy stifled a cry of pain and kicked back at Braden without successfully contacting him.

  Andy took a huge mouthful of bread and meat and chewed thoughtfully before he answered.

  “That house project had to be put on hold. The insurance money wasn’t enough to cover it and I was able to fix up temporary living quarters above the kennels.”

  Even to his own ears, this sounded like a feeble excuse.

  In the pregnant silence that followed his statement, Andy realized he needed to be more open with these two.

  “Look! The truth is that you will know more a
bout how Vilma feels than I do. You see her around here every day while I have obviously been avoiding her. How does she seem to you two? Is she okay?”

  “She seems perfectly content, as far as I know, Andy. She has her daily routines with the dogs but she doesn’t socialize much. I am at the hospital every day and Braden fills in on the work front for me. Do you want me to talk to her?”

  “God, no!”

  The men’s voices spoke loudly, in concert, so Mandy knew this was not going to be an option.

  “Fine! I hear you, but I think it’s a shame to let something good die a death from neglect like this.”

  She pushed back her chair and stormed off with her dark hair swinging, leaving Braden to take care of the tray.

  “Uh, sorry about that! Mandy speaks her mind, as you just heard.”

  “She’s right of course, Braden. I need to sort this out with Vilma before it’s too late.

  Thanks for the food and the offer of help. It’s only for a few weeks until I hand over the business to another guy. Here’s the garage key. Once, every few days will keep the grass under control. Mavis will tell me if anything more needs doing.

  I have to go now. My truck is parked at the Ridleys.”

  Andy ran off across the lawn like a man being chased by demons.

  Braden sighed. He really must have a talk with Mandy about interfering, but perhaps he had better wait until she had cooled down.

  Chapter 21

  Louise Ridley heard the noise of the truck starting up and her hand went to her throat.

  It had taken two hours to get Ty to sleep and that was accomplished only with Dennis’s help. He took Betsy upstairs to play in her sister’s room until she collapsed with sheer exhaustion. It always upset Betsy to hear Ty crying.

  Shania tucked her sister into her own bed and sent Dennis back to see how Ty was doing. She was now at school every weekday and it was going well thanks to the help from Jo’s brother and his pals who steered her straight whenever she ran too close to the established school groups.