“This book has been scribed by Mary Bennett, word for word from the recollections of Georgina Thompson-Matheson from Sept 1, 1969 to right before her death in 1971”
I am the bastard child of a famous mother who abandoned me to her wealthy family. My grandmothers, Mimi Matheson and Bridgett Thompson (a cousin Ginny) cared for me and provided me with this home. The house I have lived in all of my life has harbored an aching and captive heart. It has been my protector, my shelter and my friend. This house is as dear to me as I hope it is to the one whose hands it becomes entrusted to. As I approach the end of this life, I have found peace within these walls and the life I was born into.
Paige stopped reading the beautifully scripted handwriting and looked out the window, “What on earth is a Cousin Ginny?” she asked the women surrounding her.
“It was a very derogatory term for the women of England and Ireland who came here during the mining days.” Betty said, “When the gold rush started word got to Europe that there was gold in California. Men from England and Ireland came over with hard rock mining experience. They took jobs from the common workers and the local men became bitter. When a hard rock miner started working he would talk to the foreman and say he had a cousin Jack, Jim, or John who would arrive in a month or two and could he have a job. The foremen, needing experienced workers, would save the job for the ‘Cousin Jacks’. Local men in need of work were furious that their work had gone to a ‘Cousin Jack’. The women, usually sisters or wives coming to the area were called ‘Cousin Ginny’, and what is now used as a term of endearment was then a dreadful thing to call someone. It started a lot of bar brawls. The phrase also described separation of classes between Nevada City where the well to do lived and the working class of Grass Valley.”
“To this day the cities, as closely related as they are cling to the concept that we are better left as separate entities,” Patti stated as an authority on the issue.
Betty took a long drink of her tea and said, “Paige, do you know what this means?”
“I’m a little confused actually. I am related to Judge Matheson, so Georgina is my… what?” Paige asked quietly.
“Great-Great Aunt?” Mim answered, wide eyed, “I don’t think Georgina had any children or even married.”
“It also means, Dear, that you’ve had a right to this property and this mansion since you were born,” Etta said. She stood and placed her hand on Paige’s shoulder.
“let’s keep reading!” Addy said nesting down in her hair and pulling a pillow to her chest.
“Now let that old salty dog try to stop us.” Mim looked like the cat that’d just swallowed the canary, as she curled up in a chair, sipping tea.
CHAPTER 21
Paige lay in bed thinking through the events revealed in the book. The situation with Will’s son coming from San Francisco was such a strange coincidence. The baby furniture they had refurbished for Jon Jon had been originally crafted for a baby given away by her mother over a hundred years ago.
Cool air pricked her skin. Georgia was near, she could feel her.
“I wanted you to love me.” The voice was timid and hurt. Paige felt guilty and unsettled. She was never going to get to sleep!
Wally stared at the air over the bed as if he were watching something visible only to him. Paige had the sudden desire to have Jake with her. It was almost midnight, but she picked up the phone and dialed anyway, trying to block out a strange unsettling sense of guilt and shame that gnawed around the edges of her mind..
“Hi,” she said softly.
“Hi,” his voice was husky with sleep.
“Sorry it’s so late.” she said.
“Paige,” He paused, “You can call me anytime… What’s up?”
There was a long silence from her end and then it burst out of her all at once, “I miss you, Jake, and I’m such an idiot.” Then there were tears. She hated the tears. She sniffled as the uncontrollable wave of emotion took hold of her. “First there was Betty and I can’t believe I seduced you knowing about Betty. I’m so ashamed. Then the house drama and now all this truth…”
Ten minutes later Jake walked into her bedroom.
“There you are…” he sat on the edge of the bed and reached for her, “Hi.”
She slipped into his arms. He stroked her hair and held her until she started telling him Georgia’s story. Jake listened for over three hours until Paige had exhausted every detail.
“Jake, there are some strange coincidences. Georgia alludes to growing up in a boarding house… but…”
“There have always been rumors.” He leaned closer, kissing the top of her head.
“Rumors about this being a… a bordello?” She asked quietly. He nodded, yes. “There’s more…” Paige flipped through the pages until she found what she was looking for, “I found a name listed during the time that this would have been a bordello.” Here it is. She let her finger rest upon the fancy scrolling letters spelling out “ Hilda Grizwolden”. Her eyes made a quick dart to Jakes face, “Do you think this could be a relative of Jed?”
Jake threw his head back and smiled at the ceiling, “wouldn’t that be sweet justice?”
“How do we find out?”
“Just so happens I know someone who’s got the records for a few more days. Auntie Mim would love the opportunity to fry his chicken.” He paused and took a good look at her face, “How are you doing? This is a lot to digest in one day.”
“Well it’s close to daybreak and you’re here listening to me. I am rambling brainlessly that’s how I’m doing.” She looked into his eyes, “Jake, there is something else that I want to say to you.” She wanted to talk about her dream of being one of the girls in the brothel. It felt so weird, but it was a far memory she couldn’t dismiss.
“Don’t Paige. I just let those words fall out of my mouth. I knew you weren’t ready to hear them.”
“It’s exactly what I needed to hear.” Her hand touched his face. Her confessions from another life would have to wait, “Jake, I love you too.”
~
Hammering noises from the side door banged through the house until Paige realized someone was knocking. Washing the paint from her hands, she padded toward the door she never used just in time to see Jed making a quick retreat down the steps, “What can I do for you?” She called toward his back.
He turned slowly looking sheepishly over her shoulder to the edge of the door, “I wanted to save you the embarrassment of having this on the front door.”
Paige turned quickly and snatched the “NOTICE OF IMMENENT DOMAIN” from the nail he’d hammered into her siding. “You know, Jed,” she said sweetly luring him back to the porch, “There is no need to be so nasty with me. We really have a lot more in common than you know…” She smiled.
Jed sauntered back up to the top and looked down his nose into her smug face, “The only thing we have in common is you’re standing on land that’s going to belong to the city in less than thirty days.”
“Really? I’ve got some interesting research that says your great grandmother, Hilda Griswolden used to reside in this house… oh well I’m not sure they called it a house back then.” Paige winked slowly.
“What do you know about…” Jed stammered, “How the hell did…” He stomped his foot at Paige. The veins in his forehead were pulsing purple.
“Oh, please do be careful.” Paige said softly, “this porch hasn’t been reinforced yet… not knowing if I was going to move the house or not…”
“You’ve,” Jed pointed a finger and stomped again, against the creek of rotting wood, “You’ve been nothing but trouble since you sauntered into town and started dripping honey all over Jake. Acting like you own this place.”
“You leave Jake out of this, Jed, and I do own this place…”
He grumbled and turned just when the boards cracked under his feet. Paige jumped back into the safety of the door jamb as the porch swallowed him up to his chest in splintered rotting wood.
“Oh,
I’ll have to call someone to get you out. But it’s after hours. You’re dinner might be late… what did you say Rita was making tonight?”
Jed grabbed a sideways board and tried hefting himself out of the hole. The old timber snapped, toppling him backward into the hole again. Paige was looking for a step ladder while Wally waltzed past Jed’s chest and circled his head. Carefully and thoroughly Wally assessed the situation. Jed, who was apparently allergic to cats, began an uncontrollable sneezing fit.
~
“So what now?” Paige asked Jake as she looked at the letter in her hand.
Jake walked around behind her and read it again over her shoulder, “Jed’s such a sneak.” Shaking his head, “You know he didn’t say a word to me about this letter. It officially releases the city’s hold on the property… not just the house but all of it. It’s over Paige.” He kissed her shoulder, “The skeletons in his closet must have started rattling when his family name was linked to unflattering family history.”
“Mim must have made some copies of the records to share with him. Together with the entries in the stories of those women… must have been humbling for him.”
“This calls for a celebration!” Paige said joyfully, relieved to have Jed’s final word in writing.
“I’ll shop and you call the troops… or would you prefer a private party?” Jake puffed his chest out and raised an eyebrow like a cheesy super hero.
“So many of them had a hand in saving this old mansion, I think we should throw a real party.” She smirked at his ridiculous pose and rethought her decision, “Tonight you and I celebrate and Friday we party.”
“That’s my girl,” He picked her up in his arms and walked her to the bedroom to ravage her slowly. It was Saturday, they had all day and there was nothing they’d rather be doing.
“No drinks? No flattering? No empty promises?” Paige laughed uncontrollably. It felt good to be joyful.
Jake stopped and looked firmly into her eyes, “Never an empty promise, Paige. But… here’s one you can take to the bank.” He kissed her neck and his whiskers bristled against her ear, “You’re going to have trouble explaining the smile on your face when I finally let you out of this bed.” He tossed her into the down nest of bedding.
“GOD, I love you, Jake.”
Landing on top of her, he began a trail of kisses on her hand, “The feeling, my little flower, is most,” kiss, “mutual.”
Wally strolled off the bed at his leisurely pace, no doubt rolling his eyes like a teenager.
~
Paige gazed out her kitchen window at the mound of rubbish in Etta’s yard, “She’s working like a logger over there.” She yelled to Jake who was coming in from the back porch.
“She’s on a mission. I don’t think you’ve ever seen the determined, creation mode of my sister. She’s a force to be reckoned with.” He joined Paige at the window. “Looks like she’s taking a break,” Jake said. “Hey, help me make a menu for the party Friday and I’ll put the order in at the bakery and the caterer.”
“I want it to be fancy and fussy and fabulous!” Paige gushed.
“The big F’s, You got it, Babe, I think that’s perfect.” He was so pleased to see her joy.
“Should we invite Jed?” Paige asked with a wicked smile.
“I think that would be a wonderful step at burying the hatchet… no hard feelings.” Jake was proud of her, “Now, what to feed the guests?”
“Let’s call Addy and ask her what’s good right now,” Paige thought for a minute, “Oh Jake, I don’t want her to work, I want her to enjoy the party.” She said through pursed lips, “I think the only easy way out of this is to ask her advice.”
“I’ll leave it to you two then… my request is meat, red and a lot of it.”
“My request,” added Paige, “Champaign! The good stuff... cases of it! If we have any left-over we’ll use it when we open the B&B.”
“Little bubbles, no troubles.”
“What does that mean? I’ve always wondered,” Paige asked as she reached for the phone.
“Great Champaign has tiny bubbles, big bubbles mean big headaches the next day… little bubbles, no troubles,” Jake answered.
CHAPTER 22
Having her hands in the earth was one of the best ways Etta knew to ground herself and find center. She had been working in her garden for at least six hours. Her knees ached, her back was throbbing, but her head was starting to clear. Marigolds were planted flanking the long winding walkway. Weeds were discarded and the wisteria trimmed around her porch. The sun was blazing hot on her back as she crawled a couple of feet to the hose bib and turned it on for a drink.
“You know this water is not fit to drink,” Addy said leaning on the gate.
“What do you mean? We drank from the hose the whole time we were kids and nobody died.”
“That we know of…” Addy widened her eyes and came through the gate carrying a couple of iced coffees.
She sat on the bottom step of the porch in the shade of a peach tree and handed Etta a cup, “You need help getting up here?”
“Nope… just….” Etta crumbled as her back cracked in an unusual place. A twinge of pain froze her movement, she flopped back down with a “woof”.
“Do I need to call 911?” Addy asked.
“Don’t be a smart ass, Addy, just hand over the goods…caffeine, revive me.” Gratefully, Etta sipped the cool liquid through a straw.
“You’re doing a lot in one day,” Addy stated the obvious.
“I need to see results in at least one area of my life. Nothing says everything’s ok like flowers on the walkway.” Etta inspected the work of the day.
“Looks great though,” Addy tilted her head.
“Will’s tied up in all kinds of drama with the baby. I feel helpless.” Etta took a long draw from the coffee, “I’ve been an emotional mess. I’m trying to hide it from him and Mim. They have so much going on, but I’m a wreck.”
“Healer, heal thyself.” Addy said without hesitation.
“You know how that is… never as easy when it’s my own life.”
“Makes you a better healer to understand this, Etta…”
“You get all those smarts by shunning the glutens in your diet?”
“Well, partially, yes… keeps my head clear and my body free. The Coffee is sweetened with Stevia. Can you tell?” Addy’s constant concern for a healthful diet was endearing to Etta.
“No, my dear friend, I can’t tell.” Etta smiled, “Thank you for caring about me. You know I’ll submerge myself in a vat of chocolate and red wine if not carefully watched.”
“Here’s the wine and here’s the chocolate.” Addy lifted a brown all natural gift bag, “The wine is organic and the chocolate is dark with lavender and sea salt.” She held out a hand to help Etta stand.
“You’re a good friend,” Etta said, suddenly tired and sore. “A great friend would invite you in to share with her, but I’ve got a date with my tub.”
“I wouldn’t dream of staying, Love. I’ve got a class in about thirty minutes.” Addy kissed Etta’s cheeks and whispered, “Call me if you need anything at all.”
Once she stripped down exposing the filthy feet and hands she tentatively submerged herself into the deep, wide wonderfulness of her claw footed tub, her muscles began to relax. It was like an old security blanket. Could have been that her sun sign was Aries/ fire, her moon was Leo/fire and her rising was Virgo/earth. Water balanced and soothed.
What in the world was going to happen between her and Will? He had told her repeatedly that she was a permanent part of his life. He was a man of his word. It was tough to feel connected when they didn’t see each other for days at a time or spend nights together. The trauma of having him walk away for over a year wasn’t helping her heart believe his words of love. Etta could justify Will’s current preoccupation; Jon needed consistency in his life. Will and Jon both sleeping at Mim’s was the natural way the living arrangements unfolded but Etta’
s nerves, her heart and her whole being had been deeply rocked by all the changes.
She felt like an outsider in her own life as the drama dug in deeper every day. Etta was certain Will was now keeping things from her to protect her emotionally. It was possibly the reason she was withholding her complete trust from Will. She felt like an intruder in his life! That was the final thought as she forced her relaxation. She closed her eyes and accepted the warmth of water. Her muscles pulsed with appreciation as they warmed and unknotted. The sensation spread deeper to her bones and then she felt the warmth swirling towards her chakras. As she began to feel more centered and peaceful, she drifted off into an altered state.
Brown , no, it was more than brown; she freed her inner vision to see tan and warm auburn shades of fall crept into her view. Leaves floated down from the sky landing on brilliant green grass. The dry, crackling sound of leaves being run through followed by giggling brought a burst of joy to her heart chakra, as the sweet smells of fall twirled around her. Small tennis shoes, black canvas high tops delighted in a leaf dance. Tiny white mary janes with lime green socks appeared jumping in the leaves next to the black tennies. A chorus of laughter filled every space in her body with the purity of a love she’d never experienced before, an emotion so deep she wept in its presence.
The intimacy of the moment was gone in one breath.
~
The thought of lighting up a cigarette drifted through Mim’s mind as she watched out her bedroom window for Etta to arrive. Her fingers twitched as she inched closer to the dresser where she kept a secret package of Virginia Slims. The struggle to keep her non-smoking status was strong. Living long enough to see Jon grow and flourish was the most important thing in the world to her. She could feel something bothering Etta, her girl, her precious replica of Henri. It had everything to do with the baby and Will. How could it not? It was certainly a mess. Later in the week, Miles Harper would arrive to meet his grandson, Jon, for the first time. Uncertainty swung wildly over the family like a guillotine. Sitting with Etta would soothe both of their ragged nerves. She jumped up and rummaged through her drawer until she found the sweet small package of cigarettes and ripped open the foil.
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