She was in such a hurry that she arrived on the porch gasping for breath. As she prepared to knock on the door, she felt something watching her. She looked down beside the welcome mat and saw a keen pair of blue eyes staring up into her face. They belonged to a garden gnome. Molly had a whole collection of them, but this one was different. It was unusually large, and its head was tilted up at a grotesque angle. It couldn’t possibly have been made that way on purpose.
Lisa was still trying to arrive at a satisfying explanation for the garden gnome’s odd contortions when Molly opened the door. She was an enormous woman, both tall and wide, and everything about her was soft, from the sagging skin puffing out around her face to the billowing dress hanging on her shapeless body. Her hair was gray, and her eyes were so pale that they almost seemed to disappear into her face.
“Lisa, what a surprise!” she said. “I was hoping you would stop by. Why are you standing out here? Did you see my new garden gnome? I dropped him by accident and his head fell off, but I stuck it back on with modeling clay and baked him in the oven for a few hours. Isn’t he the most adorable thing you’ve ever seen?”
“I don’t know,” said Lisa. “He looks kind of strange.”
“Oh, don’t be silly,” said Molly. “I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him, and I’m sure you’ll feel the same way about him once you get to know him better.”
She beckoned Lisa inside, and when Lisa stepped into the house, she found herself in the presence of a strange man. He appeared to be about the same age as Lisa’s parents, but he might have been a little older. He was sitting in the living room with his ankle resting on his knee. His black suit was immaculate, and he smelled like cologne. He held a glass of wine in his hand. Lisa was so shocked to see him that she couldn’t move. She started to mumble an apology for intruding on what was obviously a private moment, but Molly grabbed her by the arm as if they were two teenage girls meeting a celebrity.
“Lisa, this is Graham,” she said. “I’ve spent the most wonderful afternoon with him. Graham, this is Lisa. Isn’t she cute? She’s my best friend in the whole world.”
Graham leaped to his feet with an ingratiating smile and extended his hand to Lisa. She took it with some reluctance.
“You must be Andrew and Nora’s daughter,” he said.
“Oh, do you know them?” said Molly with a delighted squeal.
Lisa, who was trying to remove her hand from Graham’s clinging fingers without being rude, felt him twitch. His smile became fixed, and his chin trembled. Sweat glistened on his forehead. He dropped Lisa’s hand. She resisted the urge to wipe it off. Graham shuffled over to Molly and draped his arm around her broad shoulders, a task that required him to stand on his toes.
“No, my dear,” he said. “You told me about them.”
“Did I really?” said Molly. “I don’t remember that.”
“Yes, my dear,” said Graham, “and I can’t wait to meet them. I like spending time with rich people. I’m a humble man, but it never hurts to get a taste of the other side. It’s like getting a glimpse into a better world. I saw their house on my way over here. It’s magnificent. I’m sure it’s just as exquisite on the inside. I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we invite them over for dinner later this week? It would be my pleasure to make a meal for them, if it’s not too presumptuous of me.”
Molly nudged Lisa. “Isn’t he wonderful?” she said.
“Yes,” said Lisa because there was nothing else to say.
“I’m glad I have your vote of approval, Lisa,” said Graham, beaming from ear to ear. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Anyone who is important to Molly is important to me. You’re obviously an exceptional young woman, and I’m flattered to have your support. This is an excellent beginning.”
Lisa merely shrugged, but Graham’s good humor was restored. He finished off his drink in one gulp with the confidence of a man with a purpose. Lisa wondered what that purpose was, and had the uncomfortable feeling that it was something quite different than what he wanted everyone to believe.
“I should probably get going, my dear,” he said, leaning over and kissing Molly on the lips. “I would stay here forever if I could, but I’m a slave to obligation. My boss requires my constant attention. Until tomorrow then?”
“Yes,” said Molly with an idiotic smile.
“I’ll call you,” said Graham. “Good night, my dear.”
He nodded to Lisa and hurried away. It was only then that Lisa realized he must have walked to Molly’s house; otherwise, his car would have been parked along the street. This was a disconcerting thought. She glanced out the window and saw Graham meandering toward the dunes beyond her house, where the ruins of an ancient fort stuck up through the sand. There was nothing beyond the fort except an empty strip of land that eventually vanished into the sea. Lisa tried to see where Graham was going, but he disappeared into the shadows.
“Who is he?” she said.
“I don’t know,” said Molly with a nervous giggle. “I never thought I’d have a boyfriend at my age, but I like him. I like him a lot. He’s so interesting. Before you got here, he was telling me how much he likes being out on the water. Just by looking at him, you wouldn’t think of him as a sailor, but he’s full of surprises. I can’t wait to find out more about him.”
“But where does he come from?” said Lisa.
“I met him online a few months ago,” said Molly. “I never would have dared to reach out to him, but he said the sweetest things to me. My heart melted. Apparently, he lived in Silvertree a long time ago, but he doesn’t live here anymore. He travels a lot for work. That’s why he’s here now.”
“What does he do?” said Lisa.
“He said he’s a personal assistant for some big fancy business executive,” said Molly. “He’s very successful. Did you see his clothes? He looked gorgeous in that suit. It makes you wonder what he sees in me, but you know what they say: love is blind.”
“It can’t be blind to everything,” said Lisa. She forgot about Graham and thought about her father. It was difficult to imagine him committing murder, but a variety of dreadful images popped into her mind. “There are some things you can’t ignore. It’s not enough to love the idea of a person if that person doesn’t actually exist. There has to be something more, or it doesn’t work.”
Molly’s smile faded.
“Have you ever been in love?” she said.
“Of course not,” said Lisa. “I’m too busy with school.”
“But there must be plenty of nice boys in your class,” said Molly.
“High school romances are completely pointless,” said Lisa. “They always end badly. They’re just a waste of time. Besides, my parents think it’s stupid, and they want me to focus on my grades.”
“But what do you want?” said Molly.
“It doesn’t matter what I want,” said Lisa. She wished Molly would stop questioning her. The lump in her throat prevented her from speaking. The comfort she had hoped to find at Molly’s house was nothing but a cruel illusion, and for the first time in her life, she felt completely alone. She thought about her grandmother’s wrinkled face and her eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, please don’t be upset,” said Molly, flinging her arms around Lisa and almost smothering her with an impulsive hug. “Lisa, you don’t have to be perfect to be loved. Trust me: if there’s anyone who knows about failure, it’s me, but I’ve finally found a man who sees the good in me, and it’s magical.”
“But are you sure it’s real?” said Lisa.
“Of course it’s real,” said Molly. “When I look at him, everything makes sense. Don’t worry, Lisa. It won’t be long before someone sweeps you off your feet and steals your heart. You just have to be patient.”
“What if I can’t?” said Lisa.
“Then I’m terribly sorry for you,” said Molly. “The world is dreary when you forget about your dreams and stop using your imagination.”
Lisa couldn’t bear to listen to her anymore. M
olly was a liar. Fantasy only made things better when nothing was actually wrong. Otherwise, it was worthless. Before Molly could stop her, she hurried outside. She didn’t exactly slam the door, but she allowed a gust of wind to catch it and fling it shut with a violence that shook the house.
Chapter 2
Lisa’s parents accepted Graham’s invitation, and three days later, Lisa found herself standing outside her house with her little sister Veronica, waiting for her parents to finish getting ready. The thought of spending time with her father was excruciating, now that she knew what he had done. To make matters worse, she was embarrassed about her sudden departure from Molly’s house, and she didn’t relish the idea of seeing Graham again.
“This should be fun,” said Veronica, who liked the peculiar atmosphere of Molly’s house. She was especially fond of the garden, which was littered with an abundance of junk, including an old rowboat full of bricks and a rusty seesaw shaped like an alligator. Even though Veronica was twelve years old, she pretended to believe the garden gnomes came to life at night. She often made up stories about their antics, some of which were so sinister that Lisa occasionally wondered if there was something wrong with her.
“I think Mom is feeling better,” said Veronica. “She finally got rid of the flowers earlier today, so you won’t have to sneak around and water them anymore.”
“I wasn’t sneaking around,” said Lisa. “We’re going to be late. I wish Mom and Dad would hurry up. It’s freezing out here.”
“Why are you in such a bad mood?” said Veronica.
“I’m not,” said Lisa with more irritation than she intended. If Veronica got suspicious, she wouldn’t stop until she discovered the truth. She decided to change the subject. “I’m just not looking forward to school starting up again in a few days.”
“Really?” said Veronica. “Don’t you miss your friends?”
“Sort of,” said Lisa. In reality, she wasn’t enjoying her junior year. Her classes were so challenging that her social life had suffered, and Veronica’s innocent question hurt her more than she expected. Veronica’s ability to fit in wherever she went was something Lisa had always envied. She allowed a hint of contempt to enter her voice. “There’s more to life than going to the movies and hanging out at the mall.”
Veronica ignored her. Lisa regretted her outburst, but she hated being reminded about Veronica’s carefree existence when her own life was so overwhelming. She couldn’t understand why her parents held her to such a high standard. They didn’t object when Veronica broke the rules. It wasn’t fair.
As she pondered the situation, her mother emerged from the house. She was a pretty woman with a gentle face, but grief had aged her beyond her years, and the persistent redness in her eyes revealed her pain. She smiled when she saw Lisa, but there was no joy in her face.
“Where’s Dad?” said Lisa.
“He’s on the phone,” said her mother. “I don’t know who he’s talking to, but it’s probably someone from the hospital. You know how much he likes to be available for his patients. I tried to get his attention, but he ignored me, like he always does. He’ll catch up with us eventually. Let’s go.”
“But we can’t leave without him,” said Lisa. “Molly will ask questions, and it will be awkward.” The last thing she wanted was for Graham to develop an unhealthy sense of curiosity about her family, which perhaps he already had, if his desire to meet them was any indication. Luckily, she didn’t have to convince her mother to wait. The door opened, and her father hurried out, wrapping a scarf around his neck.
“Who were you talking to?” said her mother.
“Do you remember Sabrina and Arthur?” said her father. He spoke casually, and Lisa marveled at the distortion of his character that allowed him to pretend nothing was wrong. “They’re coming to visit tomorrow.”
“What?” said Lisa’s mother.
“I hope you don’t mind,” he said.
“Are you being serious right now?” she said, her voice rising. “Andrew, I’m not ready. I haven’t entertained anyone since the funeral. It’s hard enough for me to get up every morning without having to take care of a bunch of people.”
“You and Sabrina used to be friends,” said Lisa’s father.
“Twenty years ago,” she said. “The house is a total wreck.”
“It’s not that bad,” said Lisa’s father. “Don’t worry about it. You can fix it up tomorrow. It will be good for you to have something to do. You’ll see.”
He patted her on the back and went down the steps. There had been a time when Lisa’s mother wouldn’t have tolerated such condescension, but she followed him without saying a word. Lisa tried to remember when her mother had surrendered, but she couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment. The decline had begun long before the funeral. Perhaps after years of being torn down with dismissive comments, she had finally gotten tired of fighting. Lisa felt a pang of guilt and glanced at Veronica.
“I shouldn’t have been obnoxious to you earlier,” she said.
“No, it’s fine,” said Veronica. “I know you didn’t mean it. I’m glad you’re willing to pick a fight. If Dad keeps being rude, someone’s going to have to call him out, and I would rather not have it be me. If I got annoyed enough, I might use bad words, and then he would have a fit. I wish Mom would stand up for herself. They’re both such hypocrites. They ought to be ashamed.”
“I’m sure they’ll work everything out,” said Lisa.
“I’m not,” said Veronica. “They’ve been acting weird ever since the funeral. You’d expect them to come together and support each other, but they’re doing the exact opposite. I know they’re upset, but I’m starting to think there’s something else going on.”
Veronica’s candor terrified Lisa.
“You’re imagining things,” she said. “They just need more time.”
“I hope you’re right,” said Veronica. She grabbed Lisa’s arm. “Come on. I can’t wait to see this creepy garden gnome you told me about. Maybe the others rounded him up and chopped off his head because they didn’t want him to join the tribe. He’s probably plotting his revenge even as we speak. I hope Molly keeps an eye on him. There’s no knowing what he might do.”
They walked down the beach, and Lisa observed the footprints of her parents in the sand. For a while, they remained side by side, her mother’s on the dry sand and her father’s on the wet sand, but as she watched, a wave washed up and obliterated her father’s footprints.
∞∞∞
Molly and Graham welcomed them inside with excessive joviality. Molly’s cheeks were flushed with excitement, and she never stopped smiling. Graham matched her enthusiasm. He was wearing an enormous apron over his suit, and the evidence of his labor stretched from one end of the table to the other. A delightful aroma filled the air.
Graham had gone to the greatest of pains to make sure everything was perfect, and as he pulled out a chair for Lisa’s mother, his satisfied expression illuminated the room. Lisa’s father, who appreciated a good meal even though he tended to be cynical about everything else, shook Graham’s hand and complimented his efforts. Only Lisa remained ill at ease. She thought Graham was trying too hard, and she didn’t believe such a talented man would fall into Molly’s lap by coincidence.
After everyone sat down, Graham brought out a bottle of wine. He removed the cork with a few clever twists of his hands, and leaned forward with a conspiratorial grin as if he were revealing a secret.
“I like to imbibe before a meal,” he said. “Not excessively, but enough to set the mood. It stimulates the appetite as well as the conversation. I’m ordinarily a man of few words, but I’m looking forward to sharing this occasion with all of you, and I hope we can make this a habit. Savor the moment. That’s what I always say.” He poured a generous portion of wine into his glass, did the same for Molly, and turned to Lisa’s mother. “May I?” he said.
“You’re very kind,” she said. “Thank you.”
“And for y
our lovely daughters?” said Graham.
Lisa and Veronica looked at each other in astonishment. Graham’s outrageous suggestion delighted them. They had never tasted wine before. Graham held out the bottle and began to pour, but Lisa’s mother shook her head.
“No,” she said. “They’re too young.”
“It’s fine, Nora,” said Lisa’s father.
Graham ignored their conversation and continued what he was doing. Lisa’s mother remained silent, but the frown on her face revealed her displeasure. Lisa knew she didn’t want to make a scene in front of Molly and Graham, and she hated seeing her so helpless.
“So, Andrew,” said Graham, handing the bottle of wine to Lisa’s father. “Molly tells me you’re a very important person.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” said Lisa’s father.
“Oh, but you are,” said Graham. “I was so intrigued that I took the liberty of looking you up online. You used to be quite prominent in the research game, but you haven’t published anything during the past couple of years.”
“I’ve been mostly focusing on my clinical practice,” said Lisa’s father. “When the director of oncology quit, I was asked to take over until a replacement could be found. It was supposed to be a temporary thing, but it’s been more than a year, and there’s no end in sight. Unfortunately, I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time for anything else. I’m only maintaining a small laboratory at the moment, but I hope to get back to it eventually.”
“That’s good to hear,” said Graham. “A man like me—well, let’s just say this dinner is one of my finest accomplishments. I like to think of myself as an artist when it comes to food, but I’m really just an amateur. The passion is there, but the talent is absent. There’s nothing quite like dicing a fresh turnip with a newly sharpened knife. It’s exhilarating. But a man like you—you should be changing the world.”
Lisa decided Graham was insane. It was the only logical explanation for his behavior. She tasted the wine and thought it was disgusting. She couldn’t understand how Graham had managed to drink a whole glass. Strangely enough, the food did not reflect his questionable tastes. The meal was excellent. Graham was clearly an expert in his own way, and Lisa wondered what other talents he was hiding.
The Patient from Silvertree: Book One in the Silvertree Series Page 2