Remedy House

by Ruth Hay

  She stood up slowly. Her muscles had cramped from sitting motionless in one position. She needed to get away from Harmony House. If she should encounter Faith today she could not guarantee to control her emotions. She decided to call a cab and go to town for the day. When she had recovered some sense of normality she would return and deal with Faith’s questions.

  Chapter 7

  With only a week to go before school started, Jolene was impatient to get information from Faith.

  She maintained a regular text and call schedule until she had broken down her resistance.

  “Okay! Quit already! I have a couple of names from my aunt but they’re not likely to be of any use. There’s only one I recognize and that’s the guy who lived with us when I was small and he’s definitely not my real father. That I know now. He was paid to make it look like he was my dad. He didn’t last beyond my fourth birthday before he took off running.”

  “Faith Joan Jeffries! You really have no clue how this works, do you? One name could be all it takes. It’s all about what we do with the one name. Who is it?”

  “Uh, his name was Jar. My Mom called him Jar Jeffries all the time.”

  “Are you kidding me? That’s not a real person’s name! It’s some kind of nickname and not a cute one.”

  “Really? I didn’t know that. You see? I told you this was a waste of time, Jo.”

  “Wait a minute. Kids do this nickname thing in high school all the time. Look at you. You are known as J.J. instead of Faith because of your initials. The real point is that this guy is the one who would know the others in your Mom’s gang. Give me all the names you got from your aunt. I’ll work on the first vlog content and you can approve it.”

  “What’s the point? It’s hopeless.”

  “Do you want to know who your father is, or not, J.J.?”

  The question stopped her dead. She ran it around in her brain and checked her feelings. Was this important to her, or not?

  The surprising response was strong and visceral. It bypassed her brain and went to her core.

  “I guess I do want to know. Let’s give it a try, Jolene. But you have to promise to quit when it fails miserably.”

  “Good! Get started with a journal entry about why and how and don’t forget to include your feelings. That part is for the school project. The vlog is the main thing. If we can get attention on YouTube there’s no telling how far this could go.

  Hold on for the ride of your life, J.J.!”

  * * *

  In due time the basic text for the proposed first vlog entry arrived for Faith’s approval.

  (YouTubeTitle:) Finding Faith’s Father.

  I am fifteen. My birthday is November 30.

  I was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

  My mother’s name was Felicity.

  I want to find my father.

  If you can help me, contact this site or this number.

  Faith studied these few lines like she had never studied anything in school. She was immediately bombarded with reasons why she could not turn on a screen and announce these details to the online world. She contacted Jolene at once in a fury of denial.

  “Jo. This is madness! Even I know I can’t just put this information out there for any perverts to see.

  I could get the weirdos of the world replying in droves, not to mention kids from school and what would we do then?”

  “Now, J.J. Calm down for a minute. I am not that stupid. This is how we’ll do it, so only really helpful people will respond.

  First of all, your voice will be heard but your face will not appear. We’ll show your hands or your profile in shadow or something unrecognizable like that.

  Second, we’ll set up a completely new email site and number not connected to your current phone.

  Third, we’ll make sure nothing in the background is a clue to where you are located.

  Fourth, we will not use any of the names your aunt supplied. That’s our ace in the hole. If a familiar name contacts you then we can start to ask what they know and check them out thoroughly.

  Fifth, we will….”

  “All right! You can stop now. I get the picture. Do you have a secret life as a detective or something?”

  “No, but I have watched a lot of crime dramas on television. My dad loves them.”

  Faith still held out the hope all this would be a waste of time but Jolene had clearly gone to a lot of trouble. It required an effort on her part.

  “I suppose we’ll go ahead then.”

  “Are you sure? Have you started the journal for school? I am ready to begin whenever you say.”

  “Don’t rush me, Jo. I have an idea for a completely private spot to do this thing but I need to check it out.”

  “That sounds good. Work on the journal for now. When we meet this week to do our outfits for school, we’ll co-ordinate the 3F project as well.”

  Trust Jo to have an acronym for this!

  “Wait! I don’t want the others to know about 3F, if you must call it that. This is between us or I don’t do it at all.”

  “Okay, kid! It would be more fun with all the J.J group involved but I see your point. Secret for now, at least!”

  “Fine! See you soon. Bye.”

  She put down her phone and took a deep breath. This thing was becoming real. From now on she could not risk anything being overheard. Her aunt did not know the scope of what was planned and she might never need to know. As far as Honor Pace was concerned her niece had asked a question and received an answer and that was the end of it. Faith would never bring it up again.

  Tonight she would find out if the top of the tower could be opened and used. It was Sunday and the smells of the communal meal were already drifting through Harmony House. She would collect a plate for herself and leave with the excuse that she had work to do for school. All the women would be safely in the kitchen at the opposite side of the house from the tower for long enough to let her try to get up there by one means or another.

  She dressed in black from head to toe. She dared not wait until dark but with any luck she would blend in with the shaded side of the house where the tree grew.

  The first part of the plan was to fetch the ladder from the garage, balance it on the grocery cart and wheel it over to the tree. She managed this easily but the next part would be much more tricky.

  She must push the ladder up into the tree as far as possible, making sure it was secure with a length of rope she found, then place it carefully against the tower so she could access the hinged part and see if it had a handle or device to open it up.

  She felt it was worth the risk just this once. Chances were, it would not work and she need never try the dangerous move again. She hoped it would fail.

  The first part went well.

  Pushing the ladder into the tree was easy enough but she had to return to the garage to look for more rope to secure the ladder to the strongest branch. She tested the knots with her full weight to make sure they held tight.

  So far; so good.

  She figured she had about an hour before Hilary would be likely to return to her tower room but she did not intend to take that long. One quick try for an opening and she would know what she needed to know.

  She eased the ladder out toward the tower, propping it against the trellis-like structure and hoping it was not fragile. The move across from tree to tower took place on her knees, one rung of the ladder at a time. The ladder shifted slightly as she got closer to the tower but it held her weight. At the limit of the ladder she must stand up to test the hinged section of the upper tower while leaning against the hexagonal section and using the guttering to steady her upper body.

  She was tight against the tower now and it took a moment before she was confident enough to reach out to look for a means of entry. She knew not to look down.

  There were two small double hinges; one above the other, which seemed to suggest this one section was meant to open up but she could see nothing representing a handle. There
might be a small notch on the opposite side from the hinges but it was too small for her fingers to grasp.

  Just as she was about to start the descent back along the ladder, something slipped and she was thrown against the tower top with both hands out to steady her. All at once, her weight triggered some kind of device and the section with the hinge popped open just enough to see inside. She dared not move until she was sure the ladder was solid against the house. She hoped the rope end of the ladder had slipped slightly in adjusting to her weight and caused the sudden shift. Arriving in Hilary’s bedroom through the outer wall was not in her plan but, having made it this far, against all the odds, she was curious to know what, if anything, was inside the top of the tower.

  This required a very careful move backward to allow the small door to open fully. She could now see inside. It was a space, just large enough for a small person to sit or stand in the centre. There was some light from the windows. She could see the interior was lined in wood. She calculated the floor was high enough above Hilary’s bedroom ceiling to give some noise protection but movement inside would have to be limited. She carefully estimated how far she would need to crouch down to get safely inside the small door and figured it was possible. The ladder would need to be in a different position, farther to the left so access would be easier.

  Her head was making the calculations despite all her fears. This was truly a secret place. No one could ever imagine she was inside Harmony House. It was entirely and totally without any identifying characteristics. It was perfect for her purpose. She cautiously advanced again just far enough to push the door shut with her hand and fingers fully extended.

  On the way down, untying the ladder as she went, it occurred to her that she could place the ladder and the rope flat along the basement level beneath the porch. If no one noticed, she could next try the ladder on the porch itself and see if she could accomplish tower access without using the tree at all. Its branches were useful for camouflage, of course, but the base of the ladder might then be visible from Mavis’s lower tower windows as well as from Hilary’s.

  She needed to ensure both Hilary and Mavis were not looking out of their windows when she went to the secret hideout. The climb up the ladder would have to be done late at night when Harmony House and its residents were fast asleep.

  She carefully untied the ladder and put it snug against the wall beneath the porch where it was concealed by the overhanging porch floor. As she wheeled the grocery cart back to its garage she felt the excitement of the scheme grow in her mind.

  The idea appealed to the part of Faith Joan Jeffries that had grown up with her mother’s dangerous ways. Lately, her life had been restricted by her surroundings and the good intentions of the inhabitants of Harmony House. She had learned to conform to their expectations and appreciate their help but she was not yet a caged animal. An exciting adventure in the dark, with unknowable results was just what the old Faith Joan Jeffries needed.

  Chapter 8

  In due course, Hilary reported to Mavis about her conversation with Leonard Harper.

  “So he did not believe you are suffering from a degenerative mental condition?”

  “Don’t laugh, Mavis. It was not at all funny for me. I truly felt disoriented and forgetful. He gave me a test about occasions when I have felt most lost and he seemed to be pleased when I denied ever losing my way home in the car. Apparently that one is significant.”

  “Well, how do you feel now?”

  “Relieved, of course.”

  “Are you dropping the whole dementia thing?”

  “I suppose so, but Dr. Harper suggested I needed to get out of the house more.”

  Mavis looked up from her sewing in surprise. “Why did he say that?”

  “He thinks I am too focussed on this place and all the women for whom I feel responsible.”

  “He’s not wrong there, Hilary. You know you have taken on a lot of work and worry on our behalf. Could it be time to look outside Harmony House? You were always so involved with your teaching career. You are used to being busy but you should not be so worried. I have my garden and my music, Vilma has her dogs, Eve had her painting, and I hope she will return to that soon, Janice and Honor have full-time jobs and Faith has school. You need something to distract you. To give you pleasure without stress.”

  “Hmmm…….. Leonard thinks I should volunteer somewhere.”

  “Great idea! What did you have in mind?”

  “Absolutely nothing! Other than there will be no school-related or education choices. I have enough of that with Faith’s studying needs. Do you know, that girl has scarcely read one book in her entire life? She is miles behind in English Lit. She told me if there wasn’t a movie made of the books she was supposed to read, she would fail the course for certain.”

  “That’s tragic! She has the smarts but how can she catch up on years of missed reading experiences? This will be a challenge for both of you in grade ten.”

  “Indeed it will! If she is ever to get the scholarships she needs, the path to high marks will be crucial this year. In the meantime, I need to find a volunteer task to give me some slight relief from this problem and everything else.”

  “Right! I am on the case, Hilary. Leave it to me. I’ll get onto my contacts in Social Services and come up with a list from which you can choose whatever appeals to you.”

  “Excellent! Now show me how to work this Netflix thing. I am going to need serious in-house distractions for my limited spare time, if I mean to survive this school year.”

  * * *

  Mavis was still turning over in her mind volunteer opportunities for her friend when she opened the Londoner, the weekly magazine published by the London Free Press, and discovered an entire section devoted to volunteering.

  It must be the time of year when community groups are looking for new supporters.

  She read avidly, looking for something that would suit Hilary’s personality and time limitations. Most of the ads provided detail about their requirements and most were not onerous. There was a surprising number of interesting options but many included some kind of tutoring. She discarded these, as well as the Alzheimer group’s request for a talented pianist and the Sari school’s need for horse riding assistants for their students with disabilities, both of which had appeal for Mavis, but not likely for Hilary.

  She lingered over the job of sorting donations at the Mission Services store, working with people described as ‘a fantastic crew’ and wondered briefly if Hilary would enjoy acting as a board member for Over 55 London. The latter might be too much akin to Hilary’s teaching career as a principal, and she could not see Hilary struggling with heavy bags and boxes of clothing and electronics donations brought from all over the city for the Mission Services store.

  It was amazing how much was going on in the field of community support. The article noted that seniors in Canada were known as the ‘Give Back Generation’. 78% of Canadian seniors volunteered their time as a helping hand to a worthy cause. Mavis concluded seniors today were of the generation who survived the Second World War and knew what it meant to pitch in together to get the necessary things done that governments were neither willing, nor able, to fully finance.

  She re-read the article and finally noticed a small box inset at the bottom of a page asking for Senior Care Drivers providing the ‘Gift of Mobility’. This sounded more like the kind of thing Hilary could do. Transporting seniors to hospital or doctor visits or just to the local grocery store would give her a sense of usefulness while underlining how lucky she was to have a car at her disposal. It would also expose her to a variety of different people and to their stories for which she was not personally responsible, and, best of all, get her out of Harmony House for a few hours a week and away from what she saw as the constant demands of the women there.

  She carefully prepared a list of volunteer options all the while believing what would be most likely to be selected. It was not possible to advise Hilary further than this. S
he would choose for herself or not at all.

  * * *

  Mavis presented the list a few days later when they were enjoying a tea break by the fire in the kitchen. The weather was just enough cooler that the indulgence of the gas fire could be excused for a few minutes. Hilary was in a relaxed mood and received the extensive list with exclamations of surprise that there was such a range of choices.

  “Well now, this is another indication of how much seniors contribute to the economy. Without these free hours many useful activities would need to stop. I think this is evidence of the remarkable generosity and community spirit of our generation, Mavis.”

  “Indeed it is! And you can be a part of this effort after you make a choice.”

  Hilary mused over the list and finally took a pen from her jacket pocket and began to score out the less-appealing options. This was exactly what Mavis had expected. Hilary could never ignore a list. It was her go-to method for getting things done in life.

  Mavis sat back in comfort on the couch and watched the ceramic fire logs glow. She remembered her old Ontario cottage and the amount of work it had been to fetch wood and clean out the fire every day.

  Instant gas was so much easier. It was one of the advantages of the modern age of which the facilities in this house were a great example. From hi-powered furnace to individually-controllable air conditioning, Harmony House was efficient and easy to maintain. She praised Hilary in her mind for adding the elevator to the house’s features. It had made it possible for Honor to get around while her hip was painful and it would be a blessing in the future as she and Hilary, the two oldest of the inhabitants, aged.

  She cast her mind over the unexpected benefits of having a range of ages in their house-mates.

  Faith brought energy and youthful excitement to their lives along with uncertainties of behaviour, Vilma was a force for such good that Mavis could not imagine the house without her and her dogs. Jannice was the one whose transformation from quiet mousy woman to purposeful, determined, employed worker in social services, was perhaps the most surprising of all. Eve was ……. here Mavis’s thoughts faltered. Although she had talked to Eve recently she had not yet broken through the barrier the woman had erected around herself. It was clear how she was suffering. She looked worn from lack of sleep and she had returned to the unconscious hair pulling that signified her mind was caught in the trauma of the past. Mavis had seen this kind of regression before. She sat up straight and finished her tea with the decision made that she would tackle Eve in a serious way now Hilary’s problem was dealt with.