Blue Ink
Page 16
“Thank you,” Bliss said. “I’m also nice and fat.”
“You look amazing, baby,” Ciaran said.
Mrs. Lanigan put her nose to the baby’s head. “She smells like you did, Ciaran.”
Ciaran grinned up at his brother. “Can you believe I’m a dad?”
Ardan nodded and smiled. “You’re going to be a great one.”
Bliss sat in one of the chairs and put her feet on the coffee table. “What I want to know, Mrs. Lanigan, is how you gave birth five times? I’m not sure I have another fifteen-hour labor in me.”
“Each time was completely unique,” Mrs. Lanigan said. “Your husband shot out of me like he didn’t want to be late for a party. Which remained his mode of operation for most of his life.”
“Not now, Mother. I’m a boring family guy from here on out.”
“Those are the least boring men of all,” Mrs. Lanigan said. “What I remember most about the day you were born is how the nurses were so taken with you. They said you were the most beautiful newborn they’d ever seen. For one thing, you were huge. I swear you looked like you were three months old. From the moment they put you in my arms, you wriggled and squirmed and made these hilarious faces that made your father and the nurses laugh. That was just the beginning. You’ve always been a party. The brightest light in any room. I could never let you know, of course, or it would have gone straight to your head and made you even naughtier than you already were. You made me laugh and laugh. Your father too. One time, you dressed our cat, Mouser, in your sister’s baby dress and cap. You paraded him around the neighborhood in his crate with that poor creature yowling. To make it worse, you made kids pay a nickel to see the circus cat dressed as a baby. I asked you, ‘What would make you think to do such a thing?’ You answered back, ‘Mother, how could you not think to do such a thing? I mean, look at him. He’s hilarious.’ I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. He did look funny with that cap tied on his head. The way he looked at you, I was sure he planned to kill you in your sleep the first chance he got. Later, when I told your father, we laughed and laughed while Mouser enjoyed a treat for his trouble.
“Another time, our housekeeper, Sheila, made a batch of cookies for the bake sale at school. I told all you kids they were not to be eaten. I left the room to get my purse. When I came back, you were midway through your sixth cookie—chocolate smeared on your chin. I asked you, ‘Why did you do this when you knew you’d be caught and punished?’ You looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘If Miss Sheila didn’t make them so good, I might be able to control myself. So, if you think about it, the whole thing’s really her fault.’ You made life colorful. I can still feel your glow, even without my sight.”
Bliss and Ciaran stared at Mrs. Lanigan like they’d never seen her before.
“I’ve never heard either one of those stories before,” Ciaran said. “I vaguely recall the circus cat incident, now that you mention it. That was some funny stuff.”
“How did you punish him?” Bliss asked. “I have a feeling I may need to have a few tricks up my sleeve if his daughter is anything like him.”
“For the cat, I made him give all the nickels back and he was grounded from playing outside with the other kids for a week. That was the only thing he ever cared about. Doing something physical outside.”
“Not much has changed,” Bliss said. “He thought it was a great idea to teach me to ski.”
“His father was like that too,” Mrs. Lanigan said. “He was constantly taking the boys on scary adventures I felt certain they would never return from.”
“What about Ardan, Mrs. Lanigan?” I asked. “What was he like?”
“Ardan? Let’s see. He entered the world gently, without any fuss. The labor was quick, like he wanted to spare me pain. He cried for a second or two when he first came out, but his heart wasn’t in it. When the doctor put him in my arms, he stared up at me with the eyes of an old soul. Right away, I thought—he will be like my father—kind, soft-spoken, extremely intelligent. I was right.”
“Come on, he couldn’t have been that perfect,” Ciaran said.
“Every once in a while, he’d surprise us,” Mrs. Lanigan said. “When he was eight, we were at the Mason’s for Thanksgiving dinner and their little boy said my pie crust was too salty. Arden leaned over the table and punched him in the nose. Your father and I were so shocked we just sat there with our mouths open. We weren’t invited back.”
“Do you remember that?” I asked Ardan.
He shook his head. “Not at all. Are you sure it wasn’t Kevan?”
“No, it was you. If it had been Kevan or Ciaran or even Teagan, it wouldn’t have been as memorable. They were always punching things.”
“Pie is a serious thing,” I said. “As is defending your mother’s honor.”
“Mother’s pies were amazing,” Ciaran said. “I wish I had a piece of apple pie right now.”
“My mother taught me how to make them,” Mrs. Lanigan said. “They were the only dessert I ever made. As Ciaran pointed out, Miss Sheila was a superb cook, so I left it to her,” Mrs. Lanigan said. “You must have felt extra protective since I never cooked much else.”
“Mrs. Lanigan, do you think you could teach me how to make a pie?” Bliss asked. “I’d like to make an apple pie for Ciaran.”
Mrs. Lanigan kissed Carmen’s forehead. “I could try. It’s been a long time since I made one.”
“All my mother taught me was how to roll a marijuana cigarette,” Bliss said.
“Is that true?” Mrs. Lanigan asked.
“Not really. She would have, had I asked,” Bliss said. “Instead, I focused on getting as far away from her as possible, which meant working hard at school. Neither Blythe nor I had any interest in becoming a useless member of society.”
“Good for you,” Mrs. Lanigan said. “The other path might have been easier. It takes great character to break the cycle.”
“If it hadn’t been for my sister, my life would’ve been much different,” Bliss said. “She made sure I had what I needed.”
“My son’s lucky to have such a resilient, clever woman to go through life with,” Mrs. Lanigan said.
Bliss looked over at me and shook her head, as if amazed. “I’m the lucky one.” Bliss smiled at her husband. “Growing up, I couldn’t have imagined finding a man like him.”
“Edward and I were always a team,” Mrs. Lanigan said. “Parenting together is harder than being carefree and in love. Just remember to talk through things, include each other in decisions.”
“Thanks for the advice, Mother,” Ciaran said. “It’s nice to have you here.”
“I hope you mean that, because I’m staying,” Mrs. Lanigan said. “Ardan and I have talked and decided it best I stay with him permanently.”
Ciaran’s eyes widened as he exchanged a glance with his brother.
Ardan nodded. “Mother’s learned how to get around with her cane and knows my house.”
“I want to be close to my kids and since you’ve all decided to live on this godforsaken property, I guess I will too.”
Ciaran laughed. “Well, there you go. If you can’t beat them, join them, right Mother?”
“Amen,” Mrs. Lanigan said.
“Who’s ready for some dinner?” Ardan asked. “Effie sent enough food to feed an army.”
“I am.” Bliss got up and took the baby from Mrs. Lanigan. “Being Carmen’s food source is making me hungry.”
On the way into the kitchen, Bliss took me aside. “What did you do with my mother-in-law?”
“She was in there all along,” I said. “Learning how to be vulnerable sometimes comes through a humbling circumstance. She’s keenly aware of the fragility of her life and wants to connect with her children before it’s too late.”
“You and Ardan do belong together.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You’re better than most people.”
“Not really.” I flushed at the compliment.
“I’m the one who should thank you. If you and Moonstone hadn’t talked Ardan into the crazy idea to bring me here, none of this would’ve happened.”
“Are you happy?” she asked. “Not just with Ardan, but here?”
“The word is joyful,” I said. “And yes.”
“Moonstone was right,” Bliss said. “I thought she was, but still, like you said, it was a little crazy what we did.”
“What a leap we all took,” I said.
“Maybe a little crazy is just what we need to make dreams a reality.” Bliss smiled down at her baby. “Like coming to Idaho with a homeless guy and his three-legged dog.”
In her room, Mrs. Lanigan felt for her cane between the mattress and the bedside table, where we’d agreed it should always go when she was in bed. I watched her cross the room with it in front of her and felt like a proud mother when she found the entryway to the bathroom with no trouble. While she brushed her teeth, I prepared her bed for the night by removing one of the pillows and pulling the comforter down to the bottom of the mattress. We’d been over exactly how far down it was so that if she woke in the middle of the night, she would be able to find it easily.
A few minutes later she got into bed. I tucked her in, resisting my impulse to kiss her forehead. I propped some pillows against the back of the bed and pulled back the covers. “I have the rest of the letters. They explain what happened.”
Her face lit up. “You were holding out on me.”
“Even these letters can’t compete with a new grandbaby.” It had taken weeks, but I think I finally had the next bit of the story pieced together.
* * *
Dear Augie,
I told Mother I intend to marry you. She feels certain Father will follow through on his threat to kick me out. We talked over a plan about what to do and she gave me her blessing. She asked only that I bring her to meet you. Can you be ready tomorrow evening?
Love,
Nicholas
* * *
Dearest Nicholas,
I’ve just returned from meeting your mother. She was exactly as you described, right down to her delicate hands and violet-blue eyes. When we were walking together in the rose garden, she asked that should I ever have a home and yard of my own to please plant a white rose bush in memory of her. I promised her I would but said I hoped it would be a long time before she left us. She squeezed my arm and said she hoped so too. When we reached the end of the garden, she asked if I understood about your father and what it means when we marry. I assured her I did, but that I worried you didn’t fully comprehend what it means to our future. She disagreed. “He wants you, not the money. You two can make your own way, like most couples have to.”
She told me she has stashed some cash away for us. When we’re ready, she will make sure you have it to get us started. “If something happens to me, promise me you’ll take Boyce with you, wherever you go. He can’t be here alone with his father.”
I promised her we would always look after him.
With all my love,
Augie
* * *
Dear Augie,
It’s nearing midnight and I’m exhausted. However, I wanted to write to you while the details of tonight remained fresh in my mind and to let you know I may not be able to come by for a few days.
After you left, Mother became suddenly ill. We were about to go in for dinner when she collapsed. The doctor came right away. He took me aside and asked where Father was. I told him he was out and that whatever it was, he could tell me. I look after her and my brother. He gave me a strange look, like he knew something I didn’t, but proceeded to tell me that Mother’s heart is failing. He said she won’t have long and to make her comfortable and for God’s sake don’t let her know how sick she is. Knowing the truth would only make her last days sad.
After I showed him out, I found Boyce crying in the library. “What will we do without her?” he asked.
I told him he would always have me. “I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
Boyce raised his voice, which I’d never heard him do before. Usually he speaks so quietly I ask him to repeat half of what he says.
“It’s Father’s fault. He’s done this to her. He’s broken her heart with his neglect.”
We talked for some time about what he wanted to do after Mother passed. I assured him he would always have a home with us, but did he understand how different our lives would be? He said he didn’t care. He just wanted to be with me.
We went in to see Mother. She was pale and weak. We sat on either side of her bed. I assumed she was asleep until she reached out for my hand. “Augie is lovely. And smart. She’ll be a wonderful mother. You’re right to choose her and not the money. Always choose love.” She had me open her jewelry box. “My mother’s wedding ring is there. She wanted your wife to have it.”
I have a ring for you, my love.
She patted my hand and then went on to say she knows she’s dying. “I’ve known for some time. Promise me you’ll look after Boyce. Take him with you wherever you go.”
“We’ll be together, Mother, don’t worry.”
I’ll close now and have Fred bring this over to you.
Love,
Nicholas
* * *
Dear Augie,
This morning Father joined me for breakfast. We discussed Mother’s health. He said he doesn’t believe anything’s wrong with her. “It’s just another one of her made up illnesses in an attempt to control me.”
I wanted to lash out at him, but I knew it would only upset Mother if she heard us arguing, so I kept quiet.
Then, he said it was time for me to earn my keep and stop babying Mother and Boyce. “It’s time for you to be a man.” He’s interested in investing in the moving pictures business, as he believes there will be much growth in the years to come. I’m young, he said, and more suited for it than he. He went on to say he wants me to move out to California and start an office out there. I was taken aback and unsure how to respond. It was the time, I thought, to tell him about you. Maybe, just maybe, he could accept you and we could go to California together.
I should have known better. There was a reason for his sudden interest in me heading up the Hollywood project.
He knows about you.
“You’ll have to give up the girl,” he said. “Or we’re done discussing California or anything else.”
“You know about her?”
“I do.”
“I love her. I want her to be my wife.”
“No.”
“Why do you care?” I asked. “What’s it to you? She’s no threat to you.”
“An Irish Catholic who scrubs floors? Really, son, your ignorance and immaturity astound me. Do you really think the girl loves you, or your money?”
“You don’t know her.”
“I had my boys follow her. I know everything about her, including her route to work.”
My mind spun in circles. Was he threatening to have them hurt you? I had to buy time, or I’d be tossed out before I could put our plan together. I pretended to acquiesce. I agreed to the California plan and giving you up. He’ll think I’m preparing for a move there, which will give me the opportunity to put some cash together.
“I’ll do whatever you want,” I said. “But please, don’t hurt Augie.”
“You keep your word, and all is well.”
After what I’ve learned about his business practices, any misguided hope I had of gaining his love are gone. I no longer care. I’ll walk away from all of it with my head held high. The money, my family, everything that could possibly be a barrier to our lives together.
I will fight for you, my love, until the end of time. Nothing else matters. I’ll come for you as soon as possible. Until then, I have to stay away for fear Father’s thugs are following me. Stay safe, please.
Love,
>
Nicholas
* * *
Dear Augie,
Yesterday was spent organizing my affairs, pretending that it was in preparation for California. I asked Fred to take me to my father’s offices, as I had several items I needed from there. Our usual route was blocked by a bank of snow that had fallen from a building, thus he took us downtown instead. We were driving by the Bentley Hotel when I happened to glance out the window at the same time Father came out of the front doors of the hotel. He was with a woman. She had platinum blond hair and wore a long coat with a fur collar. She clung to Father’s arm as if she were afraid to fall in her tall heels.
I asked Fred to pull over, which he did. Neither of us spoke for a good minute as they meandered together down the street. The woman’s face was animated as they stopped to look into the windows of various storefronts. At one point, he threw his head back, laughing at whatever she’d whispered in his ear. I’d never seen him smile or laugh that way. Seeing them together was like watching something intimate, something I should never see.
After they disappeared into one of the shops, I studied Fred. “Did you know?” They always say a family’s driver knows all.
“Yes, sir.”
“Who is she?”
“Her name is Miss Prescott. She lives at the hotel. Your father is her sponsor.”
I asked him what that meant. He cleared his throat and looked like a rabbit about to be eaten by a boa.
“Do you mean my father pays for her to live there?”
“Yes, sir. She’s his close friend.”
Close friend? A man does not have a woman as a close friend.
“Do you drive them places?” I asked.
For some strange reason, the thought of Fred having that woman in our car was excruciating. Silly as it is, given that Father has a mistress in the penthouse suite of the poshest hotel in town. Whether Fred drives them places or not is the least of the transgressions.
I needn’t have worried. Fred assured me that Miss Prescott has her own driver.