“Oh gosh, Dena, I can’t believe you’ll be living here,” she whispered enviously. “It looks so … so …”
“Exciting?”
“Yes.”
“I know.” For once Dena agreed with Susan.
“You must write every day and tell me what you do, who you meet, what you eat and how you like your job—”
“Oh you silly goose,” Dena scolded. She knew she would probably miss her sister, but she wouldn’t miss her sister’s constant tagging after her and copying her every action. Suddenly Dena understood she would also be free of her mother’s restricting rules. In a way, it pleased her. Nevertheless, she knew she would need to set rules for herself.
“No, I mean it. Promise—you must promise,” Susan hissed in her sister’s ear.
“All right. I promise,” Dena answered testily. She fully meant to keep the promise, yet in all reality, she didn’t think she would.
“This is our stop, everyone.” Dena and Susan followed the older women off the bus, walking to a bulky brick building which occupied the center of the block before it sprawled out both ways, encompassing almost all of the block. Dena stopped and stared. It was the largest store she had ever seen. She recalled a small ice cream shop tucked in at the corner next to what looked like a barber shop. She hurried to catch up with Susan, who disappeared through the front door.
***
“Oh look, Mother,” Susan said excitedly from one of the many racks. “Isn’t this just lovely? Could I get it for school?” She was holding up a blouse and a matching pleated skirt in blue. Dena sighed. Blue. Susan has so much blue she could pass as the sky. Even if blue is her favorite color, can’t she pick another color, like red?
“Why can’t you get another color just this once?” Dena asked loud enough for only Susan to hear. Susan stuck her tongue out at her older sister.
“We’ll see. Maybe we can come back before we go home. Today we’re looking for beach outfits.”
“Oh Mother! Please!” She couldn’t have sounded more demanding if she had stomped her foot.
“I’ll think about it,” Mother answered, trying to keep the agitation out of her voice. Susan smiled coyly, found the coveted outfit in her size, in blue and hung on to it.
“Susan, let’s look over here,” Dena said, jerking her head in the direction of racks of summer sale items. The four of them moved to the summer sports racks and tables where they rummaged through large stacks of beach wear. Both girls found outfits to their liking and in their size. Susan chose a sapphire blue and white checked beach outfit, while Dena picked out an outfit in a bold maroon with two one-inch-wide navy stripes down one side. Mother checked each item out for sturdiness, and of course the style—not too old-fashioned but definitely modest. Dena watched as some young people enter the store, which seemed lacked modesty.
“After all, you are my girls,” she said while scrutinizing each item before buying it. Mother conceded, allowing Susan the school outfit also. It was one less outfit she would have to make before September.
“Let’s go for ice cream.” Aunt Doreen grabbed up the purchases and hurried everyone to the corner ice cream parlor.
Dena chose butter pecan. She couldn’t tell the difference between a Colorado ice cream cone and a California one. But she absolutely loved the ice cream cone. Eating fast gave her a headache, but her ice cream was melting in the warm weather. Before she knew it, the cone and the afternoon had disappeared.
“Whew. We barely made the four-thirty bus.” Aunt Doreen said. “The next bus runs much later—seven-thirty. I like to be home in time for dinner with Stuart and Emily. It’s our family time.” Dena watched her mother nod. That rule was kept at their home too.
***
“You girls freshen up. We eat at six,” Aunt Doreen said as she stopped to check the stack of mail lying on the table.
“What does freshen up mean in California, Dena?” Susan asked in a low voice as they moved to the stairs. “Surely it involves more than a spit bath with a wet cloth.”
“I should hope so.” Giggling, they hurried up to the bedroom.
“I guess we can wash up, brush our hair, and maybe change clothes if we want to. Just like at home. Its five thirty now. We don’t really have much time.” Dena said, holding her swimsuit and looking at her sister in the mirror. Susan seemed not to hear. She was too busy admiring her new blue outfit.
“I really like our beach outfits, as Aunt Doreen calls them. Am I right? We’re going to the beach tomorrow?”
“Yes,” Dena replied, turning from one side to the other looking at her bold maroon swimsuit with the navy stripes.
“That will look good on you,” Susan said as she sat on the bed, brushing her hair. She had her new outfit already packed, and her bathing suit lay on the bed.
“Yes,” Dena’s eyes sparkled. “It will, won’t it?”
“You girls hurry. It’s almost six,” Mother called from below.
“Coming,” Dena hastily ran the brush through her hair a couple of times and followed Susan to the dining room.
***
The dining room was simple in décor yet elegant. Susan paused then moved to an empty chair next to her mother and across from two young people.
“Hello.” The young girl smiled. “I’m Emily. You probably don’t remember me, but I’m glad you’re here. I’m sure we’ll be friends.”
How sure of herself she seems, Dena noted mentally, sitting very straight. Glancing at Emily, she softly released her breath. Of course she’s in her own home. I guess I would be too if I were in my home. I’m glad that Emily said we’ll be friends. Dena smiled brightly. She figured that Susan was looking at her hands folded in her lap, something she did when she was nervous.
“And this is my big brother Stuart,” Emily continued, making fun of her sibling. Dena stared at the young man. She didn’t mean to, but she realized he’s so like Brock. Even though she didn’t remember Stuart, she knew he was the same age as Brock, while Emily was between Susan and herself.
“I believe that’s obvious sis, since I’m the only male here.” He laughed. Then he leaned forward, holding his hands in an L position, thumbs touching forming a three-sided box and studied his two cousins through squinted eyes.
“Let me guess. You must be Susan,” he dramatized, moving the three-sided box sideways and then back. Next he turned and closely studied Dena through his double L-shaped box. “And that leaves you to be Dena. I hope you don’t bug or nag like Emily.”
“I don’t bug or nag,” Dena and Emily retorted in unison.
Everyone laughed. It broke the tension at the table. She glanced at him, meeting his gaze before dropping her eyes. Blushing, she reflected, He’s just as obstinate as Brock. Yet if he wanted to, just like Brock, he could be nice.
“How long can you stay, Aunt Judith?” Stuart asked turning to his Aunt.
“A couple of weeks I hope,” Mother answered.
Yes, Dena thought, so like Brock. Glancing across the table, she noted that Emily ate only salad and meat while Stuart consumed two helpings of everything.
Funny, he wasn’t a heavy person. Just the opposite, Stuart was actually thin. Taking Emily’s lead, she ate only salad and meat. Next dessert was served. Dena’s eyes widened at the size of the pieces. She took the smallest medium-sized slice of chocolate cake heaped with a fluffy chocolate frosting. She saw that Emily did the same. And like Emily, didn’t eat over two or three bites—though savoring each bite.
“This is absolutely the best chocolate cake ever, but”—Emily sighed and pushed the cake away, patting her mouth with her napkin, and then continued— “I can’t eat another bite.”
“Thanks, Sis. I can.” Stuart moved her partially eaten wedge over to his space and devoured it.
“You’re such a glutton.” Emily made fun of her brother with a smile to soften her retort.
“That’s me,” he admitted, scraping up stray crumbs with his fork.
“S
tuart, when do you need to enroll?” asked Aunt Doreen, ending the banter between her children.
“On the twentieth, I believe.”
“I start back to work on the seventeenth. I want to take Judith and the girls for a tour of the college on Wednesday and have Dena apply for a typing position. Can you come?”
Rolling her eyes, Dena pushed her half-eaten cake away and laid her napkin over it. She couldn’t eat any more. Susan nodded.
“Sure,” he said, eying Dena’s partially eaten slice. “Wait, I have an appointment with my film professor that day.”
“Oh.” Aunt Doreen sounded disappointed. “Well then, tomorrow we’re going to the beach. Are you free?”
“I am, but I’m not sure I want to be the only guy with all of you women.” He grinned at Dena. Emily elbowed him. “Ouch!”
“Let’s see. On the thirteenth,” Aunt Doreen continued, ignoring her son’s remark, “Judith and I have some personal things to do. Emily, could Dena and Susan go to the cafeteria with you until noon?”
“Sure.” Emily nodded.
“What happens at noon?” Stuart asked, thinking about his stomach already.
“We’ll go to the cafeteria for lunch.” She looked directly at her son. “Why don’t you meet us there?”
“Okay.”
“Now with that settled, shall we go to the garden? The sunset is spectacular.” Dena noticed a spicy smell permeating from the roses and whatever those yellow trumpet-like flowers that were growing on the wall. I will soon learn the names of all of the blossoms because Aunt Doreen loves gardening just like Mother.
“How’s Walter?” Mother asked. “Will he be home before I leave next week?”
“I’m not sure,” Aunt Doreen said. Her lips tightened into a thin line. Stuart glanced at Emily, which made Dena wonder if something was wrong.
“That’s too bad. I wanted to tell him how much Lawrence and I enjoyed his visit last winter.” Mother seemed unaware that Aunt Doreen’s eyes suddenly veiled.
“Last winter. Was that in March?” her aunt asked.
“Why yes. He was on his way to Virginia I believe. Is he still there?”
“Yes, yes.” Aunt Doreen turned to Stuart. “Son, will you please pour lemonade for everyone.” It wasn’t a question but a request. Aunt Doreen had changed the subject graciously, although everyone knew.
“Judith, walk with me and see my newest rosebush in the garden.” Aunt Doreen started down the path. Perplexed at what had just happened Dena watched her mother and aunt disappear around a corner. Stuart cleared his throat.
“Just so you know Dena, Mother and Dad aren’t getting along right now. Dad will probably stay on the East Coast, and we’ll stay here. Emily and I talk with Dad at least once a week,” Stuart spoke in a matter-of-fact tone that made Dena wonder how many times he had rehearsed it.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” was all she could think to say. Pain crossed her face.
“Don’t be,” Emily quietly replied. “They fight all the time. At least now, they do talk to each other on the telephone.”
“Dad has been in Virginia off and on since 1937. He loves being a major part of the aviation program. You know, not just teaching, but doing it,” Stuart said. “He wants Mother to move to Virginia, but she won’t. I guess her home here gives her security.”
“And it’s not that Dad doesn’t love us …he does,” Emily added softly, analyzing her nails. “He has a teaching position here if he wants it. Dad is a great professor.”
Susan sat with her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her back straight, silently staring. A tear trickled down her face. Dena knew what she was thinking. She too could not imagine a home without her dad and mother.
“I think I’ll go and write some letters,” Susan said. Dena watched her sister disappear into the house. Soon Emily and Stuart followed; Dena took another sip of lemonade, all the while keeping a close eye on her mother and Aunt Doreen, who were studying a pale pink rose. They slowly walked back, talking low enough that Dena could not pick out their words. She sat up as they reached the table. Mother dabbed her eyes. Aunt Doreen looked around concerned.
“Where is everyone?” she asked, and then added, “Oh, I hope I didn’t ruin the beautiful evening for everybody.”
“Oh no, Aunt Doreen,” Dena said. “Susan wanted to write some letters so she could post them tomorrow before we go to the beach.”
Aunt Doreen nodded, somewhat distracted.
“Maybe we should turn in too so we’ll be rested for our day tomorrow. After all, we’re not used to the sun and sand.” Dena’s mother drank about half of her lemonade. “Doreen, this is excellent. You must tell me what you do to it to make it taste so good.”
The phone rang and Doreen quickly excused herself and went to answer it.
“Oh dear, I do believe I opened a can of worms,” Dena’s mother linked arms with her eldest daughter and slowly walked to the stairwell. Dena silently agreed leaning closer as her mother lowered her voice, confiding, “It seems that Doreen wants me to go with her to see a lawyer. I’m not sure I should do that.”
Dena pushed open her bedroom door and stepped aside so her mother could see Susan curled up asleep with letters on the nightstand. Mother nodded, and then pecked her eldest daughter on the cheek, “Good night dear.”
“Good night, Mother.” Dena closed the door, listened for her mother's door to close. She stood for some time thinking about what Stuart and Emily told her. It was wrong, simply wrong, but she didn’t know what to do. In all of her years, never had she been around people who had family troubles, or at least she didn’t know of any. In her home town, school, and circle of church friends, the only traumatic difficulties, was unwanted pregnancy or death. Never this It must be a California problem. She would ask her mother about it tomorrow, but now she would pray.
Chapter Four
The beach turned out to be completely different from what Dena had expected. Although it was hot and the water salty, the beach area had stayed totally crowded. But it was also relaxing. Dena loved the breeze in her face, restful laps of waves, and the continuous laughter all around her. Aunt Doreen quickly located an umbrella with some beach chairs near the volleyball nets. Susan and Emily joined in and played several games. Dena preferred to sit with Aunt Doreen and her mother and watch. Their antics made her laugh and the boys’ swim uniforms were bold. She reddened just thinking about their revealing clothes and muscles. The fact that they weren’t appropriately dressed didn’t bother Emily. It must be from living all of her life in California. Yet it is…embarrassing. But she couldn’t take her eyes off of the boys’ flexing muscles while they punched the volleyball.
“Are you sure you want this, you know, you’re here and Walter’s there?” her mother asked gently, all the time looking out at the water. Dena pretended not to listen. “Is there another woman, or is it his job?”
“It’s his work. He’s consumed with aeronautics. Everything else has become second place.”
“Oh.” Dena’s mother sat quietly, thinking. “Still, Doreen, does Walter want this? I guess I don’t understand.”
“No.”
Again her mother paused. She sipped at her lemonade while she studied the ongoing game. Suddenly her mother’s arms shot up, almost spilling her drink. “Go, Susan. Good shot.”
“I guess I’m just plain mad, Judith. Our children have reached the stage where they don’t totally need me, and I always thought Walter and I would spend more time together,” Aunt Doreen continued slowly, then stopped. Sadness in her voice accented the firmness about her mouth. Her mother listened though she said nothing. It was a quality about her mother Dena admired. Aunt Doreen resumed after a moment.
“Walter has been back and forth to Virginia since a young engineer wrote to the Engineering Department at Stanford regarding a discrepancy in some type of Tandem Wing formula. The young man expressed concern of future repercussions. Walter was sent to Virginia to investigate the problem.
Mr. Hughes wanted to be sure it was correct. Accurate publication is important. That was a little over two years ago.”
“Good shot, Emily!” Both her mother and Aunt Doreen shouted. After catching her breath, Aunt Doreen continued. “Now he’s involved with the high-speed tunnel and many problems from last year. This young engineer—I can’t remember his name—works with him. Walter says he’s brilliant. Anyway, Walter loves it there. He wants me to move to Virginia.”
“Is it possible for you to go to Virginia?” Mother asked while her eyes watched the surfers challenge an incoming wave.
“No. Not really. At least I don’t feel like I can. Judith, maybe it’s selfish of me, but this is my home. I have obligations here. I have my position at the college. Stuart is in his third year and Emily is starting this fall. Now, I want to see Dena settled.”
“Okay then, why not hold off until January.” Dena watched her mother gracefully turn her attention back from the water and looking directly at her sister-in-law. “Just see how things progress. Use this time to really talk to each other, get to know each other again on a more personal basis. You know, telephone dates and letters. See if it makes your relationship stronger.”
“Mmm. That’s a good suggestion. I still have an appointment with the lawyer on the thirteenth.”
“We can go and see what he advises,” her mother said leaning forward, her large eyes level with Aunt Doreen’s. She chose her words carefully. “It’s just that you and Walter have a good marriage. I don’t want you to throw it away because of misunderstandings and petty feelings. I’m sorry, Doreen, but that’s the way I feel. God frowns on broken relationships, and well, frankly so do I.” Mother sat very still as she studied her sister-in-laws face for rejection. Dena watched as Aunt Doreen’s chin jutted suddenly at mother’s blunt statement. She stared at the waves lapping the sand while sipping her lemonade. She couldn’t tell if Aunt Doreen’s eyes had tears. Dena was sure she would have had cried if Mother had talked to her that way. Yet when Aunt Doreen turned and looked at her mother, only fondness showed in her glistening eyes.
A Matter Of Trust Page 4
