A Diamond in the Rough

by Marilyn Land

  After checking in and leaving his bags in the room, he set off for the East End. He stopped at the Brady Street Cemetery first, left a pebble on each headstone, and bowing his head recited the Kaddish.

  His next stop was to see Rabbi Levin. He found him sitting on a bench in the small garden behind the Great Central Synagogue, deep in thought. Not wanting to startle him, Jake called out as he approached. He turned, and immediately a big smile spread across his face. “Jacob Lyons, my boy, how good it is to see you. How are you?”

  Jake noticed how frail he had become. “I’m fine Rabbi, and you?”

  “I can’t complain. I have aches and pains that generally come with age, but they are worse in the winter. When the weather is warm, they subside.”

  The years of war had taken a toll on this gentle old man. He had lost many of his parishioners; in some cases, entire families were wiped out during the air raids. Just that very morning, he had learned that two of his former students were not returning from the War—Ivan Portman was one of them.

  He spent most of the afternoon visiting with Rabbi Levin. So many people were gone; others moved away and joined family outside the London area. The East End had sustained a fair amount of damage that in all probability would not be rebuilt. Where once a vibrant community thrived, stores stood idle and vacant.

  The streets were empty of children playing and busy adults rushing to and fro.

  It saddened him to see the East End’s Jewish Quarter that his parents had wholeheartedly embraced when they arrived in London, and that had wholeheartedly embraced them in return, in such a depressed state of disrepair. They lived the best twenty years of their lives in the East End—free of oppression and free to realize the dreams they brought with them from Russia.

  They bid one another goodbye, and Jake had the feeling that he would not see him again.

  He had asked Marcus to set aside a day when they could discuss business matters, and they planned to meet at his office first thing in the morning. He was due to be discharged in the near future, and wanted to get his affairs in order so that he and Lexi could get married and get on with their lives. He had kept his promise to return to her, and now he had the rest of his life to fulfill his promise to love and take care of her. He had to find a place to live, and he needed a job.

  He spent the evening alone at the Savoy, having an early dinner in the Grill Room. Returning to his room, he unpacked, made a list of items to discuss with Marcus, and then went to bed—lost in thoughts of Lexi.

  Jake arose early the next morning, showered, and dressed. After a quick breakfast at the hotel, he left for his meeting.

  As Marcus greeted him, Jake sensed a hesitation on his part to get down to business. He offered him coffee, tea, a scone, and asked if he had eaten breakfast.

  When Jake replied, that he was all set, Marcus had no choice but to began the hardest conversation he had ever had. He did not wait for him to ask.

  “I know I disappointed you by not having Lexi with us to meet you when you docked in Portsmouth. I am sorry I let you down, and I apologize.”

  When Jake started to object, he motioned him to let him continue.

  “After both of us lost contact with you, I spoke to her on several occasions while she was still at Birmingham. She told me she had written to you, but had not received an answer. The last time we spoke, she told me she was graduating in April, her brother Mark was getting married in May, and that although her father had returned to England for her graduation and Mark’s wedding, he was returning to Jerusalem in June. Not wanting to leave her alone in London, he urged her to accompany him.

  “By the time I learned that you were officially missing, she had set sail with her father. She did not leave me any information of how to get in touch with her.

  “When I was told in strictest confidence that you were on Guernsey Island, and that the information could not be shared for security reasons, I was so relieved to learn you were safe, and I certainly would have confided in her, but all attempts to contact her were a dead end.

  “When I first learned you were missing, I went to the Portman house several times, and called the number you had given me, but neither the phone nor the door was answered.

  “When I received the call that you were coming home, I made one last attempt. I drove to the house on my way home, and much to my surprise, the door was answered by Mark’s wife Rosalie.

  “I introduced myself and told her I was inquiring about someone who had once lived in the house. When she left the room to prepare some refreshment, I looked about at the photos on the mantel. There were several taken at the wedding, and I noticed a photo of Lexi holding a newborn baby girl.

  “When Rosalie returned, and we continued our conversation, she assumed that I was seeking information about Manny Portman. At first, I was taken aback, but then I realized that my age obviously caused her to reach the decision that I was interested in locating her father-in-law, not her sister-in-law.

  “She told me that months later, Manny decided to relocate permanently to Jerusalem, and that Lexi was remaining there, as well. She and Mark are now living in the house. She lifted the photo of Lexi from the mantel and told me that the child was her newborn daughter Zoe. I could see in the photo that she wore a wedding ring.”

  Jake sat frozen in his chair. He felt as if he had been punched in the gut. He was utterly speechless, and he was having a hard time processing all that Marcus had said.

  Marcus grew alarmed. He had no idea what he expected Jake to say—what could he say? Once again, the rug had been pulled out from under him.

  He rose and came around his desk and stood in front of Jake putting his arm on his shoulder. “I’ve agonized over telling you since I learned the news from Rosalie, and try as I may, I saw no other way. I do have contact information for both Lexi and her father. You don’t have to use it now, but the time may come when you will want to get in touch with her.

  Jake stood and thanked Marcus for being honest with him. “I have a list of things that I want to go over with you, but I can’t do it today. Maybe if you have time later in the week, I can meet with you then.”

  “Of course, I always have time for you. Just ring me up when you’re ready. And please come for dinner; Elena so wants to see you and pamper you a bit. She won’t take no for an answer.”

  They shook hands and hugged. “I need a couple of days to get my bearings. Rest assured, I have no intention of turning down one of Elena’s delicious home-cooked meals. I’m due to be discharged soon, although I’m not sure of the exact date. I plan to take care of as many pressing issues as possible while I’m on leave so that when I am discharged, I will have a place to live. I also have to give some thought as to what I want to do with the rest of my life, and that includes getting a job.”

  Jake left Marcus’ office and walked back to the hotel stopping along the way to pick up two bottles of whiskey. He had never had anything stronger than beer or ale or ultra sweet Jewish wine. He generally never finished a single glass or bottle at any one sitting when out with friends; it was only mid-morning, and he had only eaten a light breakfast. Nonetheless, he returned to his room at the Savoy, leaving word at the desk that he did not want to be disturbed.

  He stripped down to his skivvies, consumed three-quarters of one of the two fifths he had purchased, and passed out. His head was on the verge of exploding. Getting drunk and passing out was the only way he could stop the overpowering questions and thoughts running rampant in his mind.

  Hours later, he awoke disoriented, his head throbbing. He stumbled to the loo, glanced at the horrible image that stared back at him in the mirror, and returned to bed sleeping until morning.

  The following day was an entire blur. He was sick as a dog with a hangover that consumed his entire body. He spent most of the day emptying his stomach of its contents over and over until there was nothing left. By evening,
he began to feel a little better. He took a hot shower, put on his robe and called for room service. He hadn’t eaten in over twenty-four hours.

  The hot broth was just what he needed. As he continued to sober up, Marcus’ words of the day before came rushing back. How could this have happened? Lexi married to someone else—that was impossible. Just as she had known he would never leave without contacting her all those years ago, he felt that way now. She just wouldn’t pick up and move out of the country and not leave word for him or how she could be reached. He recalled Marcus telling him that she had written to him, but he didn’t know when. He had never received the letters; and they were not among his things waiting for him when he came home.

  Lexi was married with a daughter and no longer living in England—how could this have been part of God’s plan for him? When he survived the air raid that took his family, his faith had been unwavering throughout that He had a plan for him and that He would watch over him. Now, once again, he was alone—back to square one, as they say. He had no idea what he was going to do. He had seven days of leave left before returning to Coltishall. He had business to attend to, and he would use the time he had left on leave to set them in motion.

  He rang up Marcus at his office. “Good morning Jake, I’m so glad you called. I was worried about you. How are you doing? I hope you’re planning to stop by and meet with me.”

  “I’m doing okay. I needed some time to think things out. I’m calling to see if you have time to meet with me today, or if not, perhaps tomorrow.”

  “Today is fine; come over straight away. I have the entire day free, and I’m hoping you will tell me that you’re available to come home with me for dinner tonight. I can ring up Elena as soon as we hang up.”

  “Sounds like a plan. I’ll walk over, I should be there within half an hour.”

  His stomach was still a little queasy, but he felt much better and thinking much clearer. He decided to take care of the more pressing issues concerning his immediate future. He needed Marcus’ help and hopefully all would be settled by the time he had to return to base.

  Marcus welcomed him, and this time, Jake accepted his offer of hot tea. He had heard that coffee was actually better for a hangover, but preferred tea for his unsettled stomach.

  Marcus suggested they be seated at the conference table. He brought the box of papers that Jake had entrusted to him and placed it before him. He urged him to open the box and handed him a list that he had made of the contents.

  “I made this list the very day you left the box with me. You will note, there are additions with coinciding dates of their receipt. As I told you when you returned from the States, I set up a bank account in your name with the proceeds of your parents’ funds and all that was left to you by Max and Reba Lerner.

  “Since that time, I sold Max’s shop as you instructed me to do and deposited the proceeds into your account. The contents of the shop are stored in the basement of the house in Middlesex, along with your jeweler’s tools and also your father’s and Max’s. There is a considerable amount of diamonds, gold, silver, and various jewelry items that represented Max’s business. The contents of the Lerner flat are there also; I think you should go through them to see if there is anything you wish to keep.

  “In addition, there was a small safe at the shop that was hidden behind the workbench; the contents yielded both cash and additional diamonds—the cash was deposited in your account and the diamonds are packed away at the house along with the others.

  ‘In the past, you never showed an interest in the contents of this box; you entrusted me with everything, and I did my best to keep track of all your assets by updating the list and monitoring it constantly.”

  Marcus reached in the box and retrieved a bankbook. Sliding it across the table to Jake, he urged: “Open it and tell me what you think.”

  Jake opened the bankbook and was shocked to see that excluding the house in Middlesex, its contents, and all that was stored there, he was worth a small fortune—he was actually quite wealthy—it was more money than he ever imagined.

  “Marcus, am I reading this correctly? I had no idea, and you are right; I never really had an interest in learning what I inherited. There was really no need to know while I was off fighting the Germans.” Briefly, he recalled the note he had given Marcus leaving everything to Lexi if he did not return from the War. Neither made mention of it; he had removed it.

  “The other day, you apologized to me. I want to make it quite clear, and I will only speak of this once—here and now. Marcus Hirsch you have never done anything that requires you to apologize to me.

  “I don’t recall if I told you that I am due to be discharged within the next couple of months, but I am; I do not have an exact date. I plan to sell the house in Middlesex—I can’t bring myself to live there even after all this time. I had no idea my financial situation was so solid, so I assumed that I would sell the house and look for a new place simultaneously.

  “I would like to purchase a country cottage with acreage. I can set up a workshop in the basement—perhaps a replica of Max’s shop where my father and I worked side by side. I don’t want you to worry that I plan to live in the past; I do not. I adored my parents, and I was extremely close with my father. It’s been a long time since I cut and polished a diamond, and just as I got to fly a Spitfire again when I returned to Coltishall, I want to cut diamonds again.

  “I would like to get in touch with someone who can search for a house for me prior to my discharge. After I am settled in and have gone through the items I plan to keep from the house in Middlesex, I will put it on the market.”

  As he had been years before, Marcus was in awe of Jake’s acumen.

  “I have a friend who sold real estate before the War. I haven’t been in touch with her in years, but I will ring her up and see if she’s available. If not, maybe she can suggest someone.”

  “I can never thank you enough. I don’t know what I would have done without all your help. I really had no one else to turn to; thank goodness you and Elena were and continue to be my guardian angels. I’d like to leave the box and all my papers with you until I’m discharged, if that’s okay.

  “Now that we’re finished with business, what time is dinner?”

  “Dinner is at six o’clock but please come as early as you like. I will be home no later than four. There is one thing I haven’t mentioned—your father’s Ford V-8 car—I have it stored in a friend’s garage. I still remember when he bought that car.”

  For the first time, Jake smiled. “He loved that Ford V-8, and I did too. My parents arranged for me to learn to drive it for my sixteenth birthday. My friends were so jealous. Again, I thank you. I definitely want to keep that car, at least for now.”

  Although, they spent several hours together, the name Lexi Portman was not mentioned. And there were no more apologies.

  Walking back to the hotel, Jake stopped to pick up wine for dinner and a big bouquet of flowers for Elena. He had never before purchased wine or flowers for anyone. He loved Marcus and Elena—they were family—his family.

  Elena opened the door to Jake bearing gifts. “My goodness, what is all this? Come in, come in, and give the flowers and wine to Marcus so I can get a big hug and a kiss.” She held onto him tightly. “You don’t know how happy we are to have you safely home. I made all your favorites so I hope you’re hungry.”

  Jake thought about the previous two days and hoped his stomach had returned to normal.

  He refused their offer of wine, but enjoyed the appetizers and dinner immensely. They didn’t press him to talk about Guernsey, but he did so on his own.

  After dinner, they retired to the sitting room. The War was over, so he could tell them about the night they flew escort to France and how his Spit went down into the English Channel ahead of him.

  “Guernsey Island is only 70 miles from the UK, but it was under German Oc
cupation. I spent eleven months on the Walsh Dairy Farm not as a prisoner but not free to leave either. Bill Walsh found me unconscious, and his twin sisters Lulu and Lila cared for me and nursed me back to health. If the Germans had found me, things might not have worked out so well.

  “Lulu fell under the good graces of the German Commandant, and the remote location of their farm kept us safe. Their farm produced dairy products for market, but they grew vegetable crops for their own consumption. By the end of the occupation, the farm was approaching rock bottom. Even with the help of the Red Cross, the Islanders were starving and in desperate need of supplies.

  “It was Bill who contacted other clandestine operators on his shortwave radio to relay that I was safe on the Island.

  “Speaking about my time on Guernsey makes me realize what I owe the Walsh family. As I said, by war’s end, their farm was down to one cow and little else. Marcus, I would like to send a draft of 500 pounds to restock the Guernsey Cows and allow them to put in new crops. They even had to slaughter their pet sheep for food to sustain us through last winter. In fact, Lulu and Lila prepared a fine mutton stew to celebrate my 21st Birthday.”

  Though Jake started out on a serious note, the Commandant’s infatuation with Lulu, and their efforts to teach him how to milk a cow, and grow vegetables had them all laughing and realizing that even in the face of adversity, one can find good. It felt good to laugh; it felt better to see Jake laughing.

  It was growing late. “I think it’s time for me to head back to the hotel. Elena, the meal was terrific, as I knew it would be, and honestly I expected no less. You have been so gracious; I know I can never repay all you have done and continue to do for me. I love you both with all my heart.”

  They walked him to the door. “I’ll ring you up when I hear from my friend about finding a cottage for you. I hope to set it up so that you can meet with her while you’re on leave.”