A Diamond in the Rough

by Marilyn Land

  Mandy Hastings laughed aloud. “My suggestion would be to take them out; it would be easier. I sense, however, that you want to entertain them in your new home, am I right?”

  Jake felt relieved. “Yes, you are spot on right. Am I that obvious?”

  “No, not at all. There are men that feel at home in the kitchen; men that want to learn to feel at home in the kitchen; and men who wouldn’t be caught dead in the kitchen, except to eat, of course. I think you’re the second kind.

  “Let’s put our heads together, figure out what the main course should be, and I will prepare a meal for you to take home and simply put in the oven, giving you all the particulars to cook it to perfection. Add a starch, vegetables, and if you think you can handle preparing a salad, you can pick up fresh produce at the stalls up the street. For dessert and bread, you’ll find that the Café has an excellent selection.”

  Jake could not believe his good fortune. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My guests are the two most important people in my life, and I want this evening to be the best.”

  Mandy offered to prepare the meal in her own pans and deliver it to the cottage later that afternoon, telling Jake he could return them along with any utensils the next day.

  He walked up the street to the produce stalls and selected an array of greens, peppers, radishes, cucumbers, and tomatoes. He picked up vinegar and oil for salad dressing, and then made his way to the Café where he bought a hearth-baked bread, and a small pear flan for dessert.

  Among the supplies Elena had brought were coffee and an assortment of tea. He hurried back with his purchases excited that he was entertaining in his new home. It was quite fitting that his first guests would be Marcus and Elena.

  It was too early to prepare the salad so he put everything in the refrigerator including the flan. He found a large bowl and salad servers and set them on the counter. Next, he selected the ecru tablecloth and covered the table. Removing plates, cups, glasses, and utensils, he began placing them at each seat.

  As he stepped back to view his first attempt at setting a table, he recalled the many special dinners his mother had prepared and how the dishes and glasses had sparkled under the lights of the chandelier like diamonds. Instead of making him sad, he found himself smiling and wondering. What would Ada Lyons think of his table? She would approve; of that he was certain.

  Finding himself with time to spare, he went to the cellar and sketched a layout of where to place his workbench, install the safe, and add storage bins.

  In the morning he planned to go to the house in Middlesex. His clothes were there, and he could bring the smaller personal items such as photographs to the cottage. The writing desk that stood in the upstairs hallway that had been his mother’s, and a few of the wall paintings that they brought with them would be moved later. He planned to offer the new furniture that had come with the house to the new buyers as part of the package.

  Everything in the cellar would be relocated to the cottage when the workshop had been completed. He planned to meet with a contractor to get an estimate and timeline when the work could begin.

  Once everything had been moved, he would put the house in Middlesex up for sale.

  Mandy was true to her word and arrived at the cottage at 4:00 p.m. The larger pan held the Roast seasoned and marinating ready to be placed in the oven. Two smaller pans held the potatoes and vegetables also ready for the oven.

  She removed the salad makings from the refrigerator and showed Jake how to tear the lettuce instead of cutting the greens with a knife. With a small paring knife, she showed him how to cut the cucumbers, the radishes, and the tomatoes on an angle. Covering the bowl with a towel, she placed it back in the refrigerator.

  For the salad dressing, she produced a small cruet that held vinegar on one side and oil on the other that when poured came out in one stream.

  She checked out the table and told Jake he had done a fine job. The wine was chilling in the refrigerator to accompany the petite vegetable pies Mandy’s restaurant was noted for.

  The kettle sat on the stove with water; an assortment of tea, cups, saucers, dessert plates, and utensils sat out on the sideboard.

  He hugged her spontaneously and stepped back embarrassed. “Thank you Mandy. I think my friends are going to know I sure didn’t do all of this myself. The next time, I plan to bring them to dine at your restaurant. I’ll see you in the morning to drop off the pans.

  “You don’t know how much this means to me, but more than your helping me pull off dinner tonight, I have a new friend and what I hope is the beginning of a long and mutual friendship. I think I’m going to enjoy living here.”

  “You are so welcome Jake. We don’t get too many new people around here, and the War has brought too many changes. We need some new, young blood in the community, and I am pleased that I could help you with your first guests.”

  Mandy left; Jake checked everything out one last time. He showered and changed clothes walking into the great room as Marcus and Elena drove up.

  Jake had turned the tables on his friends. He knew they were intent on making his homecoming special; he knew that Marcus felt terrible about losing contact with Lexi, but he faulted no one. Tonight was all about Jake giving thanks to the most important people in his life just as he had told Mandy.

  He reiterated to himself he could never repay them. He had no idea what he would have done or who he would have turned to if Marcus had not come looking for him. They had taken care of all the particulars, including worrying about him, but most of all loving him, and for that he would be eternally grateful.

  Marcus opened and poured the wine while Jake brought in the tray of petite pies and placed them on the table in front of the sofa. He returned to the kitchen and put the roast, potatoes and vegetables in the oven noting the time.

  As they sat sipping wine, they complimented Jake on the pies. “You have to give me this recipe.” Elena teased. “These are delicious.”

  Jake smiled. “I can always whip you up a batch if you like. It’s a family recipe, and I have never shared it before.”

  Jake started the conversation by telling them his plans to move the contents of the cellar at the house in Middlesex to the cottage. He showed them the sketch he had made sectioning off a room for the workshop adding that he hoped to have the work done and the items moved as quickly as possible, if the contractor he had yet to hire cooperated.

  As they savored their wine and petite pies, Elena could no longer contain herself. “Jake, I don’t know what we’ve having for dinner, but the aroma coming from your kitchen is heavenly. I might need to get those recipes too.”

  Jake accepted the compliment and stood. “The meal will taste just as heavenly if its not overcooked, so I better check on things.”

  The roast had a few more minutes, so he called out. “Grab a seat and if one of you would be good enough to dish out the salad, I’ll bring in the main course.”

  Mandy had promised a fabulous dinner and that it was. The compliments were often and many, and finally Jake couldn’t take anymore. “I know you guys don’t believe I made this meal, but the truth is I did do part of it. I made the salad—with help; I put all the food in the oven to cook although I didn’t prepare it; I purchased the bread; and I might as well confess that I bought the dessert too. But you have to admit it was better than my taking you out to dinner, was it not?

  “The best part is everything is local so you are tasting the best of the Cotswolds, and it’s because of you putting me in touch with Meg Wentworth that I found this wonderful cottage—my new home.”

  They laughed all evening. Jake admitted that he brazenly invited them to dinner before he checked out the Village and what it had to offer. “I don’t know what we would be eating if I hadn’t found Mandy Hastings; and I promise you we will dine at her restaurant very soon.

  “I can, however, make a pretty good o
melet; so beware if I invite you to breakfast.”

  Jake accepted their offer to help clean up. They all pitched in and did the dishes, putting everything back in its place. When they were finished, Jake asked them to take a seat in the Great Room. He had something to tell them; something he should have told them a long time ago.

  He began the story of Lexi and Jake; how they met when they were twelve; how they fell for each other that very first time. He told them about the letter; how he didn’t feel he had the right to ask her to wait for him; how her mother had withheld his letter until days before she died; how they met by chance at the Savoy New Year’s Eve 1943; how he asked her to marry him and she accepted.

  “I thought that when I brought her to De Beers to meet you, she would stay in touch with me through you. I don’t know what happened; I don’t understand why she decided to leave London and move to Palestine with her father without at least telling you or leaving word for me through you.

  “At any rate, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. My first instinct was to find out everything I could about the man she married and has a child with, but it’s not my place. Just as my choices were mine to make, so are hers. My father used to tell me that we control our destiny by the choices we make, but not our fate. Our fates are sealed. When I lost everyone, I realized once again that my father was a very wise man.

  “I’m not over Lexi by a long shot. I love her more than ever, and in my heart, I do believe we were meant for each other. I can’t imagine that the time will ever come when I no longer love her. I have to accept the fact that we were not fated to be together; I have no other choice.

  “My focus right now is to get my life back on track. I told you my plans for moving my things and selling the house in Middlesex. I want to return to cutting and polishing diamonds; I feel close to my father whenever I remember how he nurtured me when I was still a young boy. He was my Hero, and I adored him.

  “I was sorry to learn that my Uncle Sidney passed away while I was on Guernsey Island, and I must write to my Uncle Benjamin. Maybe I can schedule a visit to South Africa when I get some of my priorities out of the way. He’s alone now too. We’re the last two surviving Lyons.

  “I love flying, and one of the first things I did when I got back to the base was take a Spitfire for a spin. Aviation is the way of the future, and I plan to get a private general aviation license as soon as I can, maybe buy a small plane.

  “Somewhere along the line, I’m going to need a job, so I have to decide what I want to do with the rest of my life.

  “That’s everything I wanted to tell the two most important people in my life. I love you both, and I intend to see a lot of you. I will always have time to spend with you.”

  Everyone was crying and hugging and sniffling. Elena stood. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to put some water on for tea—just one cup, and then we will head home. I don’t want to overstay our visit and chance not be asked back again.”

  “You may rest assured, that will never happen. My door is and always will be open to the both of you.”

  The next two months were hectic to say the least, but Jake accomplished what he set out to do. He found a local contractor that was available immediately, but it took two weeks to gather the supplies that were needed causing them to get off to a slow start. It took another two weeks for the contractor and his helper to finish the job, but when all was said and done, he was quite satisfied.

  After having the safe installed, he hired a moving service to pick up the boxes he had packed, the small writing desk, and contents of the cellar at the house in Middlesex.

  Before he could tackle setting up his workshop, and unpacking, he took the train to London. His first stop was the Brady Street Cemetery where he visited the graves of his family and recited the Kaddish. As he walked back to exit to the street, he came upon a recently dug grave. There was no headstone as yet, but as he glanced down to the temporary card that sat atop the freshly dug earth, he saw the name Moshe Levin—Rabbi Levin. Reciting the Kaddish again, he decided to stop by the Great Central Synagogue to see what he could learn.

  The last time Jake had seen the Rabbi was months ago when he was granted leave after returning from Guernsey Island. The toll of losing so many friends and congregants during the War had taken a toll on this gentle soul who Jake fondly remembered as a good and decent human being although he had initially viewed him as a harsh and mean Hebrew teacher. He learned the Rabbi had passed away just before he returned home.

  He made his way to the Underground and took the train to Middlesex. When he arrived at the house, the realtor awaited him. They went through, room by room, and Jake told her that the furniture was included in the sale, and that no one had ever lived in the house, so it could be presented as new.

  She liked what she saw. Most of her recent listings were older homes in disrepair after having been neglected during the long years of war. “I have several people in mind that are seeking everything this home offers. One couple in particular that were recently married upon his return from service will be my first choice. So if we can agree on a price, I will get to work. I don’t think a gem like this will be on the market long.”

  “I’m not looking to make a killing on the sale nor am I looking to give it away. I’m hoping we can simply determine a fair price for the buyers and me. I prefer your handling everything through my bank; they will represent me for the closing. There is no mortgage to pay off; I own the home outright. Of course, if any questions or problems should arise, please do not hesitate to contact me.”

  They shook hands; the realtor left. Jake went through the house one last time. There wasn’t as much a feeling of sadness at never having lived in the house, as there was a feeling of those he lost. He could now add Lexi and Rabbi Levin to that list. He had come full circle; there was no one left. It was almost as if the first seventeen years of his life never existed. Throughout the War, he yearned to return to a normal life, the life he knew growing up. He knew now that simply wasn’t possible.

  His next stop was De Beers; he rang Marcus up and planned to meet him for lunch. As he walked from the station, there was nothing new to be seen. The bombed out areas of London remained, indicating it would be a long road back.

  They had lunch at Phil’s Pub. Jake filled him in about all that was going on at the cottage, and that he had put the house in Middlesex up for sale. He also told him about his visit to the cemetery, and learning that Rabbi Levin had died.

  Marcus was happy to see that Jake was moving on. “It’s sounds like your To Do List is getting shorter; you’ve accomplished a lot since you’ve been home.

  Have you thought about a job, or what you would like to do?”

  “Well, for the immediate next few months, I’ve got to set up my workshop, inventory what I have from Max’s shop, and get back into a little cutting and polishing for personal reasons.

  “I know things have changed in the diamond industry. To be honest, I don’t see myself cutting diamonds for the rest of my life anymore. Even my father was no longer cutting when he went to work for De Beers.

  “Are you asking for a reason?”

  Marcus leaned back in his chair; Jake knew him pretty well. “Of course, I am. You are right; the diamond industry has changed. Some changes came about because of the War, but others came about and are ongoing by design. De Beers is about to launch a massive advertising campaign in the United States next year.

  “Although what I’m offering is months down the road, I hope you’re interested; and if you are, I will work with you and acquaint you with the areas that I think you can help us with. Are you in?”

  “Yes, yes I am. Months into next year will allow me to finish up a lot of loose ends, and by the time the campaign gets going, I’ll be free to offer you my undivided attention.”

  They made plans to have dinner over the weekend.

  The workshop setup was
as he had envisioned. Cataloguing the diamonds, gold, and jewelry took less time than he thought, and when the day arrived for him to return to diamond cutting, he was ready. At first, it was hard for him to get started; memories kept getting in the way. But then the only memory that remained was his father’s voice gently guiding him through the process.

  The realtor had been right; the house in Middlesex sold to the newly married couple she had mentioned. The sale was complete, and they planned to move in by Christmas. Per his request, the realtor had taken care of everything. If he had chosen to learn the buyers’ names—Thomas and Elizabeth Butler—would he have connected them in anyway to Tommy and Betsy? Probably not, but perhaps he would have.

  The end of the year was approaching fast. One evening, Jake decided to go into the Village and have dinner at Mandy’s restaurant. It had been some time since he had seen her.

  A light snow had fallen days earlier, and the Village enhanced by the holiday decorations was bright and festive. Jake could hardly believe he had been home almost five months. He entered the restaurant and Mandy came over to welcome him.

  “Hi stranger. Where have you been?”

  Since August, he had eaten at the restaurant a couple times a week. “I apologize to both you and my stomach. I’ve been preoccupied of late and I don’t think I’ve eaten a complete meal since I was last here.”

  “We’ll take care of that straight away.”

  She brought him chicken and dumplings; it was the Special of the Day. With his dessert and coffee, she included a cup of coffee for herself, and sat down to chat.

  Suddenly the door opened and a young woman with a small boy came in.

  The boy ran over to Mandy and she lifted him onto her lap. “Auntie Mandy, Mum bought me a book about St. Nicholas.”

  “Well aren’t you a lucky lad; lucky to have a Mum who loves you so much.”

  The boy jumped down. “Jake, I’d like you to meet my sister-in-law Wendy and my nephew Jason. They’re staying with me for a bit.”