by Geeta Kakade
CHAPTER FOUR
Thursday morning he found Bridget with Toby in the greenhouse admiring his orchids.
“G’morning sir.”
“G’morning and can you please call me Andrew?”
“Yes sir. I mean Andrew, sir.”
“How are you Bridget?”
“I’m doing fine. Did you need a ride somewhere?”
“No thanks. I just wanted to stretch my legs and take a look at the amazing garden Toby has. Alice, Dr. Ali’s nurse, was mentioning some of the vegetables and fruit you give her from the garden and she’s very grateful.”
“Christy says I should take some things to her whenever I can. She went out of her way to help Christy’s dad in his last illness.” Toby sounded defensive.
“She says you and Mark were amazing too,” Bridget backed him up quickly. “The way you helped Jacob Cupid made all the difference to him at the end.”
“She mentioned that to me too,” said Andrew. “Her father was lucky to have you all here for him.”
“It was nothing sir, I mean Andrew.” Toby looked pleased and Bridget put a hand up to her mouth to check if it was hanging open. Andrew seemed to be playing the part of Toby’s new best friend to perfection.
“I think you’ve got a ginormous pumpkin there, Toby. Ever thought of entering it in the county fair?”
“Maybe next year, sir. Christy suggested the same thing. Think ye might like to carve it for the party this year?”
Bridget looked surprised. Christy had said Toby was an amazing pumpkin carver and he and Frank had done a great job last year.
Andrew Blackwell was eyeing the pumpkin thoughtfully. “Don’t know. I might be able to work on it if you hoist it on the work table in the garage for me.”
Toby smiled. “That I will sir. And Frank will be mighty pleased to help you after school any day this week.”
“We’ll do it Saturday then,” said Andrew Blackwell turning to Bridget. “Moira and Mrs. Kemp said they’re ready when you are to go into town. Would you mind picking up a prescription for me? I’ve called it in and they have my credit card number on file. I think if I increase my pain medication just a little, it might help me stop being such a grouch. Thanks.”
Bridget nodded and forced her legs to start up the path to the house. She was in a daze. Had she heard right about him planning to increase his medication to help him stop being such a grouch?
Andrew Blackwell was talking to Toby about something, his tone unlike any she’d heard before. Warm, easy-going, friendly.
As Sister Winifred always said, ‘Miracles never cease when we trust in God.’
It was either that or Bridget thought she hadn’t woken up yet and this was all a dream.
As the day wore on she was forced to admit it wasn’t.
The whole day had been full of other endless surprises from Andrew.
Mrs. Kemp had insisted she treat Moira and Bridget to lunch in town and then an early movie at noon. She told them Toby and Mr. Kemp were going to keep an eye on Frank and give him his after school snack and they were not to worry. Then after the movie she asked if they could go back to the grocery store as she’d forgotten to pick up prunes that Mr. Kemp needed. By the time they came out of the store her phone rang. She took the call and Moira and Bridget heard her say, “Thank goodness. I really couldn’t come up with anything more to do.”
Bridget and Moira looked at each other wondering whom Mrs. Kemp was talking to.
Frank was waiting for them outside the garage doors when they pulled up on the drive.
“You have to close your eyes,” he insisted. “We have a surprise for you!”
“What have you done now?” demanded his mother.
“What is it?” asked Bridget taking in his shining eyes and smile.
“Let’s just close our eyes,” suggested Mrs. Kemp.
“One, two, three!” Frank said and they heard the garage door go up. “Open your eyes.”
They did and were amazed by the transformation inside.
Christy and Mark had often said the four-car garage was a good thing. Over the summer Mark had built a loft in it for storage of the surplus furniture. Two spaces were used in winter for the cars and plans for the other half of the garage was being converted into a hangout had been discussed. This afternoon those changes had been made while the women were out. That it had been done so quickly surprised Bridget.
There was the huge tv there now, the old worktable with benches around it, all the old family room furniture and even a carpet. Mark had put in a huge window in the garage this summer and the afternoon sun lit up the room.
“It’s so cozy in here.”
“That’s because we’ve had the heating ducts checked and the vents changed and everything’s working as it should. It’s a good thing whoever built the garage thought of having heating in here too.”
Overhead there was a fan with electric lights in the ceiling.
Beyond the chairs, facing the tv was a treadmill and a compact home gym. The men had made this section of the garage into a warm and inviting room. Toby had even brought in a small pot of his special bright yellow mums for the worktable and it was obvious he’d had help hoisting the large pumpkin there.
“It’s a room everyone can enjoy,” Andrew looked at her as she took in every detail.
Bridget was speechless while Mrs. Kemp exclaimed over everything and Frank talked non-stop to his mother about the changes.
“It’s so nice!” said Bridget finally, knowing her words were inadequate. To achieve all this in one afternoon, Andrew must have been planning it for a while. She shouldn’t have been so quick, accusing him of being self involved.
“When did you get all this?” said Moira staring at the tv.
“Everything was delivered an hour after you left.” Toby said. “Andrew ordered it the day Mark and Christy left.”
“It wasn’t easy to get them to go to the movie,” Mrs. Kemp told Mr. Kemp.
“You did great,” said Andrew quickly. “I knew if anyone could keep everyone away for the afternoon it would be you.”
She looked touched by his praise. “I didn’t even know what they were planning,” she told Moira and Bridget. “I thought the men were just setting up the old computer from the study here.”
“We didn’t know about all the plans till all the stuff Andrew ordered showed up and two men arrived for all the heavy work and connections.” Mr. Kemp said.
Everyone had heard Mark and Christy discuss making part of the garage into another family room away from the house so the guests and the family wouldn’t disturb each other.
“Mark and I have discussed every step before I implemented these changes,” Andrew said. “A professional electrician did all the wiring and installation this afternoon and made sure everything’s connected according to code. Someone’s coming out from the fire department to check everything out and tell us if safety wise everything is okay tomorrow.”
“He’d done everything by the book,” Mr. Kemp endorsed. “The electrician looked mighty relieved when Andrew said he could finally leave.”
“Works like Mark,” added Toby. “Step by step and no overlooking the smallest details.”
Andrew turned to Mrs. Kemp. “Mr. Kemp says he likes it better here than in the study as he can work, watch tv and even have a nap here. Toby and he will enjoy the afternoons in here watching the pre-recorded games. The rest of us too have another space to work and relax in without worrying about disturbing the guests. The heating will make sure it's warm enough in here and we’ve made sure the area’s properly ventilated. We’ve even got a fire alarm in here so it will be very safe.”
Bridget was taken aback. Andrew’s words showed that he understood how much Mrs. Kemp worried about her husband. Had he heard the conversation the women had one day about Mr. Kemp’s health since his bypass surgery two years ago. If he had it would prove that in spite of his aloofness he was aware of the people around him.
That wasn’t
all.
He even knew how Toby liked being around them in the afternoons after his work was done, postponing going home to his empty place for as long as he could.
Bridget felt terrible about what she’d said to him yesterday.
After he had gone in, Mrs. Kemp said to a surprised Moira and Bridget. “What did I tell you? All he needed was time to get to know us. He listened to me talk about the grandchildren for fifteen minutes while he had his breakfast and said he would like to see pictures of them. When Richard asked if he would like to go fishing with him one day soon, he said he would like that very much!”
Bridget was having a hard time breathing. It seemed as if Andrew Blackwell had meant very seriously what he said about trying to do better.
Patient was indeed a virtue she would do well to practice.
“That worked well,” Agnes said to herself. “Bridget’s gotten over her anger and she’s feeling very kindly towards him.”
Pa was off somewhere and she had decided to go through the wedding dresses. The one from Paris that their great granddaughter in law Christabel had worn in 1909 at her wedding, would suit Bridget perfectly. Ordered from France the beautiful white lace over silk had sleeves that ended above the elbow and a belt sewn with tiny crystals. Tiny crystals edged the veil too. The dress hugged the body and below the hips flared out gently with a small train of its own. It would look perfect on Bridget.
Was that a small stain on the shoulder the cleaners hadn’t removed. Ma blew on it, pleased that it disappeared. Their powers couldn’t be used on people but no one had said they couldn’t be used on things.
Christy had worn her grandmother Brianna’s dress for her own wedding. It was a designer lace gown too that had suited her blonde beauty as had the lace headband with flowers that had conveniently shown up next to the dress.
Ma was very pleased with the way things were going.
Bridget was nowhere to be seen at dinnertime and Andrew looked at Mrs. Kemp for answers.
He and Frank had spent an hour making model paper airplanes, after the latter’s homework was completed, and flying them in the garage.
“Bridget’s having a hard time creating a website so she’s been at it all evening. Says she’s not hungry. It’s really amazing how conscientious she is about making it really good. Richard’s been taking pictures of the dolls for her and she’s trying to get a background with Cupid Lodge up. When Frank checked on her last he said she looked the way he does when he has a Math test the next day.” Mrs. Kemp paused.
Mr. Kemp opened his mouth to say something, winced and closed it again.
“Is there a problem?” asked Andrew.
“My foot just gives me a twinge every now and then.”
It was the first he’d heard of any problems with Mr. Kemp’s foot.
“I can help Bridget with the website,” Andrew said.
“I’ll go tell her.” Frank was out of his seat and running to the garage apartment with the good news having already polished of two hot dogs at lightning speed.
He came back a few minutes later and said, “She said thanks and she’ll talk to you about it in the morning. She’s writing a letter to Sister Winifred. Do you know she writes to Sister Winifred every week?”
“Oh?” said Andrew helping himself to mustard, ketchup and sauerkraut.
The days when there were no guests wanting dinner Moira asked each one of them to take turns choosing a meal they would like. Tonight had been Frank’s turn and he’d asked for hot dogs, checking anxiously with Andrew if he liked them. Andrew had made his day by telling him he loved hotdogs. The Kemps were having soup and toast though Mr. Kemp had looked longingly at the hot dogs till Mrs. Kemp had said he could have one if he was going to sleep in the garage and not keep her up all night with requests for antacids and groans and moans about acid reflux.
“Isn’t Sister Winifred the nun who raised her?” Andrew asked.
“Yes,” said Mr. Kemp. “Bridget’s very fond of her.”
“She’s saving all her money so she can buy Sister Winifred an iPod to listen to the music she loves,” added Moira.
“Heavenly music,” added Frank. “Nuns only want to listen to heavenly music.” He thought about it for a minute and then said, “She’s also saving money to take everybody in the orphanage on a field trip. She’s going to need to make a lot of money before Christmas.”
Andrew had a lot to think about as he ate. The glimpses he got of Bridget from other people were helping his composite picture of her. Loyal, kind and generous.
He wondered if her fondness for Sister Winifred was going to influence her decision to become a nun and spend the rest of her life in the convent.
The third time Bridget took him into rehab he decided to walk to the library and meet her there instead of getting her on her cell. His knee was feeling better and so was he. The toe to ground session had been a challenge but it had given him hope that he was on the path back to as close to normal as he was going to be.
She’d mentioned she took the street behind Main Street and came up the lane closest to the Professional Building and he decided to do the same in case she was already walking back.
He saw her at the end of the lane as soon as he entered it. He raised his hand to wave but she didn’t look at him.
“Hey!” She was running towards him at the same instant as he noticed the three kids sitting on their haunches teasing the puppy with a stick. It was howling piteously.
“Stop that!”
They turned to her as she approached and stood up and he saw they weren’t that small. He speeded up.
“Make us!” they said and one poked the puppy again and made it cry.
Andrew cursed as he walked even faster but he needn’t have hurried.
She threw down her bag of books yelled “Hai,” and went into a karate stance.
The boys froze.
Andrew had seen enough. Lifting his right hand to his mouth he let out a piercing whistle. The third kid swung around to look at him, said something to his pals and they all turned and ran.
If there was a cop close by he might have given Andrew a ticket for how fast he moved on his crutches to get to her.
Bridget was breathing hard, her face red as she cradled the puppy in her arms, by the time he closed the distance between them.
“Shhh,” she was crooning. “Shhh.”
“Are you all right?”
There were a few people in the alley now and someone from Norah’s Café had come out and was hurrying to them.
“Bridget are you okay?” It was Norah.
She nodded.
The woman looked at him and Andrew said, “There were three kids here teasing the puppy.”
Bridget was whispering to the puppy, kissing its head.
“Here let me take her. My bitch Flower had a litter eight weeks ago and this one must have gotten through the back fence. I’ll have the poor thing back with her mother in no time and get the fence repaired.”
Norah took the puppy and checked to make sure it wasn’t hurt or bleeding.
“Thanks for saving her. Would you like to come in and have some coffee?”
Bridget looked at Andrew. “Sure,” he said.
“I’m trying to find good homes for them and with eight that’s not easy,” said Norah as they walked through the backyard. She put the puppy back with its mother in the porch and checked for where it might have gotten out. “Someone must have opened the door and this one sneaked out. These are going to be big dogs and need yards where they can run around.” She looked at them as she dusted her hands off. “Christy mentioned something about a dog for Frank. Do you know if she still wants a dog?”
“I’ll have to check with Christy and Mark,” Bridget said, excited at the thought of adopting a puppy.
“You do that,” said Norah, “The one you rescued is easy to tell apart from the rest as she’s the lightest color of the litter. I’ve got four that are white to golden like Flower and four dark brown.
I’ll keep her for you.”
“Thanks.”
Bridget’s face reflected her happiness.
“I’ll wash up and bring your coffee and hot chocolate over,” said Norah.
Bridget looked at Andrew as they sat down at a table, “Thanks for helping me.”
“No problem,” said Andrew. “Would you mind if we have lunch here? I’m hungry.”
“Not at all.”
Bridget ordered the Italian sandwiches Norah was famous for at the counter. Norah said it was called the Godmother in Los Angeles and she had taken the idea and made it her own by improving on the ingredients. It was made with fresh Italian bread, five different cold cuts and a slice of cheese topped off with fried onions, pickle, tomatoes, lettuce and peppers. Purists ate it with oil and vinegar. Andrew said he and Mark had stopped in for lunch and the sandwich was one of his favorites now. Bridget said it came in a close second to the hot roast beef sandwiches. Christy and she had stopped here for lunch whenever they’d been in town over the summer and Bridget was familiar with every item on Norah’s menu.
“Why don’t you call Christy now about the puppy?” Andrew asked when Bridget returned to the table.
“Now?” Bridget looked at her watch. “Its two here that means it’s four in Chicago.”
“A perfect time to call.”
She took out her cell phone and hit the speed dial button for Christy. It rang once before she answered.
“Hi Bridget! Hi Andrew! How are you? Anything wrong?”
“Hi Christy. Everything’s fine. How are Mark and you doing?” Bridget was suddenly feeling nervous.
“Hi Christy,” said Andrew.
“Doing great but missing all of you. What’s up?” They had talked in the morning so Christy sounded worried at the second call.
“Norah has these Labrador Retriever puppies that are eight weeks old. Four are shades of white to gold. Four are chocolate brown. She says they are ready to leave their mother and wanted to know if you still wanted one for Frank. They’ve had their first shots and she’s got them on puppy food already to make the transition easy. Norah said she’d let us have one today if you still want a puppy.”
