Joyce Larson expected perfect twins, just like her and her twin sister. She had been on bed rest for several months. That did not stop her from ordering two of everything she could think of for the babies’ rooms. Her husband had little time or patience for all the chaos that had been caused by the upcoming births. As soon as the pregnancy was announced, he arranged for a live-in nanny. She would arrive one month before the births so that she could take care of the details of preparing for the arrivals. Dr. Larson seemed to be gone more than he was home these days.
*
Dr. Larson was in Minneapolis when Joyce went into labor. Julia, her sister, drove her to the hospital. She tried to keep calm while waiting patiently for the news of the babies’ births. Within a short time of arriving at the hospital, it became apparent that there were some serious problems with the delivery. Joyce was quickly wheeled into the delivery room. Julia was advised to contact Dr. Larson and tell him that there were complications with the birth of the twins.
Emily Catherine Larson was born October 8, 1950, weighing six pounds thirteen ounces. She had soft blonde hair, big blue eyes, and long pretty fingers. She entered this world with a mixture of joy and incredible sorrow—and a loud cry. A few minutes later, a little boy was born; however, he was silent. The umbilical cord was wrapped tightly around his tiny neck. The doctor and nurses worked frantically on the baby for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, they stopped; they had gone well over the normal procedures because this was the child of Dr. Larson.
When Joyce woke up in the recovery room, her sister gave her the news. She had a beautiful healthy daughter; however, Emily’s twin brother had not survived. Joyce wept for her dead son and refused to hold her newborn daughter. She was well aware that Dr. Larson wanted a son. He had already informed her that their baby boy would be named Joshua after his wealthy grandfather.
By the time Dr. Larson arrived, Joyce was heavily sedated and resting in the nicest room in the hospital. When Dr. Larson learned about the births, he asked if his daughter was physically okay. When he was assured that the baby was fine, he simply nodded. It never occurred to him to stop at the nursery to see his new daughter.
When the attending physician came into Joyce’s room to talk to him, he shoved him up against the wall and stomped out of the room. He slammed every door on his way out to the parking lot. He was shocked that his daughter survived, while his son had been taken from him. Filled with uncontrollable rage, he did not let anyone comfort him. He mourned for his dead son, who would never receive his proper place in the family. In some twisted way, he blamed his son’s death on his newborn daughter. The doctors tried to explain that this was not the case, but it made no difference to him. He knew that he would have little to do with the daughter.
Joyce told him that she did not intend to become pregnant again. Dr. Larson fumed with outrage, knowing that he would never have a son to carry on his family name.
*
Emily Catherine Larson was baptized at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on New Year’s Day in a church filled with friends and relatives. She was given the very proper name of Joyce’s grandmother and the middle name of her great-grandmother. After the church service, there was an elaborate party held at the Larsons’ beautiful home. From the windows of the house, Lake Alice sparkled with fresh white snow and a perfect blue sky as children skated to music. All the important people in town made a mandatory appearance at the baptism party. There were mounds of expensive gifts displayed in the formal dining room.
Tiny Emily made her appearance in a white silk and lace christening gown imported from France. As she was paraded around the room by her nanny, all the guests had a chance to comment on what a beautiful little girl she was with her big blue eyes and delicate features.
Isabel quickly took Emily upstairs, just as she had been instructed to do. Isabel was an eighteen-year-old girl from Norway and Emily’s full-time nanny. She had a small room off Emily’s spacious bedroom. She had prepared everything needed for the babies. She was excited about Emily’s arrival into the big cold house. Joyce was pleased that Isabel spoke proper English. She immediately informed her that she was to never use any form of baby talk or speak Norwegian around Emily. Isabel was required to be available to care for Emily at any hour of any day. Because of the tragedy of the death of the other child, Joyce told Isabel that she would need more rest and quiet. Isabel quickly removed all evidence of the twin that did not come home. She was told not to bother Joyce with the baby. When and if Joyce wanted to be with Emily, she would simply inform Isabel to bring the child to her.
As the party continued, their guests all commented on how quickly Joyce had regained her hourglass figure. Although she looked beautiful in a deep red, formfitting dress from Claire’s Dress Shop, her face showed no expression of happiness or sadness. Dr. Larson spent his time impressing his guests with expensive liquor, cigars, and humorous stories about their travels to Europe. He laughed as he told his guests that Emily needed to learn early on that children were to be seen and not heard.
*
Emily grew into a quiet, petite girl. Her long, blonde hair, blue eyes, pale complexion, and dainty appearance often made her look frail. She had sensed from a very early age that she was not loved by her distant parents. With a soft voice, she only spoke when someone asked her a question. Her shy and timid manners made her appear to be sad most of the time.
Her closest attachment was with Isabel, whom she adored. Isabel taught her how to ride a tricycle and then a big bike. However, she was never allowed to ride anywhere except around tiny Lake Alice. There was no swing set because Joyce feared that Emily might be hurt and thought it caused too much noise. Playtime was always quiet, learning how to draw and do her alphabet. Her life was a protected cocoon, away from any danger that might happen her way.
When she was five years old, a piano teacher arrived to teach her how to play. Whatever task she was asked to perform, she excelled at it. By the time she was seven, she held her first piano recital. She played “Amazing Grace” and a selection from Chopin. Having conquered the piano, it was decided that Emily should begin private voice lessons. The following year, she sang her first solo at the Christmas Eve children’s service at Bethlehem Church.
Everyone who met her commented on her beauty, grace, talent, and manners. She was bright, polite, and talented. Her pale little face and big blue eyes rarely showed any emotion. People thought she was just like her parents. They did not see that she was painfully shy and always afraid of not being perfect.
Emily’s parents continued to be remote and disconnected from her. Dr. Larson became the leading force to develop Fergus Falls’ first golf course and country club. He served as the chief of staff at the hospital, and the Chamber of Commerce often sought his advice. His new, private clinic was overwhelmingly successful. He recruited three doctors into his practice so that he could work less. Although no one truly liked him or his wife, most people knew that they needed their generous donations and power to get things done around town.
Dr. Larson continued to have little inclination to spend any time with Emily. He agreed with his wife that there would be no more children. He surprised Joyce with expensive trips to Europe, beautiful clothes, and gala parties. Yet the only contact with Emily was when he came home for dinner one or two nights a week. At the dinner table, Emily would be asked to explain how she was doing in school and with her many lessons. She politely reported on her progress, awards, and grades. Her parents never asked her about friends or questioned if she was happy.
*
Joyce never fully recovered from the death of her son. She had failed to give her husband the son she knew he wanted. Instead, she became the unofficial social hostess of Fergus Falls. She organized many of the fundraisers for the hospital, church, and schools. She hosted events at the newly built country club at the golf course. Their large, five-bedroom home was decorated both insi
de and out to show her elaborate taste. Her closet overflowed with designer clothes and all the accessories to match. She was the only lady in town who had three fur coats.
Joyce also seemed to take a real fondness to expensive Scotch, which she drank daily. She had it delivered by the case from a shop in Minneapolis. Many times after an important charity event, she would go to bed for days at a time with the claim of a terrible headache. No one outside their home ever saw Joyce without her perfectly styled hair and makeup and wearing a high fashion, coordinated outfit.
She remained disinterested in Emily. The most time and attention she gave her was when she selected Emily’s new wardrobes three times a year. Before she left for the shopping trip, Isabel would measure Emily so that the new clothes fit just right. This was done right down to the width of her shoes. Then Joyce would fly to New York and on the way home spend a few days in Minneapolis to finish the project. Never was Emily asked what she wanted, what her favorite color was, or if she wanted to accompany her mother on the buying trips.
Joyce demanded that Isabel take great care in Emily’s appearance. She would throw a fit if there was a speck of dirt on Emily’s clothing or a hair out of place. She sent Isabel to a beauty salon, where she learned how to style and braid Emily’s long, blonde, silky hair.
It was always Isabel who attended Emily’s recitals and school events. She would come home and report to the Larsons what a gifted daughter they had. Isabel became very emotionally attached to Emily. She knew she could never leave her to fend for herself in this loveless showcase of a house. She became Emily’s protector. She was devoted to her; she loved her as much as if she were her own daughter.
*
By the time Emily was a teenager, there was no doubt that she knew exactly what was expected from her. She worked hard to be an A+ student, an excellent pianist, and a soloist. She was a well-mannered young woman and politely quiet until adults spoke to her. She grew to love Isabel and to hate all the phony social parties that took place in her home. Her refuge was her beautiful bedroom, which was in the back of the house overlooking a gracious weeping willow tree. In the spring, she would often take an old blanket and sit under the shelter of the tree while practicing her French lessons with Isabel. The two of them would sit there for hours talking about anything that came to mind. They would also sometimes sit there quietly, listening to the tree make gentle noises as its long branches swept across the ground.
Emily shared her dreams with Isabel under that tree. She cried with her about all the disappointments she had experienced. She once said to Isabel, “Why do my parents hate me so much? Why can’t I get them to spend time with me like all the other kids' families do? I am trying so hard to be a good daughter, and it does not seem to get me anywhere with them. Isabel, promise me that you will never leave me. You are truly the only person on the face of this earth who cares about me.”
Isabel taught Emily the facts of life and the rules of dating. She gave her lessons on how to flirt and laugh at silly jokes. Emily discovered the secret of how to be a charming young lady who all the boys would want to escort to the dances and special parties. Isabel convinced her that she was a wonderful young lady, whom she loved and admired.
When Emily was old enough to understand, Isabel explained the death of her twin brother. She told her it was not her fault. At the risk of being disloyal to the Larsons, she repeatedly told her that her parents were wrong for how they treated her. She said that someday they would regret not enjoying their special daughter and the wonderful times they could have had with her. Emily believed and trusted Isabel more than anyone else in her life. Isabel became her safety net.
*
From all outward appearances, people might think that Emily had a charmed life. By the time she was twelve, she had been to Europe six times. Her closet overflowed with beautiful designer clothes. Her bedroom would be the envy of most adults. Long before most families in Fergus Falls could afford to buy their first black and white television or record player, Emily had both of them in her room. However, what she longed for she did not have—the love and companionship of her parents.
She had no friends that she enjoyed. After-school evenings and weekends were always occupied with lessons to improve her skills in piano, singing, and French. There was no time to just be a girl. There were times when she would sit on the wicker furniture on the large front porch watching the neighborhood kids riding their bikes in the summer and ice-skating in the winter. She felt isolated and out of step with the world. She did not fit into her parents’ lives nor did she fit into the lives of children her own age. Without Isabel, her life would have been an empty, hollow existence.
*
Emily was terrified when it came time to go to high school. For weeks before school started, she paced and worried about how she would get by. She knew when she walked into the school on her first day that she would be a misfit once again. Where other girls wore their new outfits from J. C. Penney, she would wear a designer sweater set and skirt from Villager of New York. Her schoolbag was made of the softest Italian leather. She knew that all of the other students had every right to think she was a spoiled snob. She simply did not know how to talk to them and convince them otherwise.
Therefore, she roamed the halls of Fergus Falls High School alone. Isabel would come and pick her up for lunch and again after school. Emily was amazed at how lonely she felt in the middle of hundreds of students. She continued to excel in all of her studies. Her only extracurricular activity was the choir. She loved being part of this group; singing became a wonderful way for her to find a little happiness.
*
Their teacher told them that they needed to decide on a name for their group. After much lively debate, they decided on SOLA, which stood for Sisterhood of Lake Alice. They were called the SOLA by many of their classmates from that day on. Emily, Grace, Lindy, and Rebecca had originally come together as freshman when they were asked to sing as a quartet for their Spring Music Festival at Fergus Falls High School. They instantly became friends.
The quartet was so well received that the music director decided to offer special tutoring to them to develop their talents. By the next fall, they entered the statewide contest and came in second place. When they came home from the competition, which was held in Mankato, the school welcomed them with a special student assembly. The following day, their picture holding the trophy was on the front page of the Daily Journal. From that point on, the girls were inseparable. They ate lunch together each day and shared their most important moments with each other. For the first time in Emily’s life, she had friends.
The girls loved hanging out at Emily’s house because they never had to worry about parents hovering over them. During the winter, they taught Emily how to ice-skate on Lake Alice. Then they ran across the street to her house for Isabel’s special hot chocolate loaded with tiny melted marshmallows. During the spring and fall, they spent hours in Emily’s bedroom, trying on her clothes and gossiping. Many hot summer days were spent sleeping under the cool and graceful weeping willow tree, where they drank ice-cold fresh lemonade.
One summer night, sitting under the tree, Lindy suggested and they all agreed that they would always be SOLA, the Sisterhood of Lake Alice. In many ways, they were closer to each other than their real sisters. They shared secrets that they knew would never be told to anyone else. Their honest and open conversations allowed them to understand the true meaning of acceptance, even at their early age. All of them believed that this was truly a special bond that very few girls ever would know.
They had long discussions about boys and decided who they should date. They talked about their periods, the constant changes in their bodies, and of course, their dreams of the perfect romance. Even their arguments were lively and fun. Emily and Rebecca normally took the logical side, while Lindy and Grace always seemed to take the opposing emotional viewpoint. Their disagreements
never lasted long and were normally resolved with a sleepover and root-beer floats.
*
Emily celebrated most of her birthdays and events at her friends’ homes. She loved the warmth of Grace O’Malley’s house. She knew that when she walked in their front door, she would get a big hug from Mrs. O’Malley. Rebecca’s tiny little home was always clean, quiet, and cozy. Her mother’s cookie jar was always filled with the best homemade chocolate chip cookies in the world. Her grandmother loved to crochet doilies, and they were everywhere you looked—on the furniture, dressers, and tables. She made a special one for Emily for one of her birthdays. Lindy’s home was the exact opposite. It was loud and entertaining. It was not unusual to find Lindy and her mother with rollers in their hair, singing along to the latest country-western song. Emily often returned home depressed, realizing how lonely her life was in the big beautiful house overlooking Lake Alice.
*
On her sixteenth birthday, Emily arrived home from school to find a bright red VW convertible parked in their driveway with a huge ribbon tied to the windshield. There was an unsigned happy birthday card lying on the front seat with the keys. Her parents had left two days before to vacation on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. Before they left, they had made all the arrangements for a fancy party at the country club. Invitations had been mailed to everyone in her class. The day her parents left, Emily cancelled the party, placing a homemade sign in the lunchroom for everyone to read. Isabel immediately taught her how to drive her fun new car. Within a month, Emily could be seen driving around the town. Her three best friends were always in her bright red car with the top down, laughing, regardless of how cold it was.
Emily was very generous with her things and her money. All of them borrowed her clothes. Isabel quickly became attached to all of the girls. She taught them how to put on makeup and fix their hair. Isabel was there to greet them when they arrived. She made up beds for the girls on their sleepovers. She kept them supplied with popcorn, ice-cold sodas, and the latest fashion magazines. Then she would disappear to her new room, which had been built in the attic. There she would smile, listening to the girls’ laughter. She was so pleased that at last Emily had found friends and acceptance.
Sisterhood Of Lake Alice Page 2
