by Lesley Crewe
She continued.
“Each of you will receive a gift from me. It is my personal thank you for gracing my life. The bulk of my estate, as you know, goes to the university. My personal effects, the cherished mementos in my room, can be divided among you. That is for you to decide.
“To Elsie…the music box that means the world to me. I know it will be in good hands.”
She blew her nose and went on.
“To Juliet…a diamond tiara, given to me by a member of a royal family.”
Juliet squealed. “Oh my God, are you serious? This is so exciting.”
Everyone shushed her.
Elsie started to laugh. “There’s more…‘I give her this so she can be queen for a day, something she’s always wanted and strives very hard to achieve.’”
“Hey, what does that mean?”
“It means Aunt Hildy was one smart dame,” Graham smirked.
Elsie continued.
“To Faith…my journals. There are hundreds of rip-roaring good stories between the pages and I’m sure she will write a book I’d be proud to read.”
Faith cried so hard Juliet had to go over and give her a hug.
“To Graham…my archaeological tools. I made my living with my hands and so does he. I admire that.”
Graham got up and went to the fireplace. He turned his back on everyone and held on to the mantel.
Elsie read on.
“To Robert…a piece of real estate I’ve had for a long time. I think he’ll be surprised when he finds out the address.”
Robert jumped to his feet. “I can’t believe it. I thought she hated me.”
“Maybe she did,” Lily said. “You don’t know where it is yet.”
“Lily, let me continue,” her mother said.
“Sorry.”
“To Lily…two steamer trunks full of clothes her great-grandmother made for her grandmother and me, as well as outfits I’ve collected over the years on my travels to many different lands. I believe they’ll complement her unique personality and her fascination with the human condition.”
Lily put her hands over her face.
“To Eli…my grandfather’s pocket watch…from one gentleman to another.”
Eli stared at his feet.
“To Slater…a donation has been made in your name to save the most endangered species in southern and East Africa. These include the black rhino, the African elephant, the mountain zebra, the cheetah and the leatherback turtle. I’ve opened a bank account in your name and I want you to use the money to go on safari and visit the places on this earth that have brought me much joy. I’ve also had a star named after you, so you can keep me company and make me laugh forever.”
Everyone held their breath, sure that Slater would go berserk. He surprised them. He put his fist in the air as a salute. “Far out, Auntie baby.”
Elsie looked down at the letter. She gasped and looked at Dahlia, who jumped up and started to tremble. “What?”
“To Dahlia…my wedding dress. Marry that Prince Charming of yours and live happily ever after.”
Her hands flew to her mouth. “I don’t believe it!”
Juliet looked confused. “Aunt Hildy never married. What wedding dress?”
Elsie put the letter in her lap. “She told me she was to be married, but her young man died trying to get to her and he never saw her dress. She’s kept it all these years.”
Lily sighed, “Oh my God, how romantic is that?”
Dahlia cried, “Remember when she told us she saw the most beautiful dress of all. It must have been hers. I can’t wait. Where is it?”
Elsie motioned for them to sit. “The lawyers have everything in a vault. I’ll make the arrangements to have it delivered.
Anyway, I’m almost finished.” She picked up the letter again.
“And so, I hope these gifts put a smile on your face, since I clearly made you miserable with the treasure business. The only thing left to say is that it’s there. You just have to find it. I love you all. Aunt Hildy.”
No one spoke for a few moments. Then Elsie folded up the letter. “What a woman.”
“Let’s go upstairs and divvy up her room,” Juliet suggested.
“That’s what she wants us to do.”
“Don’t,” Elsie said. “There’s been enough of her given away today. I couldn’t bear it.”
Faith spoke up. “We’ve been given permission to go in that room. What’s the harm? Let’s do it and get it over with.”
Lily nodded. “Why not Mom? I think I’d love to touch her things. I want to be near her.”
Her sister agreed. “Lets do it together and then it will be over.”
Elsie stayed where she was. “I’m sorry. You go ahead. I just can’t face it right now.”
The women trooped upstairs and Graham suggested the guys have a beer out on the deck. They readily agreed.
Elsie sat with her head against the armchair and watched the dust mites dance in the sunbeam that streamed in through the window, the fog finally rolling back out to sea. One of the pussycats lay in the spot of light, stretched out to enjoy the warmth.
It made her smile to think of Aunt Hildy as she floated through the air in the park and drifted out over the water. That’s what she’d like to do too, when her time came. She didn’t want to be buried. She wanted to be free.
She closed her eyes and tried to remember her aunt the way she looked the day she sat under the big tree in the back garden. It made her feel better. She started to relax and grow drowsy. That’s when she heard Dahlia call her softly from across the room.
“Yes?” She kept her eyes closed.
“The terrible twosome are wreaking havoc up there. They’ll take everything if you’re not careful. Are you sure there’s nothing you want? I can get it for you, so you don’t have to go in the room.”
She wanted to sleep. “Thanks honey, but no. I’m fine.”
“Okay.”
“Wait,” she said, her eyes still closed. “I’d love to have some of her photo albums.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll make sure you get them.”
“And Dee. Bring me her carpet bag. I always thought it belonged to a gypsy when I was a little girl. That’s how I remember her best. Carrying that bag.”
“Okay.”
Elsie nodded off and woke up sometime later. There was a stack of photo albums on the piano bench and in her lap was the only other thing she wanted. She touched the velvet embroidery, worn away to a smooth sheen in spots, and rubbed it on her cheek. It smelled musky and old and wonderful. Just like her.
“I miss you.”
Elsie unclasped the bag and looked inside. What a marvellous array of odds and ends. She pulled out her passport first and opened it. Aunt Hildy glared back at her. Elsie felt sorry for the photographer. Look at all the stamps. The Congo, Japan, Brazil. Iceland for heaven’s sake! Why didn’t she ever ask her about these adventures? They’re gone forever now. That deep well of sorrow bubbled up and threatened to overwhelm her, just like the first time she thought, “I must ask Mom,” only Mom wasn’t there anymore.
She put the passport back and took out a comb. A few white hairs still clung to it, so Elsie wrapped it in a lace handkerchief she found at the bottom of the bag. There was a book, The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. A few practical items, an accordion plastic rain bonnet loved by little old ladies everywhere, a jar of Vaseline and a tin of Altoids. But what on earth did she need with a silver spoon? And a bag of clothes-pins? She even had a Swiss Army knife, a handy gadget, for sure, but did she carry it through customs?
Elsie was about to close the bag when she caught a glimmer of metal in a small pocket. She had a hard time taking whatever it was out because the pocket was very narrow and deep. After much manipulating, she freed a large, old-fashioned brass key. Now what on earth does this open?
Another secret taken to the grave.
It had been an exhausting day for everyone, so there wasn’t much movement in the
house that evening. Only the sound of The Simpsons coming from the family room, the ticking of the grandfather clock and the sound of a blowdryer upstairs.
Juliet and Robert asked if anyone would like to join them in the library for some tea and a game of Scrabble before they left for the night. There were no takers. Their plan had worked. They went to work quickly and quietly. Juliet picked the crystals off the chandelier one by one, and Robert scratched up Elsie’s leaded windows. It turned out only three were diamonds, which was disappointing, but with the horde of goodies from Aunt Hildy’s room, they’d still fetch a tidy sum.
Juliet hung the last of the crystals back up just as Faith walked in on them.
“Thought I’d….” She stopped. “I didn’t know you were a domestic goddess. Perhaps you’d like to tell me what you’re doing up there?”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You’re not standing on a desk that’s been pulled into the middle of the room, fondling the chandelier?”
Juliet got down. “No.”
“What’s up Robert?”
“You are an awfully suspicious woman, did you know that?” Robert answered.
“Is it any wonder, with the way you two sneak around?”
“I wouldn’t be so quick to point fingers,” Juliet scowled. “You’ve done your share, only you weren’t terribly successful, were you?”
“At least I shared what I found with you. I have a suspicion that’s not true in your case.”
Robert went over to the hearth and gave the fire a poke. “Don’t be so paranoid. We’re allowed to look. Aunt Hildy did say it was still here.”
“I think she gave us our treasure already,” Faith said quietly.
Juliet crossed her arms. “Now you’ve gone all soft in the head. Why would she tell us it’s still here if she gave it to us already?”
Faith dropped into the armchair. “I think she means we’re it.”
“What? We’re it? What’s it?”
“Never mind,” Faith sighed. “It’s probably too deep for you to understand.”
Juliet took a step back. “What did you say?”
“I said you’re too stupid to understand anything.”
Robert put up his hands. “Now girls…”
“Too stupid, am I?” Juliet yelled in her sister’s face. “I’d say you’ve cornered the stupid market in this family with Mrs. Noseworthy’s cast-off junk.”
Faith leapt in the air. “I could kill you sometimes.”
“Oh really? Just like you made sure Aunt Hildy never opened her mouth again?”
“You miserable bitch,” Faith gasped. “You think I could shoot someone?”
Juliet stood there and looked at her nails.
“The only person I’d shoot at the moment is you.” She lunged at her sister. Juliet screamed and fell backwards onto the floor. Faith jumped on her and pulled her hair. Robert tried to separate them, but had trouble bending over.
“You’re a shrew!”
“You’re a hag!”
“Stop it, stop it.” He flailed about and tried to grab an arm or a leg like some wrestling referee. That’s when the door banged open and they froze. Elsie stood there.
“I…”
“I what?” Juliet yelled. “Spit it out.”
“I wish I were an only child.” She walked out and left them to it.
The fight raged on.
Elsie made arrangements for the lawyer to come to the house the next afternoon. She wanted everything settled. Only then could she move on. She invited Crystal and Mrs. Noseworthy too, as they had been so kind to the family in those first terrible hours.
Dahlia and Lily got themselves dolled up in anticipation of the unveiling of the “dress.” Elsie put Aunt Hildy’s music box in the middle of the coffee table, so a small part of her would be included in the ceremony.
Crystal admired the beautiful piece. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Wait until you hear it.” Elsie turned the key and its melody filled the room. No one said anything until it wound itself out.
Dahlia dabbed her eyes. “That’s the music I want for my wedding.”
“That’s a nice idea,” her mother agreed.
Lily realized something. “Maybe Slater shouldn’t be in here…you know…the dress and all.”
Dahlia smiled over at the boy himself. “Poor Aunt Hildy never got to show it to the man she loved. I won’t make the same mistake.”
“Yeah, and I hope I don’t die before I get to the church. That would be a bummer.”
Juliet filed her nails. “I wonder how he did die?”
“The story’s probably in one of her journals,” Faith said. “I can’t wait to get them all. I read the one in her bedroom and she referred to the time she smuggled maps for the Allies across the border during the war, under the guise of them being archaeological documents.”
Graham looked at his watch. “What time have you got, Robert? They should be here by now.”
That’s when the doorbell rang and everyone flew to their seats. Elsie went to the door and the lawyer came through with a couple of men who brought the gifts inside. Once that was accomplished, the lawyer had Elsie sign a legal document to say everything had been delivered and Aunt Hildy’s wishes fulfilled. He bid them adieu.
They took turns. Everyone knew what would be opened last. Juliet took the red velvet case that had her name tagged on it. She opened it up and, for once in her life, was speechless. A diamond tiara, as promised. She picked it up and took it over to the mirror above the fireplace. She put it on her head and everyone oohed and ahhed. Graham rolled his eyes.
Faith received twenty-eight old and very worn leather-bound journals, held together with twine. Juliet gave her a pitying look as she stood by the fire and looked for all the world like a duchess.
Robert took his deed and read it over. “I don’t believe it. I now own the house behind you. Our backyards adjoin.”
“On Beech Street?” Juliet yelled. “That old thing? It’s been rented out to grad students for years. It’s an eyesore.”
“It’s a house,” he pointed out.
“Oh God,” Faith moaned. “Not you two over the back fence. I think I’ll move.”
“Yippee,” Graham mumbled.
Elsie gave him a look and passed him his gift. The tools were in what looked like two ancient doctor’s bags. He spent a quiet time at the dining room table looking through them.
Eli received his pocket watch, a gold beauty that went perfectly with the dark suit he wore.
Lily opened the steamer trunks and clapped her hands in delight.
Slater looked at his bank book and visibly blanched but refused to tell Juliet and Faith how much it was worth. Elsie finally told them to leave him alone. He read the literature about the specific funds allotted for each animal and then opened a map of the heavens to seek his star.
Eli looked over his shoulder. “You were right, buddy. Every treasure has a map. It’s the pirate’s code.”
Finally the moment they all waited for. They cleared the gifts away and left the large box wrapped with a satin ribbon in the middle of the room.
Dahlia stood and shivered. “I’m so excited.”
“I hope moths didn’t get at it.”
Everyone gave Juliet a filthy look.
“Kidding. Geez, you people are a tough crowd.”
Dahlia took the ribbon and untied it. She looked at her mother and took off the lid of the box, then unfolded the yellowing tissue paper inside. She bit her lip and her eyes watered. As everyone gathered round, she said to her sister, “Take it out. I want to see it from across the room.”
So Lily lifted it up and held it out in front of her. The dress was a sheath of ivory silk. Perfect in its simplicity. It was slightly off the shoulder, with long sleeves that came to a ‘V’ over the fingers. It had an empire waist and a skirt that fell to the floor in a pool at Lily’s feet.
“It’s so beautiful,” Elsie whispered.
Mr
s. Noseworthy fanned herself with a Reader’s Digest. “That looks just like mine did. Isn’t that amazing?”
Elsie smiled vaguely. “That’s nice.”
“There’s something else.” Crystal leaned into the box. “The veil’s here too.” She took it out. It was floor length with what were the remnants of a crown of white roses.
Dahlia whispered, “It’s about the love, my dear. Nothing else.”
Harry didn’t see much of Elsie in the days that followed the shooting. Not that he expected to, but he thought of her constantly. He was worried. She had looked so small and frightened the morning he went to see her.
He’d called the house a few days later, but Graham answered, so he hung up. If she didn’t get in touch with him soon, he’d go to the house, Graham or no Graham.
As he got ready to go out on patrol, Harry overheard the discussion between the detectives involved in the Chamberlin murder. He pretended to go through some files to hear what they had to say.
“Every one of them tells the same story about the hours before the shooting,” Detective Olson said, “We can’t break them on that. And yet every one of them could have done it. An old auntie, eccentric from what I understand, worth a fortune. There are lots of reasons why someone would want her dead.”
“There’s no weapon, no obvious signs of a break-in.” Detective Smith scanned his notes. “It looks like an inside job. But how would the killer get down the stairs undetected? It’s a big house but there were people on every level apparently…unless they’re all in on it.” He paused. “And what’s the husband’s story? I can’t believe he lives in the basement. Must be in the doghouse for sleeping with his lady friend. He was the only one out that night. Does his alibi hold up?”
Olson frowned. “So far. But I’m not sure about the girlfriend. She said he was with her all night, but she didn’t sound very convincing. Maybe we should go rattle that cage again.”
“I’d like to rattle her.”
“Not me,” Olson laughed. “The wife would do just fine.”
