Mirisa put her palm on Conrad’s heart and laid her head on it. Conrad could feel the heat of her breath and it reminded him of his wife on the day they left their first son with Jake and Sara as they made the difficult journey west.
She was standing alone at the railing when Dominic walked out. They had all been in the library with the doors closed all morning. “Mirisa, can you come into the library? I need to talk to you.” Dominic took her hand and they went down to the library.
Meeks was sitting behind the desk waiting and Garnett was standing by the fireplace. James came in behind them with a fresh pot of coffee and a cup of tea for her. She took the cup and sat down on the couch waiting.
Dominic poured a shot and put the bottle back on the desk. Mirisa loved the moments when they were trying hard to steer her into what they thought was the right decision. Mirisa hoped her children would have this type of loyalty to one another and especially when it involved the girls. Mirisa knew that she could make life easy for all of them but instead decided she would let them muddle through whatever plan they had spent all morning working on.
Garnett was blowing smoke rings which she knew meant he was weighing what to say but she suppressed the grin that wanted so badly to spread across her face. After reading his books, she could mentally place him in a courtroom weighing his next words as the jurors were mesmerized by his last sentence. He was so good looking when he was serious that she just wanted to kiss him. “Mirisa, you realize you have complete and full custody of the boys. There’s nothing that Dominic can do, legally or otherwise, if you don’t agree with his request.”
Mirisa looked at Garnett before sipping her tea. “Well, I did have a good attorney so I am assuming that Dominic was either outvoted and reluctantly gave up more rights than was required or the Judge was sympathetic. I will also assume that this meeting is your way of paying back whatever concessions Dominic made that day because all of you seem to take his side when it comes to my sons.” She slowly swirled her tea as they all waited. “But I don’t believe that any of you have told me why I am sitting here and why it takes four of you to address me.”
Dominic suppressed a smile as did Meeks because it was obvious that no amount of rational argument would penetrate the stubbornness that was written all over her face.
“I think you need to hear the details of Dominic’s request and think about it for a while before you make a decision.”
“He is their father and I have complete trust in his being their father, you are my lawyer who created this situation so I trust you know how to get around the issue if need be, James never lies to me unless he thinks I’m going to cry and I’m not crying and my husband would object if he thinks any of you are wrong. But then we go back to the issue that all four of you always side against me when it comes to decisions about my sons.”
“Mirisa, if Dominic decides to raise the boys in Mississippi you will go a long time without being near them. They are both still very young, especially Jonathan, to be away from you.”
“Garnett, I don’t know what happened when all four of you left me at home while you decided my future in that courtroom nor do I really care because honestly it was more about your relationship and friendship then it was about me or the children. You treated it like you do when you make a business deal and now you are trying to contract away my sons. If Dominic intends to now raise my sons in Mississippi, tell me why he wouldn’t just make that our home after we married, why is he now going to do the only thing I wanted? I agreed to have his children but I never thought he would throw my dreams away as though they meant nothing. I was promised a good life on the Plantation not traipsing around the country.” James started to say something but Meeks caught his eye and stopped him. “Do you know what it does to me when you tell me that I should give up my sons? Do you know how cruel you are?” She stood up, put down her cup and walked toward the door. Garnett drank the shot and refilled his glass.
“Damn, I didn’t even get to argue.”
Dominic poured a shot. “Maybe I need to just ask for Matthew since she has no problem letting him ride with me.”
Meeks pushed back from the desk. “She knows what you want and why. If you give her time, I believe she will make a decision on her own. I do still need to talk to her about New York so if you will give me a minute I will try to find a way to bring her back in without the attitude she just left with.”
Meeks went out into the kitchen where she was getting ready to make fresh cornbread. “Sweetheart, if you have a moment after you finish the cornbread I would really appreciate if you would join us again to talk about New York.”
“I’m sorry, did I react too strongly?” Meeks half smiled at her then bit her lip.
“No, you acted like a large grizzly bear about to kill the hunters who were too close to her cubs.” Meeks took the spoon out of her hand and kissed her roughly. “I actually like you when you are mean and protective.”
“You like me no matter what my mood. Have I told you this morning that you are the best, most handsome, intelligent, funny, spontaneous, imaginative and greatest lover I have ever known?”
“No, but I wouldn’t say that too loud since the other three probably would get their egos hurt.” He ran his hands up her blouse and leaned her back against the counter.
“Meeks, if it takes molesting the cook to get her back in the library I would have surely offered to do the job.” They both looked at James. Mirisa returned to the library and sat on her husband’s lap.
James went through the financial picture of her holdings before he handed Mirisa an envelope from her father but addressed to Garnett.
Mirisa opened it and slowly read it before placing it back into the envelope. When she didn’t comment, James went on that she would inherit one tenth of her grandmother’s estate. The memories of her grandmother’s children filled her quietly bringing to question why she had lost sight of their existence. The Manor house was always filled with laughter and light banter of her Uncles much like her own home. Mirisa looked at her hands weighing the difference between the life of her mother and the solitude of her father’s. He was always out of place without his stethoscope.
James continued explaining that Mirisa needed to decide if she wanted to stop in Philadelphia to sign all the papers with the estate attorney or if she wanted to do it in New York. She didn’t respond. He told her that her portion of the estate also included being curator of the Manor house just outside of New York City.
“Mirisa, this inheritance is massive not only in terms of money and property but in stature. Your grandmother has many trusts for charity and the arts which you have been named as the honorary benefactor. It’s strictly a social position in that the trusts are controlled and managed by her attorneys but you will be expected to act as your grandmother did at certain events and functions or if you prefer you may appoint someone to handle those duties. I need you to sign releases allowing Garnett and myself to handle your portion of the inheritance as well as invest it for you.”
Mirisa thought about her last visited with her grandmother taking only Maggie and Meeks with her. The nurse had rolled her out into her enormous garden so that they could have tea and cake. Springtime in Philadelphia was always filled with the sweetness of a new baby. Mirisa’s love of reading was born at her grandmother’s knee but it was her personal care of her gardens that brought quietness into the day.
Mirisa interrupted James. “How can you buy and sell things so easily?” She looked at each of them as they studied the lift of her chin. “Dominic what are your plans?”
Dominic was sitting on the corner of the chair watching her more than listening to what she said. “I’m letting you think about my request.”
Mirisa shook her head. “What are you going to do with the rest of your life? What are your plans?”
“I’m returning to the Plantation until the fall. I’ll be in Washington for the late term before coming back here.”
“Dominic, have I had no impact on your life?�
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Garnett met Meeks eyes knowing that any movement would spook her and the results might not be a good one at all. Mirisa looked from Dominic to Garnett. “Garnett, you might want to stick this one out unless you believe that Dominic needs help convincing me that my sons are better off without a mother.”
“Mirisa?”
Mirisa wondered if her experiences with a bad mother put such fear in her heart. “James, there is nothing the three of you can say or do in this matter that will impact my decision.”
“Mirisa.”
She turned to Dominic as her voice softened. “I love the way you say my name.”
Dominic knew she was falling into the past. “If I wasn’t already a drinking man, you would probably drive me to the bottle. Can we just stay on point?”
“Then it is a good thing that you are strong enough to handle me.”
“Mirisa, what is the reason you even hesitate if you trust me?”
“Dominic, I plan on having one more child by James. I told you when Matthew was young that I would not allow him to be raised by a nanny. I was and I know the emptiness of always wondering why I was not good enough to have a mother’s attention and love. Unlike three of you, I did not lose my mother to an early death. She was right in front of me always reminding me that I wasn’t worthy of her time or her love. I was insignificant, I was a bother and I never got over it. I want my children to have a strong sense of love and the warmth of family.” She took in her breath. “Mirisa.”
“Yes James.” She turned to him.
“What if I don’t want a child?” They all watched her face as she considered his question.
“How do you want me to thank you for everything you do?” She said it so sincerely that he blinked because it was not the answer he expected.
Garnett smiled. “Is there any way to say no to you?”
“Why would any of you even want to?”
“Mirisa.” She turned back to James. “Back to your finances. The Manor house is sitting on twenty acres with a separate house for the help and stables with apartments over the stables. There are over forty rooms in the house with a current staff of five, including a butler, two maids, a stableman, and a gardener. She has set up a trust that pays for all expenses of the house and the salaries of these five people who have been in her service for a while.”
“They have been there since I was Sara’s age. The Manor house is so much like the plantation and maybe that’s why I loved the plantation so much.”
James lowered the paper then went back to reading it. “You have the right to replace them but they will continue to get their salaries and you would be responsible for paying for anyone you hire to work at the Manor. You cannot sell or give the Manor away and it can only be passed down to any daughters you have or if you have none to your oldest granddaughter though I think that issue is now moot. It has been in the family since it was built and it is to stay in the family. In essence, it costs you nothing since the trust is self generating at this point and it will continue whether you live there or not.”
“You don’t want a baby?”
James looked up at her. “Do you even realize your husband is sitting right here?”
“Well, I am sitting on his lap trying hard to excite him so I would say my answer is yes I do know my husband is in the room.”
Garnett almost choked on his cigar. “Do you have any questions so far?”
“Yes, who is paying you and James for all this wonderful financial and legal advice?”
James folded the papers in his hand and addressed her. “You just want to torment us today don’t you?”
“No, I want to go start lunch and if you want to come sit at the bar and talk to me some more I would love to listen to your sage advice because I find your voice enticing whether it is dealing with my money or what you want to do to me and I truly miss playing with you in the kitchen.”
“Mirisa.” She looked over at Garnett. “You really need to know the details of your finances and your life.”
“I know my finances; I know everything about my grandparents’ charities and life. I grew up in their home and surrounded by their giving lifestyle. I know that being a mother is the most wonderful thing in the world. And right now I am dealing with you wanting to take my sons from me and the loss of my grandmother so you will excuse me if I am not really in the mood to talk about finances.”
Mirisa got up kissing her husband before she left the room again. James put down the papers on the desk. “I give up.” He walked out and took out the cornmeal to help her as she started browning the meat for chili.
Meeks sat at the bar with Dominic and a bottle of whisky for support. Mirisa leaned across the bar and kissed her husband before she handed the eggs to James for the cornbread. Garnett sat down next to Dominic.
“Mirisa, are you going to give us any idea what you want done?”
She turned as she dried her hands on the towel. “Garnett, I thought I did that.”
“Alright, let’s start over.”
“Oh good, you are going to patronize me. Maybe you should reconsider your tone before you continue or maybe not since I am more than happy to argue with anyone today.” Meeks had to suppress a smile and James turned away because they all knew this mood.
“I’m sorry. Do you want to stop in Philadelphia or handle the estate matter in New York?”
“New York.”
“Do you want to live in the Manor house?”
“Live? No. Do I still get to spend your money or are you now going to make me pay when I go shopping since you are putting so much emphasis on how much wealth I have.”
Dominic rolled his eyes as James answered her. “We will continue to pay for anything you or the children need so you should move your inheritance to your main account that will generate income into the trust but leave the money accessible in case you want to use it.”
She looked at Garnett. “Has the Texas house sold yet? I sometimes reflect on the fact that I have never been allowed to be involved on the things that most women are allowed to do except when you are too busy to pay attention to me. I don’t know why you keep me around since you find me too be nothing but a nuisance.”
“Mirisa.” Garnett lit a cigar and put his pen down. “Are you punishing us because of Dominic? Because if you are I don’t think that’s particularly fair.”
“Why not?” She poured a shot and drank it. “Did you not all spend the entire morning in the library trying to figure out how to convince me to let Dominic take my sons? If you were part of the plan then you will be part of the punishment. I do not take lightly to my children being out of my presence. Why you think you must spend hours trying to figure out how to handle me is really beyond me since I am only unreasonable when you make the mistake of believing I am not intelligent enough to make a reasonable decision. I understand, I understand my money, I know what I have and what I need and frankly right now I just want lunch. And just for future consideration, Dominic has more influence over my decisions when he approaches me without the Unit.”
Garnett bit his lip and sat back. “I’m with James; I can’t deal with your logic at all.”
“Don’t try.” Mirisa went back to the stove and added in the onions and peppers.
“Mirisa.”
“Yes darling?”
“I love you.”
“Do you? I think your expectations of marriage are confused by your past.”
“Why would you now question my feelings?”
“Because I frequently question my decisions which are based on insecurities of my childhood and my neediness that I find only in a man’s arms. What kind of woman have I become in an effort to find happiness? What kind of wife betrays her wedding vows? You deserve more then I have given you.” Mirisa felt their confusion and pain as she turned from the kitchen leaving them reflecting.
“Meeks?”
Meeks pushed his shot glass away and stood. “I think we just re-erected her ghosts.”
A
ll the trunks had been delivered to the train station to be shipped to New York and Dominic and Meeks were closing down the houses. They decided to take everyone on a ride instead of taking the train hoping that the time on the trail would help Mirisa. Mirisa spent two days packing the children’s things for the trip. The boys and Maggie were used to moving from home to home but Sara did not take to the commotion well at all and was inseparable from her mother. Meeks tried several times to entertain her but she refused to leave Mirisa’s sight and frequently went to bed with them.
The morning was chilly but the sky was clear as the sun rose over the river. The girls fell back asleep as soon as they were put in the wagon and Dog curled up at their feet. They put Elizabeth in a large wicker basket lined with a thick handmade quilt so that she would not feel every bump in the trail. Unlike Matthew, Jonathan refused to bond with anyone except his father and insisted on riding next to him. Mirisa had asked Conrad several times about Jonathan but he was always evasive.
They followed the cattle trails out of Colorado and along the Texas border turning south to pick up the river trail. The boys spent all their time being boys and the girls whined about the dirt and dust until a tremendous thunderstorm washed out the trail almost carrying the wagon away with all of the girls holding onto the side of the wagon screaming at the top of their lungs.
After they pushed the wagon over the washout, it took them an hour to settle the girls back down. James told them there was no crying on the trail and told Mirisa that they were all identical to her. Mirisa smiled as he mounted his horse and they continued into Dallas where they stayed overnight before heading south toward the ranch. Mirisa climbed down and looked from the house to the adobe.
“Darling.” Meeks dismounted and took her reins. “Where do you want to sleep?”
“In the adobe with you. Dominic can stay in the house with the boys.”
She picked Elizabeth up out of her basket and walked to the house and stood on the porch looking out over the river. It had been so long since they had been to Texas. She reached over the door and brought down the key unlocking the door. It was stuffy so she opened all the French doors before opening the windows to get a cross breeze. The furniture was covered with cloths but there was a layer of dust on everything. She walked into the bedroom and realized that when she left she thought she would be coming back. It had been five years and she couldn’t tell you where those years had gone.
The Visitor - The Bell Tower 1873 - 1875 Page 4
