Harmony House

by Ruth Hay

  “The exterior stone work needs cleaning.”

  “Do you think it has been used as a hostel of some kind?”

  “Possibly. It could have many small rooms inside.”

  “The windows are smaller than I like.”

  “Yes.”

  “Would they ring the bell in that church tower every Sunday?”

  “Nice area though.”

  “Absolutely!”

  On the walk back to the car, Mavis looked at her watch and knew they needed to head for the hospital quite soon. Sheila had confirmed Eve was to be discharged and she requested a minute to update Mavis before they left for home with Eve.

  They decided to do a quick run around the grocery store first, to collect the basics as the car was already in the parking lot.

  It was only a five minute journey to the hospital. Mavis spent the time going over in her head all the arrangements she had made for Eve’s arrival at Camden Corners. The second bedroom had two single beds and she was more than willing to share with Eve.

  “She has been through a dreadful experience. I can watch over her at night and make sure she does not overexert herself. She is still recuperating.”

  “That’s so good of you, Mavis. It means you have decided to leave Emery Street and move in with me. What shall we tell the others at the next meeting?”

  “I don’t see the necessity to tell them anything yet. Hopefully Eve can attend the meeting. It will be obvious she has not been well. Nothing else is required for now. I imagine she will fill in some details for them when she feels she knows us better.”

  “We don’t have any information to give the others about the house search so far.”

  “No. Not so far. If the weather holds we can start again soon.”

  * * *

  Eve Dobrinski had been moved out of Emergency into a short-term ward in the main hospital. Sheila was waiting for them there. When the doctor signed the discharge papers, Eve could leave, but Sheila had some further information for Mavis.

  They moved to a lounge at the end of the corridor for privacy. Sheila began by saying she had passed on Mavis’s plan to her superiors and it was approved.

  “Of course, the matter is now in police hands. There will be an enquiry as to the abuse but my impression is that Eve will not press charges against her husband.”

  Mavis grimaced at this news. The statistics demonstrated how often this was the case with battered wives. Because she knew well the harrowing court procedures of such cases she was not surprised to hear Eve’s decision.

  “I imagine she just wants to be done with the whole nasty business and start again.”

  “Unfortunately, there is a problem about that. The hospital staff on this floor informed me Howard Dobrinski attempted to pay a visit to his wife. He was irate about her disappearance and the fact he was contacted about their health insurance number before he even knew where his wife was.

  The doctor in charge was determined to keep the angry man away from Eve as he felt she was fragile in health. This did not help matters as you can guess. Dobrinski stormed back to Reception and found out about the ‘cousin’ who enquired about her. Unfortunately, your address was given to him shortly before he was escorted out of the building.”

  Mavis swore under her breath. She had written Hilary’s address on the next-of-kin form. The situation was now much more complicated but she knew what the next step must be. A police order to ban Howard Dobrinski from approaching his wife must be put in place as soon as possible and that meant Eve was required to swear out a statement.

  “Thank you for putting me in the picture, Sheila. I will take care of this as soon as Eve is fit.

  You can assure your supervisors that Eve will be in good hands with us. Hilary’s home has a security system and we will immediately block any calls from the husband.”

  Wishing them good luck, Sheila went off on her way and Mavis returned to the ward to find Eve dressed and ready to go. She smiled when her slouch hat appeared from Mavis’s purse.

  “Let’s go home now,” Hilary said.

  Mavis said nothing about the new problems. She would let Eve settle in and rest before breaking the bad news to Hilary.

  Chapter 11

  Two weeks passed before the topic of a house purchase was raised again.

  In the intervening time, Eve Barton blossomed in a way Hilary could not believe. It was as if the weight of the world had been removed from her slim shoulders.

  Hilary searched her dresser drawers and unearthed a selection of silk scarves small enough to be folded into headbands to conceal the scars on Eve’s head which were more obvious now, since the doctors had shaved the area. Tied to one side, these scarves were colourful and attractive additions to the clothing both Mavis and Hilary contributed to Eve’s new wardrobe. It was amazing what a difference a little colour in a blouse or sweater made to the younger woman’s attitude. She grew stronger by the day and although she refused to enter her old house to retrieve her belongings, she agreed to visit the police station with Mavis to swear out a warrant against her husband.

  Despite her misgivings, Howard Dobrinski had not appeared on their doorstep for which Hilary was most grateful. She had employed a company to come to the house and install an outdoor camera. It came with a company sign, large enough to serve as a deterrent to any passerby with criminal ideas.

  “He may be afraid to come storming in here with three women against him. These abusers are cowards at heart.”

  Mavis said nothing to this. She was aware of cases where abusers never ceased their reign of terror until they had killed the partner who they professed to love. She remained on high alert, particularly during the night and walked around the property every morning looking for large footprints in the snow, camera in hand, to provide evidence she could present to the police. She also placed a baseball bat in a corner of the hall closet, just in case.

  Eve was strong enough to join the group for the next meeting. It was not surprising to Hilary when curious glances were cast in Eve’s direction. She was almost unrecognizable from the cowed and pale woman who had appeared briefly at previous meetings. She volunteered to take on the role of kitchen supervisor and handed around plates of mini muffins which she had made, filling tea cups when needed. She did not speak much but her comfort level was rising with every brief encounter. These were to be her future companions and she was beyond happy at the prospect of her new life to come.

  The meeting topic was ‘Weeding Possessions and House Contents’. Mavis began with the information that her former home was now sold to a delightful couple with a child.

  “The family are thrilled with the heritage home and have purchased most of the furnishings. There are only a few items I wish to keep for my future shared home and those, with most of my clothes, have been moved into a storage unit. Needless to say, I am very happy there will be a little girl growing up in the attic bedroom so carefully finished by my late husband.

  I say all this to encourage others to move ahead with the task of planning what they will need and what needs to be recycled or shared or otherwise disposed of.”

  Vilma responded with the information that she would be buying new furnishings when she had an idea of the size of the room she would eventually occupy.

  “But,” she continued, “I am happy to help others with resources. Jannice and I are compiling a list of local places where unwanted goods can go and we have already started the process of clearing out her very old house packed with belongings.”

  Hilary offered her thanks to Vilma with a warm smile. “Storage facilities are an option for the short term as Mavis suggested, but others here might want the chance to see what is being discarded.”

  She was thinking of Eve who had expressed no interest in retrieving anything from her prior unhappy home.

  Honor Pace spoke up for the first time. “I won’t need any furniture but I am interested in the recycling idea. I will investigate online resources and coordinate with Vilma and J
annice.” Here she exchanged an enquiring look with Vilma, who was pleased to nod her approval. “I know of charities that assist with providing supplies for Syrian refugees, for example, but I am sure I can come up with some other ideas. For instance, I know a company that will film and store old photos and other items and give you a record so you don’t forget what and where your things are.”

  “That is so helpful, Honor. I must say, ladies, I love the way we are blending together into a cohesive group. It bodes well for our future.”

  Mavis saw Hilary’s smile pass around the room as everyone showed their agreement. She felt now was a good point at which to indicate the latest on the house search.

  “Hilary and I have begun the process of searching for our future home. Don’t get too excited! There’s a long way to go on this and we have time. We have looked around at some likely prospects but no decisions as yet. We have not contacted any agents and are keeping in mind your requirements.

  Oh, Honor, do you have anything to add to that list?”

  “I believe I mentioned my preference for a ground level room but I must have WiFi access in order to run my business. I own a computer and printer of course, and I already have a storage unit for business records and supplies.”

  “Good. This is the kind of detail we can work with. Keep thinking ahead, everyone, and do relish the last Christmas in your present accommodations. Some of you will have family festivities to attend.

  We’ll meet again after the holidays in a new year which should be an exciting one for all of us.”

  An hour of further discussion, coffee and tea drinking, and exchange of personal information ensued. Hilary noted these sessions were becoming longer as the connections between them grew stronger.

  * * *

  She closed the front door behind Honor, after watching her progress down the steps. Honor declared she was much more mobile now and could manage on her own but Hilary was taking no chances. She thought she caught a brief glimpse of a hooded figure vanishing between two houses across the road but quickly turned her attention back to Honor until she safely drove away in a cab.

  “Well, then Eve. How did you feel about the meeting?”

  Eve looked up from piling the dishes beside the dishwasher and replied that she could not wait to live together with these wonderful, supportive women. “I am so grateful for your help, Hilary, and Mavis too, of course. I feel like I have a chance to my start my life over again but, if you don’t mind, I will go upstairs for a nap once these dishes are loaded.”

  Mavis shooed Eve away at once and when she had gone she suggested Eve would be a candidate for some of Hilary’s unwanted furniture.

  “You are right! I’ll tackle that when she is back to her full strength and can make decisions.”

  Their talk resumed with the topic of Christmas decorations. Mavis knew how devoted her friend was to the Christmas season’s displays of colourful lights and special ornaments. She had seen for herself the large section of the basement devoted to the storage of such seasonal treasures and she did not relish the job of informing Hilary most of the accumulation would have to go in the new year. Let her enjoy it for the last time, she thought, with a quiet chuckle. She would refuse to be a part of that decision process.

  She intended to offer the very traditional Christmas items she and Peter had gathered over the years to the new family, as they were particularly suited to the style and age of the Ontario Cottage. If she ever felt nostalgia for such a look again she would simply make a visit to Eldon House and bask in the flavour of the restored 1834 historic home in London where generations of the Harris family once lived in Victorian splendour.

  * * *

  When Hilary woke suddenly in the middle of the night she remembered the glimpse of the dark figure she had seen across the road earlier in the day, then promptly forgotten. She decided to accompany Mavis on her daily patrol in the morning and keep an eye out for other strangers in the future.

  Snow continued over Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. Eve decided to cook a turkey and Mavis added roast potatoes, stuffing and vegetables to the feast. Hilary insisted on mashed turnip which was a favourite of her mother’s and she promised a surprise dessert, not made of turnip, she insisted, to laughter from the others.

  With three women in the house, it was a mini preview of how it would be by next Christmas when they were, hopefully, installed in their new forever home. A certain amount of juggling was required in the kitchen area and also in the main bathroom. Eve preferred to bathe or shower in the evenings, while Mavis and Hilary had a routine in the mornings to accommodate earlier risers. Hilary believed this experience would allow the two friends to eventually share one washroom if that turned out to be necessary. It was one of the many adjustments Hilary was noting. Six women in one house was not a project to be taken on without a considerable amount of pre-planning and that was her forte.

  For now, it was delightful to share the season with Mavis and Eve. It was entirely different from her lonely time a year before. The sound of happy voices in other parts of the house while she worked on plans, made her heart soar.

  On the second day of the new year, they mounted an expedition to see prospective houses. Several had dropped out of the list for the winter months but there were a few possibilities and the streets were quiet with many workers taking a longer break over Christmas and New Year.

  Eve was very excited to be included and she sat in the rear seat with the sheaf of pamphlets and flyers beside her for reference. This time they began on the fringes of London. There was a large subdivision in Lambeth, quite hidden from the main street, which had the spacious homes and half-acre plots they were seeking. Lambeth had a number of facilities and access to downtown via Wharncliffe Road was fast.

  Mavis observed several newer housing estates in the area and although these homes were not what they were looking for, they would mean more business and amenities would arrive in time.

  They drove around the silent subdivision watching for sale signs but nothing was available. Hilary estimated the homes here would be nearer the two million dollar mark and many of the residents were likely wintering in Florida, Mexico, or other sunny climes.

  “A trifle rich for our blood, ladies!” she exclaimed. She was beginning to wonder if they could manage to wait until the spring brought more houses for sale. The issue of establishing costs and setting up financial arrangements might not wait that long and interim housing would be an expense they could ill afford.

  Another hour passed in fruitless searching, until Mavis remembered the information about the unusual house they had not actually seen in their previous searches.

  “It was the one with the odd description. Should we look there just for fun? It’s our last try of the day and we should be heading home soon. Mavis had her eye on the car’s gas gauge. She had a horror of running out of gas in winter and being stranded in the cold on some side street far from help.

  Hilary related the details and Eve soon found the original newspaper clipping.

  Vacant for a year or more.

  Owned by a developer.

  Unusual property.

  Quiet location.

  When Eve read out the price, Hilary and Mavis looked across at each other with the same thought. Something must be wrong with the place. The price was nearer 750,000 dollars, twice the average for a detached house in London, Ontario, but less than such a property was worth, judging from the photograph of the exterior.

  Employing the GPS, Hilary found the property at Westdel Bourne which was away from the main roads but not that far from Byron and shopping, doctors and other necessities.

  They pulled up at the end of a long driveway and looked toward the house which was covered in a layer of snow, hiding many of its features.

  There was silence in the car for several minutes then the comments began.

  It looks big enough to accommodate six.

  The style is more Niagara-On-The-Lake than stuffy old London.
r />   I love that small turret bit on one side.

  There’s a wrap-around porch. Wonderful for the summer!

  That’s a big front lawn. We would need a gardener.

  The windows are lovely.

  The architectural details I can see are charming.

  Where’s the garage?

  What’s beyond those trees?

  It would be a nightmare if the roof had to be replaced.

  The style is Victorian meets the Deep South but it does not look that old at all.

  I like it.

  I do too.

  Eve was mostly listening. She felt as if her opinion should not hold sway in this decision but she was excited to think a beautiful home like this might even be considered. It was a dream come true.

  “What’s your thought, Eve?”

  “I am entranced! That’s not very logical, of course. More of an emotional reaction.”

  “We do have to have our practical heads on.”

  Hilary brought them back to reality again. “We can’t judge only by the exterior, although I admit that is quite remarkable. There’s the troubling matter of the developer and the description ‘unusual’ which might cover a number of construction sins.”

  Mavis glanced down at her watch and up at the lowering clouds which would likely hold more snow.

  “If I may summarize, we need to contact the realtor and arrange a viewing. I think we are all in agreement that this one demands more attention.”

  With that, Hilary turned the car around and they made their way back to Camden Corners. Each of the car’s passengers was immersed in thought. Seeing a possible candidate for their future home made the whole scheme of shared housing much more of a reality.

  Eve was excited.

  Mavis was wondering how they would allocate the desirable tower room.

  Hilary was thinking she must contact her realtor about the progress of her own house sale and also find out who represented the ‘Niagara’ house. There was no point in getting too enthusiastic about it before they saw the interior realities. It was essential to keep in mind their list of requirements. There were six individuals to be satisfied. She did retain a touch of comfort from the fact that three of the six had been pleased, about the exterior at least. Of course, the remaining three might not be so easy to please.