Call of the Canyon

by Nancy Pennick

  “I see him.” Drew pointed out the window. “See that man holding the sign? That’s our chauffeur, Salvatore. Stay here and I’ll be right back.”

  Did Drew just say our chauffeur? The Martins have their own chauffeur? When Drew said someone would pick them up Kate assumed it would be a taxi service. The porter came into the car, took their luggage to the landing and was greeted by Salvatore and Drew.

  “Sal, this is my wife, Kathryn.” Drew took Kate’s hand as she stepped forward and helped her down the steps.

  “Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Martin.” Sal gave a slight bow.

  “Thank you, Sal.” She noticed he had an Italian accent and wondered how long he had worked for the Martins. She’d ask Drew later.

  “Sal, we’d like to go shopping before heading home. Would you please take us to Saks Fifth Avenue?” He put his arm around Kate. “This will be fun. I can’t wait for you to see all the stores on Fifth Avenue.”

  Kate had been in New York with her mother a few times and they’d shopped along the Avenue. She was familiar with Saks and was surprised it existed in 1927. Again, Kate felt she’d better brush up on her history.

  Sal pulled the Cadillac in front of the department store. Jumping out, he ran around to the passenger side of the car and helped them out. “I’ll be waiting, sir.”

  “Thanks, Sal, we won’t be long.”

  They entered the store and a man, looking very official, came scurrying up to them. “Mr. Martin, it’s a pleasure to see you again. Anything I can do for you today? And this must be your lovely bride.” He looked at Kate for a brief moment, but all of his attention was on Drew.

  “Yes, Jonathan, this is my wife, Kathryn. We’d like to purchase a gift for my parents, something in Waterford.”

  “Good choice, sir. Come right this way. Fern will be most willing to help you. Fern!” He darted away as quickly as he appeared.

  “Drew, you’ve got to be kidding me. People are fawning all over you.”

  “Are they?”

  She so wanted to give him a little push and bring him back to his senses but realized that was his way of life in the past. It had no effect on the way he treated people. She would never guess he was a rich snob. Kate chuckled to herself. Snob was not a word she associated with Drew.

  A lovely, young girl approached and Kate guessed she must be Fern. She led them to the crystal department on the second floor and took them to the Waterford section, leaving them to make a choice.

  “A decanter would be nice.” Drew pointed to a few he liked. Kate had no idea what to pick so she let him make the final choice. After talking to Fern, Drew turned and took Kate’s hand, heading for the elevator.

  “Drew, we don’t have the gift! Where are we going?” Kate kept looking back at the crystal department as the elevator doors opened.

  “It will be wrapped and delivered tonight,” he said matter-of-factly.

  “Oh.” Again she felt overwhelmed.

  Sal was waiting for them as promised and whisked them down Fifth Avenue toward Drew’s home. Kate tried to take everything in as they drove along, but she was so overcome by the train ride, the chauffeured car and buying the gift, it was all going by in a blur. Then she saw trees and greenery and realized they were driving by Central Park. She remembered her trip to the zoo with her parents.

  “We’re almost there.” Drew pointed to a street as Sal turned. Kate quickly looked at the street sign...East 74th Street. She should have guessed he lived in the upscale part of town. Didn’t she just read all of New York’s rich lived on 68th and beyond? The car rolled to a stop in front of a huge four story townhouse of neo-Italian Renaissance design. Drew kissed her on the cheek, “Ready?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s do this.” Kate took Drew’s hand and they headed up the stairs to the round-arched double doors which were quickly opened by the maid.

  “Mr. Andrew, welcome home. Everyone’s waiting for you in the study.” The maid took their coats and disappeared.

  Standing in the large foyer, Kate began to feel a little queasy. She held onto Drew’s hand tightly. Artwork lined the long hallway looming in front of her and Kate tried to catch a glimpse of it as they walked toward the study. Nicolas rose from his seat behind a large desk when they stepped into the room.

  “I didn’t think we’d see the newlyweds until Christmas. Andrew, you said you were going back to school to finish the semester and the same for Kathryn.” His steely eyes burned right through her and she squeezed Drew’s hand harder.

  “Father, we thought you’d enjoy a visit before we both headed back to school.”

  “Then you are returning to school.”

  “That was our intention all along. We’d love for everyone to join us at the canyon for Thanksgiving, but we know that’s asking too much.” Kate was glad Drew held his ground about having the holiday there. “Kathryn, I’d like you to meet my sister, Maria.”

  A lovely girl of fifteen stood up and came over to shake Kate’s hand. Her hair was dark like Drew’s, but after looking again, Kate saw it shone with red highlights so it almost appeared a dark auburn. Maria’s eyes met Kate’s and they were definitely the eyes of her father. The dark brown eyes penetrated through her, but were more quizzical than judgmental. Kate took her hand and said, “Lovely to meet you, Maria. Sorry you missed the wedding.”

  Maria just made a strange noise and sat down. Ilene was the next to greet her. “I’m so happy you’re here.” She hugged Kate tightly and it felt like she meant what she just said. “Federico is not home yet. You’ll have time to meet him later at dinner. Maria, would you show Kathryn to her room so your father and I can talk to your brother? She’d probably like to get freshened up for dinner.”

  Maria slowly got up, acting like any disgruntled teen. “Come on.” She waved her hand at Kate.

  Kate had barely had time to take in the room and now she was being ushered out. Glancing at the high wall filled with books, she thought it was a place she’d love to have a few hours to explore. The rest of the room was dark oak and the furniture was fine Italian leather. Choosing a book and curling up in one of those huge, overstuffed chairs in front of the fireplace sounded very appealing.

  As they ascended the stairs Kate decided to reach out to Maria. “You know, Maria, I really meant it when I said I was sorry you missed the wedding. Andrew said your parents would never take you out of school to come.”

  “You mean we were invited?” Maria seemed surprised.

  “Of course, you were. You would have been one of my bridesmaids.” Kate was astonished by this information. Drew’s siblings were never told they were invited to the wedding. That was one thing she could fix and make better.

  Kate put her arm around Maria and felt the girl stiffen and then relax. They stopped on the landing before turning to go up the second set of steps. Kate hoped it was a good sign and that Maria wanted to talk. She decided to wait and let her speak first.

  She stared out at 74th street through the large front windows. A car pulled up in front of a residence and its passengers disembarked. They entered one of the homes across the way. Kate tried to guess if they were the homeowners or guests. Such a different world compared to living at the canyon. Everyone seemed to have to follow so many rules of society. Kate wasn’t sure she would like that. Maria’s voice suddenly broke through her thoughts.

  “I could have been in the wedding? It would’ve been my first time. Oh, I hate my parents sometimes!” Maria stomped her foot like a little girl.

  “We all hate our parents at times.” The two girls giggled as they started up the next set of stairs and entered a very large bedroom to the right of the hallway.

  “This is Andrew’s room. I guess you’ll be staying here, too. Father argued for a guest bedroom...” Maria covered her mouth. “Sorry, I have a big mouth.”

  “That’s quite alright. I like truthfulness.” She sat on the bed and motioned for Maria to join her. “Now I want to hear all about you—your studies, if
you like any boys, what you do for fun...”

  Maria cut her off. “Really? My parents don’t even care what I’m doing.”

  “Well, I do. So please, tell me anything you’d like.”

  Maria told her about boarding school and how the girls sneak off on weekends to meet the boys across campus at the boys’ boarding school. She even told stories of Andrew playing baseball with the family in the backyard when he was younger. She said she missed him when he was sent away to boarding school at the age of twelve. “I really miss him. We could talk for hours. He gave me good advice and never judged.” Maria sighed. “Freddie should be home soon and I know he will love you, too.”

  Kate was relieved to see her attitude change. “Freddie?” She assumed she meant Federico, but decided to check.

  “Well, his name is Federico Nicolas, but we all call him Freddie, except my parents. He likes Freddie better, makes him fit in with his friends.”

  “How did Andrew get his name when you two seem to have such Italian names?” Kate was curious.

  “Mother said she got to name the first child and then Father could name the rest. So that’s how he got his name—actually it’s Andrew Kelly Martin. I’m Maria Katerina, named for Father’s mother and grandmother. Then there’s Freddie who got the longest Italian name in the family.”

  “So I will call Federico, Freddie,” Kate said.

  “He’ll like that very much. He should be home from his violin lesson soon.”

  “Wow! He plays the violin.”

  “Badly! He hates it. Father insisted we all play a musical instrument. When Freddie wouldn’t pick one, father did it for him.”

  “Let me guess, you play the piano.” Kate looked at Maria as she nodded in agreement. “I can’t picture Drew playing anything. Let me think...”

  “Drew, is that what you call him? That’s so cute.” Maria smiled brightly. “He also played the piano...badly! Please don’t ask him to play.”

  Loud stomping could be heard out in the hallway. Maria began to chuckle. “Freddie’s home and not too happy.”

  A red-haired boy with freckles and green eyes appeared in the doorway. “Mother said I had to meet Kathryn and she’d better not ask me to play this thing!” He lifted the violin case in the air with one hand. “Death to the violin!”

  Kate couldn’t help herself. Freddie was so cute, she ran to him giggling. “You can throw it out the window for all I care.”

  “One for the good guys!” He hoisted the case higher over his head and beamed at her. “You’re pretty...nice, I mean.” He stammered and fumbled a bit and Kate gave him a hug. “Got to go...nice meeting you.” He ran across the hall to his bedroom, slamming the door shut.

  “I should let you get ready for dinner. When mother says, ‘freshened up,’ she means completely change your clothes and put something on that’s suitable for dinner.” Maria disappeared out the door.

  Kate had time to investigate Drew’s bedroom. It was very large with a dressing room and bath. All the woodwork and furniture were dark, Italian in design. The drapes and bedding were dark red with a gold medallion motif making the room look like something for a grown-up man, not a teenager. Kate decided she could get used to all this opulence, with people waiting on her and calling her ma’am. She did say she would stay in the past and live there with Drew if he wanted. It could be her life.

  Sinking back on the bed, Kate was overwhelmed by sadness. What was she thinking? She didn’t like that life at all. If she did live in the past, she wanted to be at the canyon riding horses and breathing the fresh air. Her friends were there, plus the beloved boardinghouse. If she stayed in the past, that’s where she pictured living with Drew, the simple life of the cabin, not in New York. She wasn’t sure what his plans were. He just said he wanted to go to college out west. What if he changed his mind and wanted to live in New York City instead?

  Kate was overwhelmed with the urgent need to talk to her mother or Lindsey. She felt around in her bag for her cell phone and then it hit her. There would be no calling her mother or anyone else from her present life if she stayed in the past. Panicking, she began to tremble and couldn’t stop. It was silly, she knew that, but seemed to be having some kind of breakdown or panic attack.

  “Kate, are you alright?” Drew had slipped into the room without her noticing. He took her hands. “You’re shaking.”

  “Drew, it’s just something stupid. I wanted to call my mom and tell her about the day and realized I couldn’t. I was overwhelmed for a moment. I’ll be okay in a few minutes.”

  “You’ll see your mother soon enough. We’re here for the weekend, but we’ll head back to the canyon on Sunday. And besides...” Drew got up and walked over to a phone located on his desk. He dialed and then spoke softly into the receiver, beckoning her over.

  “You called my mom?” Kate laughed.

  “Almost, I think you’ll like this just as much.”

  Kate took the receiver. “Hello?”

  “Hi, pumpkin! How are you doing?”

  “Dad, Daddy, is that you? You’re here?”

  “I couldn’t let you be eaten by the wolves alone could I? I’m staying at your grandmother’s. We’ll see you tomorrow at the cocktail party.”

  “Cocktail party?”

  “I’ll let Andrew fill you in. Grandma Lilly says hello. She can’t wait to see you again.”

  “Tell her the same for me. I’m so glad you’re here.” Kate placed the receiver back in its holder. “Drew, what cocktail party?”

  “My parents just told me about it. Seems like they invited the whole city to meet you. Mother wanted to give us a reception, I guess. Oh, and I forgot to tell you that our gift was delivered. Mother is saving it to open after dinner.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Kate wondered if they were required to dress for breakfast, too. She gazed in the mirror hoping she looked presentable. Dinner had gone fairly well, the conversation kept flowing thanks to Freddie and Maria. Nicolas seemed to like the decanter. She hoped it would break the ice between them. Now all Kate had to get through was breakfast and the dreaded cocktail party. Thank goodness her father would be there. She wanted to call him, but had no idea what Grandmother Lilly’s telephone number was. Planning to ask for the number, Kate sat on the bed, waiting for Drew to get out of the shower.

  He appeared with just a towel wrapped around his waist. “Kate, I’m sorry I took so long. There was so much to think about I lost track of the time.” He reached in his closet for a shirt and pair of pants.

  “Will you miss it here?” Kate wanted the truth. “Don’t lie to me, Andrew Kelly Martin.”

  “No, I won’t miss it. Anyway, I can come back and visit anytime I want.”

  “That’s not what I mean. Will you miss watching your brother and sister grow-up, living in this neighborhood, this city?”

  “Kate, if you recall I haven’t lived here fulltime since I was twelve. My parents shipped me off to boarding school. We don’t have the close relationship like you do with your parents. Jack’s like my father now, well the old Jackson in Ohio is.” Drew chuckled. “Don’t tell him I called him old.”

  “Okay, I can see your father is strict and doesn’t really have a relationship with you, but what about your mom?”

  “Mother puts Father first and then us kids. She’ll be fine...although I do miss her at times.”

  “My mom hasn’t been the best mother figure to you, I know. I’m sorry about that. She’ll finally see what a pig Tyson is and how phony he acts. Give her time.”

  “It’s getting better, Kate. I have my Campbell family plus Maya and Anna. It’s really great to have all those people in my life. I wouldn’t change a thing. I know you offered to live here, but it probably wouldn’t be in New York City. I hope you’re not getting too spoiled.”

  Kate’s heart fluttered in her chest. Drew said all the right things. He liked living in Ohio and if he chose to live in 1927 it wouldn’t be New York City.

  “I’m ready.
Let’s go down for breakfast.” Drew pulled Kate off the bed and kissed her warmly. “It’s just the two of us that matter in this world. We make our own choices, our own decisions. Remember that.”

  “Before we go down, would you write my grandmother’s phone number on this pad?” Kate stuck a pen in his hand after handing him the paper. “You never know when I might need it.” After Drew finished, Kate walked over to the dresser and slid the paper under some clothes. “There, nice and safe.”

  They took the back staircase this time that led to a darling sunroom overlooking the pool and backyard. Large, neatly trimmed hedges ran down the property lines. There was no way to tell if the neighbors were out or not. The room was warm and inviting with the morning sun streaming in through huge windows and a skylight. The yard was bursting with fall color, making it picture perfect. A breakfast nook was on the other side of the sunroom with passage to the kitchen. Kate thought they’d be eating in the formal dining room again so she found it a welcomed change.

  “Drew, I had no idea this existed. It’s a lovely part of the house.”

  “Thank you, dear.” Ilene appeared from a hallway that seemed to cut through the center of the kitchen. Kate assumed it led to the main part of the house. “I’m so glad you’re enjoying the conservatory. Nicolas added this on after we bought the house, thus the hallway.” She pointed behind her. “The kitchen took up the entire back area of the house and when the renovations were done, the hall was added. We had to give up some of the backyard, but I didn’t mind after seeing how well everything turned out. We’ll enjoy many breakfasts out here, I’m sure.”

  “Yes, yes, we will.” Kate knew it wasn’t true but was determined to make sure everyone knew she planned on having a good relationship with the family.

  “Nicolas won’t be joining us this morning, some last minute business.” She rang a little bell on the table and a maid came through the kitchen door with pots of coffee and tea. Another servant came out with silver covered dishes which he placed on a buffet table against the wall. Soon Maria and Freddie joined them and it turned into a fun, family breakfast. The mood was jovial without Nicolas’ presence.