Memory House

by Ruth Hay

  For most of their time, Hilary was acquiescent. She did not object. She did not ask for anything unusual.

  Mavis rather liked the occasions when the ‘old’ Hilary reared her head and she expressed dislike or distrust for something. This occurred when news items were playing on television and Hilary strenuously objected to the policy of one or another ministers of state.

  Mavis sat back and smiled on these occasions and when once Hilary turned to her and asked why on earth she was grinning like a Cheshire cat at something totally ridiculous and reprehensible, Mavis had to manufacture an excuse and attempt to look serious. Inside she was rejoicing. The more of dear, old-style, opinionated Hilary Dempster she could uncover, the better she liked it.

  Deep in her heart, Mavis knew the day would come when Hilary asked her to reveal her opinion on what was wrong with her these days.

  She could not conceal that truth but she dreaded the moment……. and the consequences.

  Chapter 21

  Jannice O’Connor was not at all deceived by the actions of Drs. Ingleby and Caskie.

  Her experience as a Personal Support Worker, as well as caring for her parents through various states of senility, gave her insight into the actual research the doctors were conducting with the Harmony House residents.

  She had been a valued part of teams looking after several elderly patients who desired to live at home during their final illnesses. Some of these patients had cancer or other debilitating diseases, but many also suffered from mental decline. Jannice’s PSW supervisor wrote in her reports,

  Miss O’Connor is an exceptional practical nurse, beloved by her patients. Jannice brings a smile to family members and their loved ones alike, whenever she comes into a home.

  She was very proud of this praise but it did not send her rushing back to the work. End-of-life nursing care was exhausting. Eve’s final weeks had taken a toll on Jannice as well as on each one of the women in the house.

  Although Jannice was not currently practising her skills, she was still very interested in new medical discoveries. Enclosed with the local newspaper, she received a magazine published by the Women’s Brain Health Initiative. She read each issue of ‘Mind Over Matter’ from cover to cover. There was an ongoing focus on older women, and their concerns, and often the focus was on recent medical developments or research. There was information about some ground-breaking nuclear imagining technology that was making waves in the research community.

  Jannice’s medical antennae were on alert when the Harmony House doctors began their research campaign. She said nothing for some weeks, but eventually she had to confront them.

  She chose to do this in the kitchen where Stuart was baking bread, Grant was finishing the remains of the dessert pie, and Jannice was clearing up after another delicious Sunday dinner.

  She waited until Honor and Vilma had finished their coffee, seated on the couch in front of the gas fire in the extended living room. When they left to go downstairs, she spoke up.

  It was a casual beginning to what was to be another astonishing moment in the lives of two medical students.

  Jannice was drying off the larger dishes that needed a little additional wipe with a tea towel before she replaced them in the cupboards.

  “So, Stuart, what do you know about the new artificial intelligence research that suggests doctors may soon have the tools to predict an individual’s likelihood of developing dementia several years before the onset of symptoms?”

  She continued drying the dish. Stuart stopped dead in his dough pummeling. Grant choked on pie crumbs and had to reach for a glass of water.

  Both men stared at Jannice in sheer shock and amazement. They had overlooked this quiet, small woman who was a part of their test group. She had never before expressed any opinions about medical matters or even questioned their methods. Added to their recent session with Vilma Smith, this query was causing them to re-evaluate their opinions about the co-housing experiment in living. There was something unusual happening in this house. The women were not what they seemed to be on the surface. Not at all!

  Stuart washed his hands and tried to summon a coherent response.

  Grant was still choking and gasping, mostly from shock rather than from an obstruction.

  Jannice continued with her domestic tasks.

  “Excuse me, Jannice, I did not realize you were aware of the global project to scan amyloid protein accumulations in the brain.”

  “I do keep up with certain medical matters pertaining to women, Stuart, and I have suspected your little project here is aiming toward PET scans and nuclear imaging of decreased metabolic activity in the brain, perhaps as an indication of dementia, leading to Alzheimer’s disease.”

  Grant had recovered his breath, but all he could say was, “Good God, woman, how long have you been concealing this information?”

  “Oh, I am not the one concealing something. That is your domain, I suspect. I am not convinced of the ethics of your actions in this house.”

  At once, Grant and Stuart realized that here, in this unexpected moment, and from this most unlikely source, was another threat to their future careers.

  “Wait just a minute!”

  “That is not our intent!”

  “We have every intention of revealing all our data and the direction of our research with our test subjects.”

  Stuart turned on Grant with an expression of horror. His remarks just underscored the impression that they were using the women as guinea pigs. Some immediate backtracking was required. Possibly delivered on his bended knees.

  “You are right in your assumptions, Jannice. We are hoping to work towards more intensive investigations, such as PET and MRI scans, as long as the women of Harmony House are in agreement with this, of course. You have all been so helpful so far and we appreciate your cooperation more than I can possibly say.”

  Stuart had a sudden impulse to involve Vilma.

  “If you wish, you may confirm our intentions with Vilma Smith who has also challenged us with a lack of transparency in this matter.”

  “That is interesting. I will do it immediately but I expect you will be calling a meeting very soon in order to clarify your project. Please do not underestimate us. I have some experience with mental conditions and Hilary and Mavis are two of the most astute women you will ever meet, not to mention Honor who can match your research skills any day of the week.

  My advice is this; if you intend to pursue this project, come clean, and incorporate your ‘subjects’ as Grant called us, in the plan, as soon as possible.”

  There was an audible groan from the chest of Grant Caskie. He knew it was a faux pas of the first order.

  A mistake he would suffer for this very night if Stuart’s facial expression was anything to go by.

  Jannice calmly replaced the last dish in the cupboard and left the men to their deliberations.

  It was always nice to surprise young men who underestimated a woman. Vilma had schooled her in some of this attitude and Vilma would be delighted at the result.

  She walked along the corridor with her head held high, in the knowledge she left a lasting impression on two young whippersnappers, as her mother would have called them. If it taught them a lesson, it was time well spent.

  Now, to compare notes with Vilma. She made her way down the staircase in queenly fashion.

  * * *

  Before Jannice and Vilma were past the very beginnings of their discussion, two young doctors dived out the front door and down the path into their car, escaping from the embarrassment they had just endured.

  “Most likely off to drown their sorrows in the nearest bar,” declared Vilma.

  Laughter followed this remark, and continued for quite some time, to the disgust of Astrid and Oscar who were planning on a nice peaceful sleep.

  It was no surprise to Jannice and Vilma when, on the following day, an emergency meeting was called by the two doctors. The attendance of all the Harmony House residents was requested.r />
  The meeting took place in the winter dining room, in the evening, and the doctors appeared in white coats and formal manner, although much chastened and apologetic.

  The serious matters explained fully to the group, for the first time, did not shock three of the women in the room. Vilma and Jannice maintained silence and asked no questions. Mavis stuck close to Hilary and waited for her reaction.

  Honor was alarmed at the attempted deception but Faith had mentioned Stuart and Grant required watching. Now she knew what Faith meant. She also knew that Vilma and Jannice were not surprised because they were remaining quiet through it all, while Mavis looked nervous.

  Obviously, much was going on in the background that Honor was missing until now. She estimated no real harm was done. No one was obliged to continue the research if they were unwilling. The doctors vowed to be more open about the process from here on. She dismissed the matter.

  * * *

  Mavis soon realized she had the perfect opening to talk finally to Hilary when they returned to the upper tower room together. They no sooner sat down than Hilary said, “Now I understand what’s been going on. My fears about the changes to my memory are not without cause and this experiment, or whatever it is, by the young doctors, is a consequence.”

  “Not exactly, Hilary. These two events are not cause and effect. The doctors genuinely wanted to use their situation in the house for a bit of research. They did not mean to draw attention to you, specifically.

  It is just a coincidence that your memory issues are highlighted in the process. What we need to do now is to capitalize on the advantage they gave us.”

  “What possible advantage is that? I see only a downward path ahead for me.”

  “Now, Hilary. Do not despair. We have a great opportunity to benefit from the expertise of these doctors, and the hospital research to which they are connected. You must believe that everything I have been able to discover about memory loss indicates it is a long slow progress for most people and in the meantime, much can be done, and is being done, to help. If you go ahead with the brain scans, there is hope you can be a part of a study and receive special treatments. In any case, and this is of primary importance my dear friend, I know your problems are not consistent. You have periods of complete normalcy. Your long-term memory is brilliant. You have me by your side. We will deal with this together.”

  Mavis’s speech was so impassioned that she was almost out of breath by the end of it.

  She stopped and drew in breath and watched to see Hilary’s reaction. It was some time in coming as her friend absorbed this new set of realities.

  “Does everyone know about me?”

  “No. They think you have been keeping to your room because of the disruption of the renovations.”

  “Good. Then I think we can continue as before, as long as you, Mavis Montgomery, are by my side.

  I do know what you have been doing for all these weeks to keep me alert. I have not cooperated very well until now, but that all changes tonight.

  Tomorrow we begin a new routine. I understand everything and I will be working with you, and with the doctors, for my mental and physical health.

  Chapter 22

  Jannice was satisfied with the way the doctors handled the meeting. She was happy everyone was now on the same page and there would be no more secrets.

  She could now turn her attention to other matters in her life. The decision regarding what to do about Mitchell Delaney was on hold. He was still living in a Toronto hotel and visiting the site of The Ward excavation as an interested observer. He told her he was writing busily each night as the time left for archaeology investigations was limited.

  Jannice purchased a copy of The Ward, published in 2015 by a number of renowned Toronto historians and journalists. To this source, she added Holly Martelle’s newer book, The Ward Uncovered: The Archaeology of Everyday Life She read both of them obsessively.

  It was clear to her that without Mitchell she would never have realized the value of her Irish background. In her childhood, the old tales told to her by her parents, were on the same level as fairy tales. It was only when Mitchell encouraged her to speak about these stories that she became a valuable source to him in his writing and research about early immigration to Ontario.

  His interest spawned her interest. Now she felt knowledgeable enough to pursue historical research on her own, in a limited way. She was no expert but she did have some background knowledge to offer.

  With time on her hands, she decided to contact Holly Martelle.

  She began by saying how much she enjoyed her book, The Ward Uncovered. She then reminded Ms. Martelle of the visit paid to her premises in London by Jannice and Mitchell some weeks before. It was a good feeling when she responded. Not only did Holly Martelle remember the visit but she also knew of Mitchell Delaney’s book in which the Victorian wedding wardrobe contents in Jannice’s old home were featured.

  Emboldened by this, Jannice dared to volunteer some information.

  “I noticed in your book the number of artifacts that remain as mysteries. You wrote that everything you found was helping us understand the lives of the ordinary working people who built the old city hall and the canals and railways. I was wondering if I can shed any light on some of those mysterious artifacts you mentioned.”

  There was surprise in Holly Martelle’s voice when she asked what particular artifacts Jannice thought she could help with.

  “I believe I might have some ideas about that strange old cross you found in the privy.”

  The surprise turned to excitement at once and Holly Martelle invited Jannice to her premises to inspect the object at close quarters.

  “This is why I wanted to publish the book,” she said. “I was hoping someone reading it and seeing the photographs would have suggestions about origins or understandings of these objects.”

  Jannice was secretly delighted. She did not tell anyone at Harmony House. Neither did she inform Mitchell. She would go to the Timmins Martelle Heritage Consultants’ premises in London and see what she could contribute before saying anything more.

  Jannice O’Connor knew that information about old Ireland, and the Irish in Canada, seemed to stick to her brain without any effort on her part. In addition to the stories from her childhood, she also listened to the tales of the O’Connor brother and sister who now lived in her old house. They were from families in Lucan where the infamous Irish Black Donnelly feuds were well known. Most Irish immigrant descendants preferred to ignore the seamier incidents from early settlement times, but to Jannice they had tremendous interest. Her interest, fed by Mitchell Delaney’s investigations, was now a reality ever-present in her mind.

  She had a trick of mind that allowed her to immerse herself in the past and experience it temporarily as if she was living there. To do this trick she needed silence and concentration. It did not always work for her, but when it did work, it was like a current flowing from the past into her present and it could reveal unforeseen results.

  When Holly Martelle allowed her to sit alone and study the warped and twisted eleven-pound cross, she felt an immediate surge of electricity. It was a feeling connected not to any happy or pleasant memories. In contrast, it was a feeling of horror that overwhelmed her.

  This had once been an object to be revered. A heavy cross, meant to be raised high above a congregation of worshippers in a Catholic church. It had been deliberately broken and desecrated. It had been thrown into a primitive toilet hole in some smelly Victorian backyard lean-to shed. This act was evidence of the perpetrators’ fear, hate and disdain. It was an object never meant to be seen again and never meant to be recovered from its hiding place.

  Jannice was supplied with a pair of cotton gloves so that she could safely handle the object.

  She donned the gloves and turned over the largest remaining section of the cross, the two horizontal arms with a central boss.

  It was very heavy. Possibly made of lead?

  Her han
ds were shaking when she saw the crude letters and signs punched into the metal by a hammer and chisel. It was done in haste as if the man, or men, were still deathly afraid of the power of this Christian symbol even as they destroyed it.

  She saw letters I H S and V as well as two symbols, the alpha and omega, representing the beginning and the end of time. If these same letters and symbols were carefully inscribed on the front of a cross, they would not have caused any concern. I H S meant In His Spirit in Christian iconography. She could not immediately account for the letter V. The Greek symbols, however, were turned on their sides, giving them a strange appearance.

  The one remaining small piece was likely broken from the bottom of the cross.

  Jannice sat back and thought. Who were these people? Why did they take the time and trouble to commit this act of sacrilege? Why carve symbols associated with the religion they were trying to ruin?

  She let her mind drift.

  The only sound she could hear was the occasional click of the strip lighting above her head. The air was cooled by a fan, operating in the roof somewhere far above her head.

  The noise of the city was hushed in this room far below the streets.

  As she relaxed, a picture grew inside her head.

  The terrible religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants, was imported intact with the first ships from Ireland. The Protestant hatred for Catholic idolatry was centred on the Mass, the statues of saints, and the worship of Mary, Mother of Jesus. Catholic derision of the godless heathens who believed themselves superior to their neighbours was just as unforgiving.

  Families were often segregated to one side of the street or another by their choice of religious faith.

  Cat-calling across narrow streets because of imagined infractions related to cleanliness was common.