Manroot (23 page)
Authors: Anne J. Steinberg
Ryan extricated himself from the
chair, and Monica and he made the drinks, and before they had finished them, Hannah announced dinner.
It was served early.
Elizabeth would ask about that later.
Hannah served with a sly smile.
If she had waited until six, the turkey would have been burnt to a crisp. Wouldn’t Kyle have enjoyed that!
The dinner was perfection, and in the tradition of Thanksgiving, everyone ate too much.
They retired to the living room. Elizabeth implored April to play something for them. April looked through the piano bench, and instead of selecting something classical, which she wasn’t very good at anyway, she picked fun sing-along tunes.
Everyone was in a good mood, except Ryan.
While the others sang in loud voices to
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
, he paced in front of the fireplace like a caged animal. He was furious when he asked his mother why Kack had been sent to eat in the kitchen. He was sure that she fibbed as she nervously twisted her pearls and avoided his eye as she told him, “It was her choice, Ryan. She’s uncomfortable around company.”
Ryan
’s scowl and the fact that he didn’t sit had Monica miffed, so she zeroed in on Kyle. Taking the seat next to his, she draped her arm around him, and they swayed rhythmically together as they belted out the songs.
The governor dozed in the armchair.
When the ash of his cigar dropped onto his vest and smoldered, Ryan was the first to smell the burning cloth. He dashed his drink onto the spot, which woke the old man up.
Elizabeth
felt obligated to take him upstairs and show him his room. She was sure he would burn the house down before his visit was over.
Monica glanced sideways at Ryan to see if he had noticed her obvious attention to his brother.
Kyle kidded her – pretended a big leer – and offered to show her his photos. She accepted, telling him she would like to see his collections.
They went upstairs to the room addition that was Kyle
’s. Over the years, none of his equipment or things had been disturbed; Hannah merely cleaned and dusted the boys’ rooms during their absence. When they returned, it was as if time had stood still. Nothing had changed.
Monica leafed through the albums of photographs.
She grew excited when she saw the series he had done on Kack.
“
These are wonderful! She looks like a savage. You know the hippies today pretend they are so back-to-nature – it’s so artificial. But this woman, she’s absolutely genuine. Oh Kyle, do you think she’d let me do a series on her?”
“
Not a chance. She doesn’t know I’ve taken half of these.”
“
What’s she doing here?” Monica asked, holding forth a blown-up bronzetone.
“
Sang-hunting,” he replied.
“
The composition is fantastic on this one. What’s sang-hunting?”
“
It’s ginseng. It grows profusely in these woods, and she gathers it.”
“
What’s this one?” She held up another photo of Kack ministering to a tiny doe. “These are fantastic. Oh Kyle, I must talk to her. I could do such a wonderful series on this woman. Who is she? I mean, is she an employee?”
“
No, just one of Father’s – I don’t know what you’d call it – he just allowed people to stay. I’ve no idea how she got here. She was Ryan’s and my nursemaid when we were babies. I don’t think he ever thought of her as an employee. It was before Bruce. I don’t know how he got here either.”
“
Who’s Bruce?”
Kyle sifted through the photographs and found a poignant one of Bruce sitting in the shed, working with the brooms.
“He’s blind, you know.”
“
These are wonderful, too. I have to be able to work with them. Why, the setting of these fantastic woods – it’s so picturesque. Their faces…God, Kyle do you see her cheekbones? Marvelous!” And she studied another pictures of Katherine.
“
Well, don’t get all excited, honey. She’d never let you. I told you she never knew I took these. Her ancestors were Indian, and she’s full of superstitions about mirrors and pictures, and images that steal the soul or something. But Bruce – he’s no problem. Shoot away. He’d love the attention.”
“
What did you take these with?” Monica was all business, asking about F stops and light and which camera. Kyle opened the cabinet and handed her the Leica.
She turned it over and over in her hands.
“I’ve never seen a camera like this,” she said.
He smiled.
“I guess not.”
“
What do you mean?” she asked, puzzled. She was a professional; she had worked with cameras most of her life and had never seen one quite like it. “It’s backwards,” she pronounced finally.
“
I know. It was custom-made. My daddy knew how frustrated I was as a kid – all cameras are made for right-handed people. I’m left-handed.”
“
Oh,” she smiled. “How clever.”
“
Yes – he had it made specially in Japan. I must say I took my best pictures ever with that camera.”
He was tired of the talk.
He shut off the bright lamp, mixed them a drink, and came to her smiling. “Enough of that,” he said, pushing the pictures away carelessly and setting down her drink. He asked, “Are you my brother’s private stock?”
“
No,” she answered simply.
He drained his glass, his
face red and flushed. “Are you a match made in heaven?” he teased.
“
No,” she answered again.
“
You’ve been in the jungle with him for six months. Did you and he---” his voice trailed off.
“
Yes – and I’ve been here with you a half hour.” She leaned forward and reached for him.
Elizabeth saw the Governor to his room, and like a good hostess she rushed back downstairs, but everyone was gone.
Feeling a headache coming on, she went back upstairs to her room and opened a window.
The sharp air cleared her head a little, and she fell asleep.
After Kyle and Monica disappeared, Ryan and April grabbed their coats and went for a walk.
The night was clear and cold, the moon as bright as daylight.
“
I’m sorry about – about…” April began, not sure how to put it.
“
You mean Monica? Oh, we’re just friends. I’m rather amused at how competitive Kyle and I still are. He probably thinks I care. In the morning he’ll feel like a louse.”
April was relieved.
“You seemed so angry, I thought---”
“
No, it wasn’t that. It was Mother’s putting Kack in the kitchen. Father always insisted she eat with us on special occasions.” April nodded, and they walked along the bank of Kiefer Creek and the water rippled silver.
“
How is she?” he asked.
“
All right. I went sang-hunting with her. Of course she treated me, not satisfied with Bradley, or should I say Dr. Estes.”
He stopped and turned to her.
“Treated you?”
“
It was one of those stupid nightmares. I went sleepwalking outside and got pretty scratched up.”
He took her hand.
“I remember you did that as a kid. Did you ever try to seek treatment, maybe a psychologist? It can’t be good for you. I thought you might outgrow it.”
“
Oh, I did outgrow it,” April explained. “I haven’t done it for years. I had that same awful nightmare – the two seem to go together.”
“
You wanna tell me about it? Sometimes talking can help,” he offered.
She bit her lip.
She couldn’t tell him that it was he whom she dreamed about. In a small voice she said, “The nightmare’s about someone drowning in the river. I get terrified and then I find myself – no, I shouldn’t say find myself, as I don’t remember the sleepwalking. I get back somehow, or they find me. It’s scary,” she ended.
“
I know.” He squeezed her hand. “Daddy and his lessons. He sure taught us something. Most lessons have a price. I’m sorry.”
He began to reminisce about happier times.
“Remember the gypsy?” She smiled, and he chuckled out loud. “She spit in Kyle’s hand. God, he never forgot that.”
The night grew chillier, so they turned around and started
back to the house.
“
How long are you staying?” he asked.
“
I don’t know. Your mother was very persuasive, and I sense she really is uneasy about those phone-calls. If not Hannah, then she has me answer the phone when those developers call.”
“
They have been a bother,” he agreed. “I’m staying for a bit. I’m putting Monica on the plane Sunday. I’ll be going back and forth to New York about my next series, but I’ll be here to put those developers to rest.”
“
That’s wonderful. What’s the new series about?”
“
Well, it’s pretty much the opposite of the African commission. There I was working with exotic animals, rare and endangered species, but this new one’s called
Backyard Wildlife
.”
She looked puzzled.
“You know,” he continued. “Rabbits, possums, raccoons, hawks, owls, the animal life we have around here. The wildlife that stays even when civilization encroaches upon their territory.” He looked around at the dark woods. “I can’t wait. I love those guys. It’s also kind of a new departure for me as an artist, because up until now most of my commissioned work has been for paintings, but this time they want sculptures. They want to do a series of porcelain figures to produce in limited editions. I’ve always loved sculpture and enjoyed doing it, but it’s different when you’re getting paid. It’s a challenge though.”
She nodded.
“That’s exciting. I’m real glad for you.”
He didn
’t mean to monopolize the conversation, so he asked about her. “Mother said on the phone that you might be helping out at the camp at Castlewood?”
“
Well, it’s really her idea. They don’t bring the kids out a lot in this weather. I’m sure they could use a volunteer physical therapist. I’m just reluctant to get started with them as I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here.”
“
Is there some reason you couldn’t stay?”
They reached the porch and paused before going in.
“I can’t take such an indefinite leave. The hospital needs to know when I’m returning. They’ve been very patient.”
“
I didn’t mean your job so much. Is there a special someone?” He paused.
“
No, there’s no one like that in my life right now, and with Mother gone, a girl has to earn a living.”
“
I know,” he said. “I’m sorry about your mother. Kyle and I were backpacking in Italy, so we didn’t hear until we got back. I’m so sorry we weren’t there.”
It
’s okay. The Judge and Aunt Elizabeth were very supportive. In fact, your mother pleaded – I guess I should say badgered – she was insistent that I come to Castlewood even then.”
Ryan opened the
library door, shivered, and put a log on the glowing embers. “I think we could use a nightcap to warm us up.”
They spent the next hour remembering childhood times.
Both went up to bed pleasantly weary from the long day.
Saturday found Elizabeth stuck with the tiresome Governor again. Indeed, she was afraid of leaving him too long, for his careless smoking gave her something to worry about. She listened to his stories of political campaigns and victories, and more than once he asked when the Judge would be returning.
“
The man’s positively senile,” she complained to Hannah, “but if Kyle needs his help, then we must do everything to keep him happy.”
Kyle smiled and winked at his brother over bre
akfast. “She’s really something, that Monica. She was all over me last night, and now she wants me to give her the grand tour. Apparently she’s keen on doing some photographs. She has something in mind for Bruce, but Kack is who she’s really interested in. So, do you mind, little brother, if I kidnap your girl?”
Ryan shook his head, drained the last of Hannah
’s coffee and replied, “Of course not. Be my guest. I’ve just spent the last six months with her, so you show her around. I’m relieved.”
“
She wants to photograph Kack.”
“
Oh, you know that’s impossible. You know how she is. She’s proud and pleased about my artwork, but in a way that superstitious stuff about images scares her.”
“
Yes, I know.” Kyle went off to get the jeep. He’d show Monica the countryside first. They could worry about photography later.
Kyle enjoyed the day.
Monica and he caused some excitement in town. She was dressed in a short khaki skirt, knee-high boots, and a leopard-skin print top. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek bun, and huge ivory earrings matched the thick bracelets on her wrist. She had Big City written all over her. Her cameras slung over one shoulder, they stopped occasionally when she found a scene she pronounced ‘quaint.’
Kyle spun the jeep around the town square.
“See the petition? My daddy’s gonna be there, lookin’ over this good town.”
“
Really?”
“
Yep. My mother’s commissioned a bronze of the Judge – a life-size statue. She wanted Ryan to do the work, but he couldn’t. He felt he was too close – couldn’t get the right perspective, so she hired the next best thing, an artist from Chicago.”
Monica looked around the simple town.
“You’re important folks around here, aren’t you?”
“
Yes, I guess you’d say that.”
She reached over and ran her long nails down his cheek.
“I wouldn’t think you’d enjoy being a small-town boy,” she teased.
“
It’s okay for now, honey. I got long-range plans. For now I’ll just be the big fish in a small pond.” He gunned the jeep, squealing the tires like a teenager.
The patrol car parked on the side street made ready to follow and give out a ticket, but when the cop noticed it was the jeep from Castlewood, he turned out the light and resumed reading his girlie magazine.
Monica was pleased with their day. She felt she had gotten some wonderful middle-America shots.
“
I can’t wait to see my pictures,” she said.
“
We could develop them at Hilltop, although I’m not sure if there are enough chemicals.”
“
That’s okay. I’m heading for New York Monday. I’ll do it when I get back.”
They drove through the crisp dusk, up the bumpy road, returning in time for dinner.
Elizabeth was puzzled. It seemed Ryan’s girl was being monopolized by Kyle, yet her other son didn’t seem to mind.
Bradley was invited to dinner.
He came early, bringing some imported wine and flowers for Mrs. Reardon. She was grateful to Bradley, for he sat next to the Governor at dinner and shouted answers in the old man’s direction. Hannah, bless her heart, made his after-dinner drinks doubles, so the Governor retired early.
After dinner, Bradley and Ryan played chess by the fireplace.
April watched, trying to learn. First she sat on the arm of Ryan’s chair, then Bradley’s.
Elizabeth
opened one of the new records she had gotten from a record club that she recently signed for, and put it on the stereo.
After a few minutes, Kyle questioned, “
Mother, what is that?” He walked over, turned it off and looked at the label. “It’s one of those new phony composers – minimalism, or whatever you call it.” He replaced the record and took Monica’s hand. “Let’s get some air.”
He led her into the cold night, walked by the bushes, following the path.
She moved close to him.
“
It’s spooky, but nice,” she said. They passed by the cabin, where the kerosene lamp glowed rosily in the window. They saw her, Kack, holding a skinny black hare, smoothing its sleek fur; her voice hummed a melody, sweet and haunting.
“
Kyle, I must – I simply
must
– photograph her.”
“
We’ll see,” he promised as he took her hand, leading her away from the cabin, down the path toward the river.
They sat on the bank; she shivered as he kissed her, caressed her until she no longer felt cold.
They made love there under the stars. It reminded her of other times, back in Michigan when she was a teenager, before she had become the sophisticated, famous photographer. He was a pleasant distraction for her weekend in the sticks. It was eerie, for being with the brothers was good.
The next day started out badly; everyone was grumpy and out of sorts. Monica sat on the sun-porch filing her nails. She was angry at Kyle; he hadn’t gotten her permission to photograph the Indian woman. Instead, she had worked with the blind man. She found herself disgusted; Bruce constantly dribbled saliva down his chin. While being remarkable in his ability to work, she was piqued that she didn’t get to photograph the woman. If Kyle really wanted to, he could have arranged it. After all, she was just a servant or something.
They ate a light lunch.
Elizabeth chattered vacantly. Ryan and April tried to keep the conversation going, but it was a dismal failure.
They heard the squealing of tires in the driveway and a crash
of metal. Tom had hit the brick wall. Without even looking at the damage to the car, he arrogantly strode into the house, his walk uneven.
They heard him arguing loudly with Hannah in the kitchen.
Later, he came into the library, stood in the middle of the room, and like a small boy trying to remember a recitation, began, “The Judge, he promised Hannah and me the ten acres west of the cabin.”
April blinked in surprise.
She dropped her needlepoint on the chair and quickly left the room.
Monica still felt vic
ious and angry, but knew she had no right to stay. She got up as well and left.
When the door closed behind them, Ryan asked, “
What’s the problem, Tom? What’s eating you?”
The Judge promised that land to us.”
Ryan looked towards his mother. “Was it in the will?”
Kyle answered for her.
“No, the will left everything to Mother and the trust for us to begin on our thirtieth birthday.”
Elizabeth
looked around, not understanding.
Tom stepped forward, his Adam
’s apple bobbing with nervousness. “He must have told you about it, ma’am. He must have said something.” His words were a desperate plea.
“
Well,” she wrung her hands helplessly. “I left stuff like that up to the Judge.”
Tom
’s frustration over all the years bubbled forth. His head swam with liquor. He knew, he’d always known they’d be cheated out of it after all.
“
But ma’am---” He stepped closer to her, swaying, his breath heavy with drink. “He must have---”
“
Stop badgering her, Tom. She said he didn’t, so he didn’t,” Kyle barked.
“
All these goddamned years we worked for you. She knows goddamned well he said it.” Tom’s voice rose with anger.
“
You’re talking out of turn,” Ryan said.
They all looked at
Elizabeth. She had shrunk in size; she looked like a small, helpless child sitting in the big damask chair. Her shoulders heaved with crying.
“
I thought it was only relatives who argued over an inheritance. You’re only---” Kyle stopped himself, glad he hadn’t used the word
servant
.
Tom
’s mouth worked, as fury coursed through him. The word relative was singing in his brain. The old hidden truths came rushing out. “Yes – only
relatives
fight about inheritance,” he hollered. “Not
bastards
, dirty
bastards
. Some whore’s bastards floating down the river – to cheat Hannah and me out of what’s ours.”
The scream started in
Elizabeth’s throat – high, shrill, like an animal in agony. “
No, no!”
Her sons turned to her. She jerked, convulsing in the chair. The scream only ended when Ryan slapped her cheek.
Tom escaped, bumping into the tabl
e, sending a tray of glasses clattering to the floor.
“
What’s he talking about, Mother?” Kyle dropped to his knees, pulling her hands away from her face.
She sobbed and gulped, unable to speak.
Ryan’s face blanched white, yet he patted her shoulders softly.
“
Mother, answer me!” Kyle ground out, no longer gentle. “The election – they pry, they find out everything. Tell me! Tell me what he’s talking about!”
Kyle handed her a drink.
Ryan gave her his handkerchief.
It was ten minutes before she could speak.
“It’s true,” she said. “We both wanted you, we loved you,” she pleaded, wanting forgiveness.
“
Oh God,” Kyle said. He paced, running his hands through his hair. “Next year, when the campaign starts, they probe – they snoop. Who else knows about this? Who was the doctor, the lawyer?”
“
They’ve passed away,” she said.
“
So it’s them---” He pointed toward the kitchen. “They’re the only ones who know.”
She nodded a silent yes.
Kyle finally stopped pacing. God, he wanted a drink. The tray lay smashed at his feet.
Elizabeth
got up and walked out of the library and went up to her room, still crying. Everything went wrong without the Judge. How she wished he were here.
The brothers sat in silence, staring at the flickering fire.
Occasionally each stole a glance at the portrait. They didn’t belong in it according to Tom. The portrait was a lie – the two handsome parents with the nameless boys from nowhere. Yet they could not doubt the evidence of their own eyes. They were the Judge’s sons, through and through, but which whore was their mother?
Suddenly Kyle remembered.
“The Governor – where is the Governor?”
With all the screaming and shouting, had he heard anything?
No, the old fool was deaf as stone and senile to boot. He was scheduled to leave for the Capitol in the morning. Kyle had best remember his manners. He left the library, looked through the rooms. He found Hannah shaking and crying in the kitchen.
“
The Governor?”
Drying her eyes on her apron, she answered, “
He didn’t hear anything. He’s been in his room for hours.”
He gave Hannah a withering look and left the room without a word.
Kyle hoped Tom would be sober enough in the morning to drive the Governor to the airport. He felt annoyed that now he had to go along, too: he couldn’t trust Tom to be alone with him.
Scheduled to leave early, the Governor paused in the hall talking until Elizabeth thought he would miss his plane. He took her hand, kept calling her ‘my dear’ and thanked her repeatedly for the wonderful weekend.
Tom moved from foot t
o foot, holding the door open, while the cold air blew into the hallway. Elizabeth nodded as he rambled on. “You must be very proud. Fine son you got there, talented young man. He’ll be Governor someday. Impeccable breeding – impeccable background. You must be very proud.”
His compliments made her forget the cold draft.
The old man seemed bent on praising Kyle; it pleased her so much.
Tom cleared his throat more than once.
Finally, it occurred to the Governor that he should be going. “It’s a shame I missed the Judge, my dear. Give him my regards,” he said in farewell.
Elizabeth
nodded. “I will.”
At last Tom led him out to the car where Kyle had been waiting, the old man mumbling, “
Impeccable, impeccable young man.”
Monica was aware of a family feud brewing; she heard the angry voices behind the closed doors. She really wasn’t the least bit interested. After all the time spent in Africa she was ready for the big city – lights, parties, fun.