The House (32 page)

“That may be the case.” Grant glanced down at his feet and then pocketed his hands splaying the sides of the jacket to his black suit. The matching vest bestowed an air befitting that of a judge, which Anna imagined him someday working as. “Serine needs to know that she’s not a bad person.”

“That’s kind of hard considering what she did with you and Matt.” Again Grant glanced at his shoes, shiny and black like his suit.

“It was ridiculous of me to imagine Serine marrying me and becoming mother to a five-year-old.”

Once more Anna took a long swallow. She then breathed in. Serine had said nothing of Grant having a child. “My daughter’s mother and I divorced last year. I love Serine. But I also have to admit, the idea of having a wife made it easier for me to demand part custody.” Sadness overtook Grant’s chestnut face with a red undertone. For a moment he looked like Edward. “A child needs two parents,” Grant said. “I was determined to give her that. Only problem was I never pushed Serine to tell me how she truly felt.”

“Has she told you now?”

“She didn’t have to. Returning my ring was probably the hardest thing she’s done in a while. She did it two days before her father died.”

Anna lowered her head. Grant drew near, lowered his voice. “I’m only telling you this because I don’t want you blaming her for everything that happened. I know about Matt. I didn’t like it. But ... “ He turned away. His hands were still pocketed. “Don’t let her isolate herself. I’ve told her she can return to work whenever she’s ready.”

“How long will it take for you to accept what’s happened and to see her back at work, not as your fiancée, but as one of your assistants?” Anna said.

“She won’t be working with me as closely anymore. I’ve transferred her to another division. We both thought that was best.” Grant appeared about to cry.

At that, Anna reached out and embraced Grant. Moments passed, Anna sensing the spirit of his deceased mother close by and watching as he lowered his head upon Anna’s shoulder.

“Take care,” she whispered in Grant’s ear. “You’re a good person.” She released him and he left.

Anna went upstairs with all that Grant had shared heavy upon her heart. Closing the door, she walked across the room, memories of Serine’s argument with Grant by the pool tugging her to the window. She gazed onto the pool below still of full of water. She would have to drain it. Noting that task, she gazed left and there stood Serine with Matt. They occupied the same spot, as Serine had with Grant, at the far steps from the patio chair where Edward had reclined while reading the magazine with the Buddhist nun on the cover.

Tears filled Anna’s eyes as Serine, with shoulders slumped stood speaking with Matt. Even from a story away, Anna could see Matt’s eyes intensely following Serine’s every word. After a few moments Serine embraced Matt. He kissed her cheek and then left. As he walked away Serine gripped her shoulders as if cold. She then slumped to her knees.

Serine was still clutching her shoulders when Bryce approached and tried helping her up. She pushed him away, gently but firmly. Anna screwed her face, felt the impulse to run down and scold Serine. Grant’s words then seeped into her mind.
Serine needs to know that she’s not a horrible person, that you love her.

Anna was meditating on Grant’s missive when a knock arose at the door. Anna turned and Millicent entered.

“Is everything alright?” The younger of Anna’s daughters-in-law inquired.

“I’m fine, just tired, thank you.” Anna was hoping the words of appreciation would signal a dismissal. Instead Millicent remained.

“I want you to know, Mother Manning, that I really appreciate what Father Manning wrote.”

Anna hated those names,
Mother Manning, Father Manning.
So ancient. And to be coming from a person who had yet to give her a grandchild, who for all intents and purposes, in Anna’s mind, did not care for her son and saw him only as an accoutrement and appendage. Anna turned around and simply stared.

“I’m sure it’s going to be difficult for you,” Millicent continued, apparently unaware of Anna’s brimming anger. The girl was pushy and brazen. “I wish I could have come and helped.” Millicent lowered her head. “It’s been hard these last few months.”

Anna’s body became what felt like a large welt of flames. “Perhaps you mean the entire five years of your marriage.” Anna would not succumb to the pain of losing Edward coupled with her feelings of having misjudged and failed Serine. Millicent, in whom Anna had envisioned Edward’s worst traits, became Anna’s target. “You don’t love my son.”

Millicent’s soft dark eyes ran dry of life, and lent a whisper of vulnerability against her ebony skin. “That’s not true,” she said.

Those words only fueled Anna’s anger. “You don’t think Theo is ambitious enough. Tell the truth.”

“Theo has his goals.”

“They’re just not as important as yours or time with your father?” Anna retorted. Millicent arched her back as if to regain composure in the defiant way that had crossed Anna the first time she had met Millicent. “Don’t let your father-in-law’s posthumous dramatics in those notes fool you into thinking that I don’t see what’s happening. You’ve never meant my son well. He’s been your lap dog, a punching bag to empty your frustrations on through this sham of a marriage. He gets the anger your father deserves.”

“I’m going to assume that you’re hurt by the death of Father Manning,” Millicent said. “And that you’ve lost all reasoning. Especially in light of all that it took for you to accept him back.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I know all too well what your marriage and Theo’s life was like growing up in this house with his father away all the time,” Millicent stammered. “Edward’s dilly dallying with everyone about town and across the globe.”

“Shut your mouth.”

“Never. Neither will I let you stand here and insult me about my marriage that I’ve worked hard at trying to make succeed.”

“Oh, you mean like those late night meetings with your father that stretch into the morning?” Anna said. “Thelonius is no foreigner to having his own trysts.”

“You know nothing about my father.”

“I know everything I need to. He is everything and more than Edward was.”

“My father may have made mistakes, but at least he found a way to apologize
before
death came knocking at his door,” Millicent said.

“I won’t have you stand here in my house and speak of Edward, no,
Father Manning
, as you so like to call him.”

“I’ll speak of him as I see fit,” said Millicent. “Don’t stick your nose into things you know nothing about.”

“Get out,” Anna yelled.

“Perhaps I will, and take Theo with me.”

The door opened. Theo entered.

“There you are. Some of the guests were asking about you,” he said to Anna on approaching her. “Should I tell them you’re resting?”

Anna calmed her anger. Perhaps Theo would think she was up set about Edward, her loss,
their loss
. She eyed Millicent, her head down and observing the carpet. Theo popped back to Millicent as if he had recalled something. Ushering her toward Anna he said, “Have you told, Mom.”

What could it be now? Anna wondered.

Millicent shook her head, no.

“Well if you won’t then—” Theo gleamed. “Mom, Millicent is pregnant. We’re going to have a child, same as Linda and Brad.” Millicent’s head shot up. “Linda’s pregnant?”

“I didn’t tell you, but she’s seven months,” Theo said, and then turning back to Anna added, “Millicent is five months.”

“I thought our son would be born into his own space.” Millicent said with a frown.

“Think of it this way, he’ll have a cousin who can be like a brother.” Theo patted her hand and smiled.

There she goes again, focused on self, and wanting her own space. The girl knows nothing of sharing. On closer inspection, Anna realized a bulge forming within Millicent’s thin frame. She smiled as best she could.

“I’m happy for you,” Anna said. She leaned over and kissed then hugged Theo. To Millicent she said, “This must be a surprise.”

“Actually not.” Millicent’s dark eyes, having regained some of their fierceness, sparkled. She looked to Theo standing between her and Anna, “We’ve been working to conceive for the last three years.” Millicent’s voice grew soft and dry. “I underwent fertility treatments this past year.”

“We we’re hoping for twins.” Theo gleamed.

An ache absorbed Anna’s heart. Theo had said nothing of their struggle, nor of Millicent’s pregnancy. She would have been around three and half months when Theo was home visiting Edward that last time. Perhaps this was also part of the reason he needed to speak with Anna each week, plunge his energies into caring for her, and expunge himself of worry about Millicent and her inability to conceive. Yet what of all the talk and concern over Millicent’s time with Thelonius? Anna inspected her younger son’s eyes, shining and on the verge of tears. How afraid he must have been. Had Thelonius become the target of Theo’s frustration?

She turned to Millicent. “I’m to have two grandchildren born this year. What a blessing.”

Dazed and shocked, Anna returned to the first floor of the house. Overwhelmed by the news of Millicent’s pregnancy, Anna could not deny the warm smile that had lit up her daughter-in-law’s eyes, and that spread over her face when Theo appeared. The gesture told Anna all she needed. The two were in love.

Maneuvering through the crowd of mourners, she felt light headed and disoriented. Gripped in thought, she nearly walked head-on into Heather.

“Oh!” Anna gripped her elder daughter-in-law’s arms and steadied her, the two having almost collided. “Forgive me. I was so caught up,” she said.

“Are you all right?” Heather asked.

“No, I’m not. But, then again, I just buried my husband.”

“It was a stupid question,” Heather conceded. “How could I—”

“The same way I was about to ask you the same.” Anna laughed. Heather joined her. The two were quite knowledgeable that seeing to the needs of others was their favorite pastime. That’s what Anna had always liked about Heather. Where Edward had envisioned so much of himself in Millicent, Anna had experienced the same with Heather. Edward had cared little for David marrying a white woman. Though disappointed, Anna had been open to getting to know Heather.

“Want to talk?” Heather asked.

“Sure.” Anna trudged back upstairs to Theo’s room, Heather accompanying her. “I don’t know what’s come over me,” she said, and then slumped onto the bed.

“There’s no need to apologize,” Heather sat beside her. “I was doing the same thing when Papa died.” Anna liked the way Heather referred to her father as Papa. It reminded Anna of Reverend Elijah. “It’s hard to keep your head straight when you’re hurting,” Heather said. “Especially if you’re accustomed to taking care of others.” Feeling Heather about to cry, Anna connected with the despair hanging in her hazel eyes that held hints of green. Only a few weeks into grieving the death of her father, the rawness of Heather’s loss remained fresh.

“I thought I had let Edward go,” Anna whimpered. “And then to learn he was dying. I don’t know how I’m going to get through this,” she said. Anna felt herself drifting. Snippets of scenes from the last three months eased before her then dove into and under the waves of memories. “I was on the verge of selling the house and then...” She met her daughter-in-law’s misty gaze.

Heather said, “I’ve decided to keep Papa’s house.”

Anna considered David’s words about Heather, and their marriage.
There’s another man. Her father’s neighbor, Rob. I think she wants to divorce me. Heather and I haven’t made love in a year.
Her body recalled the warmth of Edward’s breath and hands in their last time of intimacies. Though weak and dying he had been kind and soft, Anna ministering to him, he breathing life and redemption into their marriage.

Now sobbing, Anna said, “Why did I ever stop my plans and take him back in?”

“Because you love him.”

“But if I loved him, why am I so angry?”

“Because you miss him.” Heather’s eyes were soft and kind. She embraced Anna. “He’s with my father,” she whispered. “I’m sure of that. They’re taking care of each other.” She embraced Anna, adding, “We only get angry about the people and things we care for.” She patted Anna’s shoulders. Anna sank into her daughter-in-law’s chest and wailed.?

Chapter 47

A saddened sense of foreboding enveloped Anna as David’s words hit her. “Heather and I are divorcing.” It was the morning after the funeral, Saturday. Anna had been cleaning Edward’s things from the room where he had died five days earlier when David entered with the news. “I’m filing papers as soon as I get back to Detroit.”

She looked to the bed she had shared with Edward for three decades until asking for the divorce fifteen months earlier.

“And what about Heather,” Anna said.

“She has her father’s house in Santa Rosa.”

Again Anna’s attention settled upon the bed.
Moments in time. That’s all they were. You were an eternity.
Anna’s fingers trembled and grew cold in remembrance of caressing Edward, his chest rising and falling, life slipping from him, he easing from her.