Читать книгу An Obstinate Headstrong Girl - Abigail Bok - Страница 9

The morning brought Lizzy’s appointment with Melvin Perry, her aunt’s attorney, and she was dismayed to learn that most of her family was bent on accompanying her. Lydon and Jenny weren’t awake yet, but Kitty was eager to discover what entertainments the town had to offer, Mary needed to locate the nearest evangelical church before Sunday, her father wanted advice on locating rental properties, and her mother cherished hopes of persuading the attorney to overturn Evelyn Bennet’s will forthwith. Lizzy was aware that in agreeing to see her immediately on her arrival Mr. Perry was putting himself out, and she cringed at the first impression of her that would be conveyed by a mass descent of the Bennet clan upon his offices. But not being one to dwell overmuch on circumstances she lacked the power to alter, she accepted the entourage with good grace. John, sizing up the situation, came along to help without being asked.

Mr. Perry was plainly surprised by the crowd that filled his small waiting room, but, as his secretary was not just then present to manage for him, took control as best he might by pretending that it was simply a brief social encounter, an opportunity for everyone to be introduced before his true business with Lizzy began. He did his best to absorb all the names and field all the questions that soon were being thrown his way: the evangelical church was on the highway, about five miles distant, the Episcopalian one a block away from the center of town. There were no movie theaters or shopping malls in the neighborhood, nor would any local buses take Kitty to them; both involved a drive to Lompoc, near Vandenberg Air Force Base, or to Santa Barbara. The local real estate agents did not do much rental business, though they could inquire at the office of Morris Collins, a Realtor who had recently been appointed the mayor of Lambtown. But there was another possibility: he himself had a client who owned a newly built house she was not yet ready to occupy, and he would ask whether she might be willing to rent it out for a time.

For Mrs. Bennet, such subjects were interesting enough, but insufficient to distract her from her chief preoccupation. She interrupted with “It’s a sad business about this will. How did Evelyn come to make such a peculiar arrangement? And what are you doing to fix it?”

Even Mr. Perry’s suavity was no proof against this sudden attack, and he turned to Elizabeth in some perplexity.

“Mama, you know that Aunt Evelyn had every right to arrange her estate as she thought best,” Lizzy said in minatory tones.

“You would think so, of course, since it’s all to your benefit! But I have other children to look out for, and I can’t allow one to run off with what belongs by right to everyone.”

Lizzy cast an agonized glance at her father, but he was enjoying himself too much to heed her appeal.

“Ma’am, I can assure you that every provision in your sister-in-law’s Will is legitimate,” said Mr. Perry. “Her assets were free of any encumbrance and her mind was clear, so she was at liberty to dispose of her estate how she wished.”

Mrs. Bennet was inclined to dispute this view, but John stepped in with the suggestion that the purpose of today’s meeting was simply for Lizzy to discover what her responsibilities were, and perhaps Mama would like to see something more of Lambtown now? If they found a local newspaper, they might learn more about the ball they’d heard about.

Mr. Perry seized on this new idea with evident relief. “You mean the Red and White Ball? It’s one of the biggest social events of the year in the valley! It’s put on by the Hispanic Heritage Club to benefit their charitable programs. My secretary is one of the organizers, and I’m sure she’d want me to give you invitations.” He rummaged in her desk and came out with the cards, then led Mrs. Bennet to the exit by the expedient of holding them out in her direction while retreating to the door. “It was a pleasure to meet all of you, and I hope to see you again at the ball.” John herded his parents and younger sisters out, and Mr. Perry closed the door on them at last.

Once they were settled in his sanctum, Lizzy repressed the impulse to apologize for her family, and turned directly to the business at hand. She assured him that she was fully prepared to execute her aunt’s wishes as they had been described to her, though many aspects of the task were unfamiliar, and some mysterious. “I don’t really understand the requirement of complete secrecy,” she said. “From what I recall of my visits with my aunt, she had many friends who enjoyed reading and books; why would it be necessary to conceal her plan to turn her home into a public library for Lambtown?”

“When you have been here for a while, her concerns may become clearer to you, along with the scope of her ambition and the challenge you face. A key factor to remember is that she envisioned a library that would serve the entire community, not just the community of her immediate friends. How to achieve this is something you’ll have to figure out on your own. You will also need to be alert to the pockets of resistance that exist here toward any project that would offer equal access to all elements of the community. I urge you to remain discreet and keep your plans as private as possible. Do your family members know what you are doing?”

“No, I haven’t confided in them. They know that she created a charitable foundation and that she made me a personal bequest, but that’s all.”

Mr. Perry appeared relieved. “I’m sorry if her requirements put you in an awkward position with regard to your family, but—”

“I understand,” Lizzy hastened to insist. “Those of my relations I would be tempted to confide in will give me the benefit of the doubt, and the others will believe what they wish regardless of anything I might say. I’m more concerned about the expectations of my aunt’s friends and acquaintances here. I imagine they will have questions and, as permanent residents of Lambtown, a greater legitimate interest in the outcome.”

“Perhaps I can smooth your way a little bit there,” said Mr. Perry. “I’m a member of the Live Poets reading group that included most of her closest friends, and I can explain your presence among us in a way that may deflect much of the curiosity. The natural assumption will be that you and your family, as her closest relatives, are all her heirs, and I can allow that assumption to stand without refuting it until you are prepared to unveil the library.”

“What about zoning? Isn’t Aunt Evelyn’s house in a residential district? Could there be legal concerns on that head?”

“She obtained a variance some years ago, when the idea first came to her, so it can’t be stopped in court. But I would caution you to bear in mind that it’s crucial to win the hearts of the community in this case, not just avoid legal challenges. And there may be some hurdles from the Planning Department.”

“My aunt specified some particular gifts and bequests for various friends in her letter to me, but I was wondering about her housekeeper, and the nurse who cared for her at the end. Did she provide anything for them, or should I be doing so?”

Mr. Perry nodded approvingly. “There are monetary bequests for both of them in a codicil to her will, and those will be paid in due course, after probate. I also have a set of keys to her house for you.” He went on to outline the financial details of the will and the charitable foundation with Elizabeth, offering some helpful advice on developing a work plan and a budget. They parted with on each side a favorable impression of the other.

Lizzy’s first aim was to visit Evelyn’s house, and as it was an object with her to make this first visit alone, she set off immediately, while the rest of her family was elsewhere. Even John’s company would not have been completely welcome as she faced the empty rooms and gardens that her aunt had inhabited: he did not share the memories and emotions that such scenes would evoke, nor did she feel equal to describing them.

On turning the corner and approaching the house, Lizzy was surprised to find that the garden was in tolerable order. To her expert eye it was clear that someone had continued to care for it during Aunt Evelyn’s illness, perhaps even after her death. Changes had occurred in the years since her last summer visit to Lambtown; she recalled an English-style garden of lawn, roses, and mixed perennials, but now few traces of such a charming but unsuitable design remained. In its place were hardy natives and Mediterranean-climate plants, most of them unfamiliar to an Ohio girl, and she realized that here was another wall of learning for her to scale. She knew from reading that the seasonal cycles of rain and drought prevailing in California required unfamiliar adaptations from plant and gardener alike, and wondered where the nearest nursery might be. If she were to revive her landscaping business here, she would need to master at least the basics without loss of time.

For now she paused briefly to admire the skill with which Aunt Evelyn had laid out the garden—most drought-tolerant landscapes she had seen in photographs were casual sprawls of ill-assorted plants, but here the loose forms were arranged with discipline and respect for fundamental principles of design, and the counterpoise of tradition with an unfamiliar plant palette was pleasing and intriguing to her eye. This early in February, little was blooming save for narcissi tucked into the corners, but everything had been tidied after the last growing season, and already fresh shoots were starting to appear.

But she was here for a purpose, not to loiter about admiring a garden. Giving herself a little shake, Lizzy turned to enter the house. She had always loved the building’s wide-armed Craftsman style, but its simplicity and heavy grace were inextricably bound up with her aunt’s presence there. Now it was impossible not to fear that some of the grace might be lost—would it be just a house like any other?

It was not. Indoors as well as out, all was well-kept, though a thin film of dust coated the surfaces inside and the air felt a little stuffy; but on every side were objects her aunt had treasured, which spoke of her interests, her passions, her personality, her sense of humor. The rooms were not cluttered, but well-stocked with the signifiers of a lively mind and an active life. Reminders of places she had been, beliefs she had held, and friends she had held dear were everywhere—and the books especially told tales of the person she was. Lizzy wandered, and touched, and smiled or speculated on the meaning of all she saw.

The kitchen was the room that really brought home to her the finality of her aunt’s absence. There were no odors of food, no dishes in the drying rack, no fruits in the bowl on the counter, only a dish towel folded neatly and hanging on a hook. She had never seen anything so empty. After that, she could not quite bring herself to go into her aunt’s bedroom—not just yet.

Instead, Lizzy sat down in the dining room and unfolded the letter from her aunt. She made a list of all the things Evelyn had wanted friends to have, and then passed the next half-hour locating what she could of these items and laying them out on the table. She found her aunt’s address book and labeled each gift with the name and phone number of the recipient. The activity focused her memories on the associations inspired by this or that in the house, and it was painful to think of sending these mementos off to live elsewhere. But she was a young woman, and her mind would not look backwards for long. Soon her imagination turned to picturing how the house was to be turned into a library that would become a gathering place for all of Lambtown, and she was going from room to room, picturing a children’s story circle here, computers over there, and rows of chairs for readings and book signings in the parlor in front of the fireplace.

While she was thus occupied, she was startled by a knock at the front door. A lady of about her father’s age, who seemed vaguely familiar, was on the doorstep, eyeing her with a little suspicion. Lizzy introduced herself and added, “I think we may have met some years ago? You were a friend of my aunt’s?”

Much relieved, the lady cried, “Oh, you’re Elizabeth! I’m so glad you’ve arrived. Yes, Evelyn and I were very close, especially the last few years, and I remember meeting you when you were a child. I’m Mary Gardiner; I live across the street, and have been keeping an eye on the house since it’s been unoccupied.”

Lizzy invited her in and did the honors of the house as best she might, with nothing in the fridge or pantry save a bottle of sparkling water and an old packet of cookies. Nibbling at the cookies in the living room, Lizzy and her guest both laughed and agreed that their heyday was past. Lizzy, recalling that among the items on her aunt’s list were a few for Mrs. Gardiner, jumped up and went to collect them from the dining table. She shyly offered to her guest a first edition of Elizabeth and Her German Garden and a delicate antique Chinese perfume bottle.

“My aunt left me some instructions for gifts she wanted to offer to various friends,” she explained. “These are what I have located so far for you.”

“Your aunt and I became friends over this book!” Mrs. Gardiner exclaimed. “I was trying to decide whether to leave my first marriage, agonizing over a choice between the troubles of a life I knew and the perils of the unknown. She lent me this book, and the story echoed my dilemma and clarified my choice for me. Evelyn had a gift for guiding people in the right direction without ever uttering a word of advice.”

“I think she’s doing that for me right now,” said Lizzy, with a little smile.

“Yes, I believe she is. I don’t want to say too much, but I did witness her will and am the one person in town, aside from the attorneys, who knows a little about what your project is. You may rely on my discretion, and any help I can offer you—though in your aunt’s spirit, I should try to avoid advising!”

“Perhaps you’ll be able to help me with insights into Lambtown and the issues that prompted her to secrecy.”

“Perhaps I can,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “In the meantime, are you here on your own? Do you plan to live in the house?”

“No, my entire family has come. We’re looking for a house to rent. I told them this house wouldn’t be big enough for everyone—and in any case I figured some construction work would be necessary here, and it would be very inconvenient to have a crowd of people in residence.”

“How many are you?”

“There are eight of us—my parents, four brothers and sisters, and my younger brother’s wife.”

“Eight of you! Good heavens. This is a small town, and there aren’t a lot of opportunities here. How will you ever find things to do?”

“Well, my mother works in the home—as in fact does my father, he’s self-employed. My elder brother, John, worked at Starbucks in Columbus, and will probably look for something similar in this area. Mary is still getting her education; Lydon’s wife, Jenny, is the daughter of an air force officer who has just been transferred to Vandenberg, and I expect he will find her a job on base. Lydon will probably look for work there, too, or somewhere nearby; and Kitty may follow his lead. I was a landscape contractor in Columbus; I’ll need to learn more about the local plants and seasons before I can do any design work, but I may be able to get some garden maintenance jobs in the meantime.”

“Well, that’s something I can help you with,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “My husband Edward owns the nursery here—Gardiner’s, out on the Old Coach Road. He can teach you what you need to know and put you in touch with possible clients. But will you have time to work, on top of all your responsibility with the foundation project?”

“I like to be busy,” said Lizzy cheerfully. “I won’t try for full-time employment, but a couple days a week of gardening will be good for me. I like working outside, and doing physical labor. I noticed that somebody has been tending the garden here—and very beautifully, I must say.”

“Yes, that’s my husband. He really admired Evelyn’s eye for plant selection and design, and it’s been his pleasure to maintain it according to her standards. I only wish he took as much care over our own garden! I grow herbs and flowers to make essential oils and perfumes, and he tends to leave the maintenance to me.”

“Oh, I remember my aunt having some wonderful noncommercial perfumes; I loved to sneak into her room and try them out. Were those yours?”

“Yes, indeed. I hope you’ll use the ones she had left over, and enjoy them—it would be sad to think of them just being thrown away.”

Lizzy confessed that she had not yet been able to go into her aunt’s room, but would be sure to rescue the perfumes when she did.

Mrs. Gardiner nodded sympathetically. “You’ll be able to face it in due time. Meanwhile, I hope you’ll all come to the memorial for Evelyn being held by our reading society, the Live Poets, and read something in her honor. I’ve taken over for her as the organizer of the group, and it’ll be at my house, on the twenty-third at seven o’clock.”

“I’m sure we’ll all want to attend,” said Lizzy, hoping silently that she could make it so. “What can I bring?”

“Our gatherings are potluck, so any side dish or dessert, or even something to drink, would be welcome. I’m taking care of the main course options. Normally our group is only ten people, but we’ve opened up this meeting to anyone in the community who wants to honor your aunt. I expect a lot of people will want to attend.”