Tony!
Oh, why did this rich, handsome man have to
come into Momma's life and sweep her off her feet so
quickly and se completely? I wanted more than any
other want to make him regret tearing my happy
loving world asunder.
"Leigh, will you?" Momma repeated, her voice
a little desperate now. Once again today her wants
would battle with mine and win. I nodded, "Thank
you. Oh, thank you so much, honey." She embraced
me, and I was so starved for this affection, so needing
to be warmed by her touch, that knew that if she asked
me now I might agree to anything.
But, I couldn't help feeling cold, lifeless in her
arms. It was horrible for me to agree to this. I was
betraying Daddy.
"And there is one other thing I have to ask of
you, Leigh, one thing--a secret to be kept between
two best friends like us, now, because I trust you with
keeping it. Will you promise to keep it secret? A
bosom buddy promise," she added, placing her hand
on her breast.
What could it be? I wondered.
"I promise, Momma."
"Good." She leaned toward me and whispered as if there were other people in the room. "Tony doesn't know my true age, even now, even though he has proposed and I have accepted. I don't want him to know. As I told you after we left Farthy, he believes
I'm twenty-eight."
"Won't you ever tell him the truth?"
"Someday, but not right now. Okay?"
I nodded, but wondered if they were so much in
love, why was it necessary to lie? Didn't being in love,
true love, mean you would have no lies between you,
that you trusted each other so completely nothing
could break you apart?
"Thank you, Leigh. I knew you would
understand. I knew you were grown up. I told Tony.
He likes you very much, by the way. He talks about
you continually, about how sweet you are and how
much Troy likes you and what a wonderful time he
had with you when the three of you walked to the
beach.
"Oh, I just can't wait until we're all together at
Farthy. It's a dream life come true, Leigh. You'll see.
You'll be a princess, a true debutante yet." She got up. "I'm going to take a warm bubble bath because
I can relax now that I know my little girl is
understanding and loves me. Afterward, we'll sit and talk and you'll tell me all about Jamaica and the things
you did. Okay?" I nodded and remembered her gift. "I bought you something in the street market,
Momma."
"Really? How sweet for you to think of me
even after I had deserted you like that. You're such a
warm, wonderful child, Leigh. I'm very lucky to have
you."
"Let me get it," I cried and rushed back to my
room. "It's not very much," I told her when I returned,
"but I thought it was beautiful"
She unwrapped it quickly.
"I just love gifts, love surprises, no matter how
much they cost. Tony's like that, too. He wants to give
me something new and beautiful every day of our
lives together," she squealed. Because of my promises
I tried as hard s I could not to harden myself against
her newfound happiness. She looked down at the
hand-painted scarf. "Oh, this is great, Leigh. How
clever of you to pick it out. It will go with so many of
my outfits. I'm sorry I wasn't there with you, but I will
make it up to you in a thousand ways. You'll see." "I bought Daddy a hand-carved cane," I said
softly.
"That's nice." She went into her bathroom to run her water. I stood there for a moment listening to
her hum to herself and then left.
Daddy arrived shortly before dinner. Momma
was still in her suite talking to her friends on the
telephone and doing her nails and hair. I still hadn't
had an opportunity to tell her about the Spenser sisters
and Fulton and Raymond, but I expected to tell her
everything at dinner. Suddenly, I heard the front door
open and heard Clarence say, "Hello, Mr.
VanVoreen."
Daddy! I thought and jumped up. He was
already in his office, gathering some papers.
" D
addy!"
"Hello Leigh. All settled back, are you?" "Yes. Momma's here. She's upstairs." "I see." He went back to his papers quickly. "Are you staying here for a while?" I felt so
sorry for him. He looked tired and worn, older than
ever, and I kept thinking how much worse it would be
for him once he learned about Momma's love for
Tony Tatterton. Maybe he still held on to some hope,
like I had, even though she had gotten the divorce. "No, Leigh. I've got to get back to the office
and prepare for my next journey."
"But where will you sleep tonight?"
"I have rooms at the Hilton. You must not
worry about me. I want you to take good care of
yourself and . . ." His eyes rose as if he could see
through the ceiling into Momma's suite. "And your
mother." He went back to his papers, sorted through
folders, opened file cabinet drawers, and began to fill
a briefcase.
I sat on the leather settee watching him, and I
felt terrible. I felt as though I were betraying him by
not telling him what I knew about Momma and Tony. I felt split in half. If I smiled at Momma or felt
good with her, I couldn't help feeling guilty, feeling
that I was hurting Daddy; and the same was true if I
smiled at him and felt good with him. Momma would
hate me. She would certainly hate me if I told him any
of her secrets. What was Ito do?
Daddy saw the troubled look on my face. "Now, now," he said. "You must not do this to
yourself. I told you, once we're through the storm, it
will be clear sailing again. Button up against the wind.
Be hearty. You've been around sailors and seamen too
long to be anything else."
"I'll try, Daddy."
"That's my girl. Well," he said looking about, "I
guess I have what I need for now." He closed his briefcase. My heart began to pound. I didn't think I had the strength in my legs to stand up. He started around his desk and then stopped abruptly, the expression on his face changing quickly from a soft, loving one, to a look of firmness, even anger. I spun
around. Momma was standing in the doorway. "Hello, Cleave," she said.
"I've just come by to get some of my papers." "I'm glad you did," she said. "There are some
matters to discuss. I was going to leave them for later,
but perhaps this is as good a time as ever."
"Yes," he said.
"Leigh, would you excuse us for a while,
please," Momma said and then smiled coldly. I looked
at Daddy. He nodded and suddenly my legs that had
felt like two overcooked pieces of spaghetti found
their firmness again and I got up and rushed out of the
office. I turned back to see Momma close the door. I wanted to go back and put my ear to it, but I
was afraid they would find me there.
It seemed like hours, but finally Momma came
in to get me. I looked behind her, anticipating Daddy
too. Maybe, somehow they had worked out their
differences and they were going to give our family
another chance. Maybe Daddy had said some magical things and they had both thought about their early days together when they were so much in love. I
waited for the words; I prayed for them.
"I bet you're famished," Momma said. "I know
I am."
"Is Daddy going to eat with us?" I asked
hopefully.
"No, it's just like old times," she said dryly.
"He's off to his shipyards."
"Off? Did he leave?" 1 cried. Oh, surely, he
didn't leave without saying goodbye, without giving
me a last kiss.
"Yes, he's gone. Let's go to dinner." She turned
away.
But he can't be gone,
my brain screamed. Not
without saying goodbye. I hurried out behind her, but
instead of going straight to the dining room, I went to
his office.
The door was closed and when I opened it, I
looked into a dark room. Momma waited in the
hallway. I spun around, the tears streaming down my
face.
"Where is he?"
"I told you, Leigh. He left."
"But he didn't . . he didn't kiss me goodbye," I
bawled.
"He wasn't in the mood to kiss anyone. Now
please, honey. Pull yourself together. Go wash your
face. Freshen up. We don't want to show the servants
we're unhappy, do we? After you have something in
your stomach, you will feel a lot better anyway. I'm
sure."
"I'm not hungry," I cried. I ran to the staircase.
"Leigh!"
I didn't turn back. I couldn't, II ran up the stairs
and into my room. I rushed to my window to look out
in hopes of catching sight of Daddy leaving the house,
but the street below was empty, the street lights
casting long, dark and lonely shadows over the
sidewalks.
I clenched my hands into fists to grind away my
eyes and then I looked about my room. I looked at all
the things I had that reminded me of Daddy, looked at
his picture, looked at the models of ships. It was over.
This life I had known had passed on into that empty
night below.
Daddy had a saying when he met someone new,
especially someone he liked.
"Let's not be like two ships passing in the night.
Call again. Stop by."
Oh Daddy, I thought, will we now become like
two ships passing in the night?
One day slipped into another. I returned to
school and described my Jamaican trip to all my
girlfriends. Everyone was interested in my stories
about Fulton and Raymond, and a week after I had
returned home, I received a nice letter from Raymond.
I brought it with me to school to show my friends,
especially the ones who had looked skeptical when I
had told them about the two older boys who said I
could pass for a high school girl.
Most of Raymond's letter was about his work at
school, but he did say how much he had enjoyed
spending time with me, and at the end, he signed it,
"Fondly, Raymond."
Toward the end of the first week, Daddy called
to tell me about his plans for his next voyage. There
was a lot of noise around him in his office, and even
though it was a short talk, we were interrupted several
times. He said he would try to write or call as soon as
he reached the Canary Islands. Oh, how I missed him
and how I tried not to hate Momma for driving him
out of my life.
A few nights later, Momma came into my room
to announce that we were going to go to Farthinggale
Manor for Thanksgiving dinner.
"It's going to be the most magnificent
Thanksgiving dinner we ever had. Many of Tony's
wealthy friends will be there and he's even invited
Patrick and Clarissa Darrow, the publishers of my
illustrations, and of course, Elizabeth Deveroe, the
decorator, and her husband, so there will be people we
already know. Isn't that nice?"
"But we've always had Thanksgiving here,
Momma." It hadn't occurred to me until just this
moment that Daddy wouldn't be home and with us for
Thanksgiving. It would be the first time, for no matter
where his business took him or what he had to do, he
always managed to be home for Thanksgiving. "I know, but I want to be with Tony and he has
a large affair every year. We'll have pheasant, instead
of turkey, and champagne, and desserts beyond
imagination. You remember how well his chef
cooks."
"But it won't be Thanksgiving without a
turkey."
"Oh, there will be so many other delectable
things, you'll never miss it. I know what we'll do," she
continued, "we'll buy new dresses, just for the
occasion."
"But I haven't worn many of the things you
bought me for my birthday yet."
"This is different," she said turning slowly and
thinking. "We need to stand out . . . Get your coat,"
she said suddenly, her face lit with excitement. "We're
going to Andre's Boutique and pick out something
original for both of us."
"But Momma . . ." I knew that dresses and
gowns at Andre's began somewhere around eight
hundred dollars and went as high as ten thousand.
"Can we afford it now that Daddy's . . . Daddy's not
here?"
"Of course, we can. Your father is still
responsible for all our expenses," she replied firmly.
"Until I remarry. Then, he's just responsible for yours,
not that you will need to worry. Tony is very
generous. Come on," she said beckoning. "Let's get
started."
Momma bought a black velvet dress with
spaghetti straps and a wide charcoal silk belt. She
wore black satin elbow-length gloves. She put on her
biggest diamond necklace and matching pear-shaped
diamond earrings.
For me she bought a beautiful aqua-colored
dress in an airy fabric. I never felt so dressed up for a
Thanksgiving dinner.
Tony sent Miles in his limousine to pick us up
early in the afternoon, but he had to sit in the hallway
and wait for at least an additional forty-five minutes
for Momma to finish with her hair and makeup.
Finally, wearing her sable fur piece, she came down
the stairs. Never had her hair looked as soft or
gleamed as brightly. I saw by the way Miles rose from
his seat that he was stunned by her beauty. I thought
she looked just like a movie star.
How I wished Daddy could be here to see her, I
thought, but then I thought that would only bring him
more pain because she was so beautiful and she was
gone from his life.
"How do I look?" she asked me and spun
around.
"Prettier than anyone."
"Oh honey, thank you. And you look beautiful
too. We're going to dazzle everyone," she added, and
we went out to the limousine.
During the trip to Farthy, she told me about
some of Tony's friends she had met. Everyone seemed
to be known by what business or profession he was in. "And wait until you see their wives," she said.
"With all their wealth and position, they don't know very much about fashion and makeup. You and I will stand out like, . . like roses in a bed of weeds." She
grabbed and hugged me. As sad as 1 felt going to a -
Thanksgiving dinner without Daddy, I couldn't help but be fascinated by the way Momma spoke to me. She was acting more like my older sister than my Mother. I felt, perhaps for the first time in my life, that she was treating me like her closest friend.
"Now don't be nervous just because these people have so much money. You will see they aren't so clever when it comes to socializing. When they ask you a question, answer politely, but don't offer more information than they request. Men appreciate women who are not talkative and gossipy around the dinner table. Men like to dominate the conversations with their talk of politics and business."