The Ride of Her Life (5 page)

“I’m hoping it will keep him out of trouble when I’m working during lunch. He loves to create things.” Lilly snagged the paring knife before Mama sat down and stripped the apple peel in one long string.

“Lilly, I told you that’s my job.” Her mother held out her hand until Lilly laid the knife in her palm, then dropped into the wicker chair and pulled her shawl more tightly about her shoulders.

“But I don’t mind, and it’s my fault you even have to work here again.”

“Listen to me. You did the right thing in leaving that house. I know. I was there.”

“And if you were still there, you wouldn’t have to be back making pies for Camille Westing.”

“Mrs. Westing’s not the same woman she was when you were a child. Ask Marguerite. And she’s happy as a lark I’m back cookin’.”

“And cleaning and polishing and doing laundry.”

“Heavens no. Wilhelmina does all that.” She cut the core from the apple. “She even does the dishes after I cook. Mrs. Westing won’t let me do a thing. That whole financial scare changed her. She’s a new person now. And so is Mr. Westing. Hasn’t gambled a bit since that time. Praise the Lord for blessing him with a whole new business and for letting them keep the house in the meantime.”

Lilly glanced toward the clothespin bag on the line. “Mama—”

“I help Wilhelmina some when no one’s watching—if I have time and if I’m feeling up to it.” Mama chuckled, and her salt-and-pepper-colored bun bobbed. She cocked her head at Lilly. “I recognize that look in your eyes, and you need to stop. I don’t want you to go feelin’ guilty. I got a good place here. You know how warm my room is, and the Westings even bought me a new feather tick for my bed. Softest thing you ever laid on.”

“You deserve a real home, Mama. When I married Ben, I thought I could make a home for all of us.”

“Lilly May, God wanted me here.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I prayed about it.” Mama chose another apple. The slightly swollen knuckles of her hands didn’t keep her from making quick work of chopping the fruit. “I wanted to witness to Mrs. Westing, and I’ve been praying for years for the right time. Her heart is open now. I think she may come to know the Lord.” She dropped the naked apple in the bowl. “Besides, this world is not my home. Oh, I know you’ve wanted us to have a house since you were ten years old, but I learned to be content without one a long time ago.”

“When I was ten, Marguerite got a beautiful dollhouse for Christmas.” Lilly closed her eyes, and the gingerbread-clad toy structure came into view. “I wanted a big, white, grand house too, with pretty carpets and velvet draperies.”

“And a nursery for the baby.” Mama touched her hand. “You had those fine things at the Harts’, but it still wasn’t a home.”

“It wasn’t
my
home. Ben’s mother made that perfectly clear. But I promise you, Mama, I’ll earn enough money to make a home for you and Levi. After the season at Lake Manawa is over, I’ll get a job at Woodward’s Candy Factory, and I’ll work hard. I don’t want my son growing up feeling like he has no place to call his own.”

“Like you did?”

“Mama, you did your best. What else could you do after Daddy died before we could head West? The Westings were good to us most of the time. And you made sure I always felt loved.”

“But you were always afraid Mrs. Westing would get in a snit and send us away.”

Lilly dropped her head. “Not us, Mama. Me.”

Levi waved his paper in the air. “Done. Wanna see, Grammy?”

“Sure do.” Mama leaned over the picture and touched the boy in it. “This must be you. Look how handsome you are with your brown hair and blue eyes. But who is this?”

“That’s Mr. Nick. He has blue eyes like mine, but his hair is black like coal.”

Lilly smiled. “You drew him very well.”

“And why is Mr. Nick holding a spider?”

“’Cause he’s my friend, and we hunt bugs. Mama don’t like him, but I do. And Mr. Thorton told her she has to be nice to him. That was before the sheriff came and we had to move in with Emily and crying baby Katie.”

“You don’t say?” Mama turned to Lilly. “Well, I guess you can go in the house and get yourself a paring knife after all. It looks like you’re gonna be here awhile fillin’ me in on your life at the lake, so you might as well make yourself useful.”

Staring at the massive Hart mansion, Lilly took a deep breath. How her mother had convinced her to visit her former in-laws, she’d never know. Actually, she did understand her mother’s point. They were Ben’s parents, and if she loved him, then it was her duty to make sure they had a chance to have a relationship with their grandson—even if it made Lilly uncomfortable.

And it certainly did. Her stomach churned like the lake on a stormy day. Would they take her visit as the peace offering she hoped it would be?

She knelt in front of Levi and straightened his jacket. “Remember, use your best manners when you see your grandparents.”

“They don’t like me.”

“Yes they do, honey, but they aren’t used to being around little boys.”

Levi cocked his head. “But wasn’t Daddy a little boy once?”

“Yes, but he had a nanny who took care of him most of the time.” She stood and lifted the latch on the heavy iron gate. It creaked as she opened it far enough for the two of them to pass through. The ominous clang as it shut behind them made her shiver. Taking Levi’s hand, she started up the walk.

“But why didn’t Grandmother take care of Daddy?”

“She didn’t think it should be done like that.” Lilly squeezed his hand.

“Did I have a nanny when I lived here?”

“When you were little, you had a nurse your grandmother hired, but your daddy and I let her go. Your daddy and I never wanted you to be away from us. We wanted to take care of you all by ourselves.”

“Didn’t Daddy like his nanny?”

“Daddy loved his nanny a great deal. He said her name was Rosy. He used to call her Rosy Posey.” Lilly gave the brass knocker on the front door two solid whacks. “Now, remember your manners.”

The door opened, and Jerome, the Harts’ butler, motioned them inside. He took Lilly’s cape and draped it over his arm. “I’ll let the Harts know you are here, ma’am, and may I personally say you and Master Hart are greatly missed here.”

“Thank you, Jerome.” She smiled down at Levi.
Lord, please help me say and do the right thing today for his sake.

Lilly took a deep breath and glanced around. Nothing had changed since she’d left. A garish painting of a fox hunt still hung in the foyer over the entry table. Beneath it lay the tiny silver tray for Jerome to collect calling cards from visitors. Of course, as family, she didn’t need to produce one.

Levi fidgeted beside her. Maybe she shouldn’t have brought him after all. The Harts had never doted on him the way most grandparents would, and while she understood that it wasn’t their way to show affection, he didn’t.

“Can I slide down the banister like I used to do when Grandmother and Grandfather weren’t home?” Levi hopped over the base of the staircase. “’Member, Mama? You used to hold on to me until I slid all the way down.”

“And then we’d go in the kitchen and Mrs. Kauffman would make us hot chocolate and give us cookies.” She smiled. At least he held some fond memories of living here.

“Can we go see her now?”

“No, honey. Today we’re here to visit your grandparents. Remember, use your very best manners.”

Jerome reentered and asked them to follow him. Lilly could have said she didn’t need to be shown the way, but she found comfort in the butler’s company. As she expected, he led them to the sunroom at the back of the mansion where her mother-in-law loved to sit in the mornings. She spotted Evangeline first, sitting on a cushioned rattan love seat. Around her, green plants, airy ferns, and ivy-filled baskets drank in the sun’s rays in front of the large windows.

Claude Hart rose from his chair beside her and nodded. “Lilly, have you come to tell me you are reconsidering our offer?”

“No, sir. I came because I wanted you to have the opportunity to see your grandson.” She swallowed hard, the words feeling stiff on her tongue. “I’m praying this will be a pleasant exchange for all of us. Ben would have wanted that.”

“Ben would have wanted a lot of things.” Evangeline sipped tea from her china cup.

Claude motioned to an empty chair. “Won’t you have a seat?”

“Thank you.” She sat down, and Levi stood beside her with his hand clutching her skirt. “Go tell your grandmother good morning.” After she pried his fingers loose, he walked across the room and stood before her.

“My, you’ve grown. Give your grandmother a kiss.” She pointed to her cheek and waited.

Levi bestowed the wet kiss with a loud smack, and Lilly stifled a giggle. If Lilly knew Evangeline, she was dying to wipe the slobber from her cheek. To her credit, the woman simply patted the love seat beside her.

“So, Levi, tell Grandmother what adventures you’ve been having at the lake. Do you have any friends?”

“I have lots and lots of friends. There are crickets and toads and spiders, and Mr. Nick helped me with Flower, my pet snake.”

Evangeline’s mouth formed a perfect O, then she scowled at Lilly. “You let him play with snakes?”

“It’s only a harmless garter snake.”

“Well, I would never—”

Lilly smiled. “I know, but he’s my son.”

“I ain’t got a cage yet, but Mr. Nick said maybe he’ll help me build one.”

Evangeline tsked. “You don’t have a cage, and who is Mr. Nick?”

Folding her hands in her lap, Lilly tried to relax. “Nick Perrin is the man who’s building the roller coaster. I cook for him and his men, and he’s been kind to Levi.”

“Levi’s grammar is atrocious, Lilly. You really must let us send him to—”

Lilly held up her hand. “We will leave this instant if you insist on discussing a boarding school.”

“We only want what’s best for him.” Claude’s deep voice, so perfect for the courtroom, jarred her. “He could have the best of everything—just like our Ben. Think about how Ben turned out. Don’t you want that for your son?”

“Ben hated being sent off to boarding school. He and I discussed it, and it was never our plan to send Levi away. If Ben were alive, he’d tell you himself. Besides, Levi would be devastated without me.”

“You can’t let a child’s emotions make these decisions.” Evangeline pinched Levi’s cheek. “No matter how sweet he is now, he will grow up to become a man, and what kind of man is determined by the opportunities presented to him.”

“What kind of man Levi becomes will be determined by me and by God. And already I can see God has blessed Levi with a generous and caring spirit like his father.” Lilly smiled at her son. “Levi, you haven’t greeted your grandfather.”

After scampering off the love seat, Levi walked slowly to the white-bearded man. Claude extended his hand. Levi took it and pumped it vigorously. “Hello, Grandfather. Lovely day, isn’t it?”

Lilly had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.

“Excuse me.” Jerome appeared at the door bearing a box. “I thought young master Levi might enjoy playing with some of his father’s blocks.”

Claude nodded. “Splendid idea.”

While Jerome set the box down near the window, Levi hurried to claim it. In seconds he’d begun to construct a tower.

“Lilly, about the other day.” Claude cleared his throat.

“Please, I know you don’t agree with me, but I have to do what I think Ben would want me to do to raise our son. I understand Levi is all you have left of Ben—but he’s all I have left too.” She dabbed the tear blurring her vision. “I have to raise Levi the way Ben and I planned.”

Claude leveled his gaze at her. “And would Ben want you working all hours of the day while your son played with snakes and strangers? Would he want you living off the charity of friends when your family is willing to provide for you?”

“Ben would want me to be happy.” The words came out soft and wistful.

“But he’d want you here, and never living off the charity of the Grahams.” Evangeline picked up her teacup. “Levi, what do you have in that cosmetics jar?”

“Levi, stop!” Lilly jumped to her feet, but she was too late. Levi gave a final twist to the metal lid on a small jar and dumped the contents into his newly created structure.

5

The ants immediately scattered to the corners and climbed the blocks.

Levi tried to corral the ants with his hands. “Stop, you naughty ants. This is your new house.”

“Ants?” Evangeline squealed, jumped up, and backed against the bookcase as if the ants would eat her alive. “Claude, do something! Get them out of my house.”

Lilly dropped to her knees beside Levi and grabbed the empty jar. “Let’s put the ants back in your can. I don’t think they’ll like living at your grandparents’ house.”

Levi frowned at his grandmother and picked up an ant-covered block. “Neither do I.”

Finally, Lilly and Levi collected the majority of the ants, and Lilly told her son it was time to say goodbye. Evangeline kissed the top of his head and asked him not to bring any more creatures with him to his grandmother’s.

Claude followed her to the door. “Lilly, it’s clear Levi has far too much freedom—playing with ants, toads, snakes, and who knows what else.” At over six feet, Claude loomed over her. “Ben would not have allowed you to be so permissive, and since he is not here, we must act in his stead. How will Levi ever take on the Hart fortune if he isn’t taught refinement? Given your upbringing, I don’t think you understand all Levi may be called on to do. And you are certainly ill-equipped to teach him.”