Reach for one tissue towards the end of the chapter. I do not own BOB.
Autumn in the English countryside is quite spectacular in its rich display of color. Over the years, the Countess of Somerville greeted it as one does the New Year. She remembered her old friends that she still missed terribly. Today, found her visiting the family vault to have a little chat with her late husband Ralph Winters, Earl of Somerville. At one time, it was a daily ritual when the loss of her beloved husband was too hard to accept, but now two years later, the Countess visited with her dear Rafe on a weekly basis usually talking over family matters, which is what brought her here today. Removing the dried red roses from the previous week, she tenderly replaced them with some wine colored mums.
"Hello my darling. The boy is coming back to stay with me for a while. I could not believe it when he called. It saved me the trouble of ringing him up. Boy, humph, he is twenty-six, but I still think of him as a little boy. You were right. He is a real Cracker Jack, but now I fear our dear Jack is still troubled by his war experiences. Henry is furious that he resigned his commission, but Isabel thinks as I do. We are relieved that he is home in one piece. Jack's wounds healed nicely, as far as I know his leg does not trouble him at all. There are no facial scars. I know that would have troubled you, but I always found your scar quite distinguished my dear. For the first time in his life, Jack is at loose ends, but I think with the arrival of my friends things may change, at least I hope that they will. It is so hard to see the future when you are eighty-four. I can hardly wait to see them again after all this time. Hah, it sounds like Jack found our old motorcycle. I had Goodwin give it a good overhaul when I heard he was coming down. Nothing like a good ride on a motorcycle to clear one's head. Maybe I can talk him in to giving me a ride in the sidecar for old time's sake.
Well, I am going to leave you now, my sweet. I must take care of the living while I still can. How grateful I am for the life we had together. As always, I miss you my darling." The countess kissed her the palm of her hand then placed it on the late Earl's crypt and stepped out into the afternoon sun, only to find her Grandson standing a few yards away looking over the Ha Ha.
"Hello my dear Jack. How good of you to come and see me. Now come down from there and give your Grand a kiss."
The Viscount Jackson Winters, Jack to his friends, was a tall lanky young man, who was quite good looking with chiseled features and a somewhat crooked nose that he earned on a cricket pitch. Jack's thick auburn and deep blue eyes were widely known to cause many a young woman's heart to flutter. However, these days Jack's eyes rarely sparkled but they certainly came to life when he saw his Grand. "How are you old woman? It is good to see your lovely face." It was true; the countess retained a youthful appearance that her contemporaries envied. When people asked her what her secret was, she told them to think young and get off your ass.
"Who are you calling an old woman," laughed the Countess? Jack immediately kissed his Grand on both cheeks. "How are you my dear Jack? Do your wounds trouble you?"
"No Grand, my limp is gone, but the abdominal incision is still tender, but that is to be expected or so the doctors tell me. I am just glad that is the last bit of shrapnel. It is very disconcerting to strip down practically to my knickers every time I go through a metal detector. I see you have been chatting up Grandfather. What does he have to say for himself," teased Jack. "Is everything up to his standards in the after life?"
"Don't be impertinent. Besides I will have you know that I am still able to work out any problem I have by talking to your Grandfather."
"Not about me, I hope." Jack flashed a concerned look over his Grand. "You are not to worry about me. Come sit on the bench." Taking a handkerchief from his back pocket, he spread it out for his Grand, waited for her to sit down, and then joined her. Putting his arm around her, he smiled and admired their surroundings. "The place looks marvelous this time of year, "he observed.
"Yes, it does, but I don't believe that you came all the way from London to discuss the landscape. I heard Cynthia broke off the engagement."
"Please don't suppress your joy," said Jack. "I know you never liked her. To tell you the truth, I do not like her very much at the moment, but I do not blame her really. I stayed away from her for too long." After completing an arduous round of physical rehabilitation, Jack returned to Somerville, living in a small cottage by the river on the family's estate for six months.
"It was never a matter of liking or disliking. She was a temporary phase for you because your father liked her. Cynthia lacks imagination. A person without imagination is utterly tiresome as well as boring in bed. You spend half your time trying to keep them entertained and for what I ask you? She is pretty as most of the girls are in that town and country set, but that wears thin or in Cynthia's case it will wear long in the face."
Jack tried hard not start laughing. He loved his Grandmother's frankness. There was no one like her in the world. "Grand, you are amazing. Most Grandmothers worry about their grandchildren having sex. Here you are telling me that my ex-fiancée is probably boring in bed, which by the way I refuse to either confirm or deny."
"I should hope not. There are limits to what I need to know. However, to continue my point, you need a wife who sticks with you no matter what life throws at you. Someone who can visualize the future and retain a bit of hope that it will all work out because it always does. I never have understood how, but it does. Besides, she never made you laugh. I notice things like that. Take your mother for instance. I liked her the moment I met her. Your father brought her down to meet us and when they got out of the car, she said something that caused your father to burst out laughing." Seeing Jack's skeptic look, the countess said, "I know it sounds impossible, but he did. That is when your grandfather and I knew she was the right one for Henry. Any woman that can make a stick in the mud like your father so much as chuckle was in my mind the right one for him. May I ask why she broke off the engagement?"
"She gave a myriad of reasons," said Jack solemnly. "The war changed me too much, my reluctance to live in London, and it did not help that I decided to resign my commission. I never wanted to be a soldier in the first place. I only wanted to do my part for my country, but when I got there, I realized my main job was to keep the Iraqis from killing one another. I did not train two years to be a paratrooper just so I could be part of an occupying force. These days, I just want some place quiet so I can figure out what I should do with the rest of my life. I would like to stay in the cottage again if that is all right with you. You have no idea the pressures father continues to pile on me. I had to come back here. Everything always seems clear at Somerville. It is like a healing balm. You are lucky Grand. Everything is so confusing these days. According to the padre, it is abnormal for a man of my age with my upbringing not to have more ambition to make a lot of money." Jack stood up and ran his fingers through his hair.
"I understand the complexities of modern life better than you think I do. My advice to Jack is to stop worrying about what you should do with your life, and start thinking about what you want to do. I am delighted to have you stay at the cottage, but you cannot hide away from the world forever. Now do your Grand a favor and give me a lift up to the house in the sidecar. I have something very important I need to show you." The Countess held out her hand and Jack gently eased her up and into the sidecar. The ride back was exhilarating for her. It brought back such wonderful memories of her and Ralph when they first married.
Arriving back at the house, Jack excused himself so he could wash up and change for tea. By the time he returned downstairs, he found his Grandmother in her office overlooking the garden. The table was set for high tea and he helped himself to some sandwiches. "Is this what you wanted to show me?" His Grandmother was looking at a portfolio of drawings. "These are from the war. Did you do them?
"Yes," she nodded. I have not looked at them in a long time, but that is not all I need to show you. The countess watched as he went through the portfolio. He studied each drawing carefully.
"I am always amazed when I see your work, Grand. These are quite good. It's a shame you never pursued a career as an artist."
"Thank you, Jack, but your Grandfather and I were kept busy as we struggled to hold onto the estate and rebuild the family coiffeurs. Then your great Aunt Edwina came along, followed by Joanna and Katherine then your father came along. Sometimes life takes you down a different direction than the one you first choose. At least, that's what happened to me as I expect it will you to some degree."
"Whoa, who are these lovely ladies? Are these your war friends?" Jack leaned over and studied one in particular. "My, she looks like that actress you like so much. What was her name?"
"Edie Witherspoon, her real name is Edwina. She is my best friend. I haven't seen her for over sixty years, but I still think of her that way. Edie and I roomed together in college."
"In America, so that's where Aunt Dina gets her name, and the other two?"
"That one on the left is Katie or Katydid as we called her and the other is JoJo, and yes, her name is Joanna. I named my girls after my best friends from school."
"Are they still living? I don't remember you ever talking about them."
"They are very much alive. Now I have something else to show you." The Countess pulled out a framed photograph and carefully removed the picture. "Take a look at that and tell me who you recognize."
Handing the photograph to her Grandson, she watched as he studied the picture of four friends in their graduating robes, holding their diplomas up in the air. "Why it's your friends and you. God, look at your red hair. I have never seen it that long."
"Turn the photo over and read the date.
"May 6, 2006! I don't understand." His Grandmother held out what looked like a modern passport and asked him to open it. The picture of the girl was his Grandmother all right, but the date of birth implied that she was born in 1984. There was her name Margaret Llewellyn Marchand. Bewildered, Jack left the room, went into his father's study to retrieve a decanter of whiskey then rejoined his Grandmother and poured himself a drink, downed it quickly then poured himself another. "All right, I am listening," said Jack.
"Darling, I know you are confused. It must sound impossible, but it is true, the girl in that picture and I are one in the same. Sit down Jack, and I will explain as best I can. The countess began describing the strange adventure that for her seemed so long ago, but in this reality had not yet ended. By the time she finished, the sun started to set, they had finished eating the entire high tea, and Jack Winters was stunned. There was too much evidence to dispute the story. His Grandmother opened a trunk by Kate Spade that smelt old and musty. Considering Kate Spade was not born until the 1960s, Jack just added it to his is this really true list. Inside were all her belongings when she was a young girl in college. While she talked, Jack flipped through her school annuals, photographs, and other documents that verified Grand's account. "Today is the 12th of September so according to you, your friends should return soon. Shouldn't it be sometime in December?"
"No, my dear, but there is more to the story, but unfortunately I am uncertain as to how the final pieces of the puzzle fits."
"But you have a good idea where the rest go, I'll bet."
"Yes, do you remember what I told you about my father Arthur?"
Nodding Jack said, "He was a physics professor and inventor. You do not mean to say he invented the time device. So what about Thaddeus, do you know where he is now? Did you ever discover how Thaddeus learned so much about you and your friends?"
"There was a woman working in my solicitor's officer, Robert Sinclair who became involved with Thaddeus. Sinclair kept files on Molly or me if you like and my friends. God knows why. One year ago shortly before Thaddeus returned to 1944, this woman Madge Honeycutt disappeared. The authorities discovered her body three weeks later stuffed in the ductwork of her flat. I hired a private investigator, Owen Griffith, the minute I learned of her disappearance. She had no family, and I had no idea of the connection until Owen discovered some letters that she hid in a drawer. They were love letters from Thaddeus. He is a brilliant manipulator, and told that poor woman everything she wanted to hear, and Miss Honeycutt believed him. When she was no longer of any use to her, Thaddeus killed her. Thankfully, Owen also discovered that Thaddeus was not Ralph's brother except in name only. The very idea that I shared blood with that man is enough to make me have a complete transfusion. Annette's brothers, told Owen that their sister was already pregnant when she married Ralph's father. Apparently, she became involved with a French soldier who seduced her before shipping out to Algeria, where he later died. Her family quickly arranged a marriage with the son of an old friend who moved to America. Torn by guilt that only contributed to her fragile mental state, Annette continued to sink deeper into madness until she took her own life. Whether or not, my grandfather ever knew the truth, I have no idea." Owen turned his evidence over to the authorities who contacted Interpol and the Dutch police. I believe he is biding his time in Nuenen, but of course, I can't reveal that to anyone without sounding like a crazy old woman instead of the hot, little grandmother you know and love."
Swallowing his whiskey, Jack smiled. "You are probably right there. If I did not know you, I probably would think the same thing. Nevertheless, this whole situation regarding that poor woman is equally tragic and frightening. Is that the reason, you terminated Sinclair's services?" His Grand nodded. "You know Father raised holy hell when he found out. Thank God, the Pater is in the dark about the rest of this story. One, he cannot stand any hint of scandal and two; he always thinks that any day now you are going to go crackers. This might send him over the edge. Mother worries that he is going to have a heart attack because he works too much, and for what? Chris Walkup runs the dairy and his father maintains the grounds. Father has done a beautifull job handling our investments.
"I couldn't agree more, but you know your father. The desire to control everything eats away at him. Ralph should never have encouraged him to go into business for himself, let alone run for Parliament. It is too much for one man to tackle. Never mind that, I am sorry I brought it up."
Squeezing his grandmother's hand, Jack reassured her that her youngest child was doing what he loves best making money. Tell me more about your friends. They sound too good to be true."
"Yes, I imagine they do, but over the years, I lost my objectivity regarding them. If you don't mind my dear, I will save that part of the story for tomorrow. What I need from you is a promise that you will go to Nuenen and bring them here. They will be so upset, and I cannot bear to think of them worrying about what happened to me, especially Edie. Please take particular care of her. She is liable to blame herself, but it is no one's fault. I took the liberty of inviting your American friend Nolan McHenry to come and stay for a visit. Why don't you take him with you? I believe Thaddeus will be discovered, but my friends still might need some protection."
"Protection from a crazed maniac," asked Jack? He had switched from whiskey to coffee. Sipping the latter, he said, "What makes you think we can be of any help?"
"Your father is a very powerful person in the business world. If you need to, feel free to drop either his name or mine. However, I think a well-placed call to your cousin Max who is with the British Embassy in Amsterdam would not be a bad idea. Mainly though, I rely on you. You and Nolan are tough as nails, but most paratroopers are. Regardless of your military experience, I have known you since you were born. There is no way you would not help someone in need. You are a good man, Jack and a gentleman. I have always been proud of you, and I always will. At the very least, you two will meet some pretty girls, and that is always a plus for young men." The countess sipped her tea in a precocious manner, knowing that Jack's curiosity would overcome any rational excuse he could invent not to go. Smiling to herself, the Countess knew that telling Jack was the right thing to do. "Now, help me out of this chair. My ass feels like it is glued to it."
"Grand," said a shocked Jack. "I never heard you swear before."
"My dear boy, there are a lot of things that no one has heard me say over the years. I once was a girl in 2006 who found herself trapped in 1944. I lived through two of the most repressive decades in women's history. I am sure there are a lot more words that will fly out of my mouth these days. Your father believes it is sign of old age. According to the late Earl, Henry takes after his mother's father. Either way my son is more of an old fart than I am." The Countess laughed so hard that Jack thought she might hurt herself, but it was so infectious and her words so true that he started to laugh too.
"Though I daresay if Henry knew the truth about his Mummy, it would probably do him a world of good, but let's just keep it between ourselves for now."
Escorting her to the elevator installed when his great-grandmother had her first heart attack, the Countess kissed him goodnight. "You took my news even better than I hoped. It is a relief to tell someone. Maybe I will consider the idea of telling the rest of the family sometime just not tonight. It has been a long day."
Returning his grandmother's kiss, he waved to her as he use to when he was a small boy. For Jack, he could tell the effects of the alcohol combined wearing off along with the shock of discovering that his Grandmother was actually born four years before he was. Rambling through the corridors of the hall, Jack walked through the French doors opening to the indoor swimming pool. There were always extra trunks in the dressing rooms, but Jack decided to strip down and go for a long swim. She knows I would agree to do it for the sheer adventure alone, but more importantly, he wanted to bring her friends back safely. If they were as close as Grand says, no doubt they will be devastated when they return without her, he thought. At least, I understand why nothing ever upset Grand. When his cousin Max came out of the so-called closet, she and granddad never batted an eye. The only one who reacted badly was father, and that is because he never caught on what everyone already knew. Jesus, I knew Max was gay when I was seven. His Grand swam every morning and practiced Yoga every day. She had the flexibility of women half her age. Floating on his back, Jack laughed out loud when he remembered the time his father concluded his mother's oddities could all be attributed to her being an American.
In the morning, the Countess came down to find her grandson playing Ralph's cello. It was a lovely piece, and he played it with great feeling.
Seeing her, Jack stopped. "It needs new strings."
"I will make the necessary arrangements. It has been a long time since I heard you play. Have you been practicing?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact I have. I miss hearing you and Granddad play duets. Do you tickle the ivories every now and then?"
"Yes, but not in sometime, my mind has been preoccupied this past year."
"Of course, forgive me. Fancy a swim?"
"I thought you would never ask. Then after breakfast, I want to show you some movements that will help strengthen your leg as well as help you regain your ability to meditate."
"Meditate, all right Grand. It couldn't hurt."
By mid-day, Nolan arrived and Jack tried to explain his Grandmother's story, which amazed him and almost question his friend's' sanity. However, when the Viscount presented the evidence, Jack's claim was indisputable, and they eagerly agreed to join forces and bring down Thaddeus once and for all before anyone else was hurt. The two men met at Eton and attended Oxford together before surprisingly, they both ended up serving in the armies of their respective countries. Nolan was with the 101st Airborne and his unit was sent to Iraq. After two years of rigorous training, Jack found himself in Iraq with the 2nd Paratrooper Battalion of Her Majesty's Army. Nolan lost part of his leg soon after he arrived in Iraq, returned home, and began working on a degree in occupational therapy. Right now, he was taking a sabbatical. Jack served for almost a year unscathed until mortar rounds landed near his barracks. He spent part of the past year recovering from his injuries and the rest of the time rebuilding his physical and mental strengths.
"Man, I cannot wait to meet them and hear their stories," said Nolan. "Can you imagine living through something like that? It is one thing to be vets like us, but they did not enlist or train, especially as soldiers in World War II, and these women held their own with the men of Easy Company. Nolan rubbed the top of his artificial leg. Sometime his stub bothered him, but he had gotten use to it. Seeing Jack's Grand enter the room, he rose and thanked her for inviting him "And I really can't wait to meet the blonde bombshell. I mean no disrespect, Countess, but she is a babe."
Nolan tried not to stare at her. It was hard to believe but she was living proof of Jack's story. "Countess," said Patrick. "Where you frightened when you realized that you were trapped in 1944?"
"I was terrified Nolan, but I wasn't alone. Jack's Grandfather was there at the end." This came as a surprise to Jack. "I will explain all of that when my friends arrive. Now I want you boys to enjoy yourselves while you are here. Take advantage of this good weather, go riding or shooting if you like. Anika will make your travel arrangements. I think you should leave by the 15th so you can at least enjoy some of the sights that part of the Netherlands has to offer and contact Maxwell."
"Yes, your Grace," said Nolan and Jack.
"By the by, Nolan be very careful about referring to JoJo as a bombshell. She's very opinionated as well as athletic and she has a black belt. I wasn't there, but I heard the story of how she dropped kick Roy Cobb back in Holland. As for Katie, she can verbally chew someone up and spit them out when provoked, but it takes a lot to make her angry."
"What about Edie," asked Jack pretending that he was not at all interested?
"Ah, Edie, she has the patience of Job, but she will not hesitate to stand up for herself or anyone else when push comes to shove."
The Countess always liked Nolan maybe it was because he joined the 101st Paratroopers. Physically, he reminded her a bit of Joe Toye, except he had dark hair, but his easygoing personality and athletic prowess differed from Joe in that Nolan was a lot more vocal. As they looked over the photographs and drawings, they asked a thousand questions. When Nolan asked if she knew Wild Bill Guarnere or Joe Toye, it suddenly became too much for her, and she excused herself. "I apologize your Grace," said Nolan "That was very insensitive of me."
"No, it is just been a long time since I thought about all of this at once. I only allowed myself a memory here and there, never all at once. It is too hard. I hope you understand."
"Of course, Grand," said Jack. "I am sorry we overtaxed you. Let me help you upstairs." Jack immediately stood up, as did Nolan. Making his way over to her, he offered her his arm, which she gladly accepted.
"No, my dear, I think I will rest in the solarium. Feel free to look at these things, but be sure to put everything away. I don't want the servants nosing around and if your father should find out, well I think it might blow his mind into the 21st century, which might not be such a bad idea." Leaning on her Grandson, the Countess entered the sun-filled room and stretched out on a wicker daybed. "Thank you, Jack, now run along and have some fun with Nolan. Go ride motorcycles, take a swim in the pool, or take the horses out for a run."
Picking up a light blanket, Jack laid it over his Grand and knelt down beside her. "Do you feel all right? Should I call someone?" It suddenly occurred to him that no matter what her 2006 passport said or how his Grandmother may feel, she was still 84 years old. It frightened him to think that she probably did not have too many good years left.
"No, I was just overwhelmed with memories. I feel fine. Stop staring at me like that. I have no intention of dying for awhile at least."
"I always knew you were a remarkable woman," whispered Jack as he kissed her on the cheek. "That's why we call you Grand." As Jack went to rejoin Nolan, he ran into Anika and called out to her. "Could you or someone sit with my Grandmother, she overdid it a bit this morning."
"Ach, she is like me, we are excited to see the girls again."
"You know about them?" For the second time in two days, Jack Winters was astonished by his Grandmother's secret. He knew that Anika was originally from the Netherlands, and she married Bob Walkup who served with his Grandfather. Their son Mitchell became a well-known landscape architecture and restored the grounds at Somerville. In fact, Mitchell's son Chris was dating Jack's sister Meggie.
"Yes, I knew them, but only slightly. They are very brave girls. Your Grandmother has waited a long time for this. I will take extra good care of her while you are away."
During the course of the next few days, Jack and Nolan took the Countess's advice and rode, swam, played basketball near the garages, and rode motorcycles over the grounds. There were moments when they both forgot that they had been soldiers once and had seen friends and comrades wounded or worse. It was good to be alive, to see the countryside blanketed in velvety colors of wine, gold, and orange. On the fourteenth, they took the train to Paddington Station and from there a cab to Heathrow where his late Grandfather's jet and personal pilot waited to fly them to Eindhoven.
On the evening of the 17th, they made their way to the section of culverts that his Grandmother described and had even taken pictures of from a previous trip with Anika.
The wind picked up and Nolan complained about his ears ringing. Jack pulled out a set of headphones for his friends and then covered his own ears. The pain and the noise stopped. Instead of jumping down inside the culvert, that his Grand believed would be the girl's entry point. They leaned up against the building that gave them a clear view of the area. The storm began picking up in both speed and intensity. Then they could hear a female voices calling "Molly, get back over here." Then closer by he heard a young woman scream, "Colonel for God's sake let go of me." Then a different voice wailed, "We can't leave without Molly!" Suddenly, the two men could just make out the vague image of a German shepherd running from the culvert to their immediate left straight towards the one where the girls were still yelling for Molly. They heard the frightened voice of a young woman crying out, "Edie!"
Jack slid down the wall of the building. That must have been his Grandmother calling out to her friend not to leave her, which she obviously did not want to. "Come on, Jack the storm is over. Let's go see if they are there. My God, I can't believe what we just witnessed.
Scrambling to his feet, they ran across the road and hopped down into the ravine. Even though they were told what to expect, Jack and Nolan were amazed to see three young women, one of which was unconscious with a dog laying on top of her, and a US Army Major. Removing plugs from his hears, the Major said, "Boy am I glad to see you guys."
By this time, JoJo who was deeper inside the culvert realized the storm was over and nudged Katie who finally opened her eyes. They were crying when they crawled over to Edie and there was no sign of Molly. Seeing Win, Katie slugged him in the arm, "You knew all about this didn't you?"
JoJo saw Edie crumpled on the cement floor of the culvert. A tall man with auburn hair was trying to move her, but Trigger would not budge. "Come here Trigger, come here, good boy," said JoJo. The dog licked her face, but was ready to pounce if he thought Edie might be in trouble.
"We don't have much time. Did you two guys see a guy with long white hair hanging outside," asked Win?
"No, there was no one around when we came out here," said Nolan. We did surveillance before the storm, but I couldn't tell you now. Are you expecting trouble?"
Katie ignored the question. "Where is the Luger that Edie carries?"
"It's in her backpack," said JoJo. "Here it is.
JoJo, do you have your 45," asked Katie?
"Does a bear poop in the woods," replied JoJo, "and I have decided to go by Joanna now."
"This is not the time to have an identity crisis," said Katie. "I think Win believes someone is trying to kill us."
"Well, there's only one way to find out," said Jack. Taking Edie's hat that had fallen off of her head, he placed it an umbrella that had fallen out of her backpack when Katie pulled out the Luger. Sticking it out of the culvert, they waited, but nothing happened.
Then they heard a well-bred Englishman yell, "Jack, you can come out and hurry. The crazy bugger says the culvert is going to blow. Katie and Joanna did not have to be told twice, they grabbed their packs and Trigger and exited to the left, but not before using some expletives for the guys to make sure Edie got out safely. Win carried Edie and Molly's packs, while Jack and Nolan carefully lifted Edie out of the culvert, and Jack carried her up the ravine. Running a good block away, they ducked behind a building, when a loud explosion brought forth a contingent of Dutch police, firefighters, and medics. Before they arrived, Edie came to briefly and asked what that noise was. Holding her close, Jack whispered it was just the wind. Hoping she would remain awake, Jack told her everything was going to be fine. "Molly sent me."
"Oh, Molly," whimpered Edie and then drifted back off into darkness.
In South Philly, the phone kept ringing and ringing. "Goddamn it somebody answer the phone. Jesus Christ, hello it's your nickel."
"Don't you take that tone of voice with me Bill Guarnere."
"Is dat youse Molly. Are they back?"
"Yes, they are safe. However,…"
"Don't give me a however Molly. That is never a good way to start a sentence. Put Edie on the blower."
"Bill, listen to me. Trigger returned with them, but he was a little excited and he knocked Edie down. She has a concussion, but they have assured me she's going to be all right."
"All right, why do I gets the feeling youse got something up your sleeve."
"Bill, nothing gets past you," laughed Molly.
"Your goddamned straight, what's the word?"
"Are you up for taking a private jet from Philadelphia to Oxford, my treat. There will be a pretty, female steward to serve you beer as well as my granddaughter and her husband. They just arrived to tell me they eloped. One can never plan for the unexpected."
"What can I say sweetheart, dat's life? Can I bring Babe along?"
"Of course, bring anyone you like just let me know in advance so I can have your rooms ready."
"Nope just me and the Babe, now I gotta call the guy then go pack. Call me when you have more news about Edie and where to go pick up dat jet."
"My granddaughter Meggie will pick you up on the 23rd. I am being selfish Bill. I want them all to myself for just a few days, but I think it will help Edie to see you. I worry how she will come to terms with what happened to me."
"It's gonna be a shock because it sure as hell was for me. Whatever I can do to help Edie and the girls get through this, I'm your man. Youse know that Molly or should I call you Countess? "
"How about friend," suggest Molly.
"That goes without saying darling. Gotta go."
"All right, say hello to Babe."
"Yeah, well first I really gotta go, see ya."
Molly laughed and hung up the phone. That is one hell of a man, she thought. "Goodwin, please tell Lady Margaret and Chris that I want to see them. If they give you a hard time, tell them I have something very important to share with them."