Chapter Two
"That is what life is; a chain reaction of individuals colliding with others and influencing their lives without realizing it. A decision that seems miniscule to you, may be monumental to the fate of the world." —J.D. Stroube
The house was empty. The fireplace, usually popping and warm, was left in a silent state of neglect. Aunt Sarah liked it that way. Father's rocking chair sat motionless on the living room carpet and the soft click of Mother's knitting needles were silent. The rooms and hallways' vitality had been scraped out with a metal scoop. It had been too difficult for Lady to stay, alone with the wind and perplexing quiet. So she had picked herself up from the drawing room, thrown on a coat and hat and left without a word to Aunt Sarah. Lady had walked across the yard at Jock and Trusty's. The two men lived together in a grand Victorian home next to her parents, and they had been like uncles to her since her adoption seventeen years ago. If anyone could have cured her loneliness it was them, with their wrinkled smiles and warm eyes.
"Now Miss Lady, tell us again where your parents have gone off to." Trusty asked. His voice was coarse, deep and filled with patience.
"They are on a business trip with one of Father's stockholders in Los Angeles." Lady replied, after taking a sip of her tea.
Together she and her elderly companions sat in the parlor for tea and biscuits. Their home had the strange distinction of being tumultuously kept. Hunting trophies by the dozens filled the walls, from Trusty's golden years; dusty taxidermied deer and elk heads jutted out from the wallpaper. Classical instruments and sheet music filled every shelf, as a reminder of Jock's musical career. After he had lost his wife, and Trusty retired, they had moved in together. The house smelled of pipe smoke and cooking mishaps, clearly the indication of a womanless home.
"Business sure has been booming, eh?" Jock remarked, in his thick Scottish accent.
Lady set down her cup with a soft clink and nodded. "Father is so busy nowadays. He is always off to a business meeting or working late into the night. It is a wonder Mother and I see him at all."
"And how is the old missus carrying on?" Trusty inquired with a bite of his biscuit, crumbs spilling into his white horseshoe mustache and down the front of his sweater vest. Lady weakly hid her amusement behind a tender smile.
"Mother has been well. She's been more and more uncomfortable though, and falls asleep all the time."
"Aye, that's how my Aggie was near the end too. The wee bairn should be here any day, shouldn't it?" Jock said.
"Yes, by the end of this month." Lady responded.
"My my, it's been so long since I seen a baby." Trusty said with blissful eyes. "What a happy day it will be to see a little one running about." Lady nibbled on a biscuit and swallowed her uncertainty down along with. She didn't know how to feel or what to expect in all honesty. Would it be a happy day? Lady didn't know. All she knew was that her stomach ended up in knots whenever she thought of it.
"I'm a bit surprised to have seen her leave with your father, the big day so soon and all." Jock remarked.
"Well it's a very important meeting for my father and Mother wanted to visit her cousins who live in the city." Lady said, lowering her voice to a playful whisper. "I also think she wanted to get some time out of the house before the baby comes." Both men looked at each other over their tea and laughed.
"You sure know you're mother, Miss Lady." Trusty snorted.
"Aye, like the back of your hand." Jock chuckled.
Lady took another sip of her tea, pleased at their laughter. "Now if only I could understand why she chose her to look after me this time." Jock and Trusty's laughter ended abruptly, and expressions of aversion took the place of their smiles. It turned quiet, and Lady regretted saying it to begin with. "Ah, lass I'm sorry to hear that. I know she's a difficult woman, that one." Jock said finally as he rubbed his gray beard.
"How has that old bat, Sarah, settled in then?" Trusty asked with a shudder.
"Fine, I think. She doesn't visit or talk with me too often. I only have her cats for company." Lady sighed.
"You can always come and visit with us. We always enjoy your company and would never turn you away." Jock reassured her. He turned to Trusty, who nodded emphatically in return.
Lady smiled warmly. "You two have always been so kind to me."
"Seems like only yesterday you first arrived here, a wee, shy redhead." Jock said.
"Timid and small, like a little doll." Trusty finished. "But now look at you, a day away from eighteen and full grown."
Lady grinned and finished her tea. "And my two uncles here to cheer me up like always." As she set down the porcelain cup and tray before her, Lady's eyes wandered to the grandfather clock across the hall. A gasp left her mouth as she saw the hour. "I lost track of time! We have to get ready for the gala tonight."
"Gala? What gala?" Jock asked, puzzled.
"It's a charity gala for the orphanage. My parents are big donors every year but since their trip conflicted with it, they asked if Aunt Sarah and I could step in for them instead." Lady explained hurriedly as she popped up from her chair. "I'm sorry, I have to go."
"Steady on, Miss Lady why are you in such a hurry?" Trusty inquired, as he and Jock rose from their chairs with questioning expressions.
"If I'm not back in time, Auntie will be upset." She replied, racing to the coat closet at the front of the house and fished out her navy rain cape and hat.
"We don't want that. Sorry to have kept you, lass. Here." Jock said, as he walked over and helped her into her cape. "Careful now, it's awful wet and cold outside."
"Good luck with the old codger and this fancy party of yours. Your parents will be home soon and things will get back to normal, keep your head up." Trusty encouraged, leaning on his cane.
"Thank you both!" Lady said as she wiggled her fingers into her gloves. "I'll visit soon and tell you how it goes." She gave each man a quick embrace and opened the door.
"Bye, Miss Lady."
"See you soon, lass."
"Goodbye, gentlemen." Lady waved cheerfully, shutting the door behind her and stepping out onto the porch. Lady fastened the top button of her cape up to her chin and shivered. Rain had fallen noncommittally throughout the day, the chill in the air was damp and whispered of colder days to come. Since it was early October green grass and fallen leaves created mosaics in the front yards of the neighborhood. The trees were lightly brushed in fall colors as they dripped with cold rain in a plinking symphony. Once Lady walked down the stairs of the porch, her heels clicked on the wet pavement and the wind dashed through her. She looked back longingly at the quaint home, made with tawny brick and evergreen and gold roofed turrets. Lady turned and walked slowly, unsure which she dreaded more, the disapproving looks from Aunt Sarah or the party ahead. She desperately yearned for normalcy. "Four more days. Just four more days." Lady whispered to herself.
Lady trudged on through the puddles lost in her own miserable thoughts, when a burst of wind blew around her and raced down the sidewalk. As the leaves danced away, Lady's eyes were drawn up the path. A figure came into view meandering at a leisurely pace in her direction. Apprehension washed over her as she thought of a handful of chatty neighbors more than willing to stop her with conversation. A gentler breeze caught her hair as she peered ahead, and it was then Lady realized she hadn't put her rain hat on but mindlessly placed it under her arm. As she went to put it on, suddenly, a great barrage of air blasted over her, clawing at her hair and clothes. The force of it surprised Lady so much she stumbled forward, and in process the wind yanked her hat right from her fingers.
Lady gasped as it took to the air like it had wings, and glided away from her to join the leaves in a wild dance. Lady ran after it with her hair blowing every which way, and realized the chase drew her closer and closer to the figure ahead. Dread seeped into her body as she ran towards her hat, the figure curiously looking down at it and then back to her with a smile. Please don't be someone I know. Please don't be someone I know. When it reached him the boy took his hands out of his pockets, bent down and nimbly swiped it up from the ground. Lady slowed down but as she reached him the toe of her shoe caught on an uneven divet on the sidewalk. She tripped rather ungracefully and fell forwards with her arms out in front of her.
"Woah, careful." The boy said, lunging forward to steady her with his free arm. Unable to do much else, Lady grabbed on and felt the rough material of his jacket, as a woodsy, earth like smell mixed with cigarette smoke filled her nose. She regained her footing and swiftly stepped back, rainwater splashing up onto the back of her ankles. "I'm sorry." Lady panted, her cheeks red. "I didn't think—I mean...I-I'm sorry."
"Take it easy, you're fine." The boy said with a laugh. Lady was hot all over with embarrassment and could hardly bring herself to look at him. But what she did notice, through her eyelashes, was how tall he was up close. He cut a lanky figure against the street in a plaid mackinaw coat and newsboy cap. "You alright?"
Lady tucked her flyaway hairs behind her ears, and matched his casual tone with a shake of her head. "Yes, I'm alright."
"Glad to hear it." He smiled. "Now, here, take this before it gets any other ideas of flying."
Lady glanced over at him. His clothing was smudged and timeworn. He wasn't dressed like any of the boys she knew, no dress pants or a tie, no silk hat or suit jacket. She realized this boy was definitely not from her neighborhood, and that wasn't the only thing she observed. Lady's gaze was inexplicably drawn to his mouth; a crooked, charismatic structure with elusive lips and bright teeth. It was so pleasant to look at Lady couldn't help but stare quietly for an awkward moment. "T-thank you." She stammered, and gently grabbed the hat from him.
"Don't mention it." He smirked. Lady's heart sped up a little as his smile somehow grew more alluring, and forced her eyes to the ground with her cheeks like hot coals."You didn't offend me or anything by the way. You don't gotta be so nervous, I don't bite, I swear." Lady pursed her lips and nodded, still staring at her feet.
"Geez, is everybody over here this polite? You just dropped your hat, you didn't commit a sin." The boy said. Lady stole a glance up at him, but remained silent. Who was this boy? Never had she seen a person like him before. Where had he come from and what was he doing here?
"Hey." The boy said gently, cocking his head to the side and giving her an amiable expression. "Sorry, I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable, little dame." Lady simply nodded again.
"You sure are a shy one aren't ya?" He chuckled. "Well actually, since I got a native here you think you could point me in the direction of Mayor Swanson's house?" Lady stared at him curiously. What could he be searching for there, she wondered. "Um, it's a block over—"
"Lady!"
Lady flinched and raised her head up in the direction of her house. In the doorway with a sour expression stood Aunt Sarah, tall and imposing. "Come child, inside with you." She snipped, giving a disdainful, and rather unsubtle sideways glance at the boy.
"I'm coming." Lady called back. She turned back and saw the boy eye her aunt with an incredulous eyebrow. "Please, excuse me. Thank you again." Lady said to him, giving a slight bow of her head.
"Sure, don't let me stop you." The boy replied with a shrug. Lady turned and walked away from him without another word, feeling relieved at the interruption. She walked up the drive as Aunt Sarah awaited her in the doorway like a sentry guarding a castle. Lady could already begin to feel the energy drain from her body as she visualized the lecture she would receive.
"And, hey." The boy called behind her.
Lady stopped and curiously looked over her shoulder. He stood on the wet pavement with his hands in his pockets, and a wickedly charming smile across his face. "Don't fall anymore today alright?"
Lady blushed fiercely.
"See you around, Pigeon." With that he tipped his cap politely and continued on down the sidewalk. The smell of his jacket wafted over her one more time, leaves flying over the path in his wake, and then he vanished from view. Lady shook her head in bewilderment and walked up the steps to her house. What a peculiar boy.
"Get inside!" Aunt Sarah hissed, when Lady reached the door. Sarah snatched Lady's wrist and pulled her into the house, shutting the door behind them. "You're lucky you weren't seen by any of the neighbors, especially with your hat off. Who on Earth were you talking to? Did you know that ruffian?"Lady gently pried her wrist out of her aunt's bony fingers and shook her head. "No, I've never seen him before."
"You shouldn't have spoken to him, who knows what he was skulking around here for. I thought you knew better than that." Aunt Sarah admonished. Sarah was Lady's aunt on her father's side; she was a proud, buxom woman with an elongated face, and pearl white hair.
"Well my hat blew away and he—"
Aunt Sarah raised her hand for silence. "Don't argue. I won't have you talk to strange boys while I'm around. Now explain to me where you were and why you're late? I thought you would have been getting ready for the gala hours ago."
"I was visiting Jock and Trusty, that's all." Lady replied.
"I'll never understand why your parents allow you to visit them." Aunt Sarah fretted up at the ceiling. "I know I am not the company you wish to keep, girl, but this is the situation we find ourselves in. Let's put our best foot forward, ignore the inconvenience and do our best for the gala. What do you say?" Lady watched the wrinkles of her face crease as she spoke. She couldn't decide if she disliked the woman or admired her ability to be so candid. "Yes." Lady replied.
"Since that's out of the way, we only have a few hours. Get ready and I'll help you with your hair and makeup when you're done." Lady nodded and walked up the stairs to her room. She gave one last thought to the peculiar boy she'd met on the street. What brought him here, I wonder? She thought recalling his worn clothes and bright smile. It doesn't matter, I'm sure I won't meet him any time soon. Pushing him to the back of her mind she stepped into her room and shut the door. Happy to be alone, Lady sat at her vanity and draped her arms over the desk. She dropped her forehead onto her arms and closed her eyes. What a strange day, and yet there's still an entire evening ahead.
Lady yearned for her parents, and for the house to feel alive again. She had assured them she would be alright with her aunt. Since Mother was so close to her due date Lady had put on a confident facade. She didn't want to step on her parent's happiness in any way, considering they had adopted her when children had been an unattainable goal.
Lady lifted her head and looked at herself in the mirror. She stared into her own eyes, feeling indifferently empty, and sighed. She slowly undid the braided bun at her neck, rose from the chair and grabbed a hair brush. As she brushed her curls she went to the closet and pulled out her dress for the evening. Lady couldn't help but smile. She always looked forward to wearing a gown her aunt ordered. The woman had her faults but she certainly had class. Sarah had referred to it as a robe de style, apparently a very fashionable choice in Paris this year. It was forest green, sleeveless, and made of silk. It had a drop waist with a flowery bow pinned at the side, and the hips bloomed into a full, ruffle tiered skirt down to her ankles.
If only Mother could see it. Lady thought, as she hung the dress on the back of her door. With a few last brushes of her hair Lady stood in front of the vanity. Her thick, auburn waves fell down to her shoulders. "Maybe I should get it cut into a bob like everyone else." Lady said quietly, pulling at the ends. She scrunched her nose and couldn't imagine her freckled face with short curls. Lady set down the brush and walked over to her bedroom window, unable to dwell on the subject. The rain had picked up again, pelting the pavement in cold sheets. It trailed down the window and Lady watched the drops of water bleed into each other. Trees, houses and pavement blurred into something like watercolor, indistinct and fluid. Lady focused her eyes on her reflection, and saw a lonely girl staring back at her with tears of rain down her face.