Ethel - Part 1
A/N This story comes from a slightly odd place. On a visit London's Tate Britain Gallery, I discovered a painting from 1897 entitled "Ethel", by Ralph Peacock. I love it, as much for the vibrancy of the sitter as the skill of the artist. Its 14 year old subject clearly showing teenagers were 'a thing' in late Victorian society, way before the term ever came to be. So taken was I by the portrait, that I did a bit of on-line research about the sitter, and when I found out she had connections to both England and the US, an idea struck. The majority of this story is set in 1984, but Deacon will show up, later on, to help pull it all together. The details in this story regarding Ethel Titcomb nee Brignall and her family are, to the best of my knowledge correct, everything else is fiction. Acknowledgement too must go to 'Onceuponasomeday', who's 2021 Halloween special helped inspire me to try this idea out. Thanks to y'all for clicking though.
May 1984
When she saw the familiar, regal, black Eldorado swing round the intersection, Rayna Wyatt's heart dropped. These days Fridays normally meant it was Tandy's turn to pick her up from school. She would then slip into the passenger seat of her sister's Subaru (a gift from Lamar for passing her test first time, and this being Tandy, obviously that outcome had never been in any doubt) and playfully argue about who's mix tape they would slot into the cassette player. Tandy favored Michael Jackson and Van Halen, but because her hands were on the wheel and Rayna's free, 'Billy Jean' could easily be cut off mid chorus, and replaced with Chrystal Gayle or Kenny and Dolly. About the only thing the two always agreed on was the need to pull up on the driveway and sing loudly along to 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' before going into the house.
Not this Friday however. The impending arrival of one of the family 'marque' cars meant Lamar had sent one of his henchmen out to collect Rayna; and that Tandy, currently between collage semesters, must be working full hours as his intern. The car stopped, and the nearside passenger window glided smoothly down. Rayan unexpectedly found herself looking into the face of her father.
"Get in."
Rayna pulled open the rear door and attempted to climb in as demurely as possible, bare knees clamped together.
"And sort yourself out young lady."
Too late, he had already clocked the rolled up waistband of her plaid uniform skirt, that she had not bothered to correct because it was Tandy's day to come. The drive was quiet, awkward. Rayna had never forged a connection with Daddy like Tandy's, she being the eldest, the more brash and most outwardly intelligent. Rayna was always closer to her Mom, with their shared love of country music and quiet resolve to try and make everyone around them happy. In Lamar's case this was a lost cause, everything that floated Rayna's boat was alien to him. Her Mom had understood, but now… Now there was no Mom, just when Rayna needed her most. Rayna's hormones were oscillating within her developing body and boys were rapidly turning from being a pain in the ass into something fascinating and scary; unfathomable but magnetically inevitable. At 14 Rayna was not yet savvy enough to realize Tandy had seen all this coming, could easily imagine how her leggy sister would soon fully morph from gawky adolescence into a honey trap and a whole heap of trouble. She was doing everything she could to keep the peace between father and youngest daughter; and today, while Rayna was being driven to Belle Meade, Tandy sat at her temporary desk, a phone cradled in her neck, and fretted.
"You sister is busy this afternoon," Lamar told her, his eyes filling the rear-view mirror. "I have tasked her with organizing our family vacation in August." Silence from the back seat. "A trip to Maine, sun, sea and a little bit of business. You ought to love it."
"Don't I get any say in where we go?"
"Rayna, since you are not paying for this, or able to help with any of the driving when we get there, then the answer is unsurprisingly no. I have to be in Maine for a business project, it would be good for you see some more of this country and quite frankly we all need a break. Most girls your age would be delighted. I must put up with your sulk."
Rayna silently fumed at the unfairness. Two weeks under Lamar's thumb and scrutiny didn't seem like a break to her, quite the opposite in fact. This would be their first family holiday since last year's car accent. Christmas had been hard enough for the teen, but at least there had been friends and family around to support her, and schoolmates that she could hide out with. In Maine there would be nowhere to run. On the wide back seat Rayna screwed up her palms and prayed Tandy would remain on her team. Two against one wouldn't be quite so bad. Perhaps she could work on her tan, sketch the yachts, maybe try sneakily drawing the lifeguards too, they had to have them right? Rayna resolved to remain in Tandy's good books, even if that meant listen to pop music on the school run for the rest of the internship.
August 1984
Lamar's soot black suit pants, white shirt sleeves and sensible tie made an incongruous addition to the holiday hotel's breakfast-time dining-room. Tandy, sitting opposite him, extracted a large manila envelope from out of her sports bag and passed it over to her father.
"The Office faxed over an updated contract last night, here's a copy for you." He turned to the relevant sections, grunted approval, then placed the document on the top of the pile in his brief case, snapping the lid shut. Rayna, hunched next to her sister continued to stare at her food. Last night had been a drag. With Lamar down at the bar and Tandy working on figures, she had flicked through cable and dozed off during an uninspiring movie. The upshot being that when Tandy informed her it was time to turn in she wasn't able to sleep, and tossed about the unfamiliar nylon covered single bed. Now she had dark rims below her eyes and little appetite.
As Tandy fussed, Lamar alternated between checking his watch and swigging back coffee, impatiently awaiting the arrival of his promised driver.
"What are you plans today girls?" he asked begrudgingly.
Tandy answered for them both, quickly and brightly. "Take it easy I think, beach this morning, grab some lunch in town, then maybe a little shopping. I have booked the hotel tennis court for 4.30."
"Sound's good, what do you think Rayna?"
"Yeah, fine." She raised her juice glass to cover a yawn. Before Lamar could press any further, a horn blared from the parking lot.
Back in their twin room Tandy put the finishing touches to her make up while Rayna inserted some new batteries that she had just bought into her Walkman. Tandy now too looked at her watch and nodded to herself. So like Daddy in her actions, except that Lamar's time piece had been a Tag and did not come with a bright pink strap. She smiled.
"Half an hour, that should do it. At least he won't be coming back now because he's forgotten something. Time to get your shit together kiddo, and meet me by the car in 10."
Rayna looked up, confusion etched on her face. "But you told Daddy we were going to the beach?"
"Yeah, but I didn't say which beach did I? Come on sis, you gotta be smart around Daddy. We're driving over to Ogunquit."
Rayna' mind slowly kicked into first gear. "OK, what aren't you telling me? There must be something in Ogunquit you don't want Daddy to know about," she paused, "or someone maybe?"
Tandy blushed a shade closer to her hair color. "Only the dearest collage boy you ever saw, all alone on vacation from NYC, I met him a café yesterday. So here's the deal. You keep quiet about Chris, and I will let you wear your new bikini in public, the one that I saw you sneak into your case back in Nashville? Honey, if you have not already put it on under those clothes, now's your chance. You get?"
The peninsula was real pretty, Rayna had to admit that. Light silvery sand with the shimmering turquoise ocean perfect to the horizon on the one side, and a natural lagoon forged by the river on the other. They made camp between happily squealing kids and chatting maiden aunts, Rayna settling in with the latest edition of Seventeen magazine, while Tandy awaited her date, pulling at her dress and pushing her plastic shades up into her hair. When he did show Chris turned out to be, well to Rayna's eyes Chris was a disappointment. Sure, he filled out the tight white Tee he wore well enough, and his face looked cute in a kind of Matt Dillon way, but his eye displayed only dullness, and he seemed more scared of being around Tandy than she was of him. That said most boys appeared scared of Tandy, probably because unlike Rayna they had never witnessed Lamar drag her, literally kicking and screaming from a cat fight aged 10 when Jenny Roberts had said something nasty about Rayna behind his back. So after a bright but bitty start, their conversation dried, and Rayna took matters into her own hands.
"Isn't this the point where you guys go and buy me an ice cream, so that you can be alone together?" she asked sweetly. As they moved away Rayna vowed to herself that any boy she came to choose would never be as boring as Chris.
By the time Rayna received her prize she had in fact concocted her dream boy in her head. The mystique of Johnny Cash, the soul of Waylon Jennings, and a body that merged Gram Parsons with Harrison Ford. Treat delivered, Chris and Tandy stepped off, hand in outstretched hand towards the shoreline, and after swiftly demolishing the ice, Rayna pulled off her top and shorts to lie flat out on the inviting sand, happy in her parentally unapproved swimwear. Finally the holiday spirit washed through her. No bells, books or assignments, no bratty classmates criticizing her fashion sense, musical tastes, or being jealous of her best grades. She had the sun on her skin, her Walkman to hand and her Daddy miles away, jailed inside a stuffy office. Nashville was swell enough, but it could never give you this.
"What do you want to do when you leave school Rayna?" asked Chris, before tacking a large bight out of his Chilli-dog.
"Mmm, not really thought that far ahead. Something in design maybe?" It was a lie but a necessary one. Country music, the spark that ignited Rayna's soul the most was almost taboo in the Wyatt house. If ever a song leaked into Lamar's orbit he would scowl and reach for the remote. But he couldn't touch Rayna's cassettes, partly because he didn't know where half of them were stashed. So Rayan kept her secrets under her headphones. After Virginia's death, her Mom's LP collection had been dispatched to the thrift store before Rayna even had time to process her passing. But Rayna had secretly fought back, giving her best friend Josie the funds to buy back the most precious discs and spending hours holed up Josie's bedroom taping them. Tandy of course knew of her sister's passion, and even enjoyed hearing her sister sing; but she also made it clear to Rayna that any dreams of making a career out of something so risky and volatile as music were about as real as Santa Clause. So Rayna was left caught between someone who didn't believe in country music and someone who didn't believe in Raya Wyatt.
"Designing what?" Chris probed her.
"Oh, advertising campaigns, record sleeves, cans of beans, anything really."
"She's far more likely to be designing food can labels than successfully cooking the contents."
"Hey, not fair," and Rayna playfully punched her sister's arm.
"Well I think it's a great ambition; you go for it." Chris's low level patronizing was starting to annoy her now, and Rayna hated herself for that. In reality she knew he was only trying to make an effort to impress Tandy. She downed the last of her coke and hugged her bronzed legs. From the corner of her vision she could see Chris' hand feeling its way around Tandy's vest. Ugh trying for second base in public, that was just gross. "Maybe I'll take a look at the shops here," Rayna said pointedly, "you know, like you told Daddy we were doing. I'll see y'all in a while."
Rayna wandered aimlessly through the bustling streets, stopping here and there whenever a piece of artwork or a shop mannequin caught her eye. Without the coastal breeze the shopping district was quite heavy and muggy. She kept her purse tight against herself as she dodged the throng and managed to avoid getting tangled up in a dog lead, a bare chest and baseball capped man at one end, adorable lab with lolling tongue on the other. A gift shop on a side street offered shade and calm. She dived in, waiting for her eyes to adjust before scanning the shelves of knick-knacks and souvenirs. Beach towels, candy, sunglasses, plastic watches, swimming aids and stuffed toys, everything the holiday-maker with dollars to burn could desire. Next to a rack of tee shirts was a wooden tray containing bracelets made of seas-shells that drew Rayna's attention. She drew one out and moved to the counter. The guy wtqnding some way behind it had his back turned to Rayna and she could barely distinguish the silk black hair and faded black long sleeved Tee from the general gloom. Not that she was looking at anything in particular.
"Awe nice, I think you've found the best one in the box." It was the voice that took her, dark and smooth like her favorite hot chocolate. Coyly she raised her eyes, but not her head, and felt like she'd stumbled upon an angel. The boy could have been no more than 16, but carried an air of confidence that dwarfed the two years or so that separated him from her. Despite the hot summer his skin was pale and Rayna was now certain he was wearing eyeliner below orbs of liquid brown softness. The fact that she could not stand the band, who's logo was stenciled on the front of his top, temporarily meant nothing to her.
"Thank you. I just couldn't resist." The jewelry or him she thought, as scrabbled for bills.
"Well it takes talent to find something in this shop that isn't a heap of junk. Shall I pop it in a bag for you?"
"No, its OK, I'll wear it."
"Then let me put it on for you."
Rayna stretched out her right wrist and let the boy's hands brush over her own. Oh God he had black nail polish on, how cool was that? Somehow her knees did not give way, but only just.
"You're not from 'round here I can tell."
Rayna laughed as she tuned back, "No Tennessee." She had to get out before her head exploded.
"Well have a good day y'all" he drawled, badly and Rayna didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.
After more beach life and a brief dip in the ocean, she and Tandy headed back. Surprisingly Tandy seemed even more distracted that afternoon than she, and Rayna was for once able to win out on the tennis court
Sunday morning, Rayna looked at herself critically in the hotel bedroom mirror and did not appreciate what she saw. The three of them had a lunch date to fulfil, invited over as a family unit by Lamar's business colleague. Mike Huxley and his wife had a grand home uptown and attendance was compulsory. Rayna had not bought herself a new formal dress since her Mom had passed, partly because the ones now starting to intrigue would never gain Lamar's permission. As she stared back at the reflection of the one she wore now, complete with summer ankle socks and patent flats, she thought she looked about 12 and felt closer to 10. It had been years since Lamar last showed her off as a cute accessory for his business aims, and she hadn't enjoyed it much then either. Tandy emerged from the bathroom, patting down her skirt suit and gave her younger sister a quick hug. A muffled knock came from the door.
"Are you two ready to leave on time?"
Mike Huxley was a tall, serious looking man in his late 40s, his wife shorter, dumpier, with bottle fed golden ringlets and a broad smile. Rayna took to her immediately. Lunch was excellent and the atmosphere generally lighter than Rayna could have hoped for, as Karen Huxley banned all talk of business from the table.
"That's a pretty bracelet you have dear," she said as Rayna stretched for the potatoes, "did you buy it locally?"
"Yes," Rayna replied," From the….er,"
"From that souvenir shack near the beach," Tandy hurriedly added.
Rayna got her poise back, "That's right, and there was such a sweet old lady running it, so friendly." But Lamar was barely listening.
"It's not just you folks from the South who have all the charm," said Karen. "Though I guess Kennebunkport is not as exciting for young ladies as Nashville."
"Nashville can be pretty lame sometimes too," replied Tandy.
"Not when Uncle Watty used to get Mom free tickets sometimes." The words fell out of Rayna's mouth before she realized.
"Uncle Watty? Don't tell me you're related to Watty White," cried Karen, "I've got some of his LPs in my music collection."
"He was just a friend of Momma's family really," Tandy put in. Down the table Lamar's eyebrows were almost at right angles.
"Living in Nashville, I bet you must be a fan of country music Rayna?" Mike asked her, if he'd noticed Lamar's discomfort the he was sure as hell keeping it to himself.
"Yeah, and I also sing it a bit too."
"But not so it interferes with your schoolwork."
"Of course not Daddy."
"Would you sing something to us before you leave this afternoon?" enquired Karen.
After fresh fruit dessert Lamar announced that he and Mike really had to finish off a little piece of work in the upstairs office and Karen said she would fix a pot of coffee.
"Can we help with the washing up?" Tandy asked her.
"No, it's fine."
But Lamar just had to say something. "Now Karen, both my girls were taught good manners by their Momma and myself, and you have been so generous, even if Rayna doesn't seem to appreciate it."
The fourteen year old jerked her head up. "What? doesn't 'we' mean plural?"
"Nevertheless I would have expected you to back your sister up."
The only reason why Rayna didn't snap back at him was because she was too dumfounded. Her pulse raced and blood rushed to her cheeks. He was scolding her in public, like a little girl, and she hadn't even done anything. Cleary the request for her to show off her singing had pissed him off deeper than she realized.
Karen Huxley came to her rescue. "Really Lamar, there is no bother. It only takes one person to stack the dishwasher and whenever Mike tires to help, he always gets in my way. Would the girls like to see garden or maybe watch some TV?" Lamar huffed, but it was checkmate.
"I would love to take a closer look at your pretty garden," said Tandy.
"TV please," Rayna replied, "if that's alright, and thank you Mrs. Huxley that meal was lovely."
"You're very welcome dear."
Rayna went to the bathroom first, hoping some cold water would splash away her humiliation. Daddy was so unpredictable that you could never be sure what would set him off next. He had got worse since Virginia's death. That was probably why Watty barely visited any more, he had always been much closer to Mom. She walked back along the hallway, Tandy was in the rear garden and she could hear the clink of Mrs. Huxley busy in the kitchen. A smell off freshly brewed coffee wafted through the house. She passed back by the dining room, the door still open with Lamar's suit jacket hung over the back of his chair. On impulse she darted in, her mid was spinning at a million miles an hour and she thought of all the stuff she wanted to scream at him, but knew she never could. There had to be someway of getting back at him though, so sneaky that he never would be sure quite when and where it had happened. She scrambled in her purse and clasped the familiar shape of her lipstick, light pink. Now she had her weapon where should she attack? In a flash she pushed back the silk handkerchief, folded in the breast pocket and slashed a pink mark across its pure whiteness. Once the deed could not be undone her breath came in short bursts and she gripped the back of the chair.
A voice came from behind her. "Honey, next time you try something like that you really should close the door first, just in case."
To Be Continued
