Chapter 3
Ororo was waiting by the old willow the next afternoon when Joey came running up a little after two o'clock. "I stopped at the greenhouse to get my smock," Joey gasped, winded from running. 'I thought I might need it."
"Oh, almost certainly," Ororo said, hugging the child. She led the way to the garden, opened the gate, and watched Joey slip through.
The late-summer roses were blooming, and their scent made a heady mixture in the still summer air. There wasn't much of a breeze in the air that day; the air was hot and sticky. Ororo held the trailers close to the trellis as Joey tied the branches to the frame. Then she stood back and looked around the garden.
"It's so beautiful here," she said. "So peaceful. You've got a lot of different roses here, but somehow the mix of species isn't chaotic. They kind of…complement each other." She turned to Ororo. 'Do you only grow roses?"
"I have a variety of plants," Ororo said. "There is a bit of garden around the other side of the house where I have other plants, but roses are my favorite are roses, that's why there is an entire garden dedicated to them."
"Can I see the other garden?"
In answer, Ororo got up and led her out the gate and around the side of the mansion to the back lawn. Joey gasped in delight and ran along the path into the new garden.
"It's beautiful!" She cried in delight. Ororo smiled.
The surrounding hedge was a mixture of holly, juniper, and forsythia bushes, although with the spring flowers all gone there was only green left. Ororo had planted morning glory and moonflower vines, and these flowers provided a splash of color among all the green in the mornings. Around the foot of the hedge she had planted sweet alyssum, small fragrant white flowers, and interspersed them with yellow, blue, and red asters. Grass was planted in between the various flowerbeds, creating thick green paths between the beds of petunias, primroses, delphinium, hyacinth, lilies, and dahlias. As Joey rounded one particularly large, grand bed of delphinium, her eyes fell on the small artificial pond one of the gardeners had installed, at Ororo's bidding.
She went to her knees beside the pond, examining the blue, red, pink, white, and yellow water lilies that Ororo had planted. As she examined a particularly pretty flower, she saw something flit below the surface, quickly, and drew back with a start. "There are fish in here?" she said, curiosity overcoming her startlement. As she raised her head and looked, a large, ugly frog croaked at her and jumped into the water. She blinked in surprise.
"Fish, yes," Ororo said, settling onto the grass beside the girl. "Koi. One of the gardeners has a fondness for koi, and deposited a few in here. Lower your hand in the water, and wait. They will come up and nibble on your fingers." Joey did so, and after a moment, Ororo saw a broad white back cut the water just in front of the girl's hand and nibble the submerged fingers. "The frog, I suspect, is an escapee from Bobby's prank a few weeks ago."
Joey looked at her quizzically, and Ororo smiled. "Bobby is our resident prankster. He acquired a small frog from somewhere and left it in Rogue's bed, and she had a fright when she lay down. We heard her scream, and when we came in there was a frog sitting on her pillow. We teased her for some time about being the princess who kissed a frog." Joey laughed.
"How many people live here?" she asked, removing her hand from the water, shaking the stray drops off her fingers and settling back on the grass beside Ororo at the margin of the pool.
"The number varies," Ororo said slowly. "We have friends come over and leave all the time. About eleven are currently in residence, though."
Joey's eyes were wide. "Wow. What's it like, having that many friends?"
Ororo laughed. "A lot of fun. There is always something going on, something to do, someone to hang around with and have fun. You never need be alone unless you wish to. However, there is a down side. No one can get along all the time with everyone else. And when someone gets angry with someone else, the atmosphere can get…strained."
"I'll bet!" Joey said. "Still, it must be nice living all together with a lot of different people like that. Do you own this house?"
"No," Ororo smiled at the thought. "No, the house is owned by my friend Charles." She looked at the girl intently, though she tried to appear casual. "Charles knew your father long ago."
Joey's eyes were wide. "Really? How?"
"They went to college together. I believe Charles also said he remembers your mother."
Joey looked down, and Ororo could see she was fighting tears. "I miss my mother. Did he say she was as pretty as everyone said she was?" Her voice was soft.
"I described you to Charles last night. He told me that you have your mother's eyes. I do not know what your mother looks like, though; perhaps he would be better able to tell you." Ororo stood up, brushing loose soil from her knees. "Come. I am thirsty. I want to go and get a drink. And I believe you could use one too."
Joey followed Ororo back down the path through the gate and back toward the back door that opened into the kitchen. As soon as they stepped through, her eyes grew round.
Remy, as per his agreement with Ororo, sat back in one of the kitchen chair working on a slice of pizza. In front of him were two boxes from the local pizza place, and both were giving off a pleasant aroma. Ororo sniffed. Extra large, from the looks of the boxes; one cheese and one with the works. She watched Joey's eyes grow wide, and she stopped involuntarily.
"Come in, child," Ororo said quickly, not giving Joey time to think. "This is my friend Remy."
"Allo, chere," Remy said laconically, smiling the smile that had charmed so many women. "Je vais Remy."
"Je vais Joette. Joey." Joey replied automatically, unable to take her eyes off the monster pizza n front of Remy.
"Want one?" Remy pushed the box toward her. "Plenty to go roun'."
"Oh, no, I couldn't, really, I couldn't," Joey clasped her hands behind her back. "I'm not supposed to eat anything today."
Ororo blinked as she turned away from the sink. "Why is that?" she asked, keeping her voice and face carefully neutral as she took a towel from the kitchen drawer and dried her hands.
Joey gulped and studied the toe of her shoe. "I was bad last night. Mrs. Seward took all my meals away for today."
"What?" Remy's feet, propped carelessly on the seat of another chair, hit the floor as he leaned forward. "What did you do, chere?"
"The cook was off last night, so she made dinner herself. She cooked the roast wrong; it was still red inside and black outside. She tried to make me eat it anyway, and I refused. She said--" Joey's voice dropped an octave. "She said that if I was so ungrateful as to refuse a meal she had made herself, then I was obviously not hungry. Therefore, I would get no meals today."
Ororo gritted her teeth. Joey was a very slender child. Ororo considered her thin for her age. She definitely couldn't afford to miss meals, especially at the age she was now, where her body was still growing. "Are you hungry?"
"Yes," Joey whispered.
"Then sit and eat after you have washed your hands. It is only a little after four; you need not leave until four-thirty, if you wish to be back at your house by five. We have plenty. Please, Joey."
Joey hesitated only a short instant longer, then sighed and went to the sink. She washed the dirt from her fingers, then sat down at the table and took the plate Ororo handed her with a slice on it. She closed her eyes and bit into it, smiling. "It's been so long since I had pizza," she said wistfully. "Thank you."
"You are quite welcome." Ororo took a piece herself and bit into it, as Remy and Joey began to talk. Lost in her musings, it was almost a shock to hear Charles's mental voice intrude on her mind. Ororo?
Yes, Charles?
Where are you, right now?
In the kitchen. Remy picked up a pizza and brought it back, and Joey was in here washing her hands after we got done in the gardens. She was hungry; she had been forbidden meals today, and I insisted that she eat.
Charles's mindvoice sounded as shocked as Ororo had felt. What had she done wrong that they would forbid her meals and snacks for the day?
She is forbidden to have snacks. Her nanny says she will get fat. The cook had a day off yesterday, and the nanny was compelled to cook the child dinner. It was inedible. Joey refused to eat it; and as a punishment for being ungrateful Joey was placed on a day-long fast.
Charles sounded disgusted. That is no reason for her to be starved for a day. Do you think the child would speak to me?
I don't see why not. I took the liberty of telling her that you knew her parents. She wondered if she looks anything like her mother.
I wondered about that too. I shall be in the kitchen shortly.
And sure enough, Charles was there in a few moments in his regular wheelchair. "Oh, hello, Ororo, Remy. I did not realize we had company."
Joey leaped out of her chair as Xavier spoke, and stood twisting her hands nervously, much the same way she had when Ororo had first met her. "Joey," she said tranquilly, "This is Charles. He owns the house."
Her head came up. "You knew my mother?" she asked, studying him.
"Yes," Xavier said, looking at her intently. "You look so much like her. She had your same eyes. The only thing I can see of your father is your nose." He wheeled the chair closer to the table and tweaked her nose with one finger before reaching toward the pizza box.
"Lotsa cheese, Charles," Remy grinned. "Got one wit' de works, too."
Xavier pushed the first box aside and opened the second one. He took out a large slice of that, then, without noticing the plate Ororo was trying to hand him, took a bite out of it. A piece of sausage rolled off the top of the pizza and fell into his lap.
"Charles!" Ororo scolded gently as she deftly slid a napkin onto his lap and a plate into his hand. "You'll get messy."
"There is more to life than being clean," Charles said, his eyes twinkling, but took the plate anyway. "Joey, please. Sit and eat." He gestured to the seat. Joey sat down again, and after a pause of a few minutes she continued eating.
He drew her gently into the conversation, and after a short while he saw the extreme shyness easing and she began to talk more freely. She was in the middle of describing what life had been like in France when Ororo glanced at the clock. "Oh, no!" She hastily gathered Joey's plate, swiped her mouth and chin with a napkin, and took off the girl's smock. "You will have to run," she told Joey. "I am sorry. I hope you do not get into trouble."
"It's okay. Nice meeting you. Bye!" she called as she took off out the back door.
Xavier stared mystified as he watched her disappear. "What was that all about, Ororo?" he asked.
She must be inside by five, or she will get into trouble with her nanny. Mrs. Seward forbade her to have any further contact with me the first day we met, but Joey is so lonely and starved for a friend she ignored the decree. I told her I would make sure she is back on time."
Joey arrived back at the greenhouse just as Mrs. Seward's voice floated out across the lawn toward her. As she started toward the house, trying to calm her breathing, she heard the sound of car engines in the driveway. Ignoring Mrs. Seward's annoyed calls and raced around the house, following the sound, hoping it was her father.
She stopped short in the middle of the front driveway, disappointed. It was a yellow taxicab, and the butler Michael was helping a strange man unload bags from the back and trunk.
The stranger saw her standing there, and smiled as he came closer to her. "Well, hello," he said genially. "You must be Joette. My friend said you lived here." He held out a hand. "I'm Gregory Hunt. I'm a friend of your father's. He told me I could stay here while my home is being built."
"Joette Gourand," Joette said guardedly as she took his hand. There was something about this man she didn't like, but she couldn't say why.
"Joette!" Mrs. Seward came sweeping around the side of the building in search of her. "Come back here, you impossible child, how dare you go running off like that--" and she grabbed Joey's arm so tightly it hurt.
"Now, now, Mrs. Seward," the man said, standing easily and speaking gently to the annoyed nanny. "She was simply curious to see who had arrived. And was probably expecting to see your father, too, weren't you?" Joey nodded mutely.
"See? That's all. And now…well, now that she's here, she can help get my things up to my room. Mrs. Harper, the housekeeper, did inform everyone of my impending arrival, did she not?' he asked Mrs. Seward. "Henri did tell me he had called here and told you all to expect my arrival."
"I was told no such thing," Mrs. Seward said, drawing herself up to her full height. "I shall speak to Mrs. Harper myself. Joey, after you help the gentleman with his things, go straight to your room and begin your homework. Remember, you are to have no dinner today."
"I remember, Mrs. Seward," Joey said, a little comforted by the three slices of pizza Ororo had persuaded to eat.
"Such an obedient child," Gregory said. "Here. Can you carry this for me?" He handed her a small overnight bag, which she took. Gregory took two more bags, and with Michael taking two more, they started up the steps that led into the house.
She put the bag on the bed where he indicated it should go, and he smiled and patted her hand. 'Thank you so much, my dear," he said. "You've saved me another trip downstairs.' He opened the bag, fished around in it for a second, and came up with a small square of chocolate. "Here. Consider it a tip for helping me."
She took it eagerly, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth. The sweetness spread over her tongue, slowly, and she smiled in delight. The man watched her. "Don't worry; I won't tell your nanny we broke the 'no snacks' rule."
Joey stopped chewing. She had forgotten she wasn't supposed to eat anything today. She looked like she was about to spit it out, but the man placed a hand on her shoulder. "Please. You'll hurt my feelings if you don't" He rubbed her shoulder and the back of her neck slowly.
Joey's mouth went dry. She swallowed the last of the chocolate with difficulty, and uneasily twitched her shoulder out from under his hand. "Thank you," she said., 'I really must be getting to my homework now." And she turned and fled.
She sat in the library, trying to do her homework and not succeeding. Why didn't she like him? He seemed nice enough, and he had given her candy, which she hadn't tasted in months and really appreciated…but the way he had rubbed her shoulder…
She finished her homework and read the book she had been assigned, and when she finished that, and looked up at the clock, she saw that it was eight o'clock. She got up and went to her room to pick up her nightgown before she took her bath.
She stripped off her shoes, socks, and clothes, and was standing over the bathtub in only her underwear waiting for the tub to fill with water when the door opened. She almost screamed in shock when she turned around and saw not her nanny, as she expected, but the stranger. "Oh my goodness, I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I did not know this bathroom was occupied." He closed the door, and Joey turned back to her bath, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he was standing on the other side of the door watching her. She pulled the towel off the towel rail and wrapped it around her just barely budding breasts, then walked to the door, shut it firmly, and turned the lock on the door. The feeling of being watched disappeared, and she got into the bath with considerable relief.