rThe children had come pouring into the room then, the two girls jabbering about the park while George and JR helped Daniel into a chair near his mother.
Once Daniel was settled, Rose passed him her toast and he began happily chomping on it.
He couldn't be sure if it was hunger or the expectant look on the children's faces that prompted the lot of them to make such quick work of their breakfast, but no sooner had he placed his napkin down on the table, the dishes were cleared by Bridget and Rose was calling for the Nanny to get baby Hope ready for their excursion to the park.
Rising from his seat, Matthew enumerated the activities Rose had planned for the day and he began to think that losing weight might not prove to be so difficult, after all.
His attention was then drawn to the sound of Vickie's shouting overhead.
"Mama…Mama…come quick. Danny tied his shoelaces together and has fallen over."
XX
Chapter XIII
As Matthew crossed 72nd Street with his daughter and Vickie in hand, a gentle breeze swept through the trees that bordered the park grounds, leaving a myriad of scents in its wake. He inhaled deeply, and foregoing an attempt to identify the different aromas, filed them away collectively in his mind under the heading of "Spring".
The Dakota, even more impressive with the morning sun beaming down upon it, stood directly behind him and Central Park lay straight ahead. Drawing closer to his destination, the sound of birds chirping a happy tune made it clear that they, too, appreciated the fine day his favorite season had provided them.
The weather could not have been better, warm enough as to not require a jacket, yet not so hot that you would swelter under the sun when it was at its peak.
A perfect day for an outing, he thought as he stepped over the curb and headed for the park.
Once he reached it, Matthew veered the two girls to the right side of the entranceway and stood in place beneath the street lamp that would light the way when the sun went down.
The girls were filled with excitement and Victoria and her cousin pulled his arms in opposite directions, stretching him like a piece of taffy.
"They will be here soon," he said, loud enough to be heard above their giggles. "…and if you both promise you will not wander away from me, I won't have to hold onto your hands. Do we have a deal?"
Victoria and Vickie nodded in unison, and after conferring over what they could do to fill the time, began hopping in place on one foot in a competition to determine who could do so the longest.
As Matthew watched them, his head began bobbing up and down like a buoy in the ocean and he chuckled before turning away.
If only their energy could be bottled.
He turned his head back to the street then to see how far behind the rest of the group was and found them stationed at the curb, waiting for the traffic to come to a complete stop. Rose and Anna were chatting amiably over the heads of the three boys, with little Daniel sandwiched between George and JR . The Nanny stood behind the pram and Mary was bent over it, offering the baby nestled inside a rattle. A second later, a tiny hand shot up into the air and grabbed hold of it.
That brought a smile to his face almost as wide as Mary's.
The traffic light turned red, then, putting a halt to all conversations and May's interaction with her tiny cousin and they all moved forward in lockstep.
As soon as the pram was lifted over the curb, Vickie bolted passed him to reach her mother and launched into a series of questions in rapid succession.
"Mama, may we go to the carousel straight away?
"May we ride it more than once?
"May Victoria and I share the same horse?
"Will you sit in the chariot with Hope and Daniel like you did last time?"
Then the child took a sharp intake of breath.
Rose shook her head in dismay and said, "You must remember to breathe, Vickie. I fear you are going to faint dead away from lack of oxygen one day."
She took notice then that the top button on her daughter's blouse had come undone and bent down to remedy it, smiling at her as she did.
"Now, in answer to your questions, there are two places that we will be visiting before heading for the carousel…and there is no need for you to pout, young lady. One of them is the Belvedere Castle, which I know is one of your favorites."
Matthew saw Vickie's frown morph into a smile and took notice that she had a new tooth coming in, the cuspid only halfway through. He remembered how his daughter had nearly bolted from the room when they sat for their last family portrait, refusing to smile no matter his, Mary's or the photographer's pleas. He hoped that the Aldridge's had the foresight to commission theirs while their own daughter's teeth were all still intact as the end result would be much better.
Then, he heard Rose address the remaining questions that had been hurled at her.
"I think three rides on the carousel is fine, but no more, as we have a lot of activities planned today and must divide our time wisely.
"Unfortunately, you and Victoria cannot share the same horse. The only time that is permitted is when an adult is riding with a small child in front of them to secure the child's safety. I think we will be able to get two jumper horses right next to one another, though. That would be nice wouldn't it?
"I will accompany you on the carousel along with Daniel and Hope, with the condition that she doesn't fuss. Just because she enjoyed the ride last time we were here, doesn't mean she will this time...and George and JR are welcome to join us in the chariot if they so choose.
"There now," she said, giving her daughter's braid a playful tug. "I think that covers it."
Vickie nodded and sped off toward Victoria. Half way there, she put on the brakes and raced back to Rose.
"Thank you, Mama," she said, before turning quickly on her heels, raising three fingers in the air and speeding off again.
"Even without introduction, it is plain to see she is my daughter," Rose said and began to chuckle.
A grin spread across Mary's face as she looped her arm though his and said, "We had better get moving before those two let their exuberance get the better of them and take off without us."
The girls did appear ready to dash off, and Matthew called out to his daughter, "We're coming, Victoria. Wait for us."
At that, the adults quickly fell into two lines with Rose, Anna, and the Nanny, who would push the pram, in the lead and he, Mary and the boys on their heels.
Then their excursion began in earnest.
XX
Considering the vast size of the park, Matthew was impressed at how easily Rose navigated it as well as her knowledge regarding the various sites they visited.
The first stop was the Belvedere and Victoria's eyes popped wide open at the sight of it.
"You were wrong, George. There are castles in America," she said.
That led to her brother informing her and everyone within hearing distance that the Belvedere was not an actual castle, just a miniature reproduction of one.
"People live in castles, Victoria. This is a tourist attraction, not someone's residence. " he added.
Matthew saw a crease form between her brows as she contemplated George's explanation. Then after taking a long look at the stone structure, she nodded, conceding his point.
"Quite right, George," Rose said, before pointing to the land mass it sat on. "That is Vista Rock, aptly named for the magnificent view it provides of the Great Lawn to the north and the Ramble, 36 acres of beautiful woodlands, to the south. We're headed there next."
Daniel tugged on George's jacket to get his attention and began rattling off what he liked best about their next stop.
"There are big, big trees and giant rocks that you can climb on…and all sorts of birds that make a lot of noise…and there is a pond where the ducks and geese live…and frogs..lots of them…and rabbits and squirrels …..and…and….Mama and I saw a fox last week."
George smiled down at the child. "I like climbing rocks very much and so does JR. Perhaps you can hold onto our hands and we can climb the ones you like best together."
A huge grin spread across the tyke's face and he nodded enthusiastically.
Matthew saw Rose smile at George and mouth 'Thank You' before she turned to him and Mary.
"Then we will cut through Bethesda Terrace, which boasts one of the most famous fountains in the world. I cannot wait for you to see the Angel of the Waters. It is a massive sculpture of a bronze angel with a lily in her hand, which symbolizes the water's purity. The work of art was inspired by the Gospel of John, whereby an angel bestows healing properties on the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem and commemorates the water system that first brought fresh water to New York City. It is quite impressive and a godsend on a hot summer day should you need to splash some cool water on your face and neck…But that is neither here nor there since it is cool enough that we won't need to do so today…Unless you want to, of course. Now, where was I? Oh, yes... there is more to say about the sculpture. The Angel of the Waters was the first work of art commissioned for a public place that was created by a woman."
Mary smiled and said, "I dare say, Rose, you are on equal footing with Mr. Haversmith in performing your duties as a tour guide."
"Quite so," Matthew said, in complete agreement with his wife.
Rose thanked them the two of them before insisting she was not half as knowledgeable as he.
"Smitty knows something about everything," she declared. "He has an inquisitive mind and spends a great deal of time in the library with his nose in a book or newspaper. I have found him there on more than one occasion sound asleep with one publication or another in his lap and his chin resting on his chest in the middle of the night."
That led Matthew to ask himself why Rose would be roaming about the house at that hour and whether or not the library might be a secret meeting place for her and Haversmith.
Stop thinking the worst of her, his inner voice demanded. Perhaps she reads when she has trouble falling asleep. You do.
That comforted him for the time being and he soon found himself so engrossed in his surroundings that no further unsettling questions surfaced.
Focused on the crossing under his feet, the architectural design of Bow Bridge brought Hyde Park to mind. In fact, if not for the skyscrapers that loomed in the distance, Matthew could easily imagine that he and Mary were standing on the Serpentine in London as he gazed at the crystal water that flowed through its white arches.
He and Mary had fallen back a bit from the rest of the group when they reached the middle of the bridge that connected Bethesda Terrace with the Ramble to take in the view from the railing. The sun shone brightly on the lake and the crystal water reflected all that surrounded it as if it were a mirror.
A rowboat occupied by a young man and woman glided slowly through the reflection of a weeping willow, leaving ripples of green in its wake.
"Darling, my parasol is lying beside your right foot. Please be a dear and nudge it my way. The sun is blinding me," drifted in the air.
Doing his best to be discreet, Matthew managed a quick glimpse of the woman who made the request and found her to be an attractive brunette, likely in her early twenties, in a flowing dress and wide-brimmed hat.
"Of course, my darling," replied her companion, a chap with wheat colored hair, who clearly had no aversion to the sun based on his tanned skin. It stood in stark contrast to his white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbow as he manned the oars.
Matthew turned to Mary and smiled before moving his eyes to the trees that lined the shore, so as not to be perceived as an eavesdropper.
Yet as he continued to monitor what the two strangers were saying, he had to acknowledge that is exactly what he was, and so was his wife, who he found hanging on the couple's next words.
Having concluded as much, he assuaged his guilt and pardoned Mary by telling himself that it couldn't be avoided due to the couple speaking loud enough to be heard.
Yes, that would do.
"Don't move, Betty. You have never looked more beautiful than you do at this moment. You are a vision in white."
"Oh, Paul…You do say the sweetest things. That is one of reasons I fell in love with you, you know," she replied in a playful tone.
The man chuckled and then said in the same vein, "I must keep doing so then to ensure you never will fall out of love with me."
Reaching the archway, the rest of the lovebird's tete-a-tete was muffled as they sailed beneath the bridge, but Matthew did not need to hear more to know the two were head over heels for one another.
He turned to Mary and asked, "Do you remember when we did that? "
She brushed away a seedling that had affixed itself to the lapel of his jacket and replied, "Are you asking if I remember our row boating or how we flirted with one another? Your question is ambiguous, darling."
"Well then, let me make myself clear," he said with dramatic flair hooking his arm around her waist and pulling her closer. "Do you recall our falling in love?"
She flashed him a brilliant smile and replied, "I remember every moment, Matthew…My stomach did a somersault when I caught sight of you coming up the drive from my bedroom window and I would check my appearance in the mirror at least three times before I came down to greet you to be sure every hair was in place ... and I will never forget the first time that you told me that you loved me…how deliriously happy your declaration made me feel."
He gazed into her eyes and said, "My heart skipped a beat each time I saw you walking down those stairs. You were the most beautiful woman I had ever laid my eyes on...and you still are, my darling wife. I find I love you more with each passing year."
"As I do you, Matthew." she replied, and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Matthew…Mary…we are on a tight schedule," Rose shouted, breaking the moment.
Mary turned and nodded in her cousin's direction. Then she took his arm and stepped forward.
"All this talk of falling in love reminds me that I've been meaning to speak to you about Mr. Haversmith's relationship with Rose, but the right moment has never presented itself. I'm sure you have taken notice that he is enamored with her and I think it would be best if you to speak to her about it."
Stopping short, Matthew croaked, "Me?"
"Yes, you," Mary replied in a tone that brooked no argument. "Rose values your opinion more than anyone else's in the family. If it turns out...heaven forbid...that she is having an affair with Mr. Haversmith, you are the only person that could convince her to put an end to it, Matthew. I'm sure of it."
She looked at him with pleading eyes that he always found impossible to resist and reluctantly agreed to whatever he could to help.
Then as Rose came into view, he cursed under his breath.
How the devil am I going to make it appear as though I am not interfering in her life when that is exactly what I am doing?
XX
The organ grinded out "On the Sidewalks of New York" while the carousel spun round and round, picking up speed as the tune progressed. Matthew saw his daughter and Vickie sitting side by side atop chiselled white horses with painted tack in vivid colors. The two cousins, only a year apart in age, were laughing with glee as their wooden mounts moved up and down in a gallop, their braids whipping behind them in the wind.
It warmed his heart to see them enjoying each other's company as much as the ride, and he wished they could have had more time to together. The girls had become fast friends from the moment Victoria caught sight of her cousin's Mickey Mouse doll, their mutual admiration for the Disney character giving them common ground.
It was clear that Victoria was in no hurry to leave for Newport, and truth be told, neither was he. However, Mary had insisted they keep to their plan, making it clear she was eager to get to Newport.
He was pondering the reason why she was so intent on joining Martha as soon as possible, knowing the two did not share the close bond she had with Violet, when his deliberations were cut short by the sound of Mary calling out to their daughter.
"Be careful, Victoria," she shouted.
His eyes instantly went to the carousel, where he found their little daredevil leaning precariously off the horse's saddle with one foot in the stirrup as she reached for the brass ring that dangled in the air.
That prompted him to issue his own edict, and he cupped his hands around his mouth and bellowed, "Victoria, hold on and keep both feet in the stirrups."
She didn't budge.
He was about to call out again when he caught sight of Rose rising from her seat in the red chariot with baby Hope in her arms to address the problem at hand.
Quickly, she made her way to Victoria and got her to adjust her position in the saddle. Then she turned and waved to him and Mary.
He let out a sigh of relief and turned his attention to his first born, who he found had his arm wrapped protectively around his little cousin's waist and was smiling down at him. The sight made him regret that he and Mary could not have had more children as his son's interaction with Daniel made it clear that George would have enjoyed having a younger brother.
"He is wonderful with him, isn't he?" Mary said. "I wish….,"
He reached for her hand and said, "I know, darling. George would have made an excellent big brother…a perfect role model… and Victoria, would have lavished him with attention."
Mary sighed. "I guess we ran out of miracles, Matthew."
"Well, we did get more than our fair share, so I don't think we can complain, Mary," he replied and smiled.
Mary chuckled and agreed that they could not. Then she waved to the children they had.
"I think I would be quite selfish if I asked for more than what I have now…a loving husband, two wonderful children and a magnificent home to raise them in. I would imagine there are many people in this world that would gladly trade places with me."
"No doubt they would be happy to walk in my shoes, as well. I am grateful each day for our good fortune, Mary," he replied.
Then seeing that the carousel was slowing down, he guided her forward to collect their offspring.
As they did, "Achoo!" rang out directly behind Matthew's head and turning toward the sound, he found Anna rummaging in her purse for what he assumed was a handkerchief.
Seeing the look of frustration on her face as she closed the handbag, Matthew said, "No luck?"
She shook her head and replied in a nasal tone, "I think I left my handkerchief on the dresser in my room and I definitely am going to need it as I feel a cold coming on."
Eyeing her over, Mary pulled her handkerchief from her sleeve and passed it to Anna.
"You do look a bit flushed and you sound quite nasal, Anna. Perhaps it would be best if you go back to the house and rest. JR will be fine with us."
Anna thanked her for the handkerchief and her concern. Then, after putting it to good use, she replied, "I do feel a bit feverish. If you are sure you do not mind taking JR under your wing, I think I will get some rest before we leave for Newport tomorrow. I would hate to miss Mrs. Levinson's birthday celebration."
Mary assured her that the boy would be no trouble at all and insisted that she go back to the house and lay down.
"Do you know the way back or should I ask Rose to have the Nanny go with you? We can manage Hope until it is time for her nap."
Matthew smiled, knowing how happy it would make Mary to assist Rose with the baby. There was a good chance that her cousin would be, too, as Vickie and Daniel, especially, required a good deal of her attention.
Knowing that Anna had a keen sense of direction, Matthew concluded that her decision to have the Nanny guide the way home was for Mary's sake more than her own.
"It's settled, then." Mary declared and smiled, before heading for the carousel's exit ramp.
XX
Matthew had formed a plan to accomplish his mission and the opening he had hoped for was at hand.
As Rose looked on, Mary was pushing the pram back and forth beneath a giant oak tree, no doubt in an effort to get baby Hope to sleep, while the older children searched for frogs on the bank of a small stream nearby.
Perfect. Now all he had to do was not come across as a meddlesome relative.
"Rose, would you mind sparing me a few minutes of your time. There is something I would like to discuss with you," he said in as light a tone as he could muster.
Her eyes narrowed at that, but she recovered herself quickly, nodded her head and smiled as she passed the baby's rattle to Mary and gestured for him to take the lead.
"Are you quite alright, Matthew?" she asked, once they were out of hearing distance. "That crease between your brows tells me something is troubling you,"
"You know me too well" he replied and feigned a smile in an attempt to ease the tension in the air.
She followed suit, her lips quickly turning upward, but her eyes registered her apprehension over what he would say next.
He cleared his throat and replied, "It is just…Well I've debated on how to put this question to you delicately… but knowing you as I do, I think my being straightforward will work best."
"It always does, Matthew." Rose said, appearing more anxious than ever. "Now please… just say what is on your mind."
He took a deep breath and blurted out, "Are you aware that Mr. Haversmith is in love with you?"
Rose's eyes widened. "Well, you can't get any more straightforward than that."
She deflated like a party balloon pricked by a pin and he wished he could retract the question, but he knew that once spoken, words could not be taken back.
A few moments that felt much longer passed by in utter silence. Then Rose drew back her shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes.
"I have suspected for some time that Smitty harbors feelings for me that go beyond friendship. However, he has neither professed nor acted upon those feelings. Therefore, I have not let him nor anyone else know that I am aware of how he truly feels…I think that is my best course of action, Matthew. Otherwise, I might lose him…and I'm not quite sure I could bear that."
More alarmed than ever, Matthew croaked, "Are you…are you saying that you are in love with him, Rose?
Her eyes narrowed and she replied, "You do realize you are trespassing on private ground here, don't you, Matthew?
He nodded his head and responded in an apologetic tone, "I do… and I am deeply sorry that I am…It is just that… Mary and I are both worried about you, my dear."
At that, Rose glowered at him and spat "I see. Mary has sent you to find out if I'm back to my old tricks, again. Is that it?"
"No…No…Rose. Neither of us thinks that. Please believe me. We just...You have such a beautiful family and we would hate to see it broken apart."
Rose searched his face and then sighed, "I don't mean to be combative….especially with you as I hold you in such high esteem…I do know you and Mary mean well, but truth be told, the last few years have been hard, Matthew. Very hard, indeed. You see, Atticus has had to spend nearly every waking hour at the bank since we settled in America… building it up in the beginning and keeping it afloat during the Depression. Then the banking crisis hit…and…and…we hardly see one another...Sometimes I feel as though I'm a widow. I want desperately to spend more time with Atticus but there is no help for it. Even with Smitty's assistance, he must put in long hours for the bank to succeed."
She paused then and he saw that her eyes were glistening as she formulated her next words.
"I hope you will believe me when I say that I love Atticus with all my heart and would never intentionally do anything to hurt him or our marriage."
Seeing the truth in her eyes, he nodded his head.
She followed suit, seeming pleased that he believed her. Then she launched into her and Haversmith's history.
"Smitty came into my life when we both had a void that needed to be filled. You may recall that he mentioned during the ride from the pier that he lost someone dear to him in Germany. It was his wife, Matthew. She was being chased by the Brown Shirts after a rally she had attended denouncing Hitler and was struck by a lorry and killed instantly. She was…she was four months pregnant," Rose choked out.
Matthew flinched.
He wished that he never had never seen the way Haversmith looked at Rose or questioned the relationship between them. At that moment, he felt sorry for them both and didn't need to hear any more.
Still, Rose continued," He is a dear friend, Matthew…a companion that shares many of my interests...a confidant who I can trust with my secrets…a sounding board when I need one…someone who never judges me, even when I do something utterly nonsensical. Yet he doesn't coddle me. If he believes I've done wrong in word or deed, he will call me out on it. Then he will leave it there. Smitty encourages me to do what makes me happy, as long as no one, including me, may be hurt by my actions. He says I should trust my ability to make the right decisions as he has found the ones I've made so far to be sound...and that I should not be so hard on myself if I make a mistake as all humans do...but to do my best to learn from it."
Flabbergasted by her response, all Matthew could manage to say was, "I see."
He did, too, as a vision of Lilian Pomeroy, the nurse who had cared for him, befriended him and fell in love with him while he was under her care at the London Hospital after the automobile accident that rendered him an amnesiac. If not for Mary….
Rose took a long deep breath then and declared, "Smitty means the world to me, Matthew...and if there never had been an Atticus, I likely would be head over heels for him …but there was and is an Atticus, and I know with certainty that he and I were made for each other...just as you and Mary were. I haven't forgotten what is was like when he and I spent time together without having to keep one eye on the clock and my hope is that we will be able to do so again one day."
Matthew let out a long sigh and then grasped hold of her hand, "Just be careful, Rose. A friendship as close as the one you've described can easily blossom into something more... and, as I'm sure you are aware, many hearts would be broken if it did. I wonder, too, whether you aren't doing Mr. Haversmith a disservice. While he carries a torch for you, he will not open his heart to another woman. Have you ever thought of that?"
She began wringing her hands and replied, "I have, Matthew. In fact, I've nearly driven myself mad thinking about whether or not I'm hurting him by keeping up this pretense, but it isn't as though I haven't encouraged him to find someone that could return his feelings….I do so quite often…but Smitty insists he has no time for that sort of thing and changes the subject. Still, I know this can't go on forever."
Once more at a loss for words, Matthew was grateful when he caught sight of Mary pushing the pram in their direction and let Rose know she was on her way.
Upon reaching them, his wife's gaze went from him to Rose as she assessed their mood, and then she informed the two of them that the girls were eager to move on to the carousel.
"Apparently, they have had their fill of tadpoles," she said and managed a weak laugh.
Rose nodded. "I'm eager to move on, too, Mary. Matthew and I have cleared the air," she said and brushed quickly passed her in the direction of the children.
As soon as she was out of hearing distance, Mary turned to him and said, "Did she confirm our suspicions?"
Matthew cocked his head as he contemplated the question and then replied, "Not exactly. I'll fill you in later, darling. It's complicated."
Mary sighed. "It always is, isn't it?"
XX
AN: I'm sorry for the delay, but you are getting two new chapters instead of one. Unfortunately, I can't seem to manage a chapter without 10,000 words, so I've divided this latest chapter into two. It is much easier on the eyes if you read in two sessions. Believe me, I know.
I also had hoped that I could wind up NY in Chapter XIII, but I found it impossible since there is so much that I know Rose would have wanted her cousins to experience there. You have my promise that Chapter 15 will bring our beloved characters to Newport and Martha Levinson's birthday celebration.
Please leave a word or two to let me know if you've liked this chapter and/or the story. If you could be so kind to review each separately, it would be wonderful!
Thanks!
Till then, be safe.