Chapter Fifty-Two ~ Kiki
They arrived in New York on a foggy and gloomy day. Marty was quiet and Todd was uneasy. They both had a lot of unhappy memories of this particular city, but Marty was eager to see her childhood home where she had lived with her mother and her father until their deaths. "I hope our mansion is still standing," Marty said as she and Todd stepped off the train onto the platform.
"I'll get us a carriage and you can show me the estate," said Todd.
Soon they were on their way. Marty stared off into the distance, thinking of Kiki and Mrs. Mendalhall. She wondered if she'd come across her cantankerous aunt or the dear servant whom had lovingly looked after her when her parents had unexpectedly died.
Todd reached for Marty's hand. She was staring out the carriage window into the fog. Her expression was blank and vacant as though she were living in another world.
Todd's worry for his wife increased. As they came upon the mansion where Marty lived for the first seven years of her life, she let out a loud gasp. It hadn't really changed in the years since she had been gone. It was still her home and she longed to go inside!
"This is it?" said Todd, seeing Marty's reaction.
She nodded as Todd thought of the little shack where he had lived across the tracks. It only had one tiny bedroom and a dirt floor. It was nothing more than a few rotten boards in comparison to Marty's family's fine house.
"I must go up to the door," Marty insisted as they stepped out of the carriage. Todd helped Marty so she wouldn't lose her balance. She was heavily pregnant and due to give birth any day. She should be taking it easy, but she was far to stubborn to listen to his warnings.
"Marty, I don't know if this is a good idea..."
"Todd, we've come all this way! Mrs. Mendalhall might still be working here!"
Todd let out a heavy sigh, holding his wife's hand. "Yeah, let's go see."
Marty looked almost blissful as she approached the front door. Todd was by her side as she knocked. Moments later, a young woman came to the door. It was definitely not Mrs. Mendalhall.
"Yes? May I help you?" the woman prompted.
"My- my name is Margaret Saybrooke Manning," said Marty. "I lived in this mansion. My father and mother, Marshall and Samantha Saybrooke were the original owners."
"You must be the niece. I'm Julia Marchant. My parents bought this mansion several years ago from Katherine Saybrooke."
"Kiki Saybrooke is my aunt," Marty confirmed. "I- I was just wondering. Does my aunt live nearby? I'd like to talk to her. And do you have a Mrs. Mendalhall in your employment."
"Your aunt is living in the small servant's gate house at the end of the lane. She works as our maid. And no, we do not have anyone by the name of Mrs. Mendalhall in our employment. I am sorry, Madam, but I need to tend to my children. It was nice speaking to you."
Without another word, the woman shut the door in Marty's face. She didn't even get the chance to go inside and see her family's home. She was disappointed, but yet hopeful that Kiki might be able to tell her the whereabouts of dear, sweet Mrs. Mendalhall.
"Todd, we have to talk to Kiki," Marty said urgently.
"Alright," Todd agreed, but he didn't feel good about it. He knew that Kiki was an awful woman and she had been abusive to Marty. He had no desire to meet Marty's wicked aunt.
They rode by carriage to the small cottage at the end of the lane. It was incredibly small. Marty was shocked to find that her aunt was now living in such meager accommodations. Kiki had sunk to an all-time low and it was all because she had squandered Marty's parents fortune.
Minutes later, Marty was again rapping on a door. When it came open, Marty stood face to face with her hateful aunt. "MARTY!" Kiki cried out as she looked down her nose at her niece.
"Hello, Aunt Kiki," Marty said angrily. "I bet you're surprised to see me, the niece you treated with such cruelty and sent away to that horrific boarding school. Because of you, I nearly died on the streets."
"You ran away from me when you were child. It's not my fault that you were so stupid. I no longer claim you as a member of my family," said Kiki in a half-drunken state. "You should leave at once and go straight to hell!"
"I've already been to hell because of you," Marty bit out coldly.
Kiki laughed at Marty's statement. "I don't feel a bit sorry for you. I work as a servant now, scrubbing floors and cleaning chamber pots. I have no loyalty to the likes of you! Listen to you; you're still the same whiny brat you've always been!"
Hearing Kiki's hurtful words, Todd became enraged. "Apologize to my wife at once," Todd demanded. "Or you'll regret all the pain you've caused her - I'll see to it."
"What are you going to do?" Kiki mouthed off to Todd. "You look like some pig farmer. Is that what you are?"
"It's none of your business what I do for a living," Todd sneered. "I'd never abandon a child. You may have harmed Marty when she was a little girl, but I'll protect her now. You'll never hurt her again."
"Kiki, you have to tell me - where's Mrs. Mendalhall?" Marty asked urgently. "I'd like to see her."
Kiki let out a boisterous, cruel laugh. Then she said in a nasty tone, "She's in her grave, buried in the cemetery across the street. The nosey old witch never stopped asking about you, not until her dying day!"