Chapter 5d06
Chapter 5 (Draft 06)
That evening brought rain again and Sally groaned as she peered outside to see her beautiful day, like so many others in the city she hated, had gone to gloom. The sadness she felt swept her mind back to that moment in her dream when her father told her she couldn't stay with the family. The kettle on the stove began to whistle and happy expectations immediately changed her mood. She moved quickly to the kitchen, removed the kettle, and then peeked in the oven to check her muffins. A couple of stabs with a toothpick and she slid them off the rack and onto the burners to cool. She opened her mother's crock to pour the tea as her front door began to buzz. Another happy pang of anticipation made her smile.
Sally quickly removed her apron, set the muffins on a plate with the tea, and then headed for the door. Ethan Dodge, distant relative of Nebraska's famous Major General Glenville Dodge, was standing outside with a book in plastic under his arm and a posy of flowers in his hand. Sally grinned.
"Good evening, Ethan. I hope those flowers are for a nice young lady you're dating tonight."
"As a matter of fact they're for you, young lady," he replied kindly.
"For goodness sake… you shouldn't have bothered with all of that. I'm the one borrowing your book, remember? Please… come in."
The man was still smiling as he entered and then handed her the flowers.
"Mmmm, something smells good," he said, looking around hopefully. He didn't even try to hide his longing for what he was savoring with his nose.
"I've made us some fresh baked muffins… I hope you're not allergic to blueberries."
He sniffed at the air again. "My dear lady, even if I were… I believe I'd beg you to let me try one. They smell wonderful."
"Well there's no reason to beg. Let me take your wet coat and come into the kitchen. I've brewed some tea."
The moment Ethan entered Sally's kitchen, he felt the pangs of recollection. The space was retro mid-nineteen forties except for the newer appliances. From her very old tea set and frog plates hanging on the fleshly painted walls right down to the rooster salt and pepper shakers that sat shining like new in the center of a round kitchen table. The muffins were sitting by the shakers next to a stack of napkins.
"Please — go ahead and seat yourself and I'll pour the tea," but the man was already leaning over the stove.
"My God, I don't believe it. Is that Tipp City Novelty?" he asked her.
Sally turned to find him pointing at her spice rack hanging on the wall above her cutting board. Once again, Sally couldn't help marveling at the man's knowledge.
"Why yes, they are Tipp Novelty from…"
"Tipp City, Ohio," Ethan said, cutting across her. He looked at her and smiled. "My mother had a rooster set exactly like them. He stood back to reminisce. "When she passed away, my sister and I fought for days over them." He looked at her. "You know what's funny though? My mother hated them the entire time she owned them. They were a wedding gift from my father's sister, Muriel… and I know they never got along."
Sally brought the tea and poured him a cup. "Well, I think your Aunt Muriel had excellent taste," she observed, raising her eyebrows haughtily. Ethan laughed.
"I always thought so, but my sister was the baker of the family so she won the battle and took the rack."
They sat together to discuss the book now free of its wrappings and sitting between them: Night and Day by Virginia Woolf.
"I've always been somewhat fascinated by women who enjoy Adeline's work," Ethan said matter-of-factly, speaking of the famous author.
Sally sat and took a sip of her tea. "Fascinated? And why is that?"
"All that sadness in her life, the sexual abuse at the hands of her brothers, the family losses leading to her depression and eventual suicide. Her life was extremely successful… but exceedingly sad as well.
"On the other hand, she worked to break so many bonds constraining the women of her day. She wrote of the general nature of the sexes, love and marriage, the feminism movement, and even lesbianism." Ethan looked at the old woman and immediately realized he might have already gone too far with his assumptions of her interest. Fortunately, he found Sally smiling back at him, so he plowed on.
"So what is it about her work that intrigues you? Is it simply her wonderful stories and characters, or was it her advanced thinking on the issues of the day?"
Sally thought. "There's no doubt Virginia Woolf was a writer who's had to overcome tremendous hardships in order to practice her craft. But while it might be true that you can feel Woolf's pain in her writing, and especially in her essays, I don't think she let the dreadful things in her past define her as an author. She was exceptionally brave in her creativity, and there are several characters in her stories that are certainly self-defining, like Septimus Smith from the Mrs. Dalloway story, for example."
Ethan nodded, "And Clarissa's response to Smith's suicide at her party in the Dalloway book was quite telling. Principally in the way her character comes to admire the act."
"As a way to preserve his own happiness?" Sally added enthusiastically. She was already enjoying their discussion immensely.
"Exactly — but don't you think To the Lighthouse tells us more about the author?" Ethan added quickly, "Especially the lack of permanence in the adult relationships she described?"
"Oh I detested the Lily Brisco character in that story…" Sally replied, her face contorting slightly, "and all that self-doubt given to her by Tansley. That was rather tragic… but I disagree Lighthouse defined Woolf as well as… say… Orlando did."
"Ahhh… Ethan mused, leaning back wonderingly. "Now that might be somewhat telling of you, Sally. Let me ask you, then: did you read Orlando as a stand-alone piece of literature or as the author said she had intended it —a roman à clef?"
Sally smiled. "The answer to that question might be considered prying in some circles, Ethan."
"Perhaps… but I have the privileged opportunity in this moment together to get to know you better, Sally." He looked at her from under a lowered brow. "So… which is it?"
Sally lifted her cup to sip her tea again. After a long pause, she said, "The latter, I should think. Yes… it does intrigue me more to think of it as a biography."
Ethan grinned. "You are a very fascinating woman, Ms. Carmichael."
"Why… I have no idea what you mean… but I'll take that as a compliment."
The man peered over his cup again. "You seem to be just as liberated by the restraints of time as our friend Orlando, Sally, but would you see yourself happier if given the chance to live your life again… say… as a man?"
"But Orlando was changed into a woman," she replied. Her timid, almost blasé, response was too revealing.
"You know what I mean. My question might be the reciprocal of the character given us in Orlando's story, but nonetheless interesting as it pertains to you."
Sally thought. "There is no doubt that if given a chance to live my life again, I would do things differently. For example, I don't think I would have married the man I did."
This statement seemed to surprise the man. "Really? Now that is interesting. Your marriage wasn't something… arranged was it?"
"Not at all. I wouldn't blame my parents for what were my own decisions in life. I was free to choose the man I did, given my stature as a woman at the time in a man's world." She laughed at his struggles to understand her. "You see, Ethan, the women in my day had very few options open to them. If they wanted to be accepted by society, they were expected to marry, give themselves to the needs of their husbands, bear and raise their children, and keep his home clean and smelling of muffins."
She stopped to stare at him and then contently raised her cup to blow at her tea.
"And… what of happiness, Sally? What of your wants and needs?"
The old woman grinned. "We strove to find happiness in the small things: the smiles of our children, in the occasional thank you given by the husband when setting his dinner," she reached over to tap the book between them, "or in the ponderings of a talented writer."
Ethan Dodge was deeply moved by the woman's confessions to him. From the moment he first saw her standing next to Mario at the fruit stand, he knew there was something different about the woman. These assumptions were reinforced more by her chance decision to enter his store, but in all of his initial observations he never expected this. The woman was more than interesting; she was absolutely captivating. While her body looked frail and challenged to even stand, her character and spirit burned as white hot within as any woman just entering a world full of opportunity. He found himself saddened by the fact he had missed her youth. He set his hand upon hers still resting on the book between them.
"Which bring us to Night and Day. You've already read about these meetings between Katharine Hilbery, Mary, Ralph and William Rodney. Why would you wish to read their discourse again?"
"Because it was the only Virginia Woolf I saw on that shelf in your store."
Ethan fell back and laughed again. "I will endeavor to put out my entire collection. I might then get to see more into you."
The woman didn't smile at the joke. "I believe you think there's more in me than there really is, Ethan," she replied in one disturbing cleave of solemnity.
The man could see she was already deep in her own thoughts once more, and Ethan found himself holding his breath in anticipation at what she might reveal next.
"The first time I read this story, I was really struggling with my life. I was under pressure from my husband to move to Seattle and soon after we lost my daughter Mary to God's greater Glory."
Ethan frowned. "My God… I'm so sorry."
Sally nodded. "This book became extremely important to me afterward, because the author was capable of discussing the subjects of love and marriage in ways completely foreign to me."
The woman stopped to lift her cup again and then looked away once more to the spice rack over the stove. Ethan could see her struggling with her emotions. He leaned forward to speak gently to her.
"Woolf was famous in this book for posing the really tough questions that souls struggle with even today: is love truly necessary for happiness? Can love and marriage really coexist? Aside from the struggles basic in the book regarding woman suffrage, these questions were the very definition of the author's life, Sally, and for thousands of women reading her work."
The woman looked back at him and for the first time in a very long time she felt something move within her heart. The man seated at the table had immediately changed his position in the rank and file of individuals important to her, and from that moment on Sally knew Ethan Dodge would be a person vital in what little time she had left in life. The significance of this inner understanding was immense, of course, and it sent her mind back to the hospital and something Kari Dietz had said after her brush with death. 'I guess it just means you still have some work to do, Sal.'
No… Sally thought stubbornly, my work on earth is done. She looked into the man's gentle, brown eyes again… but, perhaps, there are people worth holding heaven away for… just a little while longer. She smiled at him.
There was another buzz at her door, which startled the both of them and Ethan saw Sally frown.
"Were you expecting another visitor?"
Sally got to her feet and headed for the door. "No, I wasn't"
Ethan stood and stopped at the kitchen doorway. Sally opened the door and a woman was standing outside with a wet newspaper.
"Kari! Oh my dear, what are you doing here? Come in — come in — child. What are you doing out in this rain?"
Ethan watched as a very attractive, young woman quickly moved inside. Even with the newspaper to protect herself, her head was drenched.
"Thanks, Sal. Sorry about the floor, but it's pouring out there."
"Let me get you something to dry off. Stay there." Sally disappeared for a moment and then returned with a towel. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at work?"
The girl took the towel and began mopping her head. "Thanks. Nope… I'm back on days."
Sally smiled. "The day shift? Why that's wonderful. I know that's what you wanted. How did that happen?"
Kari shifted to the other side of her head and tilted over to dry again.
"It's all thanks to you. Nurse Ratchet got your note praising my abilities as a care giver and she called me in to give me the good news yesterday.
"Marvelous. You see? I told you your hard work would eventually pay off. So what are you doing here?"
"I came to see how you were doing and I wanted to… oh… hello." Kari was surprised when she noticed Ethan standing in the kitchen doorway.
"Hello."
"Oh, how could I have been so rude? Kari Dietz… I'd like you to meet Ethan Dodge. Ethan is the proprietor of Ethan Books and Stationary on Second Street.Kari was my nurse at the hospital.
Ethan came forward with his hand outstretched. "It's a pleasure meeting you, Miss Dietz."
Kari was still looking at Sally as she reached out to shake the man's hand. "You too; I… hope… I wasn't intruding, Sal. I just wanted to see how you were doing with your meds. How are your supplies?"
"You weren't intruding, dear… never you. As for my medicine, I haven't noticed the need for any refills, but I'll go and get them and we'll check." Sally left the room again and Kari turned to Ethan.
"So… books and stationary, huh?" Kari asked him. She was still taken aback by the man's unexpected presence.
"That's right. Actually we just opened and I was fortunate enough to meet Miss Carmichael for the first time today. I stopped in to loan her one of my books."
Kari looked suspicious. "I've never heard of a bookstore owner making deliveries."
Ethan smiled. "Rarer still — a hospital nurse making a house call." His smiled widened. "It would seem Miss Carmichael brings out the best in all of us. Actually, I was loaning her a book from my private collection. It turns Miss Carmichael is a Virginia Woolf fan.
"Hmmm… I never found the time to take in any good literature," Kari informed him, returning to drying her hair. "Unless you consider the Reader's Digest a quality read.
"Oh, but you really should read the classics. Not only would you enjoy them, but it would serve my business well if you stopped by my store to make your selections. We have a very good top one hundred suggestion list we give to the public."
Kari laughed. "Throw in dinner and I might just do that," she returned quickly.
Ethan was surprised. "I… ah…"
"I think I'm well with my pills, Kari," Sally said, returning to the room and reading the labels on the bottles.
"Let me see."
Kari opened the bottles one at a time to check their contents. "Yep, you're looking good, Sal. You're still not taking all that many pain-meds."
"I haven't needed them, dear. Not even after my walk this morning."
"Good… excellent." She looked at Ethan again. "Well… I guess I'll take off then."
"I won't hear of it. Not in this rain, you won't," Sally scolded her. "I have tea in the kitchen. Why don't you join us?"
Kari hesitated, looking again at Ethan.
"Actually, I think I should be going, Sally," Ethan said, quickly. "I can get my coat and see myself out. I hope you enjoy the book again, and let me know when I can bring you another. I can show you the rest of my Woolf collection, or I could ask you to proof a first addition The Sun Also Rises that I just acquired from Germany. I'd like somebody to read through it to insure there's no missing pages or undocumented damage."
"Oh… Hemingway," Sally sighed, joyfully. "I would love to read it again. You say you bought the book in Germany?"
"That's right, in Gaildorf."
"Is it Fiesta or does it carry the American title?"
"Interesting you should ask…" he stopped short to look at Kari again, "but I really should be going. I'll drop by with Ernest in a couple of days."
"Thank you, Ethan. And thank you for the book. I promise to take exceptional care of it."
The man smiled. "I'm not worried." He looked at Kari again. "It was very nice meeting you, Miss Deitz."
"Kari… please… call me Kari," she replied, reaching out to shake his hand again.
"All right, Kari. I hope to see you in my store very soon," he added with a wink.
The man put on his coat and opened the door. He gave them a quick wave before entering the hallway outside and closed the door behind him.
Kari walked over to the window to peek out. She watched Ethan leave the building, turn left on the sidewalk, and quickly jog away in the rain. She turned again to face Sally.
"My goodness, Sal. He's absolutely gorgeous. You said you met him just today?"
"That's right. Ethan has quite a substantial collection of rare books in his possession. He's letting me borrow one of them to read."
Sally headed for the kitchen with Kari following close behind. "So where's he from?"
"I don't know where Ethan was born exactly, but his family is from Nebraska."
"Oh… your home state?" She sat down at the table and Sally handed her a plate. "So?"
Sally sat down in front of her and poured the tea again. "So what, dear?"
"Well, don't you think he's handsome?"
Sally tried to look falsely indifferent. She glanced at Kari and frowned. "I… suppose… Ethan would be considered a handsome man, yes."
"Oh come on, Sal. He's a hunk. You must have noticed."
Sally set her tea down and frowned. "Kari Deitz, what are you trying to say? Ethan Dodge is a man half my age. My goodness… I could be his grandmother!"
Kari laughed. "But you're not his grandmother and you're still a woman, Sal. And it would seem you two have several things in common. I'm just saying…"
"I think you've said quite enough, young lady," Sally admonished her.
Kari giggled. "All right — all right. I'm just looking out for you, that's all. A little romance might be better for you than all these scripts put together."
"You're impossible!"
Kari picked up the book sitting on the table. "Wow… this looks old."
"Be careful, dear. It is a first edition."
"Does that mean it's valuable?"
"I suppose it could be… yes. I wouldn't really know."
"Well let's find out." Kari got to her feet and returned quickly with her bag. She pulled out her laptop and opened the lid.
"What in the world are you doing now?"
"I told you, I'm going to check what the book is worth."
"Kari… that's really none of our business."
"Why? Isn't he trying to sell it?"
"Well, yes, I suppose he is. It was on the shelf in his store."
Kari was already banging away on her computer.
"What's the book called again?"
"Night and Day, by Virginia Woolf."
Kari typed some more. "First edition, you said?"
"Yes… that's what Ethan told me." She opened the book to the publisher's page. "Printed by Duckworth in 1919."
"Duck… worth… 1919." Kari typed in the information and hit return.
"Ah… here's an auction house with a listing." She clicked on the information again. "Let's see…"
Sally watched Kari's eyes scanning left and right down the screen from the other side of the table.
"Ethan M. Dodge?"
"Yes."
"Found him! He bought a book with the same title two years ago in London." She clicked again and her eyes scrolled down the page.
"Oh, my God."
"What is it?" Sally leaned forward.
Kari looked up at her and her mouth fell open. "Geez-Louise, it says here Ethan paid fifty-thousand dollars for the first edition.
Sally was stunned. "Fifty thousand dollars?" She looked again at the book sitting on the table between them with renewed awe.
"He just let you borrow it and he only met you today?"
Sally nodded. "Just to read… but I had no idea it was so valuable."
Kari closed her laptop. "Wow… handsome, rich, AND generous. Did he say he had a brother?"
8
