Sorrento Girl Read online

  When Ann came downstairs, she smiled at her handsome fiancé and said hello. “Wow, you look fantastic!” Paul said.

  “Yes, you’re beautiful, Ann,” Mrs. Delzer said. “I’ve just got to finish getting the children ready. We’ll see you in a little while.”

  Paul led Ann to his car and opened the door for her. They were quiet on the ride to his grandmother’s house. Driving through the arboretum, Paul pointed out the place they’d had their picnic for Ann’s birthday. “We should have another picnic there before we move,” he said.

  Ann still didn’t want to think about moving. She kept hoping that something would change. Maybe one of the Seattle newspaper companies would contact Paul in the next few days and offer him a job. To Paul, she merely said, “Yes, how about dinner here sometime this week? I can make us some sandwiches. I’d love to take a boat out on the pond again. That was fun.”

  When they reached the house, a valet opened the door for Ann. Paul’s grandmother had gone all out. A crowd of people had already gathered inside, most of whom Ann didn’t know. She searched to see if Aunt Rose and Uncle Gary were there yet. Ann didn’t see them, but she did see Mr. Ferguson standing by the fireplace in the sitting room. He spotted her at the same moment and waved to her. “Mr. Ferguson! Thank you for coming! I’m so glad you could come today!”

  “I’m happy to be here. How are you doing, Ann?”

  “I’m good, thank you. I’ve missed my last few Saturdays at the soup kitchen, and I’m afraid I might be done. Paul starts a job in Portland in July. I’m hoping he’ll find something here in Seattle before then, but we’ll probably be moving.”

  “Ah. Well, I’ll miss seeing you around! I wish you all the best. Are you going to continue your teacher training in Portland? You’re a gifted teacher, you know.”

  Just then, Paul’s grandmother, Mrs. Lewis, joined them. “Mr. Ferguson, it’s so nice to see you again,” she said.

  Ann spent the next hour meeting people and making small talk. Finally, Pepper, the butler, called everyone into the dining room for dinner. The long table was glittering with candlelight, silver, and crystal. White roses filled the centerpiece arrangements. Ann found her place card and was pleased to see that she was seated near Aunt Rose. She wished her father could be there, but he had not been able to take two weekends off for travel in June, so naturally, he had chosen to be at the wedding in two weeks.

  After dinner, a chocolate tiered cake was brought out on a cart. The waitstaff poured champagne for all the guests. Mrs. Lewis tapped her fork against her crystal flute, bringing everyone to attention. “Thank you, dear friends and family, for coming today to celebrate the upcoming marriage of my grandson, Paul, and his fiancé, Ann Brooks. They will have a small private ceremony in two weeks, and the reception will be in August, but this gathering here today is a way for us to wish the happy couple all our best in the upcoming days. I want to welcome Ann into our family, and I want to say just how happy I am that Paul has found such a wonderful wife. Cheers!”

  Ann smiled and nodded in grateful acceptance of the kind words. Paul looked at her, smiled, and squeezed her hand. The toasts continued for several more minutes. Ann was uncomfortable with being the center of attention. She felt loved, nevertheless. By the end of the evening, she was tired but happy.

  When Paul drove Ann back to the Delzer’s house, they made plans to go to Portland the following weekend to search for a rental home.

  “Can we check out some houses here too—in case we’re able to stay after all?” Ann asked.

  Paul was quiet for a moment. “I already accepted the job in Portland …”

  “I know, but I’m still hoping ...” Ann said. It was late. Paul had arrived at the Delzer’s house, but they were still talking, so Ann and Paul sat in the dark car, continuing their conversation in privacy.

  “I’m not backing out now,” Paul’s voice was gentle but firm.

  Tears pricked at the corners of Ann’s eyes, as they had so many other times throughout the week. Did all brides feel this way right before their weddings?

  “I’ll go to Portland, and I’ll look at houses with you, but I think it would only be fair if you kept an open mind about finding something here. I don’t think Portland is our only option,” Ann said with conviction.

  Paul nodded but didn’t say anything. He opened his car door and walked around the front to open Ann’s door and escort her to the porch. After a quick kiss, the two said goodbye, and Ann went inside.

  ***

  On Sunday, Ann offered to make breakfast for everyone while Mrs. Delzer ran around, getting the children ready for Mass. She scrambled eggs, fried bacon, and toasted bread, setting it out for the family. After that, she made a pot of coffee and poured some milk for the children. They would all walk to St. James together this morning.

  Mr. Delzer made it to the table first and started eating. He opened his newspaper and read, seemingly oblivious to the chaos that could be heard coming from upstairs. He was a nice man—but not very helpful.

  Margaret and Billy came to the table next. The meal would need to be eaten in shifts, based on whoever was ready to go. Ann sat down with the older two kids and Mr. Delzer to eat her breakfast. They could hear Billy shouting something about not being able to find his shoes, followed by Mrs. Delzer’s instructions to search under his bed.

  Sally arrived in the kitchen wearing pigtails and a navy smocked dress. She looked adorable as she sat down to eat with a big smile. “Bacon is my favorite!”

  At 8:45 a.m., everyone in the Delzer household was dressed, fed, and ready for Mass. David claimed Ann’s hand as they walked to St. James together. It had been a busy morning already. Knowing that Mrs. Delzer didn’t usually have her help, Ann marveled at how the woman managed to get her family to Mass on time each Sunday.

  The short walk to the cathedral was enjoyable. Ann loved this neighborhood. It was different, though, without all the college students around.

  As soon as they arrived at their destination, the children scattered. They had Sunday school classes to attend. Ann saw Paul in their usual spot, where he had saved her a seat. She excused herself from Mr. and Mrs. Delzer’s company and joined him there.

  The homily that day was on asking God for guidance and wisdom when making decisions. What if she prayed about her questions? Could she still trust God if his answers were different from what she wanted?

  Twenty-Two

  People were crowded tight on the streetcar that morning. Ann stood near the front, holding onto a strap to keep from falling as the car made its way up the steep grade of Queen Ann Hill. The city scenery unfolded like a movie before her. Seattle was a place that had first grabbed hold of her heart when Ann had come to visit her aunt as a fourteen-year-old girl. Even after nearly a year of living here, she still found it exciting, colorful, and full of beauty. The tall buildings, the hustle, and all the people were a big part of its appeal for her.

  Now, Ann was on her way to meet Aunt Rose at her home for lunch.

  Mrs. Delzer had encouraged Ann to take the day off at breakfast that Tuesday morning. “Go, enjoy yourself. See your aunt while you have the chance. You’ll be gone soon, and I know you’ll miss her,” she said.

  Ann had gratefully accepted the offer. She carried a box of chocolates in her handbag for her aunt, a small contribution toward what was sure to be a pleasant afternoon. She always enjoyed her time with Rose.

  After getting off the trolley, Ann walked up the block toward Rose’s house, and she noticed that many of the people in the neighborhood had planted vegetable gardens in their front yards. It seemed as if everyone had a garden these days. Even in the more well-to-do areas, people were finding it necessary to grow their food and stretch their pennies as far as possible.

  Rose came to the front door wearing her curly hair pulled into a messy knot on the top of her head, a white button-up shirt that belonged to her husband, and a pair of baggy brown trousers. She’d tucked a pencil behind her ear. “Ann! Come o
n in! I’m so glad we get to spend some time together today. Oh! Chocolates! Yum … thank you. Please, excuse my appearance. I’ve been writing all morning, and I haven’t had a chance to pull myself together yet,” Rose said, laughing.

  “You look beautiful, as always! How’s the writing going?”

  “Ah, thank you. It’s going well. I need to get this manuscript off to my publisher by Friday, so I’m just working on wrapping it up. But I’m glad you could come today. I needed a break!” Rose said, leading Ann toward the back of the house. “I made us a green salad, and I thought I’d make some sandwiches to go with it. How does that sound?”

  “It sounds great! What can I do to help?” Ann asked. Just then, Rose’s poodle, Mimi, came inside from the backyard. The dog was excited to see Ann. Mimi came and sat down next to her, nudging Ann’s hand so she would pet her.

  “Nothing. Just sit down, relax, and chat with me.”

  “Paul and I are driving to Portland on Saturday to find a house to rent. Have you ever been to Portland?” Ann sat down at the kitchen table.

  “I have. It’s like Seattle in some ways. How do you feel about everything—the wedding and moving?”

  “I don’t know. Excited. Nervous. Conflicted. I’m checking into Albany College as a possibility in Portland, but I haven’t withdrawn from Seattle College yet. I keep hoping …”

  “Albany College is a good school. You have a lot of changes happening right now. You’re hoping you can stay at Seattle College?”

  “Yes.” Ann scratched Mimi’s head. “How’s married life going for you?” Ann was skirting around the questions she wanted to ask.

  Rose knew her niece well. “If you’re wondering if I’m still angry about being fired for marrying a faculty member … yes, I am. It wasn’t right what happened. Gary didn’t know about the school’s new policy, though—not until after we were married. We were all surprised. He’s still fighting against it, not just for me, but for the other women. He wanted to resign in protest after it happened. I pleaded with him not to. There was no point in both of us being out of work. He’s a good man, and I’m a lucky woman.”

  “Do you think you’ll continue writing if you have kids?” Ann was curious.

  “I don’t know. I don’t even know if we can have children. I’m not so young anymore.” Rose sighed.

  Ann reached over and took her aunt’s hand. “I’m sorry.”

  Rose smiled at her niece. Then she stood up from the table and walked over to where the bread box was on the kitchen counter. “We have some leftover roast chicken from last night. Would you like a chicken salad sandwich?”

  “Yes, please. That sounds good.” Ann paused, choosing her next words carefully. “I’m angry—I think—at Paul. But I love him so much. What if I’m making a mistake?”

  “A mistake in getting married?” Rose studied Ann’s face carefully. “You’re not married yet. You can still change your mind.”

  That’s what Mrs. Delzer had said. Ann felt guilty all of a sudden, as if she had betrayed Paul, somehow. “I want to marry Paul. I don’t even know why I said that. Silly. I’m silly, that’s all.”

  Rose set a plate with a half sandwich and some green salad in front of Ann. “You’re not silly. I’m glad you’re thinking carefully before deciding this. I’d be worried if you weren’t!”

  After they finished with lunch, Rose suggested they take Mimi for a walk. It was a sunny day. The two of them made their way toward Kerry Park.

  “I can’t believe I forgot to tell you! Paul and I visited First Presbyterian a couple of months ago. I met your old Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Carson. She asked if I was a Fairbanks girl. She said I resemble my mother. It was nice talking to her,” Ann said.

  “You do look like your mother. Wow! I remember Ms. Edith! How is she?”

  “She was friendly and seemed to be in great spirits. She told me to say ‘hello’ to you.”

  They were at Kerry Park now. From where Ann stood, she could see the sparkling blue water of Elliot Bay dotted with white sails, majestic Mt. Rainier off in the distance, the city skyline, and Bainbridge Island. The view was spectacular.

  “Gary and I should go back and visit First Presbyterian sometime. That would be good. I stopped going after my parents—your grandparents—passed away. I don’t know why, really,” Rose said.

  Two young boys were playing on the swings in the lower part of the park, down an embankment. Skronk, skree-skonk, went the metal chains on the swings. The familiar sound brought Ann’s memories back to her happy childhood. There was undoubtedly sadness, and the feeling of missing her mother was always a part of it, but there were also a lot of good times. What was her father doing at that moment? She wanted to go home one more time before she was married but wasn’t sure if she’d be able to.

  “Will you come to see me in Portland?” Ann asked her aunt.

  “Of course!” Ann nodded, smiled, and continued to watch the little boys as they played. She could picture herself living in this neighborhood with Paul. Brick, Queen Ann-style homes with pretty lawns and flower-pot-filled front porches populated the tree-lined streets around them. Gary and Rose lived here.

  “Will you show me the house that you and my mother grew up in, sometime? Is it nearby?” Ann asked.

  “It’s about a ten-minute walk from here. We could go now if you like …”

  “Yes, please!” Ann and Rose walked down Highland Drive, then turned up Sixth Avenue. It was hot outside, and Ann’s feet were starting to hurt, but she was curious.

  “Here it is!” Rose gestured toward a large white Victorian mansion with two turrets and a wraparound porch.

  Ann gasped. It was a magnificent house. “It’s beautiful!”

  The two ladies stood still on the sidewalk gazing up at the home, one remembering, and the other, imagining.

  “What was it like growing up there?” Ann asked.

  “It was lovely—most of the time. Your mother and I were best friends, and I loved having her as a sister. Our mother was very stern, and we didn’t spend a lot of time with her. But our nanny’s name was Miss Patty. She was the one we went to for everything. We had a lot of servants. It was necessary for a house of this size. Though it was hard to sell the house, I thought it was the right thing to do. It was too much for me to take on by myself.”

  “I completely understand,” Ann said. “Thank you for showing me.”

  Ann thought about her own little Wenatchee house where she had grown up. By the time she was ten, she was taking care of a good part of the cooking and cleaning for her father and herself, all while going to school. It had been a lot. She could understand why her aunt had decided to sell the family home. She wished she could see inside. It didn’t seem like anyone was home. “Do you know who lives there now?”

  “I don’t. The people who bought it from me lost their fortune in 1929, and I’m not sure who owns it now,” Rose said. An old gardener at the house across the street was weeding a flower bed, and he waved at Ann and Rose. They both waved back. “Mr. Gerald? Hello! It’s me, Rose! I used to live there,” she said, pointing to the mansion.

  “Rose! Isn’t that something. You’re all grown up! It’s good to see you,” the man said. Then he looked at Ann. “Hello. That’s a beautiful dog you have there.”

  “This is Mimi,” she said, pointing toward the dog. “I’m Ann, Rose’s niece.”

  Mimi wagged her tail. She seemed to like being told she was beautiful. The three of them talked for a few more minutes. Mr. Gerald, Ann soon learned, had been the gardener at the Fairbank’s house many years ago.

  “Your old house is vacant right now. It has been for about a year. I’m not sure what’s going on. Someone comes and takes care of the grounds, but that’s all I know,” Mr. Gerald said.

  Ann and Rose were quiet on the walk back. They were both deep in thought.

  “What if your old house was put up for sale? Would you want it back?” Ann asked.

  “No, I don’t think so. Gary and
I are both happy where we are. We couldn’t afford to live there anyhow.”

  If only Paul wasn’t set on moving to Portland. If they stayed in Seattle, would they have even the smallest chance of someday purchasing this lovely home? How wonderful it would be to keep the house in the family—a place where they could raise their own children.

  ***

  On Wednesday, Ann offered to take the Delzer children to the city pool. “You gave me a day of rest yesterday. Now it’s your turn! I can manage the children on my own,” Ann said.

  Mrs. Delzer was happy to take Ann up on that offer. “Thank you! I want nothing more than to relax with a good book today. I’ll pack everyone lunch.”

  On Thursday, the children wanted to go back to the pool again. This time, Mrs. Delzer came along too. The women relaxed in lounge chairs, chatting, while the children swam. “It’s been wonderful having you stay with us these past few weeks, Ann. I’m going to miss you when you’re gone,” Mrs. Delzer said, shielding her eyes from the bright sun.

  Ann sipped the refreshing lemonade she’d purchased at a poolside stand. “The feeling is mutual. You’ve made me feel like part of the family.”

  “In that case, you should be calling me Barbara, not Mrs. Delzer!” Barbara rummaged around in her pool bag, searching for something. “Have you seen my sunglasses?”

  “Okay—Barbara. I can do that. Oh, here’s your sunglasses,” Ann said. The sunglasses had somehow ended up in one of Sally’s shoes.

  Tomorrow would be Ann’s last day working for the Delzer family. After that, on Saturday, she’d be going to Portland with Paul to find a house, and she was going back to Wenatchee on Sunday to see her father and bring back her wedding dress. He would be coming back on the train with her. Her wedding day was barely more than a week away. Why did she feel like she wanted time to slow down?