Sorrento Girl Page 15

  “What’s to know? She likes to bake.”

  ***

  The next morning was Monday. Five more days until the wedding. Ann woke up in her childhood room and lay there a while, thinking. Being home was good. From her bed, Ann could see through the window into the backyard. The rose garden her mother had planted, before Ann was even born, was in its full glory. Ann made a plan to get up early and pick a bouquet before she headed back to Seattle on Friday morning. It would be the perfect way to have a little part of her mother with her on her wedding day. With that thought, Ann got out of bed and opened her closet door.

  Inside the closet hung the wedding dress. Ann touched the lace to her face. She decided to try it on since it had been several months. Hopefully, it still fit.

  Ann stared into the dressing mirror and pulled up her hair. How should she wear it on her wedding day? She couldn’t button up the back on her own, but it seemed as if the dress would fit perfectly. The pearl earrings from Paul would pair nicely. She sighed. Just then, she heard a knock. “Come in.”

  Her father opened the door to her room. “I need to go into work for a few hours this morning, but …” He paused, then smiled when he saw his daughter in the dress. “Wow, you look beautiful …”

  “Thank you. I just wanted to make sure everything’s ready. Is there anything you need me to do around the house today while you’re gone?”

  “No. Relax. Enjoy your day. I left some money on the counter. If you want, you can take it to the market and pick up something for dinner.”

  ***

  That night they had a chicken pot pie for dinner. Ann knew it was her father’s favorite meal. She’d spent most of the day reading in the quiet house, alone. By three in the afternoon, Ann was ready for some company. The short walk to the market provided just that. Along the way, she ran into one of her former classmates, Mary Collins—no, Smith, now. Mary had gotten married a few months ago. Of course, Mary had noticed the sparkling diamond on Ann’s ring finger and had asked about it. Ann was sure the whole town knew of her engagement within five minutes of that conversation.

  Back at home, Ann had kept an eye out for the new neighbor, but so far, it seemed like nobody was home. She had just finished setting the table when her father walked in.

  “Oh, wow … I could smell that pie before I even got in the door!” Her father’s grin almost reached both ears. “It’s sure good to have you back!”

  Ann smiled, pleased she’d made an effort. It had been a long time since she’d made the recipe. She’d almost forgotten how. Would Paul appreciate her pie as much as her father did?

  ***

  On Thursday night, her father suggested having dinner at The Windmill, Ann’s favorite place to get a steak. They were leaving early the next morning. This time, Ann and her father would be taking the Model T across the mountains on the return trip to Seattle. They had gone out driving each night that week after dinner. Her dad seemed pleased to have the opportunity to pass along one more skill to his daughter before she left to get married. Now, Ann was feeling more confident in her driving abilities. She planned to get her license as soon as she moved to Portland.

  On Friday morning, she carefully wrapped the wedding dress and placed it on the backseat, along with a generous bouquet of roses from the backyard. Ann’s luggage was squeezed into the trunk. Noel, who loved car rides, hopped into the front. Noel would be dropped off with one of her father’s employees along the way. Though, Ann would have liked it if the dog could have come along too. The car was full. By 7:00 a.m., they were pulling out of the drive.

  Ann glanced back at the little house one more time and quickly wiped away a tear, trying not to let her father see. She felt like she was saying goodbye to her childhood.

  Twenty-Five

  Rose carefully buttoned up the long row of tiny silk-covered buttons running along the back of Ann’s dress. She’d done the same for her sister, nearly twenty-two years ago. Neither woman spoke. Ann felt surprisingly somber for the occasion.

  Ann looked at her reflection in the mirror as her aunt helped her get ready for her wedding. Her dark glossy hair was worn down in waves. She wore the pearl necklace that Paul’s grandmother had given to her only yesterday. The two of them were alone in Aunt Rose’s guest room. Down the hall, her father and Uncle Gary were having coffee together, waiting. In a few minutes, they would all leave together and drive to St. James, where Paul and his family would meet them.

  After the simple church ceremony, the plan was to attend a luncheon at the elder Mrs. Lewis’s home with the families, then Paul and Ann would leave for their honeymoon. Ann still didn’t know where they were going. Paul had wanted it to be a surprise.

  “Ann, you are a picture of elegance and beauty,” Rose said. “Is everything all right?”

  Ann hesitated before answering with a question of her own. “What if we’re not ready?”

  “Oh, dear. Being nervous is perfectly normal …”

  “Were you nervous when you got married?”

  “With Gary and me, it all happened so quickly! I didn’t even have time to think about what I was doing,” Rose said.

  “I’m probably just overthinking. I do that.” Ann had a wonderful man who loved her waiting at the church. A beautiful life lay ahead of her. I’d be a fool to throw it all away, right?

  “I’m here for you. I’m on your side, Ann.”

  Ann turned around and hugged her aunt. It was good knowing that she had such unconditional support and love.

  “What do you think of the bouquet? My mother planted those roses,” Ann said, gesturing toward the flowers she’d arranged the night before, now sitting on a shelf.

  “They smell divine,” Rose said. “So, I think it’s time to go! Are you ready?”

  Ann straightened her shoulders, picked up the bouquet, and followed her aunt out the door.

  ***

  The most effective way to do it—is to do it. Ann thought of the phrase, made famous by her childhood hero, Amelia Earhart, and repeated it in her mind, like a mantra. Standing in the atrium, she could hear the strains of the organ playing, “Fur Elise.” Looking at her father, standing beside her, Ann felt bolstered in courage.

  “I need to talk to Paul. Do you think you could get him?”

  “Now?” Her father’s surprise quickly changed to understanding. “Yes, sweetheart. I can do that.”

  Waiting alone, knowing this was the right thing to do, no matter how difficult or poorly timed, Ann took a deep breath and resolved herself for what was next. Paul walked into the atrium. Ann’s father stepped outside to wait, giving them privacy.

  “Paul, I can’t. I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you. I thought I could do this. I love you, but this isn’t right,” Ann’s voice shook with emotion. Her knees felt like they were going to buckle. The room suddenly felt like it was a hundred degrees.

  The color left Paul’s face. He squeezed his eyes shut, rubbed his temples, and shook his head as if trying to shake himself from a nightmare. “Why?” He croaked. When he looked at Ann again, his eyes flashed with anger. “No… never mind.” Then, without saying anything, he walked out the front doors, past Ann’s father, got in his car, and left.

  Ann could hardly blame him. She wanted to disappear. Her father came back at that moment. He said nothing, just wrapped his arms around his daughter and waited for her to speak.

  “I can’t go in there. Can you let them know?”

  “Yes.”

  “Wait! Here …” Ann took the pearl necklace off and held it out to her father. Then she took off her ring. “Can you please give these to Mrs. Lewis?”

  ***

  Back at Uncle Gary and Aunt Rose’s house, Ann asked to be left alone and went to the guest room. The car ride back had been quiet. Ann’s family had kept to a respectful silence the whole way home from the church, knowing she’d talk when she was ready.

  What have I done?

  Ann couldn’t stop the question from circling in her mind
in an endless orbit. Oddly, she felt more at peace than she had in a long time. Still wearing her mother’s wedding dress, Ann lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She needed help, as she couldn’t get out of the dress on her own. It had too many buttons. It would feel good to take it off and put on something more comfortable.

  The gentle knock on the door was welcome. “Ann? May I come in?” Rose asked.

  “Yes. I need help unbuttoning this dress …”

  “Of course. Listen. You’re going to be alright. Paul will be too,” Rose said, turning Ann around so she could reach the buttons. “What you did wasn’t easy. I know that. You’re a brave woman, and I’m proud of you.”

  “Thank you, Aunt Rose. I couldn’t go through with it. I love Paul. But I’m not interested in a marriage where my voice doesn’t count. When he decided to move to Portland, without talking to me first, I tried to brush it off. I tried.” She brushed away a tear. “I kept thinking it was too late to call off the wedding until it very nearly was. I’m so sorry! I know you went to great effort to make this a beautiful day. A lot of people did. I have so many people to apologize to!”

  “A wedding is just a day. Marriage is for a lifetime. It was better to speak up now. No apology is necessary,” Rose said, giving Ann a hug. “How about I make us some dinner?”

  Ann stepped out of the wedding dress, then hung the beautiful garment in her closet. Then she slipped into a pair of slacks and a gray cotton blouse. She would deal with everything that needed to be dealt with tomorrow. Tonight, she was going to take it easy with her family. She’d been surprised by their understanding. But what about everyone else? Had she just made herself the most hated woman around? And could she blame them?

  Twenty-Six

  “Gary and I are leaving for our vacation in Montana next week. We’ll be away for three weeks. It sure would be nice to have someone keeping an eye on the house while we’re gone. Does that sound like something you might be interested in, Ann?” Rose asked as she handed her niece a hot mug.

  Ann took a sip of coffee and thought for a moment. It was the day after the day that everything changed. Staying here, at Rose’s house, sounded like an excellent way to pull her thoughts together and make a new plan. “Yes, I would be happy to do that. Thank you!”

  Her father joined the two ladies at the breakfast table. He took a couple of pancakes from the platter in the middle and poured a generous helping of syrup on them. Then he looked at his daughter. “Take your time figuring out what you want to do next. I need to get back to Wenatchee today. You’re always welcome to come home, for as long as you wish, but it sounds like a good plan to stay here at Rose’s.”

  “Thank you, I never registered for classes in Portland,” Ann said. “I just kept putting it off.”

  Her father poured a cup of coffee for himself. “Do you think you’d like to go back to Seattle College in the fall?”

  “Yes. But I’m embarrassed. What will I say to people?”

  Rose, who was standing at the stove frying eggs, turned and pointed her spatula at Ann. “Never mind what people think. It’s your life. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.”

  “I think I probably owe Mrs. Lewis one.” Ann was too afraid to ask about the reaction when her father had gone to tell everyone that the wedding was off. Ann hadn’t stayed around to find out. She’d gone straight to the car, where she’d waited for Aunt Rose, Uncle Gary, and her father to return.

  “You do what you think is right,” her father took a bite of his pancake. After a few more minutes, he checked his watch. “I’ve got to hit the road. Rose, thank you for your hospitality.”

  Ann walked outside with her father as he prepared to leave. “Say hello to Sophia for me,” Ann said with a teasing smile.

  “Sophia?” her father asked. As if he didn’t know to whom Ann was referring. Then, changing the subject, he said, “You’re ready to take your driving test. You should do that soon, while it’s still fresh. Maybe Gary would let you use his car …” And then he was gone.

  Ann felt older than she’d ever felt before—and not in an unpleasant way.

  Yes, she’d gained confidence—matured. But she still needed to decide what would come next. What would her future look like now?

  ***

  A week later, Ann waved goodbye to Rose and Gary as they left for Montana. She’d hidden away in the garden for the past week. Ann had to admit that it was time to get on with her life.

  Rose’s vegetable garden was looking neat and tidy. Ann, however, was a bit more unkempt. She hadn’t washed her hair all week. Ann tucked her disheveled locks under a scarf for the moment. Her hands and fingernails were a mess, as she hadn’t worn gloves while working in the dirt.

  It was time for a trip to the salon. Ann put on a plaid A-line skirt and paired it with a white cotton blouse. It was the first time in a week she’d worn anything but an old pair of Uncle Gary’s overalls. She replaced the scarf on her head with a hat and added some color to her lips with a swipe of Max Factor Rose Red. It would have to do for now.

  Unsure of where else to go, Ann decided to return to Alice’s Beauty Shop near the Sorrento, the one Helen had introduced her to a few months prior. As she rode the streetcar, Ann nervously glanced around. She didn’t want to run into anyone she knew.

  Alice, however, was a welcome sight. The hairdresser took one look at Ann when she came through the door and swooshed up to the front of the shop with the air of a fairy godmother about to transform the poor bedraggled girl. “I remember you! Ann, isn’t it? How can I help you today?”

  “Yes, I’m Ann. You have a good memory! I need a wash n’ set and a manicure, please.”

  Alice directed Ann to a chair by the sink, wrapped a cape around her neck, and tipped her back to begin washing her hair. It felt wonderful. While she worked, Alice kept up a steady stream of chatter. Ann relaxed, knowing that not only would she leave this salon a new woman, but she wouldn’t have to answer any questions either.

  Ann glanced at her watch when she stepped out of the salon onto the sunny street. It was strange, not having anywhere to be or anyone wondering where she was. It was only two o’clock. She could walk over to the college campus and see if anyone was in the admissions office today. Maybe it wasn’t too late to see if she could register for fall classes.

  Inside, the building was quiet. It was a stark change from the usual bustle and activity when school was in session. Ann walked down the long hallway until she reached the door that said, Mrs. Prouty, Dean of Women. Should she knock or just go in? Suddenly, Ann’s nerves rattled her. Her spur of the moment decision meant that she was going to have to explain what happened.

  While she was standing there deciding what to do, Ms. Danson, her math teacher, came out of the dean’s office. “Hello, Ann. How are you?”

  “Hello, Ms. Danson, I’m well, thank you. Is Mrs. Prouty in today?”

  “She is. Go on in. Will we be seeing you again this fall?”

  “That’s what I’m here to find out.”

  “Ah. Well, I hope to see you in my classroom again. Have a nice day!”

  Mrs. Prouty, having heard overheard the conversation, met Ann at the door. “Ann! What can I do for you?”

  “I didn’t register for fall because I thought I was moving to Portland, but plans have changed. Would it be too late for me to register at this point?”

  “We’ve had a surge in registrations this year, and our core classes are full, but since you’ll be taking upper-level classes, I think we can make it work.”

  Ann smiled gratefully. Would it really be this easy? Mrs. Prouty didn’t even ask about the reason behind her change of plans. No doubt, she’d figured it out. Mrs. Prouty knew about everything that went on with the women at Seattle College.

  When Ann walked out of the Admin building, she was, once again, a student at Seattle College.

  ***

  The pile of presents from the wedding shower the Sorrento Girls had given her were in the corner of the guest
room at Aunt Rose’s house. She would have to deal with them. Their presence was a constant reminder of what she had done. She couldn’t keep them. Ann supposed the thing to do would be to package them up and send them back. It would be an enormous task.

  I’ll start first thing tomorrow morning, but what will I say?

  Ann still hadn’t heard anything from Paul. She missed him and figured he was probably in Portland by now, as he would be starting his new job soon. She thought about writing him a letter but didn’t even know where to begin.

  At first, Ann had enjoyed having the house all to herself, but tomorrow would be Independence Day, and for the first time in her life, she’d be spending it alone. It was a depressing thought. Would it be weird to go to the parade by myself?

  It was almost dinnertime. There wasn’t much food left in the house. The garden was looking great, but so far, all that it was producing was lettuce and peas. That wouldn’t be enough to eat. The market would be closing soon, so she’d have to hurry.

  Questions and plans swirled about her mind as Ann left the house and made her way up the Counterbalance toward the market in the late afternoon heat. She liked her aunt’s neighborhood. It had a friendly feel to it. Farther up the hill was Nelson’s Quality Grocery. Thankfully, it was still open. Ann picked out some cheese, bread, peaches, coffee, salami, and a copy of McCall’s magazine.

  “We’ll be closed tomorrow for the holiday,” the matronly woman behind the counter said. “You going to the parade?”

  Ann smiled. “I think I might.”

  “Are you new around here? I haven’t seen you before.”

  “Rose Francis is my aunt. I’m staying with her for a few weeks.”

  “Ah, yes! Welcome! Rose is a good customer. Here, I baked some carrot cake. Let me wrap up a piece and send it with you—on the house.”

  There was a phone booth outside the market. A quick call home to her father would be good. Ann was happy to hear her father’s voice on the other end of the line. “Hello, Father. I just wanted to wish you a happy Fourth and check in with you. How are you?”