Sorrento Girl Read online

  “Yeah? You’ll do great. I met with my teacher today too. Twenty-five first graders.” Helen grimaced. “I’m a little nervous.”

  Nora laughed. “It will be like herding kittens!”

  “I’ve got to get started studying for my anatomy test, so I should probably hit the books,” Peggy said. Peggy and Nora left together after that, leaving Helen and Ann alone at the table.

  Helen gave Ann a teasing smile. “So ... are you going out with Paul again this weekend?”

  “I don’t think so. He hasn’t asked. I’m going to have dinner with my Aunt Rose and Gary. Excuse me, I guess he’s Uncle Gary.” Ann smiled. “That’s on Friday night, and on Saturday morning, I’m going to go to a protest at UW—it’s in support of my aunt and all the other women who lost their jobs because of that stupid ‘anti-nepotism’ rule. Want to come with me?”

  ***

  Ann sat near the back of Mr. Ferguson’s classroom the next morning with a notebook and pen in hand, ready to take notes. The boys were loud and teasing each other as they came into the room and found their desks. Every one of them did a double-take when they saw her sitting there. Some smiled and nodded, but all of them seemed confused as to the reason for her presence. Other than the stern secretary, Ann knew of only one other woman in the building—an art teacher.

  “Good morning, boys,” said Mr. Ferguson. The students quickly settled into their desks. “Miss Brooks will be with us for the next four weeks. She’s a student teacher from Seattle College who’ll be observing, and later, teaching you gentlemen a math unit. I expect you to help her feel welcome, and I expect you to give her your full attention and respect when she’s teaching. Say hello to her.”

  “Good morning, Miss Brooks,” said the boys.

  Ann smiled and returned the greeting. I like this. It was the first time a class had given her that kind of reception.

  Mr. Ferguson grabbed a small stack of papers from his desk. “Now, take out a pencil. We have a quiz this morning.”

  There wasn’t a whole lot to observe when the boys were taking their quiz, but Mr. Ferguson gave Ann a textbook to examine while she waited. Her thoughts drifted as the clock ticked slowly through the hour. Paul had told her that he’d gone to this school. Did he have Mr. Ferguson as a teacher? Had he sat in this very room? Ann sighed. She shouldn’t be thinking so much about Paul. Push those thoughts aside, Ann, and concentrate on becoming the best teacher possible.

  Eight

  “How about coming to Madison Park with me on Sunday after Mass? It’s cold, I know, but it’s still a great place to visit. We could get some lunch there,” Paul said.

  “Yes, I’d like that. I’ve never been there— but I’ve heard about it.” Madison Park was a Seattle neighborhood on the western shore of Lake Washington. The fairgrounds were there, and it was a favorite recreational spot for college students.

  Ann and Paul were both working and eating lunch in the newspaper office that Wednesday afternoon when he brought up the idea. Ann smiled and thought about the weekend ahead. It was going to be full but good.

  “Do you want me to pick you up at the Sorrento, or would you like to go straight from St. James?” Paul handed Ann a bottle of Coke.

  “We can go straight from Mass.”

  “So, how’s school going lately?”

  “Great! I have a student teaching practicum at your alma mater—eighth grade math with Mr. Ferguson.” She took a bite of her sandwich.

  “Really? Mr. Ferguson is still teaching?” Paul popped the top off his Coke bottle and took a drink. “Huh, that’s great! I like him.”

  Lunch was over too soon, and Ann had to get to her next class. She would have liked to have stayed and talked with Paul all afternoon. It felt good when they were together.

  Was he dating any other girls? Or was she the only one?

  ***

  Aunt Rose and Uncle Gary—she’d still have to get used to the uncle part—lived in a little bungalow on Queen Anne Hill. It wasn’t too far away from where Ann lived, and she was sorry that she hadn’t yet made an effort to visit them since she’d been at school. Gary had offered to pick her up in his car, and she was grateful, as it was already dark by four o’clock that afternoon.

  Ann loved her aunt’s cozy little house. It was as warm and inviting as its occupants. Situated on a steep slope, the backside of the house had windows that offered an expansive view of the city. Rose’s poodle, Mimi, greeted Ann first, with a wagging tail and nose nudges when Gary and Ann walked in together. The welcoming scent of freshly baked bread filled the air, and a crackling fire beckoned the new arrivals to come in and get warm.

  “Ann, darling! Welcome!” Aunt Rose hugged her niece and took her coat.

  “Aunt Rose, thank you for your invitation. Your home is so lovely.”

  “Thank you. We have a roast for dinner. Nothing fancy, but we’re happy to have you. Come in! You can help me with the salad.” Rose waved Ann toward the kitchen in the back of the house. “My garden is still producing some lettuce. I think it will be too cold soon for it to continue, but I put covers over the plants at night, and I’m pleased that they’re still holding on.” Rose pointed to the sink. “Do you want to wash the lettuce?”

  Riding in the car on the way over, Ann had been able to chat with Gary and get to know him a little better. She was happy for her aunt. He was a kind man, and the two of them seemed well suited for each other. She’d told him about her visit to the Black and Tan Club, and he, being a musician himself, had been excited to hear all about it.

  Gary walked into the kitchen just then. He had turned on a record, and the house filled with the sounds of jazz. “Can I pour you ladies something to drink?”

  The three of them laughed and talked late into the evening. Rose burned the roast, but it was no matter, there was plenty of salad and bread to go around. Aunt Rose had lived alone for years as a single woman, rarely cooking for herself, so she was still learning. Ann was seeing a whole different side of her aunt tonight—one she hadn’t known before.

  Aunt Rose told Ann about her plans to start writing, now that she was out of a teaching job. Rose did her best to smile and remain positive, but Ann knew it wasn’t easy for her to have something that had been so important to her taken away—and so unfairly, at that. Ann told Aunt Rose about the math practicum and a little bit more about Paul.

  When Uncle Gary and Aunt Rose drove Ann back to her home at the Sorrento, she sat quietly in the back seat. The protest would take place tomorrow. She didn’t know if it would help to get her aunt’s or anyone else’s jobs back, but she would be there.

  ***

  After Mass on Sunday, Ann waited for Paul on the front steps of the building. She had been sitting with Helen, Peggy, and Nora. There was no sign of Paul yet, but Ann knew he was somewhere among the crowd. She still hadn’t entered into the catechumenate process to prepare for church membership, and she wasn’t sure if she would— but St. James was a welcoming place, and she attended Mass most Sundays.

  “Hi, Ann!” Paul gave a short wave, then hiked down the steps.

  “Hello!” Just seeing him made her feel warm inside.

  He smiled and held out his arm for her. “Ready to go?”

  “I am. I’m glad the sun is out. The lake will be beautiful today.”

  Paul led Ann toward his car, which was parked on the street, and opened the passenger side door for her. A small bouquet of pink roses lay across her seat.

  She looked at Paul with a shy smile. “Thank you! These are lovely.”

  “As are you,” Paul said with a wink. Ann’s heart skipped a beat, and her face grew warm. “Would you like to take the ferry from Madison Park to Kirkland? It’s a short ride over. We could do that after lunch if you like.”

  Paul drove the car toward the lake and found a parking spot near the dock. Ann felt the warm sun shining on her through the window. She was completely comfortable and at ease now, and the afternoon stretched in front of her like a gift she couldn’t w
ait to open.

  Paul led Ann toward a small diner across the street. The two of them found a booth in front of the window. Paul handed her a menu that was tucked behind a napkin box on the table, then grabbed one for himself. “This place has the best fish and chips I’ve ever tasted.”

  “Well then, I’ll have to try them.” The smell coming from the kitchen was enticing.

  “How did it go yesterday at UW?” Paul asked, focusing on her.

  She’d told him earlier about her plans to attend the protest, and now she observed him for his reaction as she relayed the story about the crowds, the speeches, and how she felt about all of it. She wasn’t sure what his views were on working wives and mothers and where he stood on the issue of the new and controversial Anti-Nepotism policy at UW.

  Ann wanted to ask him, more than anything, but awkwardness stopped her. She could feel herself falling for Paul, and she loved being with him. Naturally, her presence at the protest had made her position clear, and he didn’t seem to have a problem with it. That would have to satisfy her—for now.

  “I don’t think we changed anyone’s mind, but now more people are aware of what happened, and I’m glad I could be there to support my aunt. It was encouraging to see so many people marching—both men and women,” she said.

  “Mm, hmm.” Paul clasped his hands in front of him on the table and leaned forward. “Would you like to do a short write up about it for The Spectator?”

  Ann grinned. “Yes, I’d be happy to.”

  The fish and chips arrived at their table, hot, crispy, and flaky-tender. Paul was right. This meal was amazing. Ann dunked her fries in the tartar sauce, and Paul dunked his in ketchup. Outside the window, they watched the ferry pull up to the dock and heard the loud, low honk of the horn announcing its arrival.

  “I’ve never been on a ferry.”

  His eyebrows raised.“Really?” Paul sat back in the booth and smiled. “I’m glad I get to be with you on your first trip. It’s a great way to get around.”

  They finished eating and made their way to the dock. The ferry was a large white and green vessel with the name Leschi painted on the stern. A few cars drove onto the lower deck. Paul and Ann boarded with about twenty other walk-on passengers. They were only going to walk around downtown Kirkland for an hour or so, then get back on the boat and return.

  The sun sparkled on Lake Washington as the boat crossed the lake. Paul and Ann stood close at the bow, huddled against the cool breeze, as the ferry passed house after house on the shore. The water was mostly smooth, but Paul put a protective arm around Ann. She loved the way it felt to be so close to him and how he smelled clean, like shaving cream.

  The boat pulled up to the Kirkland dock after a short thirty-minute ride. There weren’t many businesses open, and Kirkland was a small town, but the pair had an hour to explore before another ferry would take them back to Madison Park. The lakefront area was beautiful. Paul had chosen a fun way for them to spend a Sunday afternoon.

  He pointed to a building nearby. “Let’s see if there’s a soda fountain inside that drugstore.” They were both happy to find one there.

  “I’ll have a Cherry Lemon Sour.” Ann said when they were seated at the bar.

  “So, are you dating anyone else right now?” Paul asked with a twinkle in his eye.

  “No, why?” Was he dating someone else?

  Paul leaned in close. “Because I don’t want to date anyone else but you,” he said, then drew back and grinned.

  “I don’t either,” Ann said with a smile. She was ready to throw caution to the wind.

  On the boat ride back to Madison Park, Paul and Ann were in a world of their own, oblivious in their happiness to anything else happening around them. It didn’t matter that it had started to rain or that the cold wind made choppy waves on the lake, making the boat bob around like a little cork. All that mattered was that they were with each other.

  When Paul dropped Ann off at the front door to the Sorrento that evening, he leaned in and kissed her. His breath smelled like a cherry-flavored LifeSaver. Ann’s mind went blank for a moment. Her heart was beating faster than the wheels on a runaway train. Her toes were tingling. And then, she kissed him back. It was slow and sweet—and she never wanted it to end.

  ***

  It had been an eventful weekend. Ann was alone in her room, getting ready for bed, thankful to have some quiet time to think about all that had happened. Less than three months ago, she had been living a quiet life in Wenatchee helping her father in the orchards. Everything about this new life of hers was different and uncertain. Uncertainty made Ann nervous.

  Ann applied some Pond’s cold cream to her face and let it sit while she brushed out her hair. Carefully placing the dress she had worn that day on a hanger, she returned it to the closet. She was too wound up to sleep, so she chose a book from a small pile on her nightstand. It was her old signed copy of Amelia Earhart’s book, For the Fun of It.

  Amelia was gone now—or so they said. The search for her missing plane had been called off more than a year ago. There wasn’t a clue as to where she had disappeared. Ann liked to think, maybe her heroine had found her way to an exotic island in the middle of the South Pacific and was living with the natives, happy and at peace.

  She opened the book to a familiar spot she’d marked long ago and read the words from Amelia Earhart that had become so meaningful to Ann. “Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace.”

  Nine

  On Tuesday afternoon, Ann stopped by Seattle Day School, like she usually did every day after finishing her own classes. She picked up Margaret, Bill and David Delzer, and they all walked home together, talking about their day as they went.

  And, as usual, little Sally was the first to greet the group upon their arrival, and she ran to the gate. “Guess where we’re going today!”

  It was unusually warm for a November afternoon, and if Sally’s enthusiasm was a hint, Ann guessed they were probably headed to Sally’s favorite place, Monkey Island, at Woodland Park.

  “Umm ... we’re going to the dentist?” Ann teased.

  Sally laughed. “No!”

  “We’re going to the bank?”

  “No, silly. We’re going to Monkey Island today!”

  Ann picked up Sally and spun her around. “Monkey Island! I can’t wait!”

  The other kids excitedly ran into the house to see their mother and to find out if it was true. Mrs. Delzer was in the kitchen, and she was busy packing food into a basket. Mrs. Delzer hugged each one of them and told them they would leave as soon as she was done packing the snacks to take along. Ann greeted Mrs. Delzer and busied herself with helping by putting away the dishes that were on the drying rack.

  They had been on this outing several times already in the short time the family had employed Ann. Woodland Park was Seattle’s zoo, and the children loved to visit. They had recently moved the monkeys out of their old cages and put them on a concrete “island” that had a few trees and was surrounded by a moat of water. It was a popular attraction, and with seventeen monkeys, there was usually some drama unfolding. Not all of the monkeys got along with each other. Sometimes, they were downright mean. They reminded Ann of naughty children in need of a good teacher to put them in line.

  After a bumpy streetcar ride, they arrived at the zoo. Ann carried the picnic basket, and Mrs. Delzer led the group to a gazebo in the rose garden where they could sit and eat before visiting the monkeys. The children devoured their sandwiches and ran off to play while Mrs. Delzer and Ann sat and talked.

  Mrs. Delzer was the kind of mother Ann wanted to be someday—warm fun, and involved in the daily lives of her children. Mrs. Delzer had wanted to become a high school history teacher before she was married. After all this time, how did she feel now about putting her dreams aside for her family? It seemed like too much of a personal question to ask.

  Sally came back over to where they were sitting. “Can we go see the monkeys now?”

&nb
sp; “Yes, sweetheart,” Mrs. Delzer said, packing up the basket. “I think we’re ready. Tell your brothers and your sister that it’s time to go.”

  Sally skipped along the dirt path toward the exhibit while the rest of them tried to keep up with her. A crowd stood, watching and laughing at the monkey’s antics, but Sally wasn’t deterred. She just pushed through until she was at the front. The monkeys were in high spirits, climbing the trees and swinging on the ropes. A zookeeper stood nearby as he prepared to give them some food. Sally observed him, completely enthralled.

  “I don’t want to be a mommy when I grow up. I want to be a zookeeper instead,” Sally said when they were on the way home.

  “You can be both if you want,” Margaret said. Mrs. Delzer smiled at her girls.

  Billy scowled. “Girls can’t be zookeepers!”

  “Yes, they can too. Just because you haven’t seen one yet, doesn’t mean it isn’t possible. Your sister is a smart girl. She can do anything she sets her mind to,” Mrs. Delzer said gently. Sally and Margaret gave each other satisfied smiles as if that settled it.

  Margaret tugged on Ann’s sleeve. “Are you going to be a teacher and a mother?”

  “Yes, I’d like that,” Ann said. Would it be possible? She kept the question to herself.

  “I want you to be my teacher,” David signed. He had been reading their lips, something he was getting better at.

  “I’d like that too,” Ann signed as she kissed David on the top of his head. David could read lips reasonably well with the children’s help, and Ann had also learned some sign language.

  When they got home, it was nearly dinner time. Ann made biscuits and chicken noodle soup for the family while Mrs. Delzer ran around and tidied up the house. When Mr. Delzer arrived, Ann quietly gathered up her things and left for the day.

  The Sorrento’s windows glowed with a welcoming light as Ann approached after her long day.

  Ann greeted Mr. Frank, the doorman, as she came through the entrance.

  “Message for you at the front desk, miss.”