Circled Heart (24 page)

“I met him through his brother,” I said tersely, not in the mood for Jennie’s teasing, at least not about Drew Gallagher. “How do you know he’s innovative and progressive?” At her nonchalant shrug and amused eyes, I changed the subject. “You’re looking quite stylish, Jen. Have you been out and about?”

“Both out and about. I came by to show Grandmother my new jewelry.” Jennie stretched out her left hand so I could clearly see the large sparkle of diamond on her ring finger.

“Are congratulations in order for you and Carl Milford, then?” I asked carefully.

“How could I possible refuse so attractive an offer?” I thought I detected a touch of self-mockery in her tone, but that may have been my imagination. Jennie seemed truly pleased with the ring, turning it this way and that so the stone caught the late afternoon light through the windows. “Five carats, Johanna. Can you imagine how much this ring cost?”

“The cost to you will be even higher, Jennie, if you’re not sure about this match.”

“Mother’s beside herself with joy.”

“That’s hardly a response to my comment but never mind. I can see you’re not in the mood for serious talk. Have you set a date for the wedding?”

“No. Carl’s parents have to check their social calendar first.” The words were innocent, but this time Jennie’s muted mockery was easier to detect and harder to ignore.

“Jennie, for goodness sake—”

“Don’t lecture, Johanna. It’s never becoming in you.” We had moved into the front hallway and she turned to peer through the long, narrow window beside the front door. “Father’s here and I need to go. He’s leaving for a lengthy stay on the east coast tomorrow and can’t come in. I have a feeling he’ll be checking out his future in-laws while he’s there. He told me to give Grandmother his love, which, of course, I did.”

“Was she pleased about your news?” Jennie made a face.

“She’s like you. Too perceptive for her own good.” With a laugh she added, “I liked your Mr. Gallagher. Too bad I didn’t see him first or I might not be walking down the aisle with Carl Milford.” She examined my face. “I meant it as a joke, Johanna. Don’t give me that look.” Then she was out and down the steps to her father’s waiting motorcar.

Grandmother seemed tired that evening, so supper was an uneasy meal that I shared with her in her room, both of us speaking casually about Jennie’s engagement and both uncomfortable with the news. I couldn’t tell why Grandmother was concerned because she was deliberately noncommittal, but I knew from her tone that she had misgivings about the match.

“I’m going with Drew Gallagher to the Auditorium Building to watch him receive the Starr Award,” I volunteered. “The city wants to commend him for the Cox Experiment.”

“Is this the brother of the Mr. Gallagher on board the Titanic?” Grandmother spoke slowly and still slurred her words at the end of the day when she was tired, but I was able to understand her easily.

“Yes.”

“Have I met him?”

“No.”

“I would like to.”

“He’ll be here two weeks from Saturday. I could bring him upstairs to meet you then if you’d like.”

“Yes, I would. I’ve attended that presentation in previous years, Johanna, and it’s quite grand. What will you wear?” Until her question I hadn’t given that issue a thought, but as she spoke I had the clear picture of a straight, elegant gown of amber silk threaded through with gold. Grandmother smiled. “No, don’t tell me, Johanna. Just show me that evening.”

“You might be shocked. It’s not Jennie’s dress.”

“How fortuitous then since you’re not Jennie. Don’t forget your mother’s diamonds.” I remembered how the diamond had sparkled on Jennie’s finger. My mother’s diamond earrings weren’t five carats, but they were faceted beautifully and caught the light in a dangle that sparkled as brilliantly as Jennie’s engagement ring. The earrings would be the only jewelry I would need.

“I won’t. They’ll be perfect.” Impulsively I leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. “Good night, Grandmother.” I almost told her I loved her, but she was not one to welcome sentiment, and I didn’t want to embarrass her or myself. She reached out and briefly took my hand in hers.

“Good night, Johanna. You look very much like your mother tonight.”

“Truly?” I was surprised and pleased by the comparison.

“Yes.” Grandmother’s eyes held a definite twinkle. “I remember that same look on Nettie’s face the night she came home and announced she had met a man named David Swan.”

“Drew felt obligated to ask me,” I protested, “because of our mutual connection with Cox’s. I wouldn’t read anything into the invitation.”

Grandmother did not have time to respond to my words because Crea knocked on the door and stepped inside, saying with a smile, “I think it’s time for your exercises, Mrs. McIntyre, and then I can help you get ready for bed unless you’d prefer Johanna’s help tonight.”

“No, Crea,” my grandmother replied. “Johanna is too busy being evasive.”

Crea looked at me curiously. “That doesn’t sound like the Johanna I know, the woman who’s usually blunt and practical to a fault.”

“She’s only efficient with other people’s lives.” Turning to me, Grandmother added, “Good night, Johanna,” and I realized I was dismissed for the night.

Before I went to bed, I took out the amber dress and held it up against me as I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my room. The garment was beautiful even on the hanger, nothing corseted or cinched anywhere, the fabric flowing and shimmering with its low, elegant drape of neckline and those unusual sleeves that flowed seductively before being caught tightly at the wrist by golden cuffs. Very far removed from the tailored, corseted dresses of current style. No rustling satin, no scalloped lace or heavy rows of seed pearls, nothing pastel or traditionally feminine to be found. Nothing of Jennie there but perfect for me somehow as Claudette had predicted. I thought my words to Grandmother were at least partially true: Drew had invited me for the evening because he thought such a gesture fair. I refused to speculate on any additional reason for the invitation. Whether there was more to it or not, I was excited to be going and intended to enjoy myself every minute of the evening.

By mid-October, Hill Street turned to a blaze of gold and crimson. The oaks and elms that lined the street were resplendent, the colors as vivid and glorious as I could ever remember.

“All that color means a hard winter,” predicted May ominously, thinking of the winter winds off the lake and Chicago’s January bite of ice and snow. Before the next spring, though, I would recall May’s comment with grieving irony, her prophecy more accurate than either of us could have imagined.

October nineteenth turned into the quintessential autumn evening. The cool, azure afternoon sky became cold and black and crystal-clear, overflowing with stars and a brittle, white sliver of moon. I had not heard one word from Drew until the day before when I received a brief, hand-written note, reminding me of the date and time, concluding with a casual, I’m looking forward to the evening, Johanna, tacked on almost as an afterthought. I accepted the fact that I was looking forward to the occasion more than he and decided not to let the knowledge bother me. Since Grandmother’s stroke my life had included little outside of home and the Anchorage. I hadn’t attended one social occasion and I spent my personal time either with the family or with May and Crea. Allen Goldwyn seemed to have dropped off the face of the earth. Once in a while I thought guiltily that I should send him a friendly note just to see how he was, but the moment invariably passed without my taking any action. Considering the humdrum routine I’d fallen into, it was perfectly natural that I would be excited about attending a gala affair with an attractive man. Any attractive man would have done just as well, I told myself, but why shouldn’t I look forward to being with Drew Gallagher? The evening’s main guest of honor, after all, so perhaps some of his sudden splendor would rub off on me.

Crea knocked on my door just in time to help me with the small, gold-flecked buttons that ran down the back of my dress. I turned my back to her as she entered my bedroom, saying, “Good timing, Crea. Will you help me with these buttons? Why do they have to be so blasted small anyway?” I waited for her to begin and when nothing happened, turned around to see her still standing in the bedroom doorway. “What?” I demanded, trying to decipher the look on her face.

“Johanna, you look—” Crea began and then stopped, searching for the right word.

“Is the dress wrong?” I asked, suddenly anxious. “I don’t have to wear this dress, you know. I have others that would do just as well and would be much less noticeable. Just tell me. I promise I won’t be offended.” At her continued silence, I added, “That does it. Never mind about the buttons. Help me get into something else. Drew will be here—”

“You look extraordinary,” Crea finished. “Simply extraordinary.”

“Not beautiful?” In my simplistic way, I would have been content with pretty and was not above seeking out the compliments I preferred.

“Better than beautiful,” Crea stated firmly, coming farther into the room and smiling at my expression. “Johanna, there’s nothing traditional or ordinary about you. In that dress, you look—” Another pause, then, “Glamorous is all I can think of. Absolutely glamorous. You’ll take people’s breath away. I guarantee it.”

“A hard fall off a ladder does the same thing,” I commented dryly, turning around once more. “Now will you please finish these buttons for me?” Crea laughed and came forward to make quick work of the buttons.

“You’re always so businesslike, I never suspected this side of you.” She turned me around by the shoulders. “With your hair all soft and curly and the way that gown turns your skin golden, you look like a different woman from the one who stood in the doorway and dared Yvesta’s husband to take a swing at her.” The downstairs bell rang just as I turned to view myself in the mirror, and I met Crea’s gaze there.

“Oh, dear,” was all I said in a little voice, suddenly uncertain and bashful and twelve again. Crea gave me hard hug.

“You look splendid, Johanna. Mr. Gallagher won’t be able to take his eyes off you and isn’t that what you intended, after all?”

As she headed out the bedroom door and down the stairs, I started to call a protest and then stopped to turn back to the mirror and give myself a rueful smile. “Oh, yes,” I agreed softly. “That is exactly my intention.” My mother’s diamond earrings twinkled agreement.

I threw my evening cape over my shoulders and went downstairs. The butterflies that fluttered somewhere in the pit of my stomach disappeared entirely when Drew turned from speaking to Crea to say pleasantly “Hello, Johanna.” He looked very handsome, dressed formally in a black dress suit with black silk lapels and a very fashionable waistcoat that showed a slight flicker of silver when he moved. The gold of his hair and the silver sheen of his vest would show to advantage under the Auditorium’s renowned gold stencils and myriad of electric lights. Crea murmured something and slipped away quietly.

After I gave Drew a quick greeting, I asked, “I know this may seem foolish to you, but would you mind very much meeting my grandmother? We’ve been talking about the Starr Ceremony all week. She and my grandfather attended the very first award banquet a number of years ago, and she said she’d be honored to meet you.” Of course, she hadn’t said that or anything like that, but I’d practiced making something up and thought what I invented sounded plausible.

“Naturally you set her straight about my character first thing.” Drew gave me a grin. “Never mind, Johanna, and I doubt your grandmother said anything of the sort. She’s probably much more concerned about the kind of man you’ll be spending the evening with, and I can’t say I blame her. If I were your grandmother, I’d forbid you to be alone with me, just on general principles.”

“If you were my grandmother, you couldn’t be the recipient of the Starr Award because you’re female, so we’d have no reason to spend the evening together. The issue would be entirely moot.” I led him toward the front room. “She’s sitting up in her chair and has been waiting to meet you for the better part of an hour. I hope you appreciate the effort.”

“I’ll try to be on good behavior and not say anything to upset her.” I knew from his meek tone that he was laughing at me.

“Believe me, Gertrude McIntyre is completely unflappable. You could cross your eyes, mispronounce words, and eat peas with a knife and it wouldn’t faze her good manners one little bit.”

“Even if I did all three at once?” Drew whispered from behind me, and I had to swallow a laugh.

“Even then,” I retorted in an equally low voice and then raised it for introductions. The part about Grandmother waiting for a while had been true enough. She’d dressed for the occasion and now sat on the edge of the parlor loveseat, straight-backed and regal, with both hands resting on the head of the cane she held before her.

“Mrs. McIntyre, I was sorry to hear of your illness, but I admit that if I didn’t know of it, I would never guess you had been incapacitated. You look very fine this evening.”

Grandmother’s words were slow and measured so she was sure she would be understood without excessive effort or ambiguity. “I feel very fine, Mr. Gallagher. Thank you for your kind words and thank you for the flowers you sent as well. They were beautiful and stayed fresh for an uncommonly long time. Johanna must have shared my particular fondness for yellow roses with you.” I didn’t know Drew had sent anything to Grandmother, let alone her favorite yellow roses, but I wasn’t about to admit such a lack of knowledge and only smiled agreeably as they both turned to look at me. At that moment, I had an odd, fleeting sensation that Grandmother and Drew were in some way aligned together against me, an impression that continued for a few more minutes as they conversed easily, two old friends chatting and my presence completely superfluous.

Finally Grandmother said, “You’ll be late, Mr. Gallagher, if you don’t leave now, and it’s never good form to be late to your own party. I’ve enjoyed meeting you. Congratulations on the Starr Award. The recipients comprise a rare and prestigious group of men.”