Misfortune: Christmas With Scrooge (15 page)

The four-poster bed itself was a masterpiece
with its carved posts meticulously sculptured. A floral quilt
enhanced the look with matching curtains hung from the six long
windows banked against the east wall. The many windows gave the
room a sunny atmosphere and Laura could hardly wait to be woken by
them.

“You have your own private bath through this
door.” Adell opened a door to an equally stylish room.

It was small in size, compared to the
bedroom, of course, but it held a gorgeous Victorian claw-foot bath
and a custom-built vanity adorned with chintz drapes and dangling
rose tassels substituting as paneled doors. The counter top held a
vase of fresh flowers and an assortment of hand-made fabric boxes
filled with dainty soaps and perfumes.

Impressed, she told the woman, “It’s lovely,
Adell. You've done a beautiful job.”

“Well, I confess, I’ve had a little
professional help. But the general theme I came up with.”

Later that evening, after supper, while Adell
finished her tour of the remainder of the home, her husband,
Norton, called from the construction site where his latest building
was being erected and informed his wife he would not be home for
supper due to problems which had arisen.

Laura discovered Norton was a
well-established architect with many of his well-known buildings
gracing the skylines of cities such as Toronto and Montreal. They
had met ten years ago when Norton's company was hired to design and
build the Britten Investment and Financial Group, even though, to
Laura's surprise, they were only married slightly over a year.

“When I first met Norton I knew right away.
Here was the man I wanted to spend out the rest of my life with.”
Her eyes went dreamy as she drifted back into the past.

“But why did it take so long for you to
marry?” They had taken their tea into a cozy sitting room and sat
opposite each other on a plump sofa.

Adell shook her head. “We had to keep our
relationship very secretive for the first few years.”

“Whatever for?”

“Some members of my family would have found
it difficult to understand.” She stated calmly as if it held no
importance.

“Dexter.” Laura knew instantly.

The man's mother shrugged nonchalantly. “It
was difficult after his father died.”

“What happened? I mean, how did he die?”

“There was a terrible accident. His car went
over a bridge.” She took a gulp of her warm drink before
continuing. “Dexter witnessed it all.”

Laura gasped, horrified. “That explains why
he's—” she broke off quickly, realizing what she was about to say
and who she was speaking with.

However, Adell nodded. “Yes, it's made him a
very bitter and hateful young man. I couldn't help him, because he
didn't want my help or anyone else's for that matter.”

“Why not? Seeing something so horrendous as
the death of your own parent is very traumatizing.”

“He believes himself responsible.” She
reached over and placed her cup on a saucer of bone china.

“But why?”

“He was in the car as well, but managed to
escape before it went over.”

Sorrow filled Laura. “That doesn't make it
his fault.”

“We all understand that, but for some reason
he refuses to be allowed forgiveness.”

Two finely shaped brows drew together above
Laura's eyes. “He must be in a lot of pain.”

His mother nodded. “That was why when I met
you, I thought perhaps you might be able to help him.”

“Me? Because of my psychology
background?”

“Yes, but mostly because I could tell you
generally liked him. He doesn't leave that impression on much of
anyone anymore.”

Laura was struck dumbfounded, then quickly
flapped her tongue. “Yes, it's true I like your son. But, why
shouldn't I? He's done a lot to help me, with my shelter and
financial accounts.”

Adell shook her head again. “Before that, at
the Christmas party. I saw the way you looked at him. The same way
I looked at Norton ten years ago.”

She blushed hotly. “I'm sure I don't know
what you're talking about.”

The older woman smiled. “You're just like
him. I suppose that's why he likes you as well.” And at the girl's
startled expression added, “I saw the same look on his face that
night.”

Laura was quick to differ. “Now I'm sure I
don't know what you're talking about.”

Adell sighed. “I suppose when the time is
right . . .”

She allowed the words to drift away, unsaid.
“Meanwhile, let's do change the subject. My son's somber
disposition is beginning to depress me, and I do so want to enjoy
your stay while I can.”

She smiled, responding, “Yes, let's do, by
telling me where in heavens did you get all these seashells?”

Diverting their attention, and conversion,
toward the glass-topped curio-style coffee table displaying many
seashells exhibited on a black velvet case beneath it.

“I've collected them on our travels across
the world.” She sat forward, excitement filling her voice.

Laura was pleased to be off the subject of
their earlier topic. As it was, it left her with a lot of
disturbing thoughts. “You've traveled the world?”

“Not all of it. Just a good portion.” She
leaned over and pulled a drawer, bringing the shells out for closer
examination. “This one I found in a little shop in Vienna, and this
one at a flea market along the coast of a small village in Peru.
Now this beauty is especially valuable to me. It was one of my
firsts I found when Norton and I went to England together for the
first time. It was a wonderfully romantic spot. We stayed at a
quaint bed and breakfast near Bristol overlooking the sea. Many of
nights we would stroll arm in arm along the seashore. One night I
looked down and there it was, glistening up at me in the
moonlight.”

Laura looked at the tiny opal colored shell
and smiled. Somehow she understood it was not the shell itself but
the memory of that stay which held its value.

“Listen.” She handed the shell over to
Laura.

Placing it against her ear she heard a faint
rumbling sound, very similar to that of the sea.

“Norton would say as long as the sea's echo
could be heard, was how long he would love me. It was the first
time he told me he cared.”

“How romantic.” She handed the shell
back.

“Mmm, Norton isn't normally a very romantic
man, but when he is, I value it that much more.” She placed the
shell gently back on its mat. “Because it comes from the
heart.”

Laura sighed contently and sat back against
the upholstery.

“My, I'm keeping you up. You must be tired.”
Adell mistook her sigh.

“Maybe a little, but I enjoy listening to
your memories.”

“Which could have waited until tomorrow. Now,
off to bed. We'll have another little tete-a-tete tomorrow.”

“I'd like that.”

The woman leaned over and took Laura's hands
in hers. “Good, I'm glad to hear it.”

When Laura went to bed her dreams were full
of English countrysides, seashells and silly romantic notions. For
instead of seeing Adell and Norton Cameron strolling lovingly along
the seashore, an image of Dexter embracing her passionately
silhouetted against the moonlit kissed seaside emerged. Silly, for
she knew the infeasible odds of Dexter caring in the slightest were
nonexistent. And yet, a shudder of pleasure rippled inwardly at the
depth of how real the image felt.

* * *

The following morning, Adell took her to the
same classy shop from which Dexter purchased the outfit the day
before. Trying on everything in the store from undergarments to
overcoats, Laura left with an armful of bags but couldn’t help the
guilty feeling nudging her conscious. She wasn‘t used to spending
so much at once.

Next, they drove down into Toronto where they
spent an excursion through the prominent shops in the heart of
downtown. The popular stores were more than pleased to assist in
the rebuilding of her wardrobe. Lavishing blouse after blouse,
skirt after skirt, until finally Laura felt she exhausted her
spending limits. She wasn't entirely sure just how much of the
expense the insurance company would cover.

Around the lunch hour they left the city and
headed north back home. They stopped in Gravenhurst for lunch at a
restaurant along the shoreline of Lake Muskoka, and enjoyed a meal
of superb delicacy and then followed through with a stroll along
the city’s historic streets. Laura enjoyed browsing through the
unique shops and small art galleries in buildings dating back to
the late 1800's. The town was incorporated into a village in 1877
and was one of the original settlements in the Muskoka area.
Originally, it became a popular spot on account of timber from the
surrounding woodland, finding its way to the many sawmills along
Lake Muskoka, and completely covered the small lake with logs.
Today, its chilly waters remained empty and calm.

They walked down to the port overlooking the
Muskoka Bay and followed through with a stroll along its shoreline.
A public flea market enticed them to take a look and wander through
the many unusual and unique collectibles. Adell was pleased to find
a seashell to add to her collection.

The weather remained beautiful for the rest
of the day with only the slightest cool breeze drifting in from the
Bay. They decided to finish their outing with a stroll along the
waterfront, however, far too soon, they were seated back in Adell's
plush Volkswagen and heading east out of the city. Forty minutes
later they pulled into her drive, tired and exhausted.

Carrying most of her parcels, with the help
of Adell, Laura took them up to her room where she began the
process of putting them away. As she hung a lovely printed dress of
wine coloring, she sighed with contentment, completely relaxed and
apart from all her problems. There wasn't a moment during the day
when she allowed thoughts of the fire and her home; finding when
she did she was able to easily turn them in the opposite direction.
Being with Adell and her jovial personality made it all that more
possible.

Behind her, the woman's footsteps walked
briskly across the hardwood floor toward her. “There was a message
on my answering machine. You are to call your insurance
company.”

“Oh, thank you.” Her eyes lit up. At last she
could settle this obligatory process and clear up her outstanding
debts. Tomorrow she would begin immediately the search for a
restoration and reconstruction firm to rebuild her father's
home.

“You can take it in the study, it'll give you
more privacy.”

Rushing eagerly down into the room, her mind
envisioning two-by-fours, drywall, and shiny new red bricks she
found the phone against the back desk. With excitement, she dialed
the number.

She got through to the insurance company
after the second ring and gave her name. They put her on hold for a
few minutes while she anxiously waited. When the line was picked up
again, the gentleman who assisted her and Dexter the day before
came on the line.

He began with pleasantries than plunged right
in to his call. “I'm afraid I have some bad news.”

“Bad?”

“Yes, it seems your premium payment was paid
late for the month of August. Unfortunately, we are unable to honor
your contract with us.”

Laura felt as if someone just plunged a knife
dead straight in her midriff. She couldn’t possibly have heard him
correct. “I-I know it was a little late, I’ve been having some
financial difficulties. But I mailed it in as soon as I had the
funds.”

“We do offer a thirty-day grace period,
however, you paid it on day thirty-five. I'm terribly sorry, but we
won’t be able to help you.”

“No, no, no,” she pleaded into the phone.
“There must be something you can do? I’ve been paying for that plan
for years now.”

“Again, I'm terribly sorry Miss Witherow, and
I hope this does not leave you with too much of an
inconvenience.”

She gasped at his words, the strength in her
legs felt as if the blood had been drained from them. With a
defeated sigh, she collapsed in the nearby leather sofa, the phone
dangling from her limp hands at her side.

“Laura? What's wrong?” Adell stood in the
doorway.

Her lips moved but nothing came out.

The older woman came over and covered Laura's
hand with her own before returning the receiver to its cradle. “You
look dreadful. What happened? What did they say?”

Her voice cracking, she spluttered out,
“They're not going to cover my insurance claim.”

“What? How can that be? There must be a
mistake.” Horrified, she took the seat next to Laura.

“They said I never made August's premium in
time.”

“And did you?”

“Of course, it was just—” She was quick to
maintain, but then the ghastly reality of her phone discussion
struck her forcibly.

“What is it?”

Nauseated, she felt her stomach lurch. “I
didn't have the money. I was going to cover it soon after the
second Bingo Night, but I hardly made any money that night.”

“Good Lord.” Adell bit her lip fretfully.
“I'll call Dexter, right away. He'll know what to do.”

Numb, Laura hardly registered the woman's
words or actions. Adell reached over and began dialing a number on
the phone.

“Dexter, it's your mother. Something horrible
has happened—no Laura's not been hurt, but—” She looked at the girl
who stared mindlessly into thin air. “Can we come to see you as
soon as possible—yes, it's very important—good, I'll see you
then.”

Hanging up the phone, she turned back to
Laura. “Everything's going to be all right. Wait and see. Dexter
will settle this.”

Dexter. That was it! The money she had handed
over to him to invest, she would use instead of the insurance
claim. With a leap of hope, blood began to color her face and the
air began to flow through her lungs once more.