Sisterhood Of Lake Alice (7 page)

Rebecca was born six weeks early. Her first few days were touch and go. The doctors did not offer much hope because of the baby’s serious heart and lung problems. Monica’s mother, Ruby, and Aunt Trudy both tried to tell Monica that it might be best if the baby did not survive. Monica could then resume her life, and no one would ever know about the disgrace to the family name.

Monica prayed for her tiny daughter to fight and live. She promised God that she would dedicate herself to this child if she survived. Each day, the baby grew stronger. Her cheeks grew a little pinker every day. Finally, after three weeks, a nurse asked Monica what the baby’s name was so they could put it on her tiny crib. Without a second thought, Monica named her daughter Rebecca Ann DuPree. She wanted her daughter to have a strong, noble name. She was convinced that Rebecca would survive. She also knew that God would make her keep her promise to become a caring mother to this fragile child.

*

After several emotionally charged arguments, Monica and her mother took Rebecca home to Fergus Falls. At first, Ruby insisted that they make up a story about Monica marrying a boy just before he left for Vietnam. After a proper period of time, they would tell everyone that her husband had been killed in the war; however, Monica refused to lie. She decided that the truth would just have to be good enough. If people were going to judge her, she would accept their harsh remarks and move on. Ruby, Monica, and Rebecca settled into their new life in the tiny little house on Bancroft Street.

The day they came home, the neighbors surprised Monica with a baby shower. Once the gifts were opened and the cake and coffee served, Monica knew in her heart that she had made the right decision. That evening after everyone was in bed, she wrote a letter to Tim. She told him about the baby and how much she loved her. She enclosed a photo of herself and Rebecca in the hospital. Monica told Tim that he was under no obligation to them, but that she hoped he would come and visit soon.

Two weeks later, she received a large envelope from a lawyer’s office in Minneapolis. The letter stated that they represented Mr. Timothy Meyer. There was an offer for a payment of $40,000 if the enclosed papers were signed, which would release all parental rights of Mr. Meyers to the child named Rebecca DuPree. It further stated that if Monica agreed to this payment, there would be no future contact with Mr. Meyer under any circumstances. As Monica read the documents, it was apparent that she should take the money and sign the papers. Rebecca’s life would be far better off with the two women who had grown to adore her.

The next day, she mailed back the signed papers and put copies in her little metal box for safekeeping. A few weeks later, the cashier’s check arrived. Monica took the check to the bank and opened two accounts. Half the money went for an educational account so Rebecca would be able to go to college. The other half would take care of them until Monica could find a job to support the DuPree women. As she walked home, she knew that life was going to be okay.

*

Life turned into a simple kind of happiness for the DuPree women. Their neighbors, the Newtons, adored little Rebecca and spoiled her with surprise gifts and lots of attention. She was the little girl they never had. Rebecca grew into a younger version of Monica, with long, pale blonde hair and dark green eyes. She was often sick. By the age of five, she had been hospitalized several times with severe asthma attacks. Because of her health problems, she spent most of her time in the house. She was not able to keep up playing with the neighborhood kids. She could not ride a bike or run any distance without becoming winded and needing to rest.

During one of her hospital stays, a nurse suggested to Monica that when Rebecca started having an asthma attack, she should take her into the bathroom and turn on a hot shower to produce steam, and then start singing songs that Rebecca knew. Many times, this could get the child’s mind off the breathing struggles and get her back into a stable breathing pattern.

Monica took the nurse’s advice. Much to her surprise, it worked. Soon the Newtons listened as Monica and Rebecca sang at the top of their voices. Rebecca connected singing with feeling better. For Rebecca’s seventh birthday, Lee and Sylvia Newton gave her singing lessons with the choir director from their church. Once a week, little Rebecca went for her lesson and enjoyed every minute of it. It was the one thing she discovered that she did well.

*

By the time she was ready for high school, she was singing in two choirs and was often the soloist at several of the local churches. People were always amazed at the strong and beautiful voice that came out of the tiny little girl with the soulful green eyes. Although Rebecca was comfortable singing in front of anyone, she was terribly shy when it came to any other kind of social situation. She did well in school, but never raised her hand. She often had to stay in during recess, which meant that she never made friends.

At home, from the time she could remember, Rebecca was treated more like an adult than a child. Her grandmother, Ruby, often remarked that she was an old spirit trapped in a little girl’s body. She was mature beyond her years. Each year she became more shy and reserved. She even dressed different from the other girls in her class. Instead of the latest fashions, she often wore her mother’s sweaters, which were many sizes too big for her, and long skirts that sometimes touched the floor. Her dull colored clothes made it seem as though she simply was not even there—invisible and a loner.

Rebecca dreaded going to Fergus Falls High School. She had been happy to sit in her classes at Adams Grade School, where she could fade into the corner, unnoticed by the world. She knew that would be more difficult in high school. She was so nervous about going to high school that she had a serious asthma attack. Monica rushed her to the hospital for breathing treatments. The attack was so serious that Rebecca missed her entire first week of school. To make matters worse, because she had missed school orientation, she always seemed to be lost and was often late to class. She was miserable.

Monica finally had a heart-to-heart talk with Rebecca. She encouraged Rebecca to audition for the school choral group and told her that it was time for her to make some friends. Rebecca was quickly welcomed into the choral group. At last, she felt as though she had found a place where she could belong. Every day, she came out of her shell of shyness a little more. Within a month, the choral director invited Rebecca to consider joining the girls’ quartet that was being formed. That was the turning point—the day life changed for Rebecca.

For the first time in her life, Rebecca had girlfriends—friends who taught her how to laugh at herself, how to be silly, how to have fun, and how to share. The girls of SOLA bonded together in song. Quickly they became each other’s best friends. Rebecca shared her secrets with Lindy, Emily, and Grace. She became the closest to Grace. She loved going over to Grace’s house, which was filled with people and noise. Grace and Rebecca often slept over at Emily’s house, in a bedroom that looked as though it was decorated from a magazine. Often, when they walked home the next morning, Grace and Rebecca compared their own tiny bedrooms with the beauty of Emily’s and Lindy’s.

Rebecca never felt poor, just not rich. Grace would often complain about her father and his constant bouts with depression. Rebecca would tell her that she often fantasized about what her father looked like. She dreamed that some day he would come to see her. He would shower her with gifts and take her on expensive vacations, while constantly apologizing for being such a jerk to her and her mother.

Emily passed her clothes on to Rebecca after she had outgrown them. They all teased Rebecca about her tiny size 4 clothes and the little shoes that she wore. Rebecca sang her heart out with the girls. She had finally found some happiness. Both her mother and grandmother felt relieved that Rebecca had learned how to laugh and be silly. Her grades were great, her singing grew stronger, and they were optimistic for Rebecca.

*

There had been no conversations regarding Rebecca’s dad. Monica had been honest with her. On Rebecca’s sixteenth birthday, she asked her mother once more about her father. Monica went and brought back the metal box. She handed it to Rebecca and allowed her to read all of the papers. When she was done, Rebecca simply closed the box and handed it back to Monica.

The box contained photographs of the two of them dressed up for the prom. There were a few cards and notes that Tim had sent to Monica. All the legal documents and the request that she never contact Tim were also there. Rebecca read them all through her tears. She stared at the prom photo for a long time before placing it back in the metal box. Rebecca turned to her mother and gave her a hug. She told her that now she knew what a cold and heartless father she had. She promised herself that she would never give him another moment of thought.

During her senior year, she received a full scholarship to the Music Conservancy at St. Catherine College. Grandma Ruby and Monica were so incredibly proud of all that Rebecca had achieved. They knew that God had truly blessed Monica’s decision to keep the fragile baby girl eighteen years before.

*

Tim Meyer stood in the back of the auditorium. Married for almost ten years and the father of two very spoiled sons, he rarely came to Fergus Falls. He had made his fortune the same way as his father—in real estate. He had never felt any desire to get in touch with the daughter he had never met. His mother’s funeral was the only reason he was in town. He had read in the
Daily Journal
about the graduation. There was a photograph and a small article about Rebecca DuPree. It announced her full scholarship. He felt that he just needed to see what she looked like.

So there he stood in the back of the auditorium, watching his only daughter receive her diploma. She received applause from people who clearly adored her. She had her mother’s beautiful, long, silky hair and smile. Tim was shocked as the tears started to run down his cheeks. He quickly turned to leave when he saw Monica sitting with her mother. She turned looking for someone, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. She looked at him as a stranger, and then turned to wave at a friend. Tim walked away slowly, leaving the daughter he had chosen never to know.

Turning in her seat, Monica’s heart was beating fast. She had immediately recognized Tim. All of the past surfaced as she sat there trying to reclaim her composure.
Why was he here? What did he want? Why did it still ache to see his face after all these years?

Tim left town the next day. However, before he left, he drove slowly down Bancroft Street past the little yellow house where he knew Monica had raised their daughter. They were standing out in the backyard talking with the neighbors as he drove past. He knew that he had no right to stop. He also knew that because he had finally seen his daughter, he would never be the same. The guilt that he thought he had erased was now back in full force. He would never know her, see her smile, or hear her laugh. He realized that this was the price he paid for his selfish decision as a self-centered young man so many years ago.

Chapter Five
 

Going Away

Shortly after graduation, Emily was whisked off to Europe, much to her chagrin. All she really wanted to do was stay home. She longed to enjoy her last summer in Fergus Falls with her three best friends. She wanted to lie on the beach at Pebble Lake, where the girls would spend hours gossiping about their classmates, dreaming about the men that would capture their hearts, and making plans to travel together after college. Instead, she was going to spend time in London, Paris, and Oslo. Going to visit Isabel for one week while her parents went on a yacht with some friends was the only thing she looked forward to doing.

The vacation proved to be a total bore for Emily. She often stayed with strangers while her parents partied. She felt out of place, lonely, and unwanted. She begged her father to allow her to go back home, where she could start to prepare for college. She was told that her clothes had been purchased and arrangements had been made to have everything she needed delivered to her dorm room in time for her arrival. Quietly Emily passed each day away, dreaming of the freedom and friends she would develop at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She was anxious for her new life to begin without the constant interference of her parents. She counted the days until she would go to visit Isabel, knowing that after her visit she would be flying home. She had two weeks at home before leaving for Madison and her new beginning.

*

Emily was greeted at the airport with homemade signs and a small group of strangers. In the front of the group stood Isabel, who quickly ran to Emily. Both of them felt the immediate connection to their past together. Isabel proudly introduced Emily to her brother, his family, and a good-looking man named Rolf. It was obvious that Isabel and Rolf had already become a couple.

The week was a whirlwind of sightseeing, eating, and laughing. Emily went to bed each evening exhausted. She was happier than she had been in a long time. From the mountains to the fjords, Norway was incredibly beautiful. Everywhere she went, Emily found the people were warm and welcoming. She quickly fell in love with their simple lifestyle and their small, colorful houses. The week flew by much too quickly. Before she knew it, she was back at the airport leaving for her flight back to the United States.

Isabel and Emily cried as they hugged each other. Isabel spoke softly. “Oh my sweet Emily, it is so hard to leave you again. However, now I know that you are a strong and wonderful woman. I know we will be miles apart, but remember you can always call me. I am so grateful that you have discovered yourself and your many talents. Now it is time for you to go have fun, learn new exciting things, and treasure who you are. My dear child, you deserve happiness. Go find it and enjoy the life you have been given. Hopefully, every once in a while, you will write me and let me know how life is treating you.”