The Awakening (4 page)

Chapter 7

June 1, 1971

    Adele was often discouraged and because of it, she’d visit Bentley on a regular basis. Next to Tammy, he was her best friend. And she was captivated by his stories and soon discovered that while there, she could talk freely and confide in him all about her disappointments in life.                                   

     And so, on a cool Saturday afternoon Adele went to visit him. When he didn’t answer the door, she scooted around back, and found him sitting on a bench looking rather lethargic.

    “Are you okay?”

    His face was flushed, his breathing heavy and she quickly looked concerned.

     He looked up, surprised. “Perfectly fine.”

     “Really?”

    “Yes. Actually, I was reading a magazine on airplanes.”

    Bentley kissed her forehead, and then gave her in a warm hug.

    “Reading?”

     “What’s wrong with that?”

      Adele sat down beside him and straightened his collar. “Nothing I suppose.”

    “You know Adele, you’ve turned out to be quite the motherly type. Make a fine mother one day.”

     She scowled. “I’m not having children.” And threw her head back.

      “Why not?”

      “Because I’d have to get married. Think I’ll make my own future… without a man, thank you very much.” Her voice sounded stiff and judgemental.

     Bentley had to turn away for moment to stifle a laugh. He then turned around and stared at her. “Have it all planned out, eh?”
    “I do. I’ll become a lawyer. I’ll make lots of money and never need a man for anything.”

    “Sounds like a good plan. Although you’d be missing out on something very special.” He shifted his weight on the bench. “You’d make a beautiful wife to some lucky guy.”

     “What’s so great about marriage?” she asked. “And by the way, if marriage is so wonderful, haven’t you tied the knot?  Hmm?”

    He chuckled. “Guess I never met the right woman.”

    She giggled. “Guess we’re two of a kind.”

    “Sure is hard talking to you. You’re already so set in your ways.” He smiled, and changed the subject. “Now tell me, how’s everything at home? Are your parents well? I haven’t seen your father in such a long time. Why, I don’t recall the last time I saw him.”

     “Lousy. Home life is lousy. I’m running away,” Adele huffed.

     “Why?”

     “Because Dad’s a real creep, that’s why.”
    Bentley leaned forward. “We talking about the same fellow? Ryan Martin? The nice man…”
     “Used to be—four or five years ago. He changed a long time ago, Bentley. You have no idea what life is like at home.”
      “Can’t be all that bad. I’ve never heard any rumours. Stuff like that gets around pretty fast, especially with Birdie.”
      “Nobody knows,” she said, “Mom’s afraid to tell. But I’ll tell you this… one day I came home from school and the house was upside down. Mom had two black eyes and… and, I can’t take it anymore.” Adele broke down and wept.
      “That bad, eh? Hard to believe. He seemed like such a nice man.” How could Ryan live with himself, turning his own daughter against him? Didn’t seem possible. But if it were true, now he understood why Adele was so dead set against marriage. He thought he had heard it all, but this bit of news blew him away.
    Wonder what happened to the fellow? He just assumed it was money. Ryan had complained there was never enough to go around. Bentley thought about their long ago deal, how Ryan had taken off with his car, and his fifty bucks. At the time Bentley had decided not to press charges. After hearing Adele’s heartbreaking story of abuse, now he wished he had.
    “Used to be. Past tense.”
    “Then call the police.” He propped his head up and raised an eyebrow. “Then he’ll get what’s coming to him.”
    “Mom will deny everything.”
   “Why would she do that?”
   “Haven’t a clue. That’s why I’m running away.”
   “You’re kidding?”
    “No I’m not.”
    “Where will you go?”
    “I dunno.”

     Bentley wasn’t about to see Adele go without, wasn’t about to see her put in any danger. The world could be cruel and he knew it.

   “You’re more than welcome here, you know.”

     Adele’s eyes lit up. “Seriously?”

     “Wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.”
     She leaped off the bench and spun around to face him. “You just saved my life, you have no idea.”
     And that day Adele’s life took a turn for the better.

Chapter 8

     The last thing Adele wanted to do was leave her mother and sister, but leaving was necessary for her happiness.
     The next couple of days seemed to drag on intermittingly.                                                               

     After a long restless night, Adele awakened and realized this was the day she’d leave home for good. 

      Her father had gone to town, giving her the opportunity to leave without his knowledge.

     As usual she dressed, plaited her hair, ate breakfast, and finished her chores. Afterwards she lied and told her mom she was just going for a walk.
    Instead, she hopped on her old rusty bicycle and rode like the dickens all the way to Bentley’s.
    To her surprise Bentley wasn’t home. Instead she met his nephew Jefferson.

    While stepping off the bike she accidently got her pant leg caught in the chain and she ended up falling flat on her face.

      “Are you all right?”
     “Who are you? Where’s Bentley?” Adele asked, spitting dirt from her mouth.  She rose covering the hole in the crotch her jeans.

      “Name’s Jefferson. Bentley’s my uncle.”

     “He never said a word about you,” Adele said.

      “I just got here that’s probably why. Uncle Bentley’s inside with Eva.”
      “Oh well that explains it,” she said puzzled as to who Eva was. Funny Bentley never mentioned either of them. She thought she’d come to know everything there was to know about the old man. Guess not.

     Jefferson smiled. “Come, let’s go inside.”
     Adele looked at Jefferson strangely, then followed him.
     “I live with my uncle and Aunt Eva.” He pointed to a picture on the wall. “That’s a picture of my mother. She passed away two years ago. Cancer. Sure is lonely here without her.” He lovingly gazed at the picture.

     Adele noticed his mother was a charming-looking woman, with lovely black hair and dark skin.
    “How come Bentley never mentioned you. Never mentioned Eva either. All this time I thought he lived alone.” Bentley had often told her, he was a lonely old man. Humph. Men.
     “He does some of the time. Probably why he never said anything. I’m only here for the summer’s and my aunt goes back and forth from one family member to another.”
     “I see,” she said figuring that much made sense.

     She fixed her eyes on Jefferson. He was handsome. Had to be six and a half feet tall, at least.

    “You sure you are all right?”

     Adele didn’t answer him. His good looks were intimidating and she found it hard to be in his company. He was well educated, of course with Bentley for an uncle.

     “Has Uncle shown you around?”
      “No. Mostly we sat outside talking,” she said, “I was only in the living room once.”

      “I’ll show you to your room.” Jefferson took her hand and led her out of the room.

     She tried to keep up to him, but he took such long strides it was difficult.

     He slid his arm around her, and led her into another area of the house. The staircase was like nothing she’d ever imagined existed. It was four, maybe five feet wide. Silently, she had counted fifty-five steps.
Bentley had all the exercise he needed right here.

    “This is where you’ll stay.” He pointed to her room.
    “Really,” Adele said feeling a rush of pure, sweet joy.

     “Yes.”

      Looking inside she noticed she see could see her reflection in the gleaming hardwood floor. Her gaze took her to the big old double-bed, dressers, chairs, all matching beautifully. The curtains, bed-spread, and wall-coverings were all in her favorite colour —a soft pastel pink. It was the most magnificent room she’d ever seen. She was deep in thought when Jefferson nudged her arm.

     “This is Aunt Eva, my uncle’s sister,” Jefferson said. “I’ll leave you two alone.” He then left.
     “Welcome.” Eva extended her hand.

      Adele stared at her, startled by her uncanny resemblance to her grandmother. Seeing her was like seeing her grandmother Hattie and her presence warmed Adele’s heart.
       “I take it my brother never mentioned me?”
       “Never said a word. Thought Bentley lived by himself.”
       Eva was pretty for a middle-aged woman. She had a pleasant smile and a shapely figure.
      “Not surprized,” Eva said. “I know all about you.”
      “You do?”
       “No, just that you’ll be staying with us for a while. I’ll go get Bentley and let him know you are here.”
       Adele watched as she left the room.

     Ten minutes later and out of breath Bentley walked in the room.
     “Glad you made it. Jefferson told me you had an accident,” Bentley said.
      “Fell off my stupid bike. It had a flat tire. I’m all right, though.”
      “That’s good to hear.”
      “How come you never told me about your sister and Jefferson? Thought all this time you lived alone.”
     Bentley smiled. “They’re not here very often and I guess I never thought about it. ‘Sides, I was getting all your attention, selfish me. I’m going downstairs for a cup of tea. Can I get you anything?”
      “No, I’m fine.”
     “Well, if you need anything, Eva will help, okay?”
     “Thanks, Bentley.”
     “Good night, Adele,” he said, giving her a quick hug.
    “Goodnight.”  
      So this was her first night in her brand new room. A mansion.
      Now lying in a strange bed, it wasn’t very long before she grew restless. She’d never experienced loneliness before—not as she did that night.

     She sank into the soft comfortable mattress, though soon was wide awake, and hot from the heat of the day. Climbing out of bed, she turned on the lights and sat in front of a dressing table. She picked up a gold hairbrush and began to brush her hair, remembering Bentley’s kind, loving words.

      To her surprize, she was homesick. She ended up crying the whole night until finally she fell asleep, exhausted.

                           ***                                        
   

    While Adele was trying to sleep, Bentley and his sister sat at the kitchen table talking.
     “How can I help with Adele?” Eva asked.
    “You’re always so quick to help out.” Bentley reached across the table to grasp his sister’s hand. “Adele’s become like a daughter to me. She’s head strong, but with everything that’s happened, she has good reason. Her father isn’t the nicest fellow.”
    “That’s too bad. Even so, did you notify her family?”
     Bentley nodded. “Spoke to her father this afternoon. Funny thing was, he didn’t seem to give two hoots where she was.”
    “How awful. She’s better off here then.”
    “Hard to believe. Used to be such a nice fellow.” Bentley went back in time to the day he had hired him, how they had hit it off so well. Then he recalled his car and the fifty bucks he’d given him. Now it was all becoming clearer. The man had stolen his vehicle!
    Bentley decided he wasn’t going to press charges and decided to let the chips fall where they may. He’d get what was coming to him in the end, Bentley assumed.
    “I gave Adele some of my newer clothes. Hope they fit.”
     Bentley smiled at his sister. “You’re the best, always have been. Best sister in the world.”
    “The only sister you have now that Mary’s gone.”
    Bentley rose not wanting to talk about Mary. It still hurt too much. He went over to the kitchen sink and turned on the tap. After guzzling down a couple of glasses of water he turned to look at Eva. “Sure am glad my arthritis is in remission—feel twenty years younger.”
    “And just in time, too. With Jefferson home and now Adele, you’re going to need your energy.”
   “No kidding,” Bentley said turning to look out the window. “I’m glad Adele left home. She has guts, that girl.”
     The gardens were looking beautiful now, all flourishing and blossoming as they should. The gardenias, chrysanthemums, lilacs, and roses lined the property making it look like a paradise.
    “Think Jefferson likes her,” Eva said.
     “How do you know?”
     “The bounce in his step.”
     Bentley grinned. “She’s pretty alright, though I doubt he’d be interested in a teenager. I’m sure he’s involved with a few girls at the university. Hormones. Not sure I can handle those things at my age.”
    Eva chucked. “You might not have a say in the matter.”
   “I’ve been meaning to ask you something, Eva.”
    “What is it?”
    “I know why I never married, but why haven’t you? I mean, you’re pretty, intelligent, and a hard worker.”
    Eva joined her brother by the sink. “No one’s ever asked me.”
    “Oh.” Bentley found that hard to believe, though probable.
    Eva yawned. “Suppose I should get some sleep.”
    “Certainly. Goodnight, sis.”