The Happiest Day (3 page)

Norris arrived
home with Geoff and Laurie after supper and there was a whirlwind of hugs and
laughter, the family happy to be together again.  Rachel’s brother was fourteen
years old and had grown another inch since she had last seen him, now standing
taller than her.  “How dare you?” she asked teasingly, after hugging him.  “How
can I push you around now?”

“You can’t,” he
responded with a grin, pleased that she had noticed.  His blond hair was
mussed, as if he had been sleeping on the way home, but his blue eyes were
lively.  “Are you all right?  You look tired.”

“I’m fine,” she
assured him.  “We’ve just been busy getting ready for the wedding.  We’re going
to have to get the tailor out here tomorrow to alter your tuxedo pants.”  She
turned and hugged Geoff.  “You, too.  What are they feeding you boys at that
school?”

“Not enough,” Geoff
declared.  “I’m starving.  Did you save any supper?”

Geoff was a
charismatic young man, fifteen years old and similar in looks to his father
with blond hair and crystal clear blue eyes.  He excelled at everything he
attempted, blessed with good looks, athletic prowess, and a quick mind. 
Laurie, with his quieter personality, always deferred to Geoff willingly, happy
to be along for the ride.  Rachel always thought that Geoff was like lightning,
snapping with vitality and excitement and Laurie was the gentle rain after the
storm had passed.  Both boys, however, were kind and caring.  Rachel was always
thankful that all three of Helen’s children had nothing of her personality.

Helen put in a
brief appearance, long enough to present her cheek for Geoff to dutifully
kiss.  She was dressed for a night out, wearing an evening gown of black chiffon
and gold brocade, designed with Deco flowers.  The bias skirt and scalloped hem
was perfect for her figure and the V-neckline revealed her décolletage.  She
was in her early forties but looked much younger.  Diamonds dripped from her
lobes and wrists and her makeup was flawless, if a bit heavy-handed.

Rachel noticed the
edgy way Helen acted around her and knew the older woman was nervous Rachel
would expose her affair to Norris.  She  smoothed her hands over her dress,
brushing at imaginary lint then sighed loudly.

“Rachel, Hughes
complained of mud on the back staircase,” she said, referring to the head
housekeeper.  “Have you been wearing your boots inside again?”

“I’m sorry,”
Rachel said tonelessly.  “I’ll be more careful.”

“It’s not me you
need to apologize to,” she said icily.  “I expect you to apologize to Hughes
before the evening is over.”

“Correct me if I’m
wrong,” Norris said, swirling ice in his glass.  He had traveled by train and
car all day but looked as crisp and sophisticated as if he was on his way out
for an evening at the opera.  “Isn’t that the reason we have household staff? 
To clean up any messes the family might make?”

Helen slipped a
fur stole around her shoulders, tilting her chin up defiantly.  “Yes, that is
true.  We have staff to clean up after
family
.”

“Helen,” Peter bit
out angrily.  “Don’t start.”  He moved to stand behind Rachel and laid a hand
on the small of her back comfortingly.  “Why don’t you go ahead and leave?”

“Where are you
going?” Norris demanded.  “The children just got home.”

“They’re going to
be home all summer,” Helen dismissed them with pursed lips.  “I’ve had this
evening planned for months.”  She pulled a cord on the wall, ringing for the
chauffeur.  “I have a feeling, though, I won’t be missed.”  Her laser dark eyes
landed on Rachel.  “Unless you’d like me to stay, dear?”

Rachel felt
Peter’s hand tighten on her back, signaling her not to respond.  She remained
quiet.

“See?  I’m not
wanted here.  Good night.”  She left behind a cloud of cloying perfume as she left
the house.

“Well…” Norris
said, setting down his glass.  “I guess some things never change.  I wonder if
she’ll come to the wedding Saturday?”

“Daddy,” Maryanne
admonished.  “Please don’t.”

“Sorry,” he said
on a sigh.  “I suppose I’m tired.  I think I’ll retire and let you young folks
enjoy the evening.”

Rachel laid a hand
on his arm.  “May I speak with you?  Of course, if you’re too tired…”

His eyes were
gentle as he smiled at her.  “I’m never too tired for you, my dear.  What can I
help you with?”

“Could we speak
privately?”

He looked mildly
surprised but nodded.  “Let’s go to my study.”

“May I come?”
Peter asked from where he stood by the fireplace, one arm resting on the
mantle.  He was frowning, unhappy that Rachel had a problem she didn’t want his
help solving.

Rachel shook her
head.  “Not tonight, Peter.”

If it was at all
possible, his frown darkened and he took a large drink from his glass, his jaw
tight.

Norris ushered her
into his study and motioned for her to sit on the settee.  He sat next to her,
loosening his tie.  “Is everything all right?”

“No, something
happened when you were away on business last month.  I haven’t told you about
it but I don’t know what to do.”

He realized that
something was seriously wrong and he took her hand in his.  “What is it?  Has
someone hurt you?”  His eyes had become steely, determined to protect his
brood.

“No.  Norris, I
discovered that Frederick is having an affair.”

He stared at her
in momentary disbelief before a dark cloud covered his face.  “That son of a
bitch!  How did you find out?”

“I walked in on
him.”

“Where?”

She took a deep
breath.  “Here.  Norris, it was Helen.”

She saw that he
was stunned.  Long moments ticked by as his mind tried to assimilate the news. 
Finally, he said, “Rachel, I’m sorry.  I truly am sorry that you had to see
that.”

“I’m sorry, too,
Norris.  For you.”

He waved his hand,
dismissing her sympathy.  “I know that it’s probably hard for you to
understand, but Helen and I don’t have a traditional marriage.  But for her to
engage in this affair with your fiancé is something that I never thought even
she would do.”

“I tried to break
it off with him and he told me that he wouldn’t allow it.  He said that we’re
getting married no matter what I say or do.”

The reaction she
expected didn’t happen.  Instead of insisting that she break it off and that he
would handle Frederick, Norris was silent.  He stared down at their clasped
hands and then asked, “What else did he say?”

“He said he has a
secret about you.  He said if I don’t marry him, he’ll expose you and it will
ruin the family.  He said we’ll lose everything we’ve ever known.  Norris, is
it true?”

Norris had paled
at her words.  He jumped up agitatedly, running his hands through his slightly graying
hair.  “My God…my God…”

Rachel was suddenly
frightened.  She had never seen Norris look less than in complete control.  “How
bad can the secret be?  Tell me he’s exaggerating the situation.”

Norris turned and
looked at her in despair.  “I wish I could, my darling.  But it’s true.”

“That’s impossible. 
You’ve never done anything wrong, I know it.”

Despite the
situation, Norris smiled.  “Is it any wonder I love you as much as I do? 
You’ve always made me feel like a king.”  He grew serious again.  “I did do
something wrong.  Many years ago; it was a horrible mistake.  I’ve tried to
make it right, though, and I swore that no one would ever find out.”

“How does
Frederick know?”

He shook his head
in disgust.  “I’m not sure.  I guess I just trusted the wrong people.  Stupid,
stupid decisions, but I can’t undo them now.  Did he say whether or not he had
told Helen?”

She shook her
head.  “He didn’t say.  Helen wouldn’t want to risk everything either, would
she?”

“Helen is always
on the lookout for something bigger, something better.  She was poor when she
was married to Peter’s father and nothing terrifies her more than losing all of
this wealth and status.  If she thinks she can benefit by helping Frederick
blackmail me, she will.”

Rachel sat as
still as a statue, trying to assimilate all Norris had told her.  Finally, she
looked up at him.  “Then there’s nothing we can do, is there?  I have to marry
Frederick.”

“I’m sorry,”
Norris said hoarsely.  “We have time.  I can try to figure something out.”

“We could never
risk Frederick exposing your secret.  Could it really destroy this family?”

Norris nodded. 
“I’m sorry.  It could.  We would lose everything.”

Rachel inhaled
deeply and stood.  “Then the decision is simple.  Ten years ago, you saved
Laurie and me.  I’m going to do the same for you now.”

“Rachel,” he cried
in a broken voice.  His arms came around her in a bone-crushing grip and he
buried his face in her hair.  “You and your brother are everything to me.  You
remind me of better days, when your parents were still with us.  I miss them so
much.”

“So do I.  Every
day.”

She knew he was
crying and she felt tears pressing her own eyes.  She tried to comfort him by
stroking his hair.  He lifted his head and looked down on her face, his eyes
searching every detail.  “God, you’re so much like her.  Sometimes…sometimes
when I look at you, my mind drifts, and it’s your mother I see.  I loved her,
Rachel.”

“I know,” Rachel
whispered.  “And she loved you.  So did my father.  You were his best friend.”

An unnamed emotion
crossed Norris’ face and he released her, running a hand over his wet face.  “I’m
going to go to the chapel.  Would you like to go with me?”

Rachel averted her
eyes in discomfort.  Soon after she and Laurie had to come to live with Norris,
he had ordered the conservatory to be converted into a chapel.  She still
remembered the arguments between Norris and Helen regarding the project, but
Norris had been adamant.  He spent many hours in the chapel in silent
reflection and often required the family to join him.  Rachel didn’t object to
Norris’ devotion but at times his fervent prayers seemed more desperate than
faithful.

“If you don’t
mind, it’s been a long day.  I’m going to go to bed.”

“Of course, my
dear.”  He kissed her lovingly on the forehead.  “Tomorrow will be a new day
and I will be able to think more clearly.  Good-night.”  He pulled his bible
off of the corner of his desk and left the study, headed for the chapel.

Rachel stood in
the study by herself for many minutes, her arms wrapped around her waist.  She
was stunned at Norris’ revelations.  She had always held him up on a pedestal,
believing him to be the bravest man she had ever known.  Tonight, though, she
could see the fear in him; the fear of discovery.  She couldn’t let him down. 
She owed him her life for all he had done for her and Laurie.  She would marry
Frederick.

Would he continue
his affair with Helen after they were married?  She suspected that he would. 
She also feared what their own marital bed would bring.  Maryanne’s exuberance
over her intimacy with Bert made her realize that she would be missing out on
much in her physical relationship with Frederick.  She didn’t love him, he
certainly didn’t love her and even more than that, he didn’t respect her enough
to feel remorse at her discovery of his infidelity.

Feeling the weight
of the world on her shoulders, she avoided the front parlor where the others
sat talking and headed up the winding staircase to her bedroom.  She slipped
out of her dress and into a nightgown without even turning on a light.  She was
emotionally exhausted.  She lay in her bed, pulling the blankets around her
comfortingly.  She felt very alone.

She had just begun
to doze when she became aware that someone was in the room with her.  She
turned on her side and opened her eyes to see Peter staring broodingly down on
her.  As always, he felt her despair and loneliness.  Only this time, he
couldn’t help.  He just didn’t understand that yet.

“Should I be
frightened?” she asked, trying to lighten the mood.  “Have you come to strangle
me in my sleep?”

That elicited a
rare chuckle from him and he sat down on the edge of the bed.  “Am I your
Rochester?  Do you fear me as much as you desire me?” he teased her.

“You are like
Rochester,” she declared softly.  “A tormented soul, an unhappy marriage-”

“Who said my
marriage is unhappy?” he interrupted.  “My marriage is exactly what I
expected.”

“Well, that’s the
saddest thing I’ve heard all day and that’s saying a lot.”  She sat up and drew
her knees to her chest.  “Peter, I’m going to marry Frederick.”

His silence was
long and filled with unspoken emotion.  “You don’t have to.”

“I do.  I spoke
with Norris and…well, there’s no way around it.”

“I don’t
understand.  Please tell me what I’m missing.”

Rachel didn’t
answer his question.  Instead she said, “I also made a decision.  You’re not
going to like it, but I’m going to have an affair with Toby before I get
married.”  She didn’t dare look up at him as she continued.  “Watching Maryanne
and Bert today, and how excited they are to be together and to share
everything…just once, I want to feel that.  I want to be with someone who finds
me exciting and desirable.  I want to feel treasured and special.  Frederick
doesn’t treasure me; I’m just some kind of prize for him and a pawn in a game
he’s playing with Norris.  When I do marry him, I’ll always have that memory of
Toby and it will make things better.”

“You can’t expect
me to give you my blessing.”  Anger laced his voice.  “Jesus, Rachel, I don’t
even know where you are coming from anymore.”  He grasped her upper arms. 
“Talk to me, open up to me.  You know I can fix this but you have to trust me.”

“I do trust you,”
she whispered.  “Please don’t push me on this. This isn’t fixable, not in the
way you’re thinking.  There is no way out of marrying Frederick.  I have no
control over that.  What I can control, however, is how I enter the marriage.” 
She reached up and touched his face, rough with whiskers.  “I’m tired.  Let me
sleep now.”