Call of the Canyon (19 page)

Kate couldn’t help herself. Freddie was so
cute, she ran to him giggling. “You can throw it out the window for
all I care.”

“One for the good guys!” He hoisted the case
higher over his head and beamed at her. “You’re pretty...nice, I
mean.” He stammered and fumbled a bit and Kate gave him a hug. “Got
to go...nice meeting you.” He ran across the hall to his bedroom,
slamming the door shut.

“I should let you get ready for dinner. When
mother says, ‘freshened up,’ she means completely change your
clothes and put something on that’s suitable for dinner.” Maria
disappeared out the door.

Kate had time to investigate Drew’s bedroom.
It was very large with a dressing room and bath. All the woodwork
and furniture were dark, Italian in design. The drapes and bedding
were dark red with a gold medallion motif making the room look like
something for a grown-up man, not a teenager. Kate decided she
could get used to all this opulence, with people waiting on her and
calling her ma’am. She did say she would stay in the past and live
there with Drew if he wanted. It could be her life.

Sinking back on the bed, Kate was
overwhelmed by sadness. What was she thinking? She didn’t like that
life at all. If she did live in the past, she wanted to be at the
canyon riding horses and breathing the fresh air. Her friends were
there, plus the beloved boardinghouse. If she stayed in the past,
that’s where she pictured living with Drew, the simple life of the
cabin, not in New York. She wasn’t sure what his plans were. He
just said he wanted to go to college out west. What if he changed
his mind and wanted to live in New York City instead?

Kate was overwhelmed with the urgent need to
talk to her mother or Lindsey. She felt around in her bag for her
cell phone and then it hit her. There would be no calling her
mother or anyone else from her present life if she stayed in the
past. Panicking, she began to tremble and couldn’t stop. It was
silly, she knew that, but seemed to be having some kind of
breakdown or panic attack.

“Kate, are you alright?” Drew had slipped
into the room without her noticing. He took her hands. “You’re
shaking.”

“Drew, it’s just something stupid. I wanted
to call my mom and tell her about the day and realized I couldn’t.
I was overwhelmed for a moment. I’ll be okay in a few minutes.”

“You’ll see your mother soon enough. We’re
here for the weekend, but we’ll head back to the canyon on Sunday.
And besides...” Drew got up and walked over to a phone located on
his desk. He dialed and then spoke softly into the receiver,
beckoning her over.

“You called my mom?” Kate laughed.

“Almost, I think you’ll like this just as
much.”

Kate took the receiver. “Hello?”

“Hi, pumpkin! How are you doing?”

“Dad, Daddy, is that you? You’re here?”

“I couldn’t let you be eaten by the wolves
alone could I? I’m staying at your grandmother’s. We’ll see you
tomorrow at the cocktail party.”

“Cocktail party?”

“I’ll let Andrew fill you in. Grandma Lilly
says hello. She can’t wait to see you again.”

“Tell her the same for me. I’m so glad
you’re here.” Kate placed the receiver back in its holder. “Drew,
what cocktail party?”

“My parents just told me about it. Seems like
they invited the whole city to meet you. Mother wanted to give us a
reception, I guess. Oh, and I forgot to tell you that our gift was
delivered. Mother is saving it to open after dinner.”

Chapter Fifteen

Kate
wondered if they were required to dress for breakfast, too. She
gazed in the mirror hoping she looked presentable. Dinner had gone
fairly well, the conversation kept flowing thanks to Freddie and
Maria. Nicolas seemed to like the decanter. She hoped it would
break the ice between them. Now all Kate had to get through was
breakfast and the dreaded cocktail party. Thank goodness her father
would be there. She wanted to call him, but had no idea what
Grandmother Lilly’s telephone number was. Planning to ask for the
number, Kate sat on the bed, waiting for Drew to get out of the
shower.

He appeared with just a towel wrapped around
his waist. “Kate, I’m sorry I took so long. There was so much to
think about I lost track of the time.” He reached in his closet for
a shirt and pair of pants.

“Will you miss it here?” Kate wanted the
truth. “Don’t lie to me, Andrew Kelly Martin.”

“No, I won’t miss it. Anyway, I can come
back and visit anytime I want.”

“That’s not what I mean. Will you miss
watching your brother and sister grow-up, living in this
neighborhood, this city?”

“Kate, if you recall I haven’t lived here
fulltime since I was twelve. My parents shipped me off to boarding
school. We don’t have the close relationship like you do with your
parents. Jack’s like my father now, well the
old
Jackson in
Ohio is.” Drew chuckled. “Don’t tell him I called him old.”

“Okay, I can see your father is strict and
doesn’t really have a relationship with you, but what about your
mom?”

“Mother puts Father first and then us kids.
She’ll be fine...although I do miss her at times.”

“My mom hasn’t been the best mother figure
to you, I know. I’m sorry about that. She’ll finally see what a pig
Tyson is and how phony he acts. Give her time.”

“It’s getting better, Kate. I have my
Campbell family plus Maya and Anna. It’s really great to have all
those people in my life. I wouldn’t change a thing. I know you
offered to live here, but it probably wouldn’t be in New York City.
I hope you’re not getting too spoiled.”

Kate’s heart fluttered in her chest. Drew
said all the right things. He liked living in Ohio and if he chose
to live in 1927 it wouldn’t be New York City.

“I’m ready. Let’s go down for breakfast.”
Drew pulled Kate off the bed and kissed her warmly. “It’s just the
two of us that matter in this world. We make our own choices, our
own decisions. Remember that.”

“Before we go down, would you write my
grandmother’s phone number on this pad?” Kate stuck a pen in his
hand after handing him the paper. “You never know when I might need
it.” After Drew finished, Kate walked over to the dresser and slid
the paper under some clothes. “There, nice and safe.”

They took the back staircase this time that
led to a darling sunroom overlooking the pool and backyard. Large,
neatly trimmed hedges ran down the property lines. There was no way
to tell if the neighbors were out or not. The room was warm and
inviting with the morning sun streaming in through huge windows and
a skylight. The yard was bursting with fall color, making it
picture perfect. A breakfast nook was on the other side of the
sunroom with passage to the kitchen. Kate thought they’d be eating
in the formal dining room again so she found it a welcomed
change.

“Drew, I had no idea this existed. It’s a
lovely part of the house.”

“Thank you, dear.” Ilene appeared from a
hallway that seemed to cut through the center of the kitchen. Kate
assumed it led to the main part of the house. “I’m so glad you’re
enjoying the conservatory. Nicolas added this on after we bought
the house, thus the hallway.” She pointed behind her. “The kitchen
took up the entire back area of the house and when the renovations
were done, the hall was added. We had to give up some of the
backyard, but I didn’t mind after seeing how well everything turned
out. We’ll enjoy many breakfasts out here, I’m sure.”

“Yes, yes, we will.” Kate knew it wasn’t
true but was determined to make sure everyone knew she planned on
having a good relationship with the family.

“Nicolas won’t be joining us this morning,
some last minute business.” She rang a little bell on the table and
a maid came through the kitchen door with pots of coffee and tea.
Another servant came out with silver covered dishes which he placed
on a buffet table against the wall. Soon Maria and Freddie joined
them and it turned into a fun, family breakfast. The mood was
jovial without Nicolas’ presence.

“Kate, may I call you Kate?” Ilene touched
her hand.

“Of course.” She blushed, glad to have her
mother-in-law’s acceptance.

“I’m aware you had no idea we’re having a
party in your honor so I took it upon myself to buy you a dress for
tonight. It should be in your room when you return. Please try it
on as soon as possible and we can get the correct size if needed.
Although.” Ilene looked her up and down. “I think I might have done
well in that department.”

“Thank you so much. I was wondering what I
would wear tonight.” Kate couldn’t stop blushing. She felt the
redness creep into her cheeks.
Stop it
, she told herself.
Do not be impressed by the power and wealth of these people. You
have to stay clear-headed for Drew. That’s why you are here, to
make things right.
Deciding to find out more about her
mother-in-law, Kate held her breath and asked the question she was
dying to know. “So how did you and Nicolas meet?”

“Oh.” It was Ilene’s turn to blush. She hung
her head, playing with the napkin in her lap. “You don’t want to
hear that boring story. I’d much rather hear yours...yours and
Andrew’s.”

Ilene was the perfect hostess, deflecting
the conversation back to her guest. Kate was determined to let her
know she was truly interested so she placed her hand on the woman’s
arm. “No, really, I’d love to hear.” Any information she could
obtain for Drew was important. Kate couldn’t picture him asking his
mother to tell him the story.

Ilene raised her head and reached for her
coffee, taking a sip before she began. “I came to this country with
my parents when I was a young girl. I was about Federico’s age, I
believe. There was a large population of Irish living in the
mid-west part of the city so we settled there, in an awful
tenement.” Ilene turned her head away so her tears couldn’t be
seen. “It was a filthy place, but mother did the best she could to
make it a home. My older brothers couldn’t find work and joined an
Irish gang...the Gopher Gang it was called. Father tried his best
to provide for the family, working at any job he could, mostly hard
labor. This America didn’t turn out to be the land of milk and
honey for the Kelly family until...” Ilene dabbed her eyes with her
linen napkin.

“Until what, Mother?” Drew sat forward in
his seat as if he was hearing that for the first time.

“Until your father rescued us, Andrew.” She
met his eyes and smiled. “He rescued us all.”

So that explains the devotion to her
husband
. Kate sat silently thinking it over, afraid to speak.
She wanted Ilene to continue with the story.

“I was fifteen and worked as a cook’s helper
at a small hotel that Nicolas liked to frequent. I was taking the
garbage out one day and nearly ran into him and another gentleman
in the alley. They were having a business discussion. I almost
dropped the pail I was carrying and Nicolas was so kind. Even
though he was wearing the most beautiful suit with a gold watch
chain dangling from the front pocket, he insisted on helping
me...so strong, so handsome.” Ilene hesitated. “As he walked me
back to the restaurant, he wanted to know where I lived, where he
could come calling. I was embarrassed to tell him. I lived in
Hell’s Kitchen, Kate. Did Andrew ever tell you?”

If Kate didn’t know a little about New York
City, that comment would’ve scared her, such a frightening name.
Hell’s Kitchen was the name given to a part of New York where
immigrants settled long ago, but it lost its reputation as a slum
in the present. It was close to the theatre district and a lot of
young, aspiring actors lived there. It was known for its
restaurants.

“No, no he didn’t.” Kate shook her head.

“A terrible place.”

“I’m sorry.” Kate made direct eye contact
with Ilene, wanting her to know she was empathetic.

“Don’t be. I had a happy ending. My brothers
work for Nicolas at the store and my mother and father did, too.
Father has passed on and mother is in a home for invalids. Nicolas
takes good care of her. Now enough about me, let’s turn to happy
thoughts.” Ilene turned to her daughter. “Maria, I didn’t leave you
out. There’s a dress in your room, too.”

Maria clapped her hands lightly. “Ooh, thank
you, Mother! May we be excused so we can see them?”

Ilene nodded and seemed happy to see her
daughter so cheerful. Kate heard from Drew that she had been
sulking for months. “I may even let you take it back to school for
the Autumn Dance.”

Maria bounced up from the table. She took
Kate’s hand. “Come on. We have to go see our dresses.”

The two bounded up the back staircase and
headed straight for Maria’s room, next door to Drew’s. Not
surprisingly, her room didn’t seem appropriate for a teenage girl.
Just like Drew’s, it was too formal, although it did have
light-colored Italian furniture instead of the dark. There was a
beautiful light blue, brocade bedspread on the high four-poster bed
and pale gold and blue striped drapes adorned the window.

Wasn’t this the Roaring Twenties?
Kate thought. Art deco was popular and people were decorating their
homes with modern themes. These bedrooms seemed more Victorian than
modern for their day. They did have the wood floors and oriental
rugs like Circle H, so that could be the style in flooring. Kate
was distracted from assessing the décor when she heard Maria
gasp.

Lying on the bed was a flapper-style fringed
dress with horizontal layers of color. The bodice was white, then
starting at the waist were wide bands of silver, dark gray and
finally black at the hem. Maria held up the dress and twirled
around. The fringe flew out in every direction. “I love it! It’s
unreal!”

“Unreal?”

“You know, keen, ritzy.” Maria continued to
dance around the room.