Vandem House – Past

 

          Cecily pumped her legs back and forth, sending the swing higher and higher. Above her, the clouds formed a massive kingdom of billowing columns and wispy towers. She pumped harder, reaching out a hand toward the heavens, but no matter how long or how hard she tried, eventually her feet always came to land on solid ground. Clasping one side of the rope with both hands, she rested her head against them, slowly allowing the swing to come to a stop. For a long time, her eyes remained on the towering, white castle until the sound of distant jingling reached her ears. Jerking to attention, she strained to listen. It was, it was the harnesses. Jumping from the swing, she flew to the front of the house, where she ducked behind the large Hydrangea bushes. For the first time in a week, a smile graced her lips at the site of the carriage, hitched and ready to go in front of the door. She waited, just to make sure, and a short time later, crouched down even lower as the door opened. She watched as Gabe loaded two large trunks onto the back. Two trunks? That could only mean . . . Cecily’s eyes lit up as her uncle and his friend exited the house.

     “Gabe, Mr. Denton and I will be gone about three weeks, maybe four,” her uncle said. “Look after the dogs.”

     Cecily scowled at the mention of the dogs, but a moment later, as the carriage rolled quickly down the long drive, all woes were forgotten. Getting to her feet, she ran past Gabe, up the steps, across the long porch and into the house.

     “Meg,” she cried as she rushed up the stairs. “Meg, they’re gone. Three whole weeks!”   Bursting into her cousin’s room, she rushed to the chair near the window where Meg was working on a cross stitch. Cecily knelt on the floor in front of her and gently clasped the girl’s hands. “They’re gone, Meg. Both of them.”

     Meg turned a listless face toward her cousin, and then drew her brows together in question. “Both? They’ve left? For how long?”

   “I heard your daddy. He said three weeks at least.” Cecily sat back and waited for the information she’d given to sink in. Ever so slowly, the brightness that had been missing from Meg’s eyes over the past few weeks began to shine again, and to Cecily’s aching heart, it was more glorious than watching the sun rise.

     “They’ve gone,” Meg said one more time; no longer a question, but a joyous expression. Standing up still somewhat stiffly, she allowed Cecily to take her hand and guide her. For the first time in months, both girls entered the upstairs hallway without fear or hesitation. The house was nearly empty, the only sounds coming from the long clock case in the hall and the occasional dings and clanks of someone working in the kitchen.

     “Let’s go see Bonnie,” Cecily said, tugging Meg’s hand in that direction. A moment later, the girls entered the kitchen, breathing in deeply.

     “Oh, Bonnie,” Meg said. “Apple donuts?”

     “Yes, ma’am,” the young colored woman turned and answered, “and some fried chicken and okra, mashed taters and biscuits.”

     “You knew,” Cecily declared with delight. “You knew they were leaving. Why didn’t you tell us?”

     “Wanted to be for sure,” Gabe answered, coming in through the side door with a basket of tomatoes. “Wouldn’t a wanted to get your hopes up if there weren’t no reason to.”

     The two girls laughed and, joining arms, began to swing around the kitchen table. Gabe chuckled and clapped a tune for them until Bonnie chased them all out to the back porch. “You go on and pick some peas for supper. I’ll have some lemonade waitin’ for ya’ll when you get back.”

     Hand in hand, heading for the garden, Cecily couldn’t keep the smile off her face. Gabe was humming a spritely tune, and the summer’s gentle breeze was blowing through her hair. She turned to Meg. “Isn’t today wonderful?”

     Meg grew thoughtful for a moment, and when she spoke, her voice was tinged with longing. “I wish there were more like this.”

     Cecily grew quiet, afraid that her cousin’s mood was once again sinking into despair, but Meg surprised her by reaching out and putting an arm around her shoulder. “We’ll just have to savor each one as they come.”

     “Yes,” Cecily nodded, her happiness rekindled. “Like Christmas candy.”