Angie of the Garden

Chapter One-3

"I know. I'm just feeling sorry for myself. Does Olivia still believe you don't know anything about the party?"
"I think so. But it's very difficult to deceive her for long. Not that I've ever tried to, of course." Hollis said with a devilish grin.
"I really appreciate your help. If I can ever do you a favor, I will."
"I'm glad you feel that way, because I'm going to ask you to do one for me tomorrow."
"I didn't mean right away!" Sebastian pretended to object. "The favor I'm repaying is still being granted. You should let me take advantage of it for a while before I have to repay it."
"You ungrateful transient!" Hollis raised his voice in mock anger. Then, in a normal tone, "I believe that Paul Nustad will be attending the party tonight."
"I remember Paul. He's a historian from Boston, right?"
"Yes. I gave him an old diary to research for me. I've been waiting patiently for two years for him to do it, but Paul being Paul, he's never gotten around to it. The man can tell you what happened on any given date for the last five thousand years but he can't remember what he's supposed to do today."
"Is that the diary you dug up when we were kids?"
"Yes. I was overturning the garden for Dad when I found it. You were only about seven years old at the time. I'm surprised you remember."
"I'll never forget how you fell in love with its author."
"Well, I had reached the age when females were becoming very intriguing to me. And the woman who wrote the diary traveled on the Oregon Trial in the 1800s. She must have been a very courageous person to overcome the hardships described in her writings. So I was understandably smitten. Anyway, I'd like to have it back. And I don't trust the mail, or even the overnight messenger services. Would you go up to Boston with Paul and bring it back for me?"
"I'm many things big brother, but an ingrate isn't one of them. I'll be glad to help you out."
While driving back to Fairhaven they passed the estate of Mildred Price. She was over 60 years old, and had recently lost her husband of 40 years. Her chauffeur was giving Mildred driving lessons. She had never driven a car before, the widow Price's attempt to do so at this late stage of her life being part of a sincere effort to become independent. The inexperienced driver came to the end of the driveway that led to her home. She just barely managed to stop before reaching the road. Hollis saw her coming, and applied the brakes in front of the gate to her estate.
"Hello Mildred," he said. "I'm glad to see that you're becoming more comfortable behind the wheel."
"Well, you're just being generous, Hollis. I think I've taken several years off the life of Henry."
The lack of color in the chauffeur's face was a testament to the truth of her statement.
"Courage, Mildred," Hollis said with a kind smile. "You've only just begun. Give yourself a chance to become acclimated to driving a car."
"I'll try, Hollis. Thank you for your encouragement."

Mildred Price intended to back up and turn around; only she put the car in drive instead. Sebastian's complexion suddenly bore a striking resemblance to the butler's. Hollis was unaffected. Mildred managed to avoid hitting her neighbor's birthday present.
"You should be telling everyone else on the road to have courage," Sebastian pointed out as they drove away. "That lady is a menace."
"It gives Mildred something to do while she's adjusting to the loss of her husband," Hollis told him. "She'll never go out on the open road."
"You must be grateful for that. I would be if she was my neighbor."
Hollis turned onto the long driveway leading up to his home. There was no indication the Simms had visitors that evening due to Olivia's having the guests park their cars in the back of the estate. Doctor Simms gave Sebastian a knowing look and walked through the front door. A large crowd of people yelled "happy birthday" in unison. Hollis played the role of one caught unawares, and his performance was convincing. His brother, who knew the truth of the matter, was impressed. Yet one person in the room saw through his deception immediately.
"Are you surprised my love?" Olivia asked him after she greeted him with a long kiss.
"Absolutely," Hollis replied in an earnest fashion.
Annabelle was the next to greet him. His sixteen-year-old daughter was starting to take on the appearance, if not the continence, of a young woman. His pride in her was evident as the two of them embraced.
"Did we fool you daddy?" she asked him. "Completely," he replied with a smile.

"I'm glad to hear that you can still play golf. At your advanced age I thought the physical exertion might be too much for you."
His friend Paul Nustad made that observation. Hollis was particularly glad to see the historian.
"How good of you to come, Paul."
"It was no trouble at all. Your house happens to be situated between Europe and Boston."
"Did you make any interesting discoveries on your trip?"
"I did find some new information about Henry the Eighth."
"A wife we didn't know about?" Hollis asked.
"I can't reveal it until my paper on the subject is published. But you'll be one of
the first to read it. I'll send you a copy for your birthday present."
"That's far from the most personal gift I've ever received. But fortunately for you it's the thought that counts," Hollis replied. Then he said to everyone in the room. "Thanks for coming, my friends. I have to put on some proper attire for the occasion. Make yourself at home."
Hollis went upstairs to change. When he emerged from the shower his wife was waiting for him.
"So when did you find out about the party?" she asked him with an even grin.
"I never could put anything past you," Hollis replied while drying his neatly styled chestnut brown hair. "Over the last month I noticed that your phone conversations suddenly turned to whispers whenever I entered the room. I'm not suspicious by nature, but after a while even someone like me starts to wonder."

"I'm glad you didn't think I was having an affair."
"Now you've put a devil of an idea into my mind," Hollis replied with a laugh. "Then I'll remove it," she responded as they embraced. "You're more than enough for me to handle. Enjoy your party, dear."
The guests had congregated in the ballroom on the second floor. There was a balcony in the spacious room that had once been used by the musicians performing at the formal affairs held at Fairhaven by previous owners. Olivia had opted to use smaller bands for her parties, and they sat in chairs at one end of the room. Annabelle Simms sat in the empty balcony above the crowd with her friend Celia Upton. They had known each other since they were three. Annabelle, or Belle as she was more often called, observed the guests coming into the room and gave Celia her opinion of them.
"See that creepy looking man with the dark glasses and the beard standing over there?" she asked while pointing to the guest.
"Oh, yeah. Who's that?"
"That's Harley Fox. He's supposed to be some kind of Hollywood big shot. He wants mother to help finance one of his films. I wouldn't give the creep 21 cents. But mother seems to think it's a worthwhile investment. Sometimes I think he wants to hit on me."
"Oh, how gross!"
The two girls giggled loudly.
"Oh no, here comes trouble," Belle said with real distress in her voice. "Here
come the itty old bittys."