Angie of the Garden

Chapter Two-1

The old house had been the boyhood home of Hollis and Sebastian Simms. Their father was the caretaker at Fairhaven when Thomas P. Owens owned the estate. The residence provided for John Simms and his family was a very simple affair, which suited his personality very well. He was a man of the earth, not one to concern himself about the lack of splendor in his house. Simms could coax the most ragged looking plant into becoming a thing of beauty: this was enough to satisfy his aesthetic needs. John also managed to inspire his sons to find their full potential, though he had hardly imagined his oldest child would one day reside in the mansion that was visible from the front window of his home.
His firstborn had been an insightful individual from his earliest days. John and Martha would never forget the day when a very young Hollis announced that his Aunt Martha was with child. She had been keeping it a secret, and had yet to show any outward signs of her condition. Still the five-year-old boy could sense the anticipation being harbored by his aunt. From that day on they paid particularly close attention when Hollis spoke. John Simms continually told his oldest son that this ability should be used in a constructive fashion. Hollis took his words to heart, and decided to become a psychiatrist.
Sebastian Simms also benefited from his father's presence, but to a lesser degree. This was due to the fact that he was a stubborn child, and was resistant to any suggestion
that did not fit his perception of what constituted the correct approach to accomplishing any given task. While Hollis could be reasoned with, Sebastian often refused to acknowledge the validity of any differing point of view. As a very young boy Hollis's brother had insisted that he could be a more successful fisherman by using chocolate for bait. The obstinate child reasoned that since he preferred the taste of candy to worms his prey would surely be more attracted to the former than the latter.
"I spend more of my time convincing that boy I'm right than I do earning a living," John lamented after once again failing to persuade his youngest son that chocolate bars were not suitable fish bait.
"He's just a little headstrong," his wife told him.
"Yeah, like the ocean is just a little wet."
In spite of his frustration their father lived to see them both graduate college with
honors. Hollis became a doctor, while Sebastian entered the business world. The older Simms boy established a successful practice while his younger brother rose through the ranks of a Wall Street investment firm until he received a better offer from another one. Sebastian remained single well into his thirties, while Hollis had married at the age of twenty-five. He made what his friends and family considered to be the most desirable catch any man could make.
Hollis met Olivia Reese at a dinner dance that was being held for a charitable organization. They had been placed at the same table by chance. The two strangers suddenly found themselves alone shortly after the affair began when the other guests who were to sit with them abruptly left.
"I guess we're not very good company," Hollis observed with a grin.

"Those people had only come for a cameo appearance, not to spend the evening," Olivia replied. "I think we'll do very well without them."
They were immediately attracted to each other. After the affair ended the two of them spent the rest of the evening dancing and conversing in a Manhattan nightclub. The young psychiatrist asked for her phone number after the evening was over, and Olivia obliged. A friend informed Hollis about the social stature of Olivia Reese the next day. He had never heard the name, and had only half believed it until being a guest at her parents' home shortly after.
How their relationship had so quickly blossomed into love was one of the most intriguing and enjoyable mysteries of their lives. He was the analytical type, who looked to find rationalizations for virtually all human behavior. She had no interest in explaining the actions of others, and simply judged people's conduct as being either inappropriate or acceptable. While Hollis enjoyed good restaurants and smart clothes, Olivia's standards were well beyond anything he had ever imagined. Neither of them could comprehend their unexpected union, even when they were standing in front of the priest on their wedding day.
John and Martha Simms could hardly believe their eyes either, for the ceremony was being held on the lawn of Fairhaven. Olivia had purchased the estate to be the newlyweds' home. The heirs of the late Thomas P. Owens sold it to her soon after their engagement was announced. John Simms lived to see his oldest son move into the estate. He did not live much longer than that, unfortunately. After retiring from his chosen occupation several years earlier, Hollis's father succumbed to a stroke in Florida. His wife lived long enough to see Sebastian, who was seven years Hollis's junior, graduate college. Then she too passed away.
After three years of living at Fairhaven, Olivia decided to build a more modern residence for the groundskeeper. Hollis agreed with the idea, but asked that the old house remain standing. He was normally not a sentimental man, but these circumstances made for an exception. Olivia agreed, though she felt his boyhood home was well on its way to becoming an eyesore. Even so the woman that ran Fairhaven was willing to tolerate it for her husband's sake.
Hollis had set up his office in a room that was in a turret-shaped section of the main house. He often mused about one day putting a large gun on the top of it to protect him from any dissatisfied patients looking for retribution. Doctor Simms could look out the window and see the garden near the old house in the twilight. That was where he had found a leather-bound book containing the story of the most inspiring person he had ever encountered, albeit, at the time, through the written word alone.