Miss Oliver At Home

Chapter Two

The car turned onto South Street and pulled up behind a host of other vehicles parked on the side of the narrow road. Mr. Patterson opened the door and the three girls stepped out onto the pavement. Olivia turned to thank the old butler one last time.

"You've been so very kind to us, Mr. Patterson," she said, quietly. "I only wish there was some way to repay you for everything you've done over the years."

Mr. Patterson's eyes twinkled as he wrapped her in a parting embrace.

"Never you mind. The Oliver children have been the joy of my life. I'll miss every one of you."

Olivia held him tight. "I hope that Mr. Reynolds will realize how special you are, and keep you on for another fifty years."

The old man shook his head and grinned. "I figure that if I treat him well, he'll do the same for me. I'm not expecting more than I deserve." He swept them an elegant bow, just a little bit stiffer than he used to, and climbed back into the car.

As Olivia turned to face the apartment building, she suddenly felt very small and lonely. The place was not so tall as Oliver Manor had been, but something about the stark plain brick, bare of all embellishment, seemed to dwarf her. Oliver Manor had risen in arches, balconies and gabled windows, spiraling up towards the sky in a way that made her want to follow. This building made her want to remain firmly on the ground.

Friends and relatives were bustling everywhere, moving furniture and carrying boxes. Olivia, looking about for Ralph, spotted him by the truck.

"How is our progress?" she asked. "Is there anything I can carry in?"

Ralph handed her a small trunk. "We've got most of the furniture inside, although I don't know how you're going to make it all fit. I should have looked for a bigger place."

Olivia shook her head. "I'll give some of the pieces to Aunt Phyllis if I need to, and we'll be able to save more in a smaller space. Maybe even enough for Ed's college- where is Edwin?"

"I haven't seen him for a bit," said Ralph, moving towards the house. "Maybe he's out back."

Lillian appeared and impatiently snatched the trunk from Olivia. Taking another in her free hand, she headed determinedly up the front steps. Olivia smiled and shook her head. Lillian was so very capable.

On the lookout for her brother, Olivia headed around the corner of the house and slipped into the narrow alleyway that separated it from the next tall building. Weaving her way past the trash cans, she almost stepped on a sinewy black cat, who spat and hissed at her.

"Aren't you a spooky little thing?" she laughed, after catching her breath in surprise. The cat followed her, baring its teeth, as she unlatched the small iron gate that separated the alleyway from the yard.

No one was about, and Olivia paused to look over the yard behind the building. It was not a bad space. Though shared by the residents of six apartments, the yard was large, and there was enough room to hold a garden party, with space for dancing. The big maple tree at the back corner of the fence beckoned her in a friendly way. How lovely it would look when it was strung with lights! There was space to arrange tables in its shade, and the branches were low to the ground and inviting.

"Perhaps we shall get along here," murmured Olivia to herself.

On the far left was a row of garden beds, bursting with the late summer's harvest. She believed that they belonged to a woman by the name of Moretti, who lived on the first floor. There was room enough for a few more beds, and Olivia began to think of what she would plant next spring. She reminded herself to get some tulip bulbs in by November, so that they could look forward to the brilliant dashes of color the following year.