Martha

Chapter 3 Never Mind, I Have a Date

Chapter 3
Never Mind, I Have a Date

As I walked out the door to work next morning, I maneuvered to balance coffee mug in hands while checking on e-mails and carry a briefcase in the most elegant way. While strutting along the loose gravel on the cobblestone path in the front yard, I became aware of the work still to be done in the house.

Already on the sidewalk, the awkward sensation of being observed made the hair on the back of my neck stood on its ends. Swiftly, I veered towards the neighbor's house and caught the moment when the curtains were rolled to close.

"I guess, today is the day Martha to find out who you are." Arming myself with valor, I sprinted across the lawn towards the mansion. There, either like a hero or a fool, I squared in front of the big red door. Without hesitation, I rang the bell. One, two, three times... but nobody answered. A sepulchral silence veiled the house. Not even the birds chirped in that moment.

Feeling disappointed and stupid, I left, realizing it was better to leave it there. Whomsoever spied on me did not answer the bell. It was obvious she didn't want to see me or to be seen. Well, at least not that day. Perhaps, she was ashamed of being caught peeping on the new neighbor.

"I will not give up," I said. "Someday you'll have to get out of there and that day I will solve this mystery, Martha. Let's see which one of us results in a better spy." I chuckled to the childish determination in my voice.

After placing the all my stuff over the passenger's seat, I tossed the coffee out the window and drove to school. Already in Downtown, I saw a working crew hanging billboards that announced an artwork exhibition at the museum. Astonished, I read the name of M. Higgins as the artist who was going to exhibit. M. Higgins, one of the most acclaimed contemporary painters of the nation would be in town that spring. The man was a mystery. No one had ever seen him, yet his paintings are valued at millions precisely for that. Incognito seemed to rate higher this painter's work, as he had never been in public. He's an anonymous signature and that fascinates everyone.

Definitely, I had to organize a trip to the museum with my students. Of course, they might find it amusing. They loved everything old and mysteries.

Already in school, on the first course of American History, I took my students to the library, in coordination with the librarian, to watch a documentary of the civil war.
Ms. Carvahlo was a very attractive and young Brazilian teacher, to honor what is told about her kin. Having an exotic beauty from the Amazonas as my fellow teacher reminded me of the fact that I needed to get a girlfriend. 'I thought of asking her, perhaps to have a coffee in the afternoon. Her smile illuminated the room when she greeted me politely and the group of students.  "Good morning Mr. Grau", she said in her sweet voice. While she addressed to the students on the library rules I stared at her. Beautiful, smart, sensual... my mind rambled.

'Okey, it is time to focus Antonio... Let's accomplish the first task.' I was determined to get all the possible information available about Martha or the Great Casona. Having the students watching the documentaries, bought me some time to begin my research.

By the time the third group left the conference room I had gathered a decent amount of information on the town's history. Giving special attention to details, pictures, and relevant names I took enough notes to write a thesis on the Great Casona.

"I hope you like it dark, Mr. Grau. Sweetened with honey is better than sugar", the she-wow-librarian brought me a mug of recently brewed coffee.

"Thank you, Mrs. Carvahlo." 

"Paula." Her lips curved up kindly and then she turned around, her hips swaying as she walked to her desk.

I collected the information needed to clear off a few things about my neighbor and to understand others.

America's Star newspaper: December 18, 1946, read the headline. Charity Gala at the Mansion Higgins -Von Heir. Political and renowned Hollywood figures celebrated a gala named Great Night of Charity in the Big Casona Higgins -Von Heir Forest Avenue in the village. They raised $ 50,000 benefit the victims of the Holocaust and their orphans ... -

Baffled by what I'd  found up to then I took notes, printed out what considered important while I kept searching.

Newspaper La Gaceta: March 25, 1962. Famous designer Friedrich Valparsett re-designs and refurbishes the great hall of the Mansion Higgins -Von Heir. The ostentatious remodeling is estimated around the million dollars. Nothing less could be for the lavish family of Dutch origin.

The sepia pictures showed some paintings and some absolutely exquisite furnishings of great value.

Newspaper The New York Times: January 2, 1983. Tragedy Strikes the Highest Echelons of the Country. The millionaire entrepreneurs couple Higgins -Von Heir dies in plane crash in the Swiss Alps, after celebrating the New Year in the European nation. It is said that their two children Sophia and Ralph, of eight and six years respectively, would travel after the funerals to Germany where they will be received by their father-side uncle, Fried Higgins - Von Heir.

The children were beautiful, an air of aristocracy glowed in their countenances, and their fancy winter clothing apparel spoke out the most.

By the time the bell rang, not only I've found interesting and so valuable data, but I've also got a date with Paula. Seemed to be I would have that coffee in the afternoon after all.

While I drove home after school, I thought about Martha. Maybe, I conjured up, she was a relative of the Higgins-Von Heir. Perhaps a niece or cousin that claimed the state after the matrimony died. Estimating that the value of house could never be less than a million dollars, that was to me the most logical explanation. She was a lonely old woman. It could be that this lady, under the tragic and sudden circumstances she inherited the mansion.

And so there my reasoning stretched a statement after another. Martha was a rich woman... She didn't need to work. That was why she didn't go out that often. The lady lived by herself for she is a widower as everybody tells, hence she preferred to live secluded and avoided people because people had been mean to her. I pitied her in that moment.

My mental babbling was interrupted when text message beeped on the phone: 'Hello. "Saludos". I didn't notice when you left the Library. The invitation to coffee, still stands? Paula Carvalho'

I had completely forgotten the super Brazilian librarian. Immediately I called her to confirm the time and place of the date and hurried to my house. Once there I jumped out the car and hurried straight into the bungalow without even looking to the side. I took a quick shower dressed more casually. In the same way, I left again ignoring the Mansion and the mystery to be solved around it.

Once in front of Paula's apartment, I waited for the lady to come out, and when she did I almost swooned to her comeliness. Oh dear God! Flowers never looked so bright and stunning to me than in the dress she wore. Stupefied I watched her sauntering towards me, having the sidewalk as a catwalk. She greeted me with a smile and I froze. I'd almost forgot to open the car's door but soon I recovered from my own stupidity.

"Gracias." She told me in perfect Spanish as she climbed up into the jeep with grace.

On the way, we chatted pleasantly on the way to Antonetti Bistro, a quaint Italian cafe, famous for its ravioli stuffed with Ricotta cheese, and coffee on Downtown.

The woman was gorgeous in all the extension of the way. Not only she was stunning, physically speaking, but also smart and witty. Her roasted caramel skin and dark eyes surrounded by long and playful lashes reminded me of the women in my country. With Paula, that evening time went by smoothly, flowing amidst a most pleasurable conversation and a cultural exchange of patriotic pride. She talked about Rio. I talked about San Juan... soon we found we had so many things in common. The librarian was an exceptional woman. I was glad to discover that she was fond of reading and history, just like me. Without doubts, she was the ideal woman to formalize a relationship.

"Thank you, Antonio. I had a great time... See you on Monday at school. Have a nice weekend." Paula spoke in her sultry voice before she left. A kiss on the cheek was an incentive, at least it was for me, to repeat the date when I left the Brazilian beauty by her apartment.

***Please let me know what do you think so far if this story. I'll really appreciate it!