Alone In My Memories (Twin Series) Page 13

  “I wanted to say thank you and to show you how much I appreciated what you did for me. So Kat,” Myles said charmingly, “will you spend the day with me?”

  “What?” Katherine’s eyes widened. Bells and whistles went off in her head. How Myles said it…what he was asking almost sounded like a date.

  “He wants you to spend the day with him,” Gertrude said as she leaned against the sink with a damp dish towel tossed over her right shoulder.

  Katherine’s hands felt clammy. Her knees felt weak. A day alone with Myles, Surely they had done so before…

  “Without the children?” Katherine asked with a note of uncertainty.

  “Just you and me.” Myles saw her reluctance, knew Katherine was nervous about being all alone with him, but they needed the time to get to know each other again. How else was he ever to win her over before her memory returned.

  “Will the boys understand?” Katherine began.

  “Laura can handle those rascals,” Gertrude added warmly. “Now, I would appreciate it if you both would finish your breakfast and vacate my kitchen.” Gertrude turned back to the sink.

  Twenty-five minutes later when Myles helped Katherine out of her seat Gertrude said enthusiastically, “Have a lovely day you two.”

  One hour later they pulled up behind the Fisher Fine Arts Library.

  “Right here Jenkins,” Myles directed, looking quite pleased with himself.

  “This is where you wanted to take me?” Katherine said in disbelief.

  “The University of Pennsylvania, our old alma mater, the place where we met,” Myles spoke the last few words as though it were an afterthought. Stepping out of the car he walked over to her side and reached in, helping her out.

  She faintly heard him speak to Jenkins as she looked about the street and at the tall buildings, until Myles led her around the side of the library.

  It was hard to believe she had left this institution years ago. Nothing had changed. Life had gone on here as it always did. She watched as the current students bustled by, rushing off to their numerous classes, with not a care of what awaited them in the real world. They had no notion of who they were destined to become, what achievements laid in store, nor any thought to the love they would lose, the man they would marry or the children they would bare.

  They walked up the side steps of the red sandstone, brick-and-terra-cotta Venetian Gothic building, down a hall and shortly entered the domed section with its rays of natural light and its sea of work study spaces. Katherine turned looking about the walls and up into the ceiling. She felt comforted by this place, had studied in this very room thousands of times. Being inside this building was like breathing a breath of fresh air because it was familiar to her.

  “Brilliant architecture isn’t it?” Myles whispered.

  “Yes.” Katherine nodded. As he led her about the building she felt as though Myles had propelled her back into a time when she was contented with her life and optimistic about her future. But that time was out of her grasp now. It was a significantly daunting thought.

  They walked into the lounge area where an array of chairs and sofas were arranged for the student's comfort. Katherine smiled when she reflected on how many times she used this room, sat on this very camel back sofa and fell wearily asleep under the large round lamp shades, while she tried to catch up on her class readings. Those memories were sweet, bitter-sweet.

  Katherine turned to retrace her steps. As they strolled back through the building she noticed a few students were looking up when they passed by; young women who were boldly staring in Myles direction with interest as though they were oblivious to the fact Katherine was at his side. She wondered if Myles had noticed, if he relished in the knowledge that women were drawn to his irresistible looks. But when she turned to her husband, he didn’t seem to be aware of the attention he was drawing. So why did those women’s admiration of her husband annoy and trouble her today, unlike when they were at the hospital and she had viewed the open admiration the nurses were careless to conceal?

  Katherine was relieved when they finally left the library and headed out towards the College Hall building, walking along the stone pathway aligned on either side with canopy trees. On their approach they viewed the bronze statue of Benjamin Franklin which stood on a granite pedestal, in front of the building. Katherine was warmed to see this building. It had been the very place she first visited when she arrived on campus, in the fall of 1941.

  “I can see this campus means a lot to you, just by the way you look at it,” Myles stated breaking the eerie silence.

  “Yes it does.” Katherine nodded. “I dreamt of attending this university since I was twelve years old,” she said in a matter of fact voice.

  “That’s quite an ambition for such a little girl.” He watched how Katherine unconsciously rubbed the swell of her belly.

  “I suppose, but I guess you can say I have never been like most girls,” she admitted.

  “Not in the least,” Myles stated. Katherine was not the typical kind of woman he knew. She was a very deep and complex creature that gave her all to the people she loved and was not the least bit vain about her looks, like most beautiful women would be. Katherine was a remarkably selfless kind of person.

  During their school years he was amazed by her dedication to do all she could to help anyone who was struggling. Katherine volunteered in soup kitchens, in homeless shelters and collected clothing for the needy. She was always looking for some means to raise money for those less fortunate than herself.

  She was a huge influence on his life. He had become a better person because of her. This was why Myles love for Katherine was so strong. She was a ray of light for others, as well as himself and those qualities were invaluable to find.

  “I wanted to get my education and teach English at college level and so I geared myself for that. I studied hard so I could get a scholarship. You see, I knew I couldn’t come here without a scholarship. It cost four hundred dollars a year. I know it doesn’t sound like much to you, but to me it is a lot of money.” She shook her head. “I mean I know there are families who send their children here and it’s no bother if they goof off or actually learn something…”

  “You mean families like mine,” Myles stated directly.

  Katherine said nothing.

  “Not everyone values their privileges Katherine, but I have learned to value mine. I was fortunate to have the means to come here, that I won’t deny, but there was not a second I didn’t appreciate it. My objective has always been to study hard in order to make something of myself. I always wanted to make my uncle proud, and I knew getting my education would be an asset to my family’s steel company. Uncle Frederick is getting older. It’s only a matter of time before I’m going to have to run things and I want to do the business justice.”

  Katherine had been astonished by his words. Myles had more drive and ambition than she expected. Her opinion of him hadn't entirely been fair in that regard, yet she came to this conclusion based on the things she saw and heard from the fellows he hung out with.

  Myles’ companions had been a rowdy crowd, from elite families that never seemed to take their privileges seriously and mostly sat around playing poker instead of getting their work done. The panty raids they had instigated increased in number yearly. The overwhelming focus on sport and the lack of interest in studies, all brought on the negative opinion she harbored. Yet he took the time to sit down with his great-aunt and listen to her woes selflessly. What a contradiction he was to what she had expected.

  “I never guessed,” Katherine stated.

  “You mean you never really took me seriously,” Myles added.

  “No, I never viewed the serious side of you…wanting to make your uncle proud. You really love your uncle, don’t you?” The realization came to her then.

  “Very much. Family has always meant the world to me.” Myles nodded.

  “Gertrude said he…he raised you since you were very young,” Katherine said hesitantly.

  “Now did she?” Myles slow smile caught her off guard. “So what else did old Gert say about me?”

  Magically Katherine felt the air between them lighten.

  “That you weren’t always rich and spoiled…” She flushed when he lifted a brow.

  “Ah, so this is what you thought?” Myles eyes widened with interest.

  “Well, what was I to think? You were the boy who had everything, even a driver who brought you to school,” Katherine pointed out.

  “Jenkins was hired because my uncle didn’t want me hurrying about, getting into any accidents. I would have driven myself here every day, but my uncle made me promise I wouldn’t.”

  “Ohhh.” Katherine was surprised to hear this.

  “It may have seemed like a stately thing to have been driven about, but you would never believe how embarrassed I was. The fellows were always making jokes.” Myles shook his head. “They’d refer to Jenkins as my babysitter,” he said in a humorous tone.

  Katherine laughed. How strange to know now that Myles had not liked the pampering he received.

  “So you think it was funny?” There was a twinkle in Myles’ eyes when he looked at her.

  “No, I just never thought anyone would have made fun of you. You were so popular. All the guys looked up to you. I didn’t know a single girl who wouldn’t have dated you if you asked,” Katherine spoke truthfully.

  Except one, Myles thought. “Didn’t you?” He paused as though he were contemplating his next words. “I used to meet up with some of my friends to study in the library. One day as we were sitting at our study desks a beautiful girl walked in with a pile of books in her hands. It was the first time I ever saw you,” Myles admitted.

  Katherine's gaze fell on the green serpentine stone that enveloped the College Hall building. She felt her throat grow dry at his admission, tried to think of something to say, would have responded only right at the moment a group of young men walked by buoyantly singing to two girls. The girls giggled as they looked back.

  And Myles knew the moment was lost. He sensed she had pushed it away, as though she was frightened of it, of him somehow.

  “So carefree,” Katherine said with deep longing as she watched the young men until they walked in through the entrance of Logan Hall, until they were lost from her site.

  “Yes they are, but everyone has to grow up sometime Kat. We can’t stay children forever,” Myles said pointedly. “They’ll grow up and soon have to face the responsibilities life brings.”

  “I suppose so…” Katherine began, but she never finished what she was going to say because a distant memory was unlocked in her mind of another day, of another boy. In a flash Katherine saw Caleb as he sung to her from a distance just like those boys sang to the girls and she knew this memory had been days maybe weeks after their accident.

  “Katherine.” Myles touched her arm. “Are you alright?” he asked in a concerned voice.

  “I remembered something,” she blinked in disbelief as she looked up at Myles. “I remembered Caleb singing to me,” Katherine spoke with relief because for the first time in over a week she had a glimpse of the past in which she'd forgotten.

  “You remembered Caleb?” Myles asked discontentedly. Why, why of all the people Katherine could have remembered, did she remember Caleb? Was he so deeply forged in her mind that he’d been the first memory to blossom? Was there connection so indestructible that neither the lapse of time or situation could ever taint its value?

  “Yes.” Katherine nodded, thrilled with the news of what she proclaimed, unaware the news was unpleasing to Myles.

  “Aren’t you happy Myles?” Katherine asked, as she looked up at him with questioning eyes.

  Myles was at a loss for words. He didn’t want to dampen her spirits. He had no desire to cast a shadow over what she revealed, so he tried to look pleased, tried to be pleased, but he wasn’t. Myles wanted to be the first memory Katherine had. It would have meant the world to him, but there was Caleb again…it was always Caleb.

  “It means your memories returning,” he stated avoiding the question. “Where were you…when he sang to you?” The words came out muffled, as muffled as his thoughts.

  “While I was leaving the Quad dormitory,” she frowned, “In the courtyard? Yes, it was the courtyard.” Katherine nodded looking weary.

  There was a strained silence before he spoke again.

  “Are you tired? Would you like to sit for a while?” Myles gestured to the bench a few feet away from where they were standing.

  “No.” Katherine looked thoughtful as she bit down on her lower lip. “I’d like to see Sergeant Hall. I lived in that dorm. Can we go there now?”

  He watched her look in the direction of the women’s dorm, yet not at him. Why did it seem sometimes like Katherine was afraid to face him, like she didn’t want to look at him unless it was absolutely necessary?

  “Alright then, let’s go.” Myles reached out and grasped Katherine’s left hand in his, and swallowed as he felt her slight reluctance. Then she weakly grasped his hand.

  Thirty minutes later Myles assumed Katherine would be exhausted since they tramped through her dorm and she was even permitted to view the room she had once stayed in; but when they exited the building she seemed to have been filled with a renewed amount of energy.

  “Let’s go to the Quad dorms,” Katherine said excitedly. Her light brown eyes brightened with enthusiasm as she looked up at Myles. Instantly then she saw his displeasure as deep lines creased his forehead as he frowned.

  “Maybe we should leave it for another time,” Myles said with a note of agitation in his voice.

  “But why when we are here now? You did bring me here to help me remember, didn’t you?” She blinked up at him. “Perhaps I’ll remember more over at the Quads.”

  “Kat, I’m worried you are going to overtax yourself,” he stated, looking down at the swell of her belly. “I think it would be better if we headed back to the car.”

  “But I really want to go to the Quads, at least just for a little while,” she said wishfully.

  “I think we should leave,” Myles stated unmovingly.

  “Why are you doing this?” Katherine asked, in a note of frustration.

  “Doing what?” Myles questioned as he looked down on her.

  “Treating me like I have no understanding, like I don’t even have the capability to make rational decisions for myself. I might be pregnant, but I know what I’m capable of,” she stated tightly.

  “Kat, that isn’t what I meant.” Myles shook his head as he tried to reason with her.

  “It may not be what you meant, but it’s surly what it sounds like.” She stepped back away from him.

  “Kat──” Myles reached out to touch her, but she moved further away from him.

  “Forget it. We’ll just do it your way. Like keeping Caleb out of my life is your way,” Katherine stated bitterly.

  Myles felt her words as though she had cut him. He thought they'd made some leeway, had felt the difference in Katherine, had seen how she'd opened up to him, sharing her thoughts, her deep inner feeling and now those moments were gone. They fled as swiftly as they came.

  How could he make her understand what was difficult for him to explain? How could he make her see he had her best interest at heart? It was not the right time to tell her. Myles dreaded the moment when what was now hidden, would be revealed.

  They walked back silently to the car, all the while Katherine kept a significant distant from him. As they drove through the city Katherine was fuming inside. Why had Myles brought her out to enjoy the day when all he wanted to do was limit her activities and her interaction with others?

  She said nothing to him on the long drive to Market Street, watching the busy roads as they passed buses, trolley’s and drove over the menacing hurtles of the train tracks. The wide large streets were flooded with vehicles, while the long wide sidewalks were crowded with a vast deal of pedestrians. Katherine watched as Jenkins pulled up in front of Strawbridge & Clothier. Myles stepped out of the vehicle as he had done earlier. Opening her door he reached out to grasp her hand in his. Reluctantly she accepted his assistance, unwilling to meet his gaze.

  “You’re not going to be angry at me all day are you?” Myles inquired as he smoothed down the sides of the blue maternity smock she wore, as Jenkins drove away. When Katherine gasped, Myles smiled looking pleased with himself. “There I’ve fixed it.”

  The wind slightly ruffled her white scallop collar and he took pleasure in brushing it down as well, as his wife flushed, looking about them.

  “Myles don’t, people are staring,” Katherine whispered shyly as she lowered her eyes to the top of his tie, not desiring to stand out in the crowd, especially in her condition.

  “Why doesn’t this surprise me?” When she looked up at him with large brown pleading eyes. Myles almost lost the inner fight to kiss her, right there out in the open. How displeased with him would Katherine be if he did that? Would she be as upset as she had been when he was unwilling to take her to the Quads? “I don’t think you have any idea how beautiful you are Kat.” His voice was deep and rich, as his eyes trailed over her.

  “Why did you bring me here? I-I thought we were going home,” Katherine said unable to conceal just how nervous he made her.

  Myles gave her a wicked grin. “We will, but later, after you have looked about some more and I’ve thoroughly fed this little one of ours, to its mother’s content.” He loved how her cheeks pinked and how her lips slightly parted.

  “Myles, let’s go inside?” Katherine urged, as she became increasingly aware of how much attention they were both receiving. Katherine never liked to be the center of attention and inwardly she cringed from it.

  “Alright.” Myles grasped her hand and began to walk towards the entrance of Strawbridge & Clothier.

  When they moved closer to the building Katherine halted as she found herself drawn to one of the displays in the window. It was of a baby crib, rocker and a few assortments of items which caught her interest.