Alone In My Memories (Twin Series) Page 9

  “But isn’t she Mr. Manley’s sister?” Katherine asked, looking perplexed at Gertrude’s statement that Myles had ever struggled and that Mr. Manley’s sister had been lacking in funds. They were rich, even in the most destitute of times of this country, they were very rich!

  Gertrude nodded. “Yes, Lillian is Mr. Manley’s sister, but her parent's disinherited her.”

  “Why did they disinherit her?” Katherine asked.

  “Because Lillian married Myles’ father against her parents’ wishes. Lillian didn’t seem to care too much at the time because she was in love with her husband. He was a handsome devil, that one. They say Myles is the spiting imagine of him. His father ran off shortly after he was born. Myles’ mother was only eighteen years old when she had him. Lillian nearly had a break down when her husband left and kept insisting he would come back home someday. He never did. The Depression was very severe in those times. Myles was ten years old when his uncle found them. They were living in a broken down apartment with empty cupboards, so he took Myles in. The poor dear was practically starving. Mr. Manley knew Lillian needed some time to recuperate so he sent her away on a three month tour of Europe. While Lillian was away on holiday, to sort things out and all, she met a very prestigious and influential Englishman. He swept her off her feet and married her within eight weeks. They now reside in London with their two daughters. The oldest girl is fifteen years old and her younger sister is twelve.”

  “I never knew…I would never have thought Myles’ life had been anything like that. So why didn’t he join his mother in England, didn’t she want him to come?” Katherine asked, amazingly taken aback by what she was hearing. Never in a million years did Katherine ever imagine Myles could have gone through the struggles he did, and at such an early time in his life. It was also hard to believe he grew up without the loving affection of his mother.

  “I believe Lillian very much wanted her son to be a part of her new life, but Mr. Manley feared Myles had already gone through more changes than any young child could handle. Myles was already attending a new school. He was living in a new neighborhood and had just befriended a new set of boys. Mr. Manley didn’t know how his new brother-in-law would treat his nephew. Myles was so emotionally scarred from what had occurred and Mr. Manley wanted to do all he could to protect him.” Gertrude sighed.

  “So Myles isn’t as spoiled as I thought,” Katherine spoke her thoughts out loud.

  “No more spoiled than any child has the right to be.” Gertrude smiled. “And I am so glad Myles came to us. He has grown into a wonderful man,” Gertrude stated.

  Katherine felt herself at a loss. What was going on? Nothing was what it had seemed and she began questioning everything. What Gertrude said next disturbed her all the more.

  “Know this Katherine, two people have never belonged together more than you and Myles do. Never doubt that,” Gertrude said warmly.

  How could this be? The match Gertrude implied was a tender warm union. The reality of the state of their marriage was the complete opposite of this. Hadn’t she found that out earlier this morning? It seemed they were both in love with other people, that their marriage had more flaws than she could count and that everyone was hopeful for the best, while Katherine was consistently presented with the worst outlook possible.

  The kitchen door opened. Katherine looked up to find a pretty slender young woman standing there in a blue cotton dress, with a basket of flowers in her hand and a rather large blue bow in her hair. When the young woman saw her she dropped the basket. Her blue eyes lighting up as she raced to Katherine’s side, beaming.

  Katherine looked up at the young woman and smiled, unsure of who she was or what exactly the girl wanted.

  “Hello,” she said, finally after a few moments, when the girl said nothing. She wondered if the girl was being intentionally rude, though she looked like a pleasant enough person.

  “Hello Emily,” Gertrude whispered under her breath, as she stood collecting Katherine’s empty plate.

  Katherine watched Gertrude rise, listened to hear Emily respond, but it was a response which never came. That reaction startled Katherine, but Gertrude didn’t seem put-off by the silence. Emily tapped Katherine on her left arm. Katherine looked up and saw that Emily was smiling.

  Emily then gestured with her hands, signing the words, “Hello how are you Katherine?”

  Katherine sat speechless, for a moment, surprised with the knowledge that Emily was mute. Then she instantly sprang into action signing back, “I am fine.”

  Katherine was amazed she had actually been able to use the sign language she'd been taught at the age of seven. Katherine's mother influenced her to learn how to sign, since her grandmother was mute. Her mother said it might be of more use to her in the future, that perhaps she would be able to help someone, someday.

  Emily signed back, “I am so happy that you are home. I have missed you. I know you don’t remember me, but I take care of your garden.”

  “My garden?” Katherine asked, as she saw Emily study her lips and smiled.

  “Yes, your garden.” Emily signed. “It is the loveliest residential garden in all of Philadelphia. Would you like to see it?”

  Katherine looked to Gertrude who had been well into washing the dishes.

  “I imagine she wants to take you to see your flowers. You should go,” Gertrude spoke without turning around.

  Katherine looked thoughtful for a moment. What had she to lose really? This garden could possible help her to remember something.

  “Alright, I’ll come.” Katherine stood.

  With a delightful smile on her lips, Emily clasped her hand and they were off.

  Chapter 7: The Garden

  At first Katherine didn’t know what to expect. She assumed the garden was perhaps a lovely patch of land, something she had probably glanced at out the bedroom window and had not even noticed. But as Emily led her around the back of the house, Katherine stood astonished at what she saw as they walked through the green vastly open square. She viewed the evergreen trees which aligned it, fantastically amazed at the sight. It was lovely, even the pebbled walkway. At the far end tall, shrubs ten feet tall marked the entrance to the garden, along with a black four-foot high gate, which had the initials KM gleaming in gold. The KM stood for Katherine Manley no doubt. A garden of her own…

  Katherine stood speechless. She remembered reading the book The Secret Garden when she was ten. Katherine had always dreamed of having a large garden of her own, but she never imagined anything of this magnitude. Secret it wasn’t, yet this place had a magical flare. Even from where she stood Katherine could see the large Weeping Willow tree, where a quaint red swing hung. She looked at the pond, located in the center, flanked by an impressive array of colorful flowers of all shapes and sizes. There was even a section where shrubs were shaved into animal figures. On the right, there was a lion, and on the left of the lion was a leopard and a bear. All her favorites and all furnished for her pleasure, no doubt. But who would go through all this trouble to please her, surely not Myles? Yet hadn’t he stated just the day before that the library, and all of the books it contained were for her pleasure. Why did he care about her happiness when he wanted someone else, or had all of this been done out of guilt?

  Emily touched her arm and signed, “Isn’t it lovely?” There was a glow of pride in her eyes when she asked this question.

  “Emily in all truth I can’t believe what I am seeing. It’s marvelous,” Katherine said enthusiastically, as she felt goose bumps trailing up her arms.

  “And it’s yours.” Emily signed, then swung open the gate and gestured for Katherine to go in first.

  Katherine took light careful steps as she stepped through the gate. They spent the better part of the morning walking around the garden, talking about the various plants and feeling the cool gentle breeze of the day, until she heard voices approaching.

  “Mommy’s here Daddy,” one of Katherine’s sons said gaily as he tried to pull
open the gate, which was far too heavy for his small frame.

  Katherine watched as her husband strolled up to their son, while their other son’s hand was clasped tightly in his. Myles easily pushed open the gate. When he looked up toward her she subconsciously patted down her hair, wondering to herself if he would think her hairdo silly. Vivien had helped her place it up in a snood hairstyle, with a poof in the front and the back part of her hair wrapped in the same fabric as her dress, with a bow tied on the top.

  “Mommy!” the child at Myles’ side said as he raced towards her. The other little boy following.

  Katherine laughed when they wrapped their tiny little hands about her neck and both tried to kiss her cheek at the same time.

  Myles watched this greeting, saw the brilliant beam of joy in his wife’s lovely brown eyes and thought to himself, if only those brilliant brown eyes could also light up for him. His gaze swept appreciatively over his wife, as she sat on a red plaid blanket surrounded by bright green grass. Katherine looked amazingly beautiful in the light chiffon dress she wore. The top of the dress was transparent, right above the bustline, while the lower half was lightly layered, enhancing the floral pattern on her outfit. Her shapely creamy arms were exposed, kissed by the sun as the dress draped over the growing swell of her belly.

  “Hello Emily…Katherine.” Myles’ eyes settled on his wife when she finally gazed up to look at him. Sadly there was no beam of light there, only a dull look of indifference.

  “Hello,” Emily signed.

  “Hello Myles,” Katherine whispered, as she adjusted Matthew on her lap, while Michael tried to push his brother away.

  “Michael.” Michael stopped what he was doing when he heard the warning tone in his father’s voice. Katherine looked from her husband to her son and then back again.

  “Yes, Daddy.” Michael’s large brown eyes settled on his father.

  “Be nice to your brother. Let him sit on your mama’s lap; you’ll get your turn,” Myles said gently, as he eased himself down to sit beside Katherine. “Until then do you want to sit by me?”

  Katherine tensed, feeling the heat off of Myles’ body, more so than the heat the sun discharged. An unsettling feeling flooded over her and she wished him gone, for his presence swept away her solitude.

  Michael pouted as he shook his head. “It’s not fair. Mattie's not my friend.”

  Katherine wanted to reach out to her son, to draw Michael into her arms and tell him his mother loved him too, but Myles spoke to handle the situation, before she could even react.

  “Michael, that wasn’t nice, now tell Matthew you’re sorry,” Myles said firmly.

  Michael folded his arms and looked unapologetically at his brother.

  “Michael,” Myles warned. When Michael remained stubborn Myles quickly stood to his feet. “Come here Michael.” He extended his hand towards his son.

  Michael placed pleading eyes upon his mother, but before Katherine could even reach out to him, Myles swept the child up in his arms, carrying him away. What was Myles going to do? Would he spank him? Not that Katherine didn’t believe in spanking, but she knew Michael was only acting out because he missed her. She didn’t think she could bear to watch Myles spank him. Michael was her child. She had given birth to him.

  “Myles,” Katherine cried out, while she held Matthew who was peeping over his mother’s shoulder, watching as his father walked his twin brother over to the weeping willow tree.

  “Not now Kat,” Myles said in a no nonsense tone, as though he was unmoved by the plea he heard in his wife’s voice.

  Katherine watched as her husband knelt down continuing eye-to-eye contact with Michael, saw Michael nod his head as his father spoke. She watched as her sons lower lips tremble and ached when she saw a great lump of tears fall from his eyes. Two minutes later father and son reappeared again, at her side.

  Michael’s cheeks were reddened. He looked upset as he spoke with a shaky voice, “I’m sorry Mattie.” Then bowing his head he cried as troubling tears trickled down his cheeks, while his shoulders shook.

  “Oh, now don’t. Come here,” Myles said compassionately as he sat, this time sweeping his son up in his hands. “Now hush.” Myles placed Michael’s head on his shoulder as he soothed him, as tenderly as he soothed her the night before.

  “Don’t cry Mickey,” Matthew, the shy sensitive twin said. “You're my friend,” Matthew rose out of his mother’s lap and patted his twin affectionately on the back. Michael rubbed his tear reddened eyes with the back of his hand, then hugged his father tightly, as he whimpered.

  Katherine’s gazed locked with Myles’ once more. She studied him with open wonder, as though she almost disbelieved what she had seen and remembered what Gertrude said earlier this morning, that Myles wasn’t exactly what most people expected him to be. So far he wasn't entirely what she expected at all.

  Myles kissed his son’s dampened cheek, never veering his gaze away from his wife.

  “You alright, big boy?” Myles asked, rubbing his son's back.

  Michael nodded.

  “That’s my boy,” as he spoke all the while his eyes were transfixed on Katherine’s, green and brown, meshed together like the earthy colors of nature. How natural it was to love her…

  “Now look how sad you've made your mama,” Myles stated as he steadily watched her. Michael looked over his shoulder at his mother. His baby brown eyes searching for her sympathy.

  “Smile at your mama. Maybe she’ll smile back at you,” the wishful thought floated out of his lips, into reality. Would Katherine smile for him also? How Myles longed to make her happy. That was his lifelong goal, Katherine’s happiness and though he had given her everything, it hurt to think she still wanted Caleb.

  Why couldn’t she turn away? Why did Katherine feel as though she were in a trance? What had Myles done to her? His eyes spoke what his heart did not. Katherine turned away, looking to Michael with a warm tender smile on her lips.

  “Do you want to come to your mama?” Katherine opened her arms. Michael nodded and slipped out of his father’s arms, easing into hers. “You poor baby,” she said warmly, after positioning her son on her lap.

  Michael looked up at his mother and sniffed, comfortingly rubbing his head against her breast. Katherine flinched, the sudden movement drawing her attention to the tenderness there.

  “What’s wrong?” Myles asked, catching her pained expression.

  “Nothing really.” Katherine flushed repositioning Michael, but only a mere second later Michael readjusted himself back to her tender bosoms’ again.

  Myles saw his wife’s discomfort, finally guessing at what had been the cause. Each time Michael’s head brushed her chest she cringed.

  “Kat are you tend…” Myles stopped when he saw her cheeks redden even further. She looked down at the grass and appeared incredibly mortified.

  Myles wanted to tell her it was alright, that he knew the changes this pregnancy had brought on her body, only he didn’t want to embarrass his bashful wife any more than she already was.

  “Michael, lean your head back away from your mama. Don’t push yourself against her like that, alright?” Myles said.

  Michael did as his father instructed. Katherine sighed. She wanted to thank Myles for intervening only she was far too coy to draw any further attention to that topic. Matthew moved to his mother’s side then, sat beside her and placed his head against her left arm.

  “I have a boo-boo, Mommy,” Matthew said, lifting his bandaged finger into view. His pretty golden eyelashes glittered in the sun when Matthew looked up at her.

  “I’m sorry Mattie, does it still hurt?” Katherine asked studying the bandaged finger, as Michael placed his hand over her belly, observing it, while she tried to ignore her husband’s watchful gaze.

  “Yes Mommy,” Matthew said.

  “Do you want your mama to kiss it and make it better?” Katherine asked, gazing down at her son, fascinated by his features which were so very much like his
fathers. They were Myles replicas. Who would have guessed they came from her.

  “Please, kiss it Mommy.” Matthew raised his finger higher toward her lips. Katherine leaned down and placed a light, loving kiss over his finger, like she had watched her own mother do for her numerous times, but this time she was the mommy.

  “Is it better now?” She smiled down at Matthew when he nodded, then leaned his head back against her once more.

  Inching down, Katherine affectionately kissed him on the head. He was a good boy, Matthew, a very mild tempered child, with a big heart. Michael was the strong spirited child, easily upset, yet warmly affectionate. Michael was more like her and Matthew…couldn’t possibly be like his father, could he?

  Katherine felt a tug on her dress. When she looked down Michael said eagerly, “My eye hurts.”

  “It does?” Katherine said with a surprised note in her voice as she tried to repress a laugh. Neither of her little ones would permit anyone to upstage them.

  “Would you like me to kiss it and make it all better?” she asked.

  “Yes Mommy.” Michael beamed.

  “Let me see.” Katherine pretended to study his eye. She brushed her thumb over his eyelid and leaned down and kissed it.

  “Is it all better?” Katherine asked sweetly.

  “Mommy’s kisses always make it better,” Myles said with a wishful look in his eyes, as he watched her.

  Katherine swallowed with her mouth agape, as a tremor went through her body.

  “Do you have a boo-boo Daddy?” Mathew asked, attempting to place his father onto the list of ailments.

  Katherine tensed sensing what was coming. Fireworks went off in her head. He wouldn’t, would he? Myles grinned looking across at her, his green eyes glowing with mischief.

  “Yes Matthew, Daddy’s boo-boo is right here.” He touched the scar on his cheek which had faded into a faint pale thin line. Myles watched as Katherine’s gaze swept over the scar, watched how prettily her lips appeared as they parted, full pouting pink lips.