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96: Winding Down
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Evelyn recognized the perfunctory knock as Andrew’s before the door opened and he slipped into their bedroom.
He hadn’t made it home in time to have lunch with her as he’d hoped. Instead, after taking care of his other errands— which, for some bizarre reason she had yet to hear, included Justin—they’d barely had time to get to the children’s school at the dismissal hour to pick them up.
Between Sarah’s mathematics homework—Andrew’s parenting responsibility—and Peter’s reading assignment—Evelyn’s childcare duty—and the myriad of hysterics and tantrums that seemed to go hand in hand with both children’s learning process, then whining over the dinner options, then arguments about baths, then bedtime rituals, there hadn’t been much time for her and Andrew to talk. Whispered in passing, he had mentioned he thought to talk to the children tonight about Charlotte’s death, but she began to wonder if he wasn’t having second thoughts after how exhausting the evening had been.<
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World of Tomorrow 97: Fitting
As it had the previous morning and early Monday afternoon when Andrew had brought her home, the shower Wednesday morning took longer than Evelyn ever recalled either of them spending in it previously. In fact, she felt confident in saying it took longer than it did when she ran a bath, then washed, then rinsed with clean water. She was pleased to have done without the chair entirely, happy to find herself able to stand for the duration despite the drawn out washing process. And the excessive drying process which inevitably took longer than it needed too. When at last Andrew hung their towels over the rack in the warm and humid bathroom, a lazy smile still curling his lips and his half-lidded mutable blue eyes glittering with green, he wiped the steamed-up crystal face of his wristwatch and commented, “See? We’re finished with time to spare before the children get up to get ready for school.” Evelyn took a step back, her index finger raised between them, as he
World of Tomorrow 98: Big Day
“Peter, please, sit down and eat your breakfast,” Evelyn said, catching the boy by the arm as he attempted to dart past her and away from the dining table. “You’re going to make everyone late, or you’ll be hungry at school.” “But I forgot to put Lofty on the plants! He’ll be hungry!” “Then you’d best sit down and eat quickly so you can remedy that.” Despite his prying fingers, she held him firmly. “It’ll only take a second to get him,” the boy argued. “Peter,” Andrew rose from his seat at the head of the table, giving the boy a stern look down his straight, narrow nose. “Sit down at once like your mother told you.” “But Father—.” Andrew shook his head. “Absolutely not. Sit and eat, or you’ll spend the weekend without Lofty. Do I make myself clear?” It was a harsher consequence than Evelyn preferred to inflict, particularly for such a minor infraction, but she had to admit, the threat got Peter to yield. After a fashion. Returning to his seat, he plunked into it heavily, crossi
World of Tomorrow 99: Main Event
“Oh my word!” Evelyn exclaimed, pivoting on the dressing table stool as the bedroom door opened, despite the command from the hairstylist that she remain still. “Is that my Sarah? Turn around! Let me see!” Beaming, the girl paused, gave a pert curtsey, then turned around in her ruffled white dress, modeling. “Isn’t it pretty?” “Well, yes, the dress is pretty, Sarah, but the person wearing it is much prettier. You look like a young Mary Pickford. My word, your curls just shine like satin.” “Wait until you see Aunt Lily!” Sarah bounded onto the bed, perching where Evelyn could see her in one of the tri-fold mirrors on the dressing table. “She looks like Jean Harlow!” “Does she?” Evelyn asked, straightening on the stool and sighing deeply as the stylist got back to work. “I always thought she looked more like Priscilla Lane, but bright as her hair is, you’re probably right. She’s been turning heads for years.” “I can hardly wait!" Sarah giggled. "Uncle Justin’s going to flip when he
World of Tomorrow 100: Charlotte's Tale
Andrew glanced at Evelyn, clearly not surprised when she gave an almost imperceptible nod. He turned to Mary. “That will be all, thank you, Mary.” “Yes sir.” Evelyn took the hand he extended to her and allowed him to guide her to a chair. The faintest deadly glint was in his eyes as he kept them on the older man, despite the gracious tone with which he offered their odd guest a chair. “Please, have a seat. Do you prefer to be addressed as Mr. Herbert? Or Mr. Jenner?” “Ah, thank you.” Shrugging out of his jacket, he folded it neatly and draped it over the back of the chair as he sat down. “And Ned will do, if you please.” “Ned then. Something I can get you? Champagne? Brandy? Gin?” “Bourbon would be nice.” “Very good.” Andrew paced to the bar, turned up a tumbler and tipped out a generous pour of bourbon. “I’m Andrew,” he introduced, handing Ned his drink. “I believe you’ve already met my wife.” “Thank you. Wife?” Ned arched a brow. “So Charlotte wasn’t able to persuade you
World of Tomorrow 101: Processing
“For once, I would like to enjoy a significant moment with you without there being some extraordinary component to it,” Andrew groused, massaging his temples with one hand as he returned to the parlor after seeing Ned out. Evelyn slumped against the sofa back. In this particular circumstance, she might have to agree. Setting aside her confusion and seeking a more positive mental attitude, she replied, “We did manage to get married without issue.” His fingers on his temples stilled, then he looked up at her and flashed her a handsome beaming smile. “So we did.” His smile faded and he simply stared at her in amazement. “Nothing could dampen the way that makes me feel, darling. You take my breath away.” They both turned hearing Mary softly clear her throat at the parlor door. “If there’ll be nothing else, Mr. and Mrs. James, I’ll be retiring for the night.” Andrew glanced at his watch. “Dear God, it’s nearly eleven. Yes, of course, do go rest. I’m so sor
World of Tomorrow 102: Return to the Fair
Donning her robe while Andrew shaved in the bathroom, Evelyn padded down the hall to the kitchen. She poked her head in to find Mary staring into the opened refrigerator, the vacuum pot of coffee already brewing on the stove behind her. “Mary,” Evelyn said softly, hoping she wasn’t disturbing their maid. Still a bit bleary-eyed and groggy after their late night last evening, Mary turned the direction of her voice. “Yes madam?” “Have you and Tank ever been to the World’s Fair?” “Oh no, madam. It’s above our budgets, even as generous as Mr. James is.” “Would you like to go?” she asked. “Andrew and I are going to try to meet Justin and Lily with the children there. If you want to, we’ll be happy to have you attend with us.” Mary’s face lit with a bright smile. “Yes madam! I most certainly would! I’ll wake Tank at once and get breakfast on the table immediately.” Evelyn shook her head. “Don’t worry about breakfast. Just the coffee will do. The children always prefer to eat at the Fa
World of Tomorrow 103: Antagonized
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World of Tomorrow 104: Perplexing
Evelyn positioned herself in the library so that as soon as the apartment door opened, she’d hear Andrew’s return. Working in bits and spurts, sprinkling the space in between with brief games and free time, she’d managed to get the children’s homework finished. Now, she waited anxiously, watching the time on the clock’s face as it barely moved with an open book in her lap from which she hadn’t read a single word. They’d been gone an inordinately long time. Even if the drive was nearly an hour each way, they’d left over four hours ago. Her mind had begun to play out every horrible scenario it could design, starting with the simplest, that something else terrible had happened while they were driving on the Taconic. Calm down, she told herself. Stop leaping to the worst conclusions. Perhaps they’d had to stop for fuel or had a flat tire. Maybe his mother hadn’t been home and he was waiting for her to return. Or she was home but visiting w
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World of Tomorrow 139: Epilogue
“Stop, Peter!” Sarah exclaimed, whirling to face behind her. She shot her brother an angry glare. “Peter, for pity’s sake, don’t throw dirt clods at your sister,” Andrew called over his shoulder, shifting his swaddled, sleeping son from his right shoulder to his left as they walked the long, tree-lined drive that led to the James’ estate, perched with its back on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Gulls rode the ocean updrafts in the afternoon sun above the glistening water, occasionally diving when something of interest caught their eye. On the opposite side of the tree-lined drive, his wife’s tiny orchard of glossy-leaved oranges in full bloom left a sweet scent drifting over the drive on the warm, salty breeze off the sea. Not far away, Evelyn's gated garden was growing lush with upright stalks of corn, twined in the loving arms of pole beans with the wide leaves of squash spreading in a carpet at their feet along the ground in one row. In another, her tomatoes were already d
World of Tomorrow 138: Sound and Fury
“M-ma-ma.” The stuttering word was an alarming half-sob and half-gurgle from the wounded Becky. “M-ma-m-ma.” Dear God! Whoever it was had shot her! That poor, helpless girl! Why!? She wasn’t a threat! And there was absolutely nothing here of any value! Evelyn’s heart leapt to her throat and hammered painfully. But she stayed close to the wall, inching forward on tiptoe to clutch at Andrew’s jacket. She pointed to the floor where their shadows fell long across it from the single overhead lamp in the middle of the room. If they drew too close to the door, their shadows would be visible to the intruder in the darkened hall leading to the bedrooms. She pointed to the window, and Andrew jerked his chin towards it in acknowledgement. Escape. They had to escape. Outside, on the sidewalk, they could summon the patrolling police officer. They could summon help. Men trained for this. Men with other guns. They had to move fast. Miranda’s daughter needed them. Even above the scuffling noises fr
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Andrew rose slowly to his feet, an antagonized muscle twitching along his clean-shaven jaw. His expression looked like a bomb about to explode. Evelyn drew a sudden breath, one hand clapping over her mouth. She stared, in turns, first at Will, then at Miranda, and her mind whirled. What was it Alexander Lowell had said the day that Detective Kelly had attempted to arrest her? The same day he’d later resigned from the police department. Something about the detective being fed what he needed to lay an accusation upon Evelyn. The question of ‘why’ anyone cared about a lowly former secretary enough to attempt to kill her, let alone invest the effort in framing her was growing more convoluted by the minute. But it was clear it was centered here, with the account belonging to Glorietta Moreno and her rights as an heir to it. “It’s a stretch,” Andrew said softly, nodding towards Miranda, “but I can see why your mother might have had Russell’s name on that account. N
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“You folks just planning on waiting?” their cabbie asked, his dark eyes studying Andrew and Will in the rearview mirror, despite that Evelyn was seated between them. “Meter’s running. Makes no never mind to me if you do, but I’ll have to circle the block or the flatfoots will cite me.” “How long do we have to decide?” Andrew asked, reluctant to have the cab move on the off chance that they might miss Miranda's departure for work during the process. “’Nother minute or two at most.” “Thank you.” He shifted slightly on the cab’s rear seat so he could better see his companions. “I know we’re early, but if she’s keeping business hours, I’d have expected she’d have to allow time to travel to a workplace. You’re certain this is the building, Will?” “It’s the place,” he replied definitively. “I can go in and wait. Tail her to wherever she’s going, then come get you.” “Is it possible she recognized you yesterday?” Evelyn asked, peering through the murk
World of Tomorrow 135: Plan of Attack
The dancing had worked like a charm. For a couple of hours. Andrew had managed to get just shy of another couple hours on top of that, burning time off the afternoon by alternating between listening to the orchestra rehearse, dancing, and finally, by slipping a bribe to the broadcasting staff to show Evelyn their equipment set-up and to take their sweet time about it. After that, she’d become too fretful to do much beyond distractedly, which had quickly spoiled the ballroom option for both of them. They’d retired to their drawing room, taken afternoon tea, then Evelyn’s pacing had begun again in earnest. He had to admit, watching her as she combed through her drying hair at the dressing table, it might be time to worry about Will a little. It was going on eight o’clock. Late by any business standard, but certainly well past the time when most diners catering to the kind of clients they’d seen at the DeBaliviere Diner and Waffle House would be visiting
World of Tomorrow 134: As Luck Would Have It
Wednesday morning in St. Louis dawned dark and gloomy and only marginally better than it had been upon their arrival early afternoon on Monday. When Evelyn emerged from the bedroom into the drawing room where he and the constantly-moving Will waited, Andrew flicked the newspaper he’d been reading down and smiled. They’d all slept poorly—again. They’d all woken late—again—and after their enjoyable brunch yesterday, both men were eager to see what other offerings were available in the East Lounge’s dining area. “Well?” she asked, her red-tinged and particle-irritated eyes roving the drawing room’s lush furnishings, immediately spotting the unmistakable coating of fine black powder and ash. “Are we trapped inside again today? It seems faintly better.” Will snorted. “By comparison to yesterday, being buried in black sand would seem better.” Andrew chuckled, setting aside the St. Louis Star-Times he’d been reading. He rifled through a stack of newspapers o
World of Tomorrow 133: Black Tuesday
The hotel’s ballroom was a gently baroque style. Its elegant space was replete with all manner of luxuries one would expect of a high-profile hotel, no matter where one might visit in the world—custom paneled with artfully etched-mirror and plaster walls, gold-leafed accents and intricate crown moldings. Above the near-magical dancefloor, which was lit from below, hung in the decorative ceiling, a ponderous crystal chandelier lit the warm wooden dancefloor beneath it. Along the periphery, undulating balconies supported by Corinthian pilasters gave an air of classicism to the space, but one not overly staid. These generous galleries provided seating for those who had only come for a meal, to watch the dancing or to listen to the orchestra. They’d dressed for a late dinner, but though the orchestra played, their music broadcast exactly as Evelyn had always dreamed of experiencing, she and Andrew hadn’t danced. In fact, they hadn’t stayed much longer than
World of Tomorrow 132: Miserable Monday
“The Coronado was built, and I believe is now run, by Preston Bradshaw,” Andrew advised more than an hour later as their cab pulled away from the curb at the train depot. “He graduated from Columbia with my brother, Russell. The two were quite good friends as I recall. My father introduced him to Stanford White in New York City where he worked before returning to St. Louis. He’s responsible for the monumental hotels on Lindell Boulevard. The Melbourne and the Coronado at midtown and the theatre district. And opposite, near the Central West end, the Chase and the Forest Park hotels were also his commissions.” “Did you know him?” Evelyn asked, closing her burning eyes and resting her head against his shoulder. “Is that why we’re staying at the Coronado?” She left unspoken the reminder that the Coronado Hotel, in particular the hotel’s famed Caprice Club, was where they’d found Charlotte to serve Andrew’s divorce paperwork after their tip-off from the Princes in Los Angeles.
World of Tomorrow 131: Arrival
The following morning Evelyn woke alone. She could tell by the way his belongings were packed that Andrew had already risen. If she was any guess, he was taking advantage of the train’s onboard barber, which meant she had time to bathe and dress without his typical morning enthusiasm for both processes. Selecting a warm dress from her traveling case, she draped her clothing over the empty towel rack in the bathroom and rooted through her toiletries for her toothbrush and toothpowder. When she was done, she hung a fresh towel on the rack nearest the shower beside the still-damp one Andrew had used and stepped under the spray. The warm shower felt delightful and soothed the telltale soreness from her bedroom exertions with her husband the night before. Once she’d washed, she stood with the warm spray draining off of her and for the first time since they’d come, wondered what they were going to do in St. Louis. They had only the name of a diner and a hotel off t
