* * *
Abigale hadterrible arthritis in her hands and Kitty needed to walk with a cane because of her hip. They had no family, except for a nephew, Brandon Matthews, whom the sisters idolized. He was the manager of a prestigious bank in Bristol. He never visited, but occasionally sent a letter, and when he did, it was always a major event in their household. A daguerreotype of Brandon stood in a prominent place on the sitting-roommantel.
“We had a letter from Brandon,” Abigale greeted Diana and her mother even before they were inside the house. They had arrived bearing books from their home library, as George had thousands of books and the sisters had few. It was one form of entertainment both sisters enjoyed and Diana and Ann had promised to switch books with them every fewweeks.
“I hope you have not read any of these titles,” Ann said, handing the books toAbigale.
She scanned the books. “Oh, no. These are all new tous.”
“Splendid.”
“We had a letter from Brandon.” Abigale enthused again, sitting the books on the kitchen table. “He’s just returned from traveling abroad. Would you like me to read the letter to you?” she asked then called out, “Kitty, will you bring Brandon’s letter? Diana and Ann have come to bring us freshbooks.”
Neither Diana nor Ann wished to be subjected to a letter from Brandon—they were usually long and tedious and unrelated to anything they knewabout.
“Thank you, but I must get back to my painting,” Ann said, laying her hand on Abigale’s arm, “and I cannot leave my gallery unattended for too long,” she added, backing toward the frontdoor.
Diana had no such urgent excuse, so she was welcomed for tea and a lengthy and thorough reading of the letter at the kitchen table with added side comments along theway.
“You know Brandon received the MVO, did he not?” Abigale turned to Kitty forconfirmation.
“No dear it was theOM.”
“Oh, was that it? Never mind. But it was some high order orother.”
“And his church made him a deacon, I believe, aswell.”
“He is such a fine example of public service. We are soproud.”
“Yes, and let us continue with the letter, shall we dear?” Kittyinsisted.
The sisters were surprised when there was a knocking at their frontdoor.
“Better to see who that is,” Kitty insisted, not as easily able to get out of her chair as Abigalewas.
“Look who is here,” Abigale said as she returned withAdam.
“Oh, Adam, hello,” a surprised Dianasaid
“Your mother said you were over here and might need a rescue,” he said, not thinking what he wassaying.
“Well hardly a rescue,” Diana said, trying to cover for his thoughtless remark. “She must have said I need torecusemyself and get back to mywriting.”
“Yes, exactly—recusewas the word,” Adam said, blushingslightly.
Diana stood. “I am so sorry, but I will need to hear the rest of the letter another time. It is true I must get back to my work and I must also have a word or two with Adam. I do hope you will enjoy the books we found foryou.”
The sisters’ faces registered a brief disappointment at her parting, but smiled and thanked her for thebooks.
* * *
“Oh my,what an ass I can be sometimes,” Adam said as they left the sisters’ house and he took Diana’s arm, tripping on a stepping stone as they headed toward thestreet.
Diana giggled, “Yes, but you were totally accurate. I desperately did needrescuing.”
“Yes, it’s been a few days and I wanted to stop by and see how youwere.”
Diana was not sure how to proceed, or if she should even bring up the topic, but she decided she must, as the family was in such a desperatebind.
