Three word Wednesday-The Christmas Card-Part 6

Three Word Wednesday-The Christmas Card -Part 6

If you missed part one http://sheilaghlee.blogspot.ca/2012/12/three-word-wednesday-christmas-card.html

If you missed part two http://sheilaghlee.blogspot.ca/2012/12/three-wednesday-word-christmas-card.html

If you missed part three http://sheilaghlee.blogspot.ca/2013/01/three-word-wednesday-christmas-card.html 
if you missed part four http://sheilaghlee.blogspot.ca/2013/01/three-word-wednesday-christmas-card_9.html 
if you missed part five http://sheilaghlee.blogspot.ca/2013/01/three-word-wednesday-christmas-card_16.html

Three Word Wednesday- The Christmas Card Part 6

Brag; verb: Say in a boastful manner; noun: A boastful statement; an act of talking boastfully; adjective: Excellent, first-rate (informal).

Icy; adjective: Covered with or consisting of ice; very cold; (of a person's tone or manner) very unfriendly; hostile.

Polite; adjective: Having or showing behavior that is respectful and considerate of other people; of or relating to people who regard themselves as more cultured and refined than others.

   “I can’t believe you saw Roberto without me,” Mildred complained.

   “I’m sorry your niece said you weren’t feeling well and were lying down.” Grace replied politely.

   “She worries too much, I wanted to go.”

   “I’ll take you to see him after we meet with Maria today.”

   “I hope you didn’t get his hopes up Maria is very difficult to deal with.”

   “No kidding, I think she may have deliberately kept Roberto and Maria apart.”

   “She did? Of course she did, she hated to see Grace happy. You let me handle Maria. She could never pull one over on me.” bragged Mildred

  “If you think you can get the truth out of her I’ll let you take the lead.”

     Grace and Mildred arrived at Maria’s at twelve thirty. They weren’t going to let Maria get away today.

  “Stay in the car for a moment,” Mildred instructed. “I’m going to get us in once she opens the door you get out and come in.”

  “Isn’t that trespassing?”

  “No, that’s why once she invites me in you come in too.”

    Grace watched as Mildred went to the door. Mildred visibly shrunk appearing her ninety five years in an instance. Mildred knocked softly on the door.

   “Millie is that you?” asked the woman. 

    She was petite about five feet tall. Her hair white in pin curls to her head, she bent over leaning on a cane. Her skin was sallow and pulled tight across her face, but the wrinkles of time still showed across her face. Her eyes were crinkled at the corners and her mouth turned down in folds there.

   “Yes, of course Maria. I visit my niece for Christmas and I thought I’d drop by and wish you a Merry Christmas.”

   “I was just leaving, but I guess you could come in for coffee and Christmas cake as long as you leave by one,” Maria replied icily

  “Thanks Maria,” Mildred commented.

  “Who is this now, your niece?”

  “Yes, this is my niece, Anna,” lied Mildred.

  “Come on in then, both of you,” Maria said sounding resigned.

   Maria then took them to the kitchen where they sat at the kitchen table.

   “It’s been such a long time. When was the last time I saw you back in the early forties?”

  “Yes, just before Grace came home.”

   “That was a rough time for her,” Mildred commented.

   “Yes, my dad and mom were right though she couldn’t raise a child.”

   “So, she gave her baby up?”

Maria got a look on her face that said there was more to the story. Grace watched as Mildred drew her out and Maria forgot Grace was there.

   “So tell me what happened. Don’t worry I won’t tell anyone. Neither will my niece.”

   “You know, don’t you? That’s why you’re here,” Maria claimed.

   “Know what?”

   “You know what I did. You know my father had me forge Grace’s signature to give up the baby. Lord help me.”

   “Your father made you forge Grace’s signature?”

   “Yes he did, and then he told the hospital she didn’t want to see the baby but you know all this so why do you ask me?”

   “She didn’t even get to see the baby?” Mildred asked.

   “The poor woman,” Grace said

   “I thought she was better off,” Maria said softly.

    Grace tried to hide her anger as she realized the pain Grace must have suffered all those years ago. First Grace hears nothing from Roberto. Grace finds herself pregnant goes home for help and then they steal her baby and give it away. Her own sister does that to her? How does a sister do that?

    “No, that’s not true I knew she wasn’t but I could do anything about it,” Maria commented.

    “I’m sure you tried. Did you have children?” asked Mildred patting Maria’s hand.

Grace then realized that Mildred reached out the hand of kindness to get Maria to tell her all that had happened.

    “I did. I married Alfred Jorgenson back in forty-five. We had two children. My daughter Angela in forty six and my son Peter in forty eight.”

   “That’s nice. Do you have grandchildren?”

   “Yes, I have grandchildren. Four two boys and two girls. I have great grandchildren. Ten, can you believe it?"Maria bragged.

   “You’re very lucky. My daughter died before she could have children.”

   “That must have been hard on you and your husband.”

   “It was. Arabella died from polio and Ray shortly after,”Mildred explained.

   “Ray was your husband?”

   “Yes,” Mildred answered.

   “Sorry to hear about your losses.”

   “It was long ago but the pain doesn’t fade.”

   “Grace’s pain didn’t fade either. I can't forgive myself. How can Grace forgive me?” Maria commented then began wiping away tears of remorse.

    “Poor Grace,” agreed Mildred.

    “I am a terrible sister. She never knew where her son was; all these years without the only child she’d have. I never told her I was the one that forged her signature. How could I? She’d hate me, never speak to me again. I should have been braver. Maybe then Grace could have been happy.”

       Mildred looked at Maria with a frown.

   “You have to understand Millie, my dad made me. I was only sixteen. You know that,” pleaded Maria.

   “I’d forgotten how young you were.Your father made you?”

   “Yes, he said he would kick me out if I didn’t sign. I still refused but he hit me in places the bruises didn’t show and he quoted scripture to me telling me Grace was an adulterer.”

  “Did your mother stick up for you?”

  “My mother was ill for years and she never stood up to him. Mom died in nineteen forty three when I was seventeen. My sister took care of me and I couldn’t tell her what I had done. I got married at eighteen to Alfred to escape my father. I should have told her. I should have told the authorities. Why didn’t I?”

  “Why do you tell me all this now?”

  “It’s a rehearsal for when I tell Grace. You see, I’m dying; the doctor says I have six months.”

  “Six months?”

  “Yes, I have cancer of the liver, but before I meet my maker I have to try to make things right with my sister. I can never make everything right, but I have to tell her. I got an odd call from a woman named Grace Philips. I think she knows. She’ll tell Grace. I have to tell Grace first.”

  “When did you plan to tell Grace?”

  “Tonight. It’s the season for forgiveness I’m hoping she’ll forgive me.”

  “She was very forgiving, maybe she’ll understand,” Mildred insisted.

  “I need to find the courage to tell her, but how? I wish I could just give her back her baby or Roberto.”

  “Where does she live now?” Mildred asked quietly.

  “She has an apartment on Spruce Street.”

  “I don’t know where her baby is, but what if I told you I knew where Roberto was.”

  “You know where he is? He’ll never talk to me. I told him Grace had married and left him behind.”

  “I think he’ll talk to you if I ask him,” Mildred insisted.

  “You do that for me? Grace loves him still. When she almost died from a heart attack a couple of years ago all she called out for was Roberto and that baby.”

   “I’d do this not for you but for Grace. I lied this isn’t my niece. This is Grace Philips and she received the Christmas card Grace never got.”

  “The Christmas card Roberto insisted he sent with an engagement ring? He didn’t lie? He really sent the ring?” Maria asked Grace.

  “No, he didn’t lie the card came to me a few days ago and it had a beautiful engagement ring inside.”

  “This is the answer to my prayers. I can reunite them then maybe now Grace will forgive me. Will you two help me?”

  “No, but we will help Grace. Come Maria there is no time like the present we’ll talk to Grace and if she wants to see Roberto. We’ll bring him to her.” Mildred exclaimed holding out her hand.

Maria took it and exclaimed “If you can’t forgive, how will Grace?”

 “I’ll forgive you Maria when you tell Grace and I see her smile again,” Mildred explained.

  “I’ll make her smile again and maybe just maybe we can find her Robert too.”

   Grace, Mildred, and Maria put on their coats and got in the car headed for Spruce Street and Grace. Maria looked apprehensive but determined. Grace just hoped that all would go well and they could reunite the two parted lovers.

To be continued next Wednesday

© Sheilagh Lee January 23, 2013