Chapter 25
Standing in the sunroom, Harrison gazed out the window, while drinking his morning coffee. Heavy dark clouds filled December’s sky.
“Harrison, you aren’t ready for church.” Vera’s voice interrupted his solitude.
He turned to face her. Already dressed for church, she fit a pair of white gloves on her hands.
“I’m not going this morning.” Still wearing his robe, he took another sip of the coffee and turned back to face the window.
“What do you mean you aren’t going? We always go.” Vera stepped closer, now standing at his side by the window. “I didn’t realize you’d had that much to drink last night.”
“I didn’t,” he said.
“But I did wonder where you disappeared to for a while. That was until I saw you coming from the hallway leading to the offices. I wondered what I was missing, seemed like an active place. First Garret drags that waitress there, then he returns and you take his place. Sharing women with your son now, Harrison? Seems a bit tawdry.”
“Your relationship with Garret seems to have improved recently. Might I suggest you not say this to him, or you’ll be back to where you two were when he was in high school.”
“Oh, I’m not really concerned about my relationship with our son. Your relationship with him is another matter.”
“Don’t worry, dear, I’m not sharing anything with Garret. I’ve never been one to share my toys, especially with my son.” Harrison continued to look out the window and did not turn to his wife.
“I’m going to church with Randall and Russell.” Vera turned and left the room.
What is wrong with me? Harrison asked himself. His behavior with Monica the day before was inexcusable. He had always prided himself with treating women with respect—even those who were casual bed partners. For some reason, Monica got under his skin, with her child-like blue eyes and constantly professing her undying love for him.
Glancing briefly at the doorway his wife had just exited, it suddenly dawned on him. Monica reminds me of Vera! Not the Vera now, but the Vera he met when he was still a green boy—a virgin.
Chicago 1936
Harrison didn’t understand why all the men in the room weren’t staring at her. He couldn’t take his eyes off the beautiful young woman in the green dress. The manner in which she tilted her head back as she laughed gaily, obviously amused by something the gentleman at her side was telling her, was utterly charming. Harrison would gladly trade his annual allowance to switch places with the man.
“Dad, who’s that?” Harrison asked, nodding to the girl in the green dress. It was crowded at the reception, so Randall wasn’t sure what girl his son was referring too.
“The pretty redhead,” Harrison whispered.
“Oh, that’s Vera Chalmers. Her father’s a business associate of mine.” Randall smiled, noting his son’s interest. “I wouldn’t mind you pursuing that one, Harrison. Good family. Excellent connections. She’s a bit older than you, but you’re a mature lad.”
“Oh, she would never be interested in someone like me.” Harrison was just seventeen.
“Come, I’ll introduce you.”
An hour later, Harrison found himself alone in the garden with the lovely Miss Vera Chalmers. Muted sounds of laugher, conversation, and music drifted out from the open window.
“I was hoping they would introduce us,” Vera said shyly, looking downward as they strolled along the garden path. Overhead, the full moon lit their way.
“You were?” Harrison could feel his palms sweat, he was so nervous. She noticed me!
“Oh yes. I’ve seen you before at the theatre, with your parents.” Vera flashed a coy smile. Harrison couldn’t believe he had never noticed her before. Stammering, he didn’t know what to say.
“My father tells me your mother has a most impressive library,” Vera said. No longer walking, the two stood side by side under the moonlight.
“You like to read?”
“Some books I find fascinating,” Vera whispered.
“It seems my mother is always reading a book. I prefer doing something, rather than sitting with a book.” He paused a moment. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply there was anything wrong if you like to read.”
“I understand. I used to find books very boring. But then a friend…well he gave me books to read. I think you’d like them. I wonder…perhaps your mother has books like them in her library.”
“I suppose. Mother has hundreds of books. The library used to belong to my Uncle William.”
“Your mother’s brother?” Vera asked.
“No, he wasn’t a real uncle. He was Dad’s business partner. When he died, he left Mother his library.
“Oh, I would love to see it.”
“Well, my parents are leaving for New York in the morning. Perhaps when they return, I can arrange it.”
“How long are they going to be gone?” Vera asked.
“Two weeks, I believe,” Harrison said.
“Oh… that’s too bad. I wish I could see it sooner,” Vera said with a pout.
Harrison did not want to wait two weeks to see the lovely Miss Vera. “I suppose I could show you. What day would be good for you?”
“Oh, thank you!” Vera said excitedly. “I could come over Wednesday afternoon.”
“Okay, Wednesday it is.”
“I have something I would like to send you, a book. Perhaps you could read it before Wednesday, and let me know what you think about it.”
“A book?” Harrison wasn’t thrill about having to read a book, but he wanted to see Vera again.
“I have a feeling you may like it. But you must keep it a secret. And don’t let anyone see it. It might get us in trouble.”
“Why?” Harrison said.
“Oh, some people just don’t understand.” Vera shrugged. “But I hope you will.”
On Monday morning, a package was delivered to Harrison’s home. He took it and raced upstairs to see what Vera had sent him. Perhaps she included a note, he wondered, more excited about that possibility than having to read a boring book. But there was no note. He read the book’s title, The Life and Adventures of Miss Fanny Hill. Opening it, Harrison began to read.
It was nothing like he expected—nothing like he had ever read before. Written in first person, it told the sexual exploits of young Frances Hill. Orphaned, she finds herself in London where a Madame attempts to profit on the young girl’s virginity. Frances, or Fanny as she is called, is saved from giving her virginity to a repugnant older man and instead gives it to Charles, who is the love of her life.
Harrison was unable to put the book down. Finding it hard to believe Vera had actually read the explicit story, he wondered if somehow she had sent the wrong book. After he finished reading, he hid it in his room, not wanting one of the household staff to find it. That evening, he brought it out again to reread the passages he found most titillating.
“So you read the book?” Vera asked Wednesday afternoon as Harrison showed her up the stairway to the library. They were alone in the townhouse.
“Yes. Who gave it to you?” Harrison asked.
“A friend,” Vera said.
“What friend?” Harrison wondered who had given her such a book.
“It doesn’t matter, he died several months ago.”
They entered the library.
“Have you shared that book with anyone else?”
“Oh no!” Vera gasped, as if she found the suggestion horrifying. “You’re the first one I’ve ever shared the book with. I thought you would understand. I saw how you looked at me.”
Harrison’s gaze fixed on Vera; she was even more beautiful than he remembered. He had never met a girl like her before.
“Didn’t you like the story?” Vera whispered, sounding unsure.
“Well, yes. I…I suppose it was difficult not to like it. But…well….I understand why we need to keep it a secret.”
“Sometimes,” Vera whispered. “I pretend I’m Fanny.”
“You do?” His erection pushed out the front of his trousers.
“We could play a game…perhaps pretend I’m Fanny and you’re Charles. Would you like that?” Vera reached out and gently touched the front of his trousers, feeling his hardness. Harrison froze. No girl had ever touched him there.
That afternoon, on the floor of his mother’s library, Harrison lost his virginity. So intoxicated by the sensual world Vera opened for him, he didn’t ask who had taught her such erotic games. While his parents were in New York, they found time each day to sneak away to the library.
By the time his parents returned from New York, Harrison and Vera were publically seeing each other—yet her parents assumed the young man was courting their daughter and never imagined the two took every opportunity to re-enact the sexual exploits of Fanny Hill.
Only Mary Ellen, Harrison’s mother, was uncomfortable with the courtship, believing Vera had set a trap for her young son. Mary Ellen broached the subject with Harrison, who told her not to worry; he intended to stay a bachelor like his Uncle William.
By that time, Harrison’s boyish crush had faded. No longer did he see Vera as a girl he would court—or ever marry—but he could not resist the sexual favors she freely and frequently offered. In his naiveté or lustful blindness, he believed she was doing something to prevent pregnancy.
His newly discovered sexual prowess gave him a sense of power and confidence. While his friends only fantasized of such sexual games or paid women for the privilege, lovely Vera had turned her body over to him—submitted to his will—encouraged him to use her in any way he desired. For a seventeen-year-old boy, he could not imagine anything better.
The price for his pleasure was paid on his wedding day. There was no way his father would allow him to shirk his duty. Vera came from one of the finest families in Chicago, and she was carrying his child. Through it all, she professed her love for Harrison.