CHAPTER THREE

 

“Welcome home Ms. Paige." Leona Carter, the caretaker of the Cartwright family spoke. "It's good to have you home, child," she said as she took Paige’s overnight bag and purse.

"Thank you, Leona." Paige kissed the elderly woman on her cheek as she talked. "How's Mr. Carter and the grandchildren? Is Ellen engaged yet? What about Jacob, how is he?"

"Child, slow down. Your mouth is going a mile a minute." Leona laughed as she followed Paige to the kitchen. "You have to give this old lady time to catch up with you."

Paige laughed as she entered the kitchen. She flopped down on a seat at the granite breakfast bar that seated at least six.

"Where's Mother? Is Dad at work?"

"Where do you want me to start with your hundred questions a minute?"

"Sorry, Leona. How are you?"

"I'm doing just fine. Now, how are you and what are you doing home? We didn't expect to see you until the holidays."

"I know, but Grand’Mere called and insisted I come this morning. I think I know why. I met this man on the way home and I'm sure he's the reason she wanted me on that plane. You know how she is with her dreams. In this case, I think she may have bitten off more than she or I can chew. This man has a wonderful aura around him." She hesitated, placing her hands on her hips as if in thought. "I also sensed a little sadness. I'll have to find a way to fix that, you know."

"No honey, but then again, I never know what you are talking about. Only your Grand’Mere can decipher your ramblings when you get like this."

"Paige!"

"Mother!" Paige jumped up from her seat, ran into the foyer and straight into her mother's open arms.

Hugging her daughter, Eleanor Cartwright, beamed.

"Let me look at you." She held her at arms’ length. "You are still the prettiest little girl in the world." She pulled her back into a big hug. "I've missed you so much. What are you doing home? I was so surprised when Leona called to say you were on your way from the airport." She kissed her daughter's cheek.

"I've missed you too. I have so much to tell you." The two walked arm in arm into the kitchen where they knew Leona would have two cups of hot tea waiting on the breakfast bar for them.

Instead of mother and daughter, they sounded and looked like two girlfriends seeing each other for the first time in years. Actually, it had only been a few months and they talked every day. Leona shook her head, loving the burst of energy that naturally accompanied Paige whenever she walked through the door. It was the same as the day she was born.

Horace and Eleanor Cartwright married the day after they graduated from law school. Most thought the marriage was doomed from the start, Eleanor being one of the well-off Hyltons and Horace being from a not so influential family. The speculation grew more after eight years of marriage and no children had been produced from the union. Everyone thought Ophelia S. Hylton was going to have the marriage annulled, but Horace stood up to her. Told her no one was taking Eleanor away from him, he didn't care how much money she had. That was a hot night, and the night Leona believes Paige was conceived. A little over nine months later, Eleanor was spending Christmas Eve with her mother, when she went into labor. She never made it to the hospital, for the bundle of joy popped out, right into her grandmother's arms at 12:01 am Christmas day. From that moment on, that child had been the apple of her Grand’Mere's eye. Hence, the double celebration every Christmas morning. It was hard to say who loved the child more- Ophelia, Eleanor, Horace or Leona.

Looking at the clock on the wall, Leona estimated it would be about fifteen minutes before Judge Cartwright would come running through the door. The front doors opened with a bang. Leona had miscalculated the time.

"Paige." The deep voice rocked the house. "Paige."

"Darling." Eleanor walked from the kitchen with a questioning look on her face. "Why are you yelling for Paige?"

"Leona said she was home," he said, a frown marring his face. "She's not home?"

Paige came up from behind, threw her arms around her father's neck and jumped on his back.

"Hello Daddy," she said as she kissed him on his cheek.

The six-four, two hundred twenty-five pound man turned with the most brilliant smile on his face.

"Paige."

He turned and swung his twenty-four year old daughter around as if she was still six years old with ponytails swinging. He wrapped her in a bear hug as his wife joined them.

"Welcome home, sweetheart." He looked from his wife to his daughter. "I don't know who's the prettiest, my daughter or my wife."

"Aww, you sweet talker you." Eleanor kissed her husband.

"She said yes years ago, Daddy. You don't have to sweet talk her anymore."

The three walked into the kitchen arm in arm.

"Yes, Sweet-pea, I do, if I want to keep her." He looked at Leona. "Is she here yet?" Horace asked as they all sat down at the bar.

"No." Eleanor tapped her husband on the shoulder. "Behave. Mother is the reason your daughter is home. Be thankful," she said as she walked behind the bar and over to the stove to help Leona with lunch.

"Daddy, why do you give Grand’Mere such a hard time? I swear you two act like ex-lovers or something."

"Ha, your grandfather was the only man who would have her," Horace replied. "She can't be called grandmother, like anyone else. Nooooo, she has to be the Grand’Mere. Just like those old mares she has in her barn."

"That's my mother you're talking about Horace." Eleanor knew the history between her husband and mother. She also knew Horace would move heaven and earth for her mother simply because he loved her. She also knew the same to be true with her mother.

"Mother's right, Daddy." Paige smiled at her father. "You love Grand’Mere as much as I do. After all, she did call and ask…no insisted that I come home this morning. She said this afternoon would be too late."

"Too late for what?" Horace and Eleanor turned to her at the same time and asked.

Paige shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure, but I think she wanted me to meet a man."

"What man?" Horace frowned.

"I can't say yet. However, as soon as my suspicions are confirmed, I'll tell you about him."

Leona and Eleanor shared a look.

"What exactly did your grandmother say when she called?"

Paige closed her eyes and repeated the conversation with her grandmother.

"Verbatim, her words were, ‘Good morning, baby girl. A journey begins with an understanding and acceptance of your past. You, my dear granddaughter, are destined for great love. It is time for your journey to begin. There is a ticket waiting for you at United Air Lines for a flight that leaves in two hours. Pack your bags and be on that flight before it's too late.’"

Horace looked at his daughter with the dreamy look on her sweet face, then at his wife.

"Sweetheart, I'm telling you, your mother..." He took his finger and circled it around his temple.

"My mother is not crazy," Eleanor laughed. "She said something similar to me the night before I met you. There may be some stock in what she said." Eleanor turned to her daughter. "What happened when you boarded the plane?"

"Who did you meet?" Leona smiled.

Horace glanced at his housekeeper. "Leona?" Then he looked at his wife. "You are not seriously considering your mother has psychic powers now."

"Yes, darling I am." She took a seat next to her daughter and sat her teacup on the bar. "Who did you meet?"

Paige spoke enthusiastically, "A man who makes my heart smile." She took her mother's hand and laughed. "I could just listen to him or not. Just sitting in his presence would be okay with me."

"Who is he?" Horace had an edge to his voice.

"Don't worry, Daddy, it is inconceivable that this man would ever be interested in me. He is literally the king of the knights." She laughed at her play on words.

"And you, my darling granddaughter, will be his queen," Ophelia Hylton said with the air of superiority befitting her.

Walking in dressed in her signature two-piece suit and pearls, with a purse that cost more than the size twelve custom fit shoes Horace was wearing, she looked around the room.

"Hello, my daughter, Leona, and you too, Harold."

"My name is Horace. You would think after thirty-two years of marriage to your daughter you would remember that. Oh, I forgot, you are up in age." Even though to look at her you would never think she was a day over fifty instead of eighty-one.

"There is a chill in the air. Must be the September weather," Ophelia stated. "Or it may be the arctic air coming from your mouth, Harold."

"Hello, Mother." Eleanor stood and kissed her mother's cheek as she frowned at her husband.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Hylton. How are you?" Leona laughed at the 'what did I do’ expression on Horace face.

"Hello, Grand’Mere." Paige hugged her tightly. "I'm here."

Ophelia looked at her granddaughter and all she could ever do was smile. She loved that child more than life itself. Looking into her granddaughter's eyes she found what she was looking for.

"You met him." She took Paige's hands in hers. "Your journey begins."

Horace stood at the end of the breakfast bar watching three grown women standing around the room smiling with knowing eyes.

"What damn journey?"