Santa Barbara, 1999
“So, you and James spoke with each other?” Aunt Bette was having a manicure and looked down at her red nails with approval. Then she frowned and held the phone closer to her ear. “He told me that he was going to fly up for a visit. It took a great deal of courage on his part.”
“Dear one, James is seeking absolution from a God who doesn’t live here anymore,” said Geoff sourly. “For a while, I thought that I was having one of those stupid dreams about our ancestors. I thought that he wasn’t real.”
“Geoffrey, James is trying to be real. He seems to like his new single life. He gave Eleanor that big horrid house and is living in a condo near the beach—not too far from Katherine, in fact. He’s trying to live, now that he came so close to dying.”
“Trying to live …,” said Geoffrey slowly and coldly. “Yes, I understand that very well, Auntie.”
Although Geoff could not see it, her expression became suddenly sad and weary. “Geoffrey, he was right when he said that we want you to come home. I have a big empty house. You would be comfortable here.”
“Maybe the most selfish thing I’ve ever done is refusing to come back to Santa Barbara. But it represents too many evil memories. Plus, from what I see of our family’s past, Cobhams never, never go back!”
“I understand … believe it or not, I do understand.”
“I’ve got to go now, Auntie. Louis is here to take me to the clinic.”
“Ah yes, the pierced young musician. Give him my greetings, dear boy. Never forget that I love you.”
Bette’s nails were finished, and her manicurist looked at her in expectation of admiration and a large tip. But Bette Cobham Lawrence merely sat and stared out of the window of her beautiful home, apparently gazing at something that no one else could see, and with tears brimming in her eyes. Then she recalled her situation and held up her hands.
“Lovely job as usual, Lena. Forgive my distractions. There is so much in life that I still do not understand.”
Lena gave her a blank expression, and Aunt Bette shook her head. “Never mind. Your money is on the counter over there.”
Aunt Bette watched as her young manicurist drove down the winding road toward Santa Barbara. She well remembered when life was filled with promise, and a flattering dress and handsome new beau could lift a girl’s spirits and make her forget all of life’s troubles. She was suddenly reminded of her nieces. Katherine was refusing to let anything console her at the moment, and that included the charming doctor from San Francisco. Madeleine was presently recovering from a facelift before zooming off to another adventure. One niece had too much of life, and one too little.
“Well, I’m ready for a little more life,” thought Bette, straightening her back resolutely. She called her companion, who was reading a novel on the sun porch, and decided to go to the Café for dinner this evening. There would be people and laughter there, and a temporary refuge from the shadows that came closer everyday.