Mrs. DeMarco smiled.
"Nor should you. Now where was I?"
"You told us a baby was born in the attic." Alanis reminded her.
"And lived there for a short period, or at least until Emma was ready to take him away."
"So, her father was born in the attic?" Alanis quickly followed.
I looked at her and then back at Mrs. DeMarco. That wasn't what I had been told. Why would my father have been born in the farmhouse anyway? And why up in an attic? We were always a rich family. That made no sense. Maybe she was already losing her memory and getting things confused.
"Yes, that's correct." she said without hesitation. "I guess with Emma in a hospital and Frances dancing in another world, and especially with Blake March gone. I'm not bound by any promises and oaths. I didn't get enough for it all anyway," she added. She leaned toward me. "Sold my soul too cheaply."
Alanis smiled, "I bet I know what happened." she said. "Her grandmother had an affair and got pregnant, right? They kept it a big secret and she gave birth in the attic, right?"
"An affair?" I asked Alanis. -"My
grandmother?"
"Like my mother," she replied. I turned with surprise and shock to Mrs. DeMarco. Surely, not my grandmother Emma. She couldn't be like Mae Betty.
Mrs. DeMarco shook her head. "No. Emma March never gave birth as far as I knew."
Alanis sat back, her mouth slightly open. "She never gave birth?"
"But she's my grandmother." I said.
"No, dear. Your grandmother is Frances Wilkens, Emma March is your great-aunt."
Neither I nor Alanis spoke. Then Alanis smiled again. She thought this was even a juicier story. Her excitement annoyed me more than just a little, but I didn't speak.
"I shouldn't have to be the one to tell you all this, but I can see where you'd grow up never knowing the truth."' Mrs. DeMarco said. "Maybe that's okay to some people, but to me, especially now, it seems like a sin, and I feel like I was part of it."
She did look happier to be telling us all this. She looked like she was taking a heavy weight off her shoulders.
"Okay," Alanis said. "If that's true, who was the father of Miss Wilkens's baby?"
"Why. Blake March was the father," she said.
"No wonder her grandmother, her great-aunt or whoever she is doesn't like her own sister." Alanis said quickly. "This is better than the soap operas she watches every day," she told me. "It makes sense to me. Miss Wilkens was very pretty once, prettier than her sister. Emma. She seduced Blake March. Jordan's grandfather, right?" she asked Mrs. DeMarco.
"No," she said. "There's much more to this than a sister seducing another sister's husband. In fact," she said. struggling to get up. "it was Emma who seduced Frances."
She went to her window and tried to open it wider. I jumped up to help.
"Thank you. dear. You're certainly a pretty little thing. Where did you get that cute hat?"
"It was Alanis's hat. She gave it to me." I said. She nodded.
Alanis was staring up at her with her head tilted, as if she thought Mrs. DeMarco was either lying or, as she said about Great-aunt Frances. bonkers.
"How could Emma March seduce her sister and her sister have a baby. Mrs. DeMarco? That doesn't make sense."
"No, on first blush it doesn't." Mrs. DeMarco replied. "Looks like a nice day.""
"Do you want us to take you out?" I asked her.
"No, no, thank you, dear. I'm actually a little tired. By this time of day. I usually take a nap, sometimes sleeping until dinner. As you get closer and closer to the end, you sleep longer and longer. Your body is getting used to it."
"Can you tell us what you meant about Emma seducing Frances?" Alanis pursued. "We have someone out there waiting for us, and he is not a very patient person."
"Yes, well, someday he'll realize rushing your life along just gets you to the end faster."
She returned to her chair and closed her eyes. We didn't think she was going to continue. Alanis fidgeted and smirked and then cleared her throat loudly.
"I didn't know what had gone on when I first started caring for Frances," Mrs. DeMarco began again, keeping her eyes closed, as if she was trying to picture things. Then she opened them. "Like you. I assumed Frances had an affair with Blake March. In those days everyone knew everyone else's business. If you sneezed too many times, your neighbors heard. I had heard that Blake had been to the farm often without Emma. I must confess I rode by and strolled by a few times to catch a glimpse of him there. He drove into the village to buy things and was usually alone. If anyone asked after Emma, he had one excuse or another to explain why she wasn't with him. Rumors don't need much water and fertilizing to grow until they wrap themselves like vines around willing ears.
"Then, soon after... Frances seemed to disappear."
"Disappear?" I asked.
"No one saw her for some time, even delivery people. Emma and Blake were there and were seen. but Frances was just not seen. When they were asked about her, they said she had gone to spend time with some relatives. No one doubted it, but the theory was Emma found out Blake had been, shall we say, too attentive when it came to her sister and she had her sent off. That's the way it was for months and then, one day. Emma March called me to the farm.
"She met me at the door and took me into the living room. where Blake sat waiting. I must say he looked handsomer than ever," she added with a soft smile. "He was an elegant gentleman, your
grandfather," she told me. "He was the kind of man who belonged in a previous age when etiquette and manners mattered. He rose when a woman entered the room and sat only after she sat. I tried to teach those things to my own son, but that was like pushing string uphill."
She sighed and again looked like she was going to fall asleep. Her gaze lowered, and her chin slowly sank toward her chest. She took a deep breath, though, and continued.
"I would like to employ you to help with a pregnancy,' " Emma began. She was always all business. Emma Wilkens, Emma March. There was never any time for chitchat. You could probably count on the fingers of one hand how many wasted words that woman spoke. I'm not saying that was a terrible thing, mind you. I'm sure Emma has been more productive than most women, and I'm sure she was in many, many ways a great assistant to Blake. I have no doubt that he wouldn't have reached the heights of success he reached without her at his side or. shall I say, right behind him.
"And I'll tell you something else," she said, nodding at me especially. "in his own way he loved Emma very much. He knew she was of the quality of woman he needed and wanted at his side. People here who had known them used to call them the king and the queen."
"Yes," I said. remembering. 'Grandmother Emma's mansion was like a palace with palace guards. My mother said they were like old monarchs."
"Your great-aunt, not your grandmother," Alanis corrected.
I looked at her and at Mrs. DeMarco. I couldn't just drop the idea of Emma as my grandmother just because of what this woman was telling us.
"It's not important what she calls her now." Mrs. DeMarco told Alanis. "It's too late for it to matter. I'm sure. Anyway. Emma asked me what I charged and I told her and just like that, she waved her hand and said. 'We'll triple that.'
"Well, I can tell you, triple was a lot of money for me and my husband back then. I couldn't contain my excitement. 'Under certain conditions.' she added.
"Of course, all the while I was thinking she had found out she was pregnant and wanted private care.
" 'So,' I asked her. 'what are these certain conditions?'
" You are not to tell anyone now or ever what you do here and whom you do it for. Nothing that happens here shall ever be revealed. We will ask you to sign a paper to that effect, and if you violate it, not only will we expect all the money we've given you returned, but we'll sue you for breach of contract and cost you your home and all you have saved. Believe me, we have the lawyers and the funds to do it.'
"Well. I just sat there staring at
her. I couldn't imagine what secret she wanted so guarded and I had no doubt she would do what she threatened. She could scare a spider out of its own web, that woman.
" 'I won't do anything illegal.' I said. 'I don't do abortions.' I added.
" 'Oh, we don't want an abortion. We want you for a birth, and hopefully a healthy, successful birth that results in a healthy child. We will not ask you to perform any medical duty other than what you are trained to do.'
"Well, that didn't sound bad. If she wanted to keep her pregnancy a secret and the birth a secret, what did I care really? It was her affair, not mine.
" We don't mean to sound threatening.' Blake said in a far softer, more pleasant-sounding voice. 'We just want our private business to remain private. It's very important to us. Doctors, lawyers and I suppose good private nurses like you have an ethical
obligation to keep what goes on between them and their patients and clients privileged information. You've done that before. I'm sure. I'm sure there are plenty of good stories you've buried away.'
" 'Yes. sir. Mr. March, that's for sure.' I told him. There certainly were.
" 'Please, call me Blake.' he said. I could see Emma didn't like that much. but I smiled.
" 'Are you willing to follow and obey the conditions we set down then?' she asked.
" 'Yes. I can do that,' I told her. She looked at Blake and he nodded.
" 'Okay then.' she said. 'You can begin tomorrow. One more thing.' she added.
" 'Yes?' I said.
" 'We'd like you to move in and stay here for the duration. Of course, you can take off two days a week and holidays that fall in between.'
" 'Move in? Right from the start? I mean. I stay when birthing is close at hand. but--'
"I'll need you full time,' she interrupted. 'We want to restrict access only to you. Mr. March will be coming and going, but I will remain here once you begin.'
" 'Well, why would you need me here full time? I'm not a maid or a cook. Mrs. March.'
"She looked at Blake. 'We'll double what we've tripled,' he said. 'if you will take on as much of that as you can.'
"Well, my jaw nearly dropped in my lap. We were talking big money now. In seven, eight months. I could make what it took my husband three years to make. And then Blake added. 'And if all works out well, there will be a significant bonus, say equal to the total you've been paid.'
"I could have fallen out of the chair if I didn't grip the arm firmly. 'There won't be more than the three of us to care for,' he added. Of course. I thought he meant me and them.
" 'All right.' I said. 'I'll do it. My son's away at college now so that won't be a burden and my husband can care for his own needs while I'm here.'
" 'Your husband owns that small garage and body shop just outside of the village, doesn't he?' Blake asked me. 'yes,' I told him. 'DeMarca Station,'
"He nodded and then he said. 'Tell him I have two dozen trucks that make a run near here twice a week. They'll be directed to fill up at his station and go there for any minor repairs. We'll, in fact, draw up a contract for the service.' he added.
"Two dozen trucks twice a week and minor repairs! What a carrot, I thought. ,My husband will be beaming from ear to ear. 'I'll call him first thing in the morning,' Blake added.
" 'Thank you. Mr. March.'
"'Thank you." he repeated.
" And now.' I said, turning to Emma. 'How long have you known you were pregnant?'
"She didn't reply. She got up. 'Follow me,' she said and led me to the dining room table, where there was a paper for me to sign. I looked at it and saw it basically said what she had told me it would say. For a moment, only a moment. I hesitated. My heart was warning me, you see. Then I signed it and she said. 'Come along.'
"We went upstairs and then to the attic door. She took out a key and unlocked it. Really confused now. I followed her up the stairs, and there, lying in bed, looking as contented as a well-fed cat and reading a romance magazine, was her sister. Frances. The shades were drawn closed on the windows.."
Mrs. DeMarco paused and closed her eves.
"I'm afraid,' she said. "I have to lie down. Just help me to my bed. I'll finish telling you everything lying down," she added.
Alanis sprang to her feet and took her right arm. I took her left and we helped her rise and guided her to the bed. She sat and I fixed her pillows. She smiled at me and lowered herself.
"Go to the sink, dear, and get me a glass of cold water, please," she told me.
I hurried to do it and returned. She drank some, then handed me the glass.
"Well," she began again, "you can just imagine. Like everyone else. I thought Frances was somewhere else. 'How long have you been up here?' I asked her. She looked at Emma, either because she forgot how long or she wanted permission to tell me.
" 'She's been here a little more than a month now,' Emma said. 'and she's more than a handful. Don't worry,' she continued. 'you'll earn every penny of what we're paying you. Frances.' she told her. 'Mrs. DeMarco will be taking care of you now. She'll be with you until it's over. You are to listen to her, obey her and not make her job any more difficult than it already is. Understand?'
" 'Yes. Emma.' Frances said.
" 'Please give us a list of what you will need in the way of medical paraphernalia. Mrs. DeMarco,' Emma told me. 'and medicine or whatever.' she said.
" 'Okay,' I said.
'In the meantime, are there any questions I could answer for you?' she asked.
"I looked at Frances. She looked sweet and young and so vulnerable that my heart went out to her.
" 'Hasn't she been out of this room, this attic, during this time?'
'"No,' Emma said. 'and I'm afraid that is how it has to be until it's over.'
" 'But walking, fresh air--'
" 'Open the windows, but keep the shades down and her from standing in them if they are opened. We don't want anyone to see her. Walk her all over this house, if you like. I understand going up and down stairs is helpful.'
"She gave me one of her official smiles, and I thought what you thought, of course: Frances is having a baby out of wedlock and Emma wants it to be kept secret. At that moment I didn't think Blake was the father. Why would a wife want her husband's mistress and the resulting child well cared for like this? Frances Wilkens must have strayed and had some affair with a stranger or even someone in the community I knew, and Emma was embarrassed for the family.
"I could see Emma wasn't about to tell me anything more. 'I'll leave you to discuss the
procedures, diet, exercise, whatever with my sister.' she said and left the attic.
"I was never a gossip. I asked Frances nothing about the father of her child. I went through the proper medical questions and the symptoms, performing the examination I always did with a woman who had realized she was probably pregnant or had been diagnosed as pregnant. I talked about food and the vitamins I'd be getting for her and then I left.
"Emma was waiting for me below. She locked the door as soon as I stepped out.
" 'Is that necessary?' I asked. 'Locking her in the attic?'
" 'Yes.' she said. 'At least for now. Never mind that.' She added, waving my question away like annoying cigarette smoke. 'How is she?' she asked after I followed her down the main stairway. I thought she was fine and told her so. Then I sat at the kitchen table and prepared a list of the things I would need and wanted for Frances. She said she would have it all by the time I returned in the morning, and then she told me the most astounding thing of all,"
"What?" Alanis asked, impatient.
"She told me to tell anyone who asks, especially my husband. that I was attending to her and not her sister, that she was the one who was pregnant and she had decided to spend her pregnancy here at their rural retreat where it was quieter and more pleasant. She said she would even appear pregnant and that I was not to contradict what people believed.
"I have to tell you I was speechless. "
"Why are you doing this?' I asked.
" "We're paying you enough not to ask,' she said and that was all she would ever say about it.
"It wasn't until nearly two weeks later that Frances confided in me and told me she was having Blake's child. Of course. I thought it was because they had a secret affair, but then she added that it was what Emma wanted."
Mrs. DeMarco closed her eyes.
"Excuse me," we heard Sister Andrea say from the doorway. "but there is a young man in the lobby asking after you. He says to tell you the meter's running, whatever that means. He's not a taxicab, is he?"
"Yes." Alanis replied. "Actually, that's all he is. Thank you. Well be right there."
"Oh, well. Mrs. DeMarco is getting tired. You should let her rest anyway. girls."
"We will. We just want to say good-bye," Alanis told her.
She nodded and left. We looked at Mrs. DeMarco. She seemed to be asleep already.
"Mrs. DeMarco. Why would Emma want that?"
She opened her eves slowly. She looked half asleep already, and then she closed them again.
"Mrs. DeMarco?"
She didn't open her eyes. "We better go," I told Alanis.
"Good-bye, Mrs. DeMarco," Alanis told her. "Maybe we'll be back. Thanks."
"Good-bye," I said, but when I turned to follow Alanis out of the room. Mrs. DeMarco seized my wrist. Her eyes popped open. "Alanis," I called, and she turned back.
"I never had a full, head-on conversation with Emma March about it," she told us. "You don't question Emma March. but I picked up things, read between the lines. Emma convinced her sister to be her surrogate mother. She didn't want to go through a pregnancy, but Blake insisted on having a child, and if the child wasn't a boy, he would want another. She promised Frances all sorts of things, but mainly her everlasting love, which is all poor Frances ever wanted from her anyway. That's why I said Emma March seduced her sister."
She closed her eyes again. I looked at Alanis, whose face was bursting with excitement because of the revelations. We started out again, and again Mrs. DeMarco called to us. She pointed at us.
"I knew," she said. "I've always known that Emma March hated her sister for the loving gift she gave her, she demanded of her. But believe me, my little dears, in the end, probably right now, she hates herself for it even more.