In belated honor of that occasion, I offer you,
Readers, one of my favorite chapters from this darker set of my e-book serial. Here you will experience a vivid meeting
between a methodical matriarch and her one-armed gardener…
______________________________________
Chapter 32
We now
take you to the conservatory...
Dinkel stands in the doorway,
silently watching his employer. She hands a check to the piano
tuner for services rendered. The handsome man appears to be in and around
Dinkel's age.
"Your skills are remarkable, Mr. Peterson."
The man folds the check and slips it into
his breast pocket. "My father taught me everything I know."
Anapola casually steps closer, "Your
father was an exceptional teacher."
Dinkel raises an eyebrow as the tuner
blushes and a nervous chuckle escapes his lips, "Maybe I was an
exceptional student."
"Indeed, but there is always room for
one more lesson." She smiles lusciously, inching nearer to the male
specimen standing at attention.
"Excuse me, Anapola!" Dinkel
blurts out; purposely killing the moment as he unabashedly enters the
room. “I need to speak with
you."
Anapola turns and states in a calm voice,
"Not now, Dinkel." In stark contrast, her green eyes burn with
uncontrolled fury.
Caught completely off-guard, an uncomfortable
Mr. Peterson utters, "Um, have a nice day, Mrs. Van Der Van."
The tuner quickly vacates the estate, imagining the notes he would have hit if
the one-armed fellow had not interrupted.
Dinkel smiles in disgust, "Is Xylem
not enough man for you?"
"Is Crop not enough for you?"
Anapola snaps back with an icy smile, making him aware that she saw Ivan in the
stable. The challengers stand like statues, neither about to dignify
either insult with a response.
Growing bored of this game, Anapola takes a
seat at the piano. She runs a hand down the ivory keys and is truly
pleased with the sound. As the last note fades, she asks curtly,
"What do you want?"
Dinkel positions himself in the curved
crook of the piano and answers bravely, "Crop wants you to visit him
today."
"There is no need for that," she
swiftly dismisses the idea and considers what to play.
"You owe him."
Anapola looks up from the keys and stares
directly into his blue eyes. A cold rage charges through her voice,
"My debt with Mr. Hoppins was paid well in advance."
Dinkel can barely breathe as she begins a
familiar piece of music. It emotionally transports him to a simpler
time...before Cheryl left...before he lied to Crop...before Charles died.
He remembers hiding in a servant stairwell
with a 12-year-old Cheryl. The little girl eagerly described the music's
story as her mother played at one of the illustrious Van Der Van parties.
It is about a man willing to sacrifice
himself for love and honor. Isn't it
romantic, Dinkel?
The gardener nods his head in agreement
with the memory as he listens with older ears. At first the music is
soft, as it describes the man, peaceful and handsome. Then the music
throbs with fierce, chaotic aggression, echoing the turmoil the man
faces. In the end, the notes become heavy and melancholic, the choice
made as the sacrifice looms.
The music slowly fades away and in a low
voice Dinkel demands, "You owe me."
Anapola studies the serious expression, his
lips sealed tight with determination. Focused blue eyes show no fear,
only blinding truth burning through her. The typically resilient woman
sighs in rare emotional defeat..
"Fine, I will visit Crop. In fact, I will go now if you answer one
question."
"What question would that be?"
Dinkel asks tiredly, fully expecting the usual inquiry.
"How is my daughter?"
If Dinkel were prone to exaggeration, he
would fall to the floor in shock. He assumed the question would be where,
not how. "She is doing well,” he answers calmly, not giving
his employer the satisfaction of seeing or hearing his surprise.
Anapola glances down as she remembers the
last time she had seen Cheryl, so full of anger, for good reason. Still,
she misses her daughter and wishes she would return home.
"Thank you, Dinkel," she chokes
out while fingering the keys.
"Thank you, Anapola," Dinkel
states timidly, unsure of how to react in this emotionally tender situation.
Anapola plays a few random middle notes and
then solidly rises. "Now get back to work!" she spews
venomously; a scolding for witnessing her softer side.
Dinkel decides to obey her command and
quietly exits the conservatory. Anapola waits until she is certain the
intrusive gardener is outside before slowly walking to her bedroom. The
lady of the manor must prepare for the promised visit, curious over what Mr.
Hoppins could possibly want from her now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright
2013, John L. Harmon
For further information on this e-book (available
for Amazon Kindle and other Kindle App-compatible devices) please click on one of the
following Amazon links…
US UK CA AUFR DE ES IT
JP BR IN MX
NL
_______________________
Don't forget to read Chapters 12 & 64 and excerpts from the fourth set...
Be well, Readers, and Freak Out,
JLHBe well, Readers, and Freak Out,
P.S. Click WHIP to read about the excursion behind Dark Excursions.
You have a great casting idea for this - could definitely see this as Nicole Kidman, who else would you cast?
ReplyDeleteA belated thanks, Gill 😊
DeleteI somehow missed this comment until now.