call and write,” Kimbra promised, and retreated from the room.
Without her friends, the room seemed empty and hollow, and although she realized that their beds would soon be occupied by new patients, no one could ever take their place in her heart.
When Jenny came home to her grandmother’s, leaves were tinged with gold and streaked with red, the air was crisp, the sky a brilliant blue. As the chauffeured limo pulled up and parked in front of the pre-Civil War mansion, Jenny saw the house staff waiting on the brick steps. Each of them greeted her as Barry, the driver, carried her into the house and up the long, winding staircase to her room. The familiar scents of the old house—smells of lemon wax, freshly laundered linen, and cut flowers—told Jenny she was home, and evoked the golden comforts of her childhood.
Her grandmother climbed the stairs first, threw open Jenny’s bedroom door, and chided Barry to be careful. A large banner welcoming her home was strung from corner to corner and attached to the crown molding of the ceiling, and vases of flowers adorned the dresser, her desk, and both windowsills.
“It’s so good to have you back,” Grandmother said after Barry had settled Jenny beneath the lace-trimmed covers of her canopy bed. “Are you hungry? Is there anything you want?”
Overcome by emotion, Jenny only shook her head. Looking around at the things she’d taken for granted all her life, Jenny felt as if she were seeing them for the first time. How lucky she was to have so much! Not only material things, but the love andcare of a woman such as her grandmother. “I have everything I want,” Jenny replied.
Marian smiled. “I’ve hired a Mrs. Hunter to tutor you. She has excellent credentials, but if she’s not to your liking—”
“She’ll be fine.” Jenny inhaled the sweet aromas of home and sank back against her pillows. Outside one of her windows, she saw the leafy branches of an old maple tree. “The leaves were green when I left for the hospital,” she observed. “Now, fall’s coming.”
“I know.” Her grandmother’s voice sounded wistful.
“I guess this is how Rip Van Winkle must have felt when he woke up to see that the world had changed.”
“Probably.… But you’re home now, and soon you’ll be as active as ever. I’m having the tennis courts resurfaced come next spring. I know how you like to play.”
Jenny hadn’t thought about a game of tennis in months. “I’m afraid Monopoly’s more my speed these days.”
“You’ll be back in form in no time,” Grandmother countered with a wave of her hand. She opened Jenny’s suitcase and began putting things away.
“Why don’t you let Mrs. McCully do that?” Jenny named the housekeeper who’d been with her grandmother since before Jenny had lived with her.
“Not today,” Grandmother said. “I don’t wish to share the pleasure.”
Jenny’s heart filled to overflowing. “I’m so glad I’m home,” she said. “So glad.”
Grandmother set the silver-framed photo of Richard atop a graceful cherrywood table next to Jenny’sbed. “I thought you might like this near you. You’ve carted it around for months.”
Jenny gazed longingly at Richard aboard his sailboat. “Yes.”
“According to his father, Richard seems to have turned over a new leaf. He’s buckling down at school and actually seems to be taking his studies seriously.”
“That’s great.” The information both surprised and pleased Jenny. She’d always known that he was smart and capable.
“Richard and Dorothy aren’t sure why he’s done an about-face, but they are pleased.” Grandmother smiled indulgently. “I guess sooner or later, everyone has to grow up, even Richard Holloway the Third.”
Seventeen
Dear Jenny
,
Winter seems to come so much earlier up here in Vermont. Thanksgiving is barely over, and already it’s freezing cold. But enough about our dumb weather. Your last letter really meant a lot to me. I don’t
Without her friends, the room seemed empty and hollow, and although she realized that their beds would soon be occupied by new patients, no one could ever take their place in her heart.
When Jenny came home to her grandmother’s, leaves were tinged with gold and streaked with red, the air was crisp, the sky a brilliant blue. As the chauffeured limo pulled up and parked in front of the pre-Civil War mansion, Jenny saw the house staff waiting on the brick steps. Each of them greeted her as Barry, the driver, carried her into the house and up the long, winding staircase to her room. The familiar scents of the old house—smells of lemon wax, freshly laundered linen, and cut flowers—told Jenny she was home, and evoked the golden comforts of her childhood.
Her grandmother climbed the stairs first, threw open Jenny’s bedroom door, and chided Barry to be careful. A large banner welcoming her home was strung from corner to corner and attached to the crown molding of the ceiling, and vases of flowers adorned the dresser, her desk, and both windowsills.
“It’s so good to have you back,” Grandmother said after Barry had settled Jenny beneath the lace-trimmed covers of her canopy bed. “Are you hungry? Is there anything you want?”
Overcome by emotion, Jenny only shook her head. Looking around at the things she’d taken for granted all her life, Jenny felt as if she were seeing them for the first time. How lucky she was to have so much! Not only material things, but the love andcare of a woman such as her grandmother. “I have everything I want,” Jenny replied.
Marian smiled. “I’ve hired a Mrs. Hunter to tutor you. She has excellent credentials, but if she’s not to your liking—”
“She’ll be fine.” Jenny inhaled the sweet aromas of home and sank back against her pillows. Outside one of her windows, she saw the leafy branches of an old maple tree. “The leaves were green when I left for the hospital,” she observed. “Now, fall’s coming.”
“I know.” Her grandmother’s voice sounded wistful.
“I guess this is how Rip Van Winkle must have felt when he woke up to see that the world had changed.”
“Probably.… But you’re home now, and soon you’ll be as active as ever. I’m having the tennis courts resurfaced come next spring. I know how you like to play.”
Jenny hadn’t thought about a game of tennis in months. “I’m afraid Monopoly’s more my speed these days.”
“You’ll be back in form in no time,” Grandmother countered with a wave of her hand. She opened Jenny’s suitcase and began putting things away.
“Why don’t you let Mrs. McCully do that?” Jenny named the housekeeper who’d been with her grandmother since before Jenny had lived with her.
“Not today,” Grandmother said. “I don’t wish to share the pleasure.”
Jenny’s heart filled to overflowing. “I’m so glad I’m home,” she said. “So glad.”
Grandmother set the silver-framed photo of Richard atop a graceful cherrywood table next to Jenny’sbed. “I thought you might like this near you. You’ve carted it around for months.”
Jenny gazed longingly at Richard aboard his sailboat. “Yes.”
“According to his father, Richard seems to have turned over a new leaf. He’s buckling down at school and actually seems to be taking his studies seriously.”
“That’s great.” The information both surprised and pleased Jenny. She’d always known that he was smart and capable.
“Richard and Dorothy aren’t sure why he’s done an about-face, but they are pleased.” Grandmother smiled indulgently. “I guess sooner or later, everyone has to grow up, even Richard Holloway the Third.”
Seventeen
Dear Jenny
,
Winter seems to come so much earlier up here in Vermont. Thanksgiving is barely over, and already it’s freezing cold. But enough about our dumb weather. Your last letter really meant a lot to me. I don’t
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