LEGACY
Chapter Five
The next few days quickly passed.
Frequent visits from the doctor had nourished Tom’s health, and he now had a
simple encasing around his leg and instructions to rest. He again found himself
in bed, Dr. Robinson and Mr. Hockley looming above him.
"I think you’re safe for
travel, Mr. Dawson. Just try to stay off that leg." The doctor smiled and
left.
Cal, however, stayed behind. To
Tom’s surprise, he pulled up a chair and sat beside him.
"Tom, I have a proposition
for you. I have no qualms about seeing over your return trip home. However, I
was wondering if you would do me the honor of allowing me to return with you,
perhaps even stay a bit in your home."
"Oh, of course! You’ve been
so kind to let me stay here. It’s the least my family could do for you. I’m
sure they’ll be thrilled. I’ll write to them right away and let them
know."
*****
Mrs. Hockley arrived home early
from her morning walk, clicking the front door gently shut so as not to disturb
her husband. The house seemed eerily still. With a sigh, she remembered the
happy years, when the children were little and the house was filled with
laughter.
Filled with nostalgia, she
nervously twisted her pearls around her index finger and climbed the stairs to
the bedroom, calling for her maid to help her change.
Lily met her at the top of the
staircase. "Mrs. Hockley, you're home so early."
"Can you see if my husband
would like to join me for brunch?"
"Mr. Hockley?"
Cal's wife laughed nervously.
"Yes. He's the only husband of mine that I know of."
"But...he left."
"Left?"
"Yes, with Mr. Dawson. To
escort him home? Surely you knew."
Cal's wife instantly hid her
horror. "Yes. Yes, of course. How silly of me; it completely slipped my
mind. Of course I knew!"
"Um...I believe he left a
departing note for you on the dresser." Faltering, Lily bowed away.
Her maid out of sight and
forgotten, Mrs. Hockley stormed into her bedroom. Sure enough, a thin slip of
paper rested gently on the dresser. She picked it up, her hands trembling.
My dear,
I have decided to escort Tom
home. I will miss you.
Cal
She shuddered at the simple
scrawl. This was what her husband left? All the warning he provided? Bitterly
she noted that he said miss, not that he loved her.
*****
The train rambled across the
country, the ride smooth and peaceful. Tom leaned back and rested his head
against the window as scenery zoomed past him. Was this what his parents had
seen as they uprooted their entire lives and made the move from Wisconsin to
California? California. The name sounded magical; it was his home. He was
excited to return, excited to bring Mr. Hockley along with him. Would his
parents be angry? He wished he’d stayed in one place long enough for them to be
able to write to him.
Cal’s voice suddenly interrupted
his thoughts.
"When is your
birthday?"
Tom looked at him curiously.
"The first of December."
"1912?"
"Yes. I’m seventeen."
"Seventeen," Cal
murmured, as if to himself. What was it about that number? Would it haunt him
forever? "And you’ve had a good life in those seventeen years?"
Tom couldn’t help but smile in
reflection. "Yeah. I really have."
Cal suddenly looked away and
said, "Tell me about your father."
"I don’t really know what to
say. He’s great. He’s everything you could ask for in a dad, and more.
Sometimes I wish he had higher expectations for me, but I know he’s looking out
for my future and keeping me grounded. I really can’t blame him for anything.
He’s been wonderful. He taught me to play ball, he walked me to my first day of
school, he went to my games, everything."
"And you have
siblings?"
"Yeah. I’m the oldest,
though."
"I’m the oldest in my
family, also. Do you ever feel like your parents pay more attention to your
younger siblings?"
"No, I can’t say they do. I
always have the most responsibility, of course, and when we were little I would
get jealous when my parents paid more attention to the new baby than me, but
I’d say it’s pretty even." Tom laughed, unsure why Cal was asking him all
these specific questions. "I think I’m their favorite, though."
*****
"Tom is going to be the
death of me!" Rose slammed the letter down, briefly closing her eyes to
collect her thoughts.
Jack came up behind her and took
the paper from her.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I do not have much time to
write; I must soon board the train back to California! I can’t wait to get home
and see you all again.
Love forever,
Tom
P.S. Mr. Hockley is escorting
me home. He would like to stay with us for a couple of days. You don’t mind, do
you?
Jack began to laugh. "At
least this whole ordeal hasn’t put a damper on his sense of humor."
"It isn’t funny. I don’t
want that man in our house."
"I don’t particularly want
Cal here, either. But it’s too late now. They’re on their way."
Rose took a deep breath, leaning
into Jack. "Do you think he’s changed?"
"Tom?"
"Cal." She looked down,
speaking softly. "He almost killed us. He wanted to see you murdered. How
can I invite him into my home?"
"It’s been so long,
Rose."
"I know. I know he took Tom
in and had the best doctor tend to him and is now making sure he’s returning
safely home, but what if it’s all a gag? I don’t trust him."
"There is nothing he can do.
He’s married. He has children. I have to believe that he’s moved on with his
life, and we can all be grown-ups. Besides, Tom is coming home. Isn’t that all
that matters?"