The Awakening (9 page)

Chapter 13

    Falling in love with Adele had been everything he had thought it would be. But now for the first time he dreaded having to leave for the university. Leaving Adele would be hard, if not nearly impossible. The weekend would be a long time coming. He knew how difficult it would be to remain focused while studying… Adele would always occupy his mind. If he was to succeed he’d have to keep his emotions intact. His studies required strict discipline, and a part of him worried he’d end up losing Adele amidst the stress.

    And to add to that, he still had five more years of university before he’d become a scientist. Needless to say, he had a full plate.

    How Adele was to fit into his plans was still a mystery, but he’d eventually get it all sorted out.                                                       

    On their final afternoon home, Jefferson asked Adele if she’d join him on a leisurely afternoon walk.

     Though this Tuesday afternoon was an incredibly hot fall day – there was a small breeze coming in from the south.

    Jefferson glanced at her. “You look beautiful dressed in that pure white dress.” Jefferson couldn’t help but think she’d make a beautiful bride. Her golden brown skin next to the white of the dress merely taunted his desires of becoming her husband.
    “Another one of Eva’s.”
     “Ah, I see.”

     As they walked he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Adele could easily become a model yet she didn’t seem to be aware of her natural beauty. He gave Adele’s hand a squeeze and admired her exquisite face.

    Jefferson slowed his stride in order to show her something.

    He pointed with his finger. “About a mile in that direction lives our gardener,” he said.

   “Your uncle told me about him. Said he’s a hermit. Is that true?” she asked, bringing the flower she had to her nose, smelling its sweet aroma.

    “Yes. He came to work for us about a year and a half year ago; can’t exactly remember how long ago it was now. He had an accident and Uncle took him in and gave him work. He told Uncle he’d work for free.  Imagine that? Uncle Bentley sensed he must have something in his past he wished to keep a secret. He hired him on the spot. Uncle took a chance on him. Says he’s one of the finest men he’s ever known.”

    “That’s quite a story,” she said.
    “Yes, it is,” Jefferson agreed, thankful their day was turning out to be a pleasant one.

     She stopped several times to kiss him and wrap her arms around him.

    “Lovely day, isn’t it?”

    “It’s always lovely when I’m with you.”

    “Wasn’t that great when I surprised you with my marriage proposal, was it?”

     She stopped. “You just caught me off guard. I love you. When you ask me again, I’ll be ready. I promise.”

     Jefferson wasn’t entirely sure he believed her, but shook his head in agreement and hoped she would be, ‘cause in one year, he’d pop the question again.

    “Off topic…what made you want to become a scientist?”

     He smiled. “Well, to be perfectly honest with you, I thought about becoming a doctor but I hate the sight of blood. I know that probably sounds dumb. Science fascinates me.”

     “I know lots of people who hate the sight of blood.”
    “Wish I didn’t, might make me feel better.”

     They continued walking, laughing, enjoying the day when suddenly Adele came to an abrupt halt.

     “What’s wrong?”

     She looked at him strangely. “Oh my Lord,” she gasped, covering her mouth.

     She felt herself melting as she stared at the home and the man; his back slightly turned from her. Although his stature, skin colour, and colour of his hair and the way he moved was way too familiar.

     “What’s wrong?” Jefferson repeated, searching her eyes.

     At that moment the man turned his head in the direction of Jefferson.

     When he did, her eyes widened when she saw what appeared to be a carbon copy of her father. Seeing his face, her legs turned to jelly.

     “Adele…” Jefferson’s voice sounded far away.

     She grabbed her stomach, feeling sick and faint as she watched the man draw closer. She wasn’t aware that Jefferson was still shouting; his voice grew faint, and she felt her body slip into his arms.

     The man dashed to her side and Jefferson carried her into the man’s home, carefully laying her on the gardener’s sofa, just inside the door way.

     “What’s wrong, Jefferson?” the gardener asked, feeling her forehead.

     “I don’t know, Gabriel. She’s had fainting spells before, though never one like this.”

     Adele was stunned when she heard Jefferson call the man, Gabriel. He looked exactly like her father.

      All the confusion made her head spin and a migraine soon set in. She stopped talking, her face paled, and she shook as though she were having a seizure.

     “The girl’s in shock. I’ll go get your uncle!”

     Ryan charged out of his home in search of Bentley, leaving Jefferson alone with her more worried now than ever.

    “Everything’s going to be fine, Adele. The gardener’s gone for Uncle. You’ll be okay.”

     Jefferson frantically searched the home for blankets in order to keep her warm. An hour had passed before Bentley arrived. He went into the gardener’s home and took a seat beside her.

     “Has she said anything?” His voice was stern, and his face dripped with sweat.

     “Not a word. What’s wrong with her?”

      Bentley turned to Ryan. “Gabriel,” Bentley said. “Help carry her back to the house.”

     “Of course,” he replied, and picked her up in his arms.

     Gabriel had no sooner scooped her in his arms when to everyone’s surprise she wrapped her arms around his neck and wept bitterly.

    “You look like… like─” Tears streamed down her face.

     Gabriel frowned, but continued to carry her back to Bentley’s home with Jefferson following behind. Adele wept all the way. Jefferson sped to her side.

     “Here, let me carry her for a while.”

     “No,” Adele shouted.

      They finally reached the estate with poor Bentley breathless. Eva appeared, and ushered Gabriel into the house, where he laid her on the sofa, observing her closely.

     “You’ll be fine. Bentley will take care of you,” he said, and then proceeded to leave.

     As he was leaving, she lunged for him, clung to his hand, and stared at it, then turned it over studying it.

     Jefferson was speechless as he watched her.

    “She looks like she’s seen a ghost,” Ryan managed, and then removed her hand and left the room in a hurry.

     Jefferson’s mind reeled looking at Adele who still hadn’t spoken a word, except to say “no,” when he wanted to help.

    Bentley hurried over to her and sat down beside her.

    “Adele, did that man remind you of someone?”

     She lowered her head. “Yes. He reminds me of my dad…before Dad turned bad.” She wept rocking back and forth child-like.

     “It’s all right, child,” Bentley said, “everything will be fine.” Bentley patted her hand.

                          * * *

    To Jefferson now, it made perfect sense why she’d fainted when she saw the gardener. To Bentley who had only known about her contempt for her father, it didn’t.

     But in the weeks to follow, Jefferson felt as though he were losing her for good. It didn’t help that he had to return to the university, and on weekends, when he’d returned home, he’d find Adele obsessed with Gabriel. Jefferson tried to be tolerant, but it hurt when he saw her spending long hours in the garden with Gabriel instead of spending time with him.

     So it came about, that Jefferson would study instead of spending time with Adele. He’d patiently wait until the evening and then he’d approach her, wishing for time together, only to realize she didn’t want his company. Not only that, but she was no longer interested in him in any way, not for his loving arms that longed to hold her, or for the lips that longed to kiss her.

    Jefferson wished he could reach her, but it seemed he’d become invisible. To his dismay, Adele never questioned his uncle as to how he was managing at school, instead, her questions were aimed at Gabriel.

     One day after watching her leave for the gardens, eager to spend time with Gabriel, Jefferson approached his uncle.
     Bentley was seated in his study, deep in thought when Jefferson barged in the room.

     “I can’t stand it anymore. I’m losing Adele. I know it.”

     Bentley lifted his face to meet his nephew. “Son, it might be a good idea if you remain at school, even on the weekends. I’ll watch for any changes in her. I’m going to take a picture of Gabriel and Adele together and then show it to her. If she can actually see herself with him, she might realize that he wants nothing to do with her.” He cleared his throat. “Or maybe not.”

     That comment wasn’t exactly what Jefferson expected to hear, and it troubled him.

            * * *

     One day when Adele was visiting Ryan, she started badgering him with the same old questions he’d already answered so many times before.

    “Gabriel,” she began. “How long have you lived here?” She sat on the front porch and watched him as he worked.

     Ryan sighed. “I’ve answered that question already.” Ryan continued to plant trees outside the house. “Why do you keep asking me the same question? Don’t you believe me? And why do you care anyway? Haven’t you more important things to do with your time, other than hanging around an old man?”

     “No, sir. I have nothing better to do. Actually, I’m bored. I wasn’t aware I was making a
nuisance
of myself.”
   Ryan pulled a magazine from his pant pocket and tossed it at Adele. “Read that. It’s a book on flying. It’s interesting,” he said before going back to work.

     Adele thought he sounded a bit like he was floundering in what he was saying, like he was trying to hide something. Funny how the gardener liked to read about flying just like her dad.
Strange.
                                  

     A day later once again, Adele came to visit him, only this time she told him she’d lost her father. She repeated the same story she’d told Bentley, even about the abuse.

    Surprisingly, Ryan opened up to her and shared with her that he had lost his family. That’s really all he could remember. That’s when she first began to wonder if, unfathomable as it seemed the possibility of him being her real father.

     Later in her room, she pondered the whole thing over,
Why couldn’t Gabriel be her real dad?
Everyone said he’d come to the property after having had an accident and needed a job. It seemed a bit too coincidental to her. Plus, she had noticed that he, too, liked to read magazines on flying.

     She wondered though if he were her father, why he didn’t recognize her, until she looked in the mirror and saw how much she’d developed over the last years.  Perhaps if she resembled her mother more, it would twig his memory, but it was Jan who took after her mother in looks.

     Still, there was her name. Didn’t that mean anything to him? She decided to discover the truth about him, despite any trouble she might encounter along the way.

     It was eight o’clock on a Tuesday morning when she started nosing around the gardener’s house. 

    She decided to toy with Gabriel without asking him the obvious questions. She began by singing some of the good old songs she used to sing years ago, just to see what kind of reaction she’d get.

    Ryan was working in the gardens, just as her father had when he was busy at work. Deep in thought, she caught him sticking out his tongue. Her mom used to tease him about it when he did it.

     Adele waltzed by pretending to shade herself with a fan. No sooner had she begun to sing, when she noticed him stiffen. When he turned to her, his face was flushed.

    “Adele, I don’t mean to be rude, but could you come back another day? I’m not feeling well.” He looked just like her father had when he was annoyed. She left, only to return a few hours later singing again the well-known songs from her past. Once again she was sent away. Later that
afternoon
she wore her hair in a ponytail, the way she used to when working with her father. Sure enough, the replication of the songs, mimicking the way she used to walk soon provoked Ryan to anger.

    Ryan’s eyes darkened and his face looked exactly the way her father’s had when she’d pissed him off. His hair was a bit grayer now, and he’d lost some weight, but she felt certain he was her father, especially when again, he asked her to, leave.