The Awakening (10 page)

     Later on in the evening Bentley took her aside, and to her surprise, told her that Gabriel insisted that she not return to his property. It was
forbidden
. She was shocked and hurt, though understood in her heart her speculations about the gardener were correct.

     He was her father. She was sure of it!

     And that’s precisely the moment when she decided to put things into motion. She already had a bad taste in her mouth about the plans and figured she’d end up in a whole lot of trouble. Still, it was worth the risk, she decided.

    After careful consideration she had foolproof plan. She’d watch from a distance while the gardener went about his daily routine, then she’d break into his home and search the house, from top to bottom.

     As she sat staring straight ahead, she felt as though she were two people in two different bodies. One wicked—the other innocent. Her plans were so out of character and illegal, and if she were caught, she knew that she might end up in jail. The risk she had to take.

     Compelled, that evening, with eyes closed, she lay contemplating what she’d do. It was hours before she eventually drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 14

     Before the crack of dawn Adele slipped out of bed. She chose to wear a plain simple green dress, knowing the colour green would shield her from the gardener’s sight. She slid into a pair of comfortable shoes, tied her hair in a bun, and tiptoed downstairs, leaving the estate without anyone the wiser.

     She’d become quite familiar with Gabriel’s schedule over the past few weeks and as she walked across the lawn toward his house she kept telling herself all would be well. As she grew nearer, she waited and watched behind the tall bushes.

     The sun was still low in the sky when Gabriel opened the front door. He was wearing his typical brown work pants, silly red suspenders, a straw hat, and carried a pitcher of water. He had some tools and a lunch and closed the door behind him.

     “Good,” she whispered aloud, when she noted he hadn’t locked the door. One less thing to have to break.

     Now was her chance to find the evidence, and prove without a shadow of doubt he was Ryan.

     She raced to the house and stared broodingly at the door. She had no business being here.
Crashing
the place. But shrugging off the feelings of guilt she nervously crept inside.

     Once inside she began to root through the kitchen cupboards. Canned goods. Cereal. Dishes. Not much. Sifting through some papers which were piled high on a desktop, she looked through pictures hoping she’d find something viable.

    After not finding anything significant she moved to the bedroom and started to look there.
    Fifteen minutes later after having her head in the dresser drawers, all she found was clothes. Nothing. Nothing equals nothing! She sighed her annoyance.
     If the gardener turned out to be her father and caught her, he’d be angrier than a bull moose. Find something!

    What was she looking for? His name on something— a picture perhaps. She wasn’t sure, so she continued to search, anxiously returning to the kitchen where she fumbled to remove the lids off the containers.
Where would Dad hide something he didn’t want found?

     What was that? She thought she heard a noise.
    Turning round she saw Gabriel standing by the doorway, his face beet-red and her heart leaped into her throat. Automatically she couched down as if to run.

     He looked like a cold ruthless man who didn’t believe in words like compassion or love. He stared at her with stern eyes, then flung his straw hat so hard it hit her on the leg.
    Too frightened to pick it up, she just looked at him with wide, unbelieving eyes.

    “What in God’s name are you doing here, snooping through my things?”

     She didn’t like knowing that he could speak so coldly.

    “Answer me! Spit it out, girl. How dare you come here after you’ve been ordered off my property?” His voice, his body, every inch of him shook as he spoke.

     Still, she remained voiceless.

    “Answer me, I said. What in the blazes are you looking for?” He raised his hands. “I’ve had enough of you, and this behaviour of yours… well, quite frankly, isn’t acceptable, and I won’t stand for it. Do you hear me?”

    She’d never been subjected to her father’s wrath and thought she’d burst into tears any moment. Her hair slipped from its bun and her face felt incredibly hot.

     Ryan leaped in front of her, a scornful look on his face.

    “What in God’s name are you looking for?” he shouted. “These are my things!” He shook so hard and was so angry she thought he’d strike her. 

     She was sick to her stomach and thought for sure she’d pass out, but somehow, she knew she had to keep it together long enough to provoke him one last time.
    She moved toward him, staring him in the eye.

    “I’m on a mission,” she said nervously.

    “What kind of mission?”

    “To find out who you really are.” She jerked her head and pretended to look confident, hoping he’d react.

    He did.

    Something flashed into him. It was rage. Ryan began throwing his things wildly around the house as if he’d lost his mind. He screamed at her and then flung a locket in her face. The chain hit her on the cheek and she instantly raised her hand to her face.

   “There! Go on. Open it, you nosy thing!”

     Adele’s heart began to pound and she weakened as she nervously opened the locket and looked inside. When she saw the picture was a picture of her mother she gasped and buckled at the knees. All she could hear was Ryan’s voice in the background of a hazy fog.

    “My wife’s dead. Are you satisfied now?” 

     The words were faint, though she heard them as she felt her body being hoisted up in an angry fashion.

    She was right. He was her dad!

             * * *

     Fuelled with anger Ryan carried semi-
conscious
Adele all the way to Bentley’s. He arrived out of breath, and with force, pounded the front door. Bentley and Jefferson, who was home for the weekend, opened the door together.

    “She broke into my house. I caught her rummaging through my personal belongings. I’m so mad, I could swear. She comes on my property again, I swear, I’ll have her charged!” He passed her to Bentley, eager to rid himself of her.

    “She’ll never bother you again. I give you my word,” he said buckling at the knees because of her weight.

    “Just keep her away!” Ryan shouted as he was leaving.

    Jefferson raced over to Bentley, grabbed her, and carried her into the living room.

    Adele was unaware that Jefferson was home for the weekend. Bentley tried to wake her, but had no success; she either wouldn’t, or couldn’t speak. With no evidence that would indicate she was in any danger, Bentley said, “Take her to her room.”

     Jefferson carried her to her room where he gently unfolded her on her bed, and then sat with her, wiping her forehead, hoping she’d respond. Her eyes were open, but she lay trance-like, and that concerned him.

     Jefferson sat beside her stroking her hair like before, and gently covered her with a blanket. She looked even more frail this time, he thought. Her skin seemed almost translucent against her lightly coloured hair.

    “I love you, Adele.” He kissed her cheek, noticing she had shown no reaction.

    Just then Eva came into the room.

    He looked up. “Could you watch her for a while?”
   “Of course, Jefferson.”

    Dropping his hands, he walked from the room, and went downstairs where he found his uncle in the study.
    Bentley’s face was full of concern.

     “I’ve decided to bring in a psychiatrist to look at Adele. Her behaviour…well—” Jefferson sat down in the chair beside him.

    “No way. I’ll help her,” he said, massaging the back of his neck.

    “Son, you are not qualified.”

    “The heck with that!” Jefferson flew out of his chair, then turned to face his uncle. “You’re wrong. She said he reminded her of her father, and that’s it. As for bringing in a professional, forget it! I’ll take care of her.”

   “You’re not a doctor. And as for Gabriel, I’ve watched her— she seems to be obsessed with him.”

    “Are you telling me that you don’t believe her? Seems to me, Gabriel can’t stand being in the same room with her.” Jefferson couldn’t believe what his uncle was thinking.

    Bentley rose and paced the floor, while Jefferson scratched his head.

   “I agree Gabriel doesn’t seem to share the same feelings,” Bentley said.

   “Good heaven’s Uncle, you come up with the most absurd things some times.”

   Bentley waved his arms in his defence.

   “Well crazier things have happened.”

   “Maybe so, but not Adele.

   “I don’t know anymore. She’s got me so worried, I’m not sure she’s safe here.”

   Jefferson rolled his eyes.

   “Oh yes, she is. She’s very safe. I’ll make sure of that.”

    But Bentley’s face showed he was exasperated, and the tension between the two only increased.

   Jefferson assumed something extraordinary must have triggered her bizarre behaviour and he was determined to do everything he could to help her.
     That evening Jefferson went to his room as if he was on a mission, and he refused to allow his uncle’s pessimistic outlook to get the best of him.
 

    Meanwhile Adele was still motionless on her bed, so soft and vulnerable looking.

    Jefferson casually crossed over his room and into hers. With a twinkle in his eye he motioned for Eva to leave them alone. He sat down beside her, observing how statue like she looked.

    “I’m here now. If you can hear me, give me a sign, Adele. Let me know that you want me here.”

    She reached for his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

   “I love you, Adele. One day, when you’re ready, I’d like to marry you.”  He leaned forward and kissed her on her forehead.

    Still, she never breathed a word. The room had lost its cozy ambiance and now seemed dark and confusing.                                        

    And though the night felt like an eternity, Jefferson finally slept.
 

    When morning arrived his mood soured. He knew time with Adele was quickly coming to an end. Still sleeping, Jefferson left the area and scooted behind the dresser in order to dress. He watched her from across the room thinking how radiant she looked.

    Suddenly, Adele stirred, opened her eyes, and looked at him. She smiled, and like a miracle, her body came to life. Jefferson watched as her colour returned and the vibrant green in her eyes sparkled.

    That morning Jefferson announced a serious decision he’d made.

  Eva was in Bentley’s office when Jefferson said, “Uncle, I won’t leave Adele. I’m not going back to school.”
    “What? You can’t be serious?”
     “Damn straight I am.”
     “But son…” Bentley looked over at Eva. “You talk some sense into him.”
     Eva shrugged her shoulders. “It’s not my place to say, Bentley.”
      Jefferson glanced up at Eva. “She’s right. And I’ve made up my mind.”
     Bentley tried, to no avail, to convince him that he was acting hastily, warning him that it’d be much harder to get back into the swing of things if he were to lose his term.

   Their discussion grew increasingly strained, and Eva left the room when Bentley eventually threw up his hands up in the air.

   “Do what you have to do, Jefferson.”

   And Jefferson did.

    Jefferson was determined to stay with Adele and do whatever was necessary to help her.

   And it paid off too, because each day Adele began to grow stronger, walking around the room more and more. To Jefferson, it seemed as though her fainting spells set her further back each time she experienced one, and Jefferson wanted to make sure she never had another one.

Chapter 15

   It was a perfect autumn morning. Warm, almost too warm as she lay on the bed, trying to piece together the bizarre possibility, that the gardener was her real father.

    She recalled the year that her father had gone through the personality change. She was
seventeen
when she first noticed it. She was hoping now that somehow her real dad had amnesia. It was
becoming
clearer and making a whole lot more sense.

    The ordeal with the gardener had proven to taken its toll on her, and needless to say, it was draining, but despite, it seemed to be the only explanation.

    Adele had already decided to leave her father be, she understood he was in pain. So was she. Still, it hurt that he didn’t recognize her.

    As she pondered things over, there was one unanswered question that kept gnawing away at her as if a toothache. Who was the man who replaced her father? The whole thing made perfect sense now, as she recalled just how much her father had changed. He’d beaten her mother and heaven only knew what else.

    The man living with her mother had to be an impostor. There was no other explanation for the character change.

    And then, as if she’d been slapped across the face she remembered the picture she’d seen on the bulletin board in St. Lawrence. That picture was a dead ringer to her father in looks. That’s why
she’d
fainted. She recalled the sign: Escaped Mental Patient!

     Adele collapsed on her bed.
Oh my Lord,
Mother’s
living with a lunatic.
    
She lay half numb, in a state of shock,
brooding
over her mother’s great peril.

    After she had it all sorted out, she stayed in her room planning and praying. Mostly praying. Days passed and not once did she leave her room.
Rarely
did she even acknowledge Jefferson was in the room with her. She ate all her meals there too, as she pieced together how her life had become so twisted in time.

   As the time passed her worries about what she must do only intensified. She kept thinking about poor Jan. In her dreams she’d cry out her sister’s name. She woke up drenched in her own perspiration and flopped on her pillow, stewing over what she’d do.

            * * *

    Meanwhile, Jefferson continued to support her,  allowing her all the time and space she needed. To him, it appeared that she was working out a healing method in her own mind. He studied her exquisite face and her extraordinary eyes. He’d watch her from across the room as she paced the floor, comb her hair, seemingly in a partial trance. He’d see her stare out the window, in the direction of the gardener’s home and sometimes, he’d observe her sliding her hands over the furniture strangely, as though she was becoming familiar with things that were foreign to her.

    Bentley on the other hand, was concerned about her condition, and one day, asked Jefferson to meet him in his study.

    He was in his usual spot when Jefferson sauntered into the room.

    “She’s losing touch with reality. Seems to me, she’s not able to handle Gabriel’s rejection—only sent her into another depression.”  

    Jefferson sat down beside him.

    “I’m watching her like a hawk. Just give her time.”

   “But son,” he argued. “She never comes out of her room.” Bentley sighed. “She’s become a pathetic sleeper, too.”
  “I know.”
    “Well, aren’t you worried, son?”

    Annoyed, Jefferson swiftly left his uncle’s study, bidding him good night, not able to stand any more negativity.

    Jefferson remained by her side even when it seemed she wasn’t aware he was beside her. He assured his uncle she was talking, even laughing from time-to-time, when in fact he’d fabricated a story.

    It had become a habit of hers to be found sitting in her room for hours doing nothing. So, one morning when Jefferson didn’t see her, naturally, he panicked. He scrambled out of bed, dressed, and ran through the house in search of her. She was nowhere to be found. Then, he bolted out of the house in fear she’d done a stupid thing and gone to pester the gardener. It was a mile to Ryan’s home, but Jefferson ran as if he were running a marathon.

    Ryan was outside working in the garden. When he saw Jefferson he looked up, puzzled.

   “What’s wrong?” Ryan arched his eyebrows.

   Stressed out, Jefferson bent over taking long, deep breaths.

   “I’m looking for Adele. Have you seen her?”

   “Nope, and I hope I don’t, little pest and all her questions.”

   “I’m sorry.” 

    Jefferson left Ryan in a hurry, wishing now he’d not stopped by. Last thing he needed to hear was his lack of concern. He headed home his emotions getting the best of him, wondering where she was. He hurried inside the house, raced to the bedroom, relieved to see her safe, sitting comfortably beside the window.

    “Where have you been? I’ve searched for you everywhere.”

    She never answered, just stared trance-like out the window. Jefferson collapsed on the bed, exhausted.  He thought now, perhaps she’d merely gone for walk in the gardens.
    Without realizing it, he’d become her bodyguard.

            * * *

   While Jefferson was looking for her, Adele had gone to the shed where she’d first met Jefferson.

   She hadn’t mustered up the courage to go back home just yet.

    She was feeling stronger both in body and mind, her strength was returning, and just in time. Soon she’d need to be both brave, and strong. The trip home would be dangerous, and she’d need the strength of a man in order to fight off the man who’d been impersonating her father. Someone might even die. She wasn’t prepared for that death to be hers, or any member of her family.

    The idea that her mother was living with an insane man brought her to tears every time she thought about it.

    Adele hung her head. The truth stunned her. Everything came rushing to mind like a whirlwind, and she shivered once she realized what she had to do. After all the pieces of the puzzle were complete, she returned to her room, and sat in her chair speechless.

    Everything made perfect sense now.

   She had to go back home and somehow get her family out of there. Was it plausible? How would she do it alone?

    The following morning she stood peering down at Jefferson. He wiped his eyes, shook his head and smiled at her.

   “Hey pretty girl, how are you feeling?”

    “Fine,” she said softly, and sat on the bed beside him.

    Jefferson sat up shaking off the night’s sleep, shocked to see how much better she looked. Her eyes were bright and lively. Reaching for her hand, he leaned forward and embraced her.

   “Do you know what day it is?” he asked.

    She hesitated for a minute and shrugged.

   “Saturday?”

    “No, it’s Tuesday.” Jefferson gave her a squeeze.

    “I’ve had so much to think about.” Adele shifted her eyes away.

    Jefferson turned her face to meet his and touched her lips.

    “Like what?”

    Adele glanced at the hardwood floor.

   “I don’t know where to begin.”

     Jefferson took her in his arms like he used to, and kissed her.

    “When you’re ready to tell me what’s troubling you, I’ll be here for you, no matter what.”

    “I love you, Jefferson. You have to believe that. Even if I go away for a while, I’ll come back, and then we can be together,” she said trembling.

    “What do mean go away?” Jefferson’s eyes opened wide. “I don’t want to lose you.”

    It was time— she had tell him, she decided.

   “All right, Jefferson, I’ll tell you why I’ve been fainting. I remember everything,” she said softly.

    “Everything?”

    “Yes. But it could take a while. I don’t think you’ll understand some of it,” she said. “It’s good we have this room together.” She searched his face, fearful of what he might think of her. “I’m not sure where to begin, there’s so much—”

    “You’re scaring me, Adele. You know I’ll stand by you no matter what.”

    “Hope so.” Adele stood up and looked out the window.
   “I promise,” Jefferson  said reassuringly.
     Adele turned to look at him. “Okay,” she began, as she drew near to him. “I need you to understand.”

    Jefferson grabbed a pen and paper from the dresser. “I will.”

   “My father’s name is Ryan. We used to work together on the farm. He was the best dad anyone could have, until one day something happened to him. Dad was always kind, and then something went wrong.”
    “Go on.”

    “We were poor. Sometimes I’d have to stay home from school in order to help with all the work. I hated the farm chores, and building furniture was tedious work. My father always doted on me, until the day he stopped acting normal.”

    Jefferson glanced up from his notebook. “Maybe that’s why you’ve changed. Maybe when your father changed, it was too much for you, and in your mind, you just perceive this story to be real.”

    “Up yours! I’m not making this up.” She picked up a cup from off the dresser, and with precision, hurled it his way. The cup bounced off him and landed on the floor.

    “You don’t have to be violent.”

    “I’ll pretend you never said that.” She scowled at him and cleared her throat. “When my father changed he didn’t want me around. He was moody and angry all the time. One day after school, I heard my mother crying. That’s when I discovered my father had turned into a monster.”
     “A monster?”

    “Yeah. He’d beaten her real bad.” Her voice became bitter. “I told him if he ever raised a hand to my mom, or Jan, I’d call the police.” She began to sob and wiped her eyes on his blanket. “I couldn’t take it anymore and decided to run away. And then I met Gabriel.”

   “The gardener?”

    “No, Jefferson, I’m talking about my real Dad. Your gardener is my father.” Tears streamed from her face and plopped onto her clothes.

    Jefferson searched her eyes. “Adele, Adele, you want to believe that. It’s. . . ”

    Adele interrupted. “Jefferson, why did you think I fainted when I saw him? Think I like fainting? It was like seeing a ghost. Why did you think was obsessed with him? I acted that way because I needed to know the truth. Didn’t you ever think it was strange how he got here? When I broke into his house, I saw a picture from his pocket-watch. That picture was a picture of my mother! It was after that, I was able to put all the pieces together. Here, in the quiet of this room. I remembered the picture of a man on the bulletin board when you took me to St. Lawrence. It read: ESCAPED MENTAL PATIENT!

    That’s who’s living with my mother. That’s why my father wasn’t acting the same.”

    Jefferson closed his notebook and said, “All right, that’s a lot of information for one day. Think you should rest now.”

    She watched while he calmly rose as if he’d just heard some sort of lame bedtime story.

   She leaped to her feet and placed her hands on her hips.

    “You jerk! Tired of listening to my bedtime story. Is that what you think? That I make up stories?”

    “No. Actually, I’m quite concerned about you.”

    She gave him a piercing look, and put her face in front of his.

   “Really. So, do you think I’m nuts?”

   “No. But I think you really do believe it simply because you miss your father.” His face was flushed and he was noticeably uncomfortable.

    “What a lousy scientist you’re going to make. You narrow-minded pig!”

    “There’s no need to be insulting just because I don’t agree with you.”

    “I’ve told you the truth.”

   Jefferson continued, “Well, it doesn’t make sense.”

    Her eyes widened. “I hate you!” she screamed, and then picked up a glass of water and heaved it across the room at him. She lunged for the doors and proceeded to close them shut.

   They were closing, with Jefferson on the other side demanding that she unlock them.

   “In your dreams, Jefferson Quad. I’ll swallow the key before I open these doors!”