I had approached Mrs. Jessup’s son for a donation and he promptly wrote me a check for three hundred thousand dollars. I was overwhelmed and once again, wondered how Worth had managed to pull it off. We decided, in light of the contribution, to name the new theater the “Alice B. Jessup Theater” and she cried when she learned the news.
Finally came the day when the inside work was complete and there was nothing left but to put away craft supplies and get ready for the grand-opening party. I had become a familiar face and everyone found an opportunity to touch my hand or call me “darlin’” as I passed nearby. I asked Mrs. Jessup if she’d like to help me organize the craft room and she was only too happy to do so.
I had never again referred to our earlier conversation and she seemed a bit nervous when we were alone. I asked if there was something wrong.
“I might have said too much last time we talked,” she chirped while sorting through cards of embroidery thread. “The whole incident was very hush hush and I’m not sure anyone but the parties involved even remember anything about it.” She blushed. “And me, of course.”
“It’s okay, Mrs. Jessup. I’ve adjusted to the idea and you haven’t done anyone any harm,” I assured her and wished I could believe it myself.
“You know, dear… your mother was gone some time. If it’s of any help, I believe she went through with having the child. I don’t know any more, whether it survived or if she even knows. Often in these cases, the children are taken immediately upon birth and the birth mother never knows another thing from that point on.”
I pretended that none of this mattered and just casually asked, “I wonder where she went in Florida. Do you suppose she went to a convent or stayed with family? It would be nice to know who’s included in the secret.”
“Why, she stayed with your aunt Elizabeth, Auggie, the aunt you were named for. I thought that would occur to you. She lived down there in her later years and when your mother returned, that’s all we heard about. ‘Aunt Elizabeth this and Aunt Elizabeth that.’ That’s why you have her name. Obviously, your mother owned her a great debt of gratitude.” Mrs. Jessup’s face was heavy with the weight of her worry and I wanted to make things easier for her, but it was falling on me to keep my own face from showing any emotion.
I froze at this and wondered why it hadn’t occurred to me before. I’d been so busy being independent that I’d ignored the clues all along the way. The aunt I had been named for had moved to Florida as old age crept upon her. The Kentucky winters, although fairly short, were too damp for her. She had bought a sizable home on the water in Naples and I remembered Mother mentioning, from time to time, that certain members of the family were going down there to stay. My aunt had long since passed, but the family had retained the property as a vacation home.
The next afternoon, there was an informal tea to which all the contributors were invited. Worth came, despite his busy schedule and told me how proud he was of what I’d accomplished. All the residents who were mobile were dressed in their best and once the contributors left, there was a grand opening party where everyone was permitted to move about freely, sample refreshments, play with the crafts and to later take in the screening of Gone with the Wind, a local favorite. It was a long film and when it ended, many a nodded head was wheeled back to their room and gently put to bed. It was a great deal of excitement for them all. The next phase would include the outdoor gardens, fountains, horseshoe pits, shuffleboard, paddock and a shallow wading pool for those who weren’t bound to wheelchairs. All this would happen when the weather permitted, but for now, I was done.
The timing was perfect. I got a phone call from the doctor’s office and called Brandon to go with me. He was happy to do it. I felt I needed his strength, just in case.
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Auggie
It was the end of the day when Brandon and I pulled into the doctor’s office. We went through the rear entrance, as usual. Only this time, we waited in the doctor’s private office.
Dr. Stephens was elderly, but still up on the latest medical practices. He took care of many of the people in our circle and could be counted upon for his confidentiality.
Brandon and I were seated and I was tapping my fingers on my bag. “Auggie, calm down. Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it. I promise you.”
“This is my life we’re talking about, Brandon,” I chastised him, perhaps a little more vehemently than I should have, but I was scared to death.
“I get that,” he said and looked away. I knew he wanted me. I knew that in his heart of hearts, he was hoping there was blood between Worth and me and he would win me by default.
Dr. Stephens came in and took his seat. He slowly opened the manila folder with the report and pushed his glasses down low upon his nose while he read through the results.
“Auggie, I believe you have your answer here. You are not related to Worth by blood,” he said simply and without dragging out the suspense.
I exhaled the breath I’d been holding and tears of joy spilled down my cheeks. Brandon hugged me, albeit not as enthusiastically as I guessed he would have liked.
“Does it tell anything else?” I asked.
“Well, you definitely have origins in Britain, so as to your claim to the Earl, my guess is that’s pretty accurate.”
I laughed at this — as if it made any difference.
“Shall I forward Worth’s copy on to him?” Dr. Stephens asked.
“Oh, no!” I was quick to jump in. “I’ll take it to him personally. This was sort of a gift, if you will. His birthday is coming up,” I hedged, unable to stop myself from continuing the lie. What was wrong with me?
“Very well, here you go,” he said and handed me the stack of paper and the envelope. “Now if there’s anything else?”
“Dr. Stephens, I’m on a sort of quest. I know you’re not at liberty to discuss anything like this, but I have reason to believe that I might have an older sibling living elsewhere. How would one go about narrowing the odds in finding out whether that is true?”
Dr. Stephens folded his glasses and laid them down on his desk. “Auggie, I don’t think I have to tell you that doctors are bound by doctor/client privilege, meaning that I’m not at liberty to divulge anything about any one of my patients without their express written consent.”
“Yes, I know. I wasn’t asking you to violate that, sir, I just thought you might offer some pointers about where I could start.”
“I see. Well, I suggest you begin at the source — the mother — and go from there.” He wasn’t looking at me directly and I could tell he knew more than he was able to say.
“I’m afraid that isn’t a viable option,” piped up Brandon.
“Then I might suggest that you look up birth records based on the mother’s and/or father’s name. Most of those are in computer databases now and it’s not difficult. The better you can narrow down the location of possible birth and the date, the further along you’ll get.”
“Thank you, Dr. Stephens,” I said courteously and got up to leave.