Daphne's Plan
The box lunches didn't compare to the chicken pot pies
that were being offered at O'Sullivan's Pub this evening but Jack
didn't notice. He was irritated that he was on his way to New York
City to retrieve the artwork Daphne Saint Marie had stolen from him
earlier in the day. Audrey was sitting by his side. She tried to
calm him down but he was furious.
“We will go directly to the police station when we
arrive in the city. Jimmy O'Rourke is on the force. He and I were
roommates. He's a good man. Come to think of it he warned me about
Daphne. I should have listened to him back then.”
“Don't be so hard on yourself, Jack. We all make
foolish mistakes at one time in our lives. Remember we would never
have met if I hadn't followed Grady Murphy to Camden Corners because
of my silly crush on him.”
“That's true and because of you, Elizabeth and Grady
are now together. I can't say I like the thought of you mooning over
another man but if it brought you to Camden Corners and me, I'm glad
of it.”
The train pulled into the station. Jack had lived in
New York long enough to know his way around. Audrey was mesmerized.
She had never seen so many people and buildings in her life. She
was caught up in the excitement and began to wish she and Jack
weren't on a mission to recover artwork. Audrey knew the Hightowers
had a motor car and she had seen quite a few in Buffalo but it was
amazing how many automobiles and horse drawn carriages were together
on the streets. Jack felt more comfortable in a carriage and that is
what they rode to the police station.
The officer on the front desk called Jimmy to the
reception area.
“Jack Mackenzie, I can't believe it's you” Jack and
Jimmy had kept in touch but this was the first time they'd seen each
other since the day Jack packed up and left New York vowing never to
return.
The men embraced and Jack introduced Audrey to his old
friend. Jimmy was glad to see Jack had moved on.
“Am I ever happy to meet you Audrey. I can tell just
by looking at my friend Jack that you have brought out the best in
him. I'm off duty in just a few minutes. Come home with me. Eileen
will be thrilled to see you again.”
Jimmy lived in the neighborhood so they walked to the
brownstone and surprised Eileen who was balancing a baby on her hip.
“Jack, what a wonderful surprise. Come in, please.”
Audrey and Eileen hit it off immediately. Jack told
Jimmy about the stolen artwork and Daphne's visit.
“Eileen can tell you about Daphne and the scandal
after her husband died. She gets all her information from the gossip
columns.”
“Yes, and Jimmy loves to hear all the gossip.
Daphne's husband died about a year ago. He left most of his money
to charity and only an art studio to Daphne. She tried to fight the
will but she didn't have enough money for a lawyer and nobody would
take her case because the will was ironclad. It came out that her
name was really Doris Schultz. She is from a small town in Kansas
where she lived on a dairy farm. She changed her name and latched
onto Grover Fulton. Daphne was one of Grover's five wives. He
divorced them as soon as he felt they were past their prime. Daphne
was young and naïve when she and Grover married. She didn't realize
she was signing away all rights to his money.”
“I say she got what she deserved” said Jimmy.
“Well now Daphne or Doris has my property and I want
it back.”
“Let's go,” said Audrey. “I don't feel quite so
intimidated by her now that I know her name is Doris Schultz instead
of Daphne Saint Marie”
Daphne was putting the last painting on the wall when
the studio door opened and in walked Jack, that insipid girl from
Camden Corners and a uniformed police officer. This was not in the
plan thought Daphne.
“Darling, I thought you would be following me to New
York. Haven't you missed the city, my love? I know what is best for
you and having your wonderful work displayed in my studio is so much
better than that silly little town of yours.”
“Hi Doris, nice to see you again” said Audrey.
Daphne was surprised her true identity had been
discovered by this child. Her whole demeanor changed in that
moment.
“Look honey, you may have your hooks in Jack now but I
know what a man likes in a woman and you can never compete with me.
Now you and the officer can be on your way. Jack and I have
unfinished business.”
“You are right Daphne, we have unfinished business.
My entire business is in your studio without my permission. Officer
O'Rourke is here to help me retrieve it. I would suggest you move
your carcass out of the way while we pack everything up. By the way,
don't call my fiancee honey again.”
Daphne shrugged her shoulders. “Artists like you are
a dime a dozen. My studio will be filled with expensive art in no
time. Now get this junk out of my sight.” She stormed off into
the back room wondering how she was going to pay the light bill next
month. Maybe it was time she found another occupation. She had a
few good years left in her. There are plenty of older gentlemen who
are in need of companionship.
Jack, Audrey and Jimmy wrapped each piece of art
carefully and carried it one by one to Jimmy's waiting carriage.
With that problem taken care of, Jimmy was anxious to celebrate a
visit by his old friend with a night on the town. Eileen dropped the
baby off with her mother. It had been a while since she and Jimmy
had taken in all the sights of Manhattan. She had always liked Jack
and was happy to know his relationship with Doris Schultz was finally
over. Audrey was the perfect match for her husband's good friend.
Audrey was delighted with the hustle and bustle of New
York. They stayed on for a couple of days and there was still plenty
to see but they did have to get back to reality.
Jimmy and Eileen saw them off at the train station
promising to return for another visit very soon. Audrey was looking
out the window when she noticed a tall regal looking woman walking
arm in arm with an older gentleman at least five inches shorter than
she was. He had a stogie dangling from his mouth and sparkling
diamond rings on his fingers.
“Looks like Daphne Saint Marie is back in action”
she said to Jack who simply shook his head.
Everyone in Camden Corners was happy to see the
travelers return with all of the art work intact. Carrie helped hang
the paintings in their places.
Audrey stopped at the medical offices to thank everyone
for being understanding about her leaving.
“It hasn't been that busy” Elizabeth told her
friend.
“Are you feeling alright Elizabeth? You look a little
pale”
“Oh I'll be fine. I haven't been sleeping well the
last few nights. I think I just missed my roommate.”
As the day wore on, Audrey worried about Elizabeth. She
wasn't herself. Grady was busy treating one of the Burke boys who
had been enjoying a toboggan ride with his friends until his steering
went bad and they landed smack into a pine tree. There weren't any
broken bones but Grady was making sure none of the boys had head
injuries. He noticed Elizabeth was a little quiet but didn't think
anything was wrong until Audrey came rushing into the room.
“Elizabeth just fainted. I helped her to the
examining room and she is awake but she is burning with fever.”
Grady ran into the room. He could tell just by glancing
that she was a very sick young woman. Doctor Tom took over the care
of the toboggan riders as Grady wrapped Elizabeth in as many blankets
as he could find and drove her in his carriage to the Mackenzie house
where he put her to bed. Audrey went with them. Grady insisted
Audrey wear a mask while she cared for Elizabeth. Grady knew
Elizabeth's illness was extremely serious. He had seen an outbreak
of influenza during his residency in Buffalo. He erased from his
mind the young woman who died from the disease while under his care.
He knew the best place for Elizabeth to be was in the hospital but he
didn't think she would survive the long trip to Greensboro. Doc
McMillan agreed. The new Camden Corners hospital couldn't be
completed soon enough. After swallowing medication, Elizabeth was
able to sleep. Grady and Audrey stayed by her side. The bedroom was
closed off to the rest of the family. Audrey and Grady took turns
sleeping on Audrey's bed. Jack made sure food and drinks were
brought into the bedroom for the caregivers. Their carefree days in
New York were just a distant memory. Jack knew if anything happened
to Elizabeth, Audrey would be devastated.
Everyone in town was anxious for Elizabeth. She had
only been a resident of Camden Corners for a short while but she,
Grady and Audrey were well loved already.
Vicar Will opened the church for a special service
offering prayers for Elizabeth and also for the containment of the
flu virus. Everyone was taking extra precautions to wash their hands
often and see one of the Docs if they experienced any symptoms at
all.
After looking through the log, Mary McMillan saw that a
young man who was passing through town had been to see Grady. He was
suffering from a cough and fever. Grady had treated and released
him. His nurse was Elizabeth. Grady was beside himself with guilt
that he didn't recognize the symptoms as influenza. If only he had
treated Elizabeth earlier she wouldn't be suffering as she was.
“Grady, you can't know everything there is to know
about medicine just because you have an M.D. after your name. Even
we seasoned physicians miss clues. Medicine is very complicated. It
wasn't obvious this young man was as sick as he was.” said Doc
trying to comfort him.
“Why did Elizabeth have to be the one to come down
with this disease? Why couldn't it have been me?”
“We never know why some people are more susceptible to
contracting an illness. Her isolation has helped to curtail the
spread of the disease through town and that was your doing. How is
Audrey? Is she showing any symptoms?”
“No, I'm checking her carefully because I know she
won't let on if she is feeling poorly because she is set on seeing
Elizabeth through this.”
Four days later Elizabeth opened her eyes. “Am I late
for work? What are you doing in my bedroom Grady?”
He and Audrey laughed and cried. Everything was going
to be alright. Audrey thought about that day just last week when
Daphne Saint Marie entered Jack's gallery. How silly she had been to
be envious of that superficial woman. This was what life was all
about. Living in a town like Camden Corners where people cared about
their neighbors. Where families grew and loved and riches were not
the ultimate goal. Where two friends could be happy and planning
futures with two handsome men. Valentine's Day wasn't too far off.
We'd better start making plans. I wonder how Dr. and the soon to be
Mrs. Murphy feel about a double wedding. She looked toward the bed
and saw a sparkling diamond on Elizabeth's left hand.
Yes! Life is good.
