The
Visitor
“Millie darling. Please get a hold of yourself.
Prudence, it can't be you. We buried you six months ago.” Leland
Harvey said as he was trying to keep his wife upright.
“I'm not Prudence, you fool. Everyone knows I am
beautiful whereas she is mildly pretty. What do you mean you buried
her? Why would you do a thing like that?”
“Because she was dead. What other reason could there
possibly be?” Millie said as she was collecting herself after the
shock of seeing Prudence's face looking back at her. “Who, may I
ask, are you?”
“Oh for heaven sake. Where is Neville? I must get to
the bottom of this. How did my dear cousin die? I'm sure Neville
had something to do with it.”
“Neville doesn't live here. He has a home by the
lake. He is there with his daughters and son. They are preparing
for a wedding.”
“I thought Prudence only had two daughters. Not that
it matters. She wasn't much of a mother to them anyway.”
“Who are you and what business do you have with my
brother?”
“So you are the sister-in-law. I don't think Prudence
ever spoke of you.”
“I'm not surprised. I only spoke of her when I was
forced into it. Now suppose you start by telling me your name.”
“I am Lavinia Carstairs. Widow of the late Rutherford
D. Carstairs. I trust you have heard of him. He was from royalty of
course.”
“Of course. What may I help you with Mrs. Carstairs?
We were about to leave the house.”
“Oh yes, the wedding. Just tell me where I can find
Neville's little home and I'll be on my way.”
“Not on your life, lady. You are not going to upset
my brother on his wedding day. I would suggest you take yourself and
your royal derriere back to wherever it is you came from.”
“I have come a long way and I will not leave until I
see Neville. You tell him to meet me at that pub I saw down the
street. If he knows what's good for him he will be there in 30
minutes.”
Lavinia was out the door and into a carriage. “Hurry
it up driver, I'm thirsty.”
“I wonder what that woman is up to. I never heard
that Prudence had an identical cousin. I can't believe there were
two of them. I'm not going to let it bother me. Let's hurry Leland.
I want to get the cake in the carriage and on to Neville's house.”
The Merryweather house was full of hustle and bustle.
Neville couldn't believe he and Helene would finally be husband and
wife. Everything was going along smoothly, it was a beautiful late
summer day. The three tiered cake had arrived safely along with
Millie and Leland. Nothing could go wrong.
“Neville,” said Millie, “we had a visitor today.
She says her name is Lavinia Carstairs. She hadn't heard of
Prudence's death but I must admit she didn't seem disturbed by it.
She looks exactly like Prudence. I almost fainted when I opened the
door.”
“What could she possibly want? I haven't seen that
woman in years She and Prudence had a falling out. I have no idea
what the reason was but I can't say I ever missed her.”
“She insisted you meet her at O'Sullivan's and stormed
out. I told her I wasn't going to disturb you on your wedding day.
I refused to tell her where you live.”
“I suppose she could find out very easily. Maybe I
should take a ride over there. She probably needs money. I think
that is the only reason she ever came around to see Prudence.”
“Do you want Leland to go with you? I'm sure he
wouldn't mind.”
“No, I'll be fine I am accustomed to dealing with
women who have been drinking. I'm an expert at it thanks to
Prudence.”
“Be careful Neville.”
Millie had an uneasy feeling. Leland came up beside
her. “He's gone to see her, I assume?”
“Yes, he was afraid she might come here and interrupt
the wedding.”
Neville walked into the pub. He spotted Lavinia. It
sent chills down his spine. He'd forgotten how much she looked like
Prudence.
Without any pleasantries, he said, “What did you want
to see me about Lavinia? Spit it out, I'm in a hurry.”
“Neville darling. Don't you have a kiss for your
wife's cousin?”
“No. Tell me what you want or I'll leave right now.”
“Neville, you are so ill-mannered. Tell me dear, how
are you spending your wife's money these days? Buying little trinkets
for her replacement?”
“You have two seconds Lavinia.”
“Alright. I want Prudence's money. It is rightfully
mine. Her father cheated my father out of the family fortune.”
“There is nothing I can do about that. The money is
in a trust fund for our daughters. It will stay there until they are
25 years old. You will need to consult an attorney if you want to
contest Prudence's will. I'm leaving. Our business is completed.”
“That's what you think. I need money now. I'm not
going through any lawyers. I went to see Prudence yesterday to tell
her it was time to pay up and now I find out she is dead. Neville
darling, I was always able to get money out of your dear wife. I'm
surprised you didn't notice her funds have been dwindling through the
years. You see, I have been blackmailing her and now I will
blackmail you.”
“What in the devil are you talking about? Blackmail?
You must be insane.”
“Don't speak to me that way or I may double my
demands. I have the feeling you are much wealthier than you will
admit.”
“I'm leaving Lavinia,” Neville stood up to leave.
“Would you like me to tell your precious daughter who
her father really is?”
Neville stopped in his tracks. “Now, I know you are
insane.”
“But you are wondering which one, aren't you.”
“Melinda and Melissa are my daughters. I don't know
what your game is but I do believe what you are attempting to do is
illegal.”
“Have you guessed yet? One of those girls doesn't
look like you at all. Am I right?”
Neville's head was swimming. He had to admit Melinda's
hair was darker than anyone in the family. Melissa had brown eyes.
Prudence had blue eyes and his were green. I've got to get out of
here and think.
“I'm leaving Lavinia. Get yourself a lawyer and sue
me.”
“You never met my late husband Rutherford did you.
His daughter is the spitting image of him in his younger days.”
Neville was shaking from anger and fear. He didn't care
if Prudence was unfaithful to him but he did care if one of his
precious girls was not his own flesh and blood. How would he tell
them? He rode back to the house. The guests had all arrived and
were sitting in the their seats waiting for the ceremony to start.
He wondered why he didn't go along with Helene's wishes to keep the
wedding small.
This had started out to be a perfect day and now
Prudence was ruining it from the grave. One look at him and Helene
knew things had not gone well at the pub. Millie told her about the
visitor and who she was.
“Neville we can call this off. I know you are upset
about something.”
“Oh please, Helene. I need you now more than ever.
Lavinia was blackmailing Prudence all these years. She said I am not
the father of one of my daughters. How can that be possible? I love
them both so much. I know I'm going to have to tell them but I don't
know how to do it. Wouldn't it be ironic if I gained a son this year
but lost a daughter?”
“You are not going to lose a daughter Neville. Those
girls adore you. Let's not let Prudence or her cousin ruin our day.
Go stand by Vicar Will and wait for me to come down the aisle to
you.”
He did what Helene said.
His daughters walked down the aisle between the sets of
chairs, first his youngest daughter, Melissa. He could see her
playing with her dolls, jumping from her swing into his arms. Next
came Melinda. She was always a feisty one. He remembered how
determined she was to walk when she was only 10 months old. She kept
falling but would get up and try again. To think he almost lost her
when he was being stubborn about her seeing Michael. Both of the
girls were his daughters. Being a parent meant much more than just
having the same blood running through a child's veins.
Neville was able to forget his trouble for just a few
minutes when he saw his bride. She was a vision in a pale blue
chiffon gown. She gave him a smile and his heart beat faster in his
chest. The love of his life would finally be his wife.
The ceremony was over quickly. The reception was in
full swing when Neville looked up and saw an obviously inebriated
Lavinia walking toward him.
“What about it big boy. You gonna pay up or do I
spill the beans? Pretty little fillies you got there. They don't
look too much like you Neville. Maybe you aren't anybody's father.”
James and Leland both stood up and took hold of
Lavinia's arms. “Let's go sleep this off, ma'am.”
“Let go of me. I am Mrs. Rutherford D. Carstairs the
Duchess of Elderberry wine or something like that.” Lavinia
started to laugh at her joke.
The men carried her to the carriage she came in on.
Leland handed the driver a few dollars and told him to drive her to
Greensboro if he had to but get her out of here.
The party continued in spite of the interruption.
After the last guest left, Neville told his children he
wanted to see them in the parlor. He had something to discuss with
them. Millie, James and Michael, you should be there too.
“What's wrong father?” said Melinda. “Did Cousin
Lavinia upset you? You know she and mother never got along. I think
they were jealous of one another.”
“I don't know how I'm going to tell you this girls.
First of all I want you to know I love both of you very much.
Nothing will ever change that. Lavinia told me today that your
mother had an affair with Lavinia's husband Rutherford and that he is
the father of one of you.”
“Father, you didn't believe her, did you? Mother told
us all about that many years ago. Lavinia made her angry and Mother
told her she had slept with Rutherford and that she was carrying his
child. It wasn't true. Mother had her faults but she also had good
taste. Did you ever see Rutherford Carstairs?”
“No but why would your mother tell you something like
that.”
“It was before she began drinking so heavily. We were
talking about the funniest thing that ever happened to us. Mother
said she told Lavinia the story to make her angry and she succeeded.
Lavinia was so mad at Mother she started to blackmail her. Mother
never let on that it wasn't true because she felt guilty that
Grandfather swindled his brother out of the family fortune. Every
time Lavinia came by and threatened to tell you, she gave her more
money. It eased her conscience somewhat.”
“I still don't know why she would tell her young
daughters she'd made up sleeping with someone and one of you belonged
to this Rutherford character.”
“You do remember Mother, don't you? She was a spoiled
rich girl who never did grow up. Melissa and I were the adults in
that relationship and we knew it.”
“Melissa tell Father what Mr. Carstairs looked like.”
Melissa laughed. “He had a beak for a nose. His hair
was as red as a carrot. The poor man had no chin at all. Mother
said Lavinia married him because he told her he was a Duke. She
later found out he was from New Jersey. Look at us father, do you
see any resemblance to a man with a beak nose, no chin and orange
hair?”
He glanced over at Millie. Her hair was mostly gray but
he could see the same shade of brown that Melinda had. She also had
brown eyes, the same color as Melissa.
“I've been a fool. I don't know why I believed that
woman but I wouldn't put anything past Prudence.”
“Mother had her faults but she was faithful to you
most of the time you were married. Melissa and I were privy to every
thought she ever had. I hate to say it but she didn't deserve your
loyalty all these months. Now go enjoy the company of your bride and
stop worrying about us. If you ever doubt we are your daughters
again just look at us. We both look like our father and that is
definitely you.”
“Come on Mr. Merryweather, come enjoy Mrs.
Merryweather's company,” Helene said with a smile.
The next morning at a respectable 10:00, Lavinia
Carstairs knocked on the Merryweather front door. She was greeted by
the whole family plus a few she couldn't identify.
Neville invited her into the parlor. “Lavinia, this
is the end of the line for you. I am giving you this envelope with
enough cash for you to find a place to live and keep you going for a
month or two. There will be no more money coming your way from this
household. I think you know your husband couldn't be the father of
my either of my daughters. You attempted to blackmail me and the law
does not look too kindly on that endeavor. We wish you luck in the
future but we will not be a part of your life. I would encourage you
to spend some of that money learning a trade. I think you will find
it is very therapeutic to pay your own way in this world. We bid you
farewell Lavinia.”
Lavinia walked out of the house. What a fool Prudence
was. If she had only worked at her marriage she could have been a
happy woman. She had a wonderful husband and two lovely daughters.
She didn't deserve any of them. What shall I do now? I'm not
getting any younger and I don't have any prospects. Maybe I should
think about getting a job. I know it won't be in this town though.
Lavinia rode the train west. She applied for a job as a sales clerk
in a department store. She was one of the few women hired. She was
so popular with the customers, she was promoted to department head.
The president of the company took notice of this attractive woman.
He was a widower with grown children. Lavinia knew a good thing when
she saw him. It didn't take long before they were married. Instead
of giving up her job with the company, she worked along side her
husband. She had finally found happiness in her life.
Two years later Neville opened his mail. There was a
letter from Lavinia.
Dear Cousin Neville,
I know you told me not to contact you again. I have
debated whether or not to write to you. The truth is, I owe you a
debt of gratitude. You suggested I find a job. Because you promised
you would not support me any longer I did just that. I found a
wonderful man that I am happy to be sharing my life with. Yes, he is
rich and powerful, I guess I couldn't settle for anything less.
However, I am still working and have my very own money to spend. It
is a good feeling. I owe you my new life Neville and I wanted you to
know how grateful I am to you for forcing me to see that I could
become a person I truly like. Just so you don't think I have changed
completely, I will remind you that I am much prettier than Prudence
ever was.
Sincerely, Lavinia
