So Good to
be Home
The townspeople were out in full force welcoming Oscar
home. Everyone knew Oscar was an innocent man. Faith squealed with
delight when she saw Polly. Randy held his wife close. He was sorry
he couldn't shield her from all the pain of the last few days but
looking into her eyes he knew she would be fine.
Jack Mackenzie was pacing on the platform of the train
depot. He didn't notice the cold north wind blowing the snow against
the train tracks as he waited for Audrey Lynch to arrive from
Buffalo. He met Audrey just before Christmas but he felt as though
they had known each other all their lives. He knew she had followed
another man to Camden Corners but Jack knew her crush on Doctor Grady
Murphy was in the past.
Jack's mother, Fiona had invited Audrey and her friend,
Elizabeth Lawrence to share a room in the Mackenzie house when there
was a sudden storm and the train would be delayed in its return to
Buffalo. It was love at first sight for Jack. His heart had been
broken when a romance in New York City had ended and Jack never
intended to be that vulnerable again. Then he met Audrey and
everything changed. Jack had been a fun loving young man until the
ill fated affair that left him soured on love and shattered his trust
in the opposite sex. It was a time of his life he was trying to
forget and with Audrey's help he was winning that battle.
Audrey and Jack had been separated more than they had
been together but that was about to change within the next few
minutes. Nurse Audrey and her friend Elizabeth were moving to Camden
Corners to work in the McMillan medical offices and eventually in the
Camden Corners Hospital.
The hospital would be up and running in just a few short
months. Grady Murphy who had just completed his residency at Buffalo
General was joining the medical practice and would be the first new
physician to be affiliated with the hospital when it opened its
doors.
Audrey's crush on the young doctor was what encouraged
her to follow him to Camden Corners last December. She mislead her
good friend Elizabeth into thinking nursing positions were available
immediately in the hospital. Audrey was certain Dr. Murphy was
playing hard to get with her but in truth he only had eyes for
Elizabeth. When Audrey stopped looking in Dr. Murphy's direction,
she noticed the handsome face of Jack Mackenzie.
Jack and Audrey became an item. Jack's family and
friends could see a difference in him the moment the lively Audrey
came into his life. Jack was an artist and had opened a gallery in
town. As well as his own work, he encouraged artists from
surrounding towns to display their works in the showroom. He had
developed quite a positive reputation in the art community. He was
often questioned by outsiders why he didn't relocate to New York City
where his work would be in demand. Jack only told them his life was
in Camden Corners and that is where he belonged.
The train arrived right on time and Audrey flew into
Jack's arms. He shook hands with Grady and gave Elizabeth a hug.
Grady was staying at the Wharton House while Audrey and Elizabeth
would be returning to the Mackenzie's and Jack's sister Amanda's old
room. Fiona and Gordon greeted the girls at the door. They were
delighted their son had found someone who could bring the sparkle
back into his eyes.
Everyone settled into their new lives. Grady fit in
nicely in the McMillan medical offices. Doc Julie was beginning to
experience the early stages of pregnancy and was happy to slow down
her pace as Grady pitched in. Audrey and Elizabeth were an added
relief especially with the seasonal ailments of the good folks of
Camden Corners.
Audrey had gotten in the habit of visiting Jack at the
gallery during her lunch break. They would share a sandwich from
O'Sullivan's and just enjoy being together for an hour during the
day. Jack hadn't officially proposed, he was waiting for Valentine's
Day for that but in their hearts they knew they had found their
future in each other. Audrey walked into the studio. Carrie,
another Mackenzie sister was just finishing framing Jack's latest
work. Audrey loved this painting. It was bright and cheerful. So
different from his previous works.
“Audrey, because of you my brother has become a
different man. You can see it in his work.” Carrie set the
painting on an easel and turned it so it had just the right lighting.
“Jack is at the Pub. Mack needed some help moving a new freezer
into place but he should be back in just a few minutes. He told me
not to let you leave. I'd say the boy's in love”
“I am too, Carrie. Jack is the best thing that has
ever happened to me. I know I'm still a scatterbrain in many ways
but Elizabeth says I've calmed down some. Jack has grounded me
somehow if that makes sense.”
“Don't change too much Audrey, we love scatterbrains
in the Mackenzie house. Speaking of which, I promised Mama I'd be at
the Pub to help her with the chicken pot pies. They are on the menu
this evening which means we will be having a big crowd for the dinner
rush. You and Jack should stop by later.”
The two friends hugged and said good bye just before a
very sophisticated woman entered the shop. Audrey felt like an old
frump in her nurses uniform and clunky white shoes.
She walked toward the woman to tell her the owner would
be returning shortly when the customer said “I'm looking for Jack
Mackenzie.”
“He should be returning soon. You may look around
while you're waiting.”
“Oh I know his work very well” she said dripping
with sarcasm.
Audrey felt very uncomfortable and frumpier every
minute. She realized she should probably keep quiet at that point
but she couldn't help herself. “How do you know Jack?”
“We go way back, dear. I can see you have never been
out of this provincial little town. My name is Daphne Saint Marie.
I set Jack up in a studio in New York City a couple of years ago. He
was my protege until a silly misunderstanding drove him back to this
place.” The look on her face suggested she didn't see anything
redeeming about Camden Corners.
Audrey didn't like Daphne Saint whatever, but she might
be a paying customer and Audrey didn't want to say something that
might ruin a sale.
“I'm sure Jack will be back momentarily. Please make
yourself comfortable Miss Saint Peter.”
“It's Saint Marie young lady but before long it will
be Mackenzie. Will that be easy enough for you to remember?”
Audrey was sure her heart had fallen to her feet. Could
this possibly be the woman who broke Jack's heart in New York? Does
he still love her and why did he ever love her in the first place?
She could barely speak as she walked into the back room and out the
back door. At that point the tears started to flow. She made it
back to the office and dissolved into Mary McMillan's arms. Mary had
two daughters and knew what a broken heart looked like. She just let
Audrey cry it out while she held her tightly.
Jack opened the door of the gallery anxious to see
Audrey and spotted Daphne immediately. “What are you doing here
Daphne? Slumming today?”
“Darling Jack, you silly boy, I'm here to whisk you
off to New York and away from this horrible little town.”
“This horrible little town is my home and I have no
intention of going anywhere with you. I can't see that we have
anything else to discuss so feel free to leave the same way you came
in.”
“Darling, I know you are a tiny bit miffed at me but
the good news is that my husband is dead. We can finally be together
my love.”
“Golly Daphne congratulations on your dead husband.
Now go find yourself another naïve jerk. I don't want you anymore.”
“But darling, you need me. What do you have in this
place, people like that plain little nurse that was in here a short
while ago? I know you better than that. Only I can make you happy
darling.”
“Was Audrey here? Where is she? What did you say to
her Daphne? It's time for you to leave.”
Jack escorted her to the door and gave her a little
shove locking the door behind her. He turned the open sign to closed
and slipped out the back door forgetting to lock it. He went
directly to McMillans and found her there. Her eyes were red rimmed
and he knew she had been crying.
“I'm not sure we have anything to say to each other
Jack. I met your intended today. I can't begin to compete with
someone with her sophistication.”
Jack put his fingers to her lips. “In the first
place, you are my intended. At least I hope you are. I was waiting
for Valentine's Day to ask you to be my wife but today will do too.
I did have a crush on Daphne but that was a long time ago. I was
young and foolish and I thought I wanted to live a life that wasn't
me. Daphne took me under her wing. I thought I was in love and I
thought she was in love with me. I was so trusting I didn't realize
she was using me as her latest diversion. She was married to a much
older man who was also a very rich man.
“But she broke your heart. There must be some
feelings left for her.”
“Yes, she broke my heart two years ago. I realized
she wasn't for me very quickly. It wasn't a broken heart that upset
me it was the way I was duped. I swore back then that I would never
let any woman do that to me again. She made a complete and total
fool of me. I was use to strong women, I've been around them all my
life, but never any that were dishonest. I learned Daphne was
married when her husband strolled into the gallery. He was looking
for her latest play thing. I packed my few things, put my paintings
under my arm and was on the next train back to Camden Corners.
“The day I first saw you I fell in love. I realized I
had been wallowing in self pity. Not because of Daphne but because
my pride was hurt. When you opened your heart to me I knew you would
never hurt me as I hurt you by not telling you about Daphne. If I
had spoken up earlier, you wouldn't have been upset today.”
Mary McMillan stepped into the room. “Hello Jack.
Audrey has worked hard enough today and we aren't that busy this
afternoon. Why don't you two enjoy the afternoon together.”
The young couple walked hand in hand to the gallery.
When they approached the front door it was standing wide open. Jack
remembered locking it behind Daphne. They entered the shop and
discovered the walls were bare, the easels were empty. Not one
painting, sketch or photograph was left in the entire shop.
“Daphne!” Jack uttered under his breath. “Audrey,
I am going to New York City. I can't imagine why she took all of the
artwork but I won't let her get away with it. Not so much for me but
Tony Marino's photographs were here as well as other artists works.”
“I'm going with you. You don't think I'm going to let
that witch get her clutches into you again do you?”
After a quick stop in the Pub and a visit to Doc
McMillan, Jack and Audrey were on the 4:45 to New York City.
Daphne had just arrived in New York City. She was
waiting for a carriage to take her and her newly acquired artwork to
the studio she'd set up for Jack. She expected he would be following
her on the next train. What she didn't expect was that he wouldn't
be alone.
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