Part 5

June 25, 1969

Maddie Wheeler turned the key in the front-door lock of the Manor House and pushed open the tall, heavy front door. She turned to her daughter, who stood behind her. “Come on in, Honey,” she invited, holding the door open.

Honey stepped through the doorway and stopped in her tracks, gasping “Oh, Mother!” as she clasped her hands before her face. “It’s beautiful!”

Maddie smiled, pleased that the home she and Matt had purchased just for their daughter’s benefit met her approval. Light streamed in through the large front windows and the leaded glass sidelights of the front door, bringing out the faint sheen of the wide polished floorboards of a generously sized foyer leading to a sweeping curved stairway.

Honey turned to the right, entering a twenty-foot square parlor. “Mother! I love the colors you chose.” She clapped her hands in delight. Matching sofas in shades of green faced each other in front of a wide fireplace, over which hung a portrait of Maddie painted two years earlier by the famous portraitist James Cantor. The furnishings and accessories picked up the green tones of her evening gown and the honey-brown and golden colors in her hair. Maddie’s baby grand piano, more seating, and flower arrangements in fresh creamy whites and greens came together to complete a luxurious but comfortable room, perfect for entertaining. Two large windows at the front of the room and double French doors on the outer wall admitted generous amounts of natural light.

“I’m so glad you like it, dear,” Maddie replied, placing an arm around her daughter’s shoulder and giving her an affectionate squeeze. “Let’s see the rest.”

Forty-five minutes later, they had gone over the dining room, a large, comfortable room with a television and game tables, Matthew’s private library and study, bedrooms, bathrooms, and an enclosed terrace.

“Where will Miss Trask sleep, Mother?” Honey asked as they strolled through the upstairs bedrooms.

“I’ve planned for her to have the room next to you, dear,” Maddie said. “She has her own sitting room and bathroom, too, so she can have some private time if she wants it.”

“That’s so kind! I know she’ll appreciate it, Mother. And I’m glad, since the bedroom for you and Daddy is so far away from mine.”

Suddenly, Maddie felt guilty. She’d never thought about Honey being anxious about sleeping farther from her parents. When Honey first came home from the school infirmary, Maddie had slept in a cot next to her bed for several weeks after Miss Lefferts left. Honey would have nightmares and Maddie would be right there to comfort her. After a few weeks, the nightmares had stopped, and Maddie had been grateful and happy to move back into her own bedroom with Matthew. The master bedroom in the new house was at the other end of the upstairs hall from Honey’s room, so she was less likely even to hear Honey if she cried out.

“Well, we may be able to install an intercom system as well, darling. I would never want you to feel like you couldn’t reach us.” Maddie hoped that was what Honey wanted to hear.

“If Miss Trask will be there, I think I’ll be fine.” Honey gave her mother a smile that Maddie interpreted as trusting, but that did not comfort her. Honey would be more comfortable if Miss Trask, rather than her parents, was close by? That didn’t feel very motherly to her. Still, she could not change the sleeping arrangements now and if she and Matthew traveled frequently—which they did—it would be much better for Honey to have a trusted adult next door. She decided to accept the idea that Honey might love someone else better than she loved her mother—after all, that had been the case her whole life.

“Well, what did you think, darling?” Maddie asked as they walked back to the house. They finished up the tour by visiting the stable, which was nearly completed.

“Oh, Mother, it’s beautiful! Everything elegant but still comfortable. We didn’t go through the kitchen, though.”

“I’ve seen it, and I consulted a kitchen designer and a professional chef to arrange the layout and choose all of the equipment. But kitchens…” She threw up her hands. “No one will see it except the cook and other staff. Of course, I want it to be a good place for them to work, and enough space for caterers to set up for a party, but otherwise… they say beauty is in the utility of a thing and the kitchen is supposed to be very utilitarian.” She gave a rather embarrassed laugh.

“I wonder if I could learn to cook some time?” Honey said.

“There’s really no need, darling.” Maddie said. “Besides, I think cooks generally don’t like other people coming in and getting into their kitchens.”

To take the focus off of more talk of cooking, she said, “Your father is having air-conditioning installed on the third floor, where there are living quarters for the cook and a couple of maids. We’ll have to wait and see how much staff we actually need. This is a larger place than our apartment, but the number of staff we’ll need to live in may not be many. The staffing agency believes we may be able to hire a few local people on a daily basis.”

“My goodness—look at the time!” Maddie checked her watch. “We need to get going. Your father has a special surprise for you,” she said as she locked the front door behind her. The taxi that had brought them out from the train station was waiting in the circular drive.

Honey clapped her hands and her eyes sparkled. “Are we meeting Daddy before we go home?”

“Yes, darling.” Maddie slipped an arm across her daughter’s shoulders. “It’s not far from here.”

During the taxi ride Honey fidgeted with an impatience that was unusual for her. She twisted and turned to look at the peaceful countryside, green and shaded in the late afternoon. The curving country road was lined with trees and rock fences, very different from the automobile-clogged streets and sidewalks crowded with people hurrying to a destination that characterized the city. Frequently, the stone fences gave way to board fences bordering fields where horses grazed and baby colts frolicked.

“Oh, Mother, look at the sweet baby colts!” Honey exclaimed.

“Yes, there are some nice horse farms and boarding stables around here,” Maddie said. “The countryside is beautiful. Oh, here we are.”

The taxi turned into a gate where a sign stretched overhead across the gateposts. Tomlin’s Paradise Run. Underneath in smaller letters it read Riding Academy and Boarding.

Farther down the drive, Maddie saw her husband standing next to a fenced paddock, with another man who was dressed in riding clothes. A sleek strawberry roan was saddled and bridled inside, and as she watched, Matthew held out a piece of apple to the animal, which delicately took the fruit from his hand.

“Daddy!” Honey called, breaking into a run. The horse lifted its head but didn’t shy away at the sudden noise. Honey noticed the action and slowed her step. She didn’t speak again as she approached the group. Maddie followed at a slightly slower pace after paying the taxi driver.

“This is Jed Tomlin, Honey,” her father said once she was close enough that he didn’t need to raise his voice. “Jed, my daughter Madeleine—but we call her Honey—not only because of her sweet personality but because of her hair. Jed’s been showing me a few horses.” He ruffled Honey’s hair with an affectionate hand.

“How do you like this one for your own mount, sweetheart?” Matthew asked.

“He’s beautiful—or is it a she?” Honey clasped her hands and gazed at the graceful animal, entranced at the idea of having a horse of her own.

“This fellow is a nice, sweet-tempered gelding,” the other man answered. “He’s six years old, used to being ridden daily, and has no bad habits.” He stroked the horse’s velvety nose. “Name’s Strawberry Fields Forever. People ask if he was named for the Beatles’ song, but he was here first.” He chuckled. “Sire was called Field’s Choice, and his dam was Strawberry Shortcake. So, the name came naturally. Here, offer him a snack, little lady.” He fished a carrot from his pocket and handed it to Honey.

She took the carrot and extended her hand to Strawberry, palm up. The horse again took his snack with a delicate smack of his lips. He stood calmly, flicking his tail slightly as he chewed.

“How would you like to try him on a short ride?” Mr. Tomlin asked. “I always like the buyer to get a feel for the horse before we finalize the sale.”

“I’d love to!” Honey’s smile stretched across her face until she remembered she couldn’t ride in her dress and Mary-Janes. “But I don’t have my riding things with me.”

Her mother had been watching in silence, but now she giggled. Honey stared at her in surprise. She knew very well that Madeleine believed every activity had its proper clothing and accessories. “Matthew, you did make that pick-up, didn’t you?” she asked now.

“I stopped at the apartment before I came out here, and Miss Trask packed up your riding things,” her father confessed. He held up a satchel Honey hadn’t noticed before. Not only her jodhpurs, but a riding helmet and boots were inside.

“You can change inside,” Mr. Tomlin offered with a kind smile. “We have plenty of students who do. If you and your mother want to go in by the back porch there, you’ll find a changing room and bathroom just inside to your right.”

“Thank you, Mr. Tomlin.” Maddie took the satchel from her husband and she and Honey started toward the house.

Dressed in her riding togs, boots and helmet, Honey hurried back to the paddock ahead of her mother. Mr. Tomlin took her inside and held Strawberry’s lead while she stepped onto the mounting block on his near side. Remembering her father’s instructions, she automatically checked the girth and buckles of his tack, and judged whether the stirrups were properly adjusted. Finding everything in order, she mounted and took a light grip on the reins. Careful to stay back from Strawberry’s head, she patted his neck and spoke softly to the horse before cuing him to start off by pressing her lower legs into his sides.

Honey felt the happy, flying feeling she always had when riding as Strawberry started to walk from the paddock into the adjoining arena. As she felt herself adjusting to his movement, she encouraged him to trot and then canter, circling the arena before heading back into the paddock where Mr. Tomlin waited for her.

Once back to her starting point, she dismounted while Mr. Tomlin held Strawberry. Her parents stood behind the fence, both of them with proud smiles on their faces.

“He’s a sweetheart!” she exclaimed. “Such a smooth gait, and he obeyed my cues perfectly.” Mr. Tomlin slapped the horse’s haunch once she was back onto the block, letting him walk around as he pleased. Strawberry ambled over to a water trough and slurped noisily, swishing his tail.

“So, you think Strawberry will work out as your new horse?” her father asked with a smile.

“Oh, yes!” She clapped her hands in excitement. “When will we be able to take him?”

“Everything should be ready at the Manor House stable in about two more weeks,” Matthew Wheeler replied. “Once Regan has moved into the garage apartment, we’ll have all three horses trailered to the stables.”

“Oh, Daddy! You’re the best!” Impulsively she threw her arms around her father’s neck and hugged him. Releasing him, she saw that her mother stood a couple of feet away. Madeleine Wheeler had an odd, longing expression on her face, but she didn’t step forward to embrace Honey. It was as if she was waiting for Honey to make the first move. I never thought Mother wanted to be so close. Maybe I was wrong, she thought.

Madeleine’s face was quickly reverting to what Honey thought of as her “social” expression of friendly but impersonal interest. Deciding that immediate action was needed, she stepped forward and extended her arms to her mother. “You too, Mother! I’m so lucky to have such wonderful parents.” She hugged her mother with a bit more enthusiasm than she really felt, and after just a breath of hesitation—or maybe surprise—Madeleine returned the hug with equal pressure.

“Darling, we are the lucky ones!” Madeleine’s voice seemed to catch a little. “You’re such a precious gift to us, and we want you to be happy and healthy. I hope moving out here to the country, where you can have plenty of outdoor fun, will be just what you need.”

“Maddie, Honey, I’m going inside with Jed to take care of the paperwork,” Matthew told them. “He says you two can come in for a cold drink, sit on the porch, or whatever you want to do. We won’t be long, and I’ll call a cab from Jed’s office to take us to the train station.”

Honey’s sleep that night was filled with pleasant dreams of riding Strawberry through green meadows and wide, tree-shaded paths through a park-like setting filled with birdsong and dappled sunlight. In her dreams, she and her mount sailed smoothly over a creek that babbled across the path, while her father watched with an approving smile on his face.

Miss Trask didn’t need to come to her and soothe her out of a nightmare all night.