Author: Charles Wells
Category: Nonfiction
Go to read content：https://onlinereadfreenovel.com/charles-wells/page,20,11504-the-beginning-(whispering-pines-book-1).html
Chapter 11
“Aunt Abatha?” Edie Pary asked while passing a freshly poured glass of iced tea across the patio table. “What did Deputy Jacobs want to see you about? Didn’t I hear the name Veal mentioned?”
Abatha Pary glared at her niece and snapped, “Isn’t it rude to eavesdrop on conversations, young lady? Besides, that’s of no concern to you.”
Edie lowered her soft blue eyes downward and fidgeted with her own tea glass. Her Aunt’s adverse reaction didn’t surprise her and it wasn’t the first time. Any mention of the Veal name at Whispering Pines would draw hostility from her Aunt...or her brother, Max.
“I wasn’t eavesdropping, Aunt Abatha. I was in the garden and overheard some of (most of) the conversation you had with Mr. Jacobs. It was an accident.”
It wasn’t a total lie. She had been working in the flower garden like she said and only bits and pieces of the discussion had drifted across the yard to her ears. It was the mention of Matt Veal that caused her to move closer to the porch, using the nearby shrubbery for stealth. It wasn’t the first time she had risked listening in on conversations that included the Veal name.
Abatha, aware of the defensive position Edie was taking, sighed deeply and let her deep blue eyes sweep over the distant fields behind the mansion. When she spoke, she did so hesitantly, almost apologetically.
“One of the farm hands told me that while on their way to work this morning they had seen a strange car parked near the south field road. They saw a man plundering around the woods on the south pasture and you well know I don’t allow that with anyone. I called Sheriff Brooks and he sent Mr. Jacobs to investigate. The Deputy stopped by here to tell me that he had caught the man but let him go. I was angry because he didn’t press charges.”
Edie raised an eyebrow, searching for words lost in her suddenly dry throat. Miss Pary added, “No, the person who was trespassing wasn’t Matt Veal. It was his brother, Buck or Chuck...something like that.”
“His name is Chuck, Aunt Abatha.”
“I don’t care if his name is Billy Graham. Neither he nor anyone else is allowed on that property without permission.”
Edie tensed, growing more wary of her Aunt’s disagreeable temperament. Still, like a fool, she had to say something. “Aunt Abatha? All Matt wants to do is restore the cemetery and he doesn’t want to see it destroyed, as you were about to do. His grandfather is buried there.”
Edie could feel the air thicken with rising tension. In a futile attempt to back step, the next string of words fired off quickly. “That’s Matt’s Grandfather and the condition of the cemetery is a disgrace. Let’s not forget, either, that Tom Veal is not only their grandfather, he was your husband, too.”
With a fury in her eyes that Edie had never seen, Abatha snarled angrily, “I married Tom Veal because I was young and foolish... and your mother, MY SISTER, was so jealous of us that she killed Tom and tried to kill me as well. It was a miracle she picked up the wrong cup and drank her own poison by mistake. I’ve told you before I don’t like discussing this and besides, you should know the story well enough, Edie.”
Edie nodded and backed away, apologetic. “I know, but I’ve never heard you talk of anything but the bitterness. What about the happiness, were you so in love with Tom Veal that you never married again? You were young and beautiful. There had to be other men later in life.”
The mood shift in Abatha’s expression amazed and shocked Edie. She could see her Aunt’s mind drift back into the past and her voice lowered to a soft, almost inaudible, whisper. “I was seventeen years old and I was in love. Tom and I eloped and married in Charleston. When we returned home a week later, it was late at night and Claudia was there. She wanted to talk...and made fresh coffee for us. We sat in the study and talked...and then Tom took a large sip of his coffee. We didn’t know she had put poison in the two cups intended for us. Apparently, I picked up the wrong cup by mistake and Claudia drank her own poison. She died almost immediately...Tom died in my arms a moment later.”
“I’m sorry,” Edie whispered softly.
Abatha snapped back and the fury returned to her face. “No. I think it’s time you know how I feel about what happened back then. I realize that Claudia was your mother but that doesn’t change the bitterness I feel toward her.”
“Bitterness is understandable I would imagine, Aunt Abatha.”
“Yes, bitterness but it’s not like you suspect. Claudia was so jealous...so infatuated with Tom. She must have decided if she couldn’t have him then no one could have him. I was the one supposed to die that night, Edie...not your mother.”
Edie reached across the table and held the now trembling arms of her Aunt. “Don’t say that, Aunt Abatha. I’m sorry I brought this up again and thank you for being so honest with me about it.”
The trembling lips whispered, “Honest? Am I being honest, Edie? My own sister poisoned my husband and then tried to kill me as well. She was so jealous, yet, yet…” The words trailed off into a mumble.
Edie simply couldn’t find the right words and sat staring at her Aunt’s teary eyes.
Abatha finally spoke again. “Don’t think I was naive or blind either about that. Claudia had tried to start a serious relationship with Tom several times. Do you understand? Tom Veal liked the attention. He was so devious he let her believe and get her hopes up. He toyed with her heart and feelings. I’ve often wondered if he ever told her he would break off his relationship with me.”
Edie shook her head. “I’m sorry. I never realized...”
Abatha cut her off. “When Tom married me, it must have broken my poor sister’s heart. It was more than she could handle and she snapped mentally. That’s why she did what she did. Tom just as good as killed her, I swear...I swear, Edie, I will drive the tractor that pushes his grave away and then build a pig sty built over the spot.”
Edie, feeling the real power of her Aunt’s fury for the first time in her life, was stunned at the hatred pouring from the woman’s heart. This was it. This was why her Aunt had never remarried. It was the darkness inside. It created a brick wall no man afterward could penetrate. The love for her sister had been great and now, Edie was witness to the fury and rage locked in the woman. She felt pity at the agony Abatha had carried around for so long.
Abatha stopped talking, stopped crying, and even stopped thinking it seemed. Then, as though a switch flipped, Edie watched her Aunt’s eyes clear and return to normal. The sudden transformation was astonishing and frightening.
Diverting her eyes, Edie watched two field doves racing along the edge of a nearby pasture. She wanted to ask one last question but knew the moment was gone forever. The rear door opened and her brother, Max, stepped out on the patio.
“Aunt Abatha and Edie” He said with a slight bow toward his Aunt and a barely perceptible nod to his sister. “I’ve got to leave for work. They need me at the construction site and I’ll probably be late getting back this evening.”
Miss Pary nodded. “How much longer before the project will be finished?”
He smiled, kissed his aunt on the forehead, and said, “Soon, Auntie. Just a few more weeks and we’ll be ready to close the gates on the dam.”
Edie looked at her brother and asked, “Didn’t the Judge issue a holding order? What happened to that?”
Max’s face darkened, “It’s been dropped. I have received a copy of the release letter from the Veal Timber Mill. We can go ahead and close the gates on schedule.”
Edie raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why is it so important to finish this project on time? It’s been over three years since you started it...what difference will a few months mean?”
Max fought to control some hidden anger, “A few months can make a huge difference, my dear sister. I have to have the gates closed before the fall rains. If I miss that, it could take well into next year before there is enough water to support a fast fill. We can’t wait or I’ll lose money.”
As he talked, the calmness returned to hi
s voice although the explanation was nothing more than an attempt to hide, from their Aunt, the seriousness of the rift between them. There were few warm feelings shared between brother and sister, especially since she had begun seeing Matt Veal.
Edie looked warily at her older brother and said, “I just don’t understand the big rush. Your people are working around the clock. Is it the money you’ve invested that’s driving you or is it a test of strengths between you and Matt Veal?”
Max snapped, “I’ve invested the money well, Edie. It will earn a fine return on the lake front property investments from the sales.”
Saying no more, Max arrogantly bowed and walked away. Edie and Abatha watched quietly as he left.
“Edie, your relationship with your brother is not doing well. What is the real problem between the two of you? Is it Matt Veal?”
“My relationship with Matt is none of his business.” She restrained from adding “Or yours either.
“I’m sorry if we don’t get along that well, Aunt Abatha.”
The elderly but elegant woman stood, placed her glass on the table and said, “He’s your brother, Edie. You should love him like no other human being alive and I know that deep down inside, you do love him like that...and more.”
Edie stared. “Do I love Max? Yes.”
“Now,” Abatha said with finality. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a painting to finish this afternoon.”
Edie nodded. She wasn’t surprised that her Aunt knew the true situation between her and Max. She watched the elderly woman walk to the far corner of the porch where an easel and canvas awaited.
For a long moment afterward, Edie sat and watched the doves darting in and out of the sun-scorched fields. It was their morning feed time and they were such plain brown, yet beautiful birds, wild pigeons.
Slowly, she rose from the chair and paused. It was then and there she decided what would have to be done and quickly. The best place to start, she realized with a cramp of anxious fear, was to make a phone call to a number that she already knew by heart.