Excerpt

Chapter Thirteen

The grandfather clock in the first floor den gonged twelve times announcing the end of the old day and the beginning of a new day. The clock had been commissioned by Charles Magnus from Phillipo Paravano, a famous clock maker and wood working maestro originally from Naples, Italy. The mahogany cabinet was twice the normal width of a clock. A gold trimmed American eagle perched atop the seven foot high cabinet. The sinewy talons gripped the top of a globe in a menacing vise The bird glared downward as if condemning everyone under its stare to a harsh and sudden attack and sudden death.

Stephanie felt that the clock and bird symbolized her father’s eternal vigilance and stern hold on the family that death could not force him to relinquish. She’d been waiting for David to come home. Mothers wait to conceive children. Then they wait nine months for the child to arrive. They wait for the child to grow and learn and become self sufficient. Some children, like David, have special needs and never escape a mother’s talons or her love.

For David’s sake, Bess would have to accept living under her gaze and her rule. His destiny was unalterably interlaced within the fabric of life at Magnus Farms. Father willed it to be so and father must be obeyed.

Every fifteen minutes, a gong interrupted the silent ticking of the clock, a steady reminder of recurring, precise punctuality. Her world should run with such regularity and in such order. Senior despised the rhythmic beating of the clock. Arguing with Father one night in the Library after three snifters of brandy he declared, “We live in a chaotic world of incongruity. Permanence is a myth. Order is a mirage and control is an illusion.”

Father simply waved Senior off like a petulant fly saying, “Phooey!”

Stephanie poured a glass of water from the wet bar in the corner. The television set was more of an annoyance than anything else so she shut it off and sat on the bar stool, waiting for David.

Son David appeared from the hallway. He looked like a man in need of a hot bath and a warm bed and a good night’s sleep. “Hello Mother. You needn’t have waited up.”

Stephanie pecked his cheek. “Waiting is part of my job. How are you feeling?”

David gave her a quick hug. “I am well.”

Stephanie held onto him. “And Bess? How is your other woman?”

David kissed her forehead. “I didn’t think you allowed other women into your domain.”

She caressed his face, proud that her son was so tall and so handsome. “Ah, mothers only give sway so the wives can bear the children and extend the family. They are a necessary evil.”

David held her at the waist so she could not break away. “Is that why you married Dad?”

She laced her arm in his. “Of course. He met your grandfather’s standards and I wanted a man who could give me a wonderful son.”

“That sounds like a good business deal,” he said.

She tried to ease away but David held her against him tightly-too close and too tightly. After a moment, David released her and sat on the arm of the leather armchair Larry coveted. “I am not perfect. I have my issues. But Bess loves me as is- just like you!”

Stephanie lit a cigarette though David did not like her smoking.

“How is Bess? Were you two out for a night? You should not be out late every night. You need your rest.”

David folded his arms across his chest, studying her every movement, looking for some clue to her innermost thoughts. “Bess had a bad day. She was at lunch downtown and fainted. Somehow, she ended up at Abington hospital.”

Stephanie stubbed her cigarette into an ashtray. “Is she okay? What happened? She’s not pregnant is she?”

David sneered at her, a look she never expected. “No. You are not a grandmother- to- be. She’s hazy on what happened. Maybe by tomorrow her memory will return.”

“Let’s hope so! I’ll send flowers.”

David rose and paced the room until he stood next to the clock. In the dim light, he looked just like Charles Magnuson’s portrait. “She’d like that. Speaking of memories, a policeman was at the hospital. He knew grandfather. His name was John McKnight. Do you know him?”

Stephanie shook her head slowly. “Can’t say I do. Your grandfather hobnobbed with Judges not policemen.”

“That’s funny. I know another cop who claims the old boy was a bootlegger.”

Stephanie turned scarlet. “Heaven forbid that you should hear such lies! We are an honorable family!”

David spread eagled his arms and turned in a circle. “Just because we live in a castle, does not mean we are royalty. Far less! We may be peasants in pin stripe suits!”

Stephanie laughed. “Funny man!”

David sneered, “I’m never funny when it comes to you!”

The clock gonged the half hour as if in agreement.

David patted the cabinet. “Old faithful! That’s what I always called this relic.”

“Your grandfather loved that clock. It’s an antique, not a relic.”

David checked his Rolex. “It tells damn fine time! You know, grandfather was very protective of you as I am with Bess. If anything should happen to her, I might go off the deep end. I might hurt somebody.”

He stood close to her, his eyes gleaming in the dark room. “I might even kill somebody to protect her.”

With a free hand, Stephanie eased him away. “Yes. I think you just might do that. Madness is the unnatural outcome of natural love.”

Dressed in his robe, Larry emerged and trudged barefoot across the carpet. “What’s going on? I couldn’t sleep.”

David jerked a thumb at Larry. “There’s a peasant in pin stripe pajamas.”

Stephanie wiped a smile from David’s face. “Bad boy!”