#4 (Sheila makes a desperate plea…)

Sheila Davenport wasn’t in the business of inserting herself into the affairs of others. Although she shared Dr. Connor Windsor’s worry about India Montgomery, the last thing she wanted to do was offend India and, by extension, her best friend, Alison Montgomery, and their shared granddaughter, Faren. Sheila knew all too well that when it came to the Montgomerys, it was better for them to sort out their assorted issues rather than get involved.

In that moment, Sheila looked around the well-appointed library at her home, the Davenport Mansion. It sat on ten acres of exquisite grounds on the same road as the Windsor Mansion and the other great, old families of Kingsport. The mansion which had eight-bedrooms, ten-bathrooms, six formal rooms, a swimming pool, and guest cottage had been in the Davenport family for nearly a century. They were one of the wealthiest black families in America who preferred living under the radar. The Davenports had a lineage which went back centuries and their wealth, though it was much newer than the Montgomerys, now earned interest on interest and kept the family in comfort and understated grace. Sheila glanced around at the assorted family photos carefully placed around the library of herself, her late husband, Larry, and their children, Dylan, Elijah, Lisa, and Nicholas. Her eye then fell on a picture of India with Faren and Elijah on the occasion of Faren’s second birthday. It seemed like a lifetime ago. They were, indeed, quite happier times…before everything became so complex where it concerned India.

With Connor’s plea ringing in her ears and wanting to ultimately protect her granddaughter, Sheila took a deep breath, picked up the phone, and dialed a familiar phone number. As the phone rang, Sheila wondered if she was doing the right thing because, once she made this call, nothing would be the same again.

Barbara Wilkes glanced at the clock in the huge chef’s kitchen on the Montgomery Estate. She was only two hours into her shift, but she felt like she’d been there for years. When the agency and Dane told her that this would be a tough job, Barbara should have believed them. She’d already carried several heavy breakfast trays to the Morning Room before being told to vanish before the family entered. On top of that, she’d already cleaned six bathrooms and brought bags full of dirty laundry to the onsite laundress. In that moment, Barbara knew that any family that employed its own laundry person was a family she wanted to know more about.

“Day dreaming again?”

Barbara snapped back to reality as Ada Burke, one the of senior housekeepers, walked over to her with a cup of tea. “No… Just thinking.”

Ada sipped her piping hot tea. “The family is out right now, so it should be quiet for a while. Nothing worse than when they’re all here ordering this, wanting that, pressing buttons like we ain’t got nothing better to do.”

Barbara smiled tightly. She wanted to be friendly with her coworkers, but being friends with them wasn’t in her plans. However, she knew that sometimes plans change in such a way which can work to your benefit later on. “What’re the family like?” asked Barbara.

“Just people who haven’t worked since the Revolutionary War,” cracked Ada. “The nicest one is Will. They call him ‘Billy’. He’s high strung and in love with love, but he’s nice. I’d say the worst is Alison, the Lady of the House.”

“I’ve seen pictures of her in magazines. She seems so elegant.”

“Elegant and high minded about everything. She doesn’t even live here full time; Paris is her home.”

“Paris…” Barbara uttered with a lilt to her voice. That seemed to be the most exciting, glamourous place in the world.

“She’s lived there for twenty years or so. From what I’ve been told, she never really liked it in Kingsport. Anyway, she’s old money. Older than the Montgomery family. Royalty on both sides of her family, related to dukes and whatnot. She’s what they call a six-times heiress. Inherited money from both parents and four grandparents. More money than god, that one. I read she gets a billion dollars in dividends. Imagine! She’d be tolerable if she didn’t lord her money and breeding over everyone,” scoffed Ada. “Anyway, you liking it here?”

Barbara nodded. “It kinda feels like a fantasy. Say, Ada, is it possible to move up at this house?”

“You mean has a maid ever become a secretary or something? Girl, don’t get your hopes up. Everyone has dreams when they come in here…and they die here. That’s why so many people leave.” The cell phone clipped to Ada’s waist chirped. She glanced at it with a groan. “Gotta get lunch ready for Will in the library. Thought it would be an easy day.”

“I can do it for you,” offered Barbara.

Ada gave her a curious look. “I can manage…”

“I don’t mind. Honestly.”

“Fine. Come with me. I’ll show you what needs to be done.”

“I’m sorry I missed your call.”

“This isn’t a social call,” said Sheila, briskly. “I need to talk to you.” Sheila fiddled with the sapphire ring on her right hand. “It’s about India…”

“I’m going to stop you right there. I don’t want to discuss her with you or anyone else.”

“I know,” snapped Sheila. “It’s just… I’ve heard that India is planning a return to Kingsport. She’ll be back this week.”

The line went silent.

“I said…”

“I heard you. She hasn’t told me anything. I spoke to her two days ago and she never mentioned it.”

Sheila took a deep breath. “Has she been well…?”

“I’m not discussing that with you!”

“I’m only concerned because Connor Windsor met with me… He wants someone to talk to India…make her see that she should stay in Paris.”

“I don’t give two craps about Connor Windsor. He’s done more harm to India than any of us realize. If she thinks she can handle coming back to Kingsport after all of these years, then it’s not for us to stand in her way. Connor will have to get over himself.”

Sheila nodded in quiet agreement. “I suppose he will have to deal with whatever happens next on his own… I’ll let you go now.”

“Mom, I…”

“I have to prepare for a meeting,” lied Sheila.

The line went dead as Elijah Davenport stared at his cell phone, more heartbroken than furious. He hadn’t spoken to his mother in two years and now, in what he thought was an extension of an olive branch, was nothing more than his mother trying to get him to warn India to stay away of Kingsport. Eli sank into the leather chair behind his glass desk with the cityscape of San Francisco glittering behind him. It wasn’t easy for him to feel like an utter fool, but in this moment, Eli felt rejected and dejected by his mother. Had it not been for the fact that he and India had a daughter together, he knew his mother would never have called him. She didn’t love him. She never did. She blamed him for something so horrific, but if she knew the truth it would tear their family apart. That’s why he moved his life, his daughter, Faren, and his company, Davenport Investments to San Francisco. It’s why he never went home. In a way, he and India were two outsiders who found each other and thought they were happy until they realized they couldn’t find lasting happiness together. Eli closed his eyes, counted backwards from one hundred, and did everything he could to stop the onslaught of tears.

In our next installment, Barbara is put in her place…

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