Modern Fairy Tales, Part 7
By Kris
"So Jim, you're leaving for college next week?" Regan grinned as the equally tall, equally broad-shouldered, equally red-haired young man entered the stable. "Seems we just get used to having you around and you take off again."
Jim winced. He knew what Regan meant, but that comment came too close to something Jim had been wrestling with for months.
"Yeah, it feels like that to me, too. And Dan's leaving on Friday, right?"
Regan nodded and turned to pat Jupiter. "I can hardly believe it. I know it's a great opportunity, I just wish it wasn't so far away."
"Far away? Regan, it's an easy train ride to Connecticut. He can come home every weekend, if he wants to."
Regan shook his head. "I know, but he won't. And I don't blame him. You've got to let go some when you leave home. It's part of growing up, but I'll really miss having him around."
Jim nodded and started to saddle Jupiter. He hadn't considered how Regan must feel about watching his nephew, a boy he'd known for only three years, grow up and move on. Last November, Dan had turned 18 and was released from probation, freeing him to move to another state. He was no longer tied down to Sleepyside or his young uncle's guardianship.
Jim and Dan hadn't been particularly close until this past year. They had responded to losing their parents in very different ways, and it had been difficult for them to find common ground on a lot of things.
But last November, Jim had a falling out with his best friend, Brian. Around the same time, Dan approached Jim for help with his college application essay. Dating Shelby, who also had been orphaned in her early teens, had brought Jim's grief over his parents' deaths back to the surface. These events motivated Jim and Dan to deal with their differences and acknowledge what they had in common.
Jim shook his head slightly to clear his thoughts, waved to Regan, and headed off to meet Dan at Mr. Maypenny's. Dan planned to move out of the cabin in the woods when he left for college. On weekends and term breaks, he'd stay with his uncle now. It was a positive move, but it was difficult. This entire week was going to be difficult. Little did they know just how difficult.
Good thing this is Jupiter's second ride of the day. He'd refuse to slow down for old Spartan otherwise, Jim thought as he called out a greeting to his friend. Dan hollered something Jim couldn't hear, and joined him on the trail.
"What'd you say?"
"Mart called. Diana's totally freaking out! He says it's like she's having a nervous breakdown. He wants us to go down to the farm," Dan repeated.
"What's going on?" Jim wondered.
Dan shrugged. "Let's get a move on."
When the guys arrived at Crabapple Farm, they found Mart, Honey and Brian nervously huddled around Diana on the front porch. Diana was sobbing uncontrollably, and Honey was patting her back, making soothing sounds.
"Do you really think we should be here?" Jim muttered to Dan.
"Let's just see what's happened. If we can't help, we'll scram," Dan suggested.
Just as they finished tying up the horses, Peter Belden's car turned into the driveway. Helen sprang from the car and practically scooped Diana into her arms. "Oh, you poor darling. We're back. Your mother is taking care of things. I know you're upset, but everything is going to be just fine," Helen crooned.
"Moms, maybe we should all leave you and Di alone for a while?" Brian asked hesitantly.
"No, no, I need to talk to all of you. I just can't seem to get a grip!" Diana choked out.
Peter went into the kitchen and returned with a six-pack of root beer and the cookie jar. The guys dived for the food, glad to have something to do. Then Helen left to get Diana a big box of tissues. When everyone was settled, Diana wiped her eyes and began.
"This is so sudden. I don't really understand what's going on, but... Daddy came home from the City earlier than usual yesterday. He fired our staff and stuck a "For Sale" sign in our lawn, and then drove off in the limousine. I mean, he actually DROVE the limousine."
These pronouncements were meet with a shocked silence. Helen urged her to continue, and Honey reached for her hand.
"Mum started shrieking that we've lost all our money and that we were going to lose everything--our house, Rosewood Hall, Sunny--everything. The twins were so scared and I didn't know what to do. I called Mrs. Belden, and she and Trixie stayed with us last night. Trixie is still there with the twins, and Bobby too. Mr. and Mrs. Belden left me here this morning so I could... just... get away from it all. Then they took Mum into town."
Diana paused. "Thank you. I don't know what I would have done without you." She buried her face in Helen's shoulder. "I don't even know where Daddy is," she whispered.
Peter cleared his throat. "Diana, if it's okay with you, I'll explain what I know."
Seeing Diana's nod, he continued, glancing from one captivated listener to the next. "Now all of you remember, this is very private. Ed is heavily invested in Internet and technology stocks. He made some extraordinarily fortunate purchases four years ago. For a while, many of his shares were trading for more than 100 times his purchase price."
Peter sighed heavily. "Too often, what goes up must come down. Much of Ed's stock survived the first major market correction, but now... most of his gain has been reversed. But Diana, you need to understand that your dad was just shocked and upset. He's mostly mad at himself for not being better diversified. He may be down, but he's not out. He's a smart man, and he does have some other assets besides stock. When he's had time to think this through, he'll retrench. I really believe everything will work out."
Hearing this optimistic assessment from the conservative banker, Diana looked up hopefully. "Do you think we might not lose everything?"
Peter hesitated. "Your dad will have to tell you how he decides to deal with this. I can tell you that his property isn't heavily leveraged. For example, he and your mother, not a mortgage company, own your house. But he may decide that he needs to sell off some property to meet immediate business cash flow needs. He'll probably want to reduce personal expenses, too."
Diana slumped back in her seat. "Mum was wailing that we're going to wind up back in that tiny apartment and that we'll be shunned by society."
Her friends finally found their voices. Over their protests, Dan stated firmly, "Di, it doesn't matter where you live or what you own. The Bob-Whites are all for one and one for all, remember?"
"That goes for the Bob-Whites' parents, too," Helen confirmed. "Dear, your dad isn't the first to suffer a financial setback, and he won't be the last. Just remember that our families have been friends since before you were born. Nothing will change that."
Diana smiled gratefully and looked around at her friends. Her shock and confusion mingled with guilt. Even before my dad made his fortune, I had more security than Jim and Dan had after they lost their mothers. The Beldens welcomed us just as warmly before we became rich as after. And Honey... yes, Honey will always accept us, but will the Wheelers? Do they think we're just nouveaux riches who got what we had coming to us?
As if sensing her thoughts, Honey said quietly, "You probably didn't know that one of my great-grandfathers lost everything during the Depression, and that Ben's dad was wiped out in the 1980s. Bad things can happen even if your family is listed in the Social Register. But Di, money doesn't equal happiness--sometimes it even means the opposite! No matter what happened yesterday or what happens tomorrow, we'll always love you."
Diana shared tearful hugs with her friends, then gasped when she saw a limousine pull into the driveway. Her father waved jauntily from the driver's seat, and laughed heartily when Trixie, Bobby, Larry, Terry, Marissa and Alyssa poured out of the back doors.
"This land yacht is a nightmare to drive! I don't know how chauffeurs do it!" Edward Lynch called out.
He met his oldest daughter in the driveway and enveloped her in a bear hug. "I'm sorry I blew up yesterday, sweetheart. Not the best way to share bad news, I'm afraid."
Ed took a deep breath. "Your mother is in town with a real estate broker. We've been tremendously lucky to find a buyer for the estate--I think you know her daughter, Sangita? Sounds like she's been waiting for months for the right property to come on the market. She's also willing to purchase the major furniture, hire most of our household staff and take on Sunny, too. In a few days we'll move some of our things into one of the duplexes I bought as an investment last year. Remember? In town by the elementary school? Don't worry, darling, we can make a fourth bedroom in the basement, and maybe you and you mother could share your new car..."
Diana stopped her father's speech with a big kiss on his cheek. "It's okay, Daddy. As long as we're all together, I know everything will be fine."
Ed looked up sheepishly at his neighbors on the porch. "Looks like we're living a rags to riches to rags story before your very eyes," he joked ruefully.
"I don't know about that, sir. All I can see is riches," Jim spoke up.
"You're right, my boy. Well said."
Ed kissed Diana on the top of her head, then climbed the steps to speak with Peter and Helen. "Matt and Madeleine have been kind enough to take Rosewood Hall off our hands. Tom's coming down from Manor House to drive this monstrosity into the City for me. I'll swap it for a van with a reasonable turning radius and drive him back home! You don't mind if my brood spends the day here while the movers start packing, do you?"
"Of course not, Ed, they're all welcome. You didn't forget about Crabapple Farm's stretchy walls, did you?" Helen smiled.
"Do you want to go home for a bit, Di?" Trixie asked. "I took care of Sunny this morning, but maybe you'd like to take her for a ride?"
"I know! You can bring Sunny up to Manor House. She can stay with us until Sangita's family is settled in," Honey suggested.
"That would be perfect, Honey. Thanks!" Diana exclaimed.
"I'll give you a ride, Di," Jim offered. "No need to strain old Spartan any more than necessary!"
Dan snorted, but bit back a cheerful retort when Diana approached Jupiter with trepidation written all over her face. As they trotted off, Diana haltingly confessed her fears of poverty, and Jim and Dan shared how living from hand to mouth for a time had affected their outlooks on life.
When they got to the Lynch estate, Dan saddled and exercised Sunny, giving Diana a chance to wander through the huge house.
Her brothers and sisters couldn't really remember any other home, but Diana would never forget the day her family moved into the first house they'd ever owned, complete with separate bedrooms for all five children, servants' quarters, a stable, and other previously unimaginable luxuries. She thought about the narrow three-story duplex that would be her new home. It wasn't "old and charming," it was just old. Still, it would be far better than that horribly cramped, shabby apartment.
As she closed the massive front door of the imposing mansion, reality struck her, and things didn't look so bad, after all. Sure we won't be rich anymore, but it doesn't sound like we'll be poor, either. Welcome to the middle class, Diana Lynch! She felt much happier when she rejoined her friends and took Sunny back from Dan.
As they turned toward Manor House, Diana said saucily, "So, I don't get it. You guys are just as macho as the Belden boys, maybe more so. Where does all this sensitivity and willingness to talk about your feelings come from?"
Dan and Jim shared another look, then answered together, "Years of therapy!"
At Di's startled expression, Dan continued, "Seriously. We both saw psychologists for a couple years when we first moved here, although I didn't do it voluntarily! We've had a lot of practice baring our souls, believe me."
"I'm sorry," Diana responded softly. "Foot-in-mouth disease must be catching."
"Don't worry about it, Di," Jim said. "It's not like it's something we advertise." He winked at her. "Besides, you did most of the talking!"
Diana giggled. "Okay then, turn-about is fair play," she responded.
Dan groaned. "I've heard this before. Now what?"
"Now that I've shared my deepest fears, I just have a question for Mr. I'm-in-touch-with-my-feelings Frayne. It's been bugging me for a long time. What was the deal with Shelby?"
"Whoa, that was direct. Are you channeling Trixie or something?" Jim faked a smile, then turned away, trying to figure out what he was going to say.
"Hey, no rehearsing! I want the real story. Spill it!" Diana urged with a mischievous smile.
"What if I said it was none of your business?" Jim answered, feeling his temper rise.
"Hey, man, we know it isn't. Forget about it," Dan said, shooting Diana a warning look.
"I'm sorry, I'm just not ready to talk about it," Jim finally replied.
Diana watched Jim out of the corner of her eye. He looked tense and even sullen now. She hadn't known him when he first came to Sleepyside, and had never seen him like this before. Usually when he got mad, his good humor returned immediately. Suddenly Diana recalled Honey saying that the first time Jim lost his temper with Trixie, back when he was still hiding from his stepfather, he just took off. He literally ran away from them.
When they reached the Wheelers' stable, they found Mart waiting for them. "Di, are you doing okay? I thought maybe you'd like a break from the noise at the farm. I packed a picnic lunch," Mart offered, his eyes reflecting the tender concern in his voice.
Diana smiled shyly. He still wants to be with me, even if I'm not a fairy tale princess anymore!
Jim and Dan offered to settle the palomino in an empty stall. As Diana and Mart walked off hand in hand, her thoughts returned to the conversation back on the trail.
Does Jim have any real love in his life? Sure, he has great friendships now, but he lost his mom and dad, and he doesn't have a girlfriend. The Wheelers have been kind and generous, but they rarely even see him! Do they truly love him? Jim is right. Despite his inheritance, I'm the rich one, even now.
The End
Note: Many thanks to Leigh and Sue-in-Montreal for helping me use French words correctly!