A Tale of Deception

One early spring day, warmer than usual, Ann sat at her desk with the windows open, allowing the fresh spring air to enter, when the phone rang.

  “Drummond Hall, Ann speaking,” she answered.

  “Ann, this is Mr. Robert Davis. We’ve found Jamila,” he said professionally.

  “Are you sure?” Ann asked in astonishment and with some concern for Nessa. “Mrs. Drummond can’t take any unnecessary excitement, as you know Mr. Davis.”

  “Yes, we’re sure. That’s why it’s taken so long. We wanted to confirm everything, before contacting you again. May I come by and speak with Mrs. Drummond?”

  “I’d like to talk to her first, to break it gently to her myself,” Ann suggested. “I want to be sure not to excite her too much. Can you tell me more about Jamila? Is she well? Where is she?”

  “She’s in a boarding school, in the country, at a private school for students of all nationalities. She’s registered under her given name of Jamila Whitney Drummond, but the school doesn’t give out information without written approval of the student’s guardian, which in this case turned out to be her grandfather, Sheikh Abdul Basir Haddad.”

  “Her grandfather? I thought he had abandoned her?” Ann stated in confusion.

  “He has given the appearance of doing so, but we believe he does care for Jamila, as much as he can without bringing shame to his family. We still don’t know what has happened to her mother.”

  “Oh, how sad,” Ann said.

  “The school is a good one,” he continued, “and she has been educated as an English speaking student. She’s been there since she was five years old. From what we’ve been able to find out, she has never seen her mother or any other family member since she was placed there. She’s been provided for, financially, but that’s all.”

  “What a shame,” Ann said sadly for the child growing up without someone to love her, in an institution alone during the holidays and summer vacations.

  “Would it be possible to come by with the full report?”

  “I believe so. But, please let me tell Nessa first. If her heart can stand all the excitement, I’ll get back to you, Mr. Davis and tell you how it went.”

  “Good. I’ll wait to hear from you,” he said, hanging up.

  Ann sat for a few seconds, trying to absorb the information on Jamila. What was she like? What would Nessa want to do? How would she handle the news? Her excitement seemed to have waned with the passing of so much time, but Ann suspected she deeply desired to find her grandchild, still.

  Lord, be with me as I tell Nessa about Jamila. Please calm her and keep her safe. Thank you Lord for all you do in our lives, and may this be a blessing for everyone involved. Amen.

  Ann dialed Nessa’s rooms. Carla answered the house phone.

  “This is Ann. I need to speak to Mrs. Drummond,” she told the nurse.

  “She’s resting right now. I don’t want her disturbed,” the woman spoke abruptly.

  “This is important, Carla. I need to talk to her as soon as possible,” Ann insisted.

  Silence came from the phone.

  “I’m coming to her rooms,” Ann stated, not waiting for an answer.

  “You can’t… you shouldn’t!” she sputtered crossly.

  But, Ann had hung up the phone and was on her way to find Faye. It had never been necessary for Ann to go to Nessa’s rooms on the other side of the house, so she needed Faye’s help.

  “How do I get to Nessa’s rooms, Faye? I have to talk to her. We have news of Jamila,” Ann told the cook.

  Faye’s eyes got big with surprise. “Really? How wonderful. Won’t Carla tell you?”

  “No, she won’t let me see her, she’s resting according to Carla, but I believe Nessa would be more upset by my not telling her right away,” Ann stated.

  “Of course she would!” Faye said, setting her jaw and telling Ann, “Follow me.”

  Taking a duplicate elevator in the other wing, they exited on the second floor. Carla was waiting outside the rooms, her arms crossed, boldly guarding the elderly woman’s rooms. “I told you, she’s not to be disturbed!”

  “And I told you this was important!” Ann said just as firmly.

  “Out of my way,” Faye stated resolutely, pushing past Carla. Ann followed the cook.

  “I won’t be responsible for your irrational disregard for my instructions!” Carla said loudly.

  Nessa awoke to the disturbance outside her rooms. “What’s going on?”

  Faye went to her bedside and said, “Now I want you to brace yourself, and remain calm, you promise?” she asked her friend and employer.

  Nessa looked startled and a little apprehensive.

  “We’ve news Mrs. D, about Jamila. Ann wants to talk to you about it and felt you would want to know right away.”

  Nessa said emphatically, “Of course I do.”

  Ann came over and pulled a chair up to her bed, while Faye and Carla stood nearby.

  Not knowing what to expect, Nessa requested, “Just a minute Ann.”

  Turning she told the other two, “I’d like to talk to her alone, please.”

  Faye smiled and said as she walked out of the room, “I hope it’s all good news. I’ll talk to you soon Mrs. D.”

  Carla protested, “I should stay, in case you need me, Mrs. Drummond.”

  “Ann can call you Carla, if you’re needed,” the elderly woman told her nurse, dismissing her.

  Carla frowned and went out into Nessa’s sitting room. She was about to close the bedroom door, so she could listen on the other side, when Nessa said. “Please leave that door open Carla, and shut the door to the hall after you.”

  Defeated and angry at her inability to overhear all she could, she stomped from the room.

  “I’m beginning to not trust that woman,” Nessa said quietly.

  Ann said under her breath, “I never have.”

  Sitting in Nessa’s lovely bedroom, Ann repeated her conversation with Mr. Davis. Nessa’s expression brightened with the news. “Alive, and well… at a private school you say? How lonely for her. How did we find out about her, if her grandfather had refused to tell us in the first place?”

  “I don’t know, but Mr. Davis would like to come here with his full report.”

  “Of course,” Nessa replied, then sat thinking for a few seconds, before asking, “Ann, I can’t go to her, do you think she’d come here? Do you think she’d like to come and stay here with me?”

  “I don’t know, Nessa. I would think she’d like to come and at least visit, after being alone all these years. Mr. Davis might be able to tell us more.”

  “Would you be willing to go to Jordan and see her… talk with her… find out if she’ll come?” Nessa asked of her friend.

  Ann was surprised at the request, but who else could go and handle the delicate negotiations from Mrs. Drummonds point of view, as well as she could?

  “Of course I’ll go,” Ann said, realizing she didn’t know how long she might be. But, whatever time it would take, she knew Marty was safe here, with Emma and those who were beginning to care for her.

  “I have an old passport that needs to be updated. I think I can pay to have it proceed quickly. I’ll look into it right away, and if everything goes well, I should be able to leave soon, but let’s talk with Mr. Davis first.”

  “Absolutely,” Nessa agreed, and though she seemed bright and cheerful, Ann could see she was getting pale.

  “Try to rest, Nessa. Keep up your strength and I’ll keep you informed on everything. Let Carla give you something to help you.”

  “I can’t believe it, my grandchild, at last. I need to see her Ann. I need to meet her, to talk to her,” Nessa said with pleading eyes.

  “Of course you do. We both know how much you need to.”

 

  Jordan