A Tale of Deception

  ANN SPENT THE time, before they left Jordan, telling Jamila about Marty and her mother, of her life in the states. She told her about Drummond Hall and its history and all she knew of the Drummond family, and their Scottish heritage.

  Jamila was shocked to know she had another heritage beside her life in Jordan. She had always assumed she wasn’t a Muslim, otherwise she wouldn’t have been placed in a Catholic school, but now to know she was indeed part Arab and Scottish, made her giggle. What a combination.

  She thought of her grandfather in Amman often. It was hard for her to transfer the respect she had for the Sheikh to one of grandfather, but she realized the door into his life had been closed by him many years ago, and she didn’t expect it to ever open again.

  There was a tearful good-bye between the girls. Jamila promised Meridah to write every day and to come and see her, soon. But, she was also growing excited about her American birthright and the life it might hold for her.

  Then Razeen took them south a few days later. Soon, the two women were in the air, traveling from the east to the west.

  I wonder what it’ll be like there. Miss Ann told me my grandmother isn’t Catholic, or any religion that she knows of. How strange not to be going to Mass, or having the sisters around. What am I going to do? And what will my new school be like? I’m a little scared with all the changes I suspect are coming.

  Ann sensed the anxiety Jamila was feeling, reached over and squeezed her arm as they flew home. “Everything will be all right, Jamila. I’ll be there to help.”

  Jamila smiled, closed her eyes and let the jetliner carry her away, to her new destiny.

  When the crossing over the Atlantic was complete, they landed and changed planes in New York, at the JFK International Airport. Jamila couldn’t believe the mass of humanity living in the huge city, with the buildings greedily crowding the sky.

  Their airplane journey continued, as the sun rose behind them on the horizon, in a bright blue sky. The trip was a long, arduous one. Jamila was exhausted, but the excitement of seeing a new world all around her, kept her staring out the portal of the airplane, robbing her of rest.

  Hours later, they arrived at the Spokane International Airport. It was March, and the snow was still on the ground, though it seemed to be melting. Jamila had seen snow in the mountains around Irbid. It snowed there several times a year, but here there was so much of it. Yet, it was gone from the trees and bushes, as the sun shined brightly, and song birds could be heard, singing in the trees, anxious for spring to come.

  Disembarking, Ann looked around for someone she knew. No one was there.

  How strange. Someone should be here to meet us. Maybe they’re late.

  As they walked into the luggage claim area, she smiled broadly, as she spotted Jamie, with Marty and Emma beside him.

  “Mom!” Marty said running up to her and hugging her favorite person. Then she looked at Jamila and said, “Gosh. You’re really pretty.”

  Jamila blushed and gave a big smile. She liked this little person very much.

  Conversation hummed, while they waited for Jamila’s luggage. Before long, the SUV was loaded and everyone crowded in, Jamie and Jamila up front, with Ann, Marty and Emma in the back. As they pulled onto I-5 heading east, Ann could see Jamila starting to nod off, fighting sleep.

  “Jamila, do you drink coffee?” Ann wondered.

  “Yes, I enjoy it. I’d love a cup, just now,” she said wistfully.

  “Jamie, would you pull into the first fast food place you see, I could use a cup too,” she requested.

  “Sure,” he replied.

  “Fast food?” Jamila asked.

  Ann just smiled and said, “There’s a lot to learn, dear.”

  Marty piped in, “It’s a place you can drive up to and order food and drinks at the window. You’ll see.”

  “Drive up to a window? You don’t get out of the car?” she said in wonder.

  Jamila watched as the order was taken near a menu station behind the building, over the speaker. “Who’s speaking? Where’s the person speaking?” she asked amazed.

  “She’s inside the building with a microphone. Her voice comes out here in the speaker, and she can hear us with the microphone on the box,” Jamie told her. “She has a TV screen and a computer records what we order, in-side.”

  “There’s nothing like this in Irbid. I’ve never seen this before,” she expressed her astonishment. “How fun!”

  A lively conversation ensued as they entered the freeway again and headed toward Drummond Hall. They compared technology in Jordan with the states.

  “They have many things in Jordan, but fast food is new to me. Maybe they have it in Amman. Amman has everything,” she stated proudly.

  “They probably do,” Ann agreed. “I think I saw a Burger King as we went through there.”

  “Really? Keen,” Marty stated enthusiastically.

  “Burger… King?” Jamila said in confusion.

  Everyone laughed.

  “It’s just a name for a hamburger place,” Marty told her, giggling. “We’ll show you one, soon.”

  Jamila shook her head in wonder. Looking at the scenery going by, she said, “I’ve never seen so many trees and everything is so green and lush here, and so many cars and people, and the roads are very big!”

  “Things will be very different here, but you’ll soon get used to it, and we’ll help you.”

  “Me too!” Marty chimed in.

  Jamila smiled, happier than she had been for quite a while.

  I wish Meridah could be here to see this. I’ll write her right away and tell her all about this wonderful place.

  Jamie used his gate opener, entering the estate. Jamila looked at everything with wonder, as she took in every vista, very tree, every flower with curiosity.

  It was nearing lunchtime when the SUV arrived at the front doors.

  “Is this a school too?” asked Jamila, when she saw the tall, massive castle on the lake.

  “No dear, this is the home of your grandmother,” Ann told her.

  “All of it?” Jamila asked, shocked at the massive home for one person. “She lives here, alone?”

  “This is all her house, but she has people living here to help her. There’s the cook, her name’s Faye. Then Jamie and his dad Dougal live at the gatehouse, they take care of the gardens and help mend the house when it’s needed. And there’s Carla, your grandmother’s nurse. And Marty, my mother and I live on the third floor. I’m Mrs. Drummond’s personal assistant,” Ann concluded.

  “Then you’re all my grandmother’s servants?” Jamila asked.

  “Yes, but I don’t think we would call ourselves servants, not in the way you might know the word. We work for her. We’re employees and in this country the employees can quit anytime they wish and can find work elsewhere, if they choose to.”

  “Quit? You can’t be commanded to stay?” Jamila was confused again.

  “No dear. This is a free country and everyone can choose what to do with their lives here,” Ann tried to explain. “Your grandmother pays us to stay.”

  “I do have a lot to learn,” she said softly to no one in particular.

  Faye was at the front door, just like the first day Ann had arrived on the estate.

  As they all piled out of the car, Ann waved at Faye, “We’re home!”

  Jamie unloaded the vehicle, “I’ll take the luggage up to your rooms. Go enjoy yourselves and have lunch. I need to get back to the gatehouse and Da,” he said kindly. “I’m glad to have met you, Jamila,” he told her as he started for the house with a couple of suitcases in each hand.

  Faye descended the few steps and ran up to Jamila, “Welcome home child,” she said, giving the girl an affectionate hug.

  Jamila stood still as stone, frightened at the personal contact from the stranger.

  Faye stood back, held her by the shoulders, looking kindly at her, “Don’t be afraid of me child, you’re loved here and your grandmother is so excited, we
’ve had a hard time trying to keep her calm.”

  Jamila smiled weakly. It was all so strange to her, yet something in her craved for the affection and attention being offered, while a yearning to belong started to stir in her heart.

  “How is Nessa doing, Faye?” Ann asked, concerned.

  Jamila watched, observing the concern on everyone’s faces with the welfare of her grandmother.

  A sudden anxiety overtook her as she wondered what would happen to her if Grandmother Drummond died. She prayed to Mary, the mother of Jesus, asking her to let her grandmother be okay, requesting in the only way she knew how. How lost she would be if something happened to the woman who lived in this house.

  “She’s as bright as a button, on a crisp Sunday mornin’,” Faye said. “She’s waiting in the morning room with Carla. That’s her nurse,” she told Jamila, walking beside the girl. “Lunch is ready and it’s time to meet and eat,” she said with a little too much wit.

  “Faye!” Ann said with feinted shock at her silly remark, smiling with happiness in anticipation of the meeting between Jamila and Nessa.

  Ann could see the young girl taking in the beautiful hall as they walked through the huge structure, then her eyes widened at the solarium, with its walls of glass, the light, and beautiful plant life in the magnificent room. But, when she entered the morning room and saw the fragile, beautiful woman, again in white, sitting at the head of the table, she stopped, unable to move.

  Nessa took in a small gasp, at the sight of this tall, elegant beauty standing before her. The young woman had Neilan’s features, but with the lovely olive skin of the Far East. But, it was her own crystal green eyes looking back at her that struck her the deepest. It was so striking with her raven black hair.

  Jamila could see longing, kindness and desire in the elderly woman seated at the table. When she raised her arms in welcome, all of Jamila’s longing for love, family and home burst from her heart as she ran to the woman who wrapped her arms lovingly, tenderly around her, and held her fast.

  Sometimes it happens that way. Instantly, completely, the two bonded as if they had never been apart, and never would be again.

  After a time, Jamila got up, and sat in the chair next to her grandmother, with the largest smile. Nessa beamed, she was so happy. Her eyes sparkled and there was real color in her face. Everyone talked and shared about Jordan, home and the life at the estate. The happiness was contagious and Ann was elated to see how blissful Nessa was.

  Only Carla remained silent and sullen. She knew that the arrival of an heir was going to ruin everything, but this first meeting, between the two, hadn’t gone well at all.

  Alone in her room a short time later, Carla called Peter.

  “Yes?” said Peter into his cell.

  “It’s me, we’ve got to talk,” Carla said excitedly.

  “I’m afraid it won’t be possible,” he said, implying he wasn’t alone.

  “It’s important. The girl’s here and it’s worse than we thought.”

  “Just a minute, please,” he told her.

  Carla could hear him talking, probably to that volatile wife of his. “Darling, it’s about work and I’ll have to take care of it in private. You don’t mind do you?” Carla heard the woman’s voice say something curt, then evidently leaving the room.

  “This better be important, Carla. She’s not happy about my taking phone calls about work, at home. It’s interfering in our home life and you know I have to keep her happy for a while longer, don’t you?” he said exasperated with the fool on the phone. He never intended on leaving Sabine for any reason. He just wanted to keep the information flowing from Drummond Hall.

  “Of course, darling,” Carla told him. “Listen, it’s not going to take a while for these two to get to know each other. They bonded at first sight and we’re not going to be able to work one against the other, like we hoped. The way those two took to each other, I think the old lady would forgive her anything. The girl could cheat, steal and lie and the sick old woman would look the other way. I wouldn’t be surprise if she changes her Will this week!”

  Peter swore. “Why does everything have to go wrong?” Then he switched into his soothing and romantic voice for her, “Sweetheart, keep a close eye on any phone calls or letters going out, especially to the lawyer. We need to keep on top of this. I’ll see what I can do about moving some of the money to the off-shore account.”

  “All right, I’ll be ready,” she said breathlessly, looking forward to her new life with the one she loved.

  But, though life at the estate changed happily with the arrival of Jamila, Nessa didn’t contact her lawyer, nor look into changing her Will. It was the last thing on her mind, but the first on Carla’s and Peter’s.

  Carla waited and watched, but nothing happened. The two Drummond women laughed, shared in each other’s company and enjoyed their new relationship, growing into a real family, one of love, trust and devotion, as God intended it in the first place.

  But, Carla couldn’t take it any longer. She had enough of waiting, of the suspense, the intrigue, and watching for something to happen. She wanted to leave now.

  No matter what they had schemed and planned, it had always gone wrong. She was afraid it never would go right, but she couldn’t get Peter to agree.

  “Carla darling, we have so little put away, I haven’t been able to put as much as I’d like into the account. I had to put it all back, when we almost got caught, to make the accounts balance. You remember, don’t you?” he lied. “I had to start all over again, darling. As long as you keep an eye on things, I’ll continue to put more away. We won’t have to want for anything,” he pleaded.

  “But, I don’t care. I want to go now!” she said firmly.

  “Well, you can just go without me then!” he said in anger. He was getting fed up.

  Silence followed.

  Peter heard her gasp and thought he could hear her sobbing. He was just about to appease her when he heard her softly say, “Okay, Peter. I’ll wait. I can’t live without you. You know that. But, please don’t make me wait too long. I can’t take much more of this.”

  “Only a few more months or so, darling,” he said mischievously, firmly, knowing he was pushing her, but he didn’t care.

  She wouldn’t tell anyone about me, because she’s as deeply involved in this, as I am. She’s wearing some of it, isn’t she?

  “A few more months!” there was no mistaking her crying now.

  “I want to be sure we’ve everything we’ll ever need, darling. It won’t hurt to wait. Patience will give us all we’ve ever wanted.”

  Carla wasn’t so sure anymore.

  Peter hung up the phone.

  This can’t go on this way. Things are getting sticky. If Carla would only be patient, I could continue to move more money into the Caribbean, but she’s losing her nerve, the dumb woman!

  If I could get rid of her, then no one would be the wiser, and I could go on with my life, as before. She’d be out of the way if I killed her. Murder? Are you really considering it?

  No! I’m no murder. I can live with being a thief, because I’m not really hurting anyone. But I won’t stoop to killing. It’s too messy, too final, and too deadly. If I got caught doing that… No, I’m not a bad person, really. I’ll find a way.

 

  * * * *