Tag: Barbara Wilkes

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Kingsport #32

“How’s she doing?” asked Sheila Davenport as she sat in the garden of her daughter, Lisa’s mansion. She took a small sip of water before adding, “She won’t answer my calls, Jackson.”

Jackson Collins wasn’t a man to show his cards without knowing what the other party was willing to sacrifice in return for his knowledge. While he liked Sheila, he knew that her constant meddling was a continued source of friction between Sheila and her children. “Lisa just came out of surgery and she’s doing fine. The doctor wants to keep her in the hospital overnight. She should be home tomorrow.”

Sheila nodded silently. “I suppose that is best. It pains me that my daughter has had to suffer like this so often.”

“We’ve handled it together,” replied Jackson, quietly.

“Everything?” Sheila bit the inside of her cheek in order to stop herself from bringing up the one issue she knew was off limits. However, Sheila felt in her heart that it was necessary for her to ensure Lisa didn’t act in a manner which could jeopardize her future happiness. “Jackson, do you know why Lisa is in the hospital?”

Jackson folded his arms as he glared at his mother-in-law. “I do,” he shot back.

“No, the real reason.”

“My wife is recovering from an ectopic pregnancy…”

“She also had her tubes tied,” blurted out Sheila. “I tried to talk her out of it…”

“I can’t believe you!” spat Jackson.

“Me?” Sheila said with marked offense. “I haven’t done a thing wrong!”

“Lisa told me that she wanted to have her tubes tied yesterday. I fully supported her decision then and now. It wasn’t your place to insert yourself in the middle of our marriage, Sheila!”

“I am concerned! Lisa is very smart, very clever, but she clearly isn’t thinking rationally or she wouldn’t have had her tubes tied! She should have consulted you before making that decision,” huffed Sheila.

“It’s her decision to make; not mine.”

“I thought you wanted more children!”

“I do…I did. I’ve seen Lisa suffer from through miscarriage after miscarriage and, well, it’s not fair on her. It’s taxing. It’s emotionally draining. You haven’t seen how much she suffers when no one is looking. I don’t want her to go through that again, Sheila.”

“If you don’t try…”

“Look, I’m done. You had no right to betray Lisa’s trust by telling me something she told you in confidence. I’m appalled, Sheila.”

“I… I did what I thought was the right thing to do!”

“When are you going to understand that you can’t run around controlling your children! They’re in their thirties and forties! Leave them alone.”

“I do not control them,” huffed Sheila. “Jackson, I know you’re suffering, but it doesn’t give you the right to take it out on me.”

“You do control them. You use your money and influence to keep them in line. Look at the way you treat Nick. He’s thirty-five and yet you still have control over his trust fund!”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” sniffed Sheila. “Nicholas isn’t responsible.”

“Fine. Excuse away your behavior. I think it would be best if you gave Lisa some breathing room for a few weeks.”

“Weeks! Jackson, she’s my daughter!”

“She’s my wife! She deserves some time away from you.”

“You can’t make decisions like that without…”

“I can and I will,” Jackson snapped. “It’s time for you to go, Sheila. Please show yourself out.”

Barbara Wilkes sat in front of the window unit air conditioner in her apartment in a vain attempt to stay cool. She would have gone to the beach today, but she’d worked the morning shift at the Montgomery Estate and been sent home because Mrs. Montgomery didn’t need any further assistance for the day. It was a forty-minute car ride to the beach followed by an even longer one back to her apartment. Barbara knew it wasn’t worth it, so she did her best to beat the summer heat.

As she thought about the next step in her plan, Barbara smiled at the fact that she’d been able to get upstairs through her talent. The next thing she needed to do was ingratiate herself with the family. She knew Mrs. Montgomery liked her well enough, but Barbara had a bigger prize in sight. From what Barbara heard from the staff and people around town was that Charles Montgomery, IV had a thing for young women who could keep their mouths shut. Barbara was that woman. However, she hadn’t been able to meet him, let alone catch his eye. Moreover, that hideous uniform she had to wear every day hid her body…her supple curves…her heaving breasts. He was the reason she’d come to Kingsport. He was the reason she had demeaned herself by being a maid. He was the reason she was determined to play the long game, but not too long. Time wasn’t on her side. There would always been a young woman on Charles’ arm even though Barbara would soon age out of that demographic. She wracked her brain trying to think of a way into his bed and yet she hadn’t cracked the code.

A repeated knock at the door forced her out of her reverie. She groaned, put on a tee shirt, and walked to the door. Barbara knew her rent was on time, she never had guests, and she even brought home cookies for the other tenants in the building. Who on earth would be pounding on her door like this?

The instant she pulled open the door, she had her answer.

Barbara let out a scream, but the sound never escaped her mouth. Had she not been holding onto the door, she would have fallen to the ground in a heap of fear. She’d run from her past, but somehow, somewhere, it had followed her to Kingsport. Barbara tried to slam the door shut, but it was useless. He was already in her apartment.

“Get out,” she cried in a broken voice. “Leave…”

“That’s no way to talk to your husband,” replied Kenny Wilkes.

In our next installment, Barbara tries to stay calm…

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Kingsport #24

Barbara Wilkes approached the door to Alison Farrell Montgomery’s bedroom suite with great trepidation. She had been warned by Mrs. Taplin to knock twice, count to five, enter the suite, turn right, walk to the last door at the end of the hall, knock twice, count to five, and enter the sitting room where she would find Mrs. Montgomery. After that, Barbara would be at the whim of the lady of the house before going down into the staff room where the staff answered calls, collected mail, and handled the day-to-day scheduling for members of the family. Barbara was assigned to Mrs. Montgomery for the duration of her trip to Kingsport. Every bone in Barbara’s body told her that she had to excel with Mrs. Montgomery while ensuring she never put a foot wrong. This was her moment.

When Barbara stepped into the bedroom suite, her mouth fell open. She stood into a corridor which seemed to go on forever with doors leading to one room or another. Had she not been told exactly what to do by Mrs. Taplin, Barbara would have been terrified about what to do next. She took a deep breath, screwed up all of the courage inside of her, and approached the door to the sitting room.

Barbara knocked twice on the door and waited for what seemed like hours. Finally, a firm voice said, “Come.” With that, Barbara deftly opened the door to the sitting room to find Alison Farrell Montgomery sitting on a love seat with a spread of newspapers in front of her. “Good morning, Mrs. Montgomery,” Barbara said, softly.

Alison extended a finger towards a table which had already been set for breakfast. Fresh flowers, silver salt and pepper shakers, and sterling silver cutlery sat on a linen tablecloth she had no doubt pressed weeks ago. “There will do,” said Alison, evenly.

Barbara took a quiet breath as she placed the tray on the perfectly laid table. “Enjoy your breakfast,” Barbara said, quietly.

“What is your name?” Alison snapped as she watched this unknown maid walk across the room like someone who’d just shoplifted.

“Oh, I’m Barbara.”

Alison eyed this young woman carefully. What she saw didn’t frighten her or intrigue her. Alison found her to be a perfectly unassuming woman who seemed to try too hard to be just right. “Barbara.” Alison let the name linger in the cherry blossom scented air. “I suppose Mr. Hurley has informed you that you’ll be assisting me as needed while I’m in town for my son’s wedding. Please call Mrs. Davenport’s office to arrange a cocktail hour with her at the estate or her mansion at six o’clock this evening. The location isn’t important to me. Also, call my house in Paris and tell Marianne to arrange with my dressmaker to be flown out by next week for the initial designs for my outfits for my son’s wedding. Tell Mr. Hurley to inform the family office that flights and accommodation will need to be made for this trip. I’d like my car brought around by ten o’clock; I will not need a driver. Lastly, I’ll need a copy of my schedule and my husband’s schedule emailed and printed out for me every morning. Oh, and Barbara, do bring a pen and notepad as I do not repeat myself.” Alison rose from the loveseat, a vision in an expertly tailored dress, and sat at the breakfast table. “You may go.”

Barbara nodded, walked quickly towards the door, and stepped into the corridor as she tried to fight back tears. While Alison hadn’t been horrible to her, she wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of demands from this intimidating woman. Barbara tried to recall everything Alison had told her. She had to remember it all because if she didn’t, she’d be back in the bowels of the mansion folding linen with Ada. The more Barbara thought about it, the more she swore something like that would never happen to her again. She made it upstairs. She wasn’t going anywhere.

“What is the point of this meeting?” asked Dylan Davenport to no one in particular. He crossed his legs while removing his sunglasses. Dylan had plans to leave for Greece this morning, but due to Eli calling an emergency meeting with the family, he was now seated in the conference room of the Davenport’s family office in Kingsport. “Eli, I do not appreciate being summoned.”

“Neither do I,” sniffed Lisa. “Mom, do you know anything about this?”

Sheila Davenport sat at the far end of the table, her gaze averted from Eli’s. “No,” she said, quietly.

Eli Davenport glanced at his family with mounting irritation. For all of their education, money, status, and power, they weren’t the brightest people. “I called this meeting because of Nick.”

Nicholas felt his stomach do a triple flip. “I didn’t ask for a family meeting,” he huffed. “I’m supposed to be in the Hamptons right now, Eli.”

“I’m aware everyone has plans, but this is important,” began Eli. He stood before his family, shoved his hands into his pockets, and stared at them. “Nick came to see me in San Francisco on Wednesday. He wanted me to buy his stock in Davenport Technology in order to free himself from the family.”

“How could you?!?” shrieked Sheila. She turned to her youngest child with fury in her eyes. “This is why you aren’t in control of your trust fund!” hissed Sheila.

“I’m not having this fight with you again, Mom!” Nicholas said, hotly. “It’s my stock!”

“I didn’t want that to start a fight,” said Eli, calmly. “Mom, you’re upset with Meredith about the way she’s running the company. I don’t blame you. Luckily for us, she didn’t go ahead with the stock buyback, but she still has the board’s approval to do so which gives her an immense amount of leverage. Ever since Dylan quit as the CEO of Davenport, we’ve all been a little anxious about the future of the company.”

Dylan shot Eli a terse look. “Thanks, bro.”

“He has a point,” added Lisa. “None of us have been overly thrilled with Meredith’s vision for the company. She seems to have big ideas without the team to execute them.”

Eli nodded in agreement. “Exactly. The dividend is what keeps us from making a ruckus, but I think it is time to make a lot of noise. Davenport Technology is our legacy. Jeremiah Davenport founded the company one hundred years ago with a hope and a dream. I think it’s time for the company to return to its roots.”

Sheila looked at Eli with a mixture of anger and intrigue. While she and her son had a rocky history, she didn’t trust him; however, she respected the fact that he was a brilliant businessman. “What are you suggesting, Elijah?”

“I think the first thing we need to do is nominate Nicholas to the Davenport Technology’s Board of Directors. Patrick Petersen is stepping down at the end of August. The search to replace him has yielded subpar results. Nick is a Davenport, he has some media cache, and it’ll get us press. ‘Davenport Scion Sits on the Board’! It’ll boost the stock price,” Eli said without missing a beat.

Nicholas shifted uncomfortably as all eyes turned to him. “I don’t want to sit on the board,” he whined, listlessly.

“You do need something to do,” reasoned Dylan. “It’s not like you have a real job or anything.”

“I think it’s a very good idea,” Sheila added. “Nicholas, it will be good for you. It will be good for the family.”

“I’ll mentor you as best as I can.” Eli took another deep breath. “Actually, having Nicholas on the board will give us an ‘in’ we haven’t had since Dylan quit the company.” Eli took in a sharp breath as he eyed his family carefully. In a low voice, Eli added, “I want to take the company private again. We can assume control, ditch our shareholders, and make Davenport a company of the future. We can invest in the future while doing what we do best. No more stock buybacks. We won’t have to fight with a CEO we hate. The Davenports will be in control of their company and future once again. Who’s with me?”

The Davenports looked at each other with masked faces. Each of them knew that Eli’s proposal was a risk, yet the reward it entailed could transform their lives. On the other hand, if Eli’s proposal failed, it could destroy the Davenport fortune along with the legacy of a great American family. No one knew what to say, yet everyone knew whatever was said next would change their lives forever.

 

In our next installment, Dylan remembers the past…

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Kingsport #23

Nicholas Davenport waited for his older brother, Eli, to finish a business call which had already run into their meeting. He glanced around Eli’s impressive office which offered a million-dollar view of San Francisco. It was hard for Nicholas to be impressed, but when he was around Eli, who he considered the most successful of his siblings, Nicholas was always in a state of awe.

“Sorry about that,” Eli muttered as he hung up the phone. “One of my analysts wants to get into crypto, but she’s a lone wolf on this one.”

“I want to get into it,” piped up Nicholas. “I actually wanted to sell my stake in Davenport Technology to put some of the money into new investments, but Mom pushed back at me.”

Eli listened carefully before saying, “I know. Lisa told me.”

Nicholas shifted uneasily in his seat. He should have known their mother would have told Lisa everything. Lisa and Eli had always been the closest set of siblings, which should have registered to Nicholas before this moment. “Oh. So much for privacy.” Nicholas took a deep breath before adding, “I want you to buy my shares in Davenport.”

“I can’t do that,” muttered Eli.

“Why not?!”

“Nick, I hate to this say, but I think Mom may have a point. Davenport is a safe company. Your stock in it is worth $80 million. That’s huge. Most people will never see that kind of money in six lifetimes.”

“Eli, it’s not fair,” pouted Nicholas. “I’m a man in his thirties who isn’t even in control of his finances. Mom is the trustee on my trust. I can’t sell a share of stock or cash out of my market funds without her say-so. It’s ridiculous!”

“I think… Nick, you may not like it, but I think it’s been done for your own good.” Eli watched as Nick folded his arms and averted his gaze. “You’ve had a bunch of careers and no successes. The money and assets in your trust have been a golden goose for you…for the whole family.” Eli gave his little brother a compassionate smile. “I understand your frustrations, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“Then this was a wasted trip,” snapped Nick, hotly. “All I want is to be in control of my finances. I’m sick of this family treating me like a child!”

“If you want to start a business or acquire one, you know the family office will give you the money. Do that instead of investing in something you don’t understand just because your friends showed you a meme on Reddit.”

Nick rolled his eyes. “That’s low, Eli.”

“Look, I’m glad you came to me, but I think you need to enjoy the fact that you’re fabulously wealthy without any work on your part. Nick, if you want my advice, talk to the investment manager and ask for a bigger payout from your various investments. Your money should be making at least eight to twelve percent. You have a lot of options, but I don’t think cashing out of Davenport is a prudent move.”

Feeling dejected and powerless, Nicholas thanked his brother for his time, gave him a hug, and left his office. On the way down to the street, Nicholas couldn’t help but feel useless. He called his driver to pick him up as he watched the hoi polloi of San Francisco rush past him on their way to lunch or a meeting. They had a purpose. Nicholas had yet to find his.

He got into the back of the black town car, turned on his Spotify EDM playlist, and closed his eyes as the driver whisked him to the airport hangar. Maybe my life isn’t so bad, thought Nicholas. After all, he had tons of money, could charter planes, and didn’t have to worry about a damn thing. However, in the depths of his mind, Nicholas knew life would get better, if only there were something to do…

“Miss Wilkes, a moment?” Dane Hurley, the Household Manager for the Montgomery Estate, approached Barbara on her stool in the kitchen.

Barbara straightened her back, plastered a smile on her face, and stood to meet Dane. She always put on her best face when he was around. It had taken her some time to work out the power structure among the staff of the Montgomery Estate, but she was now well aware that all of the power rested with Dane Hurley. Mrs. Taplin was a guard dog; Dane held the keys to the kingdom. “I always have a moment for you,” cooed Barbara.

“We’ve been pleased with your work so far. You were an asset during the Independence Day party. We would like to offer you a full-time position on the family’s payroll.”

Barbara’s eyes exploded with sheer excitement. “Oh, thank you!” She threw her arms around Dane’s neck, but quickly corrected herself after realizing her error. “I’ve tried to work so hard here, Dane.”

Dane fixed his collar, cleared his throat, and said, “We’d like for you to answer phones and be an unofficial Girl Friday of sorts to Mrs. Montgomery.”

“The mother or the daughter?” asked Barbara carefully.

“Mrs. Alison Farrell Montgomery. India is referred to as ‘Miss’ Montgomery due to her unmarried state,” Dane said with authoritarian gravitas. “Mrs. Montgomery’s assistant in Paris is unable to come to America for the duration of Mrs. Montgomery’s visit. You will bring her breakfast in the morning, answer her calls in the staff office, and assist her as needed in the house. I will not have to remind you how to act with members of the family. You are to be a professional at all times. If you don’t know the answer to a question, ask me or Mrs. Taplin.” Dane checked his watch. “I have to meet with the head gardener. We can discuss the rest of the details after lunch.”

Barbara didn’t see Dane walk away because she was stunned by this new wave of luck. She’d be in front of the family, not stuck folding linen and hauling beverage carts across the estate during the middle of summer. Barbara would finally be able to see how the other half really lived. What they were really like. She’d finally be able to enact the next portion of her plan. And that fact alone made a twisted smirk across her lips.

“You look like you’ve won the lottery,” said Ada as she walked by. “What’s news?”

“I’ll be assisting Mrs. Montgomery,” Barbara replied, coolly.

Ada’s face feel. “Oh, Barbara,” she said carefully, “that woman will run you out of this house.”

Barbara held her breath for a moment. She didn’t want to react to Ada, who she was now cross with for muddying her happiness. “I don’t think she will,” said Barbara, evenly. “Dane wouldn’t’ve given me the position if he didn’t think I was up for it. I’ll be upstairs, Ada! Upstairs!”

“How many times do I gotta warn you about going upstairs and bein’ around those people? Yeah, they’re rich and they pay well, but they’re not nice people. They’re mean and unkind and don’t care who they hurt in the process,” whispered Ada. “I wouldn’t trust them. Not an inch.”

“Well, that’s you,” sniffed Barbara.

“Girly, I’m looking out for you,” insisted Ada. “Going upstairs with those people… It won’t end well. Never does. The stories I could tell,” Ada said, her voice trailing off.

Barbara folded her arms with marked contempt. She tolerated Ada, but now she was growing annoyed with her instance that Barbara stay in her place and be invisible. Barbara had lived her whole life like that and she wasn’t going to do it anymore! The reason she came to Kingsport was to change her life for the better! No one, not even Ada, would stop her. “Ada, we’ll have to agree to disagree. I’m going upstairs to assist Mrs. Montgomery and there’s nothing you can say to stop me. I’m moving up, Ada. The last thing I want is to be trapped in the bowels of this house for the rest of my life!” spat Barbara.

A heavy feeling of dread filled Ada’s heart as she watched Barbara storm down the staff corridor. In all of her years at the Montgomery Estate, Ada had seen girls just like Barbara who thought rubbing shoulders with the family would be the answer to all of their prayers. More often than not, it was an opening to a portal to hell. Ada had seen it for herself; Barbara was too arrogant to listen. Ada sighed quietly because she knew what lay in wait for Barbara. For the first time in a long time, Ada was content to mind her own business and watch the destruction of Barbara Wilkes…

 

In our next installment, Eli makes a proposal to the Davenports…

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Kingsport #19

At thirty-five, Nicholas Davenport was the baby of his family as well as its black sheep. While Dylan had run the family company, Lisa had the auction house, and Eli had his own investment firm, Nicholas lived a slightly rudderless existence in Manhattan…or wherever the moment took him. He had had some success as a playwright, followed by two years writing for a procedural cop show, but he had yet to find his bliss. He drifted from relationship to relationship, party to party, dream to dream in such a way that his mother, Sheila, took umbrage with the way he lived his life. If it weren’t for the fact that his mother was still a trustee on his trust fund, Nicholas would have politely declined her request to meet in Kingsport today. As he sat in the Breakfast Room of the Kingsport Country Club, Nicholas felt instantly at home in a world he had cut himself off from years ago. It’s not that he didn’t take pride in his family, he did. The thing that always bothered him was the way they lived with such ostentatious disregard for those less fortunate.

“Nicky?” Lisa walked over to her baby brother and gave him a big hug. “I didn’t know Mom summoned you here as well!”

“Yeah, she’s full of surprises. How’ve you been?”

Lisa sat at the perfectly laid table with a muted sigh. “I’ve been fine. Mom and Dylan have been going at it over the company. To be honest, it’s starting to get on my nerves.”

“This is why I live in Manhattan,” laughed Nicholas.

“It would be nice if you moved back to Kingsport. Living in New York is fine in your twenties, but you should have a nice house, not that loft you call home.” Lisa let out a slight yelp. “Oh, no! I sound like Mom!”

“Just a little bit,” nodded Nicholas. “I’m happy in New York, Lisa. Trust me. I’d rather be there than under a microscope here.”

Lisa knew her brother was right. Although she loved Kingsport as well as the trappings that came from her social position, Lisa knew that Kingsport could be stifling, no matter how much money you had in your trust fund. “Mom wanted us here by ten. It’s not like her to be late.”

Nicholas looked up just as his oldest brother, Dylan Davenport, joined them at the table. “Hey, Dyl.”

“Nicholas! This is a surprise,” said Dylan, coolly. “I thought Mom was still voting your shares in Davenport.”

“Not as of last year. I’m finally free. She’s still the trustee on my trust, though. It’s so unfair,” sighed Nicholas.

“Wait,” said Lisa, suddenly. “This table is set for six people.”

“Sorry, I’m late.” Sheila Davenport approached the table with a heavy sigh. “My driver is out sick, so I had to have someone call the company to send another one. It’s as if people merely exist to inconvenience me.”

Nicholas shook his head with a sigh. “I doubt it.”

“Nicholas, you should have worn a tie,” tutted Sheila. “You look like you work in Idaho or something.”

“I look just fine,” he replied through gritted teeth.

“If you say so.” Sheila sat at the head of the table. “I’ve asked you all here because I’m worried about Davenport Technology. It’s our legacy. I fear that Meredith is trying to run it into the ground. You know I am against stock buybacks and she’s received board approval to do it. I want to stop her. If we…”

“You started without me. My plane was delayed. Fog and all.”

Sheila felt the color drain from her face. She slowly turned to see her son, Elijah Davenport, standing behind her dressed in a form fitting black suit with a perfectly matched tie. “How did you…”

“I called him,” Dylan chimed in. “I told you before, I’m not voting Eli’s proxy anymore. He has a right to be here.”

Eli smiled smugly as he sat at the end of the table next to Nicholas. “Mom, I wish you would have told me about this sooner, but Dylan filled me in.”

“I’m sure he did. Elijah, it would be…easier…if you simply gave Lisa or Nicholas the proxy to vote your shares. It’s not as if you’re even…interested in the company,” surmised Sheila.

Eli cleared his throat. “Please don’t speak for me. Actually, I agree with you, Mother. From what Dylan has told me, Meredith seems to be angling the company for a possible sale to bigger corporation. I still own stock in the company… Despite our feelings, I’d prefer if Davenport remained an independent company.” Eli looked at Sheila with a curious gaze. “I’d rather play nice. I want the company to succeed. However, if you’re intent on shutting me out, I’ll work around you. It’s up to you, Mommy.”

 

 

 

Barbara Wilkes re-read the Kingsport Post edition which revealed Will Montgomery’s engagement to Dr. Connor Windsor with unbridled glee. She felt as if she were a part of the story because she had served Connor an iced tea on the afternoon he proposed and she did work at the Montgomery Estate. As she soaked up the remaining details in the newspaper, Barbara wondered if she would be allowed to work the wedding and reception. Or, at the very least, maybe the staff would be invited as guests as they were in England. Barbara smiled broadly at the thought of being among the invited guests at a Montgomery wedding. She’d have to buy a new dress from the finest store in Kingsport called Abington’s or take the train to Manhattan in order to purchase a dress from a Madison Avenue department store. The thought filled her with so much joy she felt like she was doing to burst. For the first time in weeks, she felt alive again. If Dane or Mrs. Taplin put her upstairs again, she knew she could stay there. So far, that hadn’t happened. As Ada’s words rang through her head, Barbara decided to ignore them. What did Ada know? She was a servant who was content being a servant. Barbara wouldn’t be content until she reached her ultimate goal. She was close… She was so close… But little did she know that her past was catching up with her and it wouldn’t be long until her carefully constructed lie unraveled for all the world to see…

 

In our next installment, India asks Eli for a life changing favor…

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Kingsport #17

Lisa Davenport Collins thumbed through the worn auction catalog as a little yawn made its way across her lips. Today had been a very trying day. One client insisted his Rembrandt was authentic (it wasn’t), while another insisted her collection of dog paintings could fetch top dollar in an upcoming evening sale (they wouldn’t). Although Lisa didn’t need to work, she loved the feeling of having something to do unlike everyone else she knew who pretended to work once they earned enough money to ensure they could stay in cashmere and diamonds for the rest of their lives. Lisa tucked the catalog into the desk of her home office when her son, Oliver, bounded down the hall followed by her brother, Dylan.

“Uncle Dylan is here to see you,” announced Oliver.

“Thanks, little man.” Dylan handed his nephew a crisp ten-dollar bill.

“Awesome!” Oliver squealed as he ran down the corridor.

Lisa saved the document she was working on as she said, “Mom is furious with you.”

Dylan let out an irritated sigh. “I’m aware of that, Lisa. I thought you wanted me to come by to talk about something important.”

“You know how much she relies on you, Dylan.” Lisa removed the silver tennis watch from her left wrist. “Instead of being understanding…sometimes you can be a little harsh. Now, I know Mom probably worked your last nerve, but she didn’t mean any harm.”

“Lisa, you sound like she coached you into saying that.”

“Hardly. I’m not a fool where Mom is concerned, but I do think you could stand to be more understanding and less…volcanic.” Lisa moved closer to her brother, who sat on the love seat in her home office. “We’re one of the few wealthy, old black families in America. Most of our wealth is tied up in Davenport Technology. If Meredith does do something to harm the company, there goes our whole way of life. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I don’t want to see that happen to us, Dylan.”

Dylan thought about his sister’s words for a moment. While she rarely interfered when it came to the family company, he knew all too well that her concern was well placed, unlike Sheila’s. “Lisa, there’s nothing I can do about Meredith. None of us are on the Board of Directors. We’re just owners. Unless we vote in unison, then there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“I don’t see why we can’t vote in unison, Dylan. You always have Eli’s proxy…”

“I did.” Dylan shrugged. “I told Mom that I’m not going to be her go-between when it comes to Eli anymore.”

“Dylan,” Lisa said with unbridled shock. “Why would you do something like that?!?”

“Because I’m literally not my brother’s keeper!”

“This is different. We all know… Mom and Eli are best kept apart.”

“Lisa, my mind is made up. I’ve already told Mom. If she wants to call a family meeting to agree on how to vote our shares, then she’s going to have to speak to Eli and get him to fly in from San Francisco. Or, you can get Eli’s proxy from him.”

Lisa shuddered at the thought. While she was on good terms with Eli (for the most part), she didn’t feel like it was her responsibility to be put in the middle of his epic battle of contrition with Sheila. “I’d rather not,” whispered Lisa. “Sometimes I wish that whatever happened with Dad hadn’t happened and we could…” Her voice trailed off. “I don’t know…”

“There’s no use in wondering, Lisa. It’s all in the past. It’s up to Mom to let things go, which she’s incapable of doing. I’ve told her many times that I’m not going back to Davenport. I’ve told her I will not vote Eli’s shares by proxy. She doesn’t want to listen. She wants to get mad and let you do her bidding. I’m sick of it, Lisa. I really am.”

 

 

“Barbara, come with me.” Mrs. Taplin summoned Barbara with her long, bony finger. “We need you to welcome a guest to the estate. Louise is at lunch. Normally, we’d never have a maid do it, but we cannot simply have a guest show themselves around the estate. The guest will be in the Sun Room.”

“I’ll do my best,” said Barbara, quietly. “I only want to do a good job.”

“That’s all anyone wants you to do,” snapped Mrs. Taplin. “There’s no need to work so hard.” Mrs. Taplin showed Barbara into the main servant’s corridor. She handed her a sheet of paper. “Read this. Everything on here tells you how to greet a visitor, how to show them to a room, and how to wait on them until a member of the family comes to greet them. The butler will show in the guest in a little less than an hour. I suggest you absorb everything on that page!”

Barbara found a chair in the hall as she read through the withering manifesto. “You are to say hello to the guest without giving your name when they enter the room. Simply ask if they would like a refreshment, alcohol, tea, or coffee. Take the order. Do not write it down. You must rely on your memory. Relay the order to the kitchen. You will then retreat to the staff area until called upon again,” Barbara read quietly. While she loved being on the Montgomery Estate, she was quickly growing tired of being rendered invisible all of the time.

“I just saw Old Taps marching around like she wanted to kick a puppy. You okay?” asked Ada.

Barbara stood up as she checked her watch. “Yes, I’m fine, Ada. If you’ll excuse me, I have to welcome a guest to the Sun Room.”

“The Sun Room! Look at you movin’ on up!” laughed Ada.

Yes, I am moving on up, Barbara thought, ruefully. There was no way in the world Barbara would allow herself to become trapped in the hell that was being a maid on the Montgomery Estate. She was moving up…and she wouldn’t let anyone stop her.

 

 

“Good afternoon, Dr. Windsor.”

Connor tapped away on his phone without looking at the lowly maid standing in the corner. “Hi,” he grumbled.

“Would you like a refreshment? Coffee, tea…”

“No,” snapped Connor. “Just have someone bring me an iced tea.” With a wave of his hand, he went back to his phone.

Barbara stood there for a moment. Whether she was stunned or insulted, she didn’t know. What she did know was that she had a job to do. She’d come this far…she’d made it upstairs…and she would do whatever it took to stay upstairs in these plush, sun dappled rooms. Without a word, Barbara turned, walked to a door in the corridor, and returned to the servant’s area.

“Will,” said Connor as Will walked into the Sun Room. “Thanks for calling me.”

Will walked towards Connor, stared into his gunmetal blue eyes, and kissed him. He kissed him as if his life depended on it. Here, in this moment, Will felt safer and more complete than he had in his entire life. “I’m sorry,” sighed Will. “I reacted impetuously.”

“Hey,” whispered Connor. “It’s okay. Let’s leave it in the past.”

“I do love you, Connor.”

“I love you, too, Will.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t visit you in Maine…”

“It’s all right. We’re here now.” Connor took Will in his arms. He smothered his boyfriend’s neck in raw, passionate kisses. “I had a lot of time to think.”

“About what?”

“Us.”

“Oh, yeah?”

Without a word, Connor dropped to one knee and pulled a small ring box from his blazer pocket. “William Harrison Montgomery, will you marry me?”

 

In our next installment, India’s world is rocked…

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Posted on

Kingsport #14

“How long do you intend to stay here?”

Will Montgomery ignored the question as he walked through the high-end jewelry store tucked along a quiet street in the middle of Paris. He looked at few diving watches, waved over a shop assistant, and asked to see three of them. “I’m not sure,” he finally replied. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

Alison Farrell Montgomery turned towards her son with a modicum of concern in her eyes. While she always enjoyed Will’s all too infrequent trips to see her, she was worried about her youngest child. He was a person who love hard, wanted it all on his terms, and never liked confrontation. For Alison, she knew Will would never have an easy life when it came to love because he made loving him very difficult. “Billy,” said Alison, “you can stay with me as long as you’d like.” She walked over to him and placed her hand on his. “I just wish you wouldn’t let India get under your skin.”

Will groaned. “I don’t want to talk about India.”

“Billy…”

“My life was terrific until you let India leave Paris,” seethed Will.

“I didn’t let India leave Paris! She’s an adult. She can do as she pleases,” snapped Alison. “Billy, don’t you think that the reason India left Paris was to get under your skin?”

Will thought about the statement for a while. He’d never considered it, but it was a possibility…and it was something India would do. “You don’t think…”

“When I spoke to Warren a few weeks ago, he mentioned how happy you were with Connor. It’s possible someone from the country club saw you with Connor and came to the same conclusion. If someone tipped off India, that may explain why she left one night without nary a goodbye.”

Will kicked himself for being so stupid…for being so blind! How could he have not seen right through India’s surprise return to town?!? She’s done this on purpose! “I didn’t even think about that!”

“Why would you? You aren’t very perceptive when you’re only thinking about yourself, Billy.”

“Ouch, Mom.”

“It’s true.” Alison told the sales assistant they would take the three watches Will wanted along with a diamond tennis bracelet for herself. “Billy, if you love Connor – and I don’t know why you do – then go home and be with him. All of this drama with India is pointless. She’s always been obsessed with Connor. That will never change. However, if you do love him, then you’ll go home, be with him, and show her that you two are impervious to her machinations.”

“I will,” said Will, triumphantly. “I can’t believe I was too pigheaded to see what was right in front of me. Thank you, Mom.”

Alison smiled, lightly. “Thank me by not letting India push you around. You’re not a child anymore, Billy.

“Barbara, Miss India Montgomery is by the pool and she would like her lunch.” Ada handed Barbara a printed menu which listed the exact lunch order of India Montgomery including the precise number of croutons to be placed in her salad. “Chef is almost done with it. Get everything ready so you can take it to her without delay. You don’t wanna keep that one waiting because she’ll have you fired if you’re fifteen seconds late.”

Barbara nodded in agreement. While she hadn’t spoken to India Montgomery, she still remembered how she observed India eavesdropping outside of Will’s bedroom last week. To say Barbara was intrigued by India would have been a very accurate statement. “Oh, Ada,” Barbara called after her colleague, “which pool is India by?”

“The outdoor pool. Pay attention, Barbara!”

A few minutes later, Barbara was being sent up a service elevator she hadn’t seen before towards the outdoor preparation area near the pool. She quickly ensured everything was up to snuff on the lunch tray as she pushed open the door. The blinding afternoon sun nearly made Barbara cry out in pain. For the last few weeks, she’d been working inside of the main house which rendered her vulnerable to the unrelenting summer sun. Once she regained her composure, Barbara wheeled the cart through the oppressive humidity. She began to sweat profusely through her uniform and, for a few moments, Barbara thought she would drop dead from heat stroke and suffocation.

“Just leave the tray there.” India pointed to a spot to her left without ever lowering her sunglasses or looking up from the magazine cradled between her knees.

“Yes, Miss Montgomery,” said Barbara, quietly.

“You’re the new one.”

Barbara picked up the tray from the cart and placed it on the table to the left of India. “Yes, Miss Montgomery.”

“Your manners are too sparkling,” sniffed India. “They’ve trained you well.”

“Would you like anything else, Miss Montgomery?”

India lifted her head for the briefest of moments before lowering it once more. “If I need anything,” she began, “I certainly won’t ask you.”

Shock and humiliation coursed through Barbara. She felt like the lowest form of being in the known universe.

“You can go now,” India said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

Stunned, Barbara forced a smile onto her face as she went back to the outdoor preparation area. She could feel the tears begin to swell in her eyes while she frantically hit the buttons on the elevator. No one had ever spoken to Barbara like that before, not even when she was at her lowest moment in life. That snooty heiress didn’t even talk to her; she barked at her. She treated her worse than a dog…worse than nothing. In the elevator, Barbara held back her tears because she knew every area of the servant’s areas was awash in cameras. The last thing she wanted to do was let any of these people see her cry.

Back in the servant’s area, Barbara returned the cart to its corner and resumed her place on the stool in the chef’s kitchen. Maybe, thought Barbara, this was a bad idea after all. Before she arrived in Kingsport and during the first two weeks, everything seemed possible and full of opportunity. However, very slowly it was dawning on her that the gulf between people like the Montgomerys and everyone else in Kingsport may be too vast to ever cross. Even with all of her planning, Barbara had been dismissed by India Montgomery and made to feel like she was worth less than less. She felt inhuman. Yet, before the tears began to flow, Barbara swallowed her pride. She hadn’t come to Kingsport to make friends or become popular. It was then that she realized that India Montgomery had given her the greatest gift of all: A window into the world she lived in. If Barbara could exist around India without being the victim of her wrath, Barbara realized that she may achieve she goals quicker than anyone could have imagined. As Barbara sat on that stool to await her next assignment, a small smile formed on her lips. If she played her cards right, Barbara could learn everything she needed to know from Miss India Montgomery.

 

In our next installment, India plots her next move…

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