Chapter 49
Lane (September 2023)
...
Lane knocked on the front door of Carolyn and Nancy's house but after a few minutes, there was no answer. Lane looked at Ophelia who shrugged and rang the doorbell.
"Maybe she didn't hear the knock," Ophelia said. "She is in her eighties after all."
"That's true," Lane replied. "She's probably wondering who the hell would be at the door."
The two friends heard movement on the other side and then a quiet voice. "Just a minute!" the voice called out. "I'll be right there!"
After the shuffling sound had stopped, the front door unlocked and creaked open. An old woman stuck her head out to look at her visitors.
"Oh, hello," the woman said. "What can I do for you?"
"Hello," Lane said, "Is there a Carolyn Moore or a Nancy Adler here?"
The woman looked surprised. "Well, yes, I'm Carolyn."
"I'm Lane and this is my friend, Ophelia," Lane continued. "We found something that belongs to you and Nancy." They held up the photo album and Ophelia held up the old shoebox so Carolyn could see.
"Well I'll be," Carolyn sighed and smiled. "Where did you get that from?"
"I live at the Sequoia Bay Apartments," Lane answered. "It used to be a hotel and I live in one of the apartments that used to be part of a school."
"You found that album in there?" Carolyn asked.
"No, my landlady found the album in her father's belongings. He bought the building and converted it into apartments. I found the shoebox in the ceiling."
"Right where we left it," Carolyn laughed. "We were never able to go back to retrieve those letters. But that photo album; we thought it was lost forever."
"We wanted to return these to you," Ophelia added. "They seem really special."
"They are indeed," Carolyn replied. "Why don't you kids come on in? I'll make some coffee."
"Thank you," Lane said as they walked into the cozy house. Ophelia followed behind them. Lane looked around at all of the things that were in the home; unique furniture, artwork, and many framed photographs. Everything looked proper in its place and there was a real sense of home here.
"You can have a seat at the kitchen table while I fix some coffee," Carolyn said as she placed her cane in the corner of the hallway next to a photo-filled credenza. Lane and Ophelia took a moment to look at the photos.
They joined Carolyn in the kitchen and sat at the table; placing the photo album and box of letters on their crochet placemats.
"Nan made those placemats," Carolyn said boldly. "She loved to crochet."
"They're lovely," Ophelia replied.
"I'm sure Nancy will be excited to see these letters and photos again," Lane said.
Carolyn sighed quietly as she held onto a mug. She rubbed the ceramic with her thumb. "Nan would've been happy to see them but she passed away."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Lane said as their face turned red.
"We're very sorry for your loss," Ophelia added.
"It happened nearly five years ago. It'll be five years this December," Carolyn replied. "She died here at home. By the fireplace. I was holding her hand when it happened. She was in a lot of pain toward the end and on lots of medications but I think she was okay in her final moments. She looked peaceful. Content."
"I'm so sorry," Lane said again.
"Oh, no worries," Carolyn said as she brought over two mugs of coffee and placed them neatly on coasters that Nancy also made. "Cream and sugar?"
"None for me, thanks," Ophelia said as she took a mug to sip on.
"I'll have some, please," Lane said sheepishly.
Carolyn brought cream and sugar over to the table and passed them to Lane. After they were done, Carolyn added some to her own coffee.
"Let's have a look at that album," Carolyn said with her hand out. Lane passed her the old album and she turned the cover open. She smiled and began to tear up when she saw the photos.
"Oh dear," she chuckled. "We were so young. And oh, look at Roger! Just a baby here."
"Did Roger work in the hotel?" Ophelia asked.
Carolyn nodded. "He worked at the front desk. We became fast friends with him and he actually helped us leave the hotel. We ran away together. We stayed with him and his boyfriend at the time until we were able to find work and our own place. Good old Roger is still alive and kicking! His husband Sebastian passed away a few months after Nan had gone."
"Does he visit often?" Lane asked.
Carolyn nodded. "He does. All the time. We keep each other company. He was devastated when Nan died."
"So you both ran away together?" Lane asked.
"We did indeed. We loved each other so much."
"It must've been scary. Escaping the school and hotel," Ophelia said.
Carolyn laughed. "I'll tell you all about it."
Lane and Ophelia listened to Carolyn tell her story. She told them about her family, Nancy's family, the hotel and school, Mistress Laurier, the other students, Roger— she told them about all of the late nights they would spend reading to each other and she told them about the secrets she and Nancy had to keep. Carolyn told them about everything they did after they ran away and how difficult it was at first to stay in contact with her two sisters. Carolyn didn't skip a single detail and the stories made Lane cry.
It was getting late in the day and Lane and Ophelia thanked Carolyn for her incredible hospitality and storytelling as she walked them out on the front porch.
"You should come visit us in C7 sometime soon," Lane suggested. "You can check out what they did with the building and I can make you coffee next time."
Carolyn laughed. "I would like that very much. I could bring a couple of newer photo albums to share with you both. You'll love the ones of Nan's flower shop and you'll also love the ones from our wedding."
"That sounds great," Lane replied. "I have your number. I'll call you!"
Carolyn bowed her head and looked up at the nice kids that brought her missing things back to her. "I'm looking forward to it. Thank you again for returning our things."
"You're welcome," Lane said. "We'll see you soon."
Ophelia got into the driver's seat and started the car, beeping the horn playfully while Lane waved to Carolyn who was standing on the front porch of her lovely home. The friends drove off, excited to know that they had done something nice and that Carolyn would visit them with more stories to tell.