Ashes to Ashes, the Pyre of Karma by Haimes Hensley

Author:Haimes Hensley [Hensley, Haimes]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780692163719
Goodreads: 41151753
Publisher: Haimes Hensley
Published: 2018-08-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Five

With the exception of the miniature replica of their home for a mailbox Ann passed on her way in, she admired the details of the property. Her sister’s exquisite red brick Georgian house and artful gardens could have made the cover of House Beautiful Magazine. Ann left her car in the circular driveway and rang the doorbell at six p.m. sharp.

“Come in, come in,” Jane urged. She hugged Ann then guided her through the marble entryway and into the living room.

Ann took in the beauty of the antique-filled parlor with its tasteful deep blue and cream-colored appointments and handed Jane a bottle of wine. “Your home is gorgeous, Jane. This is a far cry from Don and Florence’s house in Ohio.”

“Thank you. It’s been a long road.” Jane put the bottle of wine on the wet bar. “Gary will be a little late. Make yourself comfortable, I’ll be right back.”

Jane returned from the kitchen with a chilled bottle of white wine and hors d’oeuvres, dates stuffed with goat cheese, and curried shrimp. The sisters reminisced while they leafed through a photo album that Jane had readied in anticipation of Ann’s arrival. There was a picture of Jane when she graduated nursing school, but most were of Gary and Jane’s wedding and their honeymoon in Tahiti.

Jane explained that her ‘incredible and happy life’ hadn’t begun until she met Gary. “Ann, he’s brilliant and compassionate. His patients adore him and so do I. I can’t wait until you get to know him better.”

“And, I look forward to it, as well.” Ann pointed to one of the pictures. “Jane, you made a beautiful bride. You know, I don’t have many photos,” Ann said, “but I do have one that I treasure. Do you remember when we had our picture taken in those matching blue dotted Swiss dresses?” Jane didn’t answer. “Don’t you remember?”

Jane’s mood was pensive.

“I remember,” Jane replied in a quiet voice. “I kept that dress for years, but it got lost while I lived in Millerstown.”

“I’ll have a copy of the photo made for you if you’d like.”

The atmosphere in the room changed.

Jane blurted out, “Where did you go? Why didn’t you come to see me? Did you ever think about me?”

“Jane, I—”

“Didn’t you care what happened to me?” Jane’s voice quivered like a child’s.

“Of course, I thought about you, but I assumed you’d be okay. Don and Florence loved you and were good to you.” Ann reached for her hand. “Jane, I did call the house on your eighteenth birthday, but Florence said you had met a nice young man and gotten engaged and that you had recently moved to Millerstown. She said you hadn’t contacted them after that and it was like you vanished off the face of the earth. She was a little worried, and hurt, but believed you were ashamed of your past and wanted to start a new life.”

“That wasn’t my intention. I guess we all assumed things that weren’t accurate.” Jane checked the time. “I have to admit I’m glad Gary’s a little late.

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