Yesterday Was Long Ago: Part Two Read online

  Isabell knew all about it from Betty McCain, who gave her many lessons about America’s Civil War, the end of slavery, and the animosity which still existed between North and South. Isabella remembered that as she replied. “Take a look at Europe, every country hates every other one.” She put their conversation behind her and started to talk about the skyscrapers, while walking slowly towards the main entrance as a Negro held the door wide open.

  “Hello, George,” both women greeted in unison. “This is William’s wife from Switzerland who lived in Germany during the war,” Kathryn explained.

  George gave a slight nod. “How do you do, Ma’am.”

  “Now welcome to our house, Isabella,” Kathryn said, cheerfully embracing her.

  “Thank you, and it’s so beautiful!”

  The furniture was English Victorian, which was exactly to Kathryn’s taste, as roses were visible from the drapes to their carpet motifs without being in any way overdone. Plants were everywhere and the main colors were, of course, in all shades of red. She also loved their paintings, which consisted of a mixture of flowers, dogs, and horses depending on the rooms, which also were plentiful. The house, although appearing long outside, was even larger after one entered. She explained that the house had on the right side four garages which were previously horse stables and, after the death of her parents in the thirties, Don and Bill decided to keep the place because of the beautiful location. There was much acreage and gardens, but it had to be remodeled. Therefore, the garages looked rather like an extension of the house.

  “When was it built?” Isabella wanted to know, as it looked positively ‘lived in’.

  “1870. A few years after the Civil War was over. My family was one of the fortunate who profited by it.”

  “And in this case, stone by stone came via boat from Scotland and the furniture, of course, from England,” Barbara stated matter-of-factly while switching to another subject. “By the way Isabell, I never told you how stunning you look in that suit. I love plaids myself and almost wore one quite similar.”

  “Wouldn’t that have been something?” Kathryn said, before a maid announced that the table was set with little finger sandwiches until lunch is served. They talked about the upcoming party, as it was the custom to introduce the new wife of their son.

  “Of course, William cares only about the friends he went to prep school and Harvard with, but it just so happens that we like their parents too. You may say it goes from one generation to the next.” No names were mentioned, but they warned Isabella to be cautious about certain people who sting with their tongues, like scorpions.

  She became a Reinhardt again and smiled. “I was told a long time ago that when one gets bitten or stung, one has to go for the kill.” Both women looked at each other, flabbergasted, not knowing what she had in mind. “We kill them with kindness. They always get so confused, ending up apologizing. So far it has worked every time. But as the Reinhardts always insisted, there are those exceptions.”

  Kathryn was very relieved, but Barbara wished aloud that either Dani Buchanan or her acid-tongued mother, Ann Leitner, would, for once in their lives, get a good tongue lashing as both families belong to their so-called ‘Great Society’. “Well, we’ll explain all that to you some other time,” Kathryn whispered, now hearing the men enter.

  “How can anyone have so many clothes?” Don laughed, followed by Bill and William.

  “You are one to ask, Dad,” William replied, kissing his wife on the cheek.

  “Has he been a good husband, Isabella?”

  “The very best any woman could ask for,” she replied happily. “Thank you for raising him,” she added, squeezing Kathryn’s hand who had the least to do with it. But it must have made her feel good and no one objected to the compliment.

  “After we have ourselves a little something to eat, we’ll get you settled in the guest house, and if you are short on closet space, we have plenty,” Don suggested, pulling up a chair. Bill and William did the same, and without any motions two black servants again brought food and drinks.

  After the phone rang, another servant came in asking for Barbara to take the call. She went in another room while the family exchanged glances. “I’ll bet it’s Steve.”

  “Sorry, I have to go.” She returned red-faced. “I’ll see you all this evening, if I am still invited.”

  “Alone,” her father said firmly.

  “The Customs men take anyone in the military uniform first,” Uncle Bill elaborated between sandwiches.

  “How nice,” said Kathryn, but her thoughts were with Barbara.

  “And how did my sister behave?” William looked at Isabella.

  “We got along really well, and she had a splendid idea.”

  “My sister? An idea?” William smiled in jest.

  “Yes, she thinks it a good idea if my name is now Isabell. We leave the ‘A’ out. Of course, it doesn’t sound more Anglican or American, but I like it.”

  “As long as you do,” Uncle Bill said amused. “but don’t get bullied by her.”

  “Oh, no, I rather like it myself. Isabell McAllister sounds very nice,” she smiled.

  “To us too,” William replied jubilant. “Welcome home, Darling.”

  “I was already nicely welcomed by your mother and sister.”

  “And this evening we’ll have a toast,” Uncle Bill commanded.

  Isabell and William went to their guest house, which was, to her surprise, not very close to the main house. It was spacious, beautifully decorated, and the view of the park was magnificent.

  “I love this place, William. I’m glad you brought me here.” They embraced, as always, very heartily.

  “It means the world to me, Isabell,” he said visibly moved. “I didn’t know what to expect from my sister as she is in the process of an ugly divorce.”

  She showed great surprise at his revelation. “Poor thing. She never let on.”

  “I think it made her a nicer person. I don’t know why, but not too many people like her.”

  “Well I do, and it may not be her fault.”

  “In a way, yes. In another, no. Her husband tried to bring his girlfriend from France over. Of course, he will leave town. But she used to treat him like dirt, and now he has someone whose life revolves around him. I really don’t blame the guy… but keep it to yourself.”

  “Of course, William. I know nothing, and will act surprised no matter who tells me.”

  “Good girl. There may be rough days ahead in the family. Once the great party is over, we’ll look for a house. Needless to say, I didn’t have a chance to talk to Bill alone.”

  “Well, I brought some dollars too. I will have to talk with your family about it since they are gold pieces.”

  “Where did you get them from? Your family in Austria will need them. We don’t need money for the house. Uncle Bill and I settled many things via mail,” he assured her, surprised that she would even mention it.

  “Grandmother Victoria and Astrid gave me gold coins. I also have a Swiss bank account of my own.”

  “Well, well, well,” William laughed, leaning back filling his pipe. “Now everyone in Westchester County will think I married you for your money.”

  “Everyone will know in no time that we married for love and love only. I just thought I’d mention it for when you look for a house. Remember, I will live there too.”

  “Gosh, I hope so,” he laughed even louder. “Isabell, we have no war and no money problems. Why don’t you send it back?” he replied sincerely.

  “It would be the greatest insult to each one of them. If they didn’t have it, they would have told me so. Grandmother Victoria is even frowning that my mother uses some of her Swiss francs in many stores. But if she didn’t, Aunt Ingrid and her own mother would get angry. We always avoid a fight, or for that matter even an argument, as there were so many when mother was still a von Walden.”

  “Are you trying to tell me you never had an argument?”

  “
Why should I? I have my own way to respond. Remember the two ‘Bodies’ Brad and Joel?”

  “Oh, yes. How can I possibly forget?

  “And I was starting to get quite jealous watching Sheila leaning on you.” She smiled. “Wonder how she is doing?”

  “Dating someone else… that’s all,” he shrugged. “Before I forget to tell you, while dad and Uncle Bill were waiting for the luggage, I sent some telegrams to Salzburg and Vienna. I know they will be happy to hear we arrived safely.”

  “You think of everything, William. Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome, and if you are not too tired, we’ll walk through the garden.”

  “Great idea. I am not tired at all. I slept the last two days.”

  They changed clothes and Isabell looked at his stunning appearance in navy blue slacks and white knitted shirt. She had a pleated, plaid skirt in blue and white with a navy blue blouse.

  “You look more beautiful as the days go by. Maybe you are happy after all.”

  “Very,” she replied, not telling him the reason why she felt not only happy, but already blessed with a new life in her body. They walked with their arms around each other’s waists, and as the older McAllister clan watched from the window, each one was too moved to say a word. Dinner was at seven and Isabell was surprised that all her clothes were hung up. “Your family changes for dinner?”

  “Yes, but no gala, just a bit nicer.”

  She had many dresses in a variation of red, as it was her favorite color. She took a classic red linen dress with white trim and Kathryn’s pearl necklace with her earrings.

  “Look,” she said to Barbara embracing her lightly. “This is from your mother, and the bracelet is from your brother.”

  “Gorgeous,” she smiled. “And I have something for you too, Isabell.”

  “So have I. We’ll wait until after dinner.”

  Nothing was mentioned about Steve, but they may have talked before their arrival, Isabell thought, enjoying standing rib roast with all the trimmings. Again, she had fruit juice, claiming wine made her sleepy.

  “Did you bring a party dress?” Kathryn asked carefully. “We have great boutiques here.”

  “I brought several, but will wear red. Dark red; long and beautiful, and the right jewelry to go with it.”

  “May I see it?” Barbara asked, dying to see all of her clothes.

  “Of course. I may need your help with certain things.”

  “The way I see it, Isabell, I may need yours!” They all were extremely relaxed, hoping Barbara would behave that way until the party was over anyway. After that, most of their friends would leave New York in the following weeks to avoid the heat.

  They went to a sitting room with a built-in bar, helping themselves to drinks. Isabell had a few little boxes in a large one, and started to give each one their gift.

  “Mrs. McAllister, this is for a rose lover like myself. Barbara, I hope you will like this and wear it in good health.”

  Kathryn shrieked. “I cannot take that! It’s a diamond rose!”

  “You have a pearl one already,” Isabell smiled, while Kathryn got up almost staggering.

  “No… I cannot take it.”

  Isabell smiled again. “You can, and you must. It’s from the Reinhardt collection.”

  “Oh, my God,” she stammered again with Don also extremely happy. He of all people knew if she liked something or not. So did Bill, Barbara, and William.

  “Isabell!” Barbara screamed. “I don’t deserve this bracelet. Look everybody, it’s with sapphires and diamonds. It must have cost fortune!” She replied in awe.

  Isabell walked, undisturbed, to the men. “I know you have an abundance of paper weights, money clips, cufflinks, and whatever else a man needs through the years. So we thought of something smart and useless,” she laughed out loud. “For each of you two, an engraved Swiss Army knife from the 1837 collection. I have no idea what that means, as it comes from the Reinhardts.”

  “Good Lord, I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Don.

  “Solid gold!” Uncle Bill replied in astonishment, looking at his brother.

  “And for my husband, a pen and pencil set which can be clipped on, so you won’t lose it,” she said with a kiss on his cheek.

  “I am now too embarrassed to give you my present,” Barbara cried, wearing her bracelet, with her mother repeating the sentence.

  “Oh, Barbara. It’s the thought that counts. That goes for you too, Mrs. McAllister.”

  Kathryn went in a room and brought her a beautiful black crocodile handbag, something Isabell had never seen as far as the style was concerned.

  Barbara took a large box and embraced Isabell. “Wear it in good health too.” It was a beautiful beige mink stole which Isabell quickly wrapped around herself. It gave quite an amusing picture with Kathryn showing her rose etoile pin, Barbara her sapphire bracelet, and Isabell walking with an air of hauteur and smiling in front of three happy McAllister men. William had never experienced a more joyful family gathering as far as he could remember. Needless to say, he attributed all their newfound happiness to none other than his wife, Isabell.

  37

  It was two days before the McAllisters’ big party and, as usual, Ann Leitner and Dani Buchanan left a question mark, since they were traveling from California and may be late; but then both would be there, as they always enjoy McAllister’s parties.

  “It’s a lie, Mother,” Barbara acknowledged. “They are always the last to make their big entrance for one thing, and for the other, maybe they heard that Steve moved out and don’t like to be associated with me. They never cared for me.”

  “That would be a joke if you think it’s because of Steve. Ann Leitner was an O’Hara— sweet kind Chris deserved much better—and before she was an O’Hara, she was Ann Thornberg.” Both smiled.

  “I forgot,” Barbara conceded.

  “Well, I didn’t. I know they are coming because they want to see what William’s ‘war bride’ looks like.”

  “So both can take a stab at her.”

  “I’d like to see them try. William will tell them where to go, and you know what? I won’t even interfere.”

  “Good for you, Mother. I get so upset when they refer to Mrs. Ann Leitner as ‘the Grand Dame of Scarsdale’. You, if anyone, should get the title. She is younger on top of it.”

  “Barbara, it’s money and their connections with who is who. They are invited to places we never are.”

  “Well, Dani is prettier than I am, happier, and has a child. But nothing is my fault. Well, let’s say some of it is.”

  “Barbara, you can only better yourself. That’s what Ann Leitner did each time.”

  “You have a point.”

  ∼

  The McAllisters hired a band which served many families in Westchester County quite well. Their spacious place was transformed by professional decorators in no time. The weather played along quite beautifully, so there were many outdoor flowers with intertwined ribbons. Isabell, who was quite used to such parties, was even astonished, and told William she hoped it was not all for her.

  “No, Isabell… you have to get used to it, one tries to outdo the other. It’s just the name of the game which is played here. As for myself, like many guys, we don’t care for it, but what else is one to do?”

  “They hired caterers. It’s not a habit in our place, but then we have an oversupply of servants the whole year round.”

  “There were some of your servants I liked a lot, Fanny Hirt topping the list,” he said, putting his black tie in order.

  “So do I, but no one would ever leave Vienna age-wise and otherwise. They would be totally lost without the Reinhardts.”

  “I am still worried about you, Isabell,” he said solemnly, entering her small dressing room. “My Lord, do you look beautiful,” he stammered, shaking his head.

  “William, my dear, any woman in a gown like this would.” She decided on a ruby red silk charmeuse gown with a
square neckline, a wide flowing bias-cut skirt with a chiffon skirt draped over and held by a velvet beaded belt. She used only her ruby earrings to give a perfect appearance. Her hair was, as always for a special occasion, worn in a plaited French twist, giving her a festive look.

  When Isabell and William entered the crowded room, the McAllisters couldn’t help but notice the many astonished and admiring looks of their guests. Kathryn wore navy blue with small diagonal thin white stripes. Next to her stood mousy-blond Barbara with more makeup than usual to hide her pale face from many sleepless nights. Her dress was multi-colored with oriental flowers on black satin. Kathryn told her she looked very good.

  “Mother, take a look at Isabell and William. No matter who comes or likes to make a great entrance, those two are hard to beat.”

  “I agree wholeheartedly.”

  Dinner was all buffet-style and so beautifully arranged that even Isabell was in awe. She walked on the arm of William to his parents and sister with a big smile, adding that everything looked so beautiful.

  “Especially you!” said Barbara without a tinge of jealousy.

  “And so do you and your mother. Don’t sell yourself short. You don’t know how long it took me,” she smiled.

  William made sure his wife met everybody, and started with his former school friends, be it from prep school to college or Oxford. Each one had a wife on their arm too who raved about her gown but had otherwise very little to say. William couldn’t help but think of their utter surprise about his ‘war bride’. But he also knew that she would be checked out by watching her every move.

  Barbara stayed next to her mother like she needed a security blanket, afraid someone would have the nerve to ask for Steve. Isabell, after having been introduced to everybody, decided to join Barbara, who looked rather forlorn. William could now go to his friends and have their own talk about the war or whatever else was of great interest after all these many years. She told Barbara to get a bite to eat as her mother was engrossed with her own friends.

  “Good idea, though I am not hungry,” she said, and they crossed the room when both heard a long, drawn-out, “No! It cannot be! Mother, look and tell me I am not going crazy!”, causing most of their guests to turn their heads, including Isabell and Barbara. Many started to whisper and comment that only people like Leitner and Buchanan could get away with such an outburst, while Kathryn hinted to her friend that it was their greatest entrance ever. Isabell held Barbara’s hand and looked equally stunned, recognizing ‘Ella’ and Ann Leitner immediately.