I walked up to the rear door and knocked. It was savannah who opened the door and said; "Now Emily,
you're one of us now, so ya don't have to be knocking. Just walk right in like ya own the place"; and her
giggling made me laugh as well. She leaned around me and told me I had a beautiful car! "You see that old
beat up gray thing next to your car Emily"? I told her yes. "Well, that's my car". Once again we laughed.
"Boy you got that car packed don't you?
I've got time to help you get settled in if you don't mind"? I told her only if she wouldn't get in trouble with
Mrs. Montgomery. Between the two of us, we had all the things I had brought with me in my new room.
It was as if I had stepped back into time, I swear. The room was a mess now, cluttered up and all but I
was done. Savannah looked a bit tired as well, but she tried not to show it as she said she had to be off.
We hugged and I thanked her and she was gone.
Now it was just me, alone in this beautiful room complete with my own fireplace. I wondered if it still
worked. I looked at my watch and saw that it was after 10 am and I got back into my car, stopped by
Annie's shop and picked up my maid’s outfits and returned to what was now, my new home. I was as
nervous as a new bride trying on her gown for the first time as I slipped into the maids outfit. As I stood
back and looked into the mirror I was in awe. I picked up my hair brush and began to brush my hair and
before I knew anything, I could have passed for a maid back in the 1800's!
I wondered how old the design was for this outfit. Could this be what every maid had worn since 1860?
It wasn't time for me to begin my orientation yet but I could feel my nervousness building by the moment.
None the less; I made my way through the mansions hallways and down the staircase all by myself for the
first time. When I reached the main floor, I stopped and for a moment stood beside the beautiful black
grand piano beside an antique mirror.
That was when I heard footsteps and as I turned I saw savannah and she stopped in her tracks when she
saw me. “Emily, you look absolutely beautiful in that outfit, I really mean it! Mrs. Montgomery will be so
surprised, and so will everyone else. Annie fitted you perfectly" and I watched her smile. "It's not time for
you go start your orientation so we have some time to talk. Let me go get you a map of the house. Your
duties will only be the upper floor but
it's good for you to learn your way around the house.
I'll be right back. You can wait in the parlor if you'd like"! I was so glad everyone was being so polite and
helpful to me. It took the bite off me making my transition into my new job and home. In a few minutes
Savannah returned and as she opened the door the chimes sounded. "It's just me Emily, and she laughed.
"Here’s a map of the house and all 6 pages of your instructions! Now don't you fret none. Once you get
used to doing things for, oh maybe two weeks you won't even need what we maids call our "Cheat sheet";
and we both laughed!
“For your first three shifts I’ll help show you what to do. By the end of those three days, you won't have the
same nervousness I see in your eyes now�? Savannah looked at her watch and asked me if I'd mind if she
helped me unpack my things, and I told her I wouldn't mind. When we got back to my room, the first thing
Savannah saw was my easel. "How long have you been an artist Emily"? I told her ever since I was a child.
She asked me if I had ever sold any of my paintings and I felt myself blush from embarrassment or pride as
I nodded and told her yes. "I have paintings in many shops here in Mobile! I'll never be rich mind you but I
am happy to say people like what I paint. I have even done portraits directly from photos or posed, like
sitting in a chair"! Savannah seemed captivated that I was creative. "To be honest Emily, I don't have a
creative bone in my body"; and we both began to laugh!
I positioned my easel near the window and between Savannah and myself, what belongings I did bring, all
seemed to find their perfect spot. That was when Savannah opened a small box by the door and saw the
chimes with six small rainbows! "This is so cute Emily. It looks brand new"! I told her it was. "Just in case
Mary comes in I would like to know so I can say hi to her"! I could tell I made a nice impression upon
Savannah.
When it was time for me to go to work, Savannah took out her copy of the same list I had. "Now remember,
you don't have to do all the chores listed here in the order shown, as long as they all get done. But I think if
you do them in the order shown, you'll save time and work your way across the upper floor without skipping
over rooms you'll have to be doing anyways. So, let's go down stairs and I'll show you where the cleaning
supplies and linen closet is and
we'll get started.
That day was the first of three days with Savannah at my side to coach me, or perhaps supervise me, but to
any extent, to make sure I did a good job. After that, I was on my own and it really wasn't that hard a job.
Tedious yes, but not hard. One just has to pay attention to detail and before I knew it, it was supper time,
then bed time! Breakfast was served between 6:30 and 7:30 am. Lunch was served between 11:45 and 1pm;
and supper was served between 5:30 and 6:30 pm.
This was the first job I had ever held where I didn't have to cook my own meals! Amelia was an outstanding
cook and I don't think she cook anything that would not taste delicious. That first night’s sleep in my room
was heavenly. I had never lain down on such a comfortable mattress before. Best of all, I slept so restful that
when the first rays of morning woke me up, I was ready for a new day! Though my days were filled with
errands or painting, or reading, and then work, my life was anything but mundane!
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months and soon came the day I had been employed at Wellington
Estates for 1 full year. I didn't know that today was a special day until I walked into the kitchen at lunch time
and was startled when all the staff and Mrs. Montgomery shouted "Happy Anniversary Emily"! When I saw
all the smiles, balloons, and gifts, all I could do was cry! But they were good tears.
It was true that we all felt like family! As the laughter faded and everyone gathered around the dining room
table, the chimes by the door tinkled and I knew even Mary had come to celebrate and I thanked her too.
I've heard it said that "Time flies by when you’re happy"; and that was so true in my case! Three years had
passed since I had been hired and my paintings had sold well. Yes, I could honestly say my life had stabilized.
If I had chosen to, I could have left that job and maybe even opened up my own gallery, but I didn't. It just
felt perfect to be in this mansion, to live a life so few even dared was possible. Yet, still, in the back of my
mind was the haunting image of Mary's loneliness walking these halls. In these three years, no one had told
me they’d seen Mary, only that they heard a near-by chime begin to ring. Then one day, it happened!
I walked into my room to fetch my car keys when I saw it! There on my easel was a photograph of Mary
and beside it, a photograph of Scott! I automatically assumed that Mrs. Montgomery had placed the two
pictures on my easel in the hopes that I could create a large painting of the two of them on one canvas. I
saw no reason to tell her I’d be happy to paint such a portrait. She knew me well enough that I would
never have said no!
By the end of the week, I had finished the 16 x 20 portrait and went to the framing shop where I bought
all my frames. I took extra care to pick the right frame and the right matting to enhance the portrait. Before
I left the store, I had the painting wrapped. I added a small card message that said, "Thank you so much for
letting me paint this portrait for you"; signed Emily! When I got back to the estate, I placed the painting in
the room Mrs. Montgomery used as an office.
When it came time for my shift to start, I went about my duties as I did every day. Suddenly, just as I was
stepping out into the hallway, I saw Mrs. Montgomery walking towards me with her eyes full of tears!
Anxiously, I asked her what was wrong and as she wiped her eyes, she told me she had found the painting
in her office and she could never thank me enough for my thoughtfulness! All I could say back was, "I only
painted for you the two photographs you left on my easel last week Mrs. Montgomery"!
She looked at me wide eyed and confused. "Pictures�? I placed no pictures on your easel Emily"! We
both just stared at each other in wonder. Well if you didn't, who did I asked"? That was when we both
thought the same thing. Mrs. Montgomery hadn't placed the two photographs on my easel, Mary had.
She had hoped that I could make a portrait of her and the man she would forever love! Now I understood,
as tears began to fall from our eyes! That made the portrait even more special!
Together we walked upstairs and carried the portrait to Mary's room and choose a spot close to the
bedroom window where the light could shine upon it. A hammer and a nail later, it looked beautiful. Word
spread through the house of what I had painted and one by one staff would visit Mary's room and gaze at
the oil painting. Yet as happy as I felt, I felt sad too. Something was bothering me and that uneasy feeling
kept me awake many a night.
After all these years, why had Mary chosen to linger in this house? What was she waiting for? It couldn't
be for Scott because she knew he had died in the plane crash. Suddenly I had an idea! I returned to my
room and there in the fourth drawer of my dresser sat my photo album of memories of my parents! I lifted
it out and held with both hands as I kissed its cover! With misty eyes, I sat on the edge of my bed turning
the pages one at a time until I found the folded up yellowed newspaper article about my parents death.
I ever so carefully opened the newspaper page and with a hair clip, attached it to my easel, hoping that
Mary would visit my room and find it. I wanted to let her know that I too had suffered a loss of someone
special! My idea was a simple one. I hoped that Mary might see that I had lost my parents and somehow
or someway might be able to talk with me. If nothing else, maybe write on paper why she has lingered
within this house for so many years. Perhaps if I knew her reason, I might be able to help her spirit to be
at rest. Of course, as good as this seemed to do, it would mean that her mother and all who lived in this
house would realize she wasn't here anymore! That was sure to break her mother's heart!
Several days and nights came and went without my bedroom chime sounding. I didn't know if Mary had
come into my room or if she had seen the newspaper on my easel. Then it happened. Just before it was
time for me to begin my shift, I heard the soft sound of my chime. I felt a smile come across my face, yet
a tear drop form in my eye. "Welcome Mary! I hoped that you’d visit me and that I might be able to talk
with you; if that's okay"? There was only silence in my room. "I know you have never spoken to anyone
in this house before. But if you cannot speak, perhaps you might be able to write down what you would
like me to know.
I too have lost loved ones Mary. I lost both my parents, many years ago and I am no stranger to pain".
"Perhaps if you could tell me why you've stayed in this house all these years, perhaps there might be
something I could do to help you". Suddenly the clip holding my newspaper on my easel fell to the floor,
and gently the paper floated to my bed and lay beside me. Then the miracle of all miracles happened!
Mary appeared next to my bedroom window wearing her wedding gown and holding a beautiful bouquet
of roses just as she had done the day she took her own life!
Her eyes were closed and her head downward as I heard her tear drops begin to fall. "All I've wanted
Emily, all these long and tearful years was to hear my mother tell me that she forgave me for taking my
life that day I learned Scott had died! Momma has talked of many things and cried tears uncounted since
I was buried, but never have I heard her tell me, even in a soft whisper, that she forgave me"! By this time
my eyes were a river of tears as she looked towards me.
"I’m so sorry Mary, I never knew! I know your mother forgave you, I know! Her love for you is beyond
anything I could try to tell you. Everyone in this house loves you and I know you know that Mary"! At that
moment I had never seen such anguish in someone's eyes the way I saw sadness in Mary's eyes! After all
these years all Mary needed to find peace within herself, within her soul, was to hear her momma tell her,
"I forgive you Mary"!
I told Mary that I would go to her mother and explain all that she had told me and that I knew she would
finally hear the words that meant everything to her. I told her that I would bring her mother to her bedroom.
At that moment, the smile on Mary's face was as priceless as a mother and daughters love could be. "I can't
thank you enough for the beautiful painting of Scott and myself, Emily; but I will try"! Then I watched her lift
out one of her red roses and walk over to me and lay it within my two hands!
Then she slowly waved good-bye to me and when the mist cleared, I was alone. I felt at that moment as if
the weight of a car had been lifted off my shoulders! I made my way downstairs and found Mrs. Montgomery
in her office going over receipts. When she saw me wiping my eyes she asked me with concern what was
wrong. That was when she looked down and saw the red rose in my hand.
"OMG! Please tell me that Mary gave you that rose Emily"? I smiled and shook my head yes as my tears fell
upon the rose. "I have spoken to Mary Mrs. Montgomery; I know why she has stayed in this house all these
years"! Before I could begin to speak, Mrs. Montgomery was urgently pleading for me to tell her. "She's been
waiting all these years, lingering, hoping that one day she would hear you say you forgave her for taking her life
Mrs. Montgomery"!
At that moment we both needed a hug desperately and we met each other half way across the room. I don't
know whose tears fell upon each other more, hers or mine! For the longest time Mrs. Montgomery cried and
sobbed and shook! Finally she took a deep breath and tried to turn away; saying, "Look at me, I'm crying like
a baby"! But I was very quick to tell her; "A mother's love for her daughter is never without tears"!
When she had returned to her desk and wiped her eyes with a monogrammed white handkerchief, she looked
up at me with hopeful eyes! "Where can I find my daughter Emily, we have so much to say to each other,
especially me"? I told her I had asked Mary to wait for her in Mary's bedroom. Wasting no time Mrs. Montgomery
stood up and picked up the picture of Mary that sat closest to her on her desk. As she headed for the door, she
stopped and whispered in a kind voice, "I’ll never forget what you have done for me"!
I touched her shoulder and told her I understood! Then I smiled my best smile and told her to hurry because her
daughter was waiting"! Before I left the office, I could hear the hurried footsteps of a mother, hoping to see her
daughter. I didn't follow Mrs. Montgomery upstairs. This was a moment to be shared between just the two of
them! But I will put down to paper what Mrs. Montgomery told me afterwards, I knocked softly upon my daughter's
bedroom door and opened it and stepped inside, closing it softly behind me.
My eyes searched her room anxiously, but I didn't see Mary. So I sat upon her bed, with the framed photograph
in both my hands as I began to cry. "I'm so sorry Mary for not saying that I had forgiven you on that terrible day!
Maybe in all my grief I thought I had or meant too, but it is you who I ask to forgive me"! Suddenly the part of the
bed next to me began to compress and when I turned, I saw Mary sitting next to me and we both hugged.
We hugged each other so tightly; I forgot for just a moment that she was no longer alive. As we leaned away
from each other she raised a finger to my eyes and pleaded for me not to cry. But a mother's heart needed to
cry a river of tears that day! I told Mary she was absolutely beautiful and how I wished I could have seen her
so much sooner than now. "I forgave you that day I found you Mary, I have forgiven you every day my heart
has beat. A mother's love will forgive a daughter for anything.
I know Scott's death broke your heart. But I will always love you Mary and I will cherish every moment, every
memory we have shared"! Those loving words were all my daughter needed to hear before the window behind
her turned into the whitest of pure light! Mary looked at me with happiness and sadness as she told me that it
was her time to say good-bye"! We clutched each other as if we would never let go, but we both knew we had
too.
But as she stood, she handed me a red rose and asked me to keep it for the rest of my days, to remember her
by, and I promised her I would. I watched her turn and walk into the light as she whispered lovingly, "Bye bye
momma, I love you" and the white light had taken her home. She was finally at peace and so was I�? That day
was closure for a mother and a daughter. I personally took down all the chimes I had placed throughout my
house, one tear drop of happiness at a time!
©2007 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
First 