The Surrogate

It had been in the news that two of Monet’s paintings from Giverny had sold at auction in the city, breaking new records for the auction house that had them. Now, they sat above this bed in a cool dim room overlooking the quiet city street out its gabled window. Hundreds of millions of dollars sat there in the quiet, and it baffled Esther as she sat against the bed. It was so striking to her that she almost forgot why she had come up there, but her eyes became heavier and heavier as she fell back into the plush pillows.

This room was not fitting to the rest of the house. It was less busy and more modern, and it reminded her of the things she liked when they were young and together. As Esther drifted off to sleep, the question remained in her mind: had Archibald made this room for her?

In her dream, Esther’s imagination took her to Monet’s famous home.

Her mind reconstructed the gardens from old photographs, paintings, and stories Archie had once told her. Her mind added flourishes to fill in the gaps. She could see Archie sitting there by the water. Dressed in a white linen suit, Archie looked as if he was glowing. Radiant in the sunshine, everything was blinding about him, but she longed to reach out to him.

He found her hand with ease. Without even having to step closer, it was as if they floated together. Finding each other in the open lawn under a magnificent old tree, Esther let Archibald hold her tightly. She loved him without question, and as tourists began to pass by it seemed like nobody could see them. Esther and Archie were in their own bubble, but as he kissed her deeply the bubble popped.

When she woke up, Esther was unaware of the time. Her mouth was dry, but her body felt like a rock. Her sleep had been deep and satisfying, and her bones took a moment to come alive as she got herself together and shuffled back down the hall. Making her way to the kitchen, she decided that a cup of hot tea in the cold weather would wake her back up. Finding the light-filled kitchen, she hunted and eventually found a kettle after a few minutes. Filling the teapot up with water and set to boil on the grand stove.

The house seemed quiet except for a vacuum going a distant part of the house

Out the kitchen window, Esther could see the driver escorting her family out of the car. Grace looked tired from waking up so early to meet her grandmother, but the old woman looked chipper and bright in the icy weather.

Roberta Foster was not what most people expected. From her youthful bright blue eyes to her long draping clothing, the retired art teacher stood out among her family not just because of her eclectic qualities. In pictures of her family, her Lumbee and European heritage made her easy to pick out of the crowd. She still looked like a black woman, but her features defied convention as much as her personality. She was a self-proclaimed black sheep in her household, and Roberta Foster celebrated that label. Esther loved her mother-in-law for that very reason.

Wearing her hair in a long braid over her shoulder, Roberta’s once thick dark hair was a now a soft gray, which contrasted against her vibrant purple coat and fluffy ear muffs. Pulling a flowery suitcase behind her, Roberta allowed Grace to help her up the stairs and into the house. Soon enough, the pair were entering the kitchen as they pulled off their coats.

“Esther! Come give your Momma Bertie a kiss on the cheek!” Roberta said, opening her arms wide as Esther hurried over from the kitchen sink.

Roberta’s hugs were warm and welcoming like a cup of hot chocolate on a snowy evening. Perpetually smelling of fresh laundry and peppermint, Esther felt young again as she closed her eyes for the happy moment. It was just like the first time her mother-in-law ever hugged her all those years ago.

Grace waited patiently before getting her own hug from Esther. It was clear that Grace was just as sleepy as her mother, but she smelled like coffee and cookies.

Esther sighed, kissing her daughter on the cheek before apologizing, “I’m sorry, Roberta. I was supposed to come get you.”

“Sweetie, it is all right. The nice gentleman came and got me after picking up Gracie, and he took us for a quick pick me up. He’s very nice, that Franklin.”

“Franklin?” Esther repeated as she realized that she never knew his name.

The man was silent as stone when he came and got her, and yet Roberta knew about his family as she prattled on with, “He is having Thanksgiving with his family in Queens with his partner’s family. Their two daughters are performing in a play tonight at the children’s theater his husband runs. The costumes are just delightful.”

Esther paused before questioning aloud, “Franklin is gay?”

Roberta nodded. “He came out after meeting this man in college, and they have been sweethearts ever since. It’s all so terribly sweet.”

While the two had talked about the driver, Grace hung their coats up in the mudroom just across the hall, and came back into the kitchen. Grace tugged on her grandmother’s sleeve getting her attention as she gushed over her new friend.

“Grandma, why don’t we take your bag up to your room? You’re on the same hall as me on the fourth floor apparently. We can take the elevator up.”

Esther looked to see a maid was standing there with a piece of luggage in each hand.

“Okay, my little blossom.” Roberta’s voice rang out like a calming melody.

Esther stopped them as they headed toward the hallway. “Would like some tea, Roberta? I’m making a pot for myself.”

“That would be lovely.”

“Mom, I’m going to go shower and take a nap.”

Esther nodded. “That’s fine, dear.”

A moment later, Archie waltzed through the door, hands in his pockets. Esther was minding the kettle on the stove as Archie hunted for a can of cashews in the pantry. Eating his salty snack, he leaned against the counter next to Esther’s workspace where she set upon getting some prep work out of the way.

Archie began to bother her while munching on his snack.

“I just met your mother-in-law in the hallway. She called me a ‘very nice boy’ and thanked me for letting her stay in my house. She also said I had kind eyes… I like her.”

Esther kept on her task as she replied, “That’s Roberta for you. She also made friends with your driver Franklin.”

“Really? He’s typically more of the silent type.”

“I know, but apparently he’s married with two daughters and a husband.”

“Franklin’s gay?” Archie looked out the window to where the car sat. “Good for him.”

“Roberta always can find a friend. It’s why she is still my friend.”

“Speaking of you, you do look rested. Was I right to say that you deserved some rest?”

“You were,” Esther sighed. “I also noticed the paintings you have in my room.”