benefit was called the Holly Ball. Sheâd talked it over with Tom and they were going. She wanted to get a look at the attendees, and he thought they should show their support for Hubbard Houseâand he always liked to dance with Faith.
Denise continued to talk about the Hubbards. âI see Dr. Hubbard quite a bit coming and going. Heâs a sweetie, and I donât see how this place could exist without him. Itâs not just that he knows everyone by name, but he really knows themâtheir aches and pains, sorrows and joys. Donald is a good doctor, but he doesnât have the same charisma.â
âWhatâs Donaldâs wife like? Does she work here too?â
âCharmaine? No, she doesnât work here. Sheâll be at the ball and you can judge her for yourself. She got back from her latest cruise or spa last week, so sheâs in town.â
âIs she FrenchââCharmaineâ?â
Denise laughed. âShe might like to be taken for French, but she actually sounds more like a Georgia peach, although I have it on good authority that the Molloys, thatâs her maidenâand I use the term looselyâname, were never south of Providence.â
They finished the baskets and Denise left. She promised to put Faith and Tom at her table. âIf Leandra lets me,â she added.
âWhoâs Leandra?â Faith asked.
âYouâll find out Wednesday night,â Denise answered, and vanished out the door.
The kitchen was oddly still after she left, and Faith felt a heaviness in the air, which the pungent smell of overdone veal did nothing to lighten.
âWhy are you so interested in the Hubbards?â Mrs. Pendergast didnât beat around any bushes.
Faith was momentarily taken aback.
âIâm interested in Hubbard House. Thatâs all. You remember I told you my aunt was considering moving here, and of course I want to tell her everything I can.â
âIndeed.â Mrs. Pendergast looked skeptical. âWell, tell your auntââher inflection suggested strong doubts as to the existence of said auntââthat she wonât find a better-run, better-staffed retirement home in the country, and the Hubbards, all of them, are what make it that way.â
So there.
Faith felt her hand smarting, though an actual ruler had not been produced. She didnât have Farleyâs tray to take up, so she mumbled âGood-byeâ and headed for the door.
âSee you tomorrow,â Mrs. P. boomed at her retreating back.
Upstairs, her backbone was instantly restored, and she thought she would take Dr. Hubbard up on his offer to meet him. Sylvia Vale was outside her office putting a fresh sprig of freesia in the vase. It was white again, and it appeared that much about Hubbard House was unvarying. Sylvia, however, had changed her navy suit and was resplendent in a purple, gold, and green print silk shirtwaist dress.
In response to Faithâs request, she answered, âOf course. I should have taken you to meet Dr. Hubbard when you came, but Mrs. Pendergast was so insistent on having you report to the kitchen immediately that I never did get a chance. Weâll do it right now.â She tripped off on high heels that were dyed to match the green of her dress, and Faith followed.
Dr. Hubbardâs office was in the front corner of one of the original Aldrich houses.
âThis was the library of Deborahâs houseâthat was the name of the daughter Nathaniel Aldrich, the original owner, built the house for. We still call the houses Nathanielâs and Deborahâs, as the Aldrichs always did. Dr. Hubbard has kept this house very much as it was. His sonâs
office is across the hall, and thereâs an apartment where Dr. Hubbard lives now at the rear of the house. Upstairs we have several residentsâ rooms, a room for guests who may be visiting relatives or friends here, and Murielâs
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley