‘No one goes to college where I come from,’ she explained. ‘It was like everyone was part of it, you know, when I got in. One big party when I left.’
‘Where did you grow up?’ Susannah asked her.
‘Washington State, north of Seattle.’
‘That’s a long way from Harvard.’
‘You’re telling me. Took three days on the Greyhound bus.’ Ava whistled. ‘Boy was that some trip.’
‘It must have been awfully boring.’
‘You know, it wasn’t so bad. I got to meet a lot of interesting folk and I saw a lot of scenery. Did you know the middle of America is one big plain that goes on and on and on and on…?’
Susannah started giggling. ‘I’ve never been anywhere but here and Vinalhaven, where I was born.’
‘And where is Vinalhaven? It sounds very idyllic,’ Ava said as they walked in step along the sidewalk.
‘It’s an island, about five hours on the bus north. And then you have to take a ferry.’
‘So I guess we both are from the sea, but opposite sides of the country. You’re the Atlantic and I’m the Pacific.’ Ava smiled at her. She had a very warm, generous smile, with perfectly straight white teeth.
‘What’s the difference?’
Ava shifted the weight of Emer’s books to her other arm. ‘Well, I’m bigger for a start, and I think deeper, and you can get very, very lost in me.’
Susannah felt herself blushing for some reason.
‘But the Atlantic is wild. Big storms!’ Ava enthused.
‘Tell me about it,’ Susannah groaned.
By now they had reached the Whittards’ mansion. It felt as if the walk had gone in an instant.
‘Well, this is me,’ Susannah explained, pointing to the front porch.
‘You live here?’ Ava looked impressed.
‘I look after the kids in exchange for board and lodging.’
‘That’s great,’ Ava said. ‘I’m in student halls. Women only, with a curfew of ten o’clock every single night. It’s like being in prison. Still, it’s better than being back home.’
‘Yeah, anything is better than being back home,’ Susannah said vehemently, taking the books from Ava.
There was an awkward pause. She sensed Ava wanted her to say something, but she couldn’t invite her in.
‘Say, would you like to go to Club 47 with me Sunday afternoon?’
Susannah had no idea what Club 47 was, but had a feeling she should. ‘Sure,’ she said, feeling herself blush.
‘Joan Baez is playing. Have you heard of her?’
Susannah looked up to see Ava’s excited expression.
‘She is totally awesome. Mostly it’s jazz at Club 47, but she’s different. Sings about important stuff.’
‘That sounds great,’ Susannah said, wondering what the important stuff was.
‘Shall I see you there?’ Ava asked. ‘Around three o’clock.’
‘Sure,’ Susannah said. ‘Thanks again.’
‘I’m glad we met!’
Ava gave her a small wave goodbye as she crossed the road and walked away. Susannah returned the wave, excited to have made her first Harvard friend.
The hall was in darkness as Susannah stepped inside the Whittards’ front door. She could hear the boys in the kitchen with Gertrude, and the parents upstairs getting ready, but she didn’t call out that she was back. Not yet. She held her books tight to her chest, the ones Ava Greenman had carried all the way home for her. Ava was such a beautiful girl, so unusual. Susannah could still hear her laugh. They had talked so easily. Susannah felt as if she’d known Ava all her life, not just one hour. She couldn’t wait until Sunday when she’d see her again, and not only that – in a jazz club. Imagine if Kate could see her now!
14
Emer
21st October 2011
It had taken six days of asking, six days of watching Susannah struggle with pain and fatigue at her typewriter, before she had finally agreed to let Emer help her.
‘What I’m typing is very personal,’ Susannah said, eyeing Emer from her armchair as she set up her laptop on Susannah’s desk. ‘You’ve got to promise not to talk to anyone about it.’
‘Sure,’ Emer said. ‘I wouldn’t dream of it.’
Susannah sank back into her armchair, looking relieved.
‘It’s better for me to save it on my laptop as well,’ Emer said to her. ‘Then we can put it on a memory stick for you and print out a hard copy.’
‘That’s good,’ Susannah said. ‘I want the girls to have a copy each. One for Lynsey and one for Rebecca.’
The blanket had slipped off Susannah’s knees, and Emer went over and picked up it up, tucking it around her again. She could sense the older woman’s body was tight with pain.
‘Can I get you anything?’ she asked Susannah.
‘No, I’m fine thank you,’ Susannah said, closing her eyes.
‘Let me give you some medication to ease—’
‘No,’ Susannah said sharply, opening her eyes. ‘It dulls my mind.’
‘Fine,’ Emer said, trying not to get annoyed by the imperious tone of Susannah’s voice.
‘I’m okay,’ Susannah said, her voice softening. ‘I appreciate your help.’ She gave Emer a crooked smile, although Emer could see the discomfort in her eyes. ‘You remind me of my sister, Kate,’ she said. ‘She was a carer, too. Always thinking of others.’
Emer thought of the letters in the quilt on her bed upstairs. She had only read three of them so far. She was trying her best not to continue, but young Susannah and her sister Kate had leapt out at her from the pages. She felt as if she’d met Kate, and she longed to know what had happened to her. She knew she should tell Susannah she’d found the letters. Did Susannah even know they were there? All the letters were addressed from Susannah to Kate. She concluded it must have been Kate who had put the letters inside the quilt. They could have been hidden for years.
Susannah put on her glasses again, and picked up one of the stack of papers on the table next to her. ‘Let me explain what I want you to do,’ she said to Emer.
Emer went back to her laptop and sat poised, with her fingers
