The Mute Mistress

The Mute Mistress: Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Mary took her time walking from the mansion toward the house that was no longer her living arrangement. She bit her thumbnail remembering Nathan's face as he complained about leaving her for work. But he said he had a major press release to prepare with his partners at Vanderbilt Group Properties. He mentioned being excited about what she would think when the news was later published. She had wrinkled her nose in confusion, but he kissed it as his final farewell.

She opened the guest house and immediately paused. Her eyes fluttered, seeing a tall bouquet of white peonies on her breakfast table. The fragrance struck her and shock held her for a few breaths before she approached the card on the table.

Belle said these made you smile on your first day. –Nathan

Mary placed her hands over her heart before leaning into the bouquet to take a whiff. She took a picture and sent it to him.

He quickly replied. Love you.

A sudden voice, echoed from above, "Hi!"

Mary stumbled back, looking up to the loft. Nellie waved with a giant smile and her sister jumped into her arms.

"What are you doing here?" she gasped, eyeing her. She was dressed for the bar in her black three-quarter sleeve top and dark jeans.

"Nathan wanted to surprise you, so he snuck me in to spend the day here before I go to work tonight," she laughed. "Well, there are a couple more surprises."

Apprehension clouded her face. "It's not my birthday, why all of this."

Nellie swiped the wetness under her sister's eyes with her thumbs. "Because he loves you."

The sting of emotions prickled around her nose seeing glassy but warm copper-brown eyes. She had to hold her sister tight to make sure she wasn't in a dream.

"Now, let's get into the other surprises you haven't noticed yet," Nellie pointed at the gift bags on the chairs behind.
"I'm sorry I was taking pictures of the flowers," she said giggling and wiping her face.
"Don't be sorry because what you were doing relates."

Her face contorted in question, receiving the first gift bag from her sister. It was heavy, and she weighed it suspiciously. Pressured to finally dig in the bag, she unwound her face immediately.

"You like it?" Nellie asked wishfully.

Mary held the DSLR camera box with both hands. With disbelief, she looked up to her sister's anticipatory expression. She put the large box on the table before digging in the bag wondering why it still weighed heavily.

"You're kidding?" Mary whispered.

"All the lenses you sold should be in there."

"You know... I was thinking about relaunching–"

Nellie couldn't wait for her sister to finish and pulled the next gift out of the last bag. Mary covered her face. Her hands were wet with tears. Unbelievable, she thought. A new camera and now a laptop?

"I told him what you sacrificed to help us, and when he asked if there was anything he could do. I will admit I begged for the chance to bring this back into your life."

She wiped her hands along her jeans and clung to her sister. Nellie sniffed, and her voice cracked, "I've been secretly paying for your domain name so that you wouldn't lose it because I figured one day you would want to use it again."

Mary touched her temples, trying to ground the high of excitement. After seeing so many beautiful things at the Bahamas, she made do with her phone's camera, but she secretly wished she had her old shooter as well.

She insisted they go outside for her to test her new toy.

"I haven't had to do this in forever," Nellie laughed nervously sitting on the cushioned seating in the tree garden.

"You look beautiful," Mary said, squinting behind the camera body.

After a few shots, she clicked through the photos with a smile.

"Do I look human?" Nellie laughed.

Her sister bit her lip and peered at her subject on the chair. The lull between them was interrupted by the gentle rustle of the leaves and grass.

"What's wrong, Mary?"

With hesitation, "Do you want to let your hair down?"

Nellie's lashes fluttered, looking to her lap. She raised her hand, hesitating before pulling her bun apart. She played with the hair tie and pins before raising her attention to the camera pointing at her.

Finally, the camera lowered to hang from the strap around her sister's neck. Mary approached her and sat on the available cushion space. "I still think about dad all the time."

"Same."

"But I've been trying to forgive him lately. I guess it's easier to do with everything that's happened now."

Nellie's shoulders jumped from a low chuckle. "True."

"You know you're the reason we're here right now?"

Mary was used to her sister dismissing most moments shining a light on her. She thought aloud, "You've done so much for me. But can I be selfish and ask you for one more thing?"

Inside The Tottie, Mary and Nathan sat at the booth closest to the stage. She had her phone out, recording their surroundings before capturing Nathan's face. He smiled before taking the phone from her and aiming it at her. Mary posed, putting her hands up to her cheeks before laughing. Then he pointed with his thumb at the camera bag beside her. She retrieved her new speedy shooter and fiddled with the buttons before showing him her first pictures on the SD card. Mary knelt on the booth cushion, aiming the lens around the room for a few minutes.

Of course, she spent most of her time pointing at her sister working at the bar, and she didn't put it down when Nellie approached the table with seltzer waters.

"Nervous?" Nathan chuckled.

"How can't I be, I've had a camera on me all day," she said glancing at her sister whose smile showed beneath the camera body.

"Well, you're a star tonight."

Her lips formed a thin line before exchanging another glance with her sister. Mary put the camera down, as Nellie released her bun. She forced air from her nose, checked her watch, and moved for the stage.

"How's everyone in the Tottie tonight? Are we ready for some live music?" Nellie received a round of applause and a loud finger whistle from her sister's boyfriend. "Great! Now, normally I would go ahead and introduce the first artist, but tonight that means I would be introducing myself."

Her voice faded and she lost eye contact with the crowd. Another eruption of support brought a smile underneath her glistening eyes.

The instrumentals began, and Mary leaned forward. She locked eyes with her sister and smiled, as Nellie rendition of an American soul classic. She had a beautiful voice, and he could see the biggest fan of her talent was Mary. Nathan held up his phone and made sure to capture Mary wiping her hot tears and mouthing along.

He was happily recording the sisters until a flood of notifications distracted him. He lowered his phone and his smile faded opening his inbox to read email after email with subjects of urgency.