Her paternal grandfather’s mother did not die until Leesa was seven and she had known Nellie. Her earliest and fondest memories were of Nellie. Many cool evenings, Leesa sat in her Nana’s lap and listened to Nellie sing in a rich brogue of her homeland. Leesa could still close her eyes and picture the rolling hills around the Shannon River.
Anne had crocheted a lap blanket for Nellie after she saw a photo where a small bit of slip showed from under her dress. Anne knew Nellie would find that un-ladylike and undignified so she crochet the blanket.
She had used Kelly Green for the land Nellie left. Dark blue for the ocean she so bravely crossed, light blue for the color of her eyes and white for Nellie’s catholic faith.
The best part came many years later. Just after Harley was born, he had to have surgery. The doctors said he was stable enough to go home for a few days. He had been born the Thursday before Thanksgiving. The following Monday, he was transferred to Children’s Mercy neonatal unit. Since they could not get him on the surgery schedule until after Thanksgiving, he could go home on a monitor and oxygen.
Family tradition was everyone gathered at Leesa’s paternal grandmother Katherine’s for Thanksgiving dinner. That particular year she had been feeling run down so Katherine allowed Ian’s brother Matthew’s wife Virginia do the dinner at her home. Just before dinner, one of the sisters of Leesa’s paternal grandfather Thomas called everyone into the living room. Aunt Ellen was holding a large box.
“Hand the baby to Daddy,” Ellen instructed.
Once Leesa’s hands were freed, Ellen began to tell everyone about the blanket. Leesa opened the box to find the blanket tucked in folds of tissue paper. She was suddenly six again. She could hear Nellie’s voice and the tears let loose.
“Wrap him in that to go to the OR and he won’t be in there alone,” Aunt Ellen suggested.
Leesa opened the blanket and Cameron laid the tiny little boy on his mother’s lap. Suddenly Leesa was four and sitting in her Nana’a lap. Ian had let her pick out her own outfit. It was a very special day. Leesa was having tea with Nana.
She chose her favorite outfit. It was a peaches and cream top with lots of ruffles and the matching pants. Her paten leather shoes made a tiny squeak when she walked. The heels made a barely discernable click with each step. Leesa sat very still in the back seat. She often smoothed her top and pants so they would not wrinkle. She recognized the buildings before they got there. Butterflies were rampant in her little tummy.
The old lady behind the counter called her by name and said how pretty she looked. She called back to behind the swinging door. The man with the funny voice, as she thought of his German accent, came out and smiled ear to ear at Leesa.
“One strubble, please,” Leesa tiny voice barely lifted over the counter. “Nana and I are having tea.”
His heavy voice rained down that he had saved the biggest piece of his apple strudel for her. He placed it in a small box and wrapped ribbon around it and tied it with a bow. Ian gently handed down the parcel. Leesa took such precise baby steps as not to drop her treasure. Ian held the box for her as she climbed back in the back seat. The few blocks from the bakery to Nana’s house were excruciating. She could barely contain herself, she was so excited.
Ian pulled up to the house and parked across the street. He opened Leesa’s door and held her box while she got out. He handed it back to her and held her shoulder since her hands were full. Her steps were just as careful as Ian led her across to the house. Leesa could see the big silver K on the screen door from the sidewalk. Her tiny hands clutch the box tightly. Ian opened the silver door and held it for Leesa. A few steps later, Ian opened the wooden door and lead Leesa inside. Aunt Ellen was waiting. She told Leesa how pretty she looked and that Nana was waiting for her. Her tiny steps led her to the front room where Nana was waiting.
Leesa allowed Ellen to hold the box while Leesa climbed up in Nana’s lap under the blanket. Ellen promised to return quickly. When she did, Ellen was carrying a silver tea tray. There were two glasses of ice, a pot of water, two small glass plates, a sugar bowl and a larger glass plate with the strudel. Ellen had already cut the strudel into several small portions.
Nana told Ian and Ellen they could leave. Nana carefully poured the still hot tea over the ice. The ice crackled and complained at the heat as they slowly succumb to the heated liquid. Soon the ice got the advantage and the tea chilled. Nana spooned sugar into the glasses and stirred to sweeten. Leesa unfolded one of the crisp ironed napkins onto her lap. She smoothed the napkin as neatly as she could.
Nana took pieces of strudel and placed two on both of the plates. They nibbled and sipped as Leesa told Nana about her day before at pre-school. They laughed and sang songs and had their tea. All too soon Leesa’s tummy was full and she began to get sleepy. She fought sleep as hard as she could, but finally Leesa closed her eyes and drifted off to the sound of Nana’s singing of home.
Even as she sat at her massive desk in her elaborate home, Leesa could still hear the melody of Nana’s song.
Leesa had gone to a computer store and had purchased a family tree making program. Grace was the in house computer expert and she had installed all the software Leesa needed. The program had come with an on-line research subscription.
The program was easy enough to follow. Leesa began to plug in the information she already knew. She put herself as the home person for simplicity sake. She entered her birthday, the day she married Richard, where she was married, where she was born and listed each of her children. She put Richard’s information in on his side of the page. She went into Gwen and Emma’s pages and filled in their birth and marriage info. She followed suit with each of her children and grandchildren until she reached Brayden. Since Richard had adopted Brock and Harley, Leesa put them as Richard’s children. Brayden was a different story.
Leesa intended to include Cameron’s kids as well, however she hadn’t thought about the connection with Brayden. As she filled in the information she knew, the tree grew, and grew, and grew. She entered all of Cameron’s siblings and extensions. She entered Richard’s sisters and their families. Before long she found herself with well over a hundred and fifty names.
Jackie brought out a large box of old photos and some mementos from her grandmother. Leesa and Jackie spent three hours just scanning pictures into Leesa’s computer. Jackie and Leesa marveled at the photo of her grandmother. Jackie looked at the back for the first time.
“According to this caption, she was only fifteen when this wedding portrait was taken.”
“She was beautiful,” Leesa noted.
Just then Leesa was struck with inspiration.
“I want to have Cameron paint a mural of a family tree and we’ll hang old photos in the tree.”
Jackie too got excited.
“Oh and we can put the family crests of the various ancestors. Maybe we can do more than one tree. Do a tree for several branches.”
“Where? This house is huge, but where are you going to find room to devote to this endeavor?”
Leesa took a few moments to process.
“I haven’t replaced that mirror Brock and Cameron shattered. Why not right there in the foyer? I’d rather see this than some silly mirror.”
Jackie agreed with Leesa’s assessment as Leesa reached for the phone.
“Cameron?” Leesa began as he picked up at the gallery. “I have a commission for you. How soon could you be at the house?”
He promised in an hour and Leesa was as anxious as a school girl. She was waiting for him at the front door as soon as he pulled in.
“Okay, what commission?” he asked.
“I want a family forest in here,” she replied as she turned about the foyer.
“A forest? Leesa are you high?”
“Very funny. I just had an inspiration. I want you to paint several trees and we’ll hang photos in the trees. We’ll put family names and crests on the trunk of each tree. It’ll be your finest achievement so far.”
Cameron began slowly surveying the room with a different and discerning eye. He made mental notes of measurements and thought of color schemes. He was quiet for so long, Leesa thought she would burst.
“Okay, I can’t take it anymore. Will you do it or not?”
“It’s gonna take some time to get the scale right and the shadings to go with the changing light in here.”
“Does that mean you’ll do it?” Leesa begged.
He reluctantly nodded his head as Leesa threw her arms around him and planting a big kiss on his cheek.
“Thank you Cameron. You can have anything you need. Just tell James and we’ll get it here. How long do you think this will take?”
“Two, maybe three weeks. I have some things going on at the gallery over the next week. I’ll work on the sketches and have them for you at dinner on Sunday.”
Leesa bounced with excitement. She couldn’t wait to tell Richard. James was instructed to provide Cameron with everything he needed.
“Oh, one little thing, Leesa.”
“Okay, what?”
“This foyer is to be off limits. No one can come in this room. You will all have to use one of the other entrances.”
“You want us to use the side entrance and the back stairs? For how long?”
“Two weeks, made three weeks like I said. I’ll leave Terry in charge for a while. If you like the sketches, I’ll start Monday. But I am dead serious Leesa. No one, not even you can come down those stairs. I will drape the floor and ceiling. The staircase will be tarped. I’ll be able to tell who peeked,” Cameron warned.
“Deal,” she accepted shaking Cameron’s hand to seal the deal.
“I take it I’m off the hook for the mirror when this is done?”
“We’ll see,” Leesa offered. “Don’t hold your breath.”
“Can’t, only got one lung.”
“Hahaha.” Leesa snorted, as she shoed him to the door.