Denys was never hungry in the morning, but he
would sip a cup of black coffee, eat a soft roll made from white flour, smeared
with butter, sprinkled with cocoa and sugar, while listening to the cooks and
maids as they chattered amongst themselves like a flock of hens waiting for
Nils to give them the plan of the day.
The household was organized like a military
unit, Nils was their captain and the only other man on the staff.
This morning started out like most of the days
that had come and gone in the two years since Denys had been employed at the
mansion. He woke up before dawn, opened the windows in the small room above the
garage that was assigned to him, and listened to the sounds of the early
morning while looking out over the railroad yards, just north of the long ridge
that curved like a crescent moon across the westside of Saint Anthony between
Jewett’s park and Cedar Lake, and upon which the Forrester mansion occupied the
highest point.
Before
he went down to the staff meeting Denys did his daily calisthenics, washed
himself, smoothed out his livery, polished the buttons on his uniform, his belt
buckle and boots. He brushed his black cap and oiled the bill, getting himself dressed
and prepared for the day.
This day had begun like so many others. Denys
sipped his coffee and nipples his slice of bread. He flirted subtly with
Melissa, a dark-haired girl who was close to his age and newer to the staff
than him. She enjoyed the attention he paid to her, and he enjoyed her smile.
There was nothing out of the ordinary, and no
reason to expect that there might be, until Nils informed them that the Colonel
would be interviewing a young man for a position in his organization later in
the morning.
This was different; Nils was not in the habit
of discussing the Colonel’s business with them. A new hire to the household
would have been news to share, but Nils did not say that, he specifically referred
to the Colonel’s organization, which everyone knew had two sides to it; one licit
and the other not.
Denys listened intently as Nils gave them
instructions to make up the guest room, the expectation was that this Johnny
Holiday would be staying with them for an undetermined length of time.
When Denys heard the man’s name it threw him
off, he believed he had heard the name before…and felt as if he should know him,
at least by acquaintance.
As Denys was caught up in his reflection, he
sensed Nils staring at him. He looked up and they locked eyes, Nils held him in
his gaze while he gave them the details of what Johnny’s room would require: a
blotter and pens, a typewriter and paper, miscellaneous items to outfit an
office, some for comfort, some for utility.
Denys swallowed hard before breaking free, he
forced himself to suppress a feeling of jealousy as he listened to Nils tell
them all to treat this Johnny Holiday as if he were family.
Who was this guy? Denys thought to himself. Just who was
this guy we were rolling out the red carpet for?
It vexed him, and he could not help but wonder
why he cared.
