Before I am Famous

literature is something we infer after the story is told

Seaspring Briar part 6

Posted on | October 12, 2007 |

“She doesn’t write again until she gave birth to my grandfather in Seaspring. It was the second most happiest day in her life after marrying Lincoln. Life for Anastasia is everything she dreamed of. A wealthy adoring husband, living in the United States, a precious son, and time to paint all day and everyday.”

Briar continued,” years go by and next entry is dated July of 1939. Anastasia found out Lincoln had an affair with a woman in town. She was furious and heartbroken and vowed to get even. So she had an affair with Michael Belvedere, one of Lincoln’s friends. But unfortunately for her, he found them together in their bed and beat Anastasia that night. She wrote that this was the first time she was struck by him. He best her so badly that she couldn’t get out of bed because she was it was too painful. And that’s all I know so far.”

“Wow. It seemed like the fairy tale turned into a nightmare,” Phil remarked.

“Oh I know. You should read the diary, Phil. She seemed very poetic even during something so horrific,” Briar said.

He sat beside her and moved a curly lock out of her face. She smiled shyly. Then he kissed her. And there was no way she was going to end it.
Briar felt something change in herself since her stay at Seaspring Briar.

She was more daring and adventurous and more honest with her feelings. For the most part, Briar led a sheltered, carefree life. Event though she lived in New York City, she kept her puritanical beliefs.
The only man she was ever with was Gabe. And when he told her that he was gay, she had no idea how to process that information. She stood witness at his wedding and was numb.

But now she was different and it came through her new art. Her professors said her work was technically superb but it lacked gusto, or edge, or just something. She drew last night and it was a very dark drawing. And this night, she was in the arms of Phil, a man she really did not know well. Yet, he was exactly what she needed. As was Seaspring briar. Both Phil and Seaspring awakened her.

Suddenly, briar wanted to go home. She needed to be there. She scribbled Phil a quick note and went back to Seaspring briar.
The house was quiet. She ran to the sunroom, turning on every light on the way. She had to paint and she did.

The sun rose, kissing the cliff, as briar finished her last stroke. Then from sheer exhaustion, she collapsed on the sofa.

Something roused her from her sleep. It was knocking. She figured it was one of the house guests and tried to doze off again. But then someone knocked from the back veranda. It was Phil. Briar opened the door.

“hi,” she said.

“Afternoon. I’ve got a truck.”

“Come in.”

He noticed her painting. There was many symbols and the colors were dark but bright at the same time. It had a very dream like quality about it.

“This is great, Briar. I can see why you rushed home. Everything okay?”

“Yeah all quiet.”

He did not want to look at her, she broke the ice, “Thanks for last night, Phil. Thanks for everything.”

“Well your welcome.”

They moved the trunks into the truck. And then he drove her to the bank where she put the jewelry in several safety deposit boxes. They took the clothes to the historical society. Darcy winked at her as they moved the stuff into an empty room.

“I really appreciate this, Briar. It will go in our museum. I’ll take you there when I’ve got the display finished.”

“Okay. What time do you want me to come by tomorrow?” asked briar.
“Anytime really,”

She stared at him, “do you love Seaspring briar?” she asked out of the blue.

“Yes. As much as a person can love a house. It always drew me to it. Did you know Michael Belvedere was my grandfather? So I guess our families have been intertwined before.”

“I suppose it’s maybe you love it so?”

“I didn’t know about their affair, Briar. I’ve only been running the historical society for ten years. The previous president, Sean McDonough, got the house under contract. Sean had connections with your family. I guess in a town like this everyone’s connected. When I started here, before I was promoted my job was Seaspring Briar. You know cleaning it, doing the tours whatever it needed,” Phil told her.

“It called to me in my dreams. I knew about it because it was in father’s will. I couldn’t shake the dreams. I found a picture of it on the internet. I knew I had to come. I fell in love with the house. And when I am not terrified, I feel at peace,” she explained, “I just wish I knew what was going on.”

He hugged her slightly, “I know Briar. Soon.”

They worked out the new contract and finalized plans for July 4th celebration which was only a little more than a week away. Phil told her the they could hang Anastasia’s paintings in an empty house they controlled in Bar Harbor. Briar agreed to help out.

Their eyes met from time to time and Briar was so drawn to him like she was drawn to Seaspring Briar. Could it be she was the descendant of Anastasia and he was the descendant of Michael Belvedere, her lover. Was there something more than a quick revenge fling that Briar has not discovered in Anastasia’s dairy? Why did Anastasia choose Michael instead of any other person? Briar had to know. She wanted to go home.

“Phil, do you want to come to the house tonight?” she asked him.

“Yeah okay.”

He drove them in his car. The house was dark when they reached the top.
“Are you scared?” Briar asked.

“No. Not really.”

She made the dinner as he started the diary where briar left off.

“Okay, Phil, I’m dying to know what happened,” Briar said.

“Well after the first beating, Lincoln went away to Kittery for business and Michael came by often. It seemed like the beating drove Anastasia and Michael together. She wrote that she deeply loved Lincoln but Michael inched his way in. They were two peas in a pod. She began to fall in love. So nothing for a year then in 1940 she writes again saying her and Lincoln went to Michael’s wedding. Although she held Lincoln’s hand and wore his ring, she desperately anted to be Michael’s bride. That was the last she saw him. The beatings never stopped almost every night he’d beat her. One time she tried to fight back but he burnt her arm in the fire. She never fought again.”

He continued,” well its April 1942 when she wrote again. Lincoln II was away at school since he was 11 years of age he went to Philips-Exeter Academy. The house staff was given the weekend off. That’s all I got Briar. But I think that something happened. Lincoln disappeared in April of 1942. They found his car on April 18, 1942. Since he never turned up, they thought he wondered off the cliff and was presumed dead.”

“I have to know what happens, Phil. Keep reading.”

He read some and said, “you’ve got to hear her words,” then he began :
“I promised myself I would never allow him to harm me again, to go back on his word. Early this morning, the sky was alit with jagged cuts. He came home inebriated. He hurt me and forced himself on me. When he passed out from the scotch, I knew it was time to free him from the demons that held him.”

“I killed him with an ivory handled, freshly sharpened knife. I stabbed him through the heart. After I was sure that he was dead, I axed him so I could dispose of earthly remains. By daybreak, it was done. And all ready, I missed him terribly and mourned for him.”

“I killed him so he would go to a better place. I did it because I loved him and he loved me.”

Phil gulped some iced tea and continued, “Of course, I loved Michael. Because Michael was a reflection of everything good about Lincoln. Before Lincoln began his deluge into dark waters. But when Michael found his love, I wept because we could no longer be together but at least I had my dearest Lincoln. Now I have no one.”

“As of now my heart aches for Lincoln so. I am not sure how long I can live with out my Lincoln. But I must because my son is not yet a man he’ll need his mother.”

“Oh lord, I know you’ll forgive me but Lincoln please, my love, forgive me. I know when you realize what you have done to me and why I did what I did , you’ll be there at the gates of Heaven arms extended. Because I forgive for everything, my Lincoln. I love you so.”

Phil finished the page, “wow I can’t believe she killed him. I guess the rumors were true.” He handed her the diary.

They retired to the sunroom where he lit a fire. Clouds rolled in smothering the moon. The Atlantic beat the cliff and wind growled, rattling the windows.

“The next entry is dated July, 1948,” Briar said and continued reading, “ It’s been so long since I have written, but it seems impossible to leave my bed. I feel Lincoln in the house. Sometimes her terrorizes me and others I feel a gentle touch like a cool summer breeze and I know for sure it’s the Lincoln I love deeply.”

“Lincoln graduated Philips-Exeter with high marks. He’s off to Harvard now. I am so very proud of him as I am sure his father is. I am very lonely with out Lincoln. I do not paint anymore. I have no fire inside of me because I snuffed it 6 years ago. I regret killing him. I am only writing today because today is Lincoln’s, my true love’s, birthday. I have no one to share my story with or ease my depression.”

“Only a little longer when my son is ready to be a man. I will join my loving Lincoln. I think that will be very soon. Do you see the words I wrote Lincoln, I will be joining you very soon. Because eternity we will spend together in this house.”

Phil put his arm around Briar, “she died in April 1953,” he told her.

“successful and now iWell this is her last entry dated April 16, 1953,” Briar drank some more tea and finished the last entry, “Tonight is the night when I rejoin Lincoln as his queen. My son brought home a beautiful woman named Eleanor. They are married and she is to have a baby. My son is happy.”

“I’ve had my servant pack everything except for this little book and when I die she will put it with the rest of my things in the attic. I have lived, if you want to call it that, the past 11 years with out him. My son is a man and no longer needs his momma.”

“After Lincoln died, I seen a gypsy. I asked for redemption and she gave me Belladonna. She said I would know what to do with it. So here I am tonight. It is storming out as it was when Lincoln perished this very day years ago. My son and his lovely wife are asleep on the other side of the house. I have dressed myself in my wedding dress and I am ready to join my husband.”
“That’s it, she killed herself,” Briar finished.

“Wow,” Phil said awestruck.

Category: seaspring briar

Comments

Leave a Reply