The Property of a Lady - Elizabeth Adler [213]
Her borzois, Rex and Baby, leapt around barking excitedly, and she patted their heads absently. Whimpering with delight, Rex rolled at her feet and she sighed and suddenly said, “Hello, Rex.”
Then she looked at Rosa and said, “Am I going to bed now?”
“So? Why are you going to bed?” Rosa demanded. “You are not sick.”
“Am I not?” She looked at them, bewildered.
“Sit here by me,” Missie coaxed as Zev helped her into a long comfortable chair. The dogs flopped at her feet and Missie held out a glass of cinnamon milk. “Grandmother Sofia’s special,” she said with a smile. “You know how you always like it.”
“Thank you.” Azaylee held it absently, gazing around her at the beautiful flower-laden terrace and the gardens under the serene evening sky, then she sighed. “How lovely,” she said, closing her eyes.
They clustered around her silently, all except Jakey, who was leaning against the stone balustrade, drinking scotch. Zev said sympathetically, “I know how hard this is on you, Jakey. I want you to know that we would not blame you if you just left and never came back. No one would hold you to an offer of marriage to a girl who is … a girl as unstable as Ava.”
Jakey shrugged and drained his glass. “I’ll do my best to help her, C. Z., but it’s kinda tough when she doesn’t even know I’m around. If only I could forget it for a while, maybe if I had a project at the studio I could bury myself in, something really meaty that took up all my time. I’ve been thinking, after the success of Hollywood Girl I’d kinda like to have a shot at producing a movie.”
He glanced sideways at Zev as he poured himself another scotch. “I’ve come across a script I think you might find interesting, C. Z. Maybe you’d like to see it?”
“Send it to my office first thing Monday.” Zev threw a friendly arm across Jakey’s shoulders. “I’ll see what I can do to help.”
The next day they began to ease Azaylee back into a normal way of life. She was woken in the morning at the same time as they and sat with them at the breakfast table. Her blank stare swept over them unnervingly, but they kept up a normal conversation as they forced down their food while her plate was removed, untouched. Afterward Missie and Rosa walked up and down the terrace, supporting her between them until she seemed so fatigued that they were forced to stop. Lunch was served and again she ignored it, staring into space. Another little stroll, and at dinner the same blank silent routine. Even Rex seemed depressed, lying limply at her feet, never moving until she did.
After three days they felt they were going crazy too, and at another silent dinner Rosa exploded. “So,” she exclaimed with an angry snarl, “are you just gonna sit there and not eat? You don’t remember the days when Missie worked her hands to the bone to buy food for you? Are you too grand a movie star now?”
Azaylee’s shocked eyes met hers and Rosa stared at her nervously, afraid she had gone too far in her anger and frustration.
“I’m sorry,” Azaylee said meekly, picking up her spoon and tasting the soup. “I know how hard Missie works.” She patted Rex at her feet and added, “She always makes sure Viktor gets his food too.” She smiled at Missie and said, “Thank you, matiushka.”
They realized Azaylee thought she was a child again, but at least it was contact. She was talking and she was eating.
Zev approved Jake’s script and made him a producer with a big budget, a hefty salary, and the rare freedom to choose his own cast and director. The studio was flourishing but Zev had another interest. For the past few years he had been doing what he could to help refugees fleeing from Nazi Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Poland, sending large sums of money through various organizations.
He followed the political events in Europe with dread in his heart. When on September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and two days later Britain and France declared war on Germany, he bowed his head and wept.
Missie was absorbed in helping Azaylee on her slow return to reality, and for the first time in years he felt