Page 28 of Mrs. Victoria Buys A Brothel

A year

September

Victoria brought in the last chair and sighed in satisfaction. There was not much space in the kitchen and they would have to keep the other six chairs in storage most of the time, but for the moment, she looked at the two, face to face at the table, and smiled.

“Anybody home?” called Mrs.Jackson from the door. “I forgot James’s harmonica. Have you seen it?”

“Here! It was under the bed.”

Mrs.Jackson looked around. “I liked what you’ve done with the place. Nice doilies.”

“You’re being too kind. I’ve seen the way you transformed the farm. It looks straight from a better living catalogue.”

“A woman does her best,” she preened. “I’m glad James can finally have his own room. He’s an adult, he needs his space.”

“You and your husband needed space,” said Victoria, raising her eyebrows. “How are things?”

Mrs.Jackson giggled like a young girl, waving her hand around. “It’s been very good. I can’t believe I get to see him whenever I want. Oh, Victoria, we’ve been like two newlyweds.”

Victoria grabbed her hand, excited for her. She wished she could speak about her own happiness, but certain things had to remain secret.

“I’m only disappointed Natane kept her bed, that thing is enormous,” said Mrs.Jackson, glancing at the bedroom’s open door. There was barely enough space left to fit a dresser. “How can such a thin woman take all that space?”

“She spreads like a starfish,” blurted out Victoria. “Err. When I wake her for breakfast. She’s always entangled in her sheets and that hair of hers. You wouldn’t believe how long it takes her to form a sentence in the morning.”

“I would never have guessed, she’s always so dignified. Oh, I simply love this bedspread! What lovely colours!”

Victoria blushed and tried to look busy, rearranging the flowers on the table. “It’s a gift from Natane’s mother. She’s been working on it since, hum, since we went up there the first time. She gave it to us, huh, to Natane, when we visited their winter site.”

“It’s so thoughtful! She must love her daughter very much.”

So much, thought Victoria, looking at the yellow wildflowers Natane had picked for her. Nau-ni had not said much, but Victoria could see the meaning behind a handmade bedspread. She had, after all, gifted the same thing for Natane’s wedding.

Victoria was a bit mortified that Nau-ni had read right through them, but Natane was nonchalant about it. “She had me figured out when I was a teenager,” she had said with a shrug. “At first, she didn’t know what to do, since it’s not really known, or talked about. But then she decided to blame it on the Catholics like all the rest. She says it’s not weirder than the Latin.”

Mrs.Jackson turned to the other open door. “It’s such a shame you get stuck with the small bedroom. That bed is barely big enough for you!”

“I don’t need much,” she shrugged, hiding the fact that she would rarely use that bed anyway. “I quite liked my tiny cupboard, at the brothel. It was cozy.”

“And how’s that coming along, then? I’ve seen a lot of new faces in town.”

They went to the porch. The remains of the brothel had been cleared up and a crew from Rock Springs was currently erecting the foundations.

“Cement and brick?” wondered Mrs.Jackson. “That must have cost you a fortune.”

“Might as well spend it on something.”

“Something? Victoria, you’re practically rebuilding this entire town on your own dime. I’ve heard the rumours for the new saloon, and the ones about the pumping system.”

“I also have plans for the stables and the school. But that can wait until we rebuild the essential things.”

“The drink hole and the whorehouse.”

“The money-makers, my dear Simone.”

Mrs.Jackson glanced at her sideways. “You’re shrewd, Victoria. Harder than you were before.”

“Can you blame me?”

A sigh. “No. After all, this life has hardened all of us.”

“Then let me be hard so you can be soft.”

Mrs.Jackson seemed to come to a realization. “Oh. You’re spoiling us.” She chuckled. “You’re spoiling this entire town like you spoil your girls!”

“Why wouldn’t I? You all welcomed me when I had nothing. Now I can repay you.”

Mrs.Jackson squeezed her sideways. “I would say you don’t need to do this, but my James is way too happy with the guitar you gave him. And Hualing would murder anyone who would take her new sewing machine away.”

“It’s an investment. I like music and pretty dresses.”

“I hope you do because she’s designed three new ones this week alone. They’re getting, err, creative. She said something about New York fashion.” She squeezed Victoria again. “I also love that new tea set you got me! It’s so delicate, I feel like an aristocrat when I use it. The painted violets are lovely.” She looked down the street, where Natane was leaving the General Store with a basket. “But, of course, my favourite gift of all is the farm. Land, Victoria!” she vibrated with excitement. “Land! I have something to leave to my children!”

She stepped off the porch and hugged Natane in the middle of the street. Natane stood there, arms stuck to her body, still holding her baskets. “Good morning?”

“The best morning to you, you wonderful woman. Oh, I know I’ve been hugging you too much, and crying all over your nice yellow shirt, but oh! I’m just too emotional. Thank you.”

“It’s alright,” mumbled Natane. “You’ve already thanked me. Many times.”

“Land!” repeated Mrs.Jackson, squeezing harder. “And my husband at home! Oh, I’m going to cry again!”

Victoria caught Natane’s distressed look and gently took the baskets. “How about a nice cup of tea to calm those nerves? Deborah gave me a peach cobbler, yesterday, I can heat it up.”

Simone dried her tears and laughed. “I’ll go tear Hualing away from her sewing machine.”

Victoria and Natane went inside and closed the doors and curtains. The moment they were alone, they met in the middle and kissed.

“I’ve missed you,” whispered Victoria against her lips.

“I’ve been gone fifteen minutes.”

“And yet.”

They breathed together. Victoria sighed happily. “I love living with you.”

Natane smiled, her entire face brightening like it never did with other people. Victoria swayed her from side to side, playfully. “Do you know what I want to do later?”

“Tell me.”

“I want to grab some food, take the horses, and ride till the sun goes down. Then, I want to come home, take off all of our clothes and make love. And after that, I want to cuddle up next to you and sleep. What do you think?”

Natane kissed her nose. “You make the best plans.”

A knock at the door forced them to separate. It was Consuelo, who carried in several boxes and dropped them on the table.

“Hello, pumpkin! I thought you were spending the day with Paul?”

“Nah, he got an urgent order, the Thompson’s horse lost a shoe. He sends stuff!”

On top of the pile was a small wooden crate full of metallic bits and pieces.

“What’s all this, then?” asked Victoria, grabbing a pretty door handle.

“Stuff,” repeated Consuelo. “The day you moved in, I walked around and took note of everything that was missing or broken. Paul made the replacements.”

They looked inside. There were handles, tools, heavy locks, and hinges. Natane grabbed one of them.

“That’s for the kitchen cabinets,” said Consuelo. “He can come by to install them.”

“I think I want to do it,” said Natane, playing with the mechanism. “We’ll call for him when it eventually breaks.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, darling,” said Victoria, placing a friendly arm on her shoulder. Then, remembering there was only Consuelo with them, she grabbed Natane’s waist. “You are very meticulous. I bet that cabinet door will still be there in a hundred years.”

“Oh yeah,” said Consuelo. “Before I forget, Paul asks if he can borrow your book on woodworking.”

“Yes. Please make sure he takes care of it.”

“Will do. Okay, second box, that’s from us three.”

It was filled with rows of glass jars. Victoria grabbed one. “Blackberry jam?”

“And strawberry, huckleberry and plum. That first day after you moved in and didn’t leave the house for an entire day?” Victoria blushed. “We went to Mrs.Horowitz’s and she taught us. She helped, but we did most of it ourselves.” She shrugged with one shoulder, suddenly shy. “It’s a housewarming gift, but also… a congratulations gift? A we’re happy for you gift? I don’t know if that makes sense.”

Victoria held the jar against her heart. “It does, pumpkin. Thank you.”

Natane opened a jar and tasted it. “This is delicious.”

“I sure hope so, with the amount of sugar we poured in there. Did you know that’s Mrs.Horowitz’s secret recipe? An unholy amount of sugar? Anyway, don’t be shy, we still have a full cupboard at home.”

“How are things going, then?”

Consuelo grimaced. “Doctor Sampleton left most of his… research behind. We’ve been finding dead animals in jars and scribbled diagrams everywhere. Lisette is on the warpath and Siobhan wants to keep half of them. They’ve been more exhausting than usual.”

“They’re going to miss each other.”

Consuelo shrugged again, looking away. Changing the subject, she removed the box of jam from the pile and placed it aside. “And this,” she grinned deviously, “is from me.”

It was the pink hat box. Singed, crushed, and still daunting.

While Victoria and Natane stood there, petrified, Consuelo went on. “I want to reassure you that it’s still in its mint, new condition, because none of my clients were brave enough to try it.”

She kissed Victoria’s cheek. “Have a great evening!”

The door closed behind her. They stared at each other. Natane lifted the lid and, indeed, it was the strapped contraption with the impressive dark rubber phallus.

“It’s bigger than I remember,” muttered Victoria.

“It’s smaller than I remember.”

They looked at each other again. The first time, they had simply been friends who had a good laugh. Now there were… implications.

Natane raised an eyebrow. Victoria spluttered. “Don’t leave the choice to me! You’re also concerned! What… Do you…? I mean, do you?”

“I have no idea how to feel about this.”

“Me neither!”

“But I am curious.”

“You’re always curious. Oh dear, how can it… where does…? Oh dear.”

“Victoria, you own a whorehouse.”

“I’m still learning! About a lot of things, apparently.” She looked closer. “It’s quite something, isn’t it?”

“The leatherwork is nice,” said Natane.

“Of course you would fixate on the leatherwork.”

Only Natane’s eyes moved to look at her. “I’m trying not to think about other things, Victoria.”

Suddenly, Victoria was thinking about other things. “Maybe we could… consider… the idea, of potentially, err, think about it. Someday?”

Natane chuckled. “You’re going to think about nothing else for a whole week and demand we try it before you die of anxiety.”

Victoria looked at her through her eyelashes. “Maybe it will take less than a week,” she muttered.

Natane blushed. They looked at each other, their gazes heavy.

And the front door opened.

Natane slammed the lid back and Victoria choked on her own saliva.

“I got her!” said Mrs.Jackson, pulling Mrs.Zhao by the arm.

“Don’t die,” said the latter when she saw Victoria coughing. “I still need to fit that coat. Oh, jam!”

Natane and the box had already disappeared into the bedroom. Victoria turned to her friends with a smile that was a bit too wide. “It was a gift from the girls, aren’t they sweet? A housewarming present. We can try them with tea.”

“I’ll get the water boiling,” muttered Natane, walking past her without looking at any of them in the eye. The other two, used to her strangeness, did not comment.

They sat around the table, ate, and laughed. And, if Natane and Victoria’s legs kept touching under the table, it was their secret. A precious, beautiful secret, like the meaning of a handmade blanket, or the contents of a hat box.

October

“Do you have everything?” asked Consuelo for the fifth time. “I can check.”

Victoria’s home was a bit tight with all of them, but she cherished the precious few moments that remained.

“You already checked,” said Lisette with patience. She was letting Victoria fix the neck of her new coat. It was the loveliest shade of royal blue, the same as her long skirt. Seeing her like this, all dressed up in her petticoats, leather boots, with her hair done up, made Victoria want to start crying again.

“Don’t cry,” begged Lisette. “If you cry, I’ll cry, and I just redid my makeup.”

“Why, though,” grumbled Siobhan, checking the contents of her purse. “You’re not going further than Wamsutter, today. I don’t think the cows are going to be impressed.”

“What if I want you all to remember me like this?” she scoffed.

“Not going to work, I’ve seen you in your bloomers way too often. Anyway, there’s a fifth of the money in your purse, another in your luggage, another in David’s, another hidden under the cart seat and the last one in your corset.”

“I know.” Lisette winced and wiggled a bit. “Isn’t it a bit much?”

“No,” said Victoria, fixing her impeccable hair. “I’ve also asked Hualing to sew some jewels in the seams of your clothes. There are at least two gold necklaces in this skirt and a couple of bracelets in your petticoat. Oh, and check your bustle, there should be something in there too but I can’t remember what.”

“David’s done with the luggage,” announced Consuelo from the door. “And Simone has finished crying, I think.”

“You need to leave soon, sweetie pie,” whispered Victoria, fixing the puffy sleeves. “There’s a long journey ahead of you.”

Lisette looked at them, and burst into tears.

Siobhan was the first to hold her. “Told you,” she mumbled. “Now you’re going to be all ugly.”

“M’not ugly,” she sniffed. “I’m pretty.”

“The prettiest,” said Consuelo, handing her a handkerchief. “And the sweetest. You’re taking all the sugar out of this town.”

Victoria held all three of them in her arms, for one last time.

They made their way outside. Mrs.Jackson was in a similar state, arranging David’s elegant new suit. James stood nearby.

“You take care of yourself, young man,” said Mrs.Jackson, kissing his forehead furiously. “You better be safe, and happy, and you better write to me as soon as you get there.”

“I will, Ma.”

When she relinquished him, he turned to James. “You take care of her for me, Jaimie?”

James frowned at the carriage. “Rock Springs?” he asked.

David shook his head. “Not today, buddy. I’m going farther than that.”

“Salt Lake City?”

“No, buddy. I’m going to Paris.”

James nodded. “Europe, France, Paris. The cart, the train, the boat.”

“That’s right, Jaimie. You still have that world map?”

At his silence, Mrs.Jackson sniffed. “It’s on his bedroom wall. We’ve added that picture of the Notre-Dame cathedral from the catalogue.”

“Europe, France, Paris,” repeated James.

“Is he going to be okay?” asked David.

“I hope so. He’s used to you leaving. I just don’t know how he’ll react when you don’t come back.”

“Ma, don’t say that, I will…”

“You listen to me, my boy,” she said, grabbing his face. “Your mother entrusted me with you because there was a chance we could make it out. There was a chance you could grow up free. If you need to travel even further to be happy and safe, go. And don’t look back.”

She hugged him once more, and stared at Lisette over his shoulder. Her face was inscrutable. “You’ve done good by him so far. Keep doing it.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

David got free and smiled at Lisette. They still kept a good distance between them. The whole town was watching, and it still was not safe. For all the townspeople knew, Lisette was leaving alone and David was driving her to the train station.

“Are you ready, Miss Lisette?”

She beamed at him. “I am.”

After many more effusions, they finally climbed aboard the cart, side by side. They both looked pretty dapper, and adult. The assembled people in the middle of the street watched them leave in silence, until the cart was only a dark shape on the horizon.

Victoria was about to invite Mrs.Jackson for a cup of tea, but to her surprise, Consuelo was the first to speak.

“Can we stop, now?” she asked in a small voice. She glanced at Mrs.Jackson. “Can we be friends again?”

Mrs.Jackson crossed the few steps separating them and crashed into her, squeezing her into her chest.

“Yes, my dear girl, yes. Oh, thank you. Thank you for this, for making sure my boy stayed safe. I’m sorry you had to suffer.”

“I don’t mind,” said Consuelo, muffled against her shoulder. “It was the only thing we could do.”

“I know. And I’m so grateful for you. Oh, thank you, my dear friend.”