Page 28 of Sensing Selma
And then there it was, majestic under the sharp rays of the evening sun. The home was large and imposing. Some might even say it was cold and austere...uninviting. But judging by the number of cars parked at the front of the building, the Manor was, indeed, welcoming.
The van came to a stop, and we stepped out, the driver once again helping us as we got Mother out and settled her in her wheelchair.
We looked up at the wall of cut stone and the dozens of windows that peered down on us.
“Every single window on the higher levels have yellow curtains,” Mother marveled. “I suspect they wanted to lighten up the place.The ivy growing along the walls and flowers...just lovely.”
“Let’s go inside and see,” Susan suggested.
She’d made a quick call to Keely to tell her of our immediate eviction, and she’d assured Susan that Moon Manor was ready and waiting for us.
Keely must have told Ayra of our mother’s condition for a makeshift ramp was set securely over one side of the steps to make it easier to get Mother in and out of the home.I wheeled her up the ramp to the front door.
Susan lifted the heavy knocker off the wooden door and let it fall with a loud bang. Seconds later, the door opened.
A beautiful young woman, her jet-black hair in a thick braid that trailed over her breast and onward to her waist, smiled at us. Her big, green eyes took us in for a confused second and then she realized who we were.
“Oh, my,” she said. “You must be the Selmas. Yes. Yes. Keely told me you’d be arriving today.”
“I hope we’re not too early,” Susan said.
“No. It’s perfect. You’re right in time for dinner. We’ll just get you all settled in, and you can come join us.”
“Are you Ayra?”I said. “The music arranger?”
Ayra smiled. “Yes. That’s right. You must be Holly, our new singer.I’m the one who contacted you.We finally meet.”
“Yes!”I couldn’t hold back a smile.
“Well, welcome to Moon Manor!”Ayra said.“My husband Jai and my home that doubles as a hotel.”
“Your hotel is beautiful,” I said.“Everything looks so well-kept and in good condition, not like Selma, oh, ouch!”
I glared at Susan, whose foot suddenly clamped down on top of my right one.
We followed Ayra inside.
“Thank you,” Mother said once inside the manor. “I have to be honest with you. I’ve never had anyone go to the trouble of setting out a ramp for me. Usually, when faced with stairs, I have to hobble out of my chair, lean onto the girls to get me up the steps and then fall back into my chair again.”
“We want you to be as comfortable as possible, Mrs.Selma,” Ayra said. “And I will tell you right now...if you need anything, day or night, anything at all, you let us know. We have a very good and helpful staff here that is well accustomed to tending to the needs of our visitors.”
“Thank you so much, Ayra,” I said, grateful for her kind ways with my mother.
“Ayra?”Mother said with curious interest. “What kind of name is that?”
“Mother!”Susan said.
“It’s just so pretty and unique.I’ve never heard of it before,” Mother said.
“No worries,” Ayra said. “I am very proud to tell you that I am of Indian heritage. Although I was born in the United States, my mother is from India. As for my name, my mother always told me Ayra meant thebreath of life. There are some from other origins who will say it means respectable or honorable. Either way, it’s all good stuff.”
“Indeed. And where is your father from?”
Ayra smiled and patted Mother’s hand. “How about we keep that story for another time.”
Mother smiled and it was clear she was very taken with the young woman.
“I’ll show you to the elevator,” Ayra said. “You are all on the third floor, on the back side of Moon Manor where you’ll have a splendid view of the grounds. Mrs.Selma, you have room 330 and I am certain you will enjoy the oversized windows. You should have everything you need, but if you don’t...”
