By Philip Johnson
Prologue
Dolce Giardino. It means sweet garden in Italian, and that was the name of their estate, and an apt description. The year was nineteen twenty six, and Charles and Kathryn Philips lived on that estate, and in that new grand and sturdy looking brick home.
Charles and Kathryn loved the somewhat isolated location. They really weren't that far from town, maybe seven miles more or less, and besides, they had a fancy new Cadillac and a driver. Life was good for them. Oh, he had to go off on business ventures from time to time, but then he'd be back, and he and his bride would enjoy their home and often walk the grounds. Then it seemed that almost over night he discovered that he enjoyed being naked around the house on occasion, and even the housekeeper would see him, or the old cook would see him and quietly turn away. Though totally out of character for either of them, Kathryn didn't mind her husband's new oddity at all. In fact, much to his surprise in the beginning, sometimes she would join him. On those occasions when they walked the grounds naked, it never failed to cause the gardener to stop and star at them from the safety of a bush.
She was quite attractive in her own way. Long of leg and hair, and lithe and flowing in her movements. She was a pretty melody for the eyes, and she had a bearing that could only come from being raised in a moneyed home. It was Charles' money that urged her wealthy father to introduce his daughter to her now husband. Charles was lean and wiry, and much stronger than anybody might guess he could be. Clear blue eyes and a quick smile were his trademarks. But it was Charles money and potential for great success that made her father embrace Charles so early on.
The Philips had many acquaintances and friends of a sort, but only a few really close friends, so the walking around naked that they so enjoyed didn't cause any problems or consternation at all as far as they knew. That is until one day when they undressed while on the patio, and went for a long walk toward the back of the estate and lost track of the time. Henry and Mildred Potter, their expected guests were punctual, and the maid showed them to the patio just as she had been instructed to do. That patio, where unfortunately the naked couple had left their clothes. The maid disappeared to fetch them refreshments as the guests noticed the garments piled on a chair. It was then that Kathryn and Charles, the naked wanderers, casually walked out into the open. They enjoyed their meandering walk back as they made their way toward the patio as their stunned guests watched them. The Potters, who were to spend a few days at the estate, really didn't have any place to look except at their feet or at the naked duo. They could have turned away, but for some reason that option never occurred to them.
Then Kathryn noticed they were in full view of their guests and on display, and with their garments on the chair next to Henry. She was flustered and attempted to cover herself with her hands, which of course was futile, and had Charles attempted to cover himself with his hand, he was afraid it might have appeared that he was playing with himself. They had no choice but to walk up to their guests and beg forgiveness as they quickly dressed amid mumbled attempts at explaining how they lost track of time, and apologized repeatedly for their very unlikely actions. Mere nakedness in the open was so out of place for the moral standards and expectations of that period, and to be seen by others was a sinful tragedy of the first order. Things like that happened at Dolce Giardino on more than one occasion, but the Philips never wavered in their pursuit of their simple and, to them at least, their harmless pleasures. Charles enjoyed his work and he loved his wife dearly, and would do anything for her. They lost a few friends because of their determination to reject clothing on occasion, but the ones that learned to accept Charles and Kathryn's eccentricities enjoyed some grand days at the estate. One couple even adopted their penchant for nudity. No inappropriate displays of affection though. Oh no, that would have been in very poor taste. They never gave much thought to those two conflicting ideas. Holding hands was the extent of their demonstration of their love for each other in public, and that only in the privacy of their huge backyard, and only around their very dearest friends.
Dolce Giardino was a gift from Kathryn's father, and he expected many grand children in the coming years, but he wouldn't get what he wanted and expected. In fact, that home would be the last significant thing he would be able to do for his daughter and son in law.
Chapter One
It was two thousand six, and Dell and Carrie Philips looked at the tall grand brick home. "My god Dell, Dolce Giardino is huge."
"It's much larger than I had pictured in my mind, but isn't it stately and impressive."
"I guess, but it could stand some work."
"I expected that. In fact it's in much better condition than I ever expected."
"So this home was in your family how far back?"
"It was built in...I think nineteen twenty five or six. Not long before the stock market crash. Kathryn and Charles Philips, my ancestors, lived in it for less than two years."
"They were murdered right?"
"Right."
"Not in the house I hope."
"I believe the story is they were found quite naked and quite dead in the backyard someplace."
"How gruesome. And you said they never learned who killed them."
"They never did. Then the house was sold for, well cents on the dollar, and after that there's a long gap where I don't know much about the house. We'll find out more when we get all of the papers of course. Anyway, so now it's ours."
"Forgive me if I don't jump up and down with joy honey."
He smiled and said, "I understand, and no we will not do any of the restoration work ourselves. Before we even move in I'm having it painted inside, some significant updating of the wiring and plumbing, and they'll sandblast the brick to bring back the rich color."
"When can we at least go through it?"
"A couple of weeks. Eager to see it?"
"I'm not sure eager is the word I'd use. Let's go with curious instead."
"When I look at it, I think personality, grace and of course grandeur."
"Well I hope so, because we're stuck with it now."
"Oh, and we're adding a garage and leaving the carriage house as it is, because I want to preserve what I can. We'll be very twentieth century honey."
"That's nice, but this is the twenty first century."
He smiled and said, "Then we'll just have to catch up won't we."
She kissed his cheek and said, "I can see in your eyes just how thrilled you are to own this and have it back in the family again."
"I really am. Are you sure you won't go with me to see Aunt Mary?"
"I'm sure. If she can remember anything about this old place, you take notes okay?"
"Of course honey."
Aunt Mary was the only relative old enough to remember the old home, and she had actually spent some time living there as she recovered from a fever and some complications, all from an undiagnosed ailment.
Aunt Mary now lived in an assisted living community, and she certainly hadn't lowered her standard of living. No, her new apartment, though small, and especially so by her standards, but she had many amenities, and all the comforts that could be provided for her.
"Good morning Aunt Mary," Dell said as he spotted her in the public area of her adopted home.
She squinted and studied him for some seconds, and he smiled and gave her all the time she needed. Then she smiled and said, "My word, it's you Dell, come sit next to me honey."
He kissed her cheek and handed her a small box of chocolates. "I'm told you're not to have a lot of these, but I smuggled them in just for you," he lied. True, her sugar consumption was monitored, but he had cleared those few chocolates with the nurse.
"You're a darling and thank you. My, I haven't seen you in so long, how are you?"
"I am well thank you."
"And Carrie?"
"She too is well and thanks for asking. She sends her love and apologies for not being able to come with me."
"That's sweet of her. Okay, so something brings you here and for you to bribe me with sweets," and she smiled as she sampled her selection from the fancy little gold foil box.
"You always could see through me love. Okay first of all, to be fair to myself, I'm so glad to see you again, and that alone is worth the hundred mile drive."
"Liar," she said and almost laughed.
