Tenderness

by Dorothy Garlock

  Feeling like a stranger in her own home, Jesse backed out of the room and went down the hall to the front door. Through the side glass she could see Susan coming up the walk.

  Her sister was going to be a beauty, Jesse thought, as she waited for her to reach the door. Her light brown hair was tied at the nape of her neck with a black ribbon. She wore a dark, two-piece sailor suit with a wide collar trimmed in red braid. The skirt was the new mid-calf length, her stockings black. But Jesse was disturbed to see the usually high-spirited Susan trudging along with such a dejected slump to her shoulders.

  Jesse threw open the door. “Hurry up, slowpoke, and give me a hug.”

  “Jesse! When did you get home?”

  “A while ago. Todd saw me pass the school.” Jesse hugged her sister. “You look so pretty. That sailor suit finally came from Sears Roebuck. Oh, I’ve missed you.”

  “I’m glad you’re back. Have you met… her?” It was like Susan to get right to the point.

  “I’ve met her. What do you think of the new housekeeper?”

  “Not much! She’s got Papa wrapped around her finger.”

  “Where did she come from?”

  “She came to the door with her suitcases and told Papa she was mamma’s girlhood friend and had come to visit. She acted as if she didn’t know mamma was gone and cried big crocodile tears. She and Papa went into the surgery, and before I knew it, I was moving out of my room and into yours so she could have my room.” Susan’s jaw jutted a little.

  “Hmmm…”

  “She’s all sweetness around Papa, but when he isn’t here she’s as mean as a snake.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s do this, do that. Proper young ladies don’t do this, don’t do that. Do you want to shame your papa?” Susan mimicked Mrs. Lindstrom’s voice.

  “I suppose you have chores—”

  “Do I have chores? She hasn’t washed a supper dish since she’s been here. Do you know what she’s done? She talked Papa into letting Mrs. Klein go. She said that Todd and I could get up an hour early on Monday and work the lever on the washing machine before we go to school and that soon school would be out and there was no reason to pay Mrs. Klein when we could do it.”

  “Mrs. Klein has been coming for years. She depends on the money she makes.”

  “Old Ghost-face said washing was part of a housekeeper’s duties and she would be most happy to do it. What she meant was she would be most happy for me and Todd to do it.”

  “Ghost-face?”

  “It’s milk-white, isn’t it? I’ve caught her putting buttermilk on her face three times since she’s been here. She says I’ll be sorry for going without a hat when I have freckles all over my face. Well, poot on her!”

  “What does Papa say to all of this?”

  “He says it’s what he’s always wanted—someone to take the household duties off your shoulders so you can have more of a social life.”

  “Hmmm…” Jesse said again.

  “Talk to Papa, Jesse. Maybe he’ll listen to you. He’s doing this because he doesn’t think it’s fair that you work in the surgery and have to run the house. I’ll help more. I promise.”

  “I’ll talk to him. In the meanwhile change clothes and, help me unload the buggy. The boot is full of payment for my services—full of everything but money.”

  As soon as they left the house Susan began to ask questions.

  “What was it like up there all by yourself? Where did you stay? Did you see where Wade Simmer lives? Is it true he lives with that darkie?”

  “In the first place I wasn’t by myself. There are families scattered all through the hills, and, believe it or not, they are a tight-knit group who, in a way, look after each other. I stayed with a different family each night. Wade Simmer does not live in a dugout or a lean-to. He lives in a very comfortable house made of log and stone. His great-grandfather built the original cabin and his grandfather added to it. Jody lives with him. Does that answer your questions?”

  “Wade Simmer came twice to see Papa. It’s the first time I’ve got a good look at him. He’s handsome in a rough sort of way. The first time they were in the surgery a couple of hours with the door shut.”

  “He was very… helpful.”

  Susan was too engrossed in her tale to notice the hesitancy in her sister’s voice.

  “You would have laughed your head off when that darkie came to the door with your letter. Old Ghost-face tried to run him off with the broom; but he wouldn’t go, and he wouldn’t tell her what he wanted. She was madder than a wet hen. He just squatted out by the lilac bushes and waited until Papa came home. When he left he ran right down the middle of Main Street and thumbed his nose at Marshal Wright. I laughed till I nearly peed my pants.”

  “You’d better not let ah… Old Ghost-face hear you say that.” The sisters giggled and hugged each other.

  When they entered the kitchen with the first load from the buggy, Mrs. Lindstrom was bringing a custard pie from the oven. Jesse ignored her and headed for the pantry, where she found the shelves definitely tidier than when she had last seen them. She and Susan placed the jars of pickled peaches, beets, relishes and jams on the shelves and without a word went back to the buggy for a second load. They returned with sacks of new potatoes, winter onions, dried pumpkin and squash. Susan carried a tin of rendered lard.

  “Where in the world did all this come from?” Mrs. Lindstrom asked.

  “From my patients.”

  “Forevermore.” It was all she said but it was enough for Jesse to detect the disapproval in her voice. “Set the table, please, Susan. It’s twenty minutes till six.”

  “But… Papa isn’t here yet.”

  “He will be.” Mrs. Lindstrom turned back to the stove and Susan poked out her tongue.

  “I’d help you, but I’ve got to beat the rugs.” Jesse caught her sister’s eye and winked.

  A few minutes before six o’clock Doctor Forbes came into the house, dropped his bag beside the surgery door, tossed his hat on the hatrack and hurried down the hall to the lavatory. A few minutes later he came out, hair combed, tie straightened, and entered the dining room.

  “Hello, Papa.” Jesse came from the kitchen.

  “At least ten people told me they saw you come through town. You all right?”

  “Fine. No new cases in two days.”

  “Good. Good. What do you think of my surprise? You didn’t even have to cook supper.”

  “Dinner is ready, Doctor. Please sit down.” Mrs. Lind-strom, coming in from the kitchen, saved Jesse from having to answer. “Children,” she called.

  Lacking the exuberance they usually had at suppertime, Susan and Todd came to the table. “Hello, Papa,” they both said at the same time.

  Jesse moved to her regular place opposite her father and near the kitchen. Before she could sit down, Mrs. Lindstrom slid gracefully into the chair.

  “Oh, dear! Is this where you usually sit, Jesse? I’ve been sitting here so I could serve Todd. If you’d rather—”

  “It isn’t important.” Jesse slipped into the chair beside her brother. “But I think Todd can serve himself. He’s been doing it for years.”

  “I’m sure. He’s such a little gentleman at the table.”

  Doctor Forbes didn’t seem to notice the bite in Jesse’s voice or the housekeeper’s smooth reply. He was helping himself to the pot roast. Susan rolled her eyes to the ceiling; Todd nudged Jesse with his foot.

  The meal Mrs. Lindstrom had prepared could not be faulted. Doctor Forbes ate his roast, mashed potatoes and gravy with obvious enjoyment. He attempted to talk with Jesse about the epidemic; but after she said that they could discuss it later, he too fell silent.

  Mrs. Lindstrom moved smoothly in to fill the void.

  “How was your patient, Doctor?”

  “He’ll make it. Damn fool waited long enough to call me.”

  “He’s lucky you went at all, considering—”

  “Some people hav
e more pride than brains.”

  “And some have none at all. How fortunate they are to have such an unselfish doctor.”

  “Delicious meal, Mrs. Lindstrom.”

  “Thank you, Doctor. Save room for the custard pie.”

  Jesse’s eyes went from the housekeeper to her father. A tight knot began to form in her throat; and although the meal was very good and she was hungry, it was difficult to swallow.

  “I-I’m g-glad Je-Jes-se’s ho-ho-ho-” Todd glanced at Mrs. Lindstrom before looking down at his plate. His face reddened because he couldn’t get out the word.

  “I’m sure your sister knows that you’re glad she’s home, dear,” Mrs. Lindstrom said kindly and then spoke to the doctor, effectively shutting off further conversation from the boy. “I met a very nice lady today. She invited me to join the Harpersville Historical Society.”

  “I can guess who that was.” Jesse placed her knife and fork on the edge of her plate.

  “Old Barrel-belly,” Susan said, under her breath but loud enough for Mrs. Lindstrom’s sharp ears.

  “Whom did you say, dear?” The voice had lost some of the sweetness.

  “It could be none other than Roberta Harper.” Jesse grinned at her sister before looking directly into Mrs. Lindstrom’s eyes. “She’s terribly proud of the fact that her husband’s grandfather founded the town.”

  “Yes, she told me. Well, if we’ve finished, I’ll serve the pie. Susan, dear, will you remove the plates?”

  “Sit still, Susan. I’ll do it.” Jesse picked up her plate and Todd’s and followed the housekeeper to the kitchen. After placing the dishes on the kitchen cabinet, she returned to the dining room for her father’s and Susan’s. She met the eyes of the housekeeper after she butted open the swinging door with her backside. The woman’s eyes had a strange, cold faraway look that made Jesse uncomfortable.

  “You’re spoiling her, you know.”

  “Susan?” Jesse set the plates down none too gently. “You’ve not been here long enough to make that judgment, Mrs. Lindstrom. And if I were, it would be a family matter.”

  “The doctor has expressed his concern to me.” There was a note of self-assurance in her voice.

  A qualm of uneasiness went with Jesse back to the table, but she wore a bright cheerful smile and spoke to her brother.

  “Did you go to the ball game on Sunday?”

  Todd looked toward the kitchen door and nodded his head.

  “Well… who won?”

  “B-B-Bush-man D-da-dai-ry.”

  “Did Pauline go with you?” Jesse looked across the table to where Susan sat slumped in her chair.

  “She went. She came to make jam too. I don’t think she’ll come back.”

  “Why is that?”

  “She just… she just couldn’t do it right. Mrs. Lindstrom made it—after we picked the berries, of course.” Susan glanced at her father. He was leaning back in his chair studying his eldest daughter.

  Something had happened to her during her stay in the hills. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks tanned, her hair loose and tied at her nape with a ribbon. She had bloomed like a woman in love. Well, she was pretty and capable and deserved to find a man who would love her as he had loved his Dora.

  Mrs. Lindstrom came through the swinging door carrying a tray she placed on the buffet after moving aside a large crystal bowl. The bowl had belonged to Susan’s grandmother, and Jesse had carefully packed it away until Susan had a home of her own.

  The housekeeper served the neat wedges of pie and took her seat at the table. Jesse looked at Susan and winked, remembering other meals when she had set the pie in the middle of the table, and they had helped themselves until every crumb was gone, arguing loudly about who was entitled to the last piece.

  Tonight they ate in silence. When he finished, Doctor Forbes complimented Mrs. Lindstrom on the meal, moved his chair and stood.

  “Do you want your coffee in the parlor, Doctor?”

  “In the surgery.”

  “I’ll be in, Papa, as soon as Susan and I do the dishes.” Jesse began to pick up the plates.

  Doctor Forbes smiled a trifle ruefully at his daughter. “We have a housekeeper now. Susan can help her—”

  “I-I-I do-don’t have to he-help?”

  “I don’t think it takes three people to do a few dishes.” The doctor ruffled his son’s hair. “Do your lessons. Soon you’ll be having end-of-the-year tests.”

  “That’s right,” Mrs. Lindstrom said brightly. “Mrs. Harper says school will be out in another three weeks. Come along, Susan. We’ll make quick work of this chore.”

  Susan wrinkled her nose at her sister, worked her mouth in silent protest and picked up the dessert plates.

  CHAPTER

  * 8 *

  Jesse followed her father into the surgery and closed the door. He sat in his swivel chair, she in the chair beside his desk.

  “It was a pleasant dinner we had, huh, Jess?”

  “The food was good. Where did she come from, Papa?”

  “Delaware, I think she said. She came in on the morning train the day you left.”

  “And came directly here seeking a job?”

  “No. She came to see Dora. She didn’t know Dora had passed away. She was going to say hello and go to the hotel. Seemed broken up about Dora’s passing. They were girlhood friends in Knoxville years ago.”

  “It’s strange they didn’t keep in touch.”

  “Not so strange considering Mrs. Lindstrom lived in Sweden for a number of years. Her husband died there and she came back to her native country.”

  “She’s hardly the type to be a housekeeper.”

  “For the last two years she was a mistress in a girls’ school. I know she’s bossy and Susan resents her—” His voice trailed when he saw the impatient look on his daughter’s face.

  “Did she tell you why she left the school?”

  “Said she got homesick for Tennessee.”

  There was a soft knock on the door before it opened. Mrs. Lindstrom came in balancing a tray with two steaming cups of coffee.

  “If you want more, Jesse, I’ll bring in the coffee server. Doctor usually drinks one cup after dinner.”

  “One is enough for me, thank you.” Jesse knew immediately that Mrs. Lindstrom wanted her to know that she usually had coffee with her employer after supper.

  After the housekeeper left, the doctor leaned back in his chair and grinned at his daughter.

  “Nice to be waited on, isn’t it?”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m used to doing things for myself.”

  “You’ve got to admit she’s got things in tip-top shape.”

  “She does everything beautifully—”

  “—And she’ll be good for Susan. She knows how to handle girls.”

  “Susan doesn’t need handling. Papa. She’s growing up. All girls her age try to spread their wings.”

  “She spreads hers right out of the house when there is work to be done.”

  “Of course she does. She’ll do as little as she can get away with, but that’s normal.”

  “Mrs. Lindstrom will see that she does her share of the chores. You have enough to do.”

  “And Todd? Is every minute of his time after school to be filled with chores? His stuttering is worse—”

  “I’ve not noticed that. Mrs. Lindstrom will take the burden of the house off your shoulders and give you time to enjoy life. You’re young—”

  “You want me to go out and kick up my heels. Is that it?”

  “You’ll have time to go to ball games, dances, church socials. You’ll have time for a beau.”

  “Glory be! Do you have someone in mind?”

  His eyes twinkled. “I’ll leave that up to you.”

  Something in his tone and the look on his face caused Jesse’s cheeks to burn. “Todd and Susan don’t like her,” she said bluntly.

  “Of course not. She has authority. Children resent authority. She explained that
to me.”

  “I bet she did.” Jesse’s voice held resignation.

  “Give her a chance, Jess. She’s a very pleasant woman.”

  “Susan tells me that Mrs. Klein will not be coming to do the washing.”

  “Well, yes. Mrs. Lindstrom said that she would do it.”

  “Does she know about boiling the towels from the surgery?”

  “I don’t know. I never thought to mention it.”

  “Is it the money, Papa? I’ll pay Mrs. Klein out of my wages. She depends on the pay she gets here.”

  “Mrs. Lindstrom said it was the housekeeper’s duty to take care of the wash, and I just left it up to her.”

  “Well?”

  “Keep Mrs. Klein. And don’t be lippy about paying her out of your wages. You don’t get enough as it is.”

  “I get room and board as well.”

  “Jess, you’re about to make me angry. Is that your intention?”

  “No. It was a shock to come home and find everything… different. Has anything else happened since I’ve been gone? Has The Looker struck again?”

  “If he has, it’s not been reported to me.” Doctor Forbes drained his cup and set it back on the saucer. “Simmer told me you did a fine job up in the hills. The people liked you.”

  Jesse felt the heat rush to her cheeks again and hoped her father wouldn’t notice.

  “I did the best I could. The people are proud. I brought home a boot full of pay; everything from jelly to rendered lard.”

  “How was Granny Lester?”

  “Granny refuses to go to Knoxville for treatment. She’s dead-set against it. Her eyes are beginning to bulge and she’s short of breath. I’m almost sure she’s taking a cure-all medicine recommended by some quack.”

  The doctor sighed and shook his head. “They’re a different breed up there—pigheaded and proud. We can’t force her to go.”

  “Mrs. Bailey’s toe is healing, although I don’t know why. She was in the garden digging potatoes with just a dirty sock on her foot. Mrs. Merfeld is thin as a rail except for her stomach. I’ll be surprised if she delivers a normal baby.”