by Sharon Dunn
She’d brought the bag with the stock certificates so she could keep an eye on it. She wouldn’t have time to come back to the house to get it; the certificates had to come with her. Feeling uneasy, Annie loaded the bag into the trunk of the Malibu and locked it.
When Annie arrived at the hospital, Alice had already set up the table and balloons in the reception area outside the hospital nursery. She greeted Annie with a hug and then pointed to an older woman behind the counter. “Annie, this is my friend Sarah Mortenson.”
Sarah, whose most distinct feature was a modified beehive hairdo, waved. “I’m her best Princessa customer.”
Alice pulled a roll of streamers out of a bag. “You want to help me hang this? Sarah says we can use the whole reception area.”
Sarah came out from behind the counter, joining the two women. “I can lend you a hand. We have two newborns in the nursery. Both moms would love to be a part of the ceremony. This is the neatest thing that has happened in all my years of working here.”
Annie stepped up on a chair as Alice handed her a streamer. “Have you worked here long?”
“Twenty years.” Sarah patted her big hair. “I’ve been on this floor for just a couple of years. I do love the babies.”
Erin and Viola walked in together. “I know we are early, but I just couldn’t wait. Come see what Viola and I made together.” Erin lifted a blue-and-yellow crocheted blanket out of the gift bag she was holding.
Annie admired the blanket. The stitching was close to perfect. “Oh, Erin, it’s beautiful.”
Erin gave Viola a sideways hug. “We did it together.” Her face beamed.
“This little lady has so many wonderful ideas,” the older woman said.
“Can we help with anything?” Erin put the blanket back in the gift bag.
Annie unrolled a section of streamer. “Alice will put you to work.”
While Alice delegated jobs, Annie spread out Gram’s tablecloth. Gram had done a delicate cross-stitch floral design in one corner of the linen fabric. She brushed her fingers over the purple pansies.
Peggy and Gwen arrived, each holding a tray of refreshments.
“We are going to need another table,” Sarah said. “I think we have one in the basement if you want to give me a hand.”
Annie followed Sarah down a concrete stairwell. At the base of the stairs, Sarah flipped on a light and opened a metal door with a small window.
Annie stared around at file cabinets, what looked like a piece of broken medical equipment, and shelves piled with stacks of paper and several coffee machines. “What is this place?”
Sarah walked to a corner and grabbed a card table. “The land that time forgot. We’ve got some old medical records in the file cabinets and just things people thought they were going to fix and then forgot about.” She ran her hand over the table. “This is a little dusty. I’m going to have to wipe it down.” She turned back toward the corner. “There is another one over there if you want to grab it.”
Annie retrieved the second table. An idea budded inside her head. “How far back do those files go?”
“I’m not sure.” Sarah shrugged. “Records less than ten years old are upstairs.” She turned her attention to the tables. “I think we have something in the break room that we can cover these with.” She hefted the table up the first couple of stairs. “Why did you want to know about the files?”
“I am trying to find out about some women who stayed in this town years ago. One of them was pregnant. If the woman came in for an exam or needed medical attention, there would have been a record of it, right?”
“Sure, do you have a name for the mom?”
“Therese Marie Gilkerson.”
“That’s not ringing any bells.” Sarah went up a few more stairs. “We could probably do a search.”
Several bars of classical music spilled down the hallway, punctuated by the sound of women chattering.
“Sounds like we have quite a crowd already.” Annie’s heart fluttered with excitement. When she arrived at the top of the stairs, Stella was arranging a quartet in a corner of the reception area.
The older woman waved. “Hello, dear. I thought a little live music would be nice. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, not at all.” Annie smiled. Everyone’s contribution had added so much to the celebration. “I think that was a great idea.”
By the time Annie had set up the tables and arranged refreshments, the place was teeming with people. Alice arranged the layette sets on the second table, placing a flower arrangement in the center of the display.
Ian entered the corridor. His eyes went wide when he saw the crowd. A younger man followed Ian. Her guess—that the young man was the reporter from The Point—was confirmed when he took out a camera.
Sarah hooked her arm through Annie’s. “My goodness, that young woman over there is very good with the babies.”
Annie followed the direction that Sarah was pointing. Erin sat holding a baby surrounded by older women. “Yes, Erin seems to connect with the old and the brand new.”
“She has a way of bringing them together.”
God has a way of working these things out. As Annie watched Erin, Gram’s wisdom floated back into Annie’s head.
“You know,” said Sarah, “we need volunteers from time to time when we get lots of babies at once.” She squeezed Annie’s elbow. “I’m going to go talk to her.”
Holding a cup of punch, Taylor sidled over to Annie. “This is fabulous.” She wore a lacy teal dress that offset her black hair and creamy skin.
A sense of satisfaction and joy filled Annie. “Yes, it’s all very lovely.”
Ian pulled himself away from the conversation he had been drawn into. He grabbed the young man with the camera and walked over to Annie.
“You have done something wonderful here,” Ian said.
“I didn’t do it alone,” Annie basked in the warmth of his smile.
“It’s something that we could make an annual event.”
“I hadn’t thought about that, but I am sure all the women would love to create more layettes.” The idea appealed to her.
“If it’s a yearly thing, you’ll have to stick around and make sure everything comes together. You’ll never be able to go back to Texas.” Ian’s eyes lit up as he gazed at her.
Annie blushed. “I suppose that’s true.”
“You’ve gone and made yourself a permanent part of Stony Point.” Ian winked.
“Is that what I’ve done?”
Ian pointed to the young man with the camera. “That man is Greg Smith. He’s busy with photos right now, but he knows who you are. I’m sure he will want to talk to you after things die down.”
Ian leaned toward Annie and whispered in her ear. “Since you are responsible for all this organized mayhem, I’m sure you will want to say a few words.” He signaled Stella to quiet the quartet as he moved toward a microphone that had been set up in the corner.
Annie froze. She hadn’t realized she’d be asked to speak.
Ian grabbed the microphone as the crowd quieted down and looked toward him. “I would like to thank everyone who came today. Bringing generations together is one of the things in which Stony Point prides itself. In creating this project, Annie Dawson has built bridges between senior citizens, teens, and those in between, and created a way for the newest of our citizens to feel welcomed to Stony Point. Annie, would you like to say a few words?” He handed her the microphone.
Annie’s heart pounded in her chest. Public speaking had never been her favorite thing, but as she stared out at the crowd, she saw a sea of friendly faces. “I just want to say what an honor it is to be here and to be part of this community. The idea for the intergenerational project may have been mine, but I certainly didn’t do it alone. Over and over, people stepped up to the plate and offered their gifts and talent and time. This truly has been a community project, and I’m so grateful for the women from Seaside, the teens, and my friends from Hook a
nd Needle Club, not to mention Katrina, activities director at Seaside Hills Assisted Living.” She turned slightly to face Ian. “And our own wonderful mayor.”
One of the newborns let out a sweet cry. Everyone laughed.
“And of course, the reason we are here: the babies. So enjoy the food and music, and take a moment to look at the beautiful layettes these women have created and to say ‘thank you.’ I’m so glad all of you came here today.”
After applauding, people gradually returned to visiting and eating.
Greg Smith moved toward Annie. “I’m sure Ian told you I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
After snapping a photo of Annie standing beside the display, Greg took out a small notebook. His questions were easy to answer. Then Annie visited some more with the guests and enjoyed the music.
Alice came up behind her and whispered in her ear. “Maybe we should get going. It’s quarter to eight.”
She’d pushed the meeting with Joan out of her mind, but it had to happen.
Annie stopped to talk to Ian. “Thank you for making this such a success.”
Ian’s eyes sparkled. “Like you said, it really was a group project.”
Annie said goodbye to a few more people. She and Alice made their way out to the dark parking lot.
Before Alice got into her Mustang, she said, “I’ll meet you down there.”
Annie got into her car and drove down Main Street. She found a parking space a couple of blocks from The Cup & Saucer. She unlocked her trunk and pulled out the bag. Main Street was almost empty at this hour. Her feet tapped on the sidewalk. Across the street, the display lights had been left on in Dress to Impress, but the store was closed.
She didn’t see Alice’s Mustang. Annie entered The Cup & Saucer. Two older gentlemen sat at the counter and a family occupied a corner table. She could see into the kitchen, where Lisa was joking with the cook.
Annie selected a table that provided a view of the door.
Lisa walked over to her and handed her a menu. “How are you doing tonight?”
“OK, but I’m not really hungry. I’ll just have a cup of hot tea.” She hadn’t realized her hands were sweating until she handed the menu back to Lisa.
“Mrs. Dawson, are you OK? You look kind of … anxious.”
Was she that easy to read? Annie forced a smile. “I’m all right. I’m just meeting someone, and I don’t know how it will go.”
Lisa nodded. “I’ll bring you that tea.”
Annie checked her watch. Exactly eight o’clock. Alice walked in and snapped her cell phone shut. She took a chair kitty-corner from Annie. “Sorry, I had a call from my sister in Florida that I had to take.” Alice patted her friend’s hand. “It’s all going to be over in just a little bit.”
“I need some straight answers from Joan before I give her these things.” Annie touched the handbag. “For one, I have to make sure she isn’t in any way connected to these break-ins.”
“Being in sales has helped me read body language pretty accurately. I’d be able to tell you if she’s lying.”
“That’s why I brought you along.” Annie took a sip of her tea. “We can get Lisa to get you a cup if you like.”
“That sounds delightful.”
The two women worked their way through two cups of tea each while they watched the door.
Lisa came out from behind the counter. “Ladies, we close down in fifteen minutes.”
Annie’s shoulders slumped. “I guess she is not going to show.” She folded and unfolded the napkin.
“What are you thinking?”
“It just seems odd. She was so adamant about getting the stock certificates.”
Alice scooted her chair back and rose to her feet. “Maybe she is involved in something illegal, and she chickened out because she thought you would bring the cops.”
The two women made their way across the empty restaurant. “What a day, huh?” Annie sighed. “Filled with ups and downs.”
Outside on the sidewalk, the women hugged as they said goodbye. Annie walked down the empty street, suddenly aware of the headlights of a van that peeled away from the curb.
Locking herself in her car, Annie drove through the dark streets of Stony Point, onto Ocean Drive. The light she had left on in the living room of Grey Gables was a welcome sight.
Lugging the big bag with the stocks, she went inside and bolted the door behind her. After slipping into her pajamas, she fell into her bed. Sleep came quickly. She dreamed of Joan standing at her door, reaching out her hand and demanding, “Give them to me.”
She was awakened the next morning by her cell phone playing Amazing Grace. She stumbled out of bed and rummaged through her coat pockets to find the phone.
“Have you read the paper yet?” Alice sounded out of breath.
“No, is there an article about the ceremony?”
“Not on the first page.” Something in Alice’s tone sounded foreboding.
“What is it?” Tension knotted Annie’s stomach.
“Maybe you’d better just get the paper. I’ll be over in a minute.”
18
Feeling uneasy about Alice’s phone call, Annie went downstairs and made a pot of coffee before retrieving the paper from her porch. Her steps stalled as she read the headline: “Woman Found Dead on Beach.” A photograph of an older-model Buick in an empty parking lot within sight of the ocean dominated the front page. The caption beneath the picture read, “The car believed to belong to the victim.”
Annie clutched the paper tighter and kept reading. “A woman identified as Joan Whitlock was found dead in a rocky part of the beach.”
Annie fell into a wicker rocker, doubled over with nausea.
“They think she drowned.” Alice’s voice floated up to her from the walk.
Annie straightened and shook her head. When she tried to finish reading the article, she couldn’t focus her vision. “Drowned?”
“The paper doesn’t say if it was an accident, or if she jumped in or … something else.”
“It just happened last night. The chief probably doesn’t know the cause of death yet.” Annie struggled to get a deep breath.
“Or they are withholding the information so they can investigate.” Alice stepped up the stairs of the porch.
“This doesn’t make any sense.” Annie shook her head in disbelief. “No one knew she was in town. I didn’t tell anyone but you.”
Alice collapsed in a wicker chair. “I didn’t say a word to anyone.”
Through the open door, Annie could hear the phone ringing and the message machine kick on. No doubt the members of the Hook and Needle Club were calling her for an explanation, something she didn’t have. Guilt washed through her. Should she have told the police about Joan right away? “Sometimes I think it would have been better if I had just thrown those certificates away when I found them.”
Alice draped a supportive hand on Annie’s arm. “You can’t blame yourself.”
“That poor woman.” Annie touched her fingers to her chest. “I have to do something.”
“Ian might know what is going on. I’m sure he is in touch with Chief Edwards, and they are dealing with things.”
“If Ian volunteers information, that’s fine, but I’m not going to put him on the spot. I don’t want to abuse our friendship in that way.”
“I understand.”
Annie sat up straight. “There is one thing.” The landline rang again. “We’ve been saying all along if we knew why Joan and her daughter came to Stony Point in the first place, we might have the missing piece of the puzzle.”
“Yes?”
“Yesterday at the ceremony, I started talking to your friend Sarah. What if Therese Marie had to see a doctor while she was here? Somebody at the hospital might remember something.”
Alice pulled out her cell phone. “I’ll give Sarah a call right now.”
Annie rose to her feet. “Give me just a few minutes to get ready.” She went into the house, gla
ncing one more time at the newspaper article before placing it on a table by the door. Within twenty minutes, Annie was dressed and ready to go.
Alice waited for her at the bottom of the stairs, offering a coffee refill. “It’s Sarah’s day off. When I told her this was connected to the woman who died, she said she would be glad to meet us at the hospital. Should we take my car?”
“Sounds good.” The phone rang a third time. “I sure don’t want to stay home listening to that phone ring all day,” Annie said.
Within minutes the Mustang pulled up outside the hospital. Annie’s sense of urgency increased with every step as she and Alice hurried to the nursery. The reception area that had been so festive yesterday was back to its standard institutional decor. No bright colors, just beige chairs and beige walls.
Sarah, dressed in slacks and a floral-print shirt, stood by the counter. A woman about Sarah’s age stood beside her, looking as if she had just been tending her garden. Her jeans had dirt on the knees, and the denim shirt showed signs of wear.
“Annie and Alice, this is Doris.”
Doris held out a hand. “I retired from nursing several years ago.”
Sarah held up a file folder. “When I pulled the file on Marie Gilkerson, it didn’t ring any bells for me. I was still doing shift in other parts of the hospital, but Doris was pretty much full-time here.”
“I remember Marie Gilkerson, and her mother, Joan Whitlock.” A note of sadness punctuated Doris’s voice.
“So they were mother and daughter,” Alice whispered.
“I never quite got the whole story from either one of them, but it was a very tense time for them. Joan’s ex-husband lived around Stony Point. When Marie’s husband died suddenly, and Marie was about to give birth, they had hoped to convince him to step up to the plate as Marie’s father and the baby’s grandfather. I don’t think the meeting went too well. Then Joan just disappeared one day. Marie was waiting for her mother’s return when she went into labor.”
A sense of hope returned to Annie. “So she did have the baby here?”