by Suzi Weinert
Birdsong’s head jerked forward at a sound ahead. Reining in his horse, he leaned forward in the saddle, intent upon the dark road before him. Yes, hoofbeats, but hard to tell how many. He edged his horse into the woods.
The galloping grew louder as five horsemen rocketed past his hiding place. In the dark at their speed, he couldn’t count them friend or foe. When their noise receded, he ventured again onto the road. He hadn’t gone fifty feet when he saw his landmark lightning-damaged tree.
Dismounting, he led his horse into the wooded glen. When dawn broke, he searched vainly for two slashed pine trees. They had to be close. He returned to the road to reconfirm the landmark before trudging back into the woods to search again.
Though tree trunks and some deciduous tree branches stood bare, a pale green aura fringed the tips as April’s leaves budded into springtime and native dogwoods and redbuds blossomed fully. The poet inside him contrasted the timeless natural beauty of this scene with the bloody war men waged nearby. He gazed at sunlight-dappled fall leaves on the ground, their earth-hued layers compressed against the soil by recent winter snows, when his eye distinguished a different shape on the ground. He hurried over and fell to his knees. Mosby’s knife. He looked up. Two pines notched with X’s.
CHAPTER 32
The first one awake the next morning, Jennifer dressed quickly, hustled downstairs and prepared coffee. Again, she felt enlivened and eager for the day, energized by the vision pulling her into the intriguing world of the past.
She collected the newspaper from the driveway and perused it while savoring her steaming coffee. Next, she opened her daybook. Surprised to note it was Thursday, she realized she’d arrived in Naples almost a week ago…though it seemed longer.
Starting the day’s to-do list, she jotted: 10:00am beauty shop, evaluate real estate contract, call Langley’s customer referrals, 4:30 Joan Langley appointment, firm up movers and estate sale company appointments the following day. Scour the pantry, refrigerator and freezer to produce three meals for three people…and possibly a grocery run.
She phoned their first moving company choice. They had her target date available, so she recorded their prices and made a 1:00 appointment to meet their agent.
Also today, Becca would take pictures from which the family could request something of Grammy’s before everything sold. This meant furniture and contents like china, silver, crystal and linens—anything tucked in any room that must disappear in only two weeks. Would Becca do this well?
At 8:30, Jennifer roused the others, reminding Grammy about the new beauty shop appointment time, and showed them the to-do list. Becca announced she’d start snapping pictures in the houselonely while they beautified at the salon. Jennifer fitted in three client referral calls, all raving about Joan Langley’s skill, personality and results.
At ten, they settled in side-by-side chairs at the beauty shop, talking with Chelsea and Jen’s stylist, Corky.
“Jennifer, welcome back. And Frances, how are you?” When they described what had happened since seeing her last, Chelsea added, “You think my sketches helped the deputy?”
“I know so because they arrested the guy in Michigan. He’s on his way back here for prosecution.”
Chelsea leaned into the hairstyle she combed for Frances. “Are you willing to face him in court if necessary?”
Grammy hesitated, but then said with resolve. “Yes, because I want him out of action.”
“Good for you. Moving north is a big decision for you, Frances. Were any of my suggestions about movers and Realtors useful?”
“Yes, and thank you,” Grammy answered. “In fact, we hired the very real estate company you mentioned. Today we select a mover and tomorrow, estate sale companies.”
“Bet you didn’t know your bad news turned into my good news,” Chelsea announced. They turned toward her, curious.
“Well, you know I’m a divorcee for fifteen years and my daughter and her little girl lived with me until just recently. At first, being by myself felt wonderful, like a reprieve, but then it began to feel lonely—really lonely. So now I’m dating and you had a hand in it.”
Jennifer saw no connection. “What do you mean?”
“Cliff Goodwin, the deputy we had supper with at Joe’s Diner, has dropped by every evening since. Turns out when his wife died a year ago, he threw himself headlong into his work. I’m not calling this a romance, but it’s comfortable for now.” Chelsea grinned. “But there’s even more to my story.” Their eyes riveted on her.
“At Cliff’s suggestion, I’m taking a self-defense course on my day off. The purpose is keeping yourself safe by improving your mental and physical preparedness.”
“Gee, that’s a course I’d like to take,” commented someone in another chair, overhearing the conversation. “What have you learned so far?”
“We learned the five A’s for trouble situations: attitude, awareness, assessment, action and avoidance.”
Several customers chimed in, asking when’s-and-where’s about the course. Chelsea told them.
“What else can you tell us?” someone asked.
Chelsea thought a moment. “Since this course is about your own personal safety, if you see a fight or a crime or other trouble, don’t get involved yourself. Call 911 because the professionals have the training plus manpower and firepower. You’ve done your part by calling them for help.”
“What else?”
“Under Awareness in those five A’s, they list various kinds of frauds to recognize and avoid.”
“For instance?” Jennifer asked.
Chelsea took a folder from her beauty station’s drawer, flipped some pages and read. “Identity theft, telemarketing fraud, mail and internet fraud, home improvement fraud, mortgage fraud, investment fraud, caregiving fraud and a prevention checklist.”
“What’s on the prevention checklist?” queried another voice.
“Use a hidden wallet instead of a purse; don’t carry your social security card unless you need it that day; don’t talk freely to strangers on the phone, at your door or on the street. Use a crosscut shredder on tossed financial mail and documents… Look, I’ll put the list here so any of you can take a look.”
The beauticians finished Jennifer and Grammy about the same time. They paid their bills.
“I’ll keep my regular appointment for a few more weeks until we leave. Thanks, Chelsea, for your wonderful care over the years and for the sketch you gave the deputy to catch my thief.”
“Fran, you know I value your friendship. You’ve been my client longer than any of my other customers. Working with you has been my pleasure.” They hugged.
“See you next Thursday,” Jennifer said, waving as they left the shop.
As they drove home, Jen’s cellphone rang. She answered, pressing the speaker button.
“Hello, this is Hannah with big news. Adam sold the lots to a developer today but kept the one for us to build on as we planned.”
“That’s exciting.” Jennifer grinned. “He’s worked hard on this.”
“Yes, and he negotiated a great price, so we’re thrilled. Next, we start work on our own lot. You know how overgrown the property is? We’re going to hire a bush-hogger.”
Grammy frowned. “What in the world is that?”
“A man with a machine for clearing brush from overgrown land. In our case, it’s light bush-hogging where they spare trees but remove ratty thickets and undergrowth. Then we can see what the property looks like for the first time. It’s almost a football field length from the main road, up the driveway to the house, and neglected for so many years nobody knows what’s there. Now we’ll find out.”
“Keep your eyes open for Civil War relics.” Surprised she said this, Jennifer wondered at the powerful tentacles with which this new subject had encircled her mind.”
CHAPTER 33
Back at the house, Jennifer served lunch and they talked as they ate.
“How’s the photography going, Becca?”
>
“Faster than I expected. I’ll finish tomorrow and e-mail the pics to the family then.”
“Mom, how are you doing?” Jennifer looked with tenderness toward the frail elder who’d been the vibrant, energetic figure from her memory.
“My stamina’s not what it used to be, but I’m trying to keep up.”
“You’re amazing, Grammy. A major move like this is huge at any age,” Becca observed.
“She’s right, Mom. But now we all need to pool our ideas about some big decisions. On the computer, I made this calendar showing the next few weeks. We want to choose reasonable goals we can reach without going crazy.” Becca giggled at this. Jennifer continued, “So let’s think about practical ways to move forward.”
“First, let’s talk about getting to Virginia,” Grammy suggested.
“Okay. Shall we fly or drive? If I’m guessing right, we need another three weeks to do what’s left at an acceptable pace. Becca, will you still be with us then?”
“If you want me, I’ll stay. If you don’t need me, I’ll go back. If I stay and you don’t fly, I could share driving.”
Grammy adjusted her glasses. “This is a nice time of year for a drive. We could travel leisurely, maybe even sightsee along the way. And it may be the last car trip of this kind I’ll take, so I vote for driving. All in favor?”
Three hands whooshed into the air.
Jennifer picked up a pencil. “If we schedule movers first, then everything left in the house goes to our estate sale. Grammy has four bedrooms, but we’ll move furniture from only two, leaving the two bedrooms of furniture useable for us here after the movers leave and before the estate sale starts. A few nights before that sale, we should move to a hotel until we go north. That gives the sale folks time to arrange the house for the event. Afterward, we hire the estate sale people to remove all unsold stuff or we call Salvation Army or one of Naples’ upscale thrift shops. Then we turn the empty house over to Miz Langley. We should be able to leave for Virginia right after the house is empty. What do you think?”
“Sounds logical to me,” Becca said. “Grammy?” She nodded.
“Then, back to our calendar. If we schedule movers next Thursday, a week from today, that gives the estate sale company a week to prepare for their sale. They like more time, but we’ll select a company that can make it happen. Their sale would be on this weekend right here, eight days after the movers.” She penciled these events on the calendar and the day they’d move to a hotel.
“Is this okay with everyone? Because once we agree and schedule these people, we must make it work. Now’s the time to decide together.”
“Looks okay to me,” Grammy said. Becca agreed.
“All right, I’ll make the calls to set this up.”
When the doorbell chimed, they all looked up.
At the door, Deputy Goodwin asked to come in. “Roderick arrived in Naples this morning. Mrs. Ryerson, can you come down to headquarters for a positive ID?”
“When?” Grammy asked, an edge to her voice.
“How about 1:00? We’ll put him in a lineup to please the prosecutor. All by the book.”
Jennifer knew she must stay for the moving company appointment. “Becca, could you drive Grammy there?”
“You bet. I’ve wanted a chance at the Mercedes’ wheel. Just give me the address.”
“Okay,” Goodwin handed Becca the information. “See you at one. Oh, and while you’re there, Mrs. Ryerson, could you ID some stolen jewelry? What we found looks similar to your pictures. Gotta go.”
“Thank you, Deputy.”
“Just doing my job, ma’am.
But suddenly, Grammy touched Jennifer’s arm. “I…sounded braver than I feel. So much has happened….” She crumpled into a nearby chair. “I don’t know if I can…can face that awful man again.”
Becca and Jennifer exchanged looks. “Grammy, it’s just like ‘Law and Order’ on TV,” Becca explained.
“Yeah,” Goodwin added. “You see the suspect through a one-way mirror. He can’t see you. Each man holds a number. You tell us the number held by the man who drugged and robbed you. It’s easy, and your family can stand right there with you.”
But Grammy’s frightened expression didn’t change, nor did the hand she clutched to her heart.
CHAPTER 34
Becca led Grammy to the living room. “Maybe if you relax on the couch a bit you’ll feel more energetic…” Becca started to add “for-going-to-the-sheriff’s-office,” but didn’t.
Meantime, Jennifer focused on the mover coming in only one week. Could they really make all this work? She sighed and dialed her first estate sale call.
“This is Caring Estate Sales. How can I help you?”
“My mother’s moving out of state from the 5,000 square foot, four bedroom house she’s lived in for thirty years here in Naples. We need a sale rather quickly.” She gave the date. “Could you arrange that sale…? You don’t have that date free? Would you please suggest someone else who might?” She wrote the information. “Thank you.”
The name they suggested matched the next one on her list. She dialed.
“Golden Estate Sales. How may we help you?”
When Jennifer repeated the same spiel, the phone voice said, “Yes, we have that weekend open. Could you tell me about what you’ll sell?
“Mom’s taking only enough to furnish a small two-bedroom apartment, so most of the house. Besides furniture, she has silver, china, crystal, linens, Royal Doulton figurines, a Toby mug collection, Dresden and Meissen figures, Lalique figures, linens…”
“I’d be happy to make an appointment when I can answer your questions and take a look. Is one o’clock today okay…? Good. Your address, please?”
She phoned one more estate sale company, making another appointment for 3:00, enough time to finish before Joan Langley arrived at 4:30.
Grammy’s apprehension returned as Becca hustled her to the car for the drive to the sheriff’s office. Before they closed the door, Jennifer heard Becca say, “We might even stop for Royal Scoop ice cream cones on the way home, Grammy. Would you like that?” She didn’t hear her mother’s answer.
Preparing for the mover, she freshened up in the bathroom, surprised at the tired face looking back at her from the mirror. If this experience had aged her, what about her mother’s life-altering stake in these decisions? In her zeal to hurry the move and return to Jason and her own normal life, had she pushed them both too hard?
The door chime interrupted her confusion. She fluffed her hair and put on a smile to greet the mover.
“Hello, ma’am. You got a mighty nice place here. Is everything headed to Virginia?”
“No, in each room we’ve marked what stays and what goes. Shall we start upstairs and take it room by room? Good.”
She explained about the upcoming estate sale. He took a pen from his clipboard as he followed her up the steps. Showing him each room, she realized they’d readied the upstairs surprisingly well. When she opened the walk-in closet, he said, “Looks like about four wardrobe boxes here. Will you pack any boxes yourselves or do you want us to do it all?”
“You should. If we pack any, there won’t be many.”
Downstairs was a different situation. Grammy hadn’t had time for decisions about all the china, crystal, linens, and so on. Nor had the family yet selected what they might want. Grammy still hadn’t made her final book selections and they knew they must check every volume for hidden cash. The kitchen was the easiest room of all: take basics, leave the rest.
“Don’t worry, we always bring extra boxes. We won’t leave anything you want to take. These paintings need crates.” He made more notes. “What about the garage?”
Jennifer glanced around at tools, sand toys and equipment, a bin of inflated beach balls, Christmas decor, hammock and garden equipment. “Nothing out here.”
In the laundry room, he asked, “Washer? Dryer? Ironing board? Mops and brooms?” She shook her head.
“O
kay, shall we sit down to talk?” They settled in the kitchen. “This should take us almost a full day for pack and load. We can arrive Thursday morning early, say 8:00. By then we must know exactly what goes and stays. On the other end, we’ll off-load and put things where you tell us. Will you be at this McLean address to accept delivery?
“No, but my husband will, so no problem. They’d appreciate a day-ahead notice.”
“That simplifies things because we estimate five to seven days until delivery. I’ll need his contact information as well as yours. If a client packs everything himself, we call it a no-pack & load. Yours is a full-pack & load. An interstate move is charged by the pound rather than the hour. I estimate yours at about 2700 lbs.” He quoted a price. “The company accepts credit card, cash or certified check at the destination. Here’s our contract.” He explained about standard and optional insurance.
Jennifer had a few questions. He answered them with confidence, adding. “The crew leader is the driver and he’ll have three to five men with him. They wear company uniforms, are experienced and professional at their jobs. Tips are optional for the pack and load crew.”
“Thanks, sounds like we’re in capable hands.” She signed the contract and handed it to him.
“You definitely are.”
Just then, her cellphone rang. “Sorry, I must take this call.”
“No problem. I’ll let myself out.”
Waving goodbye she answered, “Hello.”
“This is Deputy Goodwin. I’m afraid I have some bad news…”
CHAPTER 35
“Bad news? Is…is it my mother?”
“The ID process shook her up pretty bad but… Just a minute, I have to take another call. I’ll get right back to you.”