The Daughters of Julian Dane

by Lucile McCluskey

  Addie turned to William, who was looking around at the furnishings and the paneled walls in silent awe. She smiled. “Will this do?”

  After a moment, he said, “You know we ain’t never been in no place this nice before.”

  “Then, I take it this will do. I’m running late, so let’s get Ozzie inside and to bed. Will it be all right if Ozzie takes the bedroom and you sleep on the sofa? That seems to be where the gatekeeper slept. Then we’ll look in the kitchen – see what food you’ll need?”

  “Are you sure we can stay here? What about the folks who own this place?” William asked as he followed Addie back to the car.

  “Yes, you can stay here, and you don’t have to worry about the people who own it, or about anything else. I’m going to see that you’re taken care of, but you’ll have to help me think of what to do about Ozzie when school starts next Monday.”

  “I ain’t going back to school,” he announced flatly.

  “Sure you are. You have to go to school. You’ll be a senior next year,” Addie declared as she helped him get Ozzie out of the car.

  “I said I’m not going back,” he said emphatically, as he helped the man up the two steps to the porch.

  “Well, I guess that’s up to you. Do you need help getting him into bed?” she asked as William led Ozzie into the cottage.

  “I can take care of him. I’m used to it,” he answered.

  Addie went to the kitchen area, opened the refrigerator’s freezer compartment. It was filled with cans of fruit juice, sausage and biscuits, hash brown potatoes, and a package of bacon. Then she looked in the refrigerator and found eggs, milk, cheeses, sliced ham, jellies and butter, and several cans of biscuits. And the cabinets contained several different kinds of cereal. All breakfast foods, she thought. Yes, Mr. Cutler had said Mattie furnished his lunch and supper. William came into the room.

  “I need some aspirin for Ozzie,” he said, and they searched the cabinets and found Tylenol.

  “William, we have to get your things unloaded, and you can make me a list of what you want after you go through the fridge and cabinets. I’ll go to the store for you tomorrow. Be sure to throw out everything that’s open. We don’t know how long it’s been here.” There was the sound of a car passing the cottage. That would be the Mobleys. She was still wondering why her mother had invited them, but she really had to hurry now.

  “You mean I can use what food is here?”

  “Of course, but it seems to all be breakfast food,” she said as they unloaded the trunk of their belongings. “Can you cook?”

  “Cook? I’m a good cook. That woman used to be a cook for a big hotel in Atlanta – until she laid out drunk one time too many and they fired her. She taught me to cook, and I had to do it just right, or I got a beating for that too. I been cooking since I was twelve years old.”

  When the last load was taken into the cottage, Addie said, “Lock the door after me, and William, there’s a phone, but don’t use it to call anyone. We don’t want anybody knowing you’re here. Okay?”

  When she drove up to the mansion, the Mobley’s car was parked at the steps to the porch, and she drove on around to the back door. Miss Mattie gave her a stern look when she entered the kitchen. “You said an hour. Della has been very worried.”

  “I know. I was detained helping someone in trouble. Where is she?”

  “She was making the salad until the Mobley’s came. She’s with them now. I’m sure she’d be glad for you to replace her.”

  “I will,” she said as she rushed toward the front of the building. She found her mother and the Mobleys in the library. She greeted the Mobleys and apologized to her mother for being late. And from Della’s look, she knew she was in trouble.

  “Eve, Jake, would you mind if Addie continues to show you the mansion while I get back to helping Mattie with our lunch?”

  Jake was reading the titles of books in the shelves, and Eve was reading the bottoms of everything she could pick up. They both agreed that would be fine. “I’ll see you in just a few minutes then,” Della said and left the library. As she passed, Addie whispered, I’m sorry, Mama.”

  “This is a room a man dreams about,” Jake Mobley said as he studied the portrait of Eli Gates that hung over the dark wood mantel. They had seen the living room, dining room and foyer, so Addie moved them on to Eli Gates’s bedroom. “Oh, Lord!” Jake exclaimed. “Would you look at that bed? I’d never get up if I slept in that bed.” Eve was oohing and aahing over everything that she could pick up off the dresser, table, and chests. Addie didn’t quite trust her and watched to make sure she put everything back down. She allowed her to open closet doors, but she wondered about the closets in Miss Willy’s room. Somehow, she would have to steer her clear of them, but how?

  Fortunately, the woman spent so much time examining everything, that they were called to lunch by Della just as they were about to climb the marble stairs.

  The big round table in the breakfast room was laid with a crisp yellow tablecloth with pale green napkins and a spring bouquet of fresh flowers for the centerpiece. Addie couldn’t recall seeing the flowers before and wondered where Miss Mattie had gotten them? They held hands around the table as Jake asked the blessing. Addie made herself useful keeping beverages poured and hot rolls on the table. The couple declared each item the best they had ever tasted, and Eve had to have the recipe for the fruit tea.

  The woman also found it a good time to satisfy her curiosity about the accident, which Miss Mattie mostly answered. But when she asked if she could see the balcony from which Wilhelmina Stone and her nephew had fallen to their deaths, Miss Mattie said, “Oh, no.” and Addie was glad.

  “The police don’t want anyone in Miss Willy’s bedroom until they are through with the room and balcony.”

  When lunch was over, Mattie insisted she would clean up while Della rested if Addie would continue showing the Mobley’s the mansion. Della told the Mobleys how pleased she was that they had come, and Eve insisted that she and Della had to get together for lunch as soon as she was over her morning sickness. They thanked both the women for such a delicious lunch, and Addie led them from the breakfast room into Miss Willy’s study and bath, then back to the foyer and up the grand, marble stairway.

  “How beautiful?” Eve exclaimed of the stairway, running her hand over the marble banister as she ascended the stairs. The first room on their left was a sitting room furnished Victorian style with dark furniture upholstered in rich maroon silk damask. Again the woman had to pick up every item that she could and examine it. She also had to open the doors of the closet and bathroom. “This is really a bedroom and bath,” she remarked.

  “I suppose so,” Addie said, then led them past Miss Willy’s bedroom to the next door. “This was Nickelos Dane’s bedroom. He was an invalid, you know,” she said as she opened the door to the gleaming white hospital room. The outside wall was covered wall to wall and floor to ceiling with heavy white draperies. Light from the French doors and two big windows on that wall was barely discernible. She flipped the light switch beside the door. Even in this room, Eve had to see the bathroom and closet which held a commode chair, urinals, bedpans, everything necessary to care for a person who spent, most of his time in the white hospital bed in the center of the room. Addie found the room very interesting, and it gave her an idea.

  The next room was a large beautifully decorated bedroom with twin beds. There was only one other bedroom with twin beds. There was queen size and king size, and an odd size bed of a dark, ornate wood that Addie thought looked like a regular bed but longer. “Goodness,” Eve Mobley exclaimed, “that’s eight bedrooms, twice as many as there were ever people in this house.”

  “Something like that,” Addie agreed.

  “Well, it’s all more grand and beautiful than I ever imagined. What’s on the fourth floor?”

  “It’s just used for storage, and the first floor is the pool, exercise rooms and such. Nothing unusual or elaborate about anything there.
” Addie hoped she got the message that this was the end of the tour.

  Eve may not have, but Jake did. “I think we’ve taken up enough of your time, and we’ve certainly enjoyed it. Thank you for showing us around, Addie.”

  “Oh, you’re most welcome. It gave me an opportunity to see the bedrooms too. Would you like to use the elevator to go down? It’s real neat.” She was anxious for them to leave. She needed to see Grandpa Eli. She had so much to tell him. And after seeing the hospital room, she hoped her problem of a place for Deena, her mother, and grandfather to move to was solved for at least now.

  Eve was impressed with the elevator and had to examine everything about it. Addie finally got her out of it and headed for the front door with them in tow. As soon as they had taken their leave she went in search of Miss Mattie.

  She found her sitting at the tall, pedestal table having a cup of coffee, the kitchen all spotless and shinning. “Miss Mattie, I need to ask you something.”

  “Fire away,” she said, seemingly amused by the young girl.

  “I have a friend whose grandfather is bedridden. There’s Deena, her mother and the grandfather. Her father walked out and left them. They have to move by Friday because her father hadn’t been paying the rent. The hospital room upstairs would be perfect for Mr. Castle, and that bedroom next to it, with the twin beds, would be perfect for Deena and her mother. If I could bring them here until I can find a place for them to live ... Well, what I’m trying to say is, would it be all right with you?”

  At first Mattie was surprised, then she said, “Addie, dear, remember, this place belongs to you. I’m not the person you should ask. I think Della would be the one to approve or disapprove. I really have nothing to say about it.”

  “But you take care of Stonegate, and I don’t want to do anything that you don’t want me to.”

  “Child, I think it’s wonderful that you want to use this place to help someone. All those bedrooms up there need to be put to use. This place has set here useless to anybody but Wilhelmina Stone and her nephew, Nickelos, for all these years. And he would have been happy anywhere as long as there was all the food he could eat. He loved to eat. And he loved Wilhelmina, was always, wanting to hug her. I hate to say it, but it seemed to me that she didn’t want anything to do with him other than seeing that all his needs were taken care of.”

  Miss Mattie had no way of knowing that Nickelos Dane was her half brother. Even though she had never known him, it saddened her to learn that he wanted Miss Willy’s affection, and she had none for him.

  “I’m sure it will be fine with mama. She loves helping people. I’ll tell her when she wakes up. I need to go see the Castles. They’ll be so relieved if they could have that worry off their minds. I just don’t know what I could do about their furniture and stuff. I guess it could be stored in one of those storage building out on the Nashville highway.”

  “Why, Addie, there is a perfectly good, weather proof garage – the middle one, that you could use for storage. It’s big, and the other one only has some lawn equipment in it. There’s plenty of room left in it, if you need it.”

  “Oh, that sounds great, Miss Mattie. Thank you.” She wanted to hug this woman that she had become so fond of in such a short time.

  Mattie shook her head and smiled at Addie. “You know, there was a nice amount of food left from lunch if you want to take it to your friend and her family. Won’t take but a few minutes to get it ready.”

  “Oh, that would be so good of you. I know they’d love it, but won’t we need it for supper. I don’t want you to have to cook again.”

  “For supper, we’re having my special waffles topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Something light is all we need after that heavy lunch. And, Addie, I love to cook.”

  “Strawberries!”

  “Yes. The Murchesons sent a package of meat yesterday, and Edna Murcheson sent me the first of her ripe berries – just enough for the three of us. I can’t wait. There’s nothing like the first strawberries of the season. I’ll get some containers and get the food ready. Bring me one of those cardboard boxes from the pantry for you to carry it in.

  Addie knew about where the Castles lived, but she found the house only when she saw Deena sitting on the steps of a very small porch to a small, white asbestos shingle house. Her arms clasped around her knees, her chin resting on them. She was excited about her plans for the Castles, and it hadn’t occurred to her until just then that the Castles might not agree. She parked the car close to the house, got out and was lifting the box of food from the back seat when Deena came rushing toward her.

  “Addie?”

  “Yep. It’s me,” she answered. She could see that her friend’s eyes were red from crying. “I told you I’d help you, and I hope the news I have will be okay with your mother. And I have this food that’s absolutely delicious. I figure your mom could use a rest from cooking for at least one meal. She must be pretty tired after taking care of your grandfather and that invalid man she cares for in the afternoons.”

  “She stays so completely worn out, it worries me. But, Addie! Look at you! I don’t get it! Those clothes! That car! Is it yours?”

  Addie was standing with her back against the car- inhaling the delicious aroma of Miss Mattie’s rolls, and holding the box of food.

  “Yeah, it’s mine. It’s a little bent in on the other side, but Mooney is going to fix it. I’ll tell you all about it later, but could we go in? This is heavy.” Miss Mattie had added a half-gallon glass jar of her fruit tea saying it would be good for the grandfather.

  “Oh, sure. I’m sorry. Here, I’ll take that,” she said, relieving Addie of the box of food. “Oh, this smells delicious. This is so good of you, Addie. Mom will love not having to worry about a meal for once. Granddaddy is napping right now, so mom is getting some rest too.”

  Addie was following her friend the short distance to the house. She thought it looked about the same size as their house – two bedrooms, one bath, a living room, and kitchen with a small eating area. When they entered the crowded living room where Mr. Castle lay sleeping in his hospital bed against the inside wall, and they walked through to the small kitchen, she saw that she was right.

  “When I told you on Thursday that I was going to help you, I had no idea how then, but I have a plan now, if it’s agreeable with you and your mother. It won’t be permanent, but I figured we’d do what we have to now, and work on something else later. Is your mom asleep?”

  “I don’t think so. She said she was too tired to even sleep. But, Addie, this food!” She exclaimed as she examined the box like someone who had not been getting enough to eat for some time. “We haven’t had meat in ages except for bologna for granddaddy. We eat a lot of peanut butter. Mom will never believe this. And salad! She loves salad. And these rolls! Oh, they smell so good. Oh, Addie ...” And she began to cry.

  Addie realized that her friend had been going hungry, and she felt terrible about it. She took her in her arms. “Hush that crying, Deena Castle. Everything is going to be all right now, for both of us. I promise you. Let’s go talk to your mother.”

  Mrs. Castle was a thin, tired looking woman with dark hair, and dark circles under her eyes. She looked to be about her daughter’s size in height, which was just a little shorter than she was. Addie knew that Deena had to rush home from school each day, so her mother could have the bicycle to go the five blocks to the house where she sat for two hours with an elderly, black man. But Addie didn’t think she looked strong enough to ride a bicycle. That ten dollars a day was their only income except for her granddaddy’s Social Security check.

  Mrs. Castle apologized to Addie for not getting up. “I’m just so tired.”

  “Mama, Addie brought us a wonderful supper – roast beef, vegetables, and a salad, and the best smelling rolls, everything. When you’ve eaten, you’ll feel better,” Deena said hopefully.

  “Oh, you dear child. How good of you.”

  “I can’t take credit
for that. Miss Mattie, the chef and housekeeper at Stonegate sent it. It’s what we had for lunch.”

  “Stonegate?” Deena exclaimed. “What are you doing at Stonegate? And having lunch there!?”

  “My mother and I are staying there right now. And that’s what I want to talk to you about,” she said to Mrs. Castle. “My father is out of town right now, but when he returns next week, my mother will be going back home. But I’ll be staying at Stonegate until Mr. Cutler, our attorney, returns from England. He’s there because his father is very ill. I don’t know when he’ll be back – a few weeks, I’m sure. There is a very nice hospital room for Mr. Castle, and a beautiful, big bedroom with twin beds next to it for you and Deena. You’d have your own bath and a big walk-in closet. There’s also an empty garage we could store your furniture in until I can find you a suitable house. And you’ll love Miss Mattie’s cooking. And Deena can go back and forth to school with me. All you’ll have to do is take care of Mr. Castle.”

  Deena and her mother both looked at Addie in disbelief. After a few moments, Deena exclaimed, “You mean we’d be living at Stonegate.”

  “For the time being,” Addie said.

  “But how would I get to the Watsons every day?” Mrs. Castle asked.

  “But you wouldn’t need to go to the Watsons.”

  “But that’s the only money we have coming in.”

  “I Know, Mrs. Castle, but think about it. You’d have no bills to pay, or even groceries to buy. You could get by without that fifty dollars a week. You’d still have Mr. Castle’s Social Security check.”