The Daughters of Julian Dane

by Lucile McCluskey

  “Us living at Stonegate,” Deena said in awe.

  “Well, for now,” Addie said. “If your mother agrees? Let’s do what we have to now until we can work something else out. Anything, to keep Deena from having to quit school and go to work. If she could find a job? And I’m sure you could use a rest from taking care of two men.”

  “I know,” Mrs. Castle murmured dejectedly. “I don’t want her to have to quit school. This – this seems Heaven sent. And we certainly don’t have any other choice, but us living at Stonegate? Are you sure?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Addie answered. “Then you think this will be all right for the time being?”

  “Oh, Addie, it’s more that all right. How can we ever thank you, or repay you?”

  “You don’t have to, Mrs. Castle. I’m just glad I can do it for you and Deena. And don’t worry about the moving. We’ll get it done before Friday. I’ll let you know when as soon as I can make the arrangements. And I really have to go now. My mother doesn’t know I’ve left the mansion. She was sleeping.”

  When Addie drove around behind the mansion to park in front of the middle garage, she was surprised to see the Junk Yard Dog parked behind her mother’s Lincoln. She was even more surprised to find Mooney sitting at the high, round table having cookies and milk with Miss Mattie like they were life long friends. She took the third stool after greeting him.

  “Is mama still napping?”

  “Probably so. I think she was a bit tired after lunch with those people.”

  “So, what’s with you?” she asked Mooney.

  “Well, pretty girl, I have to tell you what you’ve done for my family and me, and deliver a million thanks from my mother. She wants you to come to supper soon, so she can thank you properly. And I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you, but I’ll be able to start paying you back for the house a lot sooner than I ever thought.”

  “You sound like something good has happened.”

  “More than you can imagine. When I got home last night and told my mom about your offer to buy our house for us, she couldn’t believe it. By the time I had her convinced, and she and the girls were enjoying Miss Mattie’s good food, she was in tears. She made me call that sleaze ball real estate agent right then,” he said happily.

  “First thing he wants is to show me the house of course. I told him I’d seen it. Well, that surprised him. I hadn’t told him who I was. He has this routine. First, he tells me what a steal of a bargain it is. Then he wants to know if perhaps I have a friend or a relative who is a plumber or electrician. When I say no, he says that’s too bad, but he hopes I know a good roofer or a foundation man. He’s real clever. He never says a house is falling down, but he plants the thought in your mind that you’re going to have to spend a lot of money on it. You see, he doesn’t really want you to buy it. He wants the house to sit there for a few months until the owner gets discouraged. Then he and his business partner, our good Mayor Crumbley, can buy it for a lot less than the asking price.”

  Addie could see he was enjoying telling them all this, so she didn’t interrupt. But she did wonder about Miss Mattie. What was she thinking of her buying Mooney a house after the trolleys? Did she know about Miss Willy’s seven hundred and fifty thousand?

  “So I played his game,” Mooney was saying. “I said it didn’t sound like it was worth the thirty-seven five and told him I’d give him thirty-five thousand for the house. Then he laughs and says it’s so well worth the asking price that he’d buy it himself if he wasn’t already extended beyond his investment money. What he meant was that the Mayor is out of town. Otherwise, the two of them would have already snatched it up. So I just told him I’d think about it, and hung up.”

  “Oh, Mooney,” Addie said, disappointed.

  “Just wait,” he said. “Then I called the Ashleys, my old man’s drinking buddies. I figured even they were tired of his freeloading by now. Even Mrs. Ashley’s old maid sister, Flora, was probably tired of him too. I didn’t tell them who I was either – just told them I knew that Cleve Mooneyhand was a friend of theirs, and if they saw him anytime soon, I wished they’d give him a message for me. I said he might be interested in knowing that I had just offered his real estate agent thirty-five thousand for his house, and he turned it down. I wanted to add that that would buy a lot of booze, but I didn’t. I’m sure they thought that. I heard Mrs. Ashley yell ‘Wake him up’ before hanging up the phone.”

  Then Mooney smiled real big, and put his hand over Addie’s. “Then early this morning I went out to the Fosters. They work part of the day, seven days a week. I wanted to see when I could work on your car, and I told them I really needed any work they could throw my way because I was buying a house. They wanted to know how I could do that since I didn’t have two dimes to rub together? I told them a friend was buying it for me and letting me pay it back as soon as I finished mechanic school and got myself a job.” Then he looked at Addie and shook his head. “I don’t know what I’ve done to suddenly deserve such good luck, but I sure am glad I did it.”

  Addie and Mattie both smiled and waited. “Well, Abe Foster looked at me for a few moments,” he continued happily, “then he asked Howie ‘Do you think that’ll do?’ If he’s buying a house here, surely he plans to live here’. Then Howie asked me ‘Is Riverbend where you’re planning to live when you finally go to work?’ I said, of course it is. This is my home. Well, it seems they have a cousin that they do work for, who has a dealership out by the new shopping mall that’s opening up, and he ask them to find him a mechanical minded person for an on the job training program. But, he insisted it be somebody he could count on staying around to work for him once the training was completed.”

  “You have a job?” Addie exclaimed.

  “Yes, Addie, my girl. I have a job. I’ll be getting paid while I learn, and then get full mechanic’s pay when I finish my training. All because you’re buying us our house.”

  Mooney was excited, but Addie was disturbed. “Mooney, you didn’t buy the house.”

  “Oh, yes I did. I called that Rex Sommers just as soon as I got home and told mom about the job. I knew my old man would take the offer. Sommers was a very unhappy man, but had to tell me that his client had agreed to the price. Then he demanded to know who I was. I just told him that I was the buyer for the house at 1014 South Oak Street, and that he could fill in the blanks at the closing, which is tomorrow afternoon at one o’clock.”

  “That’s great,” Addie said. “When do you start your job?”

  “Friday morning. On Saturdays, and anytime school is out, I’ll work from seven to seven. On school days, I’ll work from three-thirty ‘til seven. Of course it’ll mean we have to leave the girls by themselves after school until mom gets home. They’re ten now and responsible kids, but we don’t like them being at home by themselves. And come summer, I know we’ll have to make some arrangements for them.” He looked at Addie seriously. “You’ve been our salvation. How can I ever thank you, Addie? Anything I can ever do for you, all you have to do is ask.”

  “I’m glad I could do it, Mooney, and there is one more thing I need right now. I’ve got to get Deena Castle and her family moved next week, and I was thinking that a good used, pick-up truck might come in handy for a lot of things.”

  “Boy! I know just the deal for you. Do you remember the music teacher we had ‘til mid-term last year – Miss Judy?”

  “Sure. We decided at the same time that I had no musical talent. It’s a good thing I wasn’t taking music for credit.”

  “You know she quit to care for her husband who had cancer. He died last month, and she has his pick-up. It’s ten years old, but it’s like new, paint and all. It was Mr. Arnold’s toy more than his truck. He kept it spit polished and running like new. I helped him with it a lot, and she called me last week. She offered it to me for twenty-five hundred. She can get more than that for it, a lot more, but she wants me to have it. And she thought I could come up with the money. She is having to sell all
her stuff and move in with her two sisters at their old home place. If you want, I’ll take you to see it tomorrow. I can’t buy it, and don’t really need it. But I’d like to see you have it, Addie.”

  “Sounds great. I’ll call you when I figure I can go see it. I have a lot of things I have to do tomorrow. You have some more cookies and milk. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  She went to the elevator, got in and closed both doors.

  “Were you listening to him, young Addie?”

  “Grandpa!” He suddenly materialized in the corner. “I wish you could talk out loud. You startled me since I couldn’t see you. Have you been eavesdropping again?”

  “What else have I got to do? That young man, even though I don’t like his hair style, seems like a person worthy of helping, but you have to remember it’s the town of Riverbend you want to put back on its feet. If you spend too much money helping individuals, it’ll soon all be gone. It’s going to take a lot to get those trolleys on the streets. You need to take all your papers to an attorney to help you with them. There’s no telling when Cutler will get back.”

  “I’ll do that tomorrow. I’m anxious to get them running on the streets as soon as possible. Do you think we’ll have any trouble doing it?”

  “It may take quite a bit of time and doing. An attorney will let us know. And you didn’t answer my question. Were you listening to that young man?”

  “Yes, Grandpa. I heard everything he said. What are you getting at?”

  “You heard with your ears, not your mind, young Addie. If you’re going to help this town, you have to learn to listen to what people need. His mother has young children who need the services of a day care center. I know about them from the news. I’m afraid that what I’ve heard lately hasn’t been very good, but they can be managed by capable, caring people. If this town needs a good day care center, we’ll give them one.”

  “Oh, Grandpa, that’s a great idea. A free day care center for working mothers.”

  “Not free! I learned long ago that people don’t appreciate anything that doesn’t cost them something. You don’t have to make a lot – just cover your expenses and take a small profit for your investment. Have you been on the ground floor yet?”

  “I haven’t had time to. It seems like I’ve been on a merry-go-round since Friday morning. Actually, I wish I could go take a nap with mama in your bed.”

  “Well, when you get the time, check out the ground floor. See if you get any ideas?”

  “I will, Grandpa.” There was no answer. “Grandpa, are you still here?” No answer. Wonder where he goes?

  At the desk, Addie decided on the thirty-seven thousand for Mooney. He might need money to close the deal on the house. She had no knowledge of such things, and she was sure Mooney didn’t either. Then she took some for herself just in case she bought that truck. Then she’d need money to get the Castle’s moved. Everything takes money, she thought.

  Back downstairs, she and Mooney went out to the Dog before she gave him the money. At first, he didn’t want to take the extra, but she finally convinced him. “Payment in advance,” she said, “for keeping my car running in good condition and fixing the bent- in side.”

  He reminded her that the car was still under warranty. Then he grabbed her to him and kissed her. Releasing the startled Addie, he said, “Now, you can tell that to Donnie Whitefield if you like. If he beats me, it was worth it.”

  Addie just stood there as Mooney hopped into the Dog and left. Her second kiss, she thought, and all she felt was surprise. She turned and went back into the mansion to check on her mother.

  She found her sitting on the sofa under the windows, her closed Bible in her lap. “Did you have a good nap?”

  “Oh, yes. I slept too long. I’ve been up for quite awhile. I think I’m finally beginning to feel better. I don’t know where you learned about the lukewarm salt water, but it has helped. Goodness! It’s almost time for a light supper. And I need to get over to the house to wait for Ben to call. Is there anything you need me to bring back?”

  “Not that I can think of.”

  There was a light knock on the door, then, “Addie,” Miss Mattie called, “you’re wanted on line one.”

  Surprised at first, then recalling that she had given Deena the Stonegate number, she excused herself to pick up the phone on the table. Her ‘hello’ was met with, “Addie, this is Deena.”

  “Is something wrong, Deena? Has your mother changed her mind?” She asked with concern.

  “No. Nothing is wrong. Mama is very happy and excited, but I need to ask you something. You remember the Watsons that mama worked for? Well, after we ate that delicious food, I went over to their house to let them know that they would have to get someone to replace mom, and Mrs. Watson was in tears. You see, she’s pregnant. She’s had two miscarriages, and the doctor has told her if she wants this baby, she’s going to have to quit work and spend most of her time in bed. So Mr. Watson has laid down the law. Either her brother or one of her sisters take their father, or they move off and leave him.” Deena paused. Addie didn’t know what she was expected to say, so she said nothing.

  “Addie,” the girl continued, “the others won’t take the old man, but they have agreed to pitch in and help pay for someone to keep him. And I was wondering if there was room in that hospital room where we’re moving granddaddy to for another bed. Mom would care for him and I’d help her. Since they would be together, it would be a lot easier for her. Would that be too much to ask until we could find someplace else for him? Mr. Watson means it when he says he’ll move off and leave Mr. Harris.”

  “I – I don’t know, Deena. Let me have time to give it some thought. Call me tomorrow, but late. I have a lot of running to do.”

  “Addie,” Della said when she had hung up the phone, “What are you up to now? And why were you so late getting back before lunch?”

  There was a light knock on the bedroom door, and Mattie called, “Supper’s ready. You have to come while it’s hot.”

  Saved by the knock, Addie thought, and as they followed Mattie to the breakfast room, Della murmured, “As soon as I get back tonight, we’re going to talk.”

  It was difficult to enjoy Miss Mattie’s delicious waffles, the first strawberries with whipped cream, for thinking about the problem that Deena had dumped in her lap. She was afraid that Deena was right about Mr. Watson moving off and leaving his father-in-law. There was no place that he could take him to, and having someone else in the house to care for her father wasn’t going to help Mrs. Watson any. Then she wondered, would her mother know of a solution? She had to take the chance by telling her before she committed herself to taking the man.

  As they ate, Addie said, “Mama, I need to tell you about two people I have in the gatekeeper’s cottage. They’re the reason I was late this morning.”

  Della and Miss Mattie listened with interest and compassion for William’s plight. And Della told her she was proud of her for coming to William’s aid. But when she explained about moving the Castle family into Stonegate, Della was hesitant to agree. And when the possibility of adding Mr. Harris was mentioned, Della exclaimed, “Addie! I’m glad you want to help these people, but you can’t just move people in here. Mattie can’t tend to these people. I’m surprised at you.”

  “Mama! I don’t expect Miss Mattie to take care of anyone. I’ve sort of thought it out. If I move Ozzie into the hospital room also, it’s certainly big enough for three, then William could take care of all three of them. There’s a bedroom and bath on the fourth floor that William can move into.”

  “Are you forgetting that school starts next Monday?”

  “No, ma’am. William says he’s not going back to school.”

  “Addie, I just don’t know about all this. We’ll have to talk about it later. I really have to get back to the house now.”

  The idea of moving William and Ozzie into Stonegate was a spur of the moment idea, but it seemed like the perfect solution to Addie. As
soon as her mother had left to go back to their little house, she helped Mattie clean up the kitchen, then took the elevator to the ground floor like grandpa wanted her to.

  She was amazed at what she saw. A huge swimming pool, whose water was body temperature. Heated, she thought. A person could use it all year long. She didn’t know how to swim. She had never had the opportunity to learn, but she would like to. Perhaps her daddy or Donnie could teach her. She wished Wednesday would hurry up and come. She entered a good size room that held all sorts of exercise equipment. For that Ryker man no doubt. It didn’t look like something a seventy-three year old woman would use. There were two dressing rooms with shower baths, a large storage room with table and chairs, lounges and such, that no doubt belonged around the pool. There were two nice bedrooms with a connecting bath and large closets. Then she found the laundry room where the two terry cloth robes, which she had brought from Lilly’s, were hanging, then another room with equipment for the pool. And then she found the room that grandpa must have wanted her to see. It was huge, and the whole outside wall was glass. It was like the out of doors had been brought inside. Its two big sliding glass doors in the center didn’t mar the scenery of the woods and the wild flowers. Her mother had to see this, she thought. And she could picture children busy at different activities in the room regardless of the weather. And she thought of it snowing and the children watching as if they were outside. They were bound to feel like they were. Yes. It would be perfect for a day care center. But what about Mr. Cutler’s plans to sell Stonegate? Didn’t grandpa know that? She’d have to talk to him about it.

  She went back to the laundry room to get the two robes, and took them with her as she headed back to the second floor. And she wondered again, why Lilly had acted the way she had toward them?

  Her mother had said she would talk to her about it, but so far she hadn’t. How would she know why the woman had acted that way? And the black haired woman? Who was she? She would remind her mother. Right now, she needed to go see William.