The same honey blond hair and violet blue eyes. Yes, she did need to see this person. She and Henrietta were the only two of Maude Haynes’ four daughters to have her hair and eyes. Was it possible? Had Henrietta somehow become a cripple? Or was it just a coincidence?
“Well, you know what they say,” Mattie said. “Everybody has a twin somewhere.”
“I guess you’re right,” Helene said. “But now I think I’ll say good bye and go see if Chief Bugg will let me join my mother.”
“And, Mama, I really need to go. I have so many errands to do today. I might need to ask a favor of you later, if you don’t have anything planned to do until you see the doctor this afternoon?”
“My appointment is at four-thirty,” she said as she followed Addie to the summer kitchen where Helene was giving Mattie her phone number. They all said good- bye to Helene, then Della hugged her daughter.
“Honey, I really don’t like this at all. I’m beginning to think Ben might be right. He said nothing good would come from this inheritance.”
“Mama, daddy is wrong. Tonight I’ll tell you about some of the good things that have already come about because of it.”
“All right, Dear,” Della said reluctantly, as she wondered again about telling Addie of the gossip going around about her. She had to do that tonight. She kissed her daughter and cautioned her to drive carefully.
Addie stopped at the pantry and gathered several, cardboard boxes, then dropped them off at the cottage for William as she had promised. He was sorting his and Ozzie’s clothes for washing them in the stack washer and dryer. She told him she’d talk to him later about her plans and hurried back to her car.
She got out her list and placed it on the passenger seat. The shopping center first to buy a Polaroid camera and plenty of film. And she would get two cellular phones. That done, she then hurried to the post office for Ozzie’s change of address forms. It was nine o’clock before she got to Wylene’s house. Bud’s truck was parked on the street, and the two of them were sitting on the dilapidated porch steps – as if waiting for her. She parked the Ford behind Bud’s truck and got out.
“Morning,” Wylene said, and Bud nodded his head.
Addie greeted both of them and said, “I’m later than I wanted to be. That house on South Street that I told you about yesterday. I need it cleaned and polished up real good. But first, the windows are boarded up. Bud, could you take the boarding off the windows? And could you move furniture and furnishings from Stonegate to the house until we have it all ready for Donnie Whitefield and his mother and grandfather to live in?”
“If that’s what my honey-bun wants me to do,” he said hugging her to him with the big, muscular arm he had around her shoulder. “The Pink Elephant is closed on Monday. I do clean up there at night, but I have all day.”
Love must be wonderful, Addie thought. She thanked him, and handed the house key to Wylene. She explained how to find the house, and said, “I’ll pay you what ever you say the job costs, then you can pay your helpers and Bud. Is that okay?”
“Sounds good to me, but when you going to tell me what bank you robbed?”
“Just as soon as I have time to sit down at a quiet lunch with you.” She wanted to learn more about Wylene and her family, and see how she could help them. “Right now, I have to take some pictures of the trolleys. And, Wylene, I think the phone in the house may still be connected, so if you need me for anything, call this number. She took out the cellular she had assigned to herself, and gave Wylene the number on the card in the case. I’m going to ask my mother to come to the house and see the size of the rooms, and see what we need to furnish them.”
“You like that Whitefield boy, don’t you?”
“Yeah. I guess I do.”
“From the way he looks at you, I’d say the feeling is mutual.”
“Think so?”
“Know so.”
This brought a smile to Addie and brightened her day. “After my mother comes to the house, and you’re through with the cleaning, if you’d come to Stonegate,” she said to Bud, “to pick up the furniture and furnishings, I sure would appreciate it. It may take several loads. Be sure to add enough cost to Wylene’s bill.”
“There’s that word again, Stonegate. Are you sure you know what you’re saying?”
“Yes. That’s where I’m staying right now.”
“Well, I guess that’s no more of a surprise than the car, the trolleys, the money, and all these new clothes. Let me know when you’re ready for that luncheon. Now, tell me what happened to your face.”
“I will. I promise, but right now I’m in a hurry. Okay?”
“Guess it’ll have to be.”
She said good bye and ran across the street to the fire hall to take pictures of the trolleys. Then she headed back to the Square and around to Grant Cutler’s office just a block from the Square.
As she drove around the Square, she noticed two men sitting on a bench whittling, and Cooter sitting at their feet on the sidewalk. Why couldn’t there be two benches on each side of the Square? She had to keep that in mind.
When she reached Mr. Cutler’s building, she parked the car where his had been parked on Thursday. There was a ten-speed bike chained to the light pole beside the building. She thought of her bike in their garage. She still wanted it, but she sure was enjoying having her own transportation. She had already accomplished so much in one morning because of her slightly beat up car. A blue car was the only other one beside the building, and she could see a moving van parked at the back of the building.
As she opened the door to the office, a strong, rather loud, male voice was demanding, “Not that way! Do you want to scratch up the floor?” An attractive, brown haired woman, about the same age as Mr. Cutler, whom Addie figured must be his secretary, Elinor Weston, was working at the L shaped desk. It was just in front and to the left of Mr. Cutler’s office door. Down the hall to the left and towards the back of the building, a tall man with a shock of silver hair was directing two men who were delivering file cabinets.
“Well, if it isn’t our Addie,” the woman greeted her as she arose to meet her.
“Yes, ma’am, I’m Addie Martin.”
“I’m Elinor, Grant’s secretary. I’m so glad to finally meet you, and very happy that you’ve dropped in. I was going to call you in a few minutes. I wanted you to know that I took your bank card to the bank, and I have more checks for you, but they aren’t personalized. I wasn’t sure about the address and phone number.”
In other words, Addie thought, you figure we’ll be moving from our little house now.
“Here. Sit down.” She motioned to the chair beside her desk.
Addie accepted the pad of blank checks, added them to the ones she already had which she couldn’t get cashed. But she had no need for them now. She had plenty of cash to spend.
“I’ve talked to Grant,” Elinor said sadly, “and he may have to be away much longer than he thought. The doctors have postponed his father’s surgery. They want to do some more testing.”
“I sure hope his father is going to be all right. Mama and I prayed for him yesterday at the sunrise service that we attended.”
“I know him and his family will appreciate that. Now, what can I do for you?”
“I need you to tell me the name of an attorney. I have a matter that I wish to talk to an attorney about.” Addie could tell that Miss Elinor was taken by surprise by her request.
“Is – is there something wrong, Addie? Does Grant need to know about it? I can get in touch with him. But, well, I, uh, is there something I could do for you?”
“No, ma’am, but thank you. I just need an attorney.” Grandpa had said an attorney. She didn’t want to tell anybody about the trolleys yet, not until she was sure they could be used for public transportation. If they couldn’t, well, then grandpa would have to come up with something else to do with them.
“Sully!” Miss Elinor called. And the tall, lean, silver haired man with b
lack eyebrows, came out of the office to the left, whose door still bore the name ‘B.J. Ryker’. Addie shivered just seeing the man’s name. She wondered why Miss Elinor hadn’t mentioned her red, swollen face. And surely, she had heard, or read, the news of him being at Stonegate.
The man stopped beside Addie’s chair. His bright blue eyes looked down at her. He was clean shaven, and she figured about sixty years old, or close to it. He turned his head sideways.
“You’re the prettiest young lady I’ve seen in two decades. Do you want to get married? I’m available.”
Addie blushed and giggled slightly. “Thank you, but not today. I’ve got too much to do.” He chuckled, and Miss Elinor introduced them, and he said, “Just call me Sully.”
“Oh, I couldn’t do that. My mother wouldn’t approve.”
“Well, bless my soul. A well brought up southern belle. I do have a perfectly good name. James Sullivan, my mother’s maiden name, Morgan. You many choose which ever you like.”
Addie thought for a moment. “Mr. Sully,” she said. I like this man. He must be about six feet four. He was a little taller than her daddy’s six feet two. He was wearing a gray sweater over a light blue dress shirt with a dark blue print tie, which was loosened, and the top button of his shirt undone. If I had a grandfather, she thought, I’d want him to look just like this Mr. Sully.
“Sully,” Miss Elinor said, Addie thinks she needs legal advice, and I’m sure Grant would want you to take care of any legal problems she might have until he gets back,” she said rather dubiously. Then to Addie, she said, “Sully and Grant, Sr. were law partners before Mr. Cutler moved to England.”
“The Cutlers are two fine men. I’m indebted to Grant for taking me in. The building I was in on the Square was bought by that Rex Sommers, and if the truth be known, our good Mayor. And I refuse to rent from either of them. Now, why don’t you come into my new office and tell me about your need for legal advice?”
Addie followed him and took the seat in front of his desk that he held out for her. “Mr. Sully, it’s not legal advice that I need,” she began before she was even seated. “I need you to do something for me. If it can be done? And I expect to pay you for your services.”
“You mean money? Real money!” he said mockingly with a big grin on his face, as though he didn’t believe she had real money.
Knowing that he was teasing her, she just said, “Yes, sir.”
“Well, then, let’s hear what I can do for you. I can always find a use for money.” And he took the seat behind his desk.
Addie took one of the prints of the trolleys from her bag and placed it on the desk in front of him.
“Hey!” he exclaimed. “Trolleys. East Tennessee trolley cars.”
“No. These are mine. There are four of them. They’re stored in the old fire hall.”
He looked up at Addie in an unbelieving stare. “You’re kidding me!”
“No, sir. I bought them.” And she began laying the titles and bill of sales down on his desk in four different piles as she was saying, “I want them to be used as public transportation in Riverbend like they are in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. If it can be done?” She watched the man as it all sank in. “That’s what I want you to do for me. We – uh, I think the people of Riverbend need some kind of public transportation. A friend of mine has to hurry home from school each day so her mother can use their one bicycle to get to her job. And I know families who can’t afford two cars, but who have to have two so the parents can get the kids to school and to their jobs. And there are students who have to walk to school, or ride their bikes because they don’t live far enough from school to ride the bus. But it’s far enough for them to get drenched in the rain and very cold in the winter.”
After a moment, he asked, “And how old did you say you are?”
“I didn’t. You didn’t ask. I’m sixteen. Does it matter?”
“To your owning trolley cars? No. But you think like an adult.”
He had picked up one set of papers to examine, as Addie was thinking that the adult mind behind her thinking was Grandpa Eli. But she couldn’t tell him that.
“You only paid twelve thousand and five hundred for each of these cars? Are they used? They look new.” He said incredulously.
“Yes, sir. And they are new,” she answered looking at her watch and wondering what time Mr. Arbuckle at the bank went to lunch?
“Cash!” he exclaimed. “You paid cash? You have a receipt signed by all four of the Caldwell men, even their addresses and phone numbers! What? No finger prints?”
Addie couldn’t help but laugh at him. And he chuckled. “I won’t ask where you got the fifty grand, but I’m sure Grant will.”
“Well, I didn’t steal it.”
“No! Well, you stole these trolleys. They were virtually given to you. Why?”
“It’s a long story,” she said looking at her watch again. “I’ll tell you another time, but they are rightfully mine,” she stated just a little irritated. Stonegate was hers, and everything in it. Grant Cutler had said so, and the cash was in Stonegate.
“Wooe. I know you didn’t steal them. I didn’t mean to imply that you came by them in any means other than honest. I’m just sort of flabbergasted.”
“I don’t cheat, steal, or lie. My parents taught me better. Besides, I’m a Christian.”
He looked at Addie studiously. “So am I, Addie, but let me make sure I have this straight. The trolley cars belongs to you, but are you giving them to the City of Riverbend to be used by the public for transportation, or is this your own enterprise?”
Giving them to the City? Grandpa didn’t say anything about giving them to the City. “I – uh, don’t think so. I hadn’t thought of giving them away. They’re mine. Do I have to give them to the City for the people to ride them?”
“Oh, no, Addie, but you’re going to have to be prepared to lay out quite a bundle of cash before they can be put on the streets. There’s taxes, licenses, fees, insurance, the training of drivers, getting them insured and licensed. How many drivers will depend on the number of hours a day you plan to run the cars? And we’ll have to grease a few palms.” He saw that Addie didn’t know about greasing palms. “We’ll have to bribe a few people on the City council.”
“You’re kidding! That’s not right!”
“True. But that’s how our good Mayor Crumbley runs this town. If you want to play, you play his way. It’s his rule. That’s why I’ve run against him in the past two elections. Did you vote for me?”
“Me! Mr. Sully? You know I’m not old enough to vote. But my parents did. My dad says nobody will admit to voting for Mr. Crumbley, and he can’t understand how he keeps getting elected.”
“Neither can I,” he said, then he began to chuckle, then he laughed, and his laughter got louder and harder until he was absolutely shaking with it. Addie looked at him, wondering what was so funny? She had never seen anybody laugh so. Then he held his head back and roared, “There is a Santa Clause!” And he slapped his hands down on his desk. “Addie Martin, I love you!” he declared. “Oh, if I was only forty years younger!”
“You’d propose to her again, and Miss Emma wouldn’t like it,” Miss Elinor said from the open door.
“And what in thunder could she do about it?”
“She’d probably come back and haunt you. You know how jealous she was of you.”
“You’re right about that. God rest her roly-poly soul.”
“I won’t ask what’s so funny, but the Spartains have agreed,” Elinor said.
“Thanks, Elinor. I’ll get right on it. You are not going to believe what this young lady has dropped in my lap.” Then to Addie, “Honey, you keep looking at your watch. Are you in a hurry?”
“I have to attend to this first, but I need to get to the bank before Mr. Arbuckle goes to lunch. I guess it can wait. My morning didn’t get off like I had planned.”
“If you want Arbuckle to wait for you, he will,” he said as he picked up t
he phone on his desk.
“Oh, I couldn’t ask him to do that. He doesn’t even know me.”
Sully laughed again. “Young lady, you practically own that bank. Don’t you know that? You’re the biggest stockholder, and you think he doesn’t know you?” He was dialing a number. Then he said, “Give me Arbuckle,” and handed the phone to Addie.
She wasn’t quite sure what to say when a man’s voice said, “Arbuckle here.” She finally answered, “Uh, Mr. Arbuckle, this is Addie Martin.”
“Miss Martin!” he exclaimed. “This is a pleasure. I’m Evan Arbuckle. How may I be of service to you?”
The embarrassing check incident came to mind, but she let it pass, and said, “Mr. Arbuckle, do your remember holding a class at the church for us young people, trying to interest us in coin collecting?”
“I certainly do, and you were among the few who listened attentively.”
“Yes, sir. I thought it very interesting. And I have a friend who has a collection of old, gold coins from several countries, but some are American. She’s in need of money, and I told her that I’d see if you could come to her house and look at the coins. That you could tell her if they were valuable, and how to sell them, if they are.”
“Gold coins, you say?” he said with some excitement.
“Yes, sir.”
“My! My! Nothing would please me more. When could I see these coins?” he asked eagerly.
“I was hoping today. I had wanted to get to the bank before you left for lunch. I could go with you to her house on your lunch hour.”
“That sounds great. I could meet you at your friend’s house at your convenience.”
“That would be good,” she said. “Do you know where Bakers Landing is?”
He assured her that he did, and they arranged to meet at Miss Lettie’s house in forty-five minutes after getting an okay nod from Mr. Sully.
“You must think me crazy, Addie,” Sully said as the phone was placed back in its cradle. “The point is, the Mayor is out of town on one of his taxpayer paid vacations called a conference. The Lord only knows about what, and this is the first Monday in the month. So, it’s City Council meeting night. Am I going to enjoy tonight? You better believe it. I’ll keep you posted.”
The Daughters of Julian Dane Page 45