The Daughters of Julian Dane

by Lucile McCluskey

  Della reached over and patted her daughter on the leg. “I know, honey, and I’m sure all those people will sleep just as well if you’re not in the mansion for one night. We’ll call Mattie.”

  “Great! That makes me feel better already. I can’t wait to tell daddy about the trolleys. I know he’ll want to see them right away.”

  “Addie, I don’t want you to get your hopes up about Ben getting involved in all your activities. Okay?”

  “But, I think he’s changed his mind about the inheritance since he’s been gone. He called me ‘princess’. He hasn’t done that much lately.”

  “I hope you’re right. Let’s hope so. I’m proud of all you’ve done for other people with the money. I’m sure he will be too. I must remember to thank Mattie again for all that food. It sure was good. The men ate like they hadn’t eaten in a week. And Ben is certainly going to enjoy all that she fixed for us. I put a lot of it in the freezer.” She was parking the Lincoln at their back door. “But I am tired. I think a cup of hot chocolate would help me sleep. Want one?”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  As they had their chocolate, Addie caught Della up on all the goings on of the day, and her plans for the next few days. Soon, Ben was coming through the door. “Della,” he said, “if you are awakened by a noise in the night, it will be Donnie and Mr. Whitefield returning my truck. They decided they could unload it tonight and get the van to Nashville before eight in the morning. That way, they won’t have to pay another day of rent on the van. Donnie will take the bus back, and Mr. Whitefield will stay with Denise while he’s gone.”

  Addie had jumped up as soon as her daddy came in, and was now hugging him. He stood with his arm around her. “I’m so glad you’re home, Daddy.”

  “Believe me, I’m glad to be home. The stress of worrying that the truck would break down on me before we got here has me worn out completely,” he said as he dropped the Ford’s key on the table.

  “You don’t have to worry about that old truck anymore,” she said happily. “You can go buy a new one.”

  “That’ll be the day,” he said, taking his seat at the table as Della poured him a cup of hot chocolate.

  “But, Daddy, you can afford it now.”

  “Addie,” he said brusquely, “when I need a new truck, and when I can afford a new truck, I’ll buy one.”

  “But, Daddy, ...”

  “Addie,” he said firmly, facing her, “don’t you think you’ve done enough? You’ve probably ruined my business in this town with that Lincoln.”

  “Ben!” Della exclaimed. “What are you saying? How on earth could Addie ruin your business by buying me a car?”

  Shocked, Addie said, “Daddy, we had to have a car. Mama’s car was destroyed ...”

  “I know that,” Ben declared, “when you were down in Bakers Landing where you wouldn’t have been if it hadn’t been for that confounded inheritance. I said in the beginning, it would bring nothing but trouble.”

  “Ben! Now that’s enough! We need to talk about this, but I don’t think tonight is the time. You’re too tired to be reasonable.”

  “Wait!” demanded Addie. “I want to know how I’ve ruined daddy’s business.”

  “Well, now, you just think about it. Eddie Alsup went to the bank and got a three-year loan, so I could paint his house and build him a new front porch. And when he sees my wife running around in a new car that costs more than he makes in a year while his wife is driving an old Chevy held together with bailing wire, what’s he going to think? I’ll tell you what. He’ll think I’m getting rich off poor people like him by charging too much for my labor. And if he hadn’t already advanced me part of the money so I could make this trip, he’d cancel the job. I know Eddie. And I’ll let you know how many more jobs I have lined up solid through October that gets canceled after folks see my wife in her fancy new car.”

  “But, Daddy! You don’t have to paint and repair other people’s houses anymore,” Addie declared with a bit of anger showing through. “Mr. Cutler said that the dividend from the bank stock alone will give us a good living, and it’s paid in October, and I have plenty of money ‘til then.”

  “That’s just great that you’re so well fixed,” Ben said sarcastically. “But your mother and I live on what I earn, and don’t you forget that.” He stood up.

  Addie sucked in her breath. She felt like her daddy had just slapped her. Swallowing hard, she said almost in a whisper, “And you’re saying if mama keeps the Lincoln, it will keep you from making money to support the two of you?”

  “That’s about the size of it.”

  Addie’s emotions had turned to anger again. “What about a Ford with a bent in side? Would your customers object to that? Mama can have the Ford, and I’ll take the Lincoln.” She was very close to tears, but she was determined she was not going to cry.

  “I hardly see how that’s going to make much difference. My wife or her daughter one will be driving that big expensive car.”

  ‘Her daughter’ had registered loud and clear. If he had kicked her in the stomach, it wouldn’t have hurt any worse. She stood up to face her daddy. “Mama told me that you said my accepting the inheritance made me Julian Dane’s daughter, not yours.” The tears were coming, rolling down her cheeks. She couldn’t stop them. “So, I guess I’m not your daughter anymore,” she cried. “You won’t have to worry about mama’s daughter driving the big expensive Lincoln any longer. I’ll clean out my books and things, and the Lincoln, and I will be gone.” She turned and walked the few steps to the small bedroom that had been hers, to the sound of her mother bursting into tears.

  “How could you? How could you?” She heard her mother demanding before she closed the door. There weren’t many things for her to take. No clothes, even the one pair of Sunday shoes were too small. A few pictures, some books, and a few keepsakes she put into a shopping bag she kept folded up on her closet shelf. As the tears rolled down her cheeks, she could hear her parents yelling at each other, then her daddy stomping down the short hall to their bedroom. There was a small knock on the door, and her mother came in.

  “Addie, honey, don’t do this!” her mother cried. “Please don’t,” she begged.

  Addie sat the shopping bag on the bed and took her mother in her arms. Both crying, they just hugged each other for a short while until the tears subsided. “Mama,” Addie said softly, “he doesn’t leave me any choice. Don’t you see that? He won’t have anything to do with all the money, and I can’t give it up. Too many people’s lives have already been made so much better because of it. And I can’t stay here and ruin his business. How would he support you and the baby? I’m just sorry I’m upsetting you so. I love you. You know that. And I’ll just be a phone call away.” She was snuffling, trying to hold back anymore tears.

  “Oh, Baby,” Della moaned, and continued to cry.

  “I know daddy thinks he’s right in his way of thinking,” Addie said still holding her mother in her arms. But I had hoped he’d changed his mind while he was gone, and we could go on to living a better life – a nice, big house with a nursery for the baby, and we’d have so much fun fixing it up.” She stopped. The tears came again.

  “Oh, Mama,” she cried. “I love daddy, but why does he have to be so stubborn?” Finally, she let go of her mother, reached for a tissue from the box on her bedside table to wipe her eyes and blow her nose. “It’s dark, Mama. I know you don’t want me driving after dark. I’d better go. Mooney’s been paid to fix the Ford. Let me know when you can do without it for a few days.” She gave her still crying mother one last hug and rushed into the kitchen, picked up the key to the Lincoln from the table. Then she almost ran out the back door. She couldn’t stand hearing her mother cry.

  She was glad she had already driven the big car some, still she would drive slow and careful until she had a good feel for it. And she would not cry anymore. It was dark, and she needed to see clearly. Her heart was breaking. It hurt worse than when she found out that Ben
was not her biological father. At least then, she knew he loved her. Now, she wasn’t sure that he did anymore. She couldn’t give back the inheritance. If he had only given her a chance to tell him how much good had already been done with it?

  She didn’t want to be separated from him. She didn’t want there to be anything between them. She loved him. He was her daddy. And her mother--how could she live not seeing her everyday? They had only been separated for a few days when she went on short church trips with the other young people. “Oh, Mama, what am I going to do?” she moaned aloud as she drove toward Stonegate.

  By the time she was turning into Stone Drive, her need to cry had passed and anger had replaced it. “He can be so bullheaded,” she muttered. She needed him, and he had let her down. What was wrong with him? Did he enjoy being poor? Did he like working so hard for his money? What did it matter where the money came from? Didn’t he know all that her mother had endured from her own father because of Julian Dane? The inheritance should be hers. It belonged to her. And Addie was determined that her mother’s life was going to be better because of it. How? She had no idea. But she was not going to let her daddy’s stubborn pride, and bullheadedness, deny her mother of what was rightfully hers. There had to be a way to bring him around. She just had to find it, she thought with determination as she parked the car in its usual place and entered the summer kitchen.

  William was drying out the sink with his dishtowel. He was whistling. She was glad somebody was happy. He looked at her face knowingly, but didn’t ask questions.

  “Evening, Addie,” he said. “I’m getting myself organized here. Three meals a day for eight people takes a bit of planning.”

  “But you’re doing okay? Do you need anything?” She dared not tell him yet that there may be many, many more.

  “Nothing yet,” he answered. “You did drop Ozzie’s change of address off at the post office, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll have to get his address changed to here with the Social Security people.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll bet Jo Ann Simmons knows how to do that. And I won’t let you or Ozzie need anything, and if they sign his name and cash this month’s check, they’ll be in a lot of trouble. They need to return the check to the post office.”

  “Surely, they know that.”

  “Surely. Good night, William.”

  When she entered the big, gleaming kitchen there was only a small light on over the kitchen sink. But Miss Mattie entered from the hall to her rooms carrying a tray with a cup and saucer. When she flipped on the overhead light and saw Addie’s face, she asked, “What’s wrong, Dear? Has something happened?”

  She wished she had gotten to her room without Miss Mattie seeing her, but she hadn’t. She sat the shopping bag down beside a chair at the table and sat down. Sighing, she said, “It’s, it’s my daddy. He can be so stubborn, and so unfair. Actually, I’ve moved out of the house. He left me no choice.”

  “Oh, Addie! I’m so sorry, dear. Do you want to talk about it?” Mattie asked taking a seat at the table.

  “Not tonight, I guess. I have to check with Deena and call Mooney.”

  William came into the room. “She won’t give me the recipe for her rolls, but she lets me buy them from her. Everybody loves them.”

  “You bought them?”

  “Yes. Absolutely. I’m keeping proper records. And, Addie, I just want you to know what a difference it’s making in your three men patients, just being here. Would you believe we’re having a card game before they turn in? I think it’s, in part, the company of other men. It’s like a shot in the arm for them. Well, good night, Ladies.”

  Addie said her good nights and took the elevator to see how Deena’s mother was feeling? She knocked lightly on the door next to the hospital room, and Deena opened it.

  “Oh, Addie, how can I ever thank you? Mama is getting some much needed rest. She ate a good supper and has already gone to bed. And granddaddy is downright happy. He smiles a lot. I’ve not seen him smile in – well, I don’t remember when. But I’m hoping mama will be feeling a lot better soon.”

  The two girls stood just outside the bedroom door. Addie had her arm around her friend’s shoulder. “I want you to stop worrying about your mother. She’s going to be fine, but if you think she needs to see a doctor, then we’ll take her to one. And if either of you need anything just let me or William know. Okay?”

  “We’re going to be fine,” Deena assured her, but is there anything I can do for you? You’ve been crying.”

  “Oh, just some problems at home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Addie said goodnight and headed straight for her dressing room. She needed grandpa. He was sitting in his blue chair watching the evening news, “Grandpa, I need to talk to you. I have to call Mooney, then I need to tell you everything that’s been happening.”

  “Good. I’d like to know about all these people. Make your phone call, and I’ll move out to the other blue chair, and you can relax on the sofa. And we’ll talk.”

  She made her phone call, but she couldn’t relax. She sat on the sofa next to grandpa’s blue chair. For awhile, she didn’t say anything, and grandpa waited.

  “This is one time I really need you to be more than a spirit. I need to cry on your shoulder.”

  “I’d say you’ve already been doing some crying.”

  “Yeah. It’s my daddy. You know he came home today. And he doesn’t approve of mama’s Lincoln – says it will cost him his business for his wife to be driving a big expensive car like that. He won’t have anything to do with the inheritance. And I need him to help me so bad. I was really counting on him.”

  “Why does he object to your inheritance, young Addie?”

  “Well, I guess I need to tell you about mama’s daddy finding out that she was pregnant, so you’ll understand how daddy feels about the money coming from Julian Dane.”

  “Sounds like a good starting point.”

  So Addie told grandpa everything that she knew about her mother being made pregnant by Julian Dane and her daddy’s attitude about it all. “So, Grandpa, if he doesn’t feel like I’m his daughter anymore, because I’ve accepted this inheritance from Julian Dane, what else could I do but leave home? Do you think I acted too fast?”

  “No, young Addie. I sort of feel like you – that he didn’t leave you much choice. Still, I think it sounds like he has other things on his mind right now. Why don’t you give him some time to do some thinking. He loves you, Addie. He’s been your daddy for sixteen years. He’s not likely to stop loving you because you inherited Julian Dane’s estate. And you have a lot on your mind too. You did what you thought had to be done. It’s done. So put the matter on the back burner for the time being. Otherwise, your worry over it will fill your every waking thought, and you won’t be worth a dime for anything else.”

  “You think time will help him to come around?”

  “I think time will make a difference in how things stand now. So tell me how all of our plans are progressing, then you need to get some sleep. Everything always looks better in the light of day.”

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  After her talk with grandpa, Addie had flopped down on the big bed, fallen asleep immediately with her clothes on. She awoke with a headache. There was a blanket over her and a knock on her door. “Addie, are you awake?” Miss Mattie asked softly through the closed door.

  “Yes, ma’am,” she answered, and the door slid back. Miss Mattie was carrying a silver tray with a pot of steaming hot chocolate, hot rolls and whipped butter, and a bowl of fresh strawberries with cream.

  “I hope this is appetizing to you. You must eat. Della called me last night and told me how upset you were. She’s really worried about you. So I sneaked in and covered you up. You stayed up awfully late.”

  Yes, Addie thought, talking to what you would consider a ghost. “Thank you, Miss Mattie. The food looks and smells so good,” and she was going to say that she couldn’t
eat a bite, but she remembered what grandpa said about forgetting her problems and let time do its work. She would eat and enjoy it. “You are too good to me, Miss Mattie, and I love you for it.”

  “Why, thank you, Addie. And I love you too, and your mother. You’ve both come to mean so much to me,” she said as she placed the tray on the table beside the bed.

  Addie threw back the blanket, jumped up and hugged the woman. “You’ll meet Miss Judy today. I know you’re going to like her. And an older couple is going to move into the gardener’s cottage. They’re friends of the Mitchells, Wylene’s folks.”

  “You sure have this place jumping,” Mattie said smiling and returning Addie’s hug. “And, Addie, where your daddy is concerned – just give it time. It’ll work out. You’ll see.”

  If she and grandpa both thought time would take care of things, then they must be right. But right now, time was getting away from her. She had a full day ahead, and she’d better get with it. She thanked Miss Mattie and sat down to enjoy the good breakfast while Mattie spread up the bed.

  “We’ll need to get the furniture moved from the study to the fourth floor, and I know just the place for her organ. I’m so glad you found her for me. Soft Organ music will add so much to my dinners. And I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

  The phone rang. Probably Mooney, Addie thought, but the voice of Sully Morgan answered her. “And how is my best girl today? I don’t suppose you aged about thirty-five years overnight, did you?”

  Addie laughed. “I sure hope not, Mr. Sully. What can I do for you?”

  Then he gave one of his guff-gawing laughs. “I wish,” he said. “Are you going to be around Stonegate tomorrow morning? And can you have Mattie and the people you plan to run this day-care center, and the nursing home on hand?”

  “Sure can.”

  “Good. I need to bring four or five people out to look the place over.”

  Mattie could hear his booming voice. “Tell him I’ll make lunch.”