The Daughters of Julian Dane

by Lucile McCluskey

  “Addie, there is a lot I don’t know about the building business, but I’m sure I can always get any help I’d need, if that’s what you want done?”

  “Let’s work on it,” she said. “But right now, I have the problem of where to store several rooms of furniture and furnishings until mama and I are ready to use them. They’ll have to be moved from Stonegate soon, so the nursing home remodeling can get underway.”

  “You’re looking at a great possibility. The big house there, except for two bedrooms and a bath on the left side, is all one big room with a kitchen across the back wall.”

  “That sounds perfect, but would it be safe?”

  He couldn’t help laughing. “As safe as you’d be down here.”

  Addie laughed at herself. “It’s getting late. I did want to go see mama, but it’s getting dark. I’ll call her- see what she wants me to do.”

  Back in the truck, she retrieved her cell phone and soon had Della on the phone, an angry sounding Della. “Mama! What’s wrong?”

  “I’m going to do it,” her mother announced. “And, honey, I want you to go with me. Come early in the morning. I want to be there by eight o’clock. She certainly will be at home then. It’ll be too early for the stores to be open. It being Saturday, she’ll probably still be in bed. But I don’t care. She’s going to answer that door. I’m going to stay there until she does.”

  “You’re talking about Mr. Cutler’s neighbor?”

  “I am. Their name is Willis. He’s a retired Air Force Colonel. She goes by the name of Janie, and their phone is unlisted. I ran into Florrie Overstreet at the supermarket this morning. She works part time for Mel Johnson, but she’s never seen the cripple woman, didn’t even know about her. And the Johnsons live across the street and two doors down from the Willis’ house.”

  “Oh,” Addie said. Her mother was really worked up. “Well, I guess I’ll see you about seven-thirty in the morning then. Donnie said the Fosters have the Ford to fix it. I guess daddy is working late to get caught up.”

  “Yes, he is, honey. I miss you being here.”

  “I miss you too, Mama, and daddy,” she added. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  On the way back to Stonegate, Addie said, “you haven’t seen my trolley cars. They’re in the old fire hall on North Third if you want to go?”

  “I’ve heard about them from Mooney. I’d love to see them.”

  “And you’re never going to believe all the alterations that have to be done to Stonegate before any of the three businesses can get a license to operate.”

  “Such as?” he asked.

  Addie explained everything to him that she could remember. “I have it all noted on a pad by Mr. Sully. And daddy won’t help me – won’t even advise me, so I don’t know where to start. And I do have to get started soon.”

  “I know a retired contractor, Sam Harrison. We met when I lived at the Johnsons. He was out walking each morning while I was jogging. He knows I plan to become a contractor, and he said anytime he could help me with anything, all I had to do was ask. He lives on Oak Circle. If you like, I could drop by after I drop you at Stonegate and talk to him.”

  “Oak Circle! You know where Oak Circle is?”

  “Sure. It’s right in Stonegate’s backyard. When you turn up Forrest Lane from River Road, it’s just past a couple of houses on the left. It’s just a short, curving, dead-end street with a few houses on the left side. The right side of the street is the back yards of the houses on Forrest Lane. There’s only about six or seven houses on the circle.”

  Addie had taken the keys out of her pocket. “I found these in the glass on the car seat. They must have fallen out of my cigar box of keys. All the tag says is ‘house/Oak Cr’.”

  “Keys in a cigar box?”

  “Yes. They’re keys to vacant houses and buildings that I own.”

  “Well, there’s only one vacant house on Oak Circle. It’s about the fourth of fifth house. It’s the smallest house on the street, and it probably backs up to Stonegate property. If you go looking, it’s pale yellow, almost cream color, with light green shutters. Needs a paint job.”

  “I’m back to having to find a place for Deena and her mother. Her grandfather will stay at Stonegate in the nursing home, but they can’t live at Stonegate once Jo Ann Simmons starts getting the top two floors ready for the nursing home. And I’m going to have to clean out all that stuff on the fourth floor as well as the bedrooms and Miss Willy’s sitting room on the third floor. Mama and I will be keeping most of the bedroom furniture and furnishings of the bedrooms. That’s what I want you to store for me in the big house.” They were approaching the fire hall. “But I want you to see my trolleys.”

  “Yeah. Mooney says they’re great.”

  When they pulled up to the front of the building, one of the tall doors was open. Mrs. Kinnard was sweeping around the entrance. Addie greeted her and made introductions. Then she saw Cooter stepping down from the first trolley.

  “He doesn’t bother anything,” Mrs. Kinnard said. “They fascinate him. He’ll check each one out and then leave. It’s like he’s keeping watch over them.”

  “It’s okay,” Addie said. “He’s harmless.” She walked Donnie around the cars, through them, and around the building, except for the apartment upstairs. She had described the upstairs to him, then Mrs. Kinnard again asked what she thought of her idea of turning the corner kitchen into a snack bar for her and her daughter to operate. Donnie thought it was a great idea, and he assured Addie and Mrs. Kinnard that the town was sure to love the trolleys. Then he had a suggestion.

  “Addie, why not paint the inside and outside of the building like the trolleys are painted. The bottom four or five feet could be painted maroon, then a wide orange border, then the top half to within several feet of the roof pained dark green, with the rest of the wall and ceiling painted yellow. Of course just the top wall on the outside would be painted yellow.”

  Addie liked the idea. “What do you think, Mrs. Kinnard.”

  “It could certainly use some sprucing up. And how about some shrubs around the building with park benches where there is space between the sidewalks and the building?”

  “Yeah,” Addie said. “Sounds great. Who could we get to do it?” she asked Donnie.

  “I know some seniors who would love to have some work to do, and I think painting would be down their alley.”

  “Would you sort of supervise it?”

  “You know I will. I’ll make sure it’s a first class job, and anything else you might want them to do.”

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Saturday. The end of Spring vacation, and not one day had she gotten to sleep until she wanted to get up. Now she was on her way to pick up her mother. She recalled Mr. Cutler’s words, “With ownership comes responsibility”, she muttered. Now she was faced with working school into all that responsibility, or was it working all the responsibility into school? Either way, she had a feeling that something was going to have to give, as her daddy would put it. She needed to talk to her daddy, but she knew she’d have to settle for grandpa for the time being – until her daddy had a change of mind and heart.

  And she was a bit anxious about what her mother had in mind to do. She hoped it worked out – that the black haired woman would come to the door, and her mother could meet the crippled woman, who looked so much like her. And what if the woman was her sister, or both of them were? Maybe they would soon find out.

  The first thing Addie said, once she and her mother were in the Lincoln and buckled up was, “What are you going to say when she opens the door? She’s not likely to be very happy seeing us at her door so early on Saturday morning.”

  “I don’t know, Dear. I just know I have to see that crippled woman. I have to know if she is, or if she isn’t my sister, Henrietta. I loved my sisters, Johnnie and Jimmy Lee, who was only a half sister, but we never knew the difference. But there was something special between Henrietta and me. To find her and my mot
her again – well, you just can’t imagine what it would mean to me, Addie.”

  “And you really think the black headed woman might be your sister, Jimmy Lee? But, Mama, it’s been seventeen years.”

  “I know, but I think I’ll know when I look in her eyes.”

  “But why would she not want you to recognize her if she is your sister?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve thought about it ‘til I’m exhausted trying to figure it out. But I did come to one possibility. She may not want to have anything to do with her Haynes sisters – even if she is using one as a maid – provided the cripple woman is Henrietta.”

  When Della didn’t say anymore, Addie asked, “And why wouldn’t she want to have anything to do with her Haynes sisters?”

  Della still hesitated. “Addie, we didn’t know that Jimmy Lee was just a half sister until Odell Haynes tried to rape her once. Mama went for him with a butcher knife, and he ran yelling, ‘Somebody’s going to one day, might as well be me. She’s no kin to me’. Henrietta and I heard him, and mama had to explain to us why he said that. She didn’t tell us who Jimmy Lee’s father was, but she did tell us that she married Odell because she was pregnant. She needed a husband and he needed someone to care for his mother who was going mad and couldn’t be left alone.”

  “He must have been a terrible person.”

  “About as bad as they come,” Della said.

  “And I still think the black headed woman was the cause of Miss Lilly treating us the way she did.”

  Ben drove the truck into his driveway as a dark blue sedan was stopping at his curb. He saw it, but he was in a hurry. He had left his watch on the kitchen table, and he couldn’t do without it. He didn’t have time for whoever it was. They would have to see Della. He rushed in and retrieved his watch, and was headed back to his truck as a man was approaching it. He looked familiar.

  “Good morning, Ben. Remember me? Kyle Etheridge,” the Reverend said, extending his hand.

  “Yes, Reverend, I remember you. How are you?” Ben asked as they shook hands. “You’re making calls awfully early for a Saturday morning when most people sleep late. I didn’t see Della. She’s probably still in bed. She’s having a bad time with morning sickness.”

  “Yes. I heard the goss… the rumor that she’s expecting.” The Reverend turned a little red.

  Ben looked at the man with a surprised, but troubled look. “I think you’d better run that by me again. You were going to say gossip. What gossip, Reverend?” Ben asked none too kindly.

  “Oh, no. I said I heard that she was expecting. It must be very exciting after all these years since Addie,” he added, his face a little red.

  “I heard what you said, Reverend. I’ll say it once more, cause I’m in a hurry,” Ben declared in a steely voice, taking a step closer to the man. “You were going to say gossip. What gossip?” he demanded.

  The Reverend backed up a bit. “Now, Ben, you’re bound to know the story that’s going around, and I just stopped to assure you and Della ...”

  “No. I’m afraid I don’t. I’ve been out of town, and now working from sun up ‘til late at night.” He reached out and took a handful of the Reverend’s sweater and tie, then with his face right in the man’s face he said, “I’m going to let you tell me.”

  “All right, Ben, all right. The story is … the story is that Della and the Reverend Morris Kirkland were having an affair, and she found herself pregnant, and when she told him, he immediately left town.”

  He had barely finished his last word, when Ben, not breathing, his face red with rage, turned loose of the Reverend’s clothing with such force that the man nearly lost his balance. And Ben turned and stormed off toward the back door of his house.

  He threw open the back door and strolled purposely through the little house to his bedroom. He flew open the door – only to find the room empty, the bed neatly made. He took a deep, quivering breath, and moments later, slammed the back door.

  As he returned to his truck, Reverend Etheridge’s wheels were screeching as he made a fast exit from the curb.

  Della suggested that Addie park the Lincoln on the street in front of the Willis’ house instead of driving into the driveway. Addie took her mother’s arm as they walked up the concrete walk to the house. “Are you nervous, Mama?”

  “Yes, some. I want my family so bad, yet I don’t want Henrietta to be crippled. And what kind of a person could Jimmy Lee have become that she doesn’t want me to recognize her? If she is Jimmy Lee?”

  At the door, Della took a deep breath, opened the glass storm door and lifted the brass knocker. She dropped it hard several times. It was only moments until the door was opened. Addie felt her mother stiffen.

  A man, past middle age, opened the door, a steaming mug of coffee in his hand. He was of medium build with short, salt and pepper hair. Wearing steel rimmed glasses and a frown on his face, he just stood there in his robe and slippers.

  “Good morning, Col. Willis, I’m Della Martin. This is my daughter, Addie. We , uh ...”

  “Do I know you? You look so familiar, but I don’t think I know any Martins,” he said.

  “No. We’ve never met,” Della said. “Perhaps it’s because I’m told I resemble the woman who works for you so very much.”

  “That’s it! My word! You do look so much like Rita. It’s uncanny.”

  “That’s why I’m here, Col. Willis. I’m wondering if it’s possible that your ‘Rita’ could be my sister, Henrietta?”

  “Well, you certainly resemble Rita, unbelievably so. And I hate to dash cold water on your hopes that she is your sister, but I’m afraid that can’t be. Rita is an only child, the granddaughter of an old servant of my wife’s family. Janie, my wife, promised the old lady, on her death bed, that she’d take care of Rita. You see, Rita is handicapped, a birth defect.”

  “Oh,” Della said. “But, could I just see Rita – to satisfy my own curiosity?”

  “Oh, I’m afraid not. Rita is very self-conscious and shy. Why, she won’t even come out of the kitchen when we have company. Your barging into her kitchen would upset her so, she’d be absolutely no use to my wife for the rest of the day. And we’re having a dinner party tonight. I’m sorry, and I must bid you good-day. I was on my way upstairs to dress for a round of golf in Centertown. I really must say good bye. Have a good day,” And he closed the door.

  Clyde Willis hurriedly climbed the stairs. A good looking woman, he thought, but she didn’t look anything at all like her daughter. He’d never seen such red hair, and those green eyes. And where was Janie? He was sure she had been on the stairs when he answered the door.

  He found her seated at her dressing table brushing her long black hair. “Did I hear the door, Dear?” she asked.

  “You’d have to be deaf not to. I thought you were on your way down.”

  “Oh, I decided to come back and choose exactly what I think you’d want me to wear tonight. I want you to always be proud of me. Who was at the door so early?”

  “Amazing. Almost, unbelievable. A woman named Della Martin and her daughter. Said she was looking for her sister and thought our Rita might be she. The woman looked exactly like Rita.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. Have you seen my green sweater? It’s a little chilly.” He was rummaging in his half of the wall long closet.

  “Clyde, dear, what did you say to this Della Martin?”

  “Oh. Here it is,” he said. “I just told her who Rita was. And I’m going to have to get a move on. They’ll be teeing off by the time I get there.”

  “Dear, please don’t mention this to Rita. There’s no telling what her fanatical mind could do with an incident like that. I’m still smarting from her telling Mel Johnson that her leg was the result of an accident, and that she had not been to see a doctor. Can you believe that? After all the specialists and clinics I’ve taken her to. And that woman just marching herself into my kitchen without being asked.”

  “Oh, now, Janie, I think y
ou made too big a deal out of something so insignificant as Mel just looking around the house. I noticed that they weren’t invited for tonight. I really like Nate. And if you’re going to go to all this expense of feeding six more people ...well, after all, I’m golfing with him this morning. And he doesn’t look at you like you’re the dessert, the way some of these yocals do.”

  Janie had gotten up and was straightening his sweater. “Darling, Clyde, you’re making me blush. But if you insist I invite the Johnsons, you know I will, but I really don’t want that woman in my house again.”

  “I don’t understand why it upset you so.”

  Janie put her arms around her husband’s thickening middle, and laid her head on his back. “Clyde, you have no idea how much this beautiful home you’ve given me, means to me. Why, it’s almost a sacred trust. And I try so hard to keep it always in perfect order. But when you’re entertaining, every room can’t be inspection proof, especially the kitchen. Rita is so limited. You know that, and I do my best,” she murmured, tears in her voice. “When I found that nosy busybody inspecting my kitchen and questioning my help, well ...”

  Clyde Willis turned and took his wife in his arms. “Don’t give it another thought, my Dear. I didn’t know how you felt about the house. I’m happy it means so much to you. But, now, I have to go,” he said, kissing her full on the mouth and pressing her hard against him.

  After Col. Willis shut the door, Della and Addie just stood there for a long minute. “I guess that’s that,” Addie said with disappointment, as they turned to leave.

  “No! It’s not!” Della declared. “I don’t believe a word of what he said. I don’t know why, but I just don’t.”