“Oh, Addie, this sounds so serious. I know you can’t do anything about canceling it at this late date, but shouldn’t you try to get in touch with Mr. Cutler? You may not have the right to sell those paintings.”
“Mama, that didn’t even occur to me. He said I own everything in Stonegate according to the deed that Wilhelmina had drawn up when she sold Stonegate to Nickelos. And since I inherited everything that Nickelos Dane owned, Stonegate and everything in it belongs to me. That surely means the paintings on the walls. Miss Mattie and grandpa both agree that I should get rid of the paintings before opening the dinner club or nursing home. And I’ll have to store a lot of furniture and furnishings. Donnie is going to store the three bedrooms of furniture that you like in the big house on the landing, and I think you should take one of the twin bed suits, and anything else that you want, even to the dust catchers, as Miss Mattie calls them. Tobias calls it objects d’art. Your favorites are the cherry room, that walnut one with the odd sized bed, and the maple furniture with the regular size bed, right?”
“Yes, dear,” she answered, and Addie was surprised that she had not objected. Just then they heard her daddy’s truck pull into the driveway.
Addie had missed him so, she wanted to run out and meet him. She wondered if he had missed her? She waited anxiously for him to come through the door. Would he still be angry with her? She heard his footsteps coming across the screened in porch. She glanced at her mother. She too, seemed anxiously waiting. Her look was not a happy one. She stood up as her daddy came through the door.
“Daddy” she said, wanting desperately to go to him, to be hugged by him, but, “Hello, Addie,” was his only comment. It hurt deep down. If he even notice her changed look, it didn’t register on his face. She sat back down as he took his seat at the table.
“I can fix you some lunch,” her mother said, “if you don’t mind it being cold.”
“That’s fine,” he said. “I’ve been over at Penny Himple’s place. She stopped by Johnsons on Friday. She made me a very unusual offer. I’ve been inspecting her building.” He was talking without feeling. There was surely something seriously wrong between her parents. “If I accept her offer, I’ll have to hire some labor and try to get a loan at the bank. If they won’t make me a loan, I’ll have to borrow on the house. It’s too good a deal to turn down. It should mean a regular income for us after a few months. No more waiting out the winters.”
So he was considering Miss Penny’s offer. She was so glad. Maybe this would put him in a more reasonable frame of mind.
“Do you have any potato salad to go with the sandwich?” he asked.
“I already have it out. I’ve made you roast beef. I thought we’d have the pork for supper.”
“Addie, do you want something,” he asked.
“Thanks, Daddy. I’ve already eaten, and I just had hot chocolate with mama. He wasn’t going to comment on her change. “I promised Miss Mattie I’d get back early and help her. I guess I’d better be going.” Was she going to get out before she burst into tears? Then she got up, put her arm around her daddy’s shoulder and kissed him on the cheek, said good- bye to her mother and rushed out the door before she did cry. How could her mother think that she would not worry? But she had so many other things on her mind. She really needed to try not to, she told herself. Then she picked up Julian Dane’s portrait and drove back to the mansion.
The black truck, now belonging to Donnie, and big Bud’s gold one were parked behind the building. Donnie and big Bud were bringing a picnic table out of the garage where the Castle’s furniture was stored, and Wylene stood holding a light green tablecloth.
“We’re having a picnic,” she called to Addie as she got out of the Lincoln, which she had parked beside the black truck. “William and Deena are joining us,” she added as Addie walked up to her. Miss Mattie wants our opinion on some of the food she’s going to serve at the brunch in the morning.”
Then Donnie saw her. He all but dropped his end of the picnic table as he exclaimed, “What have you done?”
She expected him to be surprised, but she wasn’t in any mood for his demanding tone. He didn’t own her. “I made some changes in me,” she answered. “Sorry, you don’t like it.” And she turned to go into the building.
They had set the table down, and he came rushing after her. “Hey! I didn’t say I didn’t like it,” he said putting his arm around her shoulder. “It’s just such a surprise, that’s all. You look great. Really. Come on. Sit down,” he said to her silent look. “Bud and I want to talk to you.” He was maneuvering her back to the table that Wylene was smoothing out the green tablecloth on.
She sat down on the corner of the table’s attached bench, and Donnie worked his long legs over the bench and under the table. “Bud and I want to make a bid on the alterations you’re going to have to do to the mansion,” he said as he sat down. “Bud is a first class carpenter, and I’m learning. If we could get Mr. Harrison, the retired contractor that I told you about, to supervise us – make sure everything was done just right, and of the highest quality, would you consider letting us do the job? You’d pay for the materials and pay us an hourly wage, reasonable, of course. And we’d have to pay Harrison some for his time. Addie, we think that’s the best deal you’re going to get, and we could start right away. Of course, until school is out, I’d be part time, but I could still work six hours a day and all day Saturdays. What do you say?”
At first, she didn’t say anything – just looked at the two of them as they sat in silence waiting for her answer. She knew she had to get started on the alterations, and since her daddy wouldn’t advise her, she didn’t know where to start. With this Mr. Harrison approving, or disapproving, their work, what more could she ask for? So she said, “When you’re finished with Stonegate would you fix up the little house for me? Then work on some plans for the big house. But first, you’ve got to move all the furniture and furnishing that’s not going to be used from the third and fourth floor. For which, of course, I’ll pay you.”
The two men let out a big yell. “I guess that means we’re partners, Bud.” And they reached across the picnic table and shook hands.
“You won’t regret it, Addie,” Bud said, “and I like your new look.” Then he whistled, long and loud. Everyone laughed, as William added a whistle to Bud’s, and Deena said, “You look great, Addie. I wouldn’t have known you.” Wylene was looking at her Bud with a happy smile on her face. Addie was glad they were happy. She wished she was.
“I’ve already begun some drawings for the little house,” Donnie said. “I’m going to have to do some measuring, but I think you’ll like my ideas.”
Addie wanted to add, I’m sure I will if I don’t run out of money first. Then she remembered the art auction, which she would like to forget, but surely, it would bring in a goodly amount, according to Tobias. Then there was the down payment she would be getting on the Stonegate land. There was a U Haul trailer parked beside the last garage, but there was no truck. The trailer had to belong to Tobias, but where had he gone?
Mattie came out carrying a long tray of delicious looking tidbits of food, and Addie asked about Tobias.
“He left after he met everybody to go down to the Square. He said he had some ideas he wanted to discuss with you when you got this auction off your hands, and he just wanted to check them out.
Wylene had already placed paper plates, cups and plastic ware around the table. Deena and William had taken their seats. Mattie set the platter down in the middle of the table. “Now, I want your honest opinion of each different item. Notice that they’re laid out in rows. If you don’t like something, I want you to say so.”
As she was leaving, she stopped beside Addie, bent down and said quietly, “Sully Morgan called. Wants you to call him tonight. He needs to talk to you before you go to school in the morning. I didn’t tell him you weren’t going to school tomorrow. His number is on my desk.”
All of them found Mattie’s food deli
cious, but William kept muttering, “Don’t see why she won’t give me the recipe for her rolls.”
“You should be grateful that she’s willing to sell them to you,” Deena said.
“Wylene, how did you and Bud meet?” Addie asked, really wanting to know why Bud lived in the slums when he had a regular job? But she didn’t dare ask that.
“I can answer that,” Bud said. “When the outfit I was working for finished the new fire hall two years ago, we were scheduled to start a job in Ohio, and we were leaving the next day. I was down on the Square that last night, and I came upon three boys beating up on one. That didn’t seem fair to me, so I decided to help him a little. But the other three decided to quit fighting and run on home. The beat up boy told me his name and where he lived, so I slung him over my shoulder and took him home. They were still moving in, and Wylene was there unpacking. When she saw Billy with blood running out his nose and a swelling eye, she few into him with such force that I thought I was going to have to defend him from her. Then, suddenly, she burst out crying and started mothering him – cleaning him up and soothing him down. By the time she had finished, I was in love with her.
“When their parents arrived with the rest of their stuff, I could tell they didn’t know how to survive in that neighborhood. The next day I moved into the slums to protect them instead of going to Ohio.”
Since the time she had first seen big Bud, Addie had liked him. Now she knew why, and she envied Wylene having a man like that to love her. Donnie had declared his intentions to marry her, but he had never said he loved her. Would he love her with such an unselfish love? She wanted to look at Donnie, but she knew better. Her heart would be in her eyes, so she turned her thoughts elsewhere.
Mr. Sully. She had to call him. She excused herself, went to her bedroom and dialed his home number.
His exuberant voice answered, “Addie, my girl! I hear you got yourself all gussied up for me. It wasn’t necessary, you know.”
Smiling, she asked, “Who told you?”
“Elinor was in the department store this morning. She passed you in the beauty shop. Said you were so busy looking in the mirrors that you didn’t see her. I’ll still know you, won’t I?”
“If Miss Elinor knew me, I’m sure you will too.”
“I can’t wait to see you. But I have some good news for you. You know we’re going to have to have some way of designating trolley stops, and a solution just fell into our laps. The highway department has a couple hundred or more traffic signs on metal poles. They are all shapes and sizes, and they want to get rid of them. And, Addie, my thought is that we paint them like the trolley cars and it won’t matter what shape or size they are. They’ll be recognized as trolley stops. How does that sound to you?”
“Sounds great. How much?”
“That’s the beauty of it. They’ll give them to us just to take them off their hands. They’ll even deliver them to the fire hall.”
“That’s wonderful, and you won’t believe it, but I’m planning to paint the fire hall like the trolleys.”
“Sounds like a winner to me, and I have seven men ready to start their driver’s training. And Fuzzy wants to take the training so he can move the trolleys around. He’s finished mapping out the routes and it’s waiting your approval.”
“Mr. Sully, if you and Mr. Kinnard agree on the routes, they’re fine by me. I just want them to run the streets where they’ll help the most people.”
“If you say so, and I have one other thing. I have a reputable firm lined up to appraise the Stonegate property. They’ll be here Tuesday.”
“Sounds like we’re moving right along,” grandpa said.
“Oh, Grandpa. I’m glad you’re here. Where are you?” she asked and said good bye to Mr. Sully.
“I’m always here, young Addie,” he said materializing right beside her.
“Have a seat, and wait right here for me. There’s someone I want you to meet. I’ll be right back.”
“If it’s that young man, you’d better hurry. He’s in the kitchen saying goodbye to Mattie.”
When she reached the kitchen door, Miss Mattie was saying, “I’m sure she’ll be back in just a few minutes,” to Donnie.
He saw her. “There you are. I have to be going. I promised Gramps he could use the truck to practice up on his driving. He wants to get his licenses again.”
“Sorry I was so long, but I need you for just a few minutes. Come on.” And when they were far enough away from the kitchen, she added. “There is someone I want you to meet.”
“Who?”
“Remember when you saw Julian Dane, Vicki, and little Nicki?”
“Yeah. That was spooky – an experience I’m not likely to forget.”
She summoned grandpa to come to the library, and led Donnie there. It was a jungle of paintings, but they walked in and around them until they were standing beneath Eli Gates portrait. Donnie was all eyes for the books that filled the shelves.
“Wow! Would you look at all those books. I sure would like to go over them sometimes.”
“Anytime you want to, but, Donnie...”
He looked at her. “Yeah?”
“You’re about to have another experience sort of like the Julian Dane one.”
“What are you talking about, Addie? I don’t want another experience like that.”
“That’s Eli Gates,” she said looking up at grandpa’s portrait.
“That’s Eli Gates?
Yes. That’s grandpa. He was married to Julian Dane’s grandmother. He died when Miss Willy was about nine or so, but, Donnie, grandpa’s spirit has never left Stonegate. He still lives here, and I want you to meet him. He means a lot to me, and mama has met him.”
Donnie looked at her like she had two heads. “You’re putting me on,” he said beginning to back away.
“No. I am not. Grandpa is the one who is helping me. We’re trying to turn Riverbend around – make it a good place to live and work again. But that’s just between the two of us. Promise?”
Reluctantly, Donnie agreed, and Addie said aloud, “Grandpa.”
“Boy, he’s a big one,” grandpa said as he appeared beside Donnie.
“He’s only six feet. You think him big because you’re short,” she said aloud to grandpa, then to Donnie, “He thinks you’re big.”
“Addie, I really need to be going.”
“You don’t believe me. Do you?”
“Well, it’s just that ...”
“You either believe me or you think I’m nuts. Which is it?” she demanded.
“Now, Addie, I, uh, I...”
“You saw Julian Dane, but you can’t see grandpa. Mama couldn’t either, but she’s met him. I’m not nuts. He’s standing right beside you. He looks like his portrait – same clothes and all.”
“How can you meet somebody you can’t see?”
“His hands are very cold, so cold they hurt if they touch you. Will you let him touch you – just lightly?”
“You mean like shake hands with me?”
“If that’s what you want. He wanted to feel mama’s hair.”
“If it’ll please you,” he said, slowly extending his right hand.
“Grandpa, don’t hurt him,” Addie said as she watched grandpa reach for Donnie’s hand.
“Ouch!” yelled Donnie, yanking his hand back.
“It didn’t kill you,” grandpa said. “Tell him I’m pleased to meet him since he means so much to you.”
Addie related the message to Donnie who was rubbing his hand.
“Well, Grandpa Eli, I assume you’re still here. I’m glad to meet you. And I’m glad Addie has you. I’ll be around.”
“Come back often,” grandpa said, and Addie repeated the message to Donnie who was slowly moving toward the door.
Back in the foyer, he asked, “What is this Tobias charging you to hold the auction, Addie?”
“Why, I don’t know. We didn’t talk about that. He wants to rent a vacant store on the square.” Th
ey looked at each other.
“You need to ask him, and before the auction.”
“Grandpa says he’s an honest man, so I’m sure he’ll be fair.”
“You depend on this ‘grandpa’ a lot, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. And I told you he means a lot to me. I’m very fond of him.”
“I’m glad, but Addie, Bud is turning in his resignation tomorrow, and I’m planning to turn mine in to Uncle Nate. This is what you want us to do, right?”
“Yes, Donnie, I do. I need to get started on the mansion as soon as possible, but don’t we need to get the fire hall painted and spruced up first? Can you manage that job with the boys you intend to hire to do the work, go to school, and get started on the mansion too?”
“You tell me what you want done. Bud and I will get it done. You have enough to worry about.”
Yeah. Like my daddy, she thought.
With the picnic guests gone and the table put back into the garage, Addie pitched in to help Miss Mattie prepare for the brunch.
“I could call the Reynolds ladies to spruce up the place if you think it needs it,” Mattie suggested.
“Reynolds ladies?”
“Yes. A mother and daughter team who clean for me sometimes. They also help with the laundry, which we’re going to need first of the week with all the people we have sleeping in our beds.”
“Do you think we need any cleaning?” Addie asked as she polished a large silver tray that Mattie was planning to use. She looked up as the door opened and Tobias came in. He seems to have made himself right at home, she thought.
“Ladies,” he said, “good afternoon.”
“We had a picnic. You missed it,” Addie said.
“But I’ve saved you some,” Mattie said as she reached over to push a button on the microwave.
“How thoughtful of you. I’ve been down on the Square. The more I see of Riverbend, the more I like it. It has great possibilities, and it’s going to be so different from living in New York.”
The Daughters of Julian Dane Page 64